Scattered Seed Books

Author: Jenn

  • Remove the records

    Remove the records

    In 1814, America was at war again.

    It had taken some time for the enemy to assemble since the last war.

    From atop a hill, near the sea, Monroe watched. An army of enemy soldiers disembarked and headed straight for Washington. Not full of remorse, but pride.

    Quickly, the President scribbled a note to his clerk, the keeper of the original documents. The record of things done right.

    A decision was made.

    Remove the records, the note said.

    And so they did.

    Under stars. Carefully handled.  Wrapped in cloth. Pushed  out into the struggling world. Eventually to return.

    There was a war in Heaven once.

    But something much more valuable than land or merchants was at stake.

    Some might say, a war that saved your life.

    Lucifer assembled an army. 

    It had taken some time to convince an entire third.

    And it would not be the last time he would lie to get his way.

    Even after, he approaches Heaven. Not full of remorse, but pride.

    With the results of roaming back and forth on earth.

    And he would wave a record around. Your record of things done wrong. Accusing.

    Until  a baby.

    Under stars. Carefully handled.  Wrapped in cloth.  Pushed out into the struggling  world.

    Some might say, a Redeemer that saved your life.

    To remove the records.

    That baby became the man

    Nailed to a cross

    Buried in a tomb.

    Risen on the third day.

    Now seated on the throne.

    Eventually to return.

    And your records?

    Removed. 

  • A Pocket Full

    A Pocket Full

    Over the weekend, my husband and I joined up with a group from our church to hand out food.

    And each time a transaction took place.

    While we lifted bags into back seats, they deposited chronicles of heartbreak at our feet.

    While we passed gift cards through car windows, they left whispered tales of broken homes at our fingertips.

     Tears streamed, unashamedly, on both sides of the door that day.

    And then she showed up.

    From her large truck, a small woman looked down at us, waved an aged spotted hand, signalling us to stop and spoke.

    “I want for nothing, I have all I need. Yet, I have something for you.”

    An uncertain pause to our outreach hung in the air around us.  No one knew what to do. We eyed her suspiciously, until another volunteer approached her truck and timidly held out a gloved hand. She released a handful of small, plastic Jesus figurines.

    We pocketed them and giggled awkwardly.

    It was during my last car, that I remembered the figurine. As the car pulled away, my husband reached into his pocket and handed his Jesus to the woman behind the wheel.

    And she hesitated, just a second, as if wondering what to do with Him.

    “”Don’t you know that you can’t just give Jesus away,” I teased my husband as we walked back to the table.

    “I thought that’s what we were doing,” he said.

    He’s not wrong.

    As we handed over bags of apples, we were giving away Jesus.

    As we asked for Divine Favor in their situation, we were giving away Jesus.

    As we ministered to the weary and heavy laden, we were giving away Jesus.

    And you know what else..

    When we offered them Jesus, some eyed us suspiciously. 

    When we gave them Jesus, they weren’t sure where to put Him.

    When we placed Jesus in their hands, they didn’t know what to do with Him.

    And maybe that’s on us.

    Maybe He has sat too long in our pockets for us to feel Him, or clutched too long in our gloved hands for us to work with Him.

    I never did catch her name. I wish I could thank her.  I wonder if she knows just how important those words have become.

    The next opportunity to give Jesus away might look different on the surface, yet the internal need remains the same. 

    The need for a lifted load.

    The need for some gentle joy.

    The need for a Savior.

    “Come.” Jesus says, “Come.”

    He has something for you.

  • Mary and Martha and the One Thing

    Mary and Martha and the One Thing

    I have a confession.  

    For about 2 months, I have been performing.

    When I’m not performing, I’m expecting.  When I’m through expecting, I begin comparing. It’s an uncomfortable pattern, filled with self-doubt, discouragement, and a few demoralizing thoughts. 

    Allow me to explain. You see, a while back I started a blog. Facebook and Instagram accounts were not far behind. I write, I create, and I anxiously hit publish. Then I wait, expectantly, for the likes to flow in and the followers to, well..follow. I look for the hearts, and the stars, and the thumbs up. When that doesn’t happen quite the way I think it should, I start to compare my performance to others. It’s not enough to impact my mood for the day, but it is important. 

