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Peace Be Still – Lisa Keck
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And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Mark 4:39

I hated playing freeze-tag as a child. Waiting for one of my teammates to come tag me, releasing my fidgety body from its statuesque torture was miserable. I doodle . . . I sway during worship at church . . . I even have restless leg syndrome which means my legs twitch in my sleep.

In stillness there is peace and I have a tendency to lack stillness, or peace in my spirit as well. The news, my children, and worries about our finances have me running all around. Then Jesus touches me and causes me to be still. I don’t want this stillness to end.

Peace doesn’t come easy, especially to worried waves and it’s the use of the word peace that leads me to believe the ocean was restless for a spiritual reason. As Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee to Gerasenes, a storm raged. It was as though the waves knew Gerasenes was called the place of the tombs, so they cried out to Him. “Don’t go.” But Jesus lifted His hand and said, “Peace, be still.” Perhaps He understood the worries of the waves just as He understood the fear and worries of his disciples. Jesus must have smiled and whispered, “I’m touched by your concern, but I have to go and I will be fine so just relax.” Whatever the reason for all the fuss, Jesus’ words spoke peace and stillness followed.

Peace doesn’t come easily to me either. I have known the Author of Peace a long time and yet I run around in all different directions. Something powerful makes me forget how wonderful it feels to just be still in Him. The storm was fierce enough to strangle the faith of the disciples, some of whom were experienced fisherman. Waves of doubt and winds of change can still strangle my faith.

Peace, be still. His words are still spoken to restless hearts like ours. Before we get caught up in questions about what God is doing, questions that turn into storms, we need to remember that He is in control.

Let Him speak peace to you today.

Lisa Keck is a wife and mother of 2 and lives in Orange, CA. She volunteers as a Braille proofreader and recently joined the wonderful world of blogging. Her blog, Ears In The Cornfield, can be found at brailleblazer.blogspot.com. There she shares insights of growing up with a blind mother, including random thoughts about braille.

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Discarded – Lisa Keck
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The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1Samuel 16:7b

There were colored pencils everywhere. Taking out the trash I noticed them: a pieces of trash that missed the dumpster. I picked one up. Colored pencils reminded me of my brother and I couldn’t throw it away.

My older brother was an artist before he became an alcoholic. When he left home, he left behind his colored pencils. I still have them. At first I kept them hoping the artist would come home but when the alcoholic died and took the artist with him, I still couldn’t throw them away. I kept them to remind me of the artist that once was.

There was one pencil that may have been his favorite. It is more noticeably worn than the others—Carmine, a burgundy color. The pencil I picked up looked very close in shade but had no label, no identifying mark. I took a scrap piece of mail and drew a line with each pencil. On the white portion of the paper I could see the difference but when the line crossed the black advertising I define a color.

That’s the way it was with my brother. This darkened world only saw a bum with no identity and they tossed it in the dumpster. But God is Light and He saw the difference His Son’s shed blood made.

The unidentified pencil I found was light brown like the tone of my late brother’s tanned skin. The pencil left behind is that same tone mixed with red. I don’t believe it’s a coincidence. It reminds me Christ’s shed blood covered what the world discarded and the artist is redeemed.

I admit it, there are days this darkened world has me forgetting the difference Christ made in my life. In darkness, we cannot see the reality of who we are. They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. I say the world’s trash is God’s treasure.

God looks at us through His Son and I’m sure glad He does. Do you feel discarded or like a treasured keepsake? Remember, you are the colored with the blood of Christ.

Lisa Keck is a wife and mother of 2 who lives in Orange, CA. She volunteers as a Braille proofreader and recently joined the wonderful world of blogging. Her blog, Ears In The Cornfield, can be found at brailleblazer.blogspot.com. There she shares insights of growing up with a blind mother, including random thoughts about braille. Read Lisa’s devotions
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Retinitis Pigmentosa of the Soul – Lisa Keck
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The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. Psalm 19:8b (NIV)

They thought the child had Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). The specialist administered a local anesthetic and placed contact lenses on the young boy’s eyes. Sensors attached to the lenses which would record how each eye reacted to light. The test would confirm what the eye doctor suspected.

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). At present this disease has no known cure. Sight is gradually lost as the field of vision progressively narrows. I’ve been watching this little boy and the thing that’s hardest for people, especially  children, to understand is that he can see well outside but not indoors in artificial light.

I’ve found that sometimes my own spiritual field of vision narrows in the light. It’s easier to just obey the commandments that fit my character. Sin gets categorized — big and little. Murder is big. A “little white lie” is small. The reality is when I minimize or justify sin, I am developing Retinitis Pigmentosa of the soul. My vision is narrowing to the spiritual and the realm of God’s work in my life and others. It’s a slow gradual process. There are those who recognize my  condition. They may offer me spiritual help and growth, yet their heart  and advice are bound in darkness. It makes sense to me at the time because my eyes tend to focus easier in the dark. They may even strive to keep me in the dark so my vision doesn’t clear. Focus is hard to maintain when the cloud of sin fogs my view. My spiritual eyes become blurred and they’re no more able to see than those of my little friend with RP.

