Signs and wonders

"Katydid"
We can see His work in creation.

© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

When I see katydids I can't deny there's a God.  And that He has a sense of humor.  These harmless critters camouflage themselves, by pretending to be leaves.  He's given us lots of signs and wonders.  We just need to notice.

I'm not sure if you've ever asked, "God if you're real show me a sign."


I have.  Sometimes He does and sometimes He doesn't.  Before I went to Grand Canyon College, I asked God for a sign.  Then I got a brochure in the mail saying that they were offering full financial aid packages.  My eyes popped and my heart started pounding.  I had to go to Phoenix.  I've asked for other signs along the way too.  


But, Jesus isn't a magician or show off.  He works out of compassion and love.  While He was on His journeys in Israel, He performed many miracles.  Soon the people were expecting it.


Maybe they murmured, "I wonder if He'll turn a loaf of bread into food for us all."


"Maybe He'll disappear or heal a blind man."


His message is about faith.  He longed for people to believe in Him and trust Him.  He still does.  It wasn't about what He could do.  It was how He loved.  Although sometimes my requests out list my praises and thanks even today.  Perhaps we're all a little guilty.


Here's a great song that fits with this story Your Name (link) .

John 4:46-54


46 So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.”
I'm not sure if these words were meant just for the nobleman or those who doubted Him.  I'm thinking maybe for all in earshot.  Because Jesus didn't travel to Capernaum, He spoke.


49 The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!”
The nobleman really wasn't looking for signs or wonders.  His focus was on his son.  Jesus wasn't a magician sent to do tricks, He is the Son of God sent to save the world.  If they had depended on what they saw alone, there would be no Church today.  Jesus was sent to bring faith, hope, and life.

50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!”

52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household.

54 This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.

His Word still speaks to us today.  When I pray, I know Jesus hears and says the word to heal and help.  Sometimes not as I plan, He is the Son of God.  He knows how things should go.


Jesus told Thomas,

Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." 
John 20:29

We haven't seen what the disciples saw,  yet we believe.  I see His hand at work almost everyday, especially when I'm shooting.


Feel free to comment if something comes to mind : )

Talking about it

After my first year at Grand Canyon College, an opportunity came up to become a Summer Missionary through the Southern Baptist Convention.  I got excited about it.  Thinking I'd be able to go out and suffer for Jesus in a foreign country, I applied for the job.  I impatiently waited to hear if they would accept me.  The letter finally came.  I ripped it open dreaming of Africa or India.  I was sent to California...


I'd lived in Southern California for several years.  Then I started thinking about it and realized I don't know any foreign languages.  I'm really bad with bugs.  If there's fleas in a house, they all look at me and say, "Dinner!  Oh boy!"  I'm really scared of spiders.  Once again God's logic and wisdom seemed to surpass my fantasies.  So I headed out to California.


My first assignment was teaching Backyard Bible Clubs.  We'd get the kids together, do crafts and talk about Jesus and the Bible.  We stayed in a house with a built-in swimming pool in the backyard.  A familiar setting for me.  I did get an ear infection from the pool, so there was some suffering : )  At one of the clubs I asked the children to raise their hands if they wanted to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  They all did.  So I'm thinking maybe they didn't understand me.  So I asked again and then asked, "Are you sure?"


They all did.  Later I asked my partner if that was real.  She laughed and said, "Yes."  Her parents were missionaries so I felt like she was an expert on this.  Even the director asked if the numbers were correct.  It wasn't until a few years later, I realized that I can't save a soul.  Only Jesus can.  It was His work that took place that day not mine.  He just let me be part of the experience.


The next adventure came when the Director told me I had to stand up and give my testimony in front of a Church of about 2000 people.  If I didn't, I would have to go home.  I usually act first and think later but not this time.  I stood up behind the pulpit and forgot my name.  Did you know your knees really do knock when you're scared?  They do!  I'm fairly certain my brilliant red complexion frightened some of the folks.  Then this verse came to mind,

"... the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say." Luke 12:12

So I silently asked the Holy Spirit to give me words to say for the first time.  I felt relaxed and the words flowed out.  I knew my testimony but it came out so simply and easily.  It really sounded good : )  I repeated it over and over in my head afterward so I'd remember.  Then a guy I'd never met, came up and asked if I would be speaking again.  I looked behind me to see who he was talking to. There wasn't anyone there.  So I speechlessly nodded.


I'm really not a great speaker or anything.  It was the Lord's doing.  I am very grateful He let me be part of it.  After the Summer, I continued to tell my testimony in Churches.  They were always asking me to get up and tell it.  Then for some reason the requests stopped.  I'm sure that's a part of God's plan for me too, maybe He wants me to do more writing.  I will always have a deep love for the Southern Baptists, they led me to Jesus.  Taught me to have faith, and share.