    Apparently, I’m not alone in this.

    In Luke, chapter 10, we find the story of Mary and Martha. These two sisters opened their home to Jesus and His crew as they traveled through Bethany. The chapter states that Martha was busy with preparations, while her sister, Mary, sat and listened to what Jesus had to say.

    Martha was performing work. When she was done performing, she was expecting. When she was through expecting, she began comparing.

    I feel Martha’s pain. After all, in the infamous words of Mike Rowe, “somebody’s gotta do it”.  The bills don’t pay themselves. The tasks don’t just disappear. The book doesn’t market itself. 

    The Bible doesn’t mention her tone of voice. When she finally does speak, I can hear her. Martha sounds aggravated and unhappy.

    …. “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:40 NIV)

    We hear Jesus respond in the next 2 verses. The Bible doesn’t mention His tone of voice, but I can hear Him as well. To me, His voice is gentle and calm.

    41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10 41-42 NIV)

    It turns out that this one thing must be pretty important because it’s mentioned again in Psalm 27:4,

    One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek Him in his temple. (NIV)

    And again, in Luke 18:22,

    22 When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” (NIV)

    Allow me to sum up.

    Follow Jesus, wherever He may lead, and sit at His feet and hear His voice. 

    Not performing. 

    Not expecting.

    Not comparing.

    That acceptance you long for, peace you crave, and hope you reach for are all found when you do that one thing; follow, sit, and listen.

    I can’t have you thinking that all the typing and creating I do is for accolades. Actually, I desire a quiet, obedient life, that reflects Christ. I like to think Martha did too. But it is nice to be liked and followed (Only online though. Please don’t follow people around in real life. That is called a felony, and it’s frowned upon in polite society).

    Maybe Martha isn’t the only one who needed that reminder to sit at His feet for a small, peace filled moment each day and hear His word.

    Charles Spurgeon recognized the importance of this practice when he said,

    “Go there with Mary. And, afterwards, work with Martha.”

    When He silences the siren of performance, I can hear His message above the doubts, reminding me of the unique talents He has given me.

    When He rolls the rock of expectation away from me, I can see His steady presence in my life, sparking real gratitude and igniting joy.

    When He lifts the load of comparison off of me, I can surrender to the greatness of His plan, not only guiding me, but equipping me as well. 

    The business you believed could only thrive because of your exhaustive performance…

    The relationship you expected to get better, and now you blame yourself for all the problems… 

    The comparisons you made every time you were online, that left you feeling talentless and unworthy….

    Do one thing.

    Follow.  Sit.  Listen.

    One last word before I go.  

    For those who have forgotten what it’s like to sit at the feet of Jesus, or for those not even in the same room as Him, He is beckoning you to do the one thing. The Bible doesn’t mention His tone of voice. But I can hear Him. 

    Can you?

  • Courage with a capital G

    Courage with a capital G

     From where he sat, he could see his fellow soldiers napping.  The sharp snap of a twig startled him. Noiselessly, the small black-and-white terrier climbed out of the dirt trench, creeping toward the enemy spy. Letting out a low growl, the brave canine lunged, sinking his sharp teeth into the adversary’s calf. Angry shrieks woke the American soldiers with the 102nd infantry. Through it all, Stubby held on tight.

      Born a stray, this small Boston Terrier was smuggled on board the USS Minnesota by a young corporal. In February 1918, they landed in Chemin des Dames, France. Here they would spend the next eighteen months. Stubby spent most of his time on the front lines. As battles raged, Stubby ran ferociously and fearlessly around his fellow soldiers.

      Because of his keen canine senses, Stubby alerted his comrades to the shrill whistle of incoming shells before they struck. He used his unique low-light vision to locate missing soldiers on the field. The courage and motivation of this canine boosted the morale of the soldiers, in and out of battle.

    Excellent eyesight. Heroic hearing.  Boundless bravery.

      Pas moi! As I type, I’m adorned with bi-focals and irked because I can hear the exhaust fan above the kitchen stove. I’m suspiciously eyeing that spider on my ceiling, preparing to abandon my post should it make any sudden moves. I come equipped with lens cleaner, noise canceling headphones, and an emotional support cup of tea. 

