Author Pam Frame

Pam Frame

Pam Frame's "Wending Our Way" Devotions

Enjoy these selections from the last 90 days of Pam's "Wending Our Way" devotions. The devotions are listed in descending order by date with the most recent devotion at the top. Click here if you would like to read the Walter Mouse devotions.

If you would like to receive Walter's "Field Mouse Evangelism" devotions and Pam's "Wending Our Way" devotions in your email each week, you can sign-up at the Subscribe page of this website.

Wending Our Way...

Thank You For Christmas

December 19, 2025

Luke 14: ...Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.
Angels and shepherds sing here and above~ Camels and wise men appear~ Mary and Manger have brought us His Love~ God will forever be near.
Wending Our Way...

Blocked Prayers??!!

December 18, 2025

1 Corinthians 14:15 ...I will pray in my spirit.
I read a novel a while ago. It was about a rather timid young woman who decided to embrace life. She had always felt unwelcome in the world because her parents wanted a boy and always gave her the impression that she wasn't ever quite "enough." And as if that wasn't bad enough, her teacher in a Catholic school told her repeatedly that if her prayers weren't reaching God, it was because her sin was blocking them. No wonder she had low self-esteem.
The nifty thing about prayers is that they always get through to God. Somehow, prayers go around or through all obstacles and wind up before God in heaven--in golden bowls (see Rev. 5:8). Nothing in heaven or on earth blocks prayers. Think of all the people in the Bible who led less than saintly lives but who were none-the-less faithful pray-ers. Check out Noah...the drunkard (Gen. 9...20-23), David... the adulterer... (2 Sam. 1-5), Moses...the untrusting... (Nu. 20:1-12).
Be assured that God hears your every prayer and will act on each one at the appropriate time. So, keep your prayers coming. God is awaiting their arrival.
Wending Our Way...

Reserved

December 17, 2025

John 14:2 ..."I am going there to prepare a place for you."
I periodically lead tours around our retirement community. Last week I joined some prospective residents at a luncheon here on campus, then took them on a tour of the public buildings and spaces on our grounds. When I got to the luncheon, there was a "RESERVED" card perched at my seat. It gave me a warm, cozy feeling.
I brought the card home and as I was looking at it, it came to me that I have another "RESERVED" sign waiting for me. It's in heaven and Jesus put it there. It marks my place in my Forever-Home. When I finally get past the Pearly Gates, my room/s will be waiting for me. There's another warm, cozy feeling!
Wending Our Way...

Evolving Life

December 16, 2025

Habakkuk 2:3 ...the revelation awaits an appointed time....
I recently started knitting a cotton dishcloth. Once it got under way, it started to look genuinely awful. It had bumps in several places and was looking pretty uneven. I almost ripped it out, but then I figured I'd stick with it for a bit. It was good that I did because, as the pattern developed, things straightened out and the dishcloth looked just fine.
Sometimes life events do that to us, too. A new job, school, house, boss, illness, etc.--all take time to adjust to before life begins to run smoothly again. Sometimes all we have to do is patiently live within the new circumstances and give things time to settle in.
Wending Our Way...

Christmas Haiku...Missing Christ

December 15, 2025

Mark 6:31 ...Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place....
Charging toward Christmas~
My Mastercard in my hand~
Fa la la la la!!!
Wending Our Way...

Astigmatism

December 12, 2025

John 7:24 ...Stop judging by mere appearances.
I have astigmatism. It's a defect in the eye which makes the eyeball less round. This prevents the eyes from focusing as a team. Without corrective lenses, people with astigmatism can have double vision at times.
I had a recent example of this around Halloween. One of our neighbors had three orange electric candles glowing in their front window. They looked so cheery! When I looked at them with my glasses on, there were three distinct candles; but when I looked at them without my glasses, each window frame had two candles...so I was looking at six candles.
As I reflected on this, it came to me that both three lights and six lights were realities for me. It made me think of times I've talked with someone who sees things differently than I do. Sometimes our inner workings and outer circumstances are just different from others', so life can have a different appearance to different people. If we tend to disagree with someone else, it's possible that neither of us is being disagreeable. We may simply be trying to explain our own reality.
Wending Our Way...

Haiku...Happiness

December 11, 2025

Ecclesiastes 2:26 ...God gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness....
Can be elusive~
It's not a destination~
It's a daily walk.
Wending Our Way...

Love Ya!

December 10, 2025

2 Corinthians 13:11 ...the God of love and peace will be with you.
Sometime this past fall I read a novel in which a young man and woman were dating. At some point, the young man realized that though his girlfriend said she loved him, what she actually loved was his money, looks, position, and connections. "She loves a version of me that's incomplete," he told a friend.
That phrase stuck with me. It made me realize that we all love versions of others that are incomplete because we, as humans, never know all there is to know about another person. And surely, we don't know all there is to know about God! We don't even know all there is to know about ourselves.
One comforting fact here is that God will never love a version of us that's incomplete. He knows every inch of every thought, experience, like, dislike, habit, connection and resource that we've got now, had in the past or will have in the future. He loves the complete version of us, warts and all. We can rest in His Love forever. Hallelujah!!
Wending Our Way...

