Category Archives: a spiritual life

In Times of Uncertainty God is With Us

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in a spiritual life, faith over fear, God’s time, in time of need, Kentucky memories, Spiritual life and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hello, from the mountains of Kentucky. I hope this post finds each of you well. I wanted to share a small part of my heart with you today. I awoke early in the morning hours, just after midnight. I had a sense of uncertainty welling up within me. If you are like me, it seems today, more than ever, i find myself being stretched to the limit with time to complete tasks, some of which go untouched. Unfinished work, tasks, or plans leave me with a feeling of uncertainty, which sometimes interferes with my sleep. This morning was one of those mornings. But through the sleepless hours, I was reminded of just how Big God is.

His joy will fill us… if we are willing to be filled.

As I lay awake trying to find sleep, I pondered questions such as when I could complete the task(s) neglected yesterday due to unplanned obligations. How can I stretch time to allow me to meet all of the tasks that face me tomorrow? When will I find a little much-needed time for myself? And the big question, Lord, am I spending enough time with you? With questions swirling through my mind, sleep seemed far away. I began praying for peace, answers, and for sleep to come.

I was reminded while praying to pray the Lord’s word. I was reminded that life and death are in the power of the tongue. There is life in His word. I found comfort in the following scripture. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV). I prayed for the Lord to help me trust Him during difficult times. He reminded me that He is my Heavenly Father, and just as I, as an earthly parent, will ensure that our children are cared for and help them in any way that I can, He, too, would help me. Trust filled me and sleep soon came. It was good sleep. It was restful sleep. I awoke feeling rested and ready to face the day. I was reminded this morning of His love and mercy and His word from 1 Peter 5: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for He careth for you. My heart was filled with peace and the trust that the enemy tried to take from me in the early hours of the morning. The enemy is a liar! I am an overcome.

His word don’t lie!

We must remember that we wrestle not against flesh but against the principalities of evil. Spiritual warfare is real. The enemy’s sole purpose is to discourage, take away, and destroy God’s children. We must be steadfast, hold tight to His word, trust Him with all our heart, rebuke the enemy, and plead the blood over and around us and our family during this trying time, and at the name of Jesus, the enemy will flee. Life will be filled with uncertainties; you will feel overwhelmed at one time or another, and you will see that full calendar and fear that the tasks will not be completed. But, remember that fear does not come from God, but rather from the enemy spiritually fighting against you. God is ever-present and is as near as you allow Him to be. He will be there to help you when you call upon His name. The name that is above all names. He never leaves us, nor will He forsake us. The word tells us that He will go all the way with us.

Finally, let us never forget that as long as we have been born again, we are blessed and will be overcomers. Stay the course, press forward, pray on, stay steadfast, and trust Him for all our needs and we will finish this race as an overcomer. He is our Alpha and Omega, beginning and ending, and everything in between. I learned a valuable lesson in the early morning hours talking to Him. Maybe my awakening aimed to teach me and help you when you have that sleepless night.

God bless, from the mountains of Kentucky. I love to read comments. Feel free to like, share, subscribe, leave comments, or prayer requests. Enjoy this beautiful day that the Lord has blessed us with.

Making Organic Elderberry Syrup

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in a spiritual life, appalachian life, clean eating, clean recipes, drying herbs, essential oils, farm living, holistic living, homesteading, Kentucky memories, ky author, plant-based, Vegan recipes and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Beautiful fall mountains of KY

During COVID many people rediscovered the health benefits of elderberries. I, myself, started taking a good organic elderberry supplement to enhance my immune system. Finding organic elderberry syrup was difficult or ridiculously expensive at the time, and the supplement was not inexpensive. After paying for the supplement for a few years, I decided to try my hand at making elderberry syrup. I am very pleased with the results and inspired to share my recipe with my readers.

There were challenges along the way. But, with determination, I was able to overcome those. First, I wasn’t able to find someone with an elderberry tree that was willing to part with elderberries, so I did the next best thing. I looked on Amazon for organic dried elderberries. The ones pictured below had the best price, largest amount, and the best rating.

Dried organic elderberries from Amazon

Next, I experimented with the amount of elderberries I would mix. After a bit of research and experimental tries, I decided the syrup would be tastier with some spices added. After a few batches, I decided on the addition of organic clove, organic ginger, organic cinnamon and local honey. With this in mind, I was ready to see if the taste was right. It was delicious!


