Diamonds from Isaiah 1:27-31

Zion will be delivered with justice,

    her penitent ones with righteousness.

But rebels and sinners will both be broken,

    and those who forsake the Lord will perish.

“You will be ashamed because of the sacred oaks

    in which you have delighted;

you will be disgraced because of the gardens

    that you have chosen.

You will be like an oak with fading leaves,

    like a garden without water.

The mighty man will become tinder

    and his work a spark;

both will burn together,

    with no one to quench the fire.”

 

Father, I know that you are powerful and just. All evil will be punished, and those who turn to you will be lovingly cared for.

A Children-Friendly Car Museum

My friend Nina told me a fun story about spending time with her daughter’s family, helping them get ready to move.

 

I just returned home from a last trip to Phoenix.  I won’t miss the stressful 2 hour trip up there but I’m sure going to miss the little guys.

 

I helped my daughter take another load to donations.  “I feel like such a bad mom, taking all these toys…but we won’t have room in CO,” she told me.  I assured her she wasn’t a bad mom, the boys had outgrown the toddler riding toys and the plastic toy BBQ grill, unused Tonka trucks and more.  “Think of how thrilled some mom is going to be, someone on a tight budget who would love a tricycle for their little one, finding a great deal on this one.”  

 

We took a break to go to the Martin Auto Museum and Event Center in Glendale, a suburb of Phoenix.  Remy and Elden (five and three years old) could not stop talking about this wonderful place. And I am not a car person, but why not?

 

Oh my goodness they had so many vehicles and even better, they let people sit in a lot of them.  A 60s convertible?  I slid across the front bench, remembering back to my childhood, a world without seatbelts and safety features.  I ran my hand over the rounded curves of a car from the 1940s and wondered how this one managed to avoid the junkyard and be lovingly restored.

 

Remy sat forever in a gull winged BMW sports car telling me, “Grandma, this one is the best! The seats are so comfortable.”  

 

Then we came across a long skinny racecar, close to the ground.  The staff said, “Oh if the kids want to sit in this we can move the steering wheel!” And into the little seat climbed Remy, and he just fit, peering down the long long nose to the two little wheels 8’ away.  

 

The man said, “This racecar is for straight racing for kids ages 5-17.  Its top speed is 85 miles an hour.”

 

The world is more curious than I imagined.  Who lets a 5 year old drag race?  Not this grandma! The car museum helper said that usually racing runs in families and the kids start pretty young.

 

Who knew? But we went from car to car to car.  And there was even a curious bicycle made by John Deere, the front wheel replaced by the rotating blades of a hand lawn mower.  How hard would it be to peddle back and forth on the lawn to mow it, I wonder? 

A Few Special Books

Some books to touch your heart, in many ways.

 

A piece of the moon by Chris Fabry. A bunch of broken souls come together around a small-town radio station in 1981. They face their past, join with unexpected partners, and find acceptance and forgiveness and hope. I read this as an audio book read by Chris Fabry himself. I think he’d make a great radio DJ.

 

Waiting for Christmas by Lynn Austin. A story of hope and miracles in early 1900s New York City.

 

A Constant Love by Tracie Peterson. A great story of Wyoming ranching in the late 1880s, wonderful truths of God’s love and forgiveness. “But there was no way to turn back time. Somehow, they all had to move forward.” And, the author takes a brave stand on the issue of suicide by Christians.

 

By Irene Hannon:

Vanished. I’ve enjoyed books by this author before. I search for them. This is a fun story. Faith. A little romance. Well-developed crime and criminals. A group of buddies who love to give each other trouble and always protect each other. What I’d forgotten about this author’s stories was the down to the last minute, breath-grabbing, fist-clenching danger.

And, Dark Ambitions. Some of the same characters, wonderful suspense and mystery. Both excellent reads.

 

Mother Emanuel: two centuries of race, resistance, and forgiveness in one Charleston church. By Kevin Sack. A fascinating history of the Black church. It begins by telling of the murder of nine church members in 2015 Charleston, South Carolina. Then moves back to talk of slaves being brought to America in the 1500s; slavery; the fight for emancipation and abolitionism, including in churches. The discussion of whether to evangelize Blacks; the Civil War; the growth of the Black church. It talked of pastors who were elected into government, and of the church helping with marches, demonstrations and classes in non-violence. It told of the life of Reverend Clementa C. Pinckney, the pastor who died at the 2015 shooting at Mother Emanuel. Then of the trial of the murderer, and of the struggle for forgiveness and healing, for Mother Emanuel and the families of those killed and the surviving victims. 