Take Care Of Each Other

November 13, 2025

Philippians 2:25 ...Epaphroditus...whom you sent to take care of my needs.
My car was recently in for routine service. When we'd finished paying the bill, the lady who was helping us smiled up at us and said, "Take care of each other."
Her comment made me think of this scripture. We're each sent here to help take care of other folks. And others are put here to help take care of us. No one (except God) takes care of everyone. We're each sent into certain areas to serve certain people...those whom God puts before us. Check out Jn. 5: 1-15... "The Healing at the Pool." Here, Jesus approached the one man God wanted Him to help. He didn't try to cure everyone there at the pool.
"Take Care of Each Other!" What wonderful words to live by as we do God's will in loving others.
Wending Our Way...

Not A Loan

December 8, 2025

Isaiah 12:3 ...With joy you will draw water from the wells of Salvation.
Yesterday I got to thinking about a Home Equity loan offer I'd received in the mail. At the bottom of a very official-looking page, dark capital letters informed me that "This is not a loan approval."
"This is not a loan approval" reminded me of salvation, since we DO need to ask for it (as you'd ask for a loan), but salvation is never on loan. It's a once-and-done gift from God, purchased by Jesus and infused with the Holy Spirit.
We can't buy or rent salvation. We can only accept it and enjoy it...now and forever.
Wending Our Way...

Unlock Your Equity!

December 05, 2025

Luke 6:23 ...great is your reward in heaven.
Back in January 2025, Larry and I moved to a Senior Living Community. We sold our home and are now living in a smaller, very cozy cottage. We just received a letter from a bank offering us the opportunity to "Unlock up to $750,000 in your home's equity!!" Great! I had to chuckle, though, because I wondered how a Home Equity Loan works when one is renting rather than owning. (Renting means that we have no equity in our cottage.)
Hmmm--how about equity in heaven? Do we have access to THAT?! Well, let's see, Equity equals the value of a mortgaged property after all charges against it have been removed. Heaven isn't mortgaged. God owns it outright, so to speak. And...heaven has no market value. It's not for sale! Annnd...There are no outstanding debts in heaven. So, no. We have no equity in heaven.
What we do have is an Eternal Home, free forever from the difficulties and challenges of earthly life, and the promise of eternal companionship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Sounds like a wonderful reward!!!
Wending Our Way...

Birthday Card

December 4, 2025

Deuteronomy 28:2 ...All these blessings will come upon you....
I recently received a birthday card from a friend. On the back of the card was a small Post-it note with my name written on it. My friend probably got a number of cards ready at the same time and mailed them closer to their due date.
That little sticky-note gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling. How nice to be remembered!
Do you suppose God has an enormous storehouse in heaven lined with innumerable shelves? Maybe each shelf contains countless blessings (maybe even a thousand!!)? Maybe each blessing has someone's name attached to it and perhaps a delivery date as well. Next time a blessing slips quietly into your life, remember God's Storehouse and thank Him for remembering you with His Generosity and Love.
Wending Our Way...

Kids #3...Confuzzled

December 3, 2025

Isaiah 21:3 ...I am bewildered by what I see.
Here's the final kiddie devo. A very earnest--and somewhat precocious 5-year-old--strode up to his mom and asked, "Is 'confuzzled' a word?"
My Kindle doesn't list 'confuzzled' as a word, but an AI overview on my phone said it's a "playful" word that means one is confused and puzzled at the same time. It's considered a neologism--a newly minted word that hasn't made it into dictionaries yet.
Gosh! How often I've felt confuzzled--unsure of the ongoing situation, bewildered by circumstances and unable to figure something out. Many stories in the Bible take shape around someone who's confuzzled. (Moses and the Golden Idol, Joseph in prison, Joseph when he heard of Mary's pregnancy, Jesus on the Cross...to name a few.) I think ultimately, feeling confuzzled isn't so much about what we see before us. It's about what God is aiming at, which is usually way beyond our human capacity to visualize or understand. God's always got a plan--an unstoppable plan--so we can relax a bit, knowing all is under His control (even if we're confuzzled at times!).
Wending Our Way...

Kids #2...Pet Ice Cube

December 2, 2025

Matthew 28:20 ...And surely I am with you always....
Here's another Difficulties of Parenting scenario. A young mom had just settled her toddler in his seat at breakfast. As was her custom, she put a single ice cube in his juice glass, poured his juice and turned to put the finishing touches on breakfast.
A short time later, she heard her little one sobbing desperately--because his pet ice cube had melted. What the child didn't realize was that the ice cube was still with him, just in a different form (one he couldn't see).
Isn't that just like Our Jesus? We can't see Him (or God or the Holy Spirit), but, even so, we know that they're with us always--now through Eternity.
Wending Our Way...

Kids #1...100 Pockets

December 1, 2025

Genesis 49:25 ...God...who blesses you with the blessings of the heavens above....
A short time ago I saw an amusing thing on YouTube. Parents had sent in blurbs about the difficulties of parenting. One young mom reported that she had to fight to stay awake as her toddler sang all the verses of a song she'd made up about a dress with a hundred pockets. Heavens!
One hundred pockets sounds like a huge blessing to a toddler. Just think of all the stuff she could hide away and still have ready access to!!
This reminded me of an ancient blessing---from the Mid-East, I think. "May you have a thousand blessings." That's way better than a hundred pockets!!
Wending Our Way...

