Jesus Marveled

By Lisa Karon Richardson

During His earthly ministry Jesus often surprised people. The Gospels mention the amazement of the crowds at least 26 times. Jesus astonished them.

For a nation that was looking for a Messiah they were shocked when He came. He changed everything for them. He forced them to look at their religion differently. He made them understand that God was just as interested in their attitude as He was their actions.

It can be hard for us to imagine just how revolutionary His teaching was. There was no other way to describe the effect that it had on people but to say that they marveled.

But the Bible only records that Jesus marveled twice. What could cause God to be amazed?

It wasn’t the beauty of nature. After all He was the creator and had formed it all in the beginning.

He didn’t gape at the architecture men had created to impress one another.

He wasn’t impressed by how clever men were.

In both cases, what amazed Jesus was the way in which people responded to Him.

The first instance is found in Mark 6. Jesus has been traveling throughout the countryside teaching and doing miracles. Finally he returns to His hometown of Nazareth. In verse 2 He goes into the synagogue and teaches. And as usual He amazes the people.

But instead of giving glory to God and welcoming Him, Verse 3 says that they “took offense” at Him. In other words they became angry with Jesus. They recognized the power that He had but they rejected Him because they knew Him and His family.

Verse 6 says that Jesus was amazed at their lack of faith.

The other instance we find of Jesus being amazed is found in Matthew 8:5-10. A Roman Centurion comes to Him to ask that He would heal a sick servant. Jesus is willing to go with the soldier, but the centurion stops Him. His response to meeting Jesus is the opposite of those in Nazareth. He says: “I am not worthy for you to come into my house. Just say the word and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one “Go” and he goes, this one “Come” and he comes.

This Roman recognized Jesus’ power and authority and responded to it. Though uncircumcised, this mere soldier knew that Jesus did not have to go to the servant in order for His will to be carried out.

Verse 10 says that when Jesus heard this He marveled because of the great faith that the man had. Jesus had never encountered such faith before, not even among the chosen people of Israel.

In both cases it was the faith of the people involved that caused Jesus to marvel.

The people of Nazareth had just as much evidence of His power and authority as the centurion, but they responded in a totally different manner. Their attitude of unbelief caused them to lose out. The Centurion got what he requested from the Lord, his need was answered. But in Nazareth, Jesus did no great miracles. He only healed a few sick people.

When we look closely at the scripture, we realize that faith is impotent without action. The centurion didn’t stay at home and worry about his servant. He took action. He believed Jesus could heal the servant. So he found Jesus. He asked for the needed healing and he further demonstrated his faith by acknowledging that Jesus didn’t have to do anything but speak for the miracle to be accomplished.

Faith is not dormant, it is not asleep. It is active and alive.

James 2:20 “But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?”

We may not always act on what we say we believe, but we will always act on what we believe. If we think a hurricane is coming we will act on it. If we don’t think the storm is coming then we will just go on like normal.

When my sister and I were pre-teens my Mom had to take a job one summer. We were assigned to baby sit one another. That worked pretty well (except for when it didn’t!) Each day she would leave a list of chores and we had to have them done before she got home. That wasn’t our favorite part of the arrangement but we would work on them and we usually had them done when she got home. One day though we knew that Mom had had a rough week and we got to talking and we decided to do more than our chores. We worked hard all day long and we cleaned the entire house. Sweeping, mopping, dusting, laundry, dishes. All of it! Now when my Mom got home she was so surprised and happy, that we all went out to supper that night as a family. Let me tell you, that was a treat at our house. And although it wasn’t our motive, it was a reward for being such good helpers.

There’s a much more important banquet laid out in heaven that I want to go to. My faith is not exercised solely to obtain that goal, but I can’t wait to reach it. And I guess I’m at a point in my life where I don’t want just to make it by the hair of my chinny chin chin. I want to amaze God as much as He amazes me. My new goal is to try to out do the Centurion.

It won’t be easy but I am learning to trust Him absolutely.

What spiritual goal are you working on right now?

Stop and Watch the Ducks

by Anita Mae Draper

And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” 23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day. Genesis 1:20-23 (NIV)

You've all heard of the phrase, 'Stop and smell the roses' haven't you? Well, today we're going to stop and look at ducks. This post is all about relaxation. You don't have to do anything but scroll down through the photos. There's even a video at the end.

Why? Because ducks are calming. And they were accessible. You see, I received a new camera for Mother's Day. Oh, please... I can hear your groans from here... no, I'm not going to show off family photos - I want to show you some ducks and I guess I'll add some other birds, too.

American Coot - It was sweet watching this male bring twigs and reeds to his mate who built the nest while sitting in it. I have a video of it, but it's very shaky.

Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors)



Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)

Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)

Horned Grebes (Podiceps auritus) Punk Rocker Ducks

Lesser Scaup (Aythy affinis)

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)

 Northern Shovelers (Anas clypeata)



Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)

You'll see the following birds in action if you click on the video at the bottom of the post.