     I first read about Stubby when I was researching World War I. A dog with keen eyesight and remarkable hearing; yet, it was his bravery and his sense of purpose that won me over. He had a willingness to move beyond comfort, into the conflict, drawing courage from the soldiers around him.


      And you?

      Where does your courage come from?

      Psalm 27:14 says,

    The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? (NIV)

      Much like our four legged hero, King David was a skilled, experienced soldier. In fact, David had previously come up against a giant. I imagine the legs of the men on the WWI battlefield resembled the legs of giants as Stubby weaved in and out of them.

      King David wrote this when he was in trouble, to remind himself that the strife that surrounded him would be no match for the God who internally fortified him. In this one Psalm, we see David turn his panic to prayer, his fear into faith, and his tribulation into trust. What’s even more comforting, is that God knew all of David’s inadequacies, but called him anyway. David had to have a heart open to God’s purpose.

      Joshua is another example of being strong and courageous in the face of the unknown.

      In Joshua 10:8 it states,

    And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you.” (NIV)

     Though Joshua had reasons to fear, God had commanded him not to. Joshua had to hold tight to that command and the promise attached to it. Then he got to work. Joshua participated. He trusted God to make him capable. 

      God had been preparing Joshua to lead and now He was calling him to be bold for the battles ahead. There was no time to consider the “what ifs” and “how wills” of the future. Joshua let fear sharpen his awareness of God. I bet a battlefield is a difficult place to hear the call of your friend, unless, of course, you’re a dog. Joshua had to have ears trained to hear God’s voice in everything and everywhere.

    And Deborah?

    Now, most people of that time would never have expected God to raise up a woman as a prophetess, never mind a judge. But there she was, using all the skills and gifts that God had entrusted to her to sit under that tree and, well, judge. She eventually sends for Barak to ask why he wasn’t going where God had told him to go and doing what God had told him to do. His answer was found in Judges 4:8.

    “Barak said to her, ‘If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.’ ” (NIV)

    When we are hit with those hard times, and can’t see our way out of it, it’s a good thing we have a Judge who will come alongside us, too. Barak’s obedience relied on Deborah’s willingness to go with him. He needed God to uncover his spiritual eyes. Then, with no more fear or excuses to block the way, Barak might have been able to see God’s plan. 

      When we talk about spiritual eyes, we are really talking about the ability to see beyond the natural.  To glimpse the Invisible moving the visible. That clarity of purpose and spiritual discernment only comes through a personal relationship with Jesus. If Stubby couldn’t see what the men were doing, he would stumble all over himself. If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves, too. Deborah had to have uncovered eyes to see God’s plan.

    Open our hearts to His purpose. 

    Train our ears to hear His voice. 

    Uncover our eyes to witness God’s presence.

      Stubby was the only canine promoted to Sergeant during the entire war.  That’s Sergeant, with a capital S. Seventeen battles later, and I guess you could say, he was a bit of a celebrity. He met three US presidents, marched in numerous parades, and received lifetime memberships into the American Legion, the Red Cross, and the YMCA.

      Now, hold on a second. It just doesn’t feel right to let you go on thinking that all Boston Terriers are like Sergeant Stubby. 

      Currently, my Boston Terrier is napping on a blanket, contentedly soaking up the only slice of February sunlight we’ve seen in days. When he’s not napping or barking at the birds, he finds a little time to, well, sneak in another nap. Did I mention he snores?                     

      Also, this breed tends to be a little..

      Well, let’s just say he engages in chemical warfare.

      But that might just be a story for another day.

    1. Lenny Avatar
      Lenny

      great stuff

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  • Keep Swimming

    Keep Swimming

    Legend has it that, as a toddler, I had an unfortunate incident with a body of water.  Immediately, I  became afraid of getting hurt again. I would scream and fuss at the mention of going into the lake, not even willing to put a toe in the water.

    Eventually, my father had enough. 