Bridge Or Chasm

November 28, 2025

Genesis 50:21 ... [Joseph speaking to his brothers in Egypt] ...he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
I recently witnessed a sad but probably common verbal interchange. As a mother and teenage daughter entered a store, Mom turned to her daughter and said, "Why do you always have to screw up your hair?" (Her hair was intricately braided, with a few colorful beads and ribbons added in. I thought it looked nice.) The daughter dropped back and waited a bit as her mom continued into the store and began her shopping.
Soon an older woman entered the store and walked up to the teen. She threw her arms around the young girl, smiled and said, "Your hair ribbons match your outfit. That's cool!" The teen smiled shyly and said, "Thanks, Gram" as the two strolled through the store together.
As I reflected on these verbal interchanges, it occurred to me that Mom, with her unkind words, created a chasm between herself and her daughter. The daughter would no doubt be hesitant to move toward her mother again any time soon because there might always be the threat of the emotional abyss the mom had created with her comment. But Gram, with her hug and supportive words, had built a bridge--one that allowed Gram and teen to walk forward into each other's grace, love and companionship. TAKE-HOME: Every word we utter either builds bridges to others or creates chasms that hinder contact.
Wending Our Way...

Meet The Author

November 27, 2025

Psalms 42:2 ...my soul thirsts for God, for the Living God. When can I go and meet the Living God?
I just finished a good book by Lisa Scottoline. I've also read books by Judy Bloom, John Grisham, Tess Gerritsen and Ron Howard. I've never met any of these authors, but that's ok. I can still enjoy their writing.
It's kind of different with the Bible, though. It's possible to read the Bible without meeting the Author, but it makes for an awfully sterile experience--one lacking in imagination, inspiration, productivity, devotion and love. The word 'sterile' came from an Old French word meaning 'barren cow'...that is an infertile cow. If we're barren or sterile in our relationship with God, He can't use us to bless others and to expand His Kingdom.
Having a personal relationship with God gives us creativity, inspiration, productivity, devotion, purpose and love--wonderful components of spiritual life here on earth and for all Eternity.
Wending Our Way...

Wild Heart/Tame Heart

November 26, 2025

Luke 4:18 ...The Spirit...has send me to proclaim freedom for the prisoner.
A short while ago I heard two young women chatting. Both were recent college grads and were holding down their first jobs and maintaining their first apartments. One woman said, "I must be part tiger and part mouse. My Wild Tiger Heart longs for freedom but my Tame Mouse Heart longs to go home."
How true!! Haven't you sometimes felt the same way, especially during difficult times? The beauty of our Christian life is that we're guaranteed both--Freedom and Home....gifts from God for All Eternity.
Wending Our Way...

Arena Of Temptation

November 25, 2025

Galatians 6:1 ...watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
'Arena,' I just discovered, originally meant 'sand,' and referred to the sand that was put down in ancient amphitheaters to soak up contestants' blood. (ICK!!!) At some point, the word expanded to mean any enclosed area used for contests. And 'temptation', a desire to do something wrong or unwise, originally meant to test or try something.
Which leads me to a thought I recently read or heard somewhere: "Avoid Arenas of Temptation." Temptations often do appear in specific areas and they always involve a contest, a struggle, a fight or a competition.
We're often told to "avoid temptation," but avoiding the Arena of Temptation really spoke to me. It suggests that I probably have to stay farther away from temptation than I realized. I have to avoid its whole arena, not just whatever aspect of temptation that's near me now. Staying out of its arena completely sounds like a good place to start.
Wending Our Way...

For The Good

November 24, 2025

Romans 8:28 ...we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him....
So many things in life don't look too great until they're completed more of their journey. Consider cake batter. It doesn't look like much, but cakes are certainly wonderful! And how about hand-made quilts? They start out looking like a pile of scraps and wind up being both beautiful and practical. Then there are seeds, which start out looking largely uninteresting, but, given time, produce flowers, trees, grass, grains, veggies, fruit and various other forms of vegetation.
And what about people? A fetus in utero looks nothing like the adult it will become, nor does it behave like one. Every living thing is in process, moving along a pathway marked by growth and change.
You are becoming what God made you to be. So is everyone else. And through it all, even if the road feels rocky today, God is drawing us all toward the Eternal Peace and Serenity of Heaven.
Wending Our Way...

Living Water

November 21, 2025

John 7:38,39 ..."Whoever believes in me...streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.
I remember once as a kid I found a really beautiful sparkly stone on the damp sand near the ocean. It was such a glorious thing that I brought it home and kept it in my bedroom, but alas, as it dried, it became dull and uninteresting. It had no sparkle at all. Dang! The water had imparted the stone's beauty.
We're kind of like that stone. It's God's Spirit in us that gives us Christians a glow. The wonderful thing is that one we're immersed in the Spirit's Blessings and Presence, we have streams of Living Water flowing from within. What a gift!! And one that will never dry out.
Wending Our Way...

It's Gonna Work!

November 20, 2025

Revelation 22:21b ...Amen.
Our retirement community is involved in a number of upgrades and major repairs or replacements that our aging facility periodically requires. Several residents have expressed valid concerns about the feasibility, effectiveness and cost of these ventures. In a recent meeting, one of our administrators smiled at us all and said, "Trust us. It's gonna work!" I found that thought to be very reassuring.
Those words, "Trust me. It's gonna work," reminded me of the last words in the Bible. Rev. 22:21 says, "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen." This suggests to me that God, too, is saying, "Trust Me. It's gonna work!!!" Very reassuring!!!
Wending Our Way...

Walking Humbly With God

November 18, 2025

Micah 6:8 ...what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
K14, K2 tog, K14, S1, K1, PSSO, K14. Did that make sense to you? It won't unless you're a knitter. Knitting directions are meant to be worked, not read.
Scripture is a bit different. It's certainly meant to be read, but it's also meant to be worked. Through reading it, chewing on it and working to make it visible on Earth, we grow personally, emotionally and spiritually and also help those journeying along beside us.
Just reading scripture and never reflecting on it or acting on what we've read gives us little Kingdom impact in our earthly travels. Reading and following what the scriptures teach fulfills Micah 6:8 in our lives, as we seek to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God.
Wending Our Way...

