The Inkers Pen

Yesterday, the uncut farmland greeted passersby with tall grasses, wildflowers, and a gentle breeze. Today, bright survey flags appeared like tiny exclamation points, bulldozers arrived wearing hard hats, and the ghosts of predetermined emissions whispered the word: "Progress." Progress? What does that mean? Well, in this case, it means countless deer have received their official eviction notices. It also means a few foxes, rabbits, groundhogs, and many other woodland residents found the same letter tucked beneath a leaf. I get it: the world runs on technology. I understand there are a gazillion photos of grandchildren, graduations, weddings, vacations, births, pets, even trillions of documents that need a place to call home. Yes, data centers help make it all happen, and I appreciate what they provide. But where do the deer and rabbits live once their front yard becomes a parking lot? Does the fox grumble about the noisy new neighbors? Do the dragonflies hold tiny emergency meetings over the pond? As for the people living beside these new data centers, I can't help but wonder what tomorrow's landscape will look like from their kitchen window. Do sound barriers become part of the view? After all, several data centers have appeared within a short driving distance from our homes. Perhaps this is simply the season we live in. Perhaps progress always arrives wearing steel-toed boots and carrying laptops. Still, there's something sacred about a piece of farmland that doesn't need Wi-Fi to tell its story, and there's something heartfelt about an old-weathered oak standing as a silent witness to generations that never needed to charge a battery or check an email. Should I mention the wildflowers blooming without notifications, or the birds greeting the sunrise without anyone pressing "Like" or inserting a smiling emoji? Nature, it seems, has been doing just fine without a comment section. I realize communities need jobs and buildings need upgrades. I see how technology continues to grow, and I can't deny it keeps the world connected. Even so, I find myself wondering how we balance progress with the quiet spaces of nature that (once gone!) simply cannot be replaced. Growth within the digital world often brings good things. This fact is so true. But ... do we need these kind of things ? I don't know the answer, and I can't stop progress. It's in full gear and running at top speed. I only hope, through it all, we never forget that forests, streams, underground water supplies, fields, even the forgotten fence rows matter. Every thing matters. These spaces aren't waiting rooms for the next building project. Sadly, they are homes to something already. For now, though, I'll keep taking my walks, smiling at the dragonflies, admiring the rambunctious chipmunks, and rooting (pun intended 😉) for every patch of green that survives another season beneath the noses of our Bambi families. Ultimately, not every valuable thing needs to be stored in a data center. Some treasures still belong beneath an open sky. Blessings, Linda Nature, it seems, has been doing just fine without a comment section.~~LM

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105 A recent walk through the woods turned into a devotional I never saw coming. The foggy morning ribboned around the towering trees and enveloped the trail ahead. Every branch looked suspiciously eerie. Every root seemed determined to catch my shoe. Even the chipmunks appeared to know where they were going, which felt a tad insulting. Standing next to a pine tree, I reached into my pocket, pulled out a small notepad, a pen, and began writing on the wilty paper. I kept thinking how often life resembles a forest, shadowed by uncertainty and crowded with all the questions of where, why, and how. As the fog continued to thicken over the trail, I quoted, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105 KJV). The comfort of simple scripture offers a steady promise from God, right? His Word becomes the lamp in our hands. It may not reveal every bump or bend in the trail. It may not expose the hidden mud puddle or hide the creepy tree limbs, but it always provides enough light for the next faithful step. That’s the beauty of walking with Christ. When storms bend the branches above and fear rustles through our hearts like leaves before a downpour, our God remains steady. No fog can smother His light. No night can outlast His promises. No storm can wash away His path. Dear friend, take heart. When hidden roots trip us, God steadies our footing. When we wander, He gently calls us home. When doubt drifts in like morning fog, His truth clears the way. So if your trail disappears within the fog, trust the One who carries the lamp. You don’t need a map of the entire forest. You only need enough light for your next faithful step ... and the step after that and ... etc. Keep walking. His light will always reach where your feet need to land. Heavenly Father, When the path ahead disappears within the fog, help me keep my eyes on You. Your Word remains the lamp that guides my feet, even when I can see only the next step. Strengthen my faith to trust You with what I cannot see, knowing Your light never fades and Your promises never fail. In Jesus' name. Amen. Spiritual Sparks Reflection What fog has settled over your heart lately? What "next step" might God already be lighting for you? ~~When the trail disappears, trust the One who carries the lamp.~~LM