    He led me, hand in hand, kicking and screaming, to the small rock wall on the shoreline. For hours, he walked me up and down that wall. My face soaked with tears. I protested, loudly, but he never wavered in his resolve to reacquaint me with the water. 

    If you had been there that afternoon, you’d have heard the older ladies cluck their agitation and whisper it shouldn’t be done. You might have seen the older men, hike up their shorts, and say it couldn’t be done. You’d laugh, to see the curious children, who drummed up their own deep defiance, and said it wouldn’t be done.

    And me, red faced and resistant, with him, strong and steady.

    I could write this post with a focus on God’s unwavering resolve toward us. I could write about  His unmatched patience toward our kicking and splashing while we wade through the uncomfortable pools of our life. 

    Which is true.

    But I’m not going to type that.

    Or I could compare an earthly parent’s love to your Heavenly Father’s unmatched love, fueled by His desire for us to know Him more, even when we fuss and swim away.

    Which is also true.

    But this is not that blog post.

    Maybe I could dive into the nuances of how God takes us by the hand and remains side by side with us. How He is simultaneously our anchor and our life raft, reminding us of how good His presence feels.

    Which is beautifully true.

    But I’m not here to explain that.

    Instead, let’s take it a step at a time.

    Psalm 119:105 states,

    “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”(NIV)

    To me, that sounds like you get just enough light for each step. Too much light, and you’d trust the steps and your own footing on the wet rocks. Each little step that day was, admittedly, not what I wanted. My earthly parent was asking me to trust them. At the same time, there is no way of knowing the future when your Heavenly Father has set you on a path. I reasoned that I shouldn’t be on the path that made me uncomfortable. Instead, there I was, being asked to walk by faith, by way of surrendering my fears, limitations, and comfort zones. There was no telling the end result.  

    Could you use a little Divine hand holding while you navigate some unlit, slippery paths?

    Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, 

    “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV)

    My earthly father’s plan that day involved seeing it through; moving forward, by taking one small, diligent step at a time. He knew he was asking me to stretch my faith that day. I “knew” I was being tortured that day. I made sure everyone else thought the same. They all argued that it couldn’t be done this way. To the dismay of all the bystanders, my father chose not to reveal his plan to anyone at all.  

    That’s what we ask of God, though, isn’t it? If He would be so kind as to reveal the plan, step by step, in delicious detail, we’d gladly trust Him with the results.

    Has an unfortunate incident on some slick surface led you to believe you could never trust God’s plan again?

    The Bible says in John 15:5,

    “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (NIV)

    Staying connected is the key here.  Had I let go, and sprinted for safety, there would have been no serendipitous swims during the sizzle of summer.  Had I detached myself from the vine in search of gentleness or pity,  there would have been no graceful glides through the lake during sunset’s glow. 

    So, if He is telling us to stay connected to the vine, what would happen if we wouldn’t?  If we wouldn’t submit to His will? If we wouldn’t wait on His timing? If we wouldn’t hold His hand?

    Have you looked out at the lake of unanswered prayers and decided to detach yourself from the vine and do it on your own?

    I have. That thing that God asked me to do? Well,  I’ve shook and I’ve stomped.  I’ve cried and I’ve reasoned. There’s been some doubts, some negotiations, and some delays.

    Little thoughts niggle, like minnows, at the back of my mind. They quip; “I’m too old. I’ve waited too long. I’ve missed it. I’m too late.” 

    Me, red faced and resistant, with Him, strong and steady.

    Shouldn’t be done.

    Couldn’t be done.

    Wouldn’t be done.

    It all ended well that day and I found myself back in the water. But what if it had failed? After all, earthly plans, laid by man, fail all the time.

    But not God’s plan.

    The real failure is stopping when God has called you to keep going. 

    So go swimming. Dive into the deep waters of your Heavenly Father’s love. Float on the overflowing reservoir of His forgiveness. Plunge into the personal relationship with the One Who Walks on Water.

    And finally, I hope you know, that if you have ever invited me over for a swim, there’s a child-like part, deep inside of me, that rejoices. 

    Because, there I am.
    Eyes to the Heavens.
    Weightless and Free.
    It's me looking up at Him.
    And Him looking down at me.

