Patti Wolf

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

I Peter 2:1-3

On my drive home from Slinger, a small town about ten minutes from my home, I drove through Pike Lake State Park. It was a gloomy Friday with a late fall chill in the air. I noticed the brilliant color of the forest and decided to meander through the area.

What I saw, as I moved in closer to the woods, was more than just golden mature trees. I stopped to study the forest floor. A multitude of new growth blanked the ground. Trees only a few feet tall swayed in the cool breeze.

Many of these young trees would not make it through the frigid winter. Others would be choked off by thorny weeds come spring. Still some may die in drought-like conditions when the heat of summer comes again. Only a few may survive to become sturdy maple trees.

Malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander are the thorny weeds in our lives. We should long for spiritual milk to counter the temptation of evil. God created us with a spiritual well-being along with our physical body.

I hope many saplings will grow within the forest of my family and friends. Winters are cold in Wisconsin. May you keep warm with the Word of God.

My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word. I have declared my ways, and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes.

Psalm 119:25-26

Dusk settles as dust 
across earthen land,
as warmth seeps 
slowing from woodland
stretched before me 
like a downed comforter.

Come warmth, come
and slip between leaf’s 
edges, slide down 
empty limbs as
luminous sun grins 
across the autumn sky.

Autumn charms
man’s inner soul,
tricks the body’s
brisk well being;
but the mind knows
this is November!

Breathe in the last
of lingering warmth;
let it radiate, resonate,
regurgitate before
the killing frost returns
to blanket the earth.

May I cling to
Your blest Word,
as sunshine on
the chilled earth
warms this soul.
Teach me…

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

Revelation 3:20

I’ve been digging through the Old Testament for prophecies on the first coming of Messiah. Most of us know Him as Jesus. Think about it, those who had the opportunity to speak of the Messiah did not know who He was, yet they obediently shared the message God gave them.

These special messengers from God told of His birth, early life, ministries, betrayal, death and resurrection. We who have the whole story, the Bible, sometimes struggle with its truths. There are many people who even refuse to believe that anything in the Bible is true.

Now put yourself in the shoes, maybe sandals, of an Old Testament citizen. Some weary prophet is standing in the synagogue or street corner disrupting your day. He’s more of an annoyance than help. The women just want to get water from the well. Men are setting up market stands or chatting about their religious beliefs. Some of the children stop to listen, curious about the loud man standing alone. Everyone just wants to live their day out.

Obviously, there were those who stopped to listen. Some maybe even took to heart the message being sent. However, mankind has a tendency to live the now and just keep moving.

Who’s voice are we missing daily? What important message are we avoiding because we are just too busy?

When you view that next sunset remember, God has a bigger world for each of us.

Recently, my husband, two grandchildren and myself went on a mini vacation. The ride up was wonderful. We lingered at a park along Winnebago Lake, hiked rough paths at High Cliff Park and had a yummy lunch at, of course, D. Q. in a little town that claims to be “The Home of the Hamburger”!

A drive which should have taken two and a half hours turned into over five hours. My husband and I always say that it is the journey which is the best part of the trip. Our ride up was definitely promising us a great time away.

We had plans for the next several days. Visiting Eclair Falls, Shawano Beach or that HUGE candy store further north. Again it was the drive we were looking forward to. All the brilliant fall colors just waiting to be viewed.

Once we arrived at our first day’s location, it was obvious some of what we had hoped for wasn’t going to happen. Tree color had passed. The leaves had gathered on the wet ground. Yep, it had started to rain.

At least we had the next few days to visit the falls, beach shore and candy store! The second morning it was still raining, one of the grandkids came down with an aggressive cold and I had an allergy reaction which left me in a lot of pain.

We cut our time away to a few day. Instead of traveling more we now lingered at our home base. Worked, played, talked and listened to our grandkids. We shared how awesome God is despite disappointment. And how even though the physical world is damaged, we can still enjoy spiritual places with God.

My heart goes out to those who have needed to make difficult choices this past week regarding employment, due to the physical circumstances of our world. Especially, those in the medical field. Thank you for your service. May God direct your paths. May you find spiritual peace in a fallen world.

This world is also groaning for its new beginning. Even Creation knows there is a decline. Just ask my dog, who on the ride home ended up with his own allergic reaction which turned into a staff infection.

It has been an interesting few days. But you know what? God is still in control and just wants us to rely on Him despite out outward circumstances 💕

P. Wolf, author & poet

My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:26

A few weeks ago, I enjoyed an usual sight.

During my early morning walk I spotted a few dozen birds out in a farmer’s field. As I looked closer, I realized there were two different species. A gangle of geese munching on grass and a troop of turkeys doing the same thing.

If two species of birds could get along in the same field, why is it people struggle with being in the same place? Maybe we have forgotten God’s original plan of living in harmony.

I do understand that creatures in nature are very different from people. Also, there are animal groups who get aggressive. But today it was refreshing to see nature at peace. If we could only remember that through Christ we could live our lives in great harmony.

Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose.

Philippians 2:1-2

P. Wolf

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Matthew 24:30

There seems to be a lot of signs on the roads of late. Just last week a gas line was put in down my road. It was very clear, to anyone driving by, that there would be a bit of a delay.

This got me thinking of other signs. Are we reading spiritual signs of our day? What kind of spiritual sign are we looking for?

Commentaries vary regarding the sign in the above Matthew verse. Some say it is Christ Himself, maybe a star and then there’s the emblem of the cross. I like the idea of the cross. The cross being a representation of Jesus’ suffering for the sin of man.

At some point, in this miraculous event, Jesus Christ Himself will be seen in all His heavenly glory. Many will mourn for they did not believe in His saving faith. Yet, all will see. This will be a pandemic like no other.

If you don’t know the Son of Man or if you have forgotten to live a life to serve Him, please read the signs and don’t delay. Now is the time to keep your eyes on Jesus.

P. Wolf