American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)



Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus)

Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)

Here's that video I promised you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVMiMJKegmM





So, it's the end of my post and what I really want to know is... did you sit for few minutes and relax while looking at these photos? Or were you multi-tasking, and if you were, what were you doing?

Free Book Draw: And for a little something extra, I need your opinion and I'm giving away a new copy of Marilyn Meberg's Love Me Never Leave Me (non-fiction) for helping me decide.

If you wish to be entered for this draw, please leave your email address in your comment. Draw closes midnight, Sunday, June 5th, 2011.

I'm trying to decide the default puzzle program for my blog and new website. The choice is between these two although the size here is not indicative of the finished puzzle as they're both the same as you see above.

- Jigsaw Planet where you click to the puzzle, make it, then click back to the site:


- Jigzone where you make it right on the spot, but also have the ability to change the number and shape of the pieces:



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Anita Mae Draper is retired from the Canadian Armed Forces and lives on the prairie of southeast Saskatchewan, Canada with her hubby of 30 plus years and 2 of their 4 kids. In 2005, Anita Mae decided to return to writing and make it a priority in her life. She writes old west stories set on the prairies of Saskatchewan, North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming. Her characters are strong because the land demands it. Anita Mae likes to write characters who sit up and notice when that special person God’s chosen just for them walks by. The story is all about the courtship between the two main characters. But it won’t be an easy path. And if they don’t know about God at the beginning of the book, they will by the end. Anita Mae has semi-finaled in the Historical Romance category of the ACFW's 2011 Genesis contest and finaled in the Inspirational category of the 2011 Daphne du Maurier, the 2011 Fool for Love, the 2011 Duel on the Delta and 2009 Linda Howard Award of Excellence contests. She’s currently waiting to hear the phone ring and have someone say they want to buy Emma’s Outlaw. Meanwhile, she’s working on another story and trying to keep her imagination in check. A pathological picture taker, she usually has a photo or two of her western world on her blog at http://anitamaedraper.blogspot.com/

Who ya gonna call?

 by Niki Turner

I visited New York City in the early '80s, shortly after the release of the first Ghostbusters movie. The Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man's footprints through Manhattan were still visible, spray painted on the streets for the film crews to follow. Ghostbusters brought with it an infamous question: When faced with problems that are beyond your control, "Who ya gonna call?"

In the past six months, I've called upon my Inky sisters more than once for prayer, and I've tried to honor their prayer requests with fervency, efficiency, and faith in response. More than once, I've physically, tangibly experienced the effect of their prayers, standing together with me in faith, in my life.

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

James 5:16 NKJV

Calling on people with whom you have relationship, those with whom you share faith —share a "story"—is altogether different than sending out a blanket email or Facebook or Twitter request. It's different than randomly tossing out prayer requests. It's different, I think, than calling a prayer line, or adding your name to an anonymous chain. Are those things ineffective? I don't think so. I believe God honors the prayers of His saints, His children, as much as He possibly can. But there is a difference when we "call" on those with whom we have relationship to pray for specific, personal situations, and "calling" on strangers to pray for strangers.

God never intended for us to stand alone. He sent the disciples out by twos. He commanded us not to neglect fellowship with other believers. When we take the time, the effort, to build relationship within the Body, we are creating a network of faith upon whom we can "call" in time of need. Requesting prayer from people who know your heart, your hopes, your dreams, requires us to humble ourselves, and that puts us in a position of receiving.

There's nothing quite like having people praying for you. It opens a place of rest, of peace, in which you can relocate your own faith and direct your heart toward God's will. You can, literally, feel the prayers of the saints working with those saints are people you have been divinely connected to by God.

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Acts 4:31 (from New International Version)

Who comes to mind as you read this post? Who are your personal prayer "peeps"? For whom do YOU pray? Or do you expect others to pray for you, yet you never pray for anyone else? Do you pray for your own needs? Or do you believe someone else's prayers might be better received at the Lord's throne, so you pass on the responsibility to others in fear that your own prayers won't be heard? (This is the equivalent of sending the youngest child to ask mom to give everyone a cookie, believing the youngest has greater favor by virtue of age and/or cuteness.)

Your "call group" might be found through your church, through a Bible study group, through a Christian volunteer organization, or even through a group connected electronically via the Internet - it might be a combination of the above. Where they live, what you have in common, or what denomination they claim, is less important than the relationship you share as Christians. I'm pretty choosy about who I share my prayer requests with. Why? Because I want people who will stand with me in faith, not people who will judge me for having a faith crisis, or folks who will broadcast my need far and wide like the Veggie Tales "rumor weed."