Exhausted...

November 17, 2025

2 Samuel 16:14 ... [King David] and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And he refreshed himself.
Today's scripture tells of King David's flight from Jerusalem after he discovered his son Absalom's conspiracy to take over David's kingdom. King David and his supporters fled to the Mount of Olives but were exhausted when they arrived. One reason for their exhaustion was that Shimei (one of Absalom's supporters) accompanied them all the way while throwing stones, dirt and curses at them. (See 2 Sam. 15: 1-37, and 2 Sam. 16: 5-14.)
Doesn't this scenario sound rather familiar? Life has a way of inflicting harm, annoyance, sadness and misery as we travel along. We, too, seek a place to refresh ourselves. Thankfully, God promises to be with us and to refresh us here on Earth, and then to give us new strength and energy in eternity. (See Jer. 31:25.)
Hallelujah---and Amen!!
Wending Our Way...

Heaven-Bound

November 14, 2025

Philippians 3:20 ...our citizenship is in heaven.
I got to reflecting on the word 'destination' today. It refers to a place one is going to or being sent to. Originally from Latin, the word implied having been sent for a given purpose. Hmmm...this suggests that we're each sent to earth with specific jobs to do, ones we often spend our whole lives growing into as we carry God's Love to diverse areas. And then, at earthly life's closing, we reach our Final Destination, which is heaven.
It came to me that while heaven is a destination, greed, power, lust, fame, money, possessions, and the like are not. They're not places to go in which to work out our God-given purposes. They're just hide-outs for ego-centric fulfillment.
God can't use us effectively if we're aiming at something outside His Will. We need to follow His lead (and not our own desires) in order to complete the Good Lord's work here on earth. Then, at the appointed time, we can rest and enjoy the pleasures of our heavenly home.
Wending Our Way...

Buy, Trade And Finance

November 12, 2025

Isaiah 43:1 ...I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
Larry and I often drive by a used car lot. They have a big sign out front saying, "We Buy, Sell and Finance!" Sounds handy.
The sign reminded me of Jesus because He does some of those things. He purchased our Forever and He financed the whole deal. The one thing He won't do is trade us. Once we're His, we're His forever. Sounds wonderful!!
Wending Our Way...

Done!!

November 11, 2025

John 19:30 ...Jesus said, "It is finished."
I bought a new fleece jacket recently. It's really cozy and I love its cheery yellow color, but the finish work on it wasn't so hot. It had lots of loose threads I had to hunt down and cut off. It looked better when I got those ends removed. Then the piece was finished properly.
Naturally this reminded me of Jesus. What if He hadn't finished His Work on the Cross?! Where would that leave all of us? Locked out of heaven, that's fer sure. Not a very nice way to end up!
Wending Our Way...

Haiku... Going Home

November 10, 2025

Ecclesiastes 12:5 ...man goes to his eternal home....
How nice to have homes
That we like to return to.
Heaven is like that!!
Wending Our Way...

Nibbles

November 7, 2025

Colossians 3:16 ...sing songs, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Gratitude means keeping track of the good stuff.
Wending Our Way...

Leaf Blowing

November 6, 2025

John 8:12 ...Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness.
Back in October, our ground's crew were still cutting the grass as well as whatever leaves had fallen. This often resulted in a mess of grass and leaves on the sidewalks until the guys got them blown away from the residences. Watching the men at work gave me three life lessons: 1. Sometimes things get messy before they get better. 2. Give time, time. 3. Let the process unfold.
God's got it all covered. We just need to relax and follow His lead.
Wending Our Way...

Crowding God Out

November 05, 2025

Luke 6:12 ...Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray....
There's an old, abandoned house right across from our driveway. I used to use it as a landmark for finding the turn-in for our campus, but this past summer the house got completely over-grown with poison ivy. Not an inch of house was visible by summer's end.
This reminded me of how quickly and how completely frantic activity can creep into my life and crowd out my relationship with God. A few short weeks of neglect and distracting thoughts and activities can easily take over as they shove their way into my life.
The only way to preserve my time with God is to diligently create space in my days for Him so that nothing encroaches on my time with Him. This means I need to keep distracting influences trimmed back and I also need to intentionally seek quiet venues in order to spend time with God. Dashing madly about creates division rather than devotion.
Wending Our Way...

Running Out Of Water

November 4, 2025

John 4:14 ...the water I give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.
We had a wonderful brass quartet play for us last week--a trombone, a euphonium, and two trumpets. They played energetically for a whole hour, stopping every once in a while, to gulp a bit of water. Toward the end of the hour, the leader took a sip of water, looked out at the audience and with a big smile said, "We're out of water. We'll have to stop!" Everyone chuckled at that.
"We're out of water...." We'll never hear Our Jesus say that. He'll never run out of the Water of Life and He'll never stop living and loving mankind. Nor will we, as we journey along toward our Forever Home.
Wending Our Way...