When we moved to the Northwest, the Church wasn't the same.  So I tried other denominations.  Ok, so I had a lot of boyfriends while I was in college.  After we broke up, it was so awkward- I'd go to another Church. By the time I met my husband the only one left was Presbyterian.  We were married there.  It turned out to be a great Church.  So there it is, I'm not a super-saint, just me.


Remembering all this, gave me lots of giggles.  


Maybe that's one of the reasons I love the story of the woman at the well so much, she had many husbands.  Thankfully I only married one.


You can see in the Bible how Jesus sometimes chooses people who keep silent to do His work.  Like when Mary "treasured things in her heart" after Jesus was born.  And John was quick to listen after the "send down a lightening bolt" comment.  He also chooses people who can't keep their mouths shut, like our favorite Apostle, "Peter."  After Jesus and the woman at the well finished talking, the woman went and told everyone she knew what she'd experienced.  I'm sure this was what Jesus wanted.  He has plans for us all, and knows all about us.  

John 4


39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of His own word.
She said just enough to lead others to seek Jesus.  She shared her testimony.


42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”
NKJV
Knowing Jesus personally is what being a Christian is all about. All of our lives and experiences are different. He is always the same.  It's great to hear other people's testimonies.


You can read my testimony by clicking the link "About my faith" on the right side of my blog if you like.  Through all my Church hopping, I continued to read the Bible and pray in a quiet time almost every day.  It's so important to keep reading His Word that's where our personal relationship with Him begins.  He's not looking for eloquence or perfection. Just honesty and a desire to know Him.  I'm living proof, He'll take anyone : )


Feel free to comment if you think of something.

Scripture & A Snapshot

© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

Sometimes people can really get on my nerves.  Today I got a phone call from our prescription company.  It was voice activated...  I have no desire to talk to a recording, nor do I need to be called to find out if I have questions.  But, this verse says that I'm being sharpened.  I'm sure their intent is to provide great customer service.  Is it really that big of a deal?  No.


We'll be married for 20 years this August.  It was sooo rough at first.  If you're newly married- the first 2 years are the hardest for sure!  We've bent and groaned.  Even wondered what we were thinking of at times.  Now we're more comfortable and by God's grace have lasted this long.  That's how God designed us- to sharpen each other.  To keep us from drifting into complacency.  Boredom is one of my biggest fears.


I was thinking of all the denominations I've attended.  The many differences stand out.  Southern Baptists excel in local evangelism and Bible Study.  Presbyterians have a nice formal worship service and focus on people's needs, like sending water purifiers overseas.  Love the organ and bells : )  Christian & Missionary Alliance (CAMA) is always spoken of highly for their work in helping people overseas.  At the Methodist University, I graduated from, I met all sorts of famous Christian authors:  Tony Campolo, Calvin Miller, JI Packer...  (Wonder if God's trying to prod me on that).  Some Churches speak in tongues.  There's even a non-denominational denomination.  Guess I'd be cross-denominational...


We are very different, but Jesus only has one body.  I'm sure this is all part of His plan.  


I wonder if the Churches grow when they open up to other denominations.  I know in our town several Pastors meet and discuss things from all sorts of backgrounds.  I'm sure some sharpening's going on.  My husband and I still sharpen each other now and then : )


Feel free to comment, if something comes to mind.




Challenge sponsored by Katie Lloyd Photography.

She's different

"Ok, not THAT different..."
Although we can be confusing at times.

© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

When I was in Utah, I made a best friend.  She is a Mormon, but she is different.  We had a lot of fun.  We never worried about our differences.  Monty rode horses and motorbikes.  I'd only ridden in Southern California, in a ring, English style.  She tried to get me to ride motorbikes with her. It only took an hour for us to realize, it wasn't a good idea.  Takes some coordination to do that, which I lack.  Horses?  We get along great.

I taught Monty the joy of blowing soap bubbles on Main Street.  There was only one traffic light and a stop sign in town.  It took all of 5 minutes to drag Main in our cars.  And that's only if you waved at the other kids.

For Halloween in High School, we dressed up like pregnant ladies and went trick-or-treating.  We put curlers in our hair, wore bathrobes and stuffed pillows in our front.  Everyone got a good laugh out of it.  She became a waitress in another town 40 miles away.  So I went with her during the summer, and became a waitress too.

We went to keggers, where kids got beer kegs and drank at night in the Utah desert.  There was something unsettling about my Mom and Step-Father leading Alcoholics Anonymous while I was at these parties.  God was changing my heart, from the inside.  Not just my words.