Ingredients (makes a pint)
3/4 cup Dried elderberries
3 cups filtered water
1/2 tsp dried clove
1/2 tsp doTERRA clove essential oil
1/2 tsp doTERRA ginger essential oil
1/2 tsp dried ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
Fresh honey to taste

Essential oils are optional. I love the benefits of them and the taste. Read the labels closely before using to ensure they’re consumable.

Process

Add the three cups of filtered water to a stainless steel saucepan. Add 3/4 cup dried elderberries. Add the remaining ingredients except the honey. Bring the ingredients to slow boil. Set a timer and boil the mixture for 45 minutes. After 45 minutes turn the burner off and cover the mixture and allow it to cool. When the mixture is completely cooled strain completely through a fine mesh strainer into a clear pint jar. Cheese cloth can be used as well. Add fresh honey to taste and stir well. Place a lid on the jar and for a better taste keep it refrigerated.

My fist jar after a couple of days of use.

I take a tablespoon a day. A pint typically lasts for two weeks. The taste is wonderful. Elderberry’s have a wide array of health benefits. I’m not sure if the elderberry syrup helps increase one’s sleep, but I have slept unusually well since I started using the syrup as a daily regimen.

I hope you enjoy this simple recipe. Feel free to comment or leave questions. For now, God bless from the mountains of Kentucky!

When Fall Comes to the Mountains

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in a spiritual life, appalachian life, canning, clean eating, farm living, garden time, holistic living, homesteading, Kentucky memories, my special days, Vegan recipes and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
The leaves are beginning to turn in the mountains!

Hello, from the mountains of Kentucky. Can you feel fall in the air? Fall is one of my favorite seasons. When fall comes to the mountains, something magical happens. A carpet of beautiful foliage slowly emerges throughout the mountains. The colors are brilliant yellows, crisp oranges, and fiery reds, all mixed with hints of green lingering for a few more weeks. The foliage reminds me of my sister’s handmade quilts. My sister is a brilliant artist who creates gorgeous quilts from scrap materials of diverse colors. She is legally blind but still creates unique quilts by hand with tiny stitches. Not only is she legally blind, she is also totally colorblind. My children used to ask me if she saw things in color, just like a child to wonder. Yes, I would answer she sees in colors; she just can’t distinguish which color is which. So, her quilts come together in a stunning color scheme… just like the foliage in our mountains does in the fall.

A postage stamp quilt gifted to me by my sister. Each block is the size of an actual postage stamp!

When fall comes to the mountains, preserving and canning is usually near completion. Autumn, or fall, as we call it, is the time to go to the apple orchard to pick apples for tasty recipes, preserving, drying, and munching. We enjoyed the orchard this year as the temperature was comfortable; the crowd wasn’t as big as previous visits, and the fried apple pies were delicious. The grandkids had fun playing on the playground and games, while the adults enjoyed the atmosphere and sights. We used the apples we brought home for various dishes. Some of our favorite apple dishes during the fall include frying apples with breakfast or supper. We also peeled and dried many apples, resulting in three large containers of dehydrated apples for healthy snacks, frying, cakes, or pies. Nothing went to waste. We used all the apples, even down to the peels and cores, which the chickens enjoyed as a fall treat.

Picking apples
Grandkids having fun at the orchard.

Seed saving is a common tradition within the mountains. Fall is the perfect time to save vegetable, fruit, herb, and flower seeds. The late-bearing acorn squash and peppers are the only vegetables left to be picked. We have a remnant of beans hanging on the fences drying to be used for seed next year. When collecting seeds, it is essential to use sources from plants that are healthy and produce the best vegetation or fruit. We collected seeds from the remaining vegetables and placed them on cheesecloth or white paper towels to dry. Once the seeds are dry, we put them in envelopes for storage. We recognize some sources in recycled brown jars/bottles containing organic vitamins. This is a brilliant method of recycling as well. Also, be sure to label your seeds to identify them when you’re ready to plant.

My seed box.

When fall comes to the mountains, so do pumpkins! Children and adults alike enjoy trips to the pumpkin patch to pick pumpkins, enjoy pumpkin treats, and enjoy the beauty of the mountains. Pumpkin spices and flavors are prominent in restaurants, store shelves, coffee shops, and more. Pumpkin spice is a favorite in the mountains. Many mountain families love pumpkin-flavored treats like coffee, pie, bread, butter, and cookies.