In Your Face

November 3, 2025

Exodus 34:29 ...When Moses came down from Mt. Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD.
The phrase "in your face" unfortunately has a lot of negative connotations. Think of road rage interactions, arguments that result in personal injury, entitled people of all ages forcing their opinions and agenda onto others, toddlers screaming because they can't get their own way, snarling guard dogs protecting their property or people. All of these "in your face" interactions involve another's face being contorted into angry snarls, abusive words and blatant threats of impending harm. The Bible reports a different "in your face" experience that's the complete opposite of the above examples. When Moses left Mt. Sinai after speaking with God, his face was radiant--glowing, relaxed, peaceful, soft and warm. All the good stuff packed into one. God's Love shone in his face and the people found comfort there.
One of our jobs as Christians is to absorb so much of Jesus that He shows up in our actions and in our faces. Gentle actions and glowing faces draw more people to God that glares and growling.
What's showing "in your face" as you journey each day?
Wending Our Way...

Check Actions--or Motive

October 31, 2025

1 Thessalonians 2:3 ...the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives....
I just finished a cozy murder mystery. One couple, in the middle of their own anniversary dinner at a fancy restaurant, got into a terrible fight. The man who had spent the whole time at the party chasing after and blatantly flirting with a seventeen-year- old girl who was there, kept justifying his behavior with all sorts of feeble excuses and complete denial of his wife's feelings. His wife, who genuinely loved her husband, had spent the whole party trying to get her own husband to pay attention to her. I know it was just a story, but still, the situation seemed so sad.
This reminded me of something I heard many years ago: "If you're angry, don't assume that you're right. Rather than defending your actions, see if you can defend your motives." This simple shift in focus can sometimes help guide us toward resolution in times of conflict.
Wending Our Way...

Faithful Hands...

October 30, 2025

Romans 12:12 ...Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world....
I've recently seen several knitters making socks with self-striping yarn. The stuff's fascinating! With no input from the knitter, the yarn produces colorful stripes as the knitter simply follows the directions on the pattern.
It works like that in life, too. God doesn't need our input in order to fulfill the blessings He's set in motion. He simply needs faithful hands and feet, hearts and spirits that will follow the Patterns He's already established as we do His Will in loving others.
Wending Our Way...

Toll Point

October 29, 2025

Revelation 21:6 ...To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.
We had lunch with my sister last week. We used the turnpike (NE Extension) to get to Lehighton, and of course, returned the same way. As we were nearing the exit on our way home, we approached a gantry containing the scanning equipment that has now replaced the tollbooths. Affixed to the gantry was a sign saying, "Toll Point."
Ah...sure. The turnpike IS a toll road--a pay-for-usage kind of thing. 'Toll' is of Old English origin and meant a place where tolls or payments were collected. So, the word 'toll' implies a fee charged for a service rendered.
How about The Cross? That's really a toll point, too, though it costs us nothing (except a simple confession of faith). Over two thousand years ago, Jesus commandeered the only Toll Point between heaven and earth, paid fully for all who travel His narrow roads, and purchased Our Forever. Thanks be to God!!
Wending Our Way...

Crab Cakes, Etc.

October 28, 2025

Ezekiel 34:26 ...there will be showers of blessing.
My sister told me recently that she'd had a marvelous day trip with a friend. They were off somewhere and discovered that they were hungry. Her friend then said she knew of a place that made really good crab cakes. It was a gas station!!! Huh??!! But it turned out to be true. The gas station did indeed sell superb crab cakes and was doing a thriving business.
Life often works like that. We find simple blessings in odd spots at times. How about a cozy sunspot on a cold day; a butterfly resting inside the curved petals of a daylily; a lone bird (mockingbird?) singing at night; a shy smile from a stranger's child; a wild rabbit dozing in the sun in our yard; finding a to-go box in the fridge and thinking it held broccoli, but it held chocolate cake!!
All these things have given me a moment of peace and contentment as well as a lasting memory. There's enough difficult stuff out there, so I love to hunt up the "crabcakes from gas stations" as I go along. It makes life so much more pleasant.
Wending Our Way...

Blessingsing!!

October 27, 2025

Proverbs 10:6 ...Blessings crown the head of the righteous....
I love typos! I was just typing up today's scripture and somehow, I wound up with "blessingsing." As I was thinking about deleting that second "sing," it hit me that maybe I should just add question mark. That'd make it "Blessing? Sing!" Hmmmm....spot a blessing--sing to the LORD!
Wending Our Way...

Chuckles From God

October 24, 2025

Ecclesiastes 3:4 ...a time to laugh....
The other day, when I opened a Tupperware container of graham crackers, I discovered a paper clip in the bottom of the container. How'd it get THERE?? No matter how much thought I gave it, I couldn't imagine how a paper clip got in with the graham crackers!!
The whole thing made me reflect on the fact that life often adds strange little things to our days. Some of them are mildly amusing. I once had a lantern fly land on the tip of my knitting needle and just sit there. (I was sitting on the porch at the time.) I have a picture on my phone of a sparrow sitting placidly on top of one of Larry's truck's front tires. It was sheltering from the rain and flew off once the skies cleared. I also have a picture of a friend's cat sitting in the exact same spot on her husband's truck tire. I don't recall that it was raining that day, so I guess the cat was just resting there.
Sometimes I think God sends us chuckles--mini-amusements-- along the way to brighten our days and remind us of His Love.
Wending Our Way...

Forever-Salvation

October 23, 2025

Isaiah 51:6 ...my salvation will last forever....
I was doing a crossword puzzle last night. Forty-six down said "annul." I immediately thought of the words void ruin, delete, and undo. It turned out that "undo" was the answer they were looking for.
As I penciled in "undo," it occurred to me that none of those words will ever apply to salvation. Nothing can undo salvation once it's granted. Salvation is Forever. Hallelujah!!
Wending Our Way...