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath began a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 KJV Grace is where God's good work begins, wouldn't you agree? God plants seeds of wisdom and truth deep within our hearts, nurturing them until they take root and flourish. We dream, write, create, craft, labor, and serve, but it is God who, through prayer, strengthens our hands and steadies our feet. God is our stronghold, the solid ground beneath us. More importantly, He never abandons the work He starts. We are His workmanship, fashioned by the hands of the Master Craftsman. He patiently shapes, sands, and refines, until His work in us is complete. Sometimes, however, the door to creativity nails itself shut. Confidence fades and doubt creeps in like an unwelcome draft beneath the door. There are moments choosing a font feels like a major life decision, even the blinking cursor looks judgmental. You see, when our ideas dry up, our prayers feel weak. We wonder if anything meaningful will ever come from our efforts again. On particularly difficult days, we may reorganize the junk drawer, alphabetize the spice rack, fix the barn doors, or decide that today is the perfect day to deep-clean the basement. Anything to avoid facing that stubbornly closed door. The struggle is real. Spiritual battles swirl through our thoughts, tangle our minds, and discourage our hearts. At times, we feel stranded on an island of loneliness, convinced no one sees our struggle. Yet even in solitude, God is only a whisper away. One prayer can invite Him into the room. One prayer can place the hammer back into His hands, and with a single touch, the One who began a good work in you can loosen every nail, swing open every door and continue the beautiful work He started. He never glances at us and mutters, "Well, this one's going to need a small miracle and some extra duct tape." No. He sees the finished masterpiece long before we do. So don't give up. Keep walking with Him. Keep praying. Keep trusting. "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath began a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6 KJV). Dear friend, the Master Craftsman's grace is not finished with any of us, yet. Heavenly Father, Thank You for never giving up on me. When doubt clouds my heart and creativity fades, remind me that You are still at work. Strengthen my hands, steady my steps, and help me trust Your timing. Continue shaping my life for Your glory. In Jesus' name, amen. Spiritual Spark Challenge What area of your life feels unfinished or "under construction," and how can you invite God into it this week? When doubt or discouragement creeps in, what practical step can you take to trust God's ongoing work in your life? ~~He sees the finished masterpiece long before we do.~~LM

Some evenings are made for quiet reflection. Others are made for wrestling stubborn software determined to teach patience one mysterious button-click at a time. Within minutes of that first click, Word introduced me to tiny little squares, paragraph marks, invisible formatting, and a Navigation Panel that apparently spoke a dialect I'd never learned. One moment Chapter 14 existed. The next, it vanished from the Navigation Panel while calmly remaining in my document. My blood pressure applied for frequent flyer miles. Enter Atticus, a formatting software, that helps you professionally print books and eBooks (easily!) for publishing. Although, I'm pretty sure I should have watched their instructional video at least two more times ... just saying. When I thought I'd figured it out, Atticus decided my chapter title wasn't a chapter title at all. No, it crowned the first letter into a dramatic drop cap and promoted it as the opening sentence of my novel. As for spacing problems, I don't even want to talk about that. My blood pressure applied for more frequent flyer miles. You see, I'm convinced computers gather after midnight for secret meetings: "Let's move her chapter title three inches to the left, have the cursor arrow turn into a white-gloved unresponsive hand. Oh, and while we're at it, let's make the next page do something completely different." By evening's end, I'd wandered through enough menus, buttons, and mysterious settings to earn an honorary degree in Accidental Formatting. Then, with a sip of lukewarm coffee, an exhausted brain, and another click, something magical happened. Everything snapped into place. It was as though the clouds parted, angels applauded, and my stubborn little manuscript finally decided we could be friends again. Word and Atticus united and shook hands. Of course, the victory probably lasted all of thirty seconds before the next formatting puzzle reared its digital head, but I didn't care. I was happy, thankful, and grateful. You see, progress has a funny way of breathing fresh courage into even the most stubborn problems. So if you're in the middle of a project and you feel like you're herding caffeinated chipmunks through a revolving door, please don't give up. Keep clicking. Keep learning. Keep laughing. After all, every published book has a backstage story, right? Mine just happened to include tiny squares, disappearing chapters, and one rather overachieving subtitle. Blessings, Linda Never give up. Keep clicking. Keep learning. Keep laughing.~~LM

"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God." Isaiah 61:10 KJV Worshiping and rejoicing in the Lord brings joy to the heart of God. It allows our soul to dance with praise and clap its hands much like a toddler who just discovered the unbridled happiness of stomping and dancing in a puddle. Rejoicing captures the wonder of who God is and reminds us that heaven is never silent when His children praise Him. A few mornings ago, I rushed out the door, tripped on the step, and spilled coffee all over myself. Then, after I changed clothes, I couldn’t find the car key and noticed my phone battery glowed red at three percent. Don’t even asked about the car charger, because more importantly, my doctor (with whom I was seven minutes late) noticed I had worn two different colored Croc sandals to the appointment. Did we laugh? Yep. Bless her heart. By lunchtime, frustration had wrapped around my heart like the tangled charging cord hiding at the bottom of the car console. Finally, during a solemn moment at a red light, I whispered, “Lord, I need You. Help me rejoice in You even though this isn't one of my better days.” Suddenly, the afternoon did not feel so heavy or chaotic. Yes, the problems were still there, but so was God. You see, our connection to Him is vital. It doesn’t happen accidentally. It grows through time spent with Him, through prayer, through worship, and through trusting Him even on the messy days. No matter where we are or what we do, we need a relationship with Him. We need obedience to God’s Word. We need to exercise our faith and love for Him. I say "need" because need is very different from " want ." Dear one, we need Jesus. We need His heart shaping ours. We need the Holy Spirit alive within us. We need the challenge of telling ourselves: “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God” (Isaiah 61:10 KJV). So, no matter how messy your day might become, take a moment and allow your soul to puddle-dance like a toddler. Heavenly Father, May my heart and mind greatly praise You. Teach me to grow in all that You are and help me stay rooted in faith and obedience to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Spiritual Spark Challenge How can you invite God into your messy days? ~~Even mismatched Crocs can puddle-dance along with your soul.~~LM