It is only through the Spirit’s true light my eyes can be opened to my needs. Only then can the condition be reversed. Eyes wide open.

The Great Physician can help rid our lives of the cause and restore our spiritual vision. He can even widen our vision to better than it ever was. He’s an old fashioned physician, still making house calls…but only if I call. When we let Him work in us we are able to respond accordingly to His commands.

Have you called on the Great Physician today? Let Him clear your vision from the lies of sin and show you new truth.

Lisa Keck is a wife and mother of 2 who lives in Orange, CA. She volunteers as a Braille proofreader and recently joined the wonderful world of blogging. Her blog, Ears In The Cornfield, can be found at brailleblazer.blogspot.com. There she shares insights of growing up with a blind mother, including random thoughts about braille. Read Lisa’s devotions

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Wise Men Still See Him – Lisa Keck
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When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (NIV)

My family and I joined some friends to view Christmas lights in a neighboring town. Almost every house was decorated, some with the traditional Santa and some with religious messages. I noticed one message in particular spelled out in white lights. In cursive lettering it said, Wise Men Still Seek Him. I recognized the phrase because my grandfather had given me a lapel pin that said the same thing. I guess that treasured gift of long ago helped my mind fill in the blanks.

On second glance I noticed that the letter K was burned out so it actually said, Wise Men Still SEE Him. I pointed the error out to my friend. “Hey Pam, look–the K’s missing.”

“Oh, you’re right.”

“Kind of changes the message doesn’t it?” She didn’t have a chance to answer because someone said something over the walkie talkie. But I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Is there a difference between seeking Jesus and seeing Him? Well of course there is. You look for someone or something and once you’ve found it, you see it. Even though Jesus is not here with us now to be physically seen, His Light still guides us. We still have His gifts in our lives. Maybe we can’t see them with our eyes, but they have been found. And though Jesus was never hiding, those who’ve accepted Him in their hearts have found Him.

Maybe wise men do both. They seek Him daily for His guidance and see His presence. His presence is the present of Christmas and wise men (and women) open that package daily. I’m beginning to wonder if the missing letter K was an error.

How about you? Have you seen Jesus today?

Lisa Keck is a wife and mother of 2 who lives in Orange, CA. She volunteers as a Braille proofreader and recently joined the wonderful world of blogging. Her blog, Ears In The Cornfield, can be found at brailleblazer.blogspot.com. There she shares insights of growing up with a blind mother, including random thoughts about braille. Read Lisa’s devotions

Three Dots…Three Days – Lisa Keck
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“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 (NIV)

In Braille code one to six dots are used to represent letters, punctuation, words, or to change a word. When the letter C stands alone it becomes the word can. But if you put dots 4-5-6 before the C it becomes the word cannot. Those three little dots wield much power, changing a positive into a negative.

What else has such power-three days. Over 2000 years ago, three days changed the course of human history. Jesus died, spent some time in a borrowed tomb and rose again, conquering death. He also conquered the devil changing what he can do, into what he cannot do in the life of the believer. For those who are in Christ, Satan no longer has the power to condemn. We are sinners saved by grace. Now that’s not an invitation to sin but an understanding that fallen man needs a covering.

The devil can no longer use shame to make us feel guilty for our wrong doing. The bumper sticker fades but the message remains: Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven. So the next time someone tries to make you feel unworthy of Christ’s love, just remember, He chose to die for you.

Unfortunately, Satan hasn’t read the memo. He’s still going to try to condemn and control. When you stand firm in Christ’s power Satan cannot control you. It’s a message that’s hard to apply.

Our lives seem so out of control but we can give that control over to God. When we allow Him to reign, rust corrodes Satan’s tool box, filled with big and small things designed to turn us away from God. But rust doesn’t deter him from trying to wield the sledgehammer of alcohol and drugs. Rust doesn’t stop him from reaching for the drill of distraction or any of the other tools.

Satan can try to use his tools but he cannot succeed when I am in Christ. When I pray, I never forget to thank Him for Calvary. Those three days changed my history. And now, it’s the first of blessing I count.

How will you let those three days change you?

Lisa Keck is a wife and mother of 2 who lives in Orange, CA. She volunteers as a Braille proofreader and recently joined the wonderful world of blogging. Her blog, Ears In The Cornfield, can be found at brailleblazer.blogspot.com. There she shares insights of growing up with a blind mother, including random thoughts about braille. Read Lisa’s devotions

Extreme Makeover – Lisa Keck
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“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Extreme Makeover-Home Edition has been remodeling homes since 2003. Team leader Ty Pennington, his crew and volunteers work to make life-changing makeovers in the lives of families with unique stories. Every episode brings excitement to the chosen family as they wait to see the results of their home makeover.