At the Feet of Jesus

I had fun writing this song recently. I hope to use it in a story I’m working on. To encourage myself to write more, I’m going to store it in a folder called “Songs by Kathy.”

 

At the feet of Jesus,

I lay down my sorrows.

At the feet of Jesus,

I lay down my sin.

You bend down to me,

Wrap me tight,

Rock me in your loving arms.

Let me know that you’ve been waiting all along.

 

At the feet of Jesus,

I lay down my worries.

At the feet of Jesus,

I lay down my fears.

Sit me up,

Raise my head,

Help me breathe again.

Let me hear what you have to say to me.

 

At the feet of Jesus,

I lay down my hopes.

At the feet of Jesus,

I lay down my dreams.

Lift me up,

Spin me around,

Walk beside me as I go.

Because I don’t want to go without you,

But I want to go far.

 

At the feet of Jesus,

I lay down my failure.

At the feet of Jesus,

I cry and say “I quit.”

But there you kneel before me.

You smile and take my hands.

You say, “Let’s try again,

And maybe this time, we’ll go farther.”

 

At the feet of Jesus.

Jesus is King, with Power and Authority and Gentleness, Mark 1:21-34:

Verse 21: They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

 

Jesus showed his power and authority by his teaching and by his sternness to not let demons speak. He showed his compassion by healing people of demon possession and of illness. Such a gentle picture as he took the hand of Peter’s mother-in-law and helped her up. 

May Today Be Your Isaiah 43, Rerun

This post first ran on my blog in November 2019.

 

Have you sat in a church service and said about the sermon, “This message was specifically meant for me today?” That’s what happened to me this week.

 

Our church closed in August, and we’ve been looking for a new church home. We’ve been meeting with a launch team for a church which plans to start in February.

 

In the meantime, we’ve been visiting different churches around the area. My husband Murray is having fun, getting to visit churches we might otherwise never go to. I’ll be happy to get settled again.

 

This was an excellent week. We visited a church in Cleveland which has some great history. The current building is from the 1870s. In the 1850s, James Garfield, later President of the United States, sometimes preached there.

 

This week they studied from Isaiah chapters 42 and 43, and it’s what I needed to hear.

 

Recently, I’ve been allowing the devil to bring me down by reminding me of my past. I believe I’ve been forgiven, but…

 

Isaiah 42: 9: See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.”

 

Chapter 42 tells of times of Israel’s sin and their consequences. The former things have taken place. We cannot deny that.

 

But then comes chapter 43.

 

Isaiah 43:1-2: But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

 

God says we are his. For those of us who have asked God to be our Savior, He promises to be with us. We may pass through sweeping rivers and flaming fires of trouble, but we are not alone.

 

Verses 18-19: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

 

No, I cannot deny the former things of my past. But God says not to dwell on it. He will make a new thing for my life, like a path through the wilderness, streams in a wasteland. What an amazing promise from a loving God.

 

Verse 25: “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”

 

Because of who God is, he forgives us.

 

At the end of the service, the minister said, “May today be your Isaiah 43.” I pray that for you as well.

 

Psalm 131:1-11, God Knows Our Sorrows

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;

    let me never be put to shame;

    deliver me in your righteousness.

Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue;

be my rock of refuge,

a strong fortress to save me.

Since you are my rock and my fortress,

    for the sake of your name lead and guide me.

Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.

Into your hands I commit my spirit;

    deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.

I hate those who cling to worthless idols;

    as for me, I trust in the Lord.

I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction

    and knew the anguish of my soul.

You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.

Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;

    my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief.

My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning;

my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.

Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors

and an object of dread to my closest friends—

    those who see me on the street flee from me.

 

Father, you know the sorrows of our days, of our hearts. Thank you, Lord, that if we give ourselves into your care, you rescue us from the enemy. 

Chicken Enchilada Slow Cooker Soup from Kathy's Kitchen

Something very similar to this will appear in Kathy’s Kitchen soon. Sounds wonderful for the cold weather.

