country gravel road is flanked by a very crooked split rail fence with pine trees and a dark blue and puffy white cloud sky Proverbs 10:9 New International Version 9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.

A Crooked Path

ByMary

Camp Polk Nature Preserve, Sisters, OR Proverbs 10:9 NIV Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,    but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out. “You are not your sister’s keeper.” My mom knew I was coming to tell her a tale about my sister. What I didn’t know was that she had been witness to the entire…

a wooden cross in a wooded cemetery Matthew 16:24 GNT Then Jesus said to his disciples, If any of you want to come with me, you must forget yourself, carry your cross, and follow me.

Pick Up & Carry

ByMary

Camp Polk Cemetery, Sisters, OR Matthew 16:24 GNT Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you want to come with me, you must forget yourself, carry your cross, and follow me.” It’s an exciting time for my oldest grandson as he prepares for his first day of preschool. His dutiful parents are collecting…

Colossians 3:23 Good News Translation Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people. two dark blue birds made out of sea glass rest on a branch made out of coral

Work for the Lord

ByMary

Colossians 3:23 GNT Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people. Musician Marc Anthony says, “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.” Easy to say, but what about changing diapers, washing a revolving door…

1 Corinthians 16:14 GNT Do all your work in love. Woman wearing flannel with long braids plants a tree near a running stream

Work with Love

ByMary

Deschutes Land Trust, Camp Sherman, OR 1 Corinthians 16:14 GNT Do all your work in love. I have often said, “I don’t have a lot of money, but you can have my time, my hair, and my blood!” Donating my hair to Locks of Love, donating blood, walking for MS or ALS, volunteering at the…

vibrant deep orange sunset with rolling clouds Exodus 3:14 I AM

I Am

ByMary

Exodus 3:14 GNT God said, “I am who I am. You must tell them: ‘The one who is called I Am has sent me to you.’” God is God. No one greater, no one more mighty, no one more loving, no one more – period. God asked Moses to tell his people. Are you ready to…

Psalm 103:2-5 Good News Translation 2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and do not forget how kind he is. 3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. 4 He keeps me from the grave and blesses me with love and mercy. 5 He fills my life[a] with good things, so that I stay young and strong like an eagle. a bald eagle is perched in the dead top of a tall pine tree against a blue sky surrounded by the green of other trees

Young Like an Eagle

ByMary

Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery, Camp Sherman, OR Psalm 103:2-5 GNT 2 Praise the Lord, my soul,    and do not forget how kind he is.3 He forgives all my sins    and heals all my diseases.4 He keeps me from the grave    and blesses me with love and mercy.5 He fills my life with good things,    so that I stay young and strong like an eagle….

a pair of new eyeglasses John 9:25 GNT One thing I do know, I was blind, and now I see.

Able to See

ByMary

John 9:25 GNT  One thing I do know, I was blind, and now I see. Ahhhh…. The feeling of new glasses. That crisp clean vision that you didn’t realize you were missing until you put on those brand-new glasses.  My sister tells of putting on her glasses for the very first time as a child,…