One afternoon my friend and I chatted about our spiritual makeover. It wasn’t just a remodel, it was a complete rebuild. That’s about as “extreme” as it gets. But do we really believe that? Do we seek God’s transforming power in our life?

When the Executive Producer of our life sends His Spirit to work, do we welcome Him openly and expectantly? I suspect that sometimes we try to make the changes alone, without the guidance of the Master Carpenter, only to find that a project without a project manager doesn’t work well.

But, when we allow God to work within us—help us tear down the old and rebuild to new—then our makeover is complete from the inside to the outside.

When the Extreme Makeover Team shouts, “Driver, move that bus,” the receiving families are overcome with joy. What joy if we could come before God saying, “Soul Dweller, move the veil so I may glory in Your work.” What if we came expectantly, trusting Him to supply all our needs? He desires to embrace us, accepting our thanks.

So, go ahead . . . share your heart with Him. Let Him take your life, tear away the old and rebuild you from the inside out.

Lisa Keck is a wife and mother of 2 who lives in Orange, CA. She volunteers as a Braille proofreader and recently joined the wonderful world of blogging. Her blog, Ears In The Cornfield, can be found at brailleblazer.blogspot.com. There she shares insights of growing up with a blind mother, including random thoughts about braille. Read Lisa’s devotions

For By Grace – Lisa Keck
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“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

I knew I wanted it as soon as I saw it. So did the lady who had just opened it. It was one of the few coveted gifts in the white elephant exchange. We’d all picked numbers and on our turn could “steal” a gift or take our chances with what was on the table.

I pondered my options. This lady already had another nice gift “stolen” from her, which is how she got the Thomas Kinkade ornament. Normally it’s not okay to steal but that is part of the game. The chances of there being anything nice left at the gift table seemed rare.

My turn came. I went toward the gift table before giving into my covetousness. It was The Painter of Light after all. I had no way of knowing that poor gal would wind up with a monkey potato peeler. But the gift wasn’t mine yet.

I was the first stealer and a gift could be taken three times before it was safe. I sat nervously and then someone swiped my ornament. I took my chances with the gift table. There was a lovely gift bag that caught my eye, which proved curiously heavy.

Could it be pottery? I had met a ceramic artist at dinner. No such luck. It was a five pound can of jalapeño peppers!

Then the unexpected happened. Someone stole my peppers which meant I could get my ornament back. My husband leaned in and said, “That’s the third steal.”

The ornament was mine!

I’m reminded of another third that’s the best steal ever. It was the third day after Christ’s crucifixion when He rose from the dead. He stole death’s power by becoming the sacrifice for our sins.

Those who accept this Truth are saved to live for eternity with THE Light of Heaven. God gave His only Son because He wants the best for His children and He wants us to share Heaven with Him. His Grace is as unexpected and undeserved as someone stealing jalapeño peppers.

Have you thanked Jesus today?

Lisa Keck is a wife and mother of 2 who lives in Orange, CA. She volunteers as a Braille proofreader and recently joined the wonderful world of blogging. Her blog, Ears In The Cornfield, can be found at brailleblazer.blogspot.com. There she shares insights of growing up with a blind mother, including random thoughts about braille. Read Lisa’s devotions

Seeking the Future – Lisa Keck
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“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.” 2 Corinthians 2:14

Stepping into the warm evening, the conversation was full of hope.

“What do they do in that room?” I asked Donna who was leading a tour for prospective volunteers.

“Take a look,” she answered. We strolled across the courtyard, the smell of night jasmine in the air.

“We’ve come to see our future,” I said as we entered—a future I’d worked hard toward. I’d finished my coursework to become a Braille Transcriber and next was certification. It was just a few years ago I’d begun this path. I’d prayed for an opportunity, wondered aloud about the life God had given me.

One day as my husband dropped off the kids, he overheard the teacher talking. I had volunteered with her since my daughter began school four years earlier She needed to hire an aide. This particular teacher taught the blind and my mother was blind so it seemed like a good fit. Since my husband was out of work I applied.

I got the job and began learning Braille but, when the school year ended, so did my job. Is that the Lord’s cane tapping ahead of me, leading me down this path? I decided to continue learning and soon was told a boy in church may one day need Braille. Yes, that definitely was the Lord’s cane!

Night jasmine gets its name because it releases a beautiful fragrance in the evening when dusk arrives with its shadows and doubt. By the time I made the walk across the courtyard at Braille Institute, I knew my future included transcribing Braille books. I still have things to learn and our work group meets at night so I can smell the jasmine. After an evening of dots doing a crazy polka, I can step out and smell the sweet aroma, then remember I have one who goes before me.

How will the Lord guide you? Will you allow yourself to be still and know Him so that you may recognize His scent?

Lisa Keck is a wife and mother of 2 who lives in Orange, CA. She volunteers as a Braille proofreader and recently joined the wonderful world of blogging. Her blog, Ears In The Cornfield, can be found at brailleblazer.blogspot.com. There she shares insights of growing up with a blind mother, including random thoughts about braille. Read Lisa’s devotions