I'd been missing quite a bit of Church.  So I started praying, "God if you want me in Church, please wake me up in time to get there."

And He did.  So I went.

Monty fell in love with the manager at the restaurant, and he fell for her.  They got married out of High School.  I fell for a really cute pig farmer, but it didn't work out.  So glad when God says, "No" to my prayers.   God sent me off to Grand Canyon College in Phoenix, AZ instead.  Grand Canyon is a Southern Baptist school that's now a University.  It took 5 years for my 4 year education, but I graduated from a Methodist school in Seattle.  Monty and I had a hard time leaving each other behind.  But, we are still best friends.  I knew leaving was my only hope for a future.  God has a way of making His will the only option.

It's good to make friends with people who are different.  Jesus did.  There was a Samaritan woman by a  well that Jesus met on one of His journeys.  Not only was she a Samaritan, which Jews despised.  She was a woman!  The disciples were taken back by this.


John 4:4-26

5 ... He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
It's cool how Jesus visited the spot where Jacob had given land to Joseph.  God used Joseph in some mighty ways.  Kind of shows how God doesn't forget; how His love never ends.

7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.
It's interesting, Jesus could've gotten the water Himself.  But, instead He wanted to have a conversation with this woman.  She probably had a clay jar in her hand.  What's in my hand?  A mouse and keyboard.  Maybe He can use it.

9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.
Her response is very honest.  Jesus likes that- He already knows anyway.  Nothing to hide.

10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? 12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”
If He had answered, "Well, actually, I'm way greater than Jacob."
The woman would've shook her head and questioned His sanity.  Sometimes the direct approach isn't the best.

13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

15 The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.”

I looked up the verses from the Old Testament on this:

Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Isaiah 12:3

10 For as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,

11 So shall My word that goes forth from my mouth;
It shall not return to me void,
But it will accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:10-11

16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.”

17 The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.”

Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.”
Jesus already knew about the woman's life.  I thought about why she would say she didn't have a husband.  Perhaps she had been married so many times, she gave up on marriage.  Jesus had opened her eyes to a greater truth.  Marriage isn't the meaning of our lives, it can't completely satisfy us.  Only Jesus can.  This seems so real to us today.  Don't know what I'd do with my husband if I didn't have the Lord's help : )  I'm sure he's grateful I don't completely lean on him too.

19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”

21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Now the time has come when we do worship in spirit and truth.  From our cars, our homes, prison cells, and Church buildings.  I am so grateful we don't have to travel to Jerusalem : )

25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”

26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
Can you imagine?  The Son of God, spoke to a woman who had sinned and failed.  I've sinned and failed too.  She was probably an outcast to Jews and her own people.  But not to Jesus.  He'll never cast us out, once we are His.

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture & A Snapshot

"I AM"

© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

Today I had a paintbrush in my hand.  And then this song, "I AM (link)", played on the radio.  I got all inspired.  I knew I had to do a post.  It all started with Moses.

Moses had a job to do.  For him it was unimaginable.  Lead Israel out of Egypt.  He had all sorts of reasons:  he stuttered, he had lived with Pharoah's family and the Israelites were oppressed by him.  Why would they ever trust him?  Surely God wasn't serious about this.  Sounds familiar to most of us.  "Who me?"

"Nah.  You got the wrong person God.  I'm not all th-th-that."

This story has inspired me sooo many times.  I love it.  I actually stuttered when I was a little girl.  So many times I've felt like Moses.

Exodus 4:2-5

2 So the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.”
3 And He said, “Cast it on the ground.” So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it.
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail” (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand), 
5 “that they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you."
(NKJV)

It's so hard for me to paint Jesus.  I don't see Him as a man, I sense His presence- His Spirit.  To me He is the I AM, way beyond my imagination.  Maybe He will use my paintbrush or camera : )  Hope you'll enjoy the song too.






Challenge sponsored by Katie Lloyd Photography.

Scripture & a snapshot

"Apple blossoms"
© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

Spring has come!  It's my favorite time of year to shoot.  Ok, I guess all the seasons are great : )  I saw some blossoms on the trees and couldn't stop shooting.  I silently prayed, "Oh Lord, I've taken photos of these same trees every year."  Then I remembered the words, "they are new every morning."  I had to smile.  Each day I go out to shoot, things are new and different.  It wouldn't be possible to duplicate a photo from last year.  I knew this was from the Bible, so I had to look it up.  It's beautiful.  A reminder that no matter where we've been or what we've done, His mercy waits.  His arms are open, because He loves us that much.  According to Jesus, we're to die for.  He longs to make our hearts new each day.