A trip to the pumpkin patch is always fun!

When fall comes to the mountains, it’s a time for family gatherings, cookouts, dinners, and a time to socialize and relax away from the world’s cares. Mountain cookouts usually have hot dogs, hamburgers, vegan burgers, marshmallows, chips, and some sides.. This is also a perfect time to include pumpkin cookies or pumpkin bread. Cookouts in the mountains are about the food and the socialization! Sitting by the campfire with loved ones, roasting marshmallows and sharing stories is the best way to enjoy fall in the Appalachian Mountains.

And finally, when fall comes to the mountains, it’s time to prepare for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thanksgiving in the mountains is a time for family to come together for the day. Each person typically brings a side-dish to menu and everyone gathers at one house, which is typically my house. I love when all our family gathers together to relax with appetizers that consist of; my traditional cheese ball, peanut butter and chocolate buckeye candy, dips with chips, and of course banana and or pumpkin bread. We load Thanksgiving dinner with good food. Dinner usually includes the traditional dishes of turkey, usually prepared two ways. We roast one turkey in the oven and we smoke a second turkey outside in the smoker. A ham is prepared and complete with brown sugar and pineapples. The side dishes usually include mashed potatoes, green beans, fried corn, homemade cornbread stuffing/dressing, brown gravy, sweet potato casserole, and more. It’s a smorgasbord! A literal feast. Family members can be found eating around the dining room table and in the kitchen. We add tables for kids in the family room. After the dinner, dessert is available for those who have room, and those who do not! Dessert typically consists of peach cobbler, Butterfinger delight, carrot cake, cherry cheesecake, and other delicious recipes that family brings with them. Football can be found on the television and often-times, one of our favorite Christmas movies… The Christmas Story is on 24/7 on Thanksgiving and on one of the televisions. It’s also a time that most of the females are bargain shopping as the black Friday sales have begun! But, the best part of the day is the heartfelt prayer that is prayed before the meal begins, and the socializing during dinner and after. It’s a wonderful to catch up on what has been going on in the lives of our family.

When fall comes to the mountains of Kentucky… it’s more than the beautiful scenery. Fall is a time of hard work as we can preserve and clean up the garden. It’s a time of gathering seeds for the following year. Fall is a time of fellowship with friends, our church family, and our family. Fall is a time for campfires, holiday meals, and winter transition.

Late fall last year in the mountains!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and a little time in our small corner of the world. Feel free to follow and or comment. Get ready! I have an outstanding sweet potato recipe that I will post in a few days. You can prepare this cake vegan or non-vegan. It’s delicious. Well, let me give you a sneak peek at the cake!

Sweet potato pound cake… recipe coming soon!

For now, God bless, and happy fall from the mountains of Kentucky!

Essential Oils, Tea Bags, and Bee Stings

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in a spiritual life, appalachian life, drying herbs, essential oils, faith over fear, farm living, garden time, holistic living, in time of need, Kentucky memories, ky author, memories, plant-based and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hello, from the Mountains of Kentucky! The heatwave continues in the mountains today! Dry and hot, yet beautiful! We all know what else comes with summer temperatures. Yes, that’s it! Bees! I’m not allergic to bee stings like our grandson is, but I certainly do not like the pain from those pesky things. To be so small, their stings can pack a punch!

Our beautiful flocks! Butterflies love them, but so do bees!

While watering my flowers this morning, wasps, or as we call them, waspers, were swarming the flocks. I thought as I always do, if I don’t bother them they won’t bother me. Wrong! As I left the flower bed a red wasp decided to make a plunge for my hair. My first instinct was to swish my hair back and forth to encourage it to leave. It left! But, it came back with a vengeance. I returned and stung me on the shoulder through the sleeve of my shirt. Ouch!!

Lavender and basil. Crushed basil leaves helps soothe a sting.

Once inside, I grabbed a roller ball of lavender and rolled it on the sting to sooth it. I had just finished drinking a cup of black so I grabbed a soaked tea bag and held it on the sting to draw the poison out. As the sting started soothing, I made my way to my apothecary chest to retrieve the purify essential oil, which acts as an antiseptic and massaged a few drops directly on and around the sting. Once it dried, I added a few drops of clove essential oil that acted as a numbing agent. It numbed the bee sting and the area around it. With the mix of essential oils, the organic tea bag, and a whispered prayer, relief came to affected area.

