The Wood's Secret Garden

The most amazing thing happened at the Craft Fair and it had nothing to do with my dolls! A year ago, at the same craft fair, I met a young woman named Valerie (who was also vending at the show near me). Last year, she saw the hand crafted pendants I was selling and she wanted to have me make a couple memory pendants (one for her sister and one for her grandma). She had lost her Aunt Riley to cancer and the pendants were photo pendants of Riley. When I arrived this morning  there was Valerie! She greeted me with a hug and said, "I am so glad you are here. I wanted to tell you that my grandma wears the pendant you made last year every single day. She absolutely loves it!" I actually teared up! What a wonderful thing. To think that I had a small little part of bringing such joy into the life of Valerie's grandmother was a bit overwhelming for me. And if that wasn't enough.... A few hours later, Valerie came over to my table and said, "There is someone tha...

Barbie Transformation Project It’s a funny thing how inspiration works.  At 54 years old I had no idea I would spend a Saturday playing with Barbie dolls.  In fact, as a child, I spent little time playing with dolls.  That might have had something to do with the fact that we very little money and could not afford real Barbie’s.  The closest thing that I had to a Barbie doll was a plastic doll from the 99 cents store who’s legs where attached with rubber bands (inside of her body) and, well, when the rubber bands broke, which they did within the first week of ownership, all I was left with was a legless lady. This past week, a friend posted a video about a woman named Sonia who has created some really wonderful little dolls, by wiping off the factory faces of dolls she found in a second hand store and hand painting new faces onto their little heads - ultimately transforming them into a picture of sweet, youthful, purity!  I was inspired! After breakfast o...

I have a truly wonderful husband!  I can't imagine another man putting up with me--and I mean that.  Last night, to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary, we decided to take an "anniversary" picture.  Well, that turned into a project.  I wanted to do something "artistic" which kept evolving as the evening progressed.   My sweet husband, not only put up with the many changes of settings and clothing, but he actually seemed to enjoy it!  Once we hit on capturing our wedding picture in the background of the photo, as the theme for the project, we had to do a great deal of kissing as we changed the tripod location.  I was the serious one-task oriented; setting up the tripod, checking the lighting, etc. and Michael was the one who made the entire experience delightful!  I truly cannot imagine another man actually going through this process, let alone, enjoying it! It is hard to believe that a year has...

Just four days after Michael's car was stolen, we got a phone call. This morning I had to write another poem to tell "the rest of the story". On Christmas Eve, they stole his car— And as crazy as this might sound; I was praising God for the loss; Never thinking it would be found. God has taught me many things Through the loss of this earthly treasure. How Michael dealt with this loss, Was a blessing beyond measure. He was sad—that is true; But, he handled it with grace. He never once doubted God No anger—Not a trace. I got to see, through this, first hand, What Michael views as “treasure”. The man I married, has it right, And this brought me great pleasure! How he acted; what he said; Touched me to the core. His faith was never shaken Which makes me love him even more. For I hold things with open hands For things will come and go. The only thing that I hold dear Is the One I’ve come to know. God has taught us many things Through this unfortunate circumstance— As long as w...

As many of you know, this was our first Christmas together as a married couple, and it is a Christmas we won't soon forget. Not for the reasons one might think. I sat down early this morning (Sunday) before getting ready for church and wrote a poem to express my thoughts. After reading to Michael, what I had penned, he took pen to paper and wrote the last seven stanzas. We will let the poem speak for itself: “What did you get for Christmas?” Some fudge, some socks, a cigar? Or did you get something really neat Like a vintage acoustic guitar? When I return to work this week That is a question they may ask. They’ll want to know just what I got And on what pleasures I did bask. I’ll have to answer honestly It’s not about wrapped things. It’s not about what we get But what our Savior brings. Our hearts are filled with joy this year And nothing can change that fact No matter what the world might do To tempt, to entice, to detract. From all we hold so great and true In our minds, our sou...

some cats are not typical cats. To tell the story of the latest "happenings" in the Secret Garden, I will begin with a bit of background information. This is about a cat. There are many cats that roam around in the Secret Garden. Some are wild, being born and raised without a human caretaker. These cats are not "people friendly"--which is just fine with me. Some are pets of the residents of Copper Creek and will occasionally approach you (the way cats do when they want something). I have not been interested in either variety. One morning, upon rising, Michael and I were sitting out on the balcony enjoying our morning cup of coffee, when we heard a faint "meowing" coming from the giant oak tree that grows alongside our balcony. As we looked through the branches, we saw a small yellow tabby cat (perhaps a teenager) sitting in the nook of the tree. This tree had a trunk that grew straight up (at least 15 feet) before the first branches sprang out. This poor l...