"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content" Philippians 4:11 NKJV Have you ever opened your closet, stared at all the hanging clothes, and dramatically declared, “I have nothing to wear!” Yet, in that same moment, you realize you have enough clothes to outfit a small village. Somehow, our hearts act like overstuffed junk drawers—we keep cramming blessings inside. Yet the second we can’t find exactly what we want, or someone points out what we don't have, our heart shatters as though we have absolutely nothing. Meanwhile, God has already filled our lives with gifts stacked higher than Mt. Laundry in the corner of the washroom. The problem isn’t that God hasn’t provided enough; it’s that comparison has a way of shrinking contentment faster than a cotton shirt in a hot dryer. So, let's slip into Paul's sandals for a bit and figure out something most of us (including myself) spend years attempting to understand. Contentment is not found in having everything we want, but in trusting the One who gives us exactly what we need. As Paul states, "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content" (Phil. 4:11 NKJV). When Paul wrote his letters from prison, he obviously did not live in a Pinterest-worthy home. He was not scrolling past filtered photos of other people's blessing while shackled inside a dark cell, munching on stale bread and mystery meat topped with bug marinara. He learned to steady his heart like a sailor anchoring his boat in rough water. Contentment is a muscle, not a mood and not something we are simply born with. We must strengthen and develop it through consistent practice and mindful effort. Some days contentment is our own heavy weightlifter. Other days it strains to pick up a toothbrush. Either way, Christ is the strength doing the lifting, even when the spiritual membership feels expired. So, dear friend, the next time you stand before that overstuffed closet, arms spread like Moses parting the polyester sea, remember: contentment turns "nothing to wear" into "more than enough," one blessed hanger at a time. Heavenly Father, Teach me to see Your goodness instead of focusing on what people may think I lack. Quiet my comparisons, strengthen my contentment. Help me find joy and contentment through Christ who strengthens me. May my eyes never compare the blessings of Your goodness. In Jesus' name. Amen. Spiritual Sparks What is one simple thing you can thank God for today? What small gift from God made you smile today? ~~Contentment is a muscle, not a mood.~~LM

Moving, I've discovered, is less a change of address and more of an archaeological dig through the ruins of your own questionable life choices. It begins innocently enough with a few boxes (okay, a lot of boxes), packing tape. “This will be easy-peasy,” I naively declared one afternoon. That, my friend, was the first lie. The second: “We don’t have that much stuff.” I'm still shaking my head on that one. By hour two, I realized I'm not a person who owns things. I am a curator of artifacts in a museum called The National Hoardistry of Questionable Necessities. Every drawer opened is an exhibit: “Ah yes, the 2009 Charging Cable Era—note how none of these fit any device currently in existence. Yet, I still possess them.” Or "I had no clue I own nine spatulas and not one is like the other." As for the packing ... well, that became a philosophical exercise. I'd pick up an object and ask, “Do I need this?” In an instant, my brain replies, "Yes … because if society collapses, this single bent whisk and the ancient Windows 3.1 computer I found might be the only keys to survival.” Into the box they go. Then come the treasures: The memories of a long-lost photograph, a few dusty unlabeled VHS tapes from the late 1980's, a child’s drawing labeled “Mommy” that looks suspiciously like a potato with hair, and a roughly child-made, non-labeled orange clay fish with wild blue eyes. In a micro-second you're sitting on the floor, crying like you've just watched the end of a sad movie, except the movie is your own life and the popcorn is a stale bag of Cheetos found in the back of a cabinet. Let’s talk about loading the trucks and trailers. First off, always rent a box truck. We did not. Why? Because this was going to be "easy peasy", remember? Anyhow, this event becomes an Olympic sport of its own, featuring “Box Tetris: Advanced Level” and “Recliner Wrestling: Heavyweight Division.” And somehow everything I packed with confidence now looks suspiciously unnecessary, just ask my sons. In the end, my "easy-peasy" turned into a full-blown hoardistry reckoning. Bags upon bags were tossed. Sacrificed. Sent to dumpster heaven. I waved goodbye to items I once swore I could never live without, only to realize—I can. I absolutely can live without the hoard. Though maybe, just maybe, I'll keep the bent whisk. You know. Just in case. Blessings, Linda “Apparently, archaeological digs start at home.” ~~LM