My apothecary chest that housed my essential oils and teas.

I am a firm believer in herbs, essential oils, and teas as well as prayer. I prefer natural methods of treatment rather than over the counter medicines. God created all living things and with that He provides us with an abundance of resources all around us. It’s a good idea to keep a few essential oils in a convenient place. I always keep a few essential essential oils in my purse and a couple of tea bags when we’re away from home, for bee stings, minor headaches, scrapes, or an upset stomach.

I look forward to sharing more tips that I have found helpful for using essential oils, herbs, and teas for minor ailments. I hope that this post will be beneficial to you and your family. Also, remember, those who are severely allergic to bee stings might find this method to help soothe stings until they can be seen by a physician or use an epipen.

Clove is a versatile oil that smells wonderful and helps numb bee stings.

Blessings from our home to yours! As always feel free to leave a message and or click follow to subscribe to my blog.

Hebrews 6:7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God

Fan The Flames… Spread the Word! God’s Not Dead… He’s Still Alive!

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in a spiritual life, appalachian life, faith over fear, God’s time, in time of need, Kentucky memories, ky author, memories, Spiritual life, Uncategorized and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Good morning from the mountains of Kentucky! It’s a hot one here today! Heat advisory’s have been posted, and the air is already warm this morning. I am not complaining though, I love this time of the year! I wanted to share a small piece of my heart with my readers this morning. I want to encourage you. I hope you enjoy.

Standing alone, but not forgotten.

I have always had a fascination with old things, antiques, vintage items, old barns, old homes, old school houses, and especially old churches. I even find a fascination in the house seats where old houses once stood. You know the ones that still have remnants left behind. Sometimes it’s a really matured oak tree. Other times, it’s an old stone fence, or maybe a dilapidated barn or the remains of an old root cellar. I instantly begin to visualize and imagine those that lived there before. What was there life like? Were they Christian’s? Did they enjoy the mountain scenery? Did they have children? Did they farm? The questions roll sometimes until I can’t stop my mind from wondering. I am often stirred within and feel a connection to the past.

Beautiful home! Oh the stories that could be told.

I love the group, Abandoned in KY group that I follow on Facebook. I can’t browse too much or I find myself lost in the photos making them larger to see every detail of even the tiniest object that was left behind by the previous tenants. Then the questions roll again. I am fascinated and saddened at the same time, especially when I see so many abandoned churches across our state being postsed. I find myself asking, why did no one carry on? Why is the homes and the churches abandoned? Have they been forgotten? Where are the ancestors? Did no one share the importance of maintaining a home? Did anyone share the importance of attending services in the church. Did no one keep the fire burning?

A one-room school house/church restored through a grant written by teachers.

I have pondered on these empty dwellings and sanctuaries for years. I have written many poems about them, and am currently working on a novel based on many of the empty structures that I have photographed. But today, I feel like lifting someone up. In the day we live in many of us look around at our churches and notice an undeniable trend of low attendance, lack of concern, and empty seats. I want to say this, don’t dwell on what you see or who you don’t see, but focus on God. Pray without ceasing, press for the mark, lift up His name, and pray for the return of fire in God’s church. Not just the church where you attend, but His church. The body of Christ. Remember a fire begins with one single tiny spark. The spark must then be fanned to produce a flame. Once the flames ignite, keep fanning and keep praying. A wildfire, a revival wildfire will erupt. But remember, don’t neglect the spark. Press on. Stay the course. Ignite the fire through prayer and fasting. Praise God for what’s coming, don’t look at current circumstances, and be willing to fan the flames of revival. Will you be that spark?

Let the the fire burn so bright that it can be seen even in the darkest times.

I hope you feel encouraged. Don’t be down trodden, don’t look at what you see with your physical eyes. Look through spiritual eyes and recognize that God is still God. He don’t change. It is His pleasure to restore and connect our todays and tomorrows to history of our yesterdays. Great awakenings erupted in the past through dedicated prayer and fasting and He can open up the geysers of anointed revival again. God’s not finished yet! Fan the flames! God is still God! The same today as yesterday!

Feel free to comment or click follow to follow my blog. God bless from the mountains of Kentucky. Fan the flames, spread the word, God’s still God! He’s not dead! He’s still alive!