It was Saturday morning, October 9, 2010 when we arrived in the parking lot of the Covenant Reformed Church in Sacramento. We were there to hear Joel Beeke speak on the topic of the (forgotten) doctrine of assurance. Dianna knew of Dr. Beeke from the books he had written and published and had also exchanged a few emails back in 2001 regarding the Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary and potential church planting in California. As we parked the car, a small older black lady was strolling by on a morning walk with her little dog. Michael (as is his customary way) walked over greeting her with a "Good Morning and how are you doing. My name is Michael. I would like to share with you a short poem that I have written?" as he handed her the small accordion folded paper with the title, "His Wrath Satisfied" printed on the top of the 2 1/2 by 3 1/4 inch square. As a side note: The Lord used a sermon by Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Romans 3:25-26 as an inspiration for the words of ...

This weekend we spent sometime in the "other" Secret Garden. Which isn't so secret, at all. In fact, millions have discovered it over the years. It is where we were betrothed a year ago. If you have never been--Go! It is (in my opinion) the most beautiful place on earth--Point Lobos State Park just south of Carmel, California. I took Michael there on his first visit to California in July 2009. It was not only our one-year "betrothal" anniversary; but, my 50th birthday also happened to fall on Labor Day this year; so, we decided to make it a double celebration. I decided to attempt to recapture my youth by performing a few cartwheels and handstands on the beach. Michael snapped a few pictures. It worked while I was in the midst of it; but two days later I felt as though I had been hit by a train and dragged a mile along the tracks. I have concluded that "Because the soul is ageless; the mind has difficulty reconciling that the body is not!" It was a won...

It is not about us! So many are miserable in marriage; primarily because they have created their own misery. Their disappointments are a result of a warped view and unbiblical expectations about marriage. "The world cannot know what marriage is without learning it from God. The natural man does not have the capacities to see or receive or feel the wonder of what God has designed for marriage to be." I pray that God will strengthen and protect us from the world's silly notions about marriage and that we might be used by God to help set many free from "small, worldly, culturally contaminated, self-centered, Christ-ignoring, God-neglecting, romance-intoxicated, unbiblical views of marriage." Text in quotes taken from a sermon preached by John Piper

This is exciting News! Sacramento is hosting this year's Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology. In fact, this is the last year it will be held in Sacramento. Two of the speakers at the conference are D.A. Carson and Philip Ryken. Well, that's great news; but that's not the exciting news. The exciting news is that they will both be preaching at Soaring Oaks Presbyterian Church on Sunday, March 7th and there is no registration fee. No that's really exciting news. Soaring Oaks is a small church and to have these two men preaching there is truly a blessing from God. We are looking forward to this with great anticipation and much prayer.

O how good it is to giggle like a little child. Life is full of such simple delights. One can find joy in some of the seemingly silliest things--like frozen peas, for example. "Frozen peas? How can one find joy in frozen peas?" Well here is how. Approximately one year ago, I bought a couple dozen bags of frozen peas (they were on clearance at a grocery outlet store) and brought them to work. For some reason we all started eating peas for breakfast. After the first week I found myself singing a little "jingle" while my peas were in the microwave at work: Having peas for breakfast is very fun to do. Having peas for breakfast is very good for you. Having peas for breakfast--is very strange its true; But, having peas for breakfast is something you should do. Of course, in order to get the full picture, you have to imagine a 49 year old woman singing the above jingle (several times and with a Shirley Temple type voice) while swaying back and forth in front of the microwa...

After three days of an intensive study of dispensational versus covenantal theology, I felt it was time to lighten up a bit and as I was thinking about my beloved's trip to California, I penned this little poem: If the Lord Wills My Sweetheart will be here tomorrow! He'll step off the plane Sunday night. “Yippy, Yahoo”, my heart will proclaim When I see such a wonderful sight. My Sweetheart will be here tomorrow! I am filled with great joy as I wait To see him again and kiss his sweet face-- I pray that his flight won’t be late. My Sweetheart will be here tomorrow! O’ hurry up Sunday and come. I’ll hold him so close and squeeze him so tight That even his toes might go numb. My Sweetheart will be here tomorrow! A thought that brings my heart thrills And yet we both know, it will only come true If it is what our precious Lord wills .

Of all relationships of life, none ought to be regarded with such reverence, and none taken in hand so cautiously as the relationship of husband and wife. In no relationship is so much earthly happiness to be found, if it be entered upon discreetly, advisedly, and in the fear of God. In none is so much misery seen to follow, if it be taken in hand unadvisedly, lightly, wantonly, and without thought. From no step in life does so much benefit come to the soul, if people marry "in the Lord." From none does the soul take so much harm, if fancy, passion, or any mere worldly motive is the only cause which produce the union. There is, unhappily, only too much necessity for impressing these truths upon people. It is a mournful fact, that few steps in life are generally taken with so much levity, self will, and forgetfulness of God as marriage. Few are the young couples who think of inviting Christ to their wedding! It is a mournful fact that unhappy marriages are one great cause o...

I am so tired of reading articles written by learned Christian men who constantly and consistently communicate a message of avoidance as the key to biblical Christian living. To communicate a message that teaches Christians that we are to wrap ourselves and everyone else in cotton and put blinders on, in order to live a victorious Christian life, will produce soft, vulnerable, immature, weak Christians. We are to be transformed into the mind of Christ. We are to be made able to stand in the midst of the world, wearing His armor; not hiding or avoiding the battle. The problem is in our "wanter", not in the things that are all around us and will always be around us as long as we are living in this world. Do you understand the difference? A person does not get fat because they eat chocolate cake. A person gets fat because they want to eat chocolate cake as often as they can. It is the appetite for it, not the cake itself that makes one fat. The answer in not found in avoiding ch...

