Category Archives: Word-Filled-Wednesday

The Lord’s Lilies of the Fields in Alaska

Janis Van Keuren

Frigid Arnica       “… See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” Matthew 6:28-30 NIV      I’ve chosen only this portion of the Lord’s words encouraging us not to worry because I wanted to emphasize how God’s creation of wildflowers exceeds anything beautiful that man can create.We just imitate the beauty that we have already witnessed … Continue reading →

Being Intentional

Janis Van Keuren

Photo credit: Jennifer A. Janes      Today we are privileged to have Jennifer as our featured guest-post writer.She is a stay-at-home mom to two young daughters and writes a blog at Jennifer A. Janes. She is involved with a program for young writers in her area and is a teacher-consultant with the local site of the National Writing Project. She is also an advocate/case manager for her younger daughter, who has chronic health issues, sensory processing disorder, and dyslexia. Jennifer … Continue reading →

Fortune Cookie Tells The Truth

Janis Van Keuren

Photo Credit: Scribblage           We ordered Chinese take-out food tonight as our week has been jam packed with activities. With family style, you get egg roll–and crab puffs. The fried nuggets of pork were dripping with sweet and sour sauce, while the cashew chicken was filled with slices of white breast meat and lots of veggies. Hubby’s beef and broccoli was smothered in a savory brown sauce with fresh flowerets and oldest dined on curried shrimp. Of course, all the bowls … Continue reading →

Seek Him While He May Be Found

Janis Van Keuren

Carmel, CA 2010      “Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.      Turn my eyes away from worthless things; renew my life according to       your word.” Psalm 119:36-37 NIV             In His light, we see light; in His love, we are saved; in seeking Him, we are restored. He sends wisdom on the lips of His godly counselors.     With gratefulness for His love and mercies that are new every morning and for those who bring His … Continue reading →

The Ever-Changing Butterfly

Janis Van Keuren

     I love working back in the classroom. There’s so much to learn and experience all over again. Assigned to one student as a special ed teaching assistant, I get more of the experience and less of the preparation.      So, just like the kids, I anxiously awaited the arrival of our butterfly kit with the caterpillars, food, and plastic see-through container. It was thrilling to watch the students marvel at the different stages of development in the life cycle … Continue reading →

He Will Care for Us

Janis Van Keuren

        “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.” Matthew 10:29 NIV      Hubby found this baby bird smack dab in the middle of our front walkway on Holy Saturday. Worried that someone or something might harm this little creature, he carefully moved it to the gravel in our front yard. Later, when Hubby found its abandoned nest, we tucked the … Continue reading →

He Calms the Storm

Janis Van Keuren

          “The disciples went and woke him (Jesus), saying, ‘Master, Master, we’re going to drown!’     He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.      ‘Where is your faith?’ he asked his disciples.     In fear and amazement they asked one another, ‘Who is this? He commands even the winds and      and the water, and they obey him.’” Luke 8:24, 25 NIV      The ocean waves rolled in amidst the stormy … Continue reading →

There is Life in the Dying

Janis Van Keuren

        Rounding the corner into our development, I notice the abundance of green leaves shimmering in the afternoon sunlight. At first, I’m mesmerized by the beauty of the tree-lined street. Then it hits me as I catch a glimpse of a few barren branches hiding behind the bounty of spring’s green adorned trees.      Wasn’t it just last week or two weeks ago that this same street looked bleak? Trees stripped of their glory resembled petrified sticks protruding from the … Continue reading →

The Good Shepherd Leads Us

Janis Van Keuren

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of … Continue reading →

Where Does Truth Dwell?

Janis Van Keuren

He has made the earth by His power           “But the Lord is the TRUE God; he is the living God, the eternal King…Tell them this: ‘These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish from the earth and from under the heavens’     “But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.” Jeremiah 10: 10a, 11, 12 NIV      God alone is … Continue reading →