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. KJV

Walk With Me

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in appalachian life, faith over fear, in time of need, Kentucky memories, ky author, memories, my special days, Spiritual life and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , ,
We must listen and trust Him.

Good morning, from the mountains of Kentucky. It’s a beautiful day in the mountains. The sun is shining, birds are chirping and singing, and I can feel the buzzing and abundance of life all around me. Nature inspires me, as I know who created all manners of life. As I sat down this morning to grade students’ work, I felt the still small voice of the Holy Spirit whisper a simple message to me; come walk with Me. I thought about that simple statement. Come, walk with me. After a few minutes of pondering, the Lord reminded me of the many times that He has spoken about paths that we, or that I, should follow. I am reminded that to walk the path that He lays before us, we must walk with Him. We must take up our cross and agree to take up His yoke and follow Him. To follow Him, we must walk with Him.

Regardless how the enemy tries to instill fear… we must trust and follow God. His way leads to victory.

As I face surgery next week to have my right hip replaced, the enemy tried to instill fear within me. Fear of being put to sleep, fear of being in an operating room vulnerable to the knowledge, skill, and wisdom of the surgeon, nurses, and assistants. The scariest thought of all was the knowledge of what weight and responsibility the anesthesiologist was going to be responsible for. He would be responsible for my breathing, or so the enemy said. For a moment, a bit of panic gripped my thoughts. But then a clear vision came forth. I am never alone and will not be alone in the operating room. God will guide each person involved in the surgery. He will be there with me, just as He has throughout this journey. He reminded me, He holds my very breath, not the anesthesiologist.

So, for now, the fear that the enemy tried to fill my mind with… has dissipated as I advance and walk with the Lord, who knows me more intimately than I know myself. He is the way and the way maker. He lays the path that we are to walk, but we have to get up, dust ourselves off, believe in what we can’t physically see, and walk with Him. I want to encourage you. If you are facing what feels like a mountain, or a giant. If a situation seems impossible, know that with Christ, all things are possible. Remember, it is the enemy, the oppressor, who tries to make burdens and trials seem impossible and who desires to fill you with fear. But remember that fear is not of the Lord, just as worry is not of Him. We must trust in the Lord, and give our fears, burdens, weight, and the mountain that stands before us to Him. We must trust and walk with Him. He is our life support, our breath, and our all.

I will cling to His promises for they are true!

I hope this short post has encouraged you. I feel encouraged this morning by what felt like the weight of the world to me only days ago. That which loomed before me now seems insignificant and an opportunity to tell others about Him. God is my refuge and my very present help in the time of trouble. He promised us that He would never leave us or forsake us. We must lay it down and follow Him. I encourage you to find a quiet place to abide in Him, talk to Him, and, most of all, listen to Him. Will you join me? Come, let’s walk with Him.

God bless, from the mountains of Kentucky. As always, I welcome your comments and questions.

Do You Have a Plan? God Does!

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in a spiritual life, appalachian life, faith over fear, Kentucky memories, ky author, memories, my special days and tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,

Good morning, from the mountains of Kentucky. I hope your week is off to a great start. It’s been a hot one here in the Appalachian mountains this week. But, I welcome the heat and the sunshine. I love getting outdoors and enjoying the view of the mountains, enjoying our vegetable garden, and savoring the aromas from the herb garden. However, there are other times I like to sit quietly and soak up the blessings that are found all around me. It’s during this quiet time that I often hear from the Lord. Sometimes I’ll hear a word concerning issues that have given me questions, while other times I have received words of encouragement. While at other times, I have enjoyed simply basking in His presence, and savoring the quiet presence of our Heavenly Father. During this quiet time, His presence, His word, and His voice have inspired me to create and follow His plan for a situation I may be facing, or for guidance for the future, while even still other times his presence assures me that all is well. Do you have a plan? God does.

Beautiful Kentucky morning!

What plan am I talking about? I awoke with the question that I am asking you lingering on my thoughts a few days ago. Do I have a plan? The Lord knows I am a planner. As an educator, planning comes naturally to me. But, spiritual planning sometimes is more difficult. This can be difficult because of the spiritual warfare that all Christians encounter. We have an actual enemy whose desire is to distract and blindside God’s children. The enemy will often work in subtle ways to distract. Distractions can come from too much focus on work and an overloaded schedule, or he will even use our family to distract. Distractions can come from pleasurable interruptions. Interruptions can be too much television time and Internet overload through social media, texting, and browsing. Sometimes distractions come from simply doing nothing, by being content just idling along.