 

READY IN ABOUT 7 hrs

"A tasty, quick, hot meal! We like to top the bowls of soup with crushed corn tortilla chips, shredded cheese or chopped green onions -- sometimes all three."

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

 

1 (15.25 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained

 

1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes including juice

 

1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth

 

1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce

 

1 (4 ounce) can diced green chiles

 

1 white onion, chopped

 

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

 

2 bay leaves

 

3 cloves garlic, minced

 

1 teaspoon ground cumin

 

1 teaspoon chili powder

 

1 teaspoon salt

 

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste

PREP

15 mins

COOK

6 hrs 30 mins

READY IN

6 hrs 45 mins

Directions

1. Rinse and pat dry the chicken breasts, then place into the bottom of a slow cooker. Add the corn, tomatoes, chicken broth, enchilada sauce, green chiles, onion, cilantro, bay leaves, garlic, cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper.

2. Cook on Low for 6 hours. Transfer the chicken to a large plate, then shred the meat with two forks. Return the chicken to the slow cooker and continue cooking for 30 minutes to 1 hour. 

2nd half of My 602

I wanted to post this writing, but when I read over it, I was struck by how really sad it sounds. I want to say that I’m not at all in a constant state of depression, but I believe I’ve slowly let myself drop into a funk.

 

When I turned 60, I just felt old. As the years have passed, I’ve climbed even farther down the other side of the hill.

 

As people get sick, as others die, as I have more trouble with my own body and Murray with his, I struggle with feeling old and that I don’t have much chance of doing anything special anymore.

 

The other day I thought about how some people seem to do so well in their 70s, still active and going strong. I had an “I may as well be blonde” moment. I thought, “Maybe my 70s will be better.”

 

Then I realized what I was saying. I’ll be 65 next month; I still have half of my 60s left. What was I saying—that I’ll just waste the next five years and wait for things to get better in my 70s?

 

I believe God has given me the hope of changing my life in the 2^nd half of my 60s. Why not work at being more active, more hopeful, happier?

 

I want to work on my relationship with God. I want to be more hopeful about the Bible verses which speak of God’s love and forgiveness. I’m willing to share hopeful verses about those things with others, and I want to encourage myself to believe they’re true for me too.

 

I want to try to do better about my help. Eat better and be more committed to exercise. I’ve let myself get lazy and stay in bed later.

 

And since my injury thirteen years ago, I think I’ve let myself feel more disabled. Before that, I don’t think I ever let myself think I just couldn’t do things because I was disabled. Certainly with our children with disabilities, we encouraged them to find out how they could do things they were challenged with rather than not. But, I believe I’ve allowed myself to be more unable. To let other people do things for me. I don’t want to continue this.

 

I want to be more willing to do things with Murray. Usually if he asks me to go somewhere with him, shopping or out to eat, I say no. I’d rather just stay at home. The other day, he suggested that I go with him this week to look for a new dish washer, and I said yes, without even thinking. If I get really brave, I’ll even tell him that I’m trying to go out with him more, so he’ll think more often of asking me, and if I start to say no, he can remind me that this was my intention.

 

I read something this week about a writer, who has written similar things for forty years. He said he’s trying to write something new and recommends that other writers do that, try to write something different than they’re used to. I love writing, but I’ve gotten really lazy about it. I want to push myself to write more.

 

The negative part of me thinks that I’ll probably give up on most of this. That’s what I usually do. I lose heart and get depressed and don’t expect much of myself. But I’m working at being hopeful. This all happened over a long period of time, so any improvement I see may be slow, and I need not to let that stop me.

 

I don’t do New Year’s resolutions, because I figure that I’ll quit them soon. This time, I’m trying to aim for something for five years. What kind of sense does that make?

 

It makes sense because God’s mercies are new every morning. If I’m feeling low one day, like I’m failing, I can still try again the next day.

 

Lamentation 3:21-23:

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. 

Psalm 30, Wailing into Dancing

A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple. Of David.

I will exalt you, Lord,

    for you lifted me out of the depths

    and did not let my enemies gloat over me.

Lord my God, I called to you for help,

    and you healed me.

You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;

    you spared me from going down to the pit.

Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;

    praise his holy name.

For his anger lasts only a moment,

    but his favor lasts a lifetime;

weeping may stay for the night,

    but rejoicing comes in the morning.

When I felt secure, I said,

    “I will never be shaken.”