  • Root of the matter

    Root of the matter

    I asked my husband, a plumber for the last 35 years, what the weirdest thing was that he ever pulled out of a pipe. Before he relinquished the answer, there was a brief discussion about the usual suspects, including; things that should not be flushed despite what that commercial says, too much paper, and all feminine products. This was followed by an even longer explanation of how all that piping is supposed to work. 
    You see, often a clogged toilet is not an easy fix. Through some vigorous plunging, a customer can actually push the unwanted item from the toilet, further into the piping. More often than most customers would like, a resolution involves the removal of said toilet, snaking the pipe with heavy, cumbersome equipment, and, of course, toilet resetting. What can’t be recovered or displaced via the toilet and its piping, usually will cause a bigger problem in the form of a main line clog. When the main clogs, no plumbing in the house is usable, and out comes even heavier equipment, complete with a costly camera attachment.
    Having seen it firsthand on the aforementioned camera equipment, I can attest that the inside of the piping is unsettling. It’s a sneak peek into an artery. It’s dark and wet. Soggy goo clings to the side. Water may be trickling past, or it may be stopped altogether.
    As I waited for an answer, he went on to explain an unexpectedly common culprit in the realm of problematic pipes. It is what my husband likes to call “alien angel hair pasta”, known to us, non-plumbers, as tree roots. You see, while you slept, ate, watched t.v., read, and just generally lived life, the tiniest roots of that big, beautiful maple tree across the street, stretched silently, and some might say, menacingly your way.

    You may not know it, but roots are opportunistic. They prowl through layers of dirt, until they reach your unsuspecting pipe. Here they search for a way into your plumbing, through a weakness or a separation. As the tree roots grow, now nicely watered, courtesy of your house, they expand within the pipe.  All of this leads to an eventual crack or collapse of the structure. A break in the pipe that signals a bigger problem.  But (deep breaths) this is the opportunity to finally heal something you didn’t even know was broken.
    I couldn’t help but draw a comparison between these tree roots and your opportunistic enemy mentioned in 1 Peter 5:8, where is says, 


    Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (NIV)

    That weakness in the pipe sounds a lot like Romans 7:18,

    For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.(NIV)

     And how do we avoid a separation in our lives from the source? Isaiah 59:2 cautions,

    But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. (NIV)

    Not surprisingly, the Bible actually has a lot to say about roots as well.  And, while most of it is good, there were a few words of warning.

    Like the root of bitterness mentioned in Hebrews 12:15,

    See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. (NIV)

    Unresolved anger can quickly turn a heart sour.  Upset with that neighbor?  Irritable? Constantly disappointed?  We all know that a little bitter root will eventually lead to a lot of bitter fruit. And if the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, your bitterness might lead to someone else’s bitterness.

    Or in 1 Timothy 6:10 when it talks about the root of evil,

    For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (NIV)

    Now of course money doesn’t grow on trees, but the love of it might. The desire to contract and contain the money is enough to cause this root to flourish. You end up putting a lot of time and energy into maintaining, what amounts to, a glorified green leaf. And there you are wandering from the faith and piercing yourself with all kinds of griefs in search of it.

    And don’t forget this root found in Proverbs 12:3, 

    No one can be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted. (NIV)

    Don’t miss the forest for the trees on this one.  The root of the righteous cannot be moved, but what about the human heart or the root of the unrighteous? Adam Clarke had this to say in his commentary,

    “Evil is always variable: it has no fixed principle, except the root that is in the human heart; and even that is ever assuming new forms..”

    Once you acknowledge you are having plumbing problems, a plumber can help you by clearing away the dreaded roots long before they have destroyed the line. An experienced plumber comes equipped with more skills and tools than you or I can imagine or possess. He, or she, can get the obstacle cleared and the water flowing the right direction again.   

    And obstacles?  Most would agree that both spiritual and physical obstacles are best when removed. But only God can uncover it all.  He exposes the root of the matter, not to condemn, but to repair and heal. Unlike my favorite plumber though, God doesn’t need expensive camera equipment or cutting tools to remove the corrupt roots in your life. He needs you.  He needs you to acknowledge the need for His Divine Help. He needs you to admit that you have sin in your life.  And He needs you to accept His son, Jesus, and let Him be Lord. That may well be the only contribution to your salvation.