After meditating on the question, I recalled someone at church telling me through a word of wisdom that he strongly felt I needed to create a battle plan. I determined in my heart this morning that the plan in question was a battle plan. A battle plan that would allow me to draw closer to the Lord, better understand His word, and better be able to recognize and ward off the enemy. Remember that the enemy is continually working and seeking to distract and destroy God’s children. So what is a battle plan?

Even the woodpecker has a plan. The hole pictured is at the top of a very tall tree trunk. She prepared a safe place against storms and predators, a home to protect her young. Keywords are, prepared and a plan.

A battle plan may look different to each of us. For me, my battle plan is partly in place, but I need to make revisions to amplify the results of my plan. For now, my plan includes the scheduled time I have already set aside each morning to spend time with the Lord. But, I am increasing that time. I am going to allow more time to read His word and study the word. More time for fervent prayer, and listening to encouraging videos from favored ministers, and most of all taking the time to be quiet. Quiet time is a great time to listen for the Lord’s instruction and His guidance, and a wonderful time to bask in His presence and His comfort. While reading my bible this morning, I was reminded how we should be like David. A battle plan can be preventative. A battle plan prepares us, encourages us, and is also a method of prevention. Prevention of falling for Satan’s tricks and His temptations. There are times we have to just get up and encourage ourselves. A battle plan will do just that… encourage and prepare us. We must arm ourselves. He gives us instruction for preparation in Ephesians 6:-10-18. KJV.

We should listen for His guidance and His instruction. He has a plan! Do you?

I hope this post will encourage you. I hope it reveals to you the importance of preparing a battle plan. A battle plan that will help to guide you, protect you, and inspire you to dig deeper into God’s word, while also building a close or closer relationship with the Lord, to help you follow His plan. Remember, a battle plan should be personal to each. But the most important thing is to be consistent. Make a battle plan that you apply daily in all situations. Put on the whole armor daily.

After completing this post yesterday, I wrestled with posting it. Questions whirled through my thoughts; did it make sense? Would it help others? Would readers understand the message? Yet, another cunning trick of deception from the enemy. I went to church yesterday afternoon with intentions to post when I returned home. The minister preached a message about… God has a plan. It was a very inspiring message and confirmation for me that this post is necessary. As always, I love to read comments and answer questions. For now, God bless each of you from the mountains of Kentucky.

Time Worn Paths

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in a spiritual life, appalachian life, God’s time, Kentucky memories, ky author, memories, my special days, Spiritual life and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , ,
The highlighted path of yesteryears…

Good morning, from the mountains of Kentucky. I hope you’re having a wonderful spring and enjoying the beautiful outdoors. I felt the Lord inspire me this morning to write a post about paths. I love when the Lord inspires me with one word, then encourages me to dig deeper into the word for a better understanding of why He is speaking the word to me. Many times, when a believer says the Lord is speaking to them, it opens up opportunities for others to ask questions. For me, some of those questions include; Are you hearing an audible voice speaking this word or words? How do you determine that it’s the Lord speaking this word? What if it’s not Him? I typically answer with, no, it isn’t an audible voice, but it very well could be. I also reply that the Holy Spirit allows me to know that it is the Lord encouraging me to dig deeper into the word or words. Finally, if it’s not or wasn’t the Lord, then what would be the harm in exploring the word(s), praying about it, and learning from them? God grows us in various ways. The key is that we have to be receptive, willing to hear, and sometimes see what the Lord is impressing on our heart… and then have a willing heart to do something with the word or words. Willingness produces growth.

Growing up in the Appalachian Mountains in a more simplistic time than we now know. There wasn’t always entertainment at our fingertips. We had typically five to seven channels on television if the cable was working correctly. Did that mean we sat in front of the television mesmerized, much like youth are today? No, indeed not. We didn’t spend time indoors when we were home from school unless it was raining or bitterly cold. Were we being punished? No, indeed not. We were typically outside exploring, playing, and enjoying the surrounding entertainment that God provided. We spent most of our days fishing or wading in the creek, creating mud pies, playing in our homemade clubhouses, and making our own fun with what we had available. Were we bored? No, indeed we were not. We enjoyed checking out books from the bookmobile that frequented our house during the summer months. As a child, adventures awaited us daily. Adventures lay within the eye of the beholder, just as they are for me today. Pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to receive what the Lord is telling or showing you, then to have the wisdom to apply what He is saying.