Lord, when you favored me,

    you made my royal mountain stand firm;

but when you hid your face,

    I was dismayed.

To you, Lord, I called;

    to the Lord I cried for mercy:

“What is gained if I am silenced,

    if I go down to the pit?

Will the dust praise you?

    Will it proclaim your faithfulness?

Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me;

    Lord, be my help.”

You turned my wailing into dancing;

    you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.

    Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

 

Father God, why should I praise you? Because you rescued me from the ugliness I got myself into. And even when you get mad at me, you are only mad a little while. But what you want to give to me is joy and comfort and mercy. Thank you, Father, for listening to me when I cry out to you. 

Some Special Books to Start the New Year

These books touched my heart.

 

Breath of heaven by Deborah Raney. A story of missionaries in modern-day Colombia. Filled with gripping danger. I found myself praying for the safety of the characters and thanking God when elements of help arrived.

 

The daughter of Auschwitz: my story of resilience, survival and hope by Tova Friedman, Malcolm Brabant and Ben Kingsley. Ms. Friedman, born in Poland in 1938, was one of the youngest survivors of Auschwitz, and when this book was published in 2022, she was one of the few still alive. Her mother repeated to her while she grew up what happened to them, with a goal to keep the memory of the holocaust alive, so that people never forget. This is Ms. Friedman’s goal as well in this book. I am glad I read this book; I believe also we need to keep this history alive and never forget. But it is a hard read. The details are vivid and terrible, in the ghetto, in the work camp, in the death camp.

 

Welcome to the Honey B&B by Melody Carlson. A family is dealing with dementia. I get irritated with the wife and daughter when they get mad at their husband and dad when he messes up. Don’t they realize he can’t help it? Only the thirteen-year-old granddaughter seems to stay patient with him. But then I remember how irritable I can get with people with no good reason. This whole family is struggling with this terrible thing. This is a wonderful story of their love and survival.

 

He Gets Us by Max Lucado. Jesus lived among us, so he knows our struggles and sorrows. And, knowing us completely, he still washes the filth from our feet.

 

Have yourself a Christiansen Christmas and It had to be you by Susan May Warren. I’ve read several of the books in this series. Recently, I found myself reading these two at the same time. These stories involve a large family, struggles with faith, struggles with life shocks and decisions, beautiful descriptions of Minnesota. And, the healing of grace, not just for when we’re saved, but also every day as Jesus walks with us. 

Diamonds From Isaiah, chapter 1:21-26: Make Us Pure

21 

See how the faithful city has become a prostitute!

She once was full of justice;

    righteousness used to dwell in her— but now murderers!

22 

Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water.

23 

Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves;

they all love bribes and chase after gifts.

They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them.

24 

Therefore the Lord, the Lord Almighty, the Mighty One of Israel, declares:

“Ah! I will vent my wrath on my foes

    and avenge myself on my enemies.

25 

I will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities.

26 

I will restore your leaders as in days of old, your rulers as at the beginning.

Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.”

 

Oh Lord, thank you that you want to make us pure. Our world is such a mess. Our hearts are sick with the horrors around us. Make us tender toward those in need. Create a longing in us for what is right in your eyes. 

Guest Author Interview with Celeste Charlene

I have read many of Celeste Charlene’s books and find much wonder in the faith and beautiful descriptions of Africa in these stories. Thank you, Celeste, for sharing with us.

 

Kathy: Would you give our readers a brief bio? What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?

Celeste Charlene is an RN with a Master’s of Science in Nursing who specialized in community health programs for developing countries. She served as a missionary for thirty-two years in West African countries, treating the sick, establishing mobile clinics, teaching health, training village health workers, and evangelizing.

When she’s not writing, she still writes. Not a day passes that she doesn’t write something for one of her books, a devotion for her blog or her Bible study.  She’s written and self-published 29 books in the last 10 years.

Every week or so she likes to remodel a garment she bought at a thrift store or bake a new recipe.

 

Kathy: Can you share a little about your writing journey? Any stories that still make you smile?

 I began writing in a diary when I was eleven and have written every day.

My first book, SHAKEN BLESSINGS, began with a three-month-old infant. The mother died during child birth at a hospital and the father already had eight daughters and didn’t want another one. Since the baby survived and the mother died, people in that area thought the child was cursed.  I took the baby and named her Blessing, hoping to dispel the curse. I started a separate journal about her.