Don't get me wrong. I love doctrine and I love theology. I do not love when these things become more important than the gospel and create elite clubs that breed pride, division and arrogance. This was written as a way to "vent" my sorrow and frustration. I hope, if nothing else, it can make us all laugh a little at ourselves. So you say you’re a Calvinist. Are you a 5-point Calvinist or a 4 point Calvinist? Perhaps you are a hyper-Calvinist or a Neo-Calvinist. What about Lapsarianism and Supralapsarianism , not to mention Infralapsarianism (also called postlapsarianism and sublapsarianism). Do you hold to any of those theological positions? Do you even know what they mean? And, if you are a Neo-Calvinist; are you also a Reconstructionist? Forgive me if you happen to be an Amyraldist--it was not my intention to leave you out. Let’s talk about Eschatology. Are you a Supersessionist? If so, do you hold to Covenantal or Kingdom-Dominion theology? Then again, you may actua...

I recently attended a women's forum at my church. The evening began with a member of my church sharing a brief testimony with us. In a nutshell, it went like this: "I was raised in a Christian home. My father was a Pastor and my mother was very involved in the women's ministry as well as home schooling us kids. From a very early age, I knew Christ as my Lord and Savior and had memorized many passages of scripture. As a young adult, I attended Master's College were I grew a great deal in the Lord and experienced true Christian fellowship. It was a wonderful time of growing in grace. That is where I met my husband. I am now a wife and a mother of a sweet little girl with another child on the way." And here is how she ended her testimony: "The thing I need prayer about, is that I have a very difficult time being around lost sinners. They make me very uncomfortable." I sat there stunned. In my mind I thought, "What? This is a woman who has memorized th...

As I arrived home from evening Communion, I was greeted by an email from a very beloved friend. In that email, he shared the highlights of his day; and, among those highlights, he shared a few verses from one of the hymns sung during his local churches worship service that the Lord had used to feed and bless his soul. Is it not lovely that one can praise and worship the Lord and then continue that praise and worship by sharing in a portion of another churches worship that very day? Now, that is such a beautiful example of the far reaching power of the body of Christ. After hearing him talk about the hymn (which I could not recall ever hearing) I looked it up and simply had to post it --in its entirety. What gifts our Lord has given to His church--a never ending fountain of beauty and grace to drink from. May He use it to bless many others as it has blessed me and provided another means in which to worship my Lord this evening. In Immanuel’s Land The sands of time are sinking, The...

and on a personal note. I am frankly tired of defending my desire to learn from the great men of faith. Yes, it has (in a sense) spoiled me. Yes, it has (in sense) made me somewhat grieved by what I hear coming from the modern pulpits. If these men were still alive and preaching every night of the week, I would go to worship the Lord with them as they proclaimed His majesty through the preaching of His Word every single day--but they are not and so I am left to read. They are my brothers-in-Christ and men called by God to be pastors and teachers. Is there some reason that I should not benefit from this rich and wonderful gift that He has seen fit to give His church? Is there some reason that you should not also take advantage of what the Lord has given His Church? Am I being somehow disloyal to my local Pastor, because I read sermon transcripts that were preached by these men? When I express a concern regarding a particular man or his ministry, it is out of love for the Church, for Chr...

We are so predictable. There is really nothing new under the sun. This morning I read posts from men criticizing the worship style and the music at the Resolved Conference. The spirit of Michal abounds, even when God has taught us in His Word to think differently. You all know the scriptures: In 2 Samuel 6:14, David is described as dancing and shouting before the LORD, and worshipping with his musical instruments. His wife Michal then squelches His joy in the Lord as He arrives home to bless His household with the overflowing joy that floods his heart. She accuses him of worldly motivations and of doing what he was doing out of a desire to entertain the women and draw attention to himself. Would we be critical of, or even offended by, his worship "style"? Yes, I believe that most would be. How pathetic we are. How man-centered! How self-centered! How we so easily judge the hearts of others. Worship is a joyful celebration of who God is. We are to worship with all our might. I...

Disclaimer: Although I found this to be a fascinating study, there is a part of me that hesitated posting it and would only encourage this type of study for those who are firmly grounded in the Word of God. If you don't spend a great deal of your time in His Word, seeking to know Him, don't spend your precious time studying the creeds, confessions, and canons of men--it will only serve to confuse and create unnecessary controversy in your own mind. Having said that-- As I read through the Creeds, Canons and Confessions linked below, I asked myself the following questions. What if I were living as a Christian during anyone of these eras with the doctrinal convictions that I hold today? What if I had to agree fully with the official Creed or Confession of that time in order to be considered a "full member in good standing"? Then I realized that, had I lived back before the New Testament was available for personal reading, I would most likely not hold to some of my do...