    And then, you can rely on Him to show you the areas of your life that are separated from Him and weak.

    And then, you can ask for the renewed strength and tools to dig it all up and try again, getting that water flowing in the right direction.

    And then, He can enable you to be more selective about what you allow to take root in your life, which may mean choosing hard over easy.

    Now our talk thus far had literally led me down the maze of modern-day water supply and drainage, until he mentioned plastic.  But, as it turns out, plastic wasn’t the weirdest thing he had ever pulled out of a pipe. However, I did learn that a lot of the antiquated clay pipes that were once concealed beneath the street have been replaced by newfangled plastic. These pipes won’t crack the same way as clay, though they do still get ruined. In fact, given the opportunity, a root could easily stretch 20-30 feet through the plastic pipe following the flow of water to the source.

    Could the same thing be happening to you? Is there a separation, or a weakness somewhere down the line? Has a bad root infiltrated the gate and run unchecked toward the source? Have you been ignorantly watering it?

    Call a plumber.  Or better yet, call on your Heavenly Father.

    And while you’re at it, keep an eye on those trees.  You never can tell.

    And in case you’re still wondering what that weird object was that my husband pulled from a pipe.  It was a pair of women’s capri pants, size 6. Exactly how they got there is another story. Or maybe, more appropriately, it’s another limb on a tree.





  • On a Snowy Day

    On a Snowy Day

      There’s a story in the Bible that I think we don’t pay enough attention to.

      First off, it was snowing. 

      I realize that would be enough to keep most of us from going too far. Here in New England, we stocked up on bread and milk days ago and plan on hunkering down until we see pavement again. If I had to guess, I would say it wasn’t that fluffy Narnia snow that floats ethereally down from the atmosphere. I’m talking about the white stuff that has you turning down the radio in the car so you can see better on the drive home. Snow has a way of making things complicated.

      But, as if the snow wasn’t enough, let’s add in a lion and a pit, like in the story found in 

    1 Chronicles 11:22.

    Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors.  He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.(NIV)

      So you’re probably thinking, I’ve never fought a lion in a pit in a storm.

      Or have you?

      Maybe your pit looks more like the Pit of Despair.  The dirt has been replaced by slick mud.  The climb is made slippery with your tears and disappointment sucks your feet to the bog at the bottom. You struggle to cry out, desperate to clear the muck from your throat that threatens to choke you with every breath. You labor under bags meant to fulfill you but they only weigh you down. The adversary in this pit is there to steal your peace and he’s inching ever closer.

      Perhaps, your pit is a Money Pit. It’s uncomfortable and tight in this bottomless hole, with no breathing room.  There are no rocks to cling to, only overdue notices, bills, and bad decisions line this shaft. It’s cold and dark. Just when it appears that you are making headway, and you can see the exit, the flimsy hand-hold crumbles underneath you and brings you further down.  Your unseen antagonist growls in the darkness, causing anxiety to gnaw at your stomach and your head to pound. The enemy in this pit is there to kill your hope.

      How about a Sarlacc Pit?  The sand in this desert cavern stings, rubbing your skin raw.  It’s irritating, hot, and uncomfortable in this hole, but the worst part is the adversary. This is not your typical CGI monster. It’s very real and the insidious spread of influence this carnivorous beast has wraps around you, squeezes, and pulls you ever deeper.  Its sharp teeth gnash at your defenses. It whispers things about your past, reminding you and confusing you. In its dark eyes are reflected your mistakes and regrets. This foe will destroy your good future, by keeping you tethered to a bad past.

     The Bible warns us about all this in John 10:10,

       The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.(NIV)

    And in 1 Peter 5:8 it says, 

     Be alert, be of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (NIV)

     These verses were not just there to highlight how powerfully aggressive and relentlessly stealthy our enemy is. In a verse about the potential for evil in this world, what Jesus can give is in stark contrast to your enemies proposition. Let fear sharpen your awareness. Find comfort and peace in His presence. Acknowledge your need for His help and let Him show you the way.