“The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil." (Proverbs 16:4 NKJV) Some truths in life are easy to swallow—like the fact coffee makes mornings better or fresh-baked cookies are little bites of happiness. But then there are those truths that feel like you're swallowing a dry cracker with no water in sight. Proverbs 16:4 is one of those hard-to-swallow verses: “The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.” Wait … even the wicked? That’s not just a dry cracker you're dealing with, but also the crumbs that clog your windpipe. It might make us wonder why God allows certain people, circumstances, or even outright evil to exist. But here’s the thing—nothing in this world is random. Not the joys, not the struggles, and not even the people walking in the opposite direction of goodness. Which means this: not only do we have purpose, it's imperative we make good choices. Precious one, we are a walking-talking human puzzle, and every piece has a place, even the pieces that look like they don’t belong. Sometimes, the dark and strangely shaped make the picture complete. Dare I say: "even the wicked," the odd, and the scary serve a purpose ... though we may not understand why or how. Their choices bring consequences, teach lessons, and often serve as a contrast that makes God's righteousness shine even brighter. But let’s not get stuck staring at the dark and odd puzzle pieces. Our job isn’t to decipher every mystery of God’s plan (which we couldn't even if we wanted to) it’s to trust we are part of it. We are called to be children of light, which reflects His goodness in a world that often feels clouded and shadowed with confusion. So, when life hands us a truth too hard to swallow—like the dry cracker—let’s remember God holds the cup. His wisdom quenches our doubts, and His purpose never crumbles under confusion. Every piece of our life and this world's puzzle (even the things we struggle to understand!) fits into His divine design. You see, God didn’t create us just to exist. We were created to shine—with His purpose, with good choices, with faith, and with the assurance that even when life feels uncertain, God’s glory radiates in "all things for Himself." Heavenly Father, Some truths feel easy, and others feel like that sandpapery dry cracker—hard to swallow and harder to understand. But Your Word reminds me that You made all things for Yourself, and nothing in my life is without purpose. Quench my doubts with Your wisdom and steady my heart with Your peace. Thank You for purpose, even in the things I don’t understand. In Jesus' name. Amen. Spiritual Sparks What “hard-to-swallow” truth might God be asking you to trust Him with today, and how can you focus on reflecting His light? ~~We are a walking-talking human puzzle and every piece has a place.~~LM

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10 NKJV) Ever have one of those life-pausing moments? You know the kind that shows up between a step, a breath, or a wandering thought. You freeze, take a long blink, and bam—it hits you: out of more than eight billion people on this big, round, spinning planet, God gave you a unique and intentional purpose for your life. It's a mind-boggling, humbling realization. Life isn't just a string of random events—like socks disappearing in the dryer or your WiFi cutting out right before an important Zoom meeting (which honestly feels a little personal, just saying). My friend, we are not a cosmic accident. We are a divine masterpiece, handcrafted by God and placed right here, right now, on purpose. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10 NKJV). "Prepared beforehand" … think about that for a moment. That means before your first breath, before you ever took your first step, even before your first questionable life decision (that you may or may not regret), our God already had a purpose for your life. You didn't stumble into meaning. You were created with it. Dear friend, we are children of light, meant to shine in a world that often feels blanketed with confusion and noise and bad decisions. Our God doesn't just create us and step back. He shapes us, guides us, and walks with us, weaving purpose (His purpose) into even the smallest moments. You only have to let Him in. But let's be honest—this journey isn't a perfectly paved highway. It's more like a winding trail with unexpected turns, jagged rocks, and an occasional squirrel skittering out of nowhere like it has a mission of its own. So, when things don't make sense, when plans fall apart, when doors close, when relationships fail, when life feels as messy and unpredictable as your internet connection—God is still at work. Every step, every season, every moment is connected to something bigger than we can see or know. So, trust Him. You are but one life among eight billion other lives, and yet, you are fully known and fully seen by Him. Walk in the unique purpose He's already prepared for you. Heavenly Father, Thank You for creating me with purpose and intention. Help me to trust You, even when life feels uncertain or unclear. Open my eyes to the ways You are working in and through me each day. Give me the courage to walk in the path You’ve prepared for me, and the faith to follow where You lead. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Spiritual Sparks What gifts, passions, or opportunities might God be using right now to reveal part of your unique purpose? When life feels uncertain or off-course, do you tend to trust God’s plan—or try to take control? What would it look like to surrender that area to Him? ~~We are created with purpose … use His wisdom wisely.~~LM