The Other Half

October 22, 2025

1 Corinthians 13:12 ...then we shall see face to face.
I just read an article about a Near Death Experience. The woman (I'll call her Edith), a surgical patient, almost died during an operation. As she approached death, she said she was surrounded by the usual bright light, soft music and upward movement. She was escorted by two angels who held her hands and led her to God's throne. He was seated there--all seven feet of Him---but she could only see up to His waist. She never saw His face. Moments after appearing before Him, God said, "Take her back," and she was swiftly returned to her body. She recovered fully from her surgery and went on to live a healthy, productive life. She reported that although she only saw about half of God, it was a memorable, inspiring and life-changing experience.
Seeing only half of God. Boy THAT sounds familiar!! So often I feel like I don't see or hear Him too clearly, even though I know He's there.
Somehow, like Edith, we never see all of Him in our earthly life, but we do find His Heart, and this enables us to go on about our daily walks, doing His Will in loving others. And one glorious day, we'll get to see The Other Half!!
Wending Our Way...

Qwerty Keyboard

October 21, 2025

Psalms 145:13 ...The LORD is faithful to all his promises....
I recently saw a comical photo on the internet. In a series of photos showing how "kids do the darndest things," one dad sent in a photo of his computer's keyboard. His eight-year-old daughter decided that the usual Qwerty keyboard was ridiculous and confusing, so she pulled all the letter caps off the keyboard and put them back on in alphabetical order. (Yep! All those nifty key caps really do snap off!!) What she didn't realize was that changing the letter caps wouldn't change the placement of the letters being typed.
This all made me think of God and the numerous events and experiences He has planned for my life. Nothing I can humanly do will prevent Him from fulfilling His promises to me. His Love and Provision are assured, even if I try to manipulate life so that it suits me better.
It worked the same at the Cross. The Romans tried valiantly to "change the keyboard" so that life would print out differently, but God's goals cannot be thwarted. What He has promised will come to pass, regardless of human intervention. Hallelujah!!
Wending Our Way...

Ergs!

October 20, 2025

Genesis 24:42 ...please grant success to the journey on which I have come.
Back in August, I read an interesting article in National Geographic. It described a group of archeologists who were exploring ergs, which are the Sahara Desert's immense sand dunes. They were digging for dinosaur bones, but since the dunes all looked disturbingly alike, knowledgeable local guides were essential for the success of their journey. One of their younger guides took them to an especially large and previously undisturbed dune. Some of their findings there were fascinating!
This all reminded me of Jesus--because He's our Knowledgeable Local Guide and He's the Key to the ultimate success of our spiritual journeys. His methods may be different from those of the young guide in the Sahara, but His leading is as strong and true as that of the young man leading the archeologists forward.
As we follow our Knowledgeable Local Guide, we're assured that, in due time, we'll arrive at the Heavenly Gates, escorted all the way by Our Jesus and His people.
Wending Our Way...

Open Up!!

October 17, 2025

Revelation 3:20 ...Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in....
Shortly after we'd moved into our retirement community, we had a knock on our front door at two in the morning. It turned out that one of our call boxes had a low battery and signaled Security. A nice fellow appeared at our door, and, unaware that the problem was a low battery, offered his help with whatever our crisis seemed to be.
When the man from Security arrived, I had to unlock our storm door and our front door to let him in. He soon explained that it would be a good idea to leave the storm door unlocked, because, while Security has master keys to unlock the regular front doors, they don't have keys to unlock people's storm doors and couldn't get to us if we had an emergency and the storm door was locked.
Another door it's risky to keep locked is the door to our hearts. If we keep that door locked, we almost surely will miss out on intimate relationship with God, self and others. People can't get through locked doors, and God and Jesus never just barge in. They always knock--and wait for us to open the door and welcome them in.
Wending Our Way...

Slow And Uneven Growth

October 16, 2025

1 Thessalonians 1:1 ...Grace and peace to you.
I just broke a nail. Damn! I work so hard to keep my nails looking nice and now this!! The worst of it is that nails grow slowly, so I'll have to be patient as the new one works its way out. Nails also tend to grow unevenly, so I'll have to keep tending to them to keep them looking decent.
Hmmmmm...People are like nails. They grow slowly and unevenly, too. Children and teens grow into maturity very slowly...sometimes exasperatingly so. Adults, too, can take years to grow into their God-given talents, roles and responsibilities. Waiting for growth to occur can be a real challenge in life.
Here's where Grace and Patience meet. We can benefit by extending both to anyone (including ourselves) engaged in the growth process. It makes everyone's lives easier if we offer Grace and Patience when we watch others struggle to grow and when we're amid the difficulties of the growth process ourselves. Grace and Patience together often bring Peace as we continue on amid life's many challenges.
Wending Our Way...

Recital #3

October 15, 2025

Mark 6:7 ...Calling the twelve to him, he sent them out two by two....
As I watched the scoresheets our young pianist was paying close attention to, I noticed a mixture of different kinds of notes. Some notes stood alone, some were grouped into pairs, and some were grouped into chords.
Our Christian journey is much the same. Sometimes we're called to act on our own (as perhaps in visitation); sometimes we're part of a small grouping of events or interventions (as in participating in a small group or class); and sometimes we function as part of a large group (as in a church-wide community activity).
Part of our jobs as Christians is to stay in touch with The Master so we can discern how we're being called to share His Love and Provision.
Wending Our Way...