      Upon closer inspection in the Benaiah story, the text does not specify if he had a weapon. So far, he’s been described as a valiant fighter and doer of great deeds. It seems to me that when there is danger, he is in his element.

      But, maybe that doesn’t describe you. However, you’re not as vulnerable as an ill-equipped mortal jumping into the unknown with a rodent of unusual size. When you make small, consistent steps of faith and obedience, you are not only armed, but protected.

     Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  EPH. 6: 10-18 (NIV)

      One final look at Benaiah.  

      He didn’t suddenly find himself in a pit with a lion. He ran to it. He was alert to the battle before him.

                          We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. Hebrews 2:1 (NIV)

      He didn’t just fearfully tip toe around the pit and hope that the ferocious feline might let him pass by unscathed. He went sober minded; calm and self controlled, to the conflict.

    Have no fear of sudden disaster

        or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

    26 for the Lord will be at your side

        and will keep your foot from being snared.

    Proverbs 3:25-26 (NIV)

      Benaiah didn’t wait for the right weather, or a certain set of skills to vanquish his enemy.  He fought with the tools God had given him, fully embracing the abundant life we’ve been promised.

    And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

    2 Cor. 9:8 (NIV)

    He intentionally ran into trouble, while most of us are spending a lot of time and energy trying to get out of it.

    This also wasn’t his first go round in a pit. The Bible tells us in back in Benaiah’s story how he struck down two Moab warriors.

      Ok, so maybe they weren’t exactly in a pit.  But, neither were you.

      Then again, like I said, pits can come in all shapes and sizes.

      Like  when you clutched your peace with a tight fist during that stressful, anxiety filled season full of snakes and desperate pleas to God.

      When you said no to a bad habit, though your flesh was screaming yes, allowing God to shift your feet to stronger foundations with a focus on what you could do now.

      And don’t forget the pit, where God showed up and cultivated a desire to live differently, so you could untangle yourself from the monster of your past sins.

      If you’re keeping track, the account of Benaiah now boasts a victory over two Moab warriors and besting one lion in a pit in inclement weather. King David was clearly impressed with Benaiah’s resume’. This is why he made Benaiah chief of his personal bodyguards.

     To this day people can still read his story.

      And your story?

      God can push you past easy and stretch you toward purpose, not just talking about what matters but enabling you to do something about it.

      God can fill you with a joy and a trust that doesn’t shake when life does, enabling you to learn from your mistakes and open your eyes to the right priorities.

     God can do more with the unwritten pages of your future that you could ever do by rereading the yellowed pages of your past.

      And then, some day, we might say of you, she went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.

  • A New Christmas Tradition, Part 3

    A New Christmas Tradition, Part 3

    Welcome!   If you are just joining us, we are on day three of discussing Christmas books for children. You can find the links to those days here.
    For almost 30 years, I have been reading books to children. Many of them have been fantastic, while others bored either me, or the children. I have noticed that the books I read to them are becoming less complex. The words have become easier. The plot is less climactic. That being said, be sure to preview any of the books I’ve featured before you incorporate them into your tradition.

    A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest. CS Lewis


     Reading is such a fantastic exercise for your brain. I am a huge advocate of reading books to children that are above their “reading level”. I believe it helps to increase their vocabulary, leading to better comprehension and reading confidence.  

       These next books are sure not to disappoint.

    These first two books were written by one of my favorite children’s book authors. Patricia Polacco grew up with dyslexia. You can find out more about that here. Most of her stories come from her childhood. These books are rich in illustrations, and she is gifted in storytelling. I enjoy them as much as the kids.

    Until we stumbled upon this book, I had no idea this was an actual event. Hope literally falls from the sky into war-torn Berlin. This book is sweet, in more ways than one.

    We love the Cranberry books!  They are always fun, with a bit of an unexpected ending. This one involves a Christmas time fight over an ice-skating pond. Be sure to check out the recipe at the end.

    Well, that’s it!  I hope you’ve enjoyed a peak at what’s under our tree.  As I type this, just two books remain unwrapped. Be sure to leave me a comment if you have a favorite Christmas book I didn’t mention. There’s always room for another book.