The physical worn path…

I have enjoyed walking and exploring the beautiful mountains of Kentucky since I was a young girl. I still see a path that’s worn by those that sojourned before me and imagine who blazed the first path. Where were they going, and what did they find? Even today, I get lost in my imagination as I walk the path before me. The Lord has piqued my curiosity about the word path countless times. He allowed me to know that paths can be physical paths made by the footsteps of others and that paths can be the remnant of what’s left behind in annotations in Bibles. There’s something about the smell of a path through the mountains that entices me, just as the aroma that fills my nostrils from the time-worn pages of a bible. Both paths arouse curiosity and both have the potential to grow me spiritually, and opportunities to hear from the Lord. I am a firm believer that if we are receptive to our surroundings, objects, places, the word, and the people that He places in our paths, He will grow us. God doesn’t change, we do. I encourage you to dig deep, find that child-like faith, the curiosity of a child, and always the willingness to trust Him when He speaks to you. Again, the key to growth is the willingness to adhere to what the Lord is saying. It’s not about us, but all about Him.

The annotated & highlighted path reveals the past…a spiritual timeworn bath left behind.

I hope this short post has encouraged you to listen closely, and to not dismiss the repetition of a word or words that surface from various places, and to pray through the experience and allow the Lord to lead you to gain new knowledge, help someone else, or just satisfy a curiosity that lies within yourself. Life is short. Live it… live it for Him. Love life and above all love Him, and resonate His love toward others. God bless, from the mountains of Kentucky. As always, your comments and questions are always welcome.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5, 6.

 

Divine Doors

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in a spiritual life, faith over fear, in time of need, Kentucky memories, my special days, Spiritual life, testimony Tuesdays and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Good morning, from the mountains of Kentucky. I hope your spring is off to a great start. It’s a rainy spring day in the mountains today. I feel compelled to share this experience with my readers today. I hope it blesses you as much as it has blessed me.

Clouds over the mountains.

I awoke a few mornings ago with a word lingering in my thoughts and spirit. I have since repeatedly been hearing the word, doors. I’ve thought much about the word. Why was I hearing it, what did it mean? What was the hidden message behind this thought, this word? I would ponder and pray about the word, doors, and ask the Lord for an answer.

Doors serve many purposes. They can lead to unknown places, familiar places, opportunities, and adventures… and that’s just a minimal number of things that often await us behind a door.

God’s promises!

As I pondered and prayed about the significance of the word doors. I envisioned journeys and opportunities that might await, but for who? I wondered if this word was meant for me, a family member, or did it hold a significant meaning or message for the future. I wasn’t sure. Maybe, it was for all the above.

Confirmation came, not only once, but multiple confirmations came. Confirmation one came for our son-in-law, who had recently leased a small storefront to serve as an office. After a period of time, the office was no longer needed. Just as he was removing his last load of belongings from the office, a man stopped him as he exited the building and stated, you don’t know me and I don’t know you, but I feel that the Lord wants me to tell you something. Our son-in-law replied that he would like to hear what the man had to say. The stranger proceeded to tell him that the Lord wanted him to stop and tell him that when one door closed, the Lord will always open another door. And a door opened, a door of opportunity opened wide for him a few days later. Confirmation number one! I’ll share more about this opportunity at a later date.

The second confirmation came through a spoken word by a friend at church just as the Lord began to deal with my spirit that He wanted us, His children, to take His word through the doors of the church and out to others. He was speaking to me that we need to tell others about Him and share His word with them, but we needed to walk through the doors to do so. It’s great to assemble in the church to worship and fellowship, but He was saying there was work to do beyond the church doors. As my brother-in-law testified about the need to have a servant’s heart. I felt the tugging again that we were to take the word outside of the church and share God’s goodness with others. Confirmation number two. We must walk through the door to take the word, His word, out to others.

Let the Lord lead… and you follow.

Finally, the third confirmation showed up in a totally different way. The Lord allowed me to see a beautiful doorway in a vision yesterday. The doorway was divine, big, dark wood, and beautiful. It had intricate scrolling wood carvings, and beautiful green vines covering the outer edges. The door served as a gateway to a beautiful garden just beyond the door. The garden was full, lush, and green. It was alive with colorful blooms, and vibrant colors, and bees were buzzing around the blooms. It was alive! The Lord instilled within my spirit that just as the beautiful garden was alive… His word was alive. The garden door served as a gateway to a vision of God’s living word. We, as Christians, need to walk through our doors into the outside world and be living examples of His word, every day.