Recital #2

October 14, 2025

Psalms 92:4 ...I sing for joy at the works of your hands.
I'm thinking back to the piano recital again. It was fascinating to watch the young pianist's hands as his fingers flew over the notes. I kept thinking that the notes had no purpose, only potential, until his fingers touched them--then they burst forth with life and beauty.
It works the same for us. Without God's touch on our lives, we have Christian potential but no Christian purpose. As we resonate with God's touch, our lives, too, burst open with His Life-giving Spirit and His Beauty.
Wending Our Way...

Recital #1

October 13, 2025

Judges 5:3 ...I will make music to the LORD.
We had a wonderful piano recital here a month or so ago. A high school student played all sorts of songs for about an hour one evening. He was terrific! He played a mixture of classical, country, gospel and easy listening. Since he was doing all the work, those of us in the audience could just sit back and enjoy the music.
As he was playing, I sort of kept an eye on his scoresheets. What a lot of notes it took to create the many songs he played! If even one note was missing, the songs wouldn't be the same.
Do you suppose we're all notes on God's Scoresheet of Life? Maybe He's written a symphony and we're each an integral part of it. As we show up each day and play our appointed notes in our designated spots, I bet God just leans back and enjoys the music, too.
Wending Our Way...

Teamwork

October 10, 2025

Psalms 144:14 ...our oxen will pull heavy loads.
Larry and I recently drove past a business with a big sign out front: "Teamwork gets it done." 'Team' has an Indo-European origin which meant 'to pull.' It referred to a team of animals harnessed together to pull a load.
There are lots of teams in the world, but the most beneficial are God and me, God and you, and God and every other Christian down through the ages. God calls us to pull with Him in order to get His work done on earth. It makes for an exciting, if arduous, journey!
Wending Our Way...

Haiku For Hard Times

October 9, 2025

Job 7:1 ...Does not man have hard times on earth?
You are not alone~
And you're not the one in charge~
Help each other out.
Wending Our Way...

Mystery Hymns

October 8, 2025

Job 11:7 ...Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
Back in August our pastor was on vacation, so we had a visiting pastor lead our Sunday service and give the sermon. The bulletin contained just an outline of the Order of Worship. There were no hymn titles listed. As the pastor said at the beginning of the service, " The hymns today are a mystery to you, but not to me and the pianist." Of course, he announced the hymn page numbers when we needed them.
Isn't life like that sometimes? So often we don't know what's up ahead--but God does. And He reveals stuff at the appropriate time. I love Habakkuk 2:3..."for the revelation awaits an appointed time." This scripture reminds me to go with the flow and let God handle the future. He's way better at it than I am!!
Wending Our Way...

Park In The Shade

October 7, 2025

Isaiah 28:12 ...This is the resting place, let the weary rest.
One beastly hot day back in August, Larry and I were walking over to the main building for lunch. As we approached the entrance, we spotted a golf cart parked in the shade under a huge tree. It belonged to one of our maintenance workers who was either on break or tending to some nearby project.
A great metaphor jumped out at me: "Do your work, then rest in the shade." I tend to think I have to be busy ALL the time, whereas God cautions us to rest when we need it.
So... now I try to do my work, then rest in the shade for a bit. What a pleasurable way to live!
Wending Our Way...

Rainbow's Blessing

October 6, 2025

Genesis 9:16 ...Whenever the rainbow appears...I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures....
It's been raining most of the morning, but the rain has stopped now, and the sun is shining brightly. The leaves right outside our front door, covered in tiny iridescent drops, move gently in the breeze. The leaves are sparkling like clear crystals as the sun hits the water droplets, but just a moment ago I saw a brilliant flash of emerald green. Then a moment later there was a bright blue flash...and then a deep red flash. It was magical! As I watched, I became aware that this rainbow of colors flashing before me was created when the sunlight hit a single raindrop on a single leaf that was moving about in the breeze.
The brilliant flashing reminds me of God's Covenant with Noah (Read Gen. 9: 1-17.), which in turn reminds me of God's many other promises and reassurances nestled in the Bible. How blessed we are to be so loved by our Triune God!
Wending Our Way...

Nibbles

October 3, 2025

1 Peter 5:8 ...your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Watch your enemy. He's watching you!
Wending Our Way...

Follow The Recipe

October 2, 2025

Leviticus 2:2 ... [the "recipe" for a grain offering] ...the priest shall take a handful of fine flour and oil together with all the incense.
Many years ago, I ran into a major snag in a recipe. I'd somehow gotten into salt instead of sugar when I made a pecan pie. Needless to say, the pie was inedible--a big waste all around. If I'd followed the recipe correctly, things would've been OK.
It works the same in our Christian lives. We have to follow God's recipe--or guidelines--in order for things to turn out well. The Ten Commandments are an obvious, familiar example of one of God's recipes for successful living.
If we follow the recipe in our cooking and our Christian walks, we generally get better results.
Wending Our Way...

Stained...but Serviceable

October 1, 2025

Romans 8:39 ...[nothing] will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I have a favorite ancient potholder here that I just can't bear to part with. It has hearts and flowers on a white background and still is in usable shape although it's probably thirty years old. The only thing wrong with it is that, after all this time, it's horribly stained from years of dribbles and spills in the kitchen. But I still love it and won't part with it.
Aren't we like my beloved potholder? Aren't we, too, stained but still in service with One Who loves us dearly and won't part with us either?
What a blessing to be cared for so profoundly! Rest in His Peace and His Love.
Wending Our Way...