  • A New Christmas Tradition, Part 2

    A New Christmas Tradition, Part 2

    Hello, again!  

      Before we take a look at additional books we used this year in our Christmas Advent tradition, I feel like we should talk about reading to children.

      But first, a word about screen time.  With only a few days remaining until all that Christmas joy gets unpacked, and a to-do list that gets longer by the second, screens have been our constant companion lately.  As I type, we are knee deep in a day long movie marathon, complete with phones and tablets. There have been video games, texts, and books.  There should always be books.

      According to this study, the Nations Report Card found a decline in the national average for reading.  In some cases, that drop was as much as 2 points.  Now, that might not seem so bad, unless you factor in the near 3 point decline in the years before.

      In another study, referenced here, we see a correlation between screen time and the decrease in what they are calling “reading stamina”. That article highlights how a deeper, slower connection needs to be made between the brain and the words on the page, in order to understand what is being read. While  Ohio State University, found a large discrepancy between children who were read to and those who were not.

    Here are a few we’ve unwrapped lately.

    One of my boys, loves this movie, but some in the family feel it’s a little much. The book though, is just right. Ours even comes with a free, downloadable reading done by a famous actor, complete with sound effects.

    Of course, no Christmas book list would be complete without this timeless poem. This version happens to be our favorite. The illustrations switch between simple and beautiful, to stunning, full page, colorful spreads.

    Another Christmas classic, and one of my personal favorites! When my girls were younger, and we would watch this online, we would jokingly say that one did not simply watch The Nutcracker. Complete with tutus, crowns, and even a Nutcracker Doll, this always became an interactive event for 3 little girls in our house.

    That’s it for today. I’ll be back tomorrow with a few more of our favorites.

    If you missed Part 1, you can find it here. But! Be sure to subscribe and receive posts delivered straight to your inbox. It’s not as fun as the way Santa delivers things, but its close.

    In the meantime, remember, there should always be books, and tutus, and movies, and twinkly lights, and dancing, and…..

  • A New Christmas Tradition, part 1

    A New Christmas Tradition, part 1

    Welcome to Scattered Seed Books!

    Before I tell you about my own children’s book, due out this spring, I’d like to introduce you to a few of our favorite Christmas books.  

    A few years ago, while looking for a new way to mark the days until Christmas, I came across a fun tradition involving books.  In this unconventional advent calendar, you wrap up 25 Christmas books.  Each day a child unwraps a book, until that last book is opened on Christmas.  

    We have really enjoyed this tradition, and I thought this was a great opportunity to show you a few books we use.

    This book is beautiful! In this book, we follow a Queen on her hunt for the perfect Christmas tree. She sets out with a certain type of tree in mind, but her idea of what perfect is changes throughout the book.

    In 1914, during World War 1, even the soldiers find a way to generate a little peace during Christmas. For just a brief moment in time, enemies become friends, in a hostile place.

    This is such a sweet story about joy in the midst of loss. A young boy befriends a grieving widower and together they carve out companionship that they both didn’t know they needed. Come to find out, there is also a movie!

    The illustrations in this book are stunning. The book itself is a very easy read about who exactly ended up in that stable so long ago. I always enjoy when this book is unwrapped.

    What I like about this book is that it’s heartwarming and true! Not only does it tell you the true meaning of Christmas, but it does it in a bit of a different way. This book will not only remind you of what Christmas is all about, but it might even inspire you.

    Of course, before you add these to your tradition, be sure to screen them for your family.

    I’ll be back in a few days with additional books, but until then, I’d love to connect with you about your favorite Christmas books.

    Leave a comment

    3 responses to “A New Christmas Tradition, part 1”

    1. A New Christmas Tradition, Part 2 – Scattered Seed Books Avatar
      A New Christmas Tradition, Part 2 – Scattered Seed Books

      […] you missed Part 1, you can find it here. But! Be sure to subscribe and receive posts delivered straight to your inbox. It’s not as fun […]

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    2. Annmarie Avatar
      Annmarie

      what a special way to promote great books

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      1. Jenn Avatar
        Jenn

        Thanks Annmarie!

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