After retiring I submitted my journal of Blessing to several publishers. They said it was an interesting story and they enjoyed it, which told me they had read it. None of the publishers I submitted it to published journals, Christian work, or work for unknown authors.

They suggested I rewrite SHAKEN BLESSINGS into novel form and submit it to Christian publishers, which I did.

I often laugh as I write about the genius twins, who are characters in my first book series that starts with A LITTLE MERCY, and follows with A TRAGIC GOOD, A WAVERING HOPE SCARRED BEAUTY, EXQUISITE ASHES, and BROKEN  SPIRIT. Readers liked that series best, and I’ve continued with titles that start with G-H-I-J-K-L and so on. 

 

Kathy: How do you share your faith with your writing?

My books are women’s inspirational ones with God’s plan of salvation or by showing how a character changes or grows spiritually through Christ’s influence in her life or with a sermon in the story or with a character sharing her testimony. 

I’m a Christian, live a Christian life, and serve God as a Christian in everything every day and my books show that. I attend church faithfully and study the scripture, prepare the lesson and the handouts to teach the weekly women’s Bible study at church. The Bible is our textbook.

 

Kathy: Do you have a writing schedule that works for you? How do you balance your writing with other responsibilities?

I’m a very early riser between 4 and 5. After prayer, Bible study, and devotions. I spend 20 minutes on my treadmill. Then I write about thirty-forty minutes, and then on my treadmill another 20 minutes and write another thirty-forty.   By the time I’ve completed an hour and twenty minutes on the treadmill and three to four hours of writing, I cook lunch. Afternoons are spent running errands, visiting or calling family or friends, or I might have lunch with a friend instead of cook. I normally write 4 hours in the late afternoons and evenings.

This schedule is not cast in stone. I keep it most of the time so I am always ahead of myself.  If a friend or family member needs or wants me to do something, I’m rarely behind and can easily drop everything and take a day off, but even then I still write some that day.

 

Kathy: Where do you find your story ideas?

All my stories came from people, incidents, and places that I’ve written in my journal during the years I spent in Africa. To help keep my missionary friends who are still there safe, I changed the names of all the places and people. You will not find any of the African countries in my books on maps.

 I lived in some dangerous places during treacherous times, in which cameras were banned and no one was permitted to write anything about the country or anything that was seen. Over the years I’ve used these stories and incidents in my novels.

 

Kathy: Tell us about one of your favorite authors.  

I have several favorite authors, and I read while I’m on my treadmill.

God and the authors of His Word, Francine Rivers, Dee Henderson, Victoria Thompson, Terri Blackstock, Jeanette Oke, Irene Hannon, Karen Kingsbury, and Grace Livingstone Hill.

 

Kathy: Can you share with us about your latest book?

FREAK TO FANATIC started out as a biography to answer all the questions people have asked me, primarily “How did a girl like you end up as a missionary?”

It turned into a devotion book, and the last section of it are memoirs from thirteen years in Nigeria.

As a writer I’m what professionals call a “By the seat of your pants,” author.  I lay hands on my computer every morning and pray that the words, thoughts, and messages I write will honor and glorify God.

 

Kathy: Are you already planning your next book?

I’m always writing but God hasn’t given me a specific plot for my next book. It will be the “m” book MAYHEM, MURDER, MADNESS, or MASSACRES. Having worked thirteen years in Nigeria in which there were three military coup d’etats and an increasing Islamic influence in the leadership, I’m familiar with terror and violence. So far I have twelve pages of notes.

 

WHAT IS YOUR GOAL AS A WRITER?

I had no phone or Internet while in Africa.  Some of the “Internet cafes” in the large cities were getting started when I retired. So I’m computer illiterate.

Since I enjoy writing so much and had so many stories from Africa that were hand-written in my journals, I wanted to retire, write books, and give them away.

While in Africa, I forgot that books cost money. Still, I started buying a few of my books to give away. Praise God for helping me give away seven out of every ten books that I buy.  We can’t outgive God. Half the people who read the books later give me a donation, which I use to buy more books to give away.  God is good all the time and good to all of us. Amen.

 PS   I do not advertise or market. but missionaries are easy to find and so am I.

celestecharlene | celestialsafaris.wordpress.com

celeste charlene.amazon.com

Or celestecharlene777@gmail.com