Neuropathy And Life

September 30, 2025

Proverbs 4:5 ...Get wisdom, get understanding....
One Sunday a few weeks ago, our chapel pianist had an unexpected delay and couldn't make it to church, so one of our residents offered to play the hymns for the service. I talked with her after church, and she said she'd made a few mistakes because she has neuropathy in her fingers which makes her fingers numb and unable to feel the keys. I certainly wasn't aware of her mistakes and I'm sure we were all blessed by her presence that day.
After the service, I got to thinking about the word 'numb.' It means to be deprived of sensation, feeling or responsiveness. It's based on a Late Middle English word meaning 'to take.' Numbness takes away feeling or physical sensation in the affected area.
It seems to me that neuropathy can happen with emotions, too. Sometimes something in our lives creates an area of emotional numbness that shows up as a lack of responsiveness to the needs of other people, animals or the environment. I've met very few people who were actively mean. (I reduce contact with them as I can), but I occasionally become aware that I'm trying to elicit a caring response from someone who doesn't have the emotional background to offer the response I'm seeking. For instance, when I had dogs, if one was sick, I sought out fellow dog-lovers to commiserate with me. Non-dog-lovers simply didn't have the same feelings about animals that I did. I don't mean these thoughts as a moral judgment against people who think or feel differently than I do. I mean them as a sort of wake-up call for myself. I see it as a simple realization that if I care passionately about something, I may need to find other like-minded souls to share my deepest feelings with.
Wending Our Way...

Katana Swords

September 29, 2025

Matthew 10:34 ... [Jesus speaking] ..."I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."
Katana swords are Japanese longswords, intended to be held in both hands. Historically, Katanas were used mostly in combat but likely also had ceremonial purposes. Samurai used Katana swords. (The movie The Last Samurai showed one hanging on a wall.) Three men in Japan, seventy-five miles north of Kyoto, still run a Katana blade foundry. (Nat. Geog. Magazine, July 2025) This foundry, called Nippon Genshosha, is one of the last known active Katana foundries in the world. Their swords are all handmade and each one costs around $15,000. The price reflects the many painstaking hours of refining, folding and shaping that is required to strengthen the steel from which the blades are made.
When finished, Katanas reflect the light in an unusual way. There's great power evident in their appearance and functionality.
This whole process reminds me of our Christian Walk. As we're purified, folded and shaped, we become swords in God's Almighty Hands, called to bear His Name and to shine His Light Eternal here on earth as we journey along. Beloved, you are His Sword, so keep your blade clean and sharp and stay by His Side or in His Hands--as Onward you go!
Wending Our Way...

The Recital

September 26, 2025

Revelation 22:21 ...The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.
I recently heard a young child play her first piano recital. She played some simple but longish tune. She knew some parts really well and sort of raced through those. Then there were parts she wasn't as familiar with, so she slowed down and picked her way along carefully as she navigated her way. Her performance thus wasn't very fluid, but she did her best and I felt blessed by her work.
Doesn't life often work like that? Sometimes we breeze through stuff and sometimes we hit patches that demand plodding along at a slower pace.
Whatever is happening in your life, God's using it for good. Always remember His final words in the Bible: (Rev. 22:21) ..."The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen." That grace always surrounds us, even if our steps become tentative and unsure sometimes...and He's always blessed by our efforts on His behalf, even if they don't look very fluid to us.
Wending Our Way...

Haiku...Pain

September 25, 2025

1 Peter 4:12 ...Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering....
God doesn't waste pain.
Look what He did at the Cross.
He'll use your pain, too.
Wending Our Way...

The Other Door

September 24, 2025

1 Thessalonians 5:3 ...destruction will come upon [those who live in darkness] ...and they will not escape.
Back to CVS for a moment. As we approached the store's double front doors, one door said, "Enter" and the other said "Please Use Other Door." This reminded me of the Pearly Gates, and it made me think of the child's game, Chutes and Ladders, where a ladder along the path let you climb up closer to the goal, but a chute slid you back down to a previous spot along the way.
I picture the Pearly Gates as having two doors: one opens onto a Ladder to Heaven. (See Gen. 28:12...which describes Jacob's dream about a ladder rising up to heaven with God standing above the ladder reaffirming His promises.) And the "Other Door" opens onto a Chute to Hell.
Wouldn't it be awful to look arrive at heaven's gates and see that "Please Use Other Door" sign and know there was no escape!!??
Wending Our Way...

Walk-In?

September 23, 2025

1 Thessalonians 4:16 ...and the dead in Christ will rise first...after that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
Back in early August we got our flu shots at CVS. When we stopped to register at the pharmacy, the young man waiting on us asked, "Are you here as a walk-in or do you have an appointment?" We said that we were walk-ins, and he started our registration paperwork.
"Are you here as a walk-in?" That reminded me of the Pearly Gates, which we certainly haven't made an appointment for! But also, we don't quite walk into heaven. Scripture suggests that we sort of float on Home.
Sounds kind of exciting. I can't wait to experience that!!
Wending Our Way...

I'll Be Here...

September 22, 2025

John 14:2 ...I am going there to prepare a place for you.
One evening several days ago I went over to our main building to play cards with a bunch of friends. As I headed out of our cottage, Larry smiled at me and said, "I'll be here waiting for you." His words gave me such a warm, snuggly feeling.
Someone Else said those same words over 2000 years ago: "I'll be here waiting for you." There's another cause for warm, snuggly feelings!!

Click here to read the Walter Mouse devotions.

Walter Mouse

Walter Mouse