Here's the paragraph:

Lamentations 3


19 Remember my affliction and roaming,
The wormwood and the gall.
20 My soul still remembers

And sinks within me.
21 This I recall to my mind,

Therefore I have hope.
22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning; 

Great is Your faithfulness.
NKJV






Challenge sponsored by Katie Lloyd Photography.

Born again

When I first became a Christian in Utah, I thought everyone would be so happy.  I'd stay out of trouble and be good.  But, it didn't exactly go like that...  My first stop was home.  I excitedly told my Mom and Step-Father about my decision.  My Mom looked stunned.  "You what?"
My Step-Father told me, "You can't do that.  It's not right, horoscope is right.  Christianity is wrong."
My Mom told him, "She can do what she wants."
I became the black sheep of the family, err white sheep?  


Note:  I write the following feeling a bit concerned.  I don't want to add fuel to the tolerance war.  It seems whenever any group of people, by religion, class, race, financial or other form dominate a location, people get cast out.  It's a very sad thing. As humans we tend to seek out what's familiar and reject what's different.  Not all Mormons behave this way.  God wants us to love all. Even if they've hurt us.  My intention is not to hurt Mormons, this is simply my experience in Utah.


Next I went to my High School.  The majority of my classmates were Mormon.  I was so excited I told them, "I became a Christian!"  My friend's face dropped.  "Where do you get your authority?"
"Authority?  What authority?"  
She asked again in simpler terms, "How can you marry people in the Church?"
"I can't, the Pastor does."
"So where does he get his authority?"
"From God."
She said that authority only comes by the laying on of hands.
So I asked, "Who laid hands on the bishop?"
"Generations of bishops."
"Where did it start?"
She answered, "With Joseph Smith."
"Who laid hands on Joseph Smith?"
"God."
She quit being my friend.  I used to go to Youth Group activities with some friends.  But I was told, "I'm sorry, you can't come anymore.  You're not one of us."
So I quit.
I was sitting in class one day when a teacher stood up and said, "We can't talk about this because we have one who is not one of us in our midst."  He pointed at me.


The Mormon kids were required to attend seminary at school.  By God's grace I was never asked.  After I became a Christian, some other teenagers moved to town and came to Church.  I asked if they wanted to come to my house for lunch and Bible Study.  I led my first Bible Study.  I never made a big deal about it.
We met several times.  We never got in trouble by the school or the government.  It was hard because I didn't know the Bible very well, but we did have some good times and learned some stuff.


Then one day a missionary came to my house and adamantly told me, "We're going to put you on the hopeless list!"
I said, "Wow!  Praise the Lord.  You see, I'm a Born Again Christian.  I'd really appreciate it if you would."
He walked away dumbfounded. 


I felt like the Apostle Paul : )  I went off by myself and read my Bible, just couldn't put it down.  Was it worth it?  Absolutely!  It took me awhile to get consistent in my faith (2 years).  Lots of challenges.  But I don't regret it for a moment now.  Jesus became my joy and hope.  He gave me compassion .  He's my Lord, my healer, my comforter, my courage builder, and my best friend.  I talk to Him everyday and still love reading the Bible.


Nicodemus was a Pharisee.  He came to Jesus in the night to ask questions.  He would've faced much more than I ever did had he not done this.  The Apostle John wrote down the conversation.  It really explains how to come to know Jesus.  The conversation took place before Jesus' resurrection, so it's a perfect fit after the Easter story.  If anyone is confused by this "Born Again" business, so was Nicodemus.  

3 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ² This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

³ Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus had been taught and lived by the Jewish law.  These words would've been very confusing for him.


⁴ Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
⁵ Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
We are born of water, a natural, physical birth.  To become a Christian, we are born of God's Spirit.


⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
I've heard this before, "There's something different about you." or "Why would you do that?"


⁹ Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”
¹⁰ Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? ¹¹ Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. ¹² If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 
Jesus is talking about the other side of our reality, Heaven.  Where God's throne is.  The Spiritual realm.  We know that there is a battle between good and evil on earth.  Evil is easy to see, but it takes the Holy Spirit to help us understand how God is working good.


¹³ No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. ¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Moses lifted up a serpent in the wilderness for God's blessing on the Jews when they were in battle with the Egyptians.  Each time he lifted it up the Jews would win the battle.  Jesus was crucified (lifted up) on a cross.  This was no coincidence- it was a part of God's plan.


¹⁸ “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
All He asks for is our belief, our acceptance of Jesus sacrifice.  Some will always prefer evil or good.  I choose good (but I still mess up).  When I confess my sin, I am forgiven.


After Jesus' body was placed in the tomb, Nicodemus risked his life by bringing a hundred pounds of aloe and myrrh.  I gotta believe He came to love Jesus too (John 19:39).