As always, feel free to leave a comment. God bless from the mountains of Kentucky!

He’s On Time…

Posted by KyAuthorProfessorJBowling499B in a spiritual life, appalachian life, faith over fear, Kentucky memories, ky author, memories, Spiritual life and tagged with , , ,

Hello, from the mountains of Kentucky! Unseasonably warm temperatures have spoiled us in the mountains. I’m talking temperatures soaring into the seventies in January and February. Trees are blooming, bulbs are peeking out above ground, herbs are coming up, and the redbud trees have been alive with color. We all know that the weather can turn on a dime in the mountains of Kentucky. Meteorologists have recorded Kentucky having multiple seasons of weather in one day. So I shouldn’t have been so surprised when March came in with a vengeance! Snow yesterday and today I awoke to a frosty twenty degrees outside.

Spring will arrive on time and, as always, it will be welcomed. After all, He is always on time. Over the course of my life, I have found that to be true. He is on time. It’s not always our time when we want things done, or a situation changed, or a particular prayer answered, but in His time… He answers on time. Sometimes an answer comes quickly, other times almost immediately, and even still other times our answers seemed to be on hold or delayed. Either way, answers to prayers come in His time, and He is always on time.

I have found Him to be faithful. A very scary situation and experience occurred in my life this week that intensified and solidified my belief that He is an on-time God, even more than before. Early Monday morning as I was traveling to work at a high rate of speed on the Interstate, I noticed a small SUV in the outside lane of weaving between two vehicles in enter the middle lane. Fear engulfed me, as I wasn’t sure he was going to make it between the cars. Checking my mirrors to check the traffic behind me, I let off the gas to make sure I was far enough behind the thick traffic in case the driver clipped one of the cars. Amazingly enough, the SUV made it without hitting either car. But, the driver didn’t stop there. The SUV proceeded to enter the fast lane where I was traveling at now at least 75 miles per hour following a jeep at about two car lengths in front of me. The driver of the SUV tried to enter the lane in front of the jeep in front of me, who apparently was in the SUV’s blind spot.

The SUV hit the front passenger fender of the jeep in front of me and sent it crashing into the concrete wall that divides the north and south lanes. Hitting my brakes, I began to fishtail back and forth while the jeep in front of me was thrown and spinning widely back into oncoming traffic: me! I could hear tires squealing in all directions and from my own jeep. The gray jeep that was hit and now spinning out of control was coming directly at me! I began saying Lord help me, Jesus, repeatedly. That’s when I felt control over the situation. With the Lord’s help, I was able to maneuver through three lanes of traffic at a high rate and avoid the jeep twice as it spun through the lanes, as well as the parts that were flying off it.

Suddenly, I realized I had made it through without a scratch from the gray jeep that was still widely spinning trying to get control. I hadn’t hit the jeep or it hadn’t hit me. None of the flying parts had hit me, or none of the other traffic has hit me or anyone else that was just traveling along as I was. Meanwhile, I had forgotten that I had my pastor and his wife blue-toothed into my jeep talking about prayer. I heard her asking, “are you okay?” she explained that all she could hear was a loud crash and tires squealing… and me saying, Lord help me Jesus repeatedly.

I assured her I was okay, and we said a prayer for the other drivers. I explained what happened and kept traveling, giving God the praises for His hand of mercy on me and the others. I saw the state police arriving and the SUV that had caused the horrible wreck stopped on the shoulder. The police would take care of the wreck. Jesus took care of me! He is an on-time God!

Traveling back to work two days later was a bit unnerving. I have driven the interstate for forty-plus years and never really had a fear of the fast pace, or the heavy traffic, until now. I prayed as always before I left for sage travels and asked for angles around my jeep. I entered the traffic on the interstate and directed my thoughts to the traffic, His goodness, and prayed for safety. Shortly thereafter, the heavy traffic began to dissipate and a wonderful thing appeared just out in front of me. Check the picture out below. Just another reminder that He is on time and Jesus is and always will be, Lord.

This gave me comfort as I drove the same road where a near-fatality crash occurred only two days prior.