I don't believe God has left anyone out. I do think we are sometimes blind to the circle of faith in which He has placed us.You might have one friend, or 50, upon whom you call for agreement, but God has someone for everyone, and the prayers of that person or persons will humble you, inspire you, encourage you, and spur you to pray fervently for them. That, I believe is what we are supposed to be doing for each other.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Phil 4:6-7 (from New International Version)

On that note... a HUGE thank you to all my Inky sisters, for their faithfulness and commitment to pray, to lift each other up before the Lord, and to stand together in faith for whatever need arises, great or small. May every person who reads this find and know the same blessing!


SERIOUS QUESTION: When have you been aware - in a tangible way - of other people's prayers for you being heard and answered?

FRIVOLOUS QUESTION: What's the most ridiculous thing you've been "caught" praying for, only to find out it wasn't real at all?

 Niki Turner writes romantic fiction, Christian non-fiction, blog posts, articles in the local newspaper, lengthy grocery lists, and Facebook status updates. Her first completed manuscript won second place in the 2009 Touched By Love contest for contemporary category romance. Colorado natives, Niki and her husband of 20+ years have four children  (three at home) and are new grandparents to a baby boy. In 1998 they planted a church in rural northwestern Colorado. Currently, they share their home with three teenage boys, two black Lab mutts, and Niki’s absurdly spoiled Westie, Archie. Niki can be found at In Truer Ink, her personal blog and website, here at Inkwell Inspirations, and at The Pastor’s Wife Speaks.

Writing Thoughts from So You Think You Can Dance

by Dina Sleiman

It's my favorite time of year! Summer, you ask. Time for beaches, pools, and amusement parks? Sure, that too. The season for my debut novel, Dance of the Dandelion, to be released in ebook format? In fact, it should be available on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and ebookit.com in a variety of formats today. Thanks for asking :)

But what I'm talking about is the season for...

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE!!!!

This spring I had the pleasure of traveling to Atlanta with my daughter for The Pulse. This is a huge convention for dancers taught by famous choreographers including many of those featured on So You Think You Can Dance. As a former and sometimes current dancer and choreographer myself, I enjoy watching this weekend as much as my daughter enjoys participating in it.

An extra treat for me this year, was that she moved up to the “Advanced Professional” room. The choreography presented in this room really wasn’t much different than that in the “Intermediate” or “Advanced” mega-ballrooms. However, only about a hundred of the thousand or so students made the cut for pro, and so the attitude of the dancers and the teachers was on a whole different level. The teachers spoke to them as dedicated artists who had studied their craft and deserved respect for their many years of hard work. They shared inside tidbits into the industry and the artist’s life.

If you’re not familiar with Mia Michaels, she is a multi-Emmy-award-winning choreographer often featured on So You Think You Can Dance. More than that, she is an incredibly spiritual woman who draws from some deep inner-well most people have never discovered. Year after year on the show, dancers stand before the camera with tears streaming down their faces declaring Mia’s choreography has forever changed their lives. She calls them to crack open their chests and dance from a place deep within.

After teaching an achingly beautiful piece to the “Advanced Professional” group, Mia started sharing from her heart about the dancer’s journey. (Image tear drops on the post, because I’m crying already just remembering that magical moment.) She said that while people have let her down, her body, even performances had let her down, dance was the one thing that had always been there for her. Dance was her bliss. Her breath. Her reason for being. You have to love the dance--the art--for itself. Not for the outer trappings that come with it. You must be willing to find that place of truth and let it pour out.

Then she asked them to break into groups and dance. 

Not just the choreography. They would begin with the minute long piece she taught them, after which they would break into spontaneous movement for another several minutes until the end of the song. As I watched these dancers pouring out their hearts and souls onto the floor through their own shapes and rhythms, it hit me: I could apply every word of that inspiring speech to my writing.

Tears streamed down my face to match those of the dancers upon the floor. It was all I could do not to crumble into full blown sobs.

In that moment, I realized. Publishers will let me down. Sales will let me down. Reviews will let me down. But writing…writing for the pure and unadulterated bliss of stringing words on paper to create a story world, a piece of art…that will never let me down.

More importantly, the marvelous God who has called me to this incredible journey will never let me down.

What is your favorite part of writing? Have you been writing for the sake of writing or for the goal of publication and pleasing others? If you don't write, what area of your life could you apply this sage advice to?
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 Dina Sleiman writes lyrical stories that dance with light. Most of the time you will find this Virginia Beach resident reading, biking, dancing, or hanging out with her husband and three children, preferably at the oceanfront. Since finishing her Professional Writing MA in 1994, she has enjoyed many opportunities to teach literature, writing, and the arts. She was the Overall Winner in the 2009 Touched by Love contest for unpublished authors. Her first novel, Dance of the Dandelion, will release with Whitefire Publishing in 2011. She has recently become an acquisitions editor for WhiteFire as well. Join her as she discovers the unforced rhythms of grace. For more info visit her at http://dinasleiman.com/