"As They Went" - on Thoughts & Obedience

As I read Luke 17, I was once again struck by the three little words:

"As they went..."

"They" = 10 lepers, desperately sick and cut off from everyone and everything they loved.

"Went" = Following Jesus' directions to step out in faith that they would be healed, even though He hadn't come up and touched them or spoken words of assurance as in other cases. He simply sent them off to show themselves to those who could declare them all-clear to live a normal life again.

As a result, they were healed on the way and commended for acting in faith and obedience by stepping out and doing what God had said... even when it didn't make sense. 

Jesus can still do that today! Even when He doesn't heal all at once [though He does that too], He still calls us to have faith and follow His directions. Our Good Shepherd will lead us in the best paths for us when we follow His voice. 

In the words of a hymn I love... Trust and Obey.

So what are we, You and I in the year 2024, told to do? For one thing, "Take every thought captive." (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Amazingly, science is finally starting to prove what God has directed all along in His word... that our thoughts matter. We were created with neuroplasticity [brains that can change] for good reason. 

Our thoughts directly affect our body chemistry, immune systems, and so much more. No wonder God's word clearly emphasizes things like:

• Trust - Psalm 62:8

• Hope - Romans 15:13

• Be still - Psalm 46:10

• Praise - Hebrews 13:15

• Eternal Mindset - Colossians 3:1-2

• Do not fear - Isaiah 41:10 [and over 100 more verses on this topic!]

If we care about our health, we need to care about our thoughts as God has directed! When He says...

Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent & praiseworthy... think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)

...He means it! 

Besides the gift of Neuroplasticity, we were given the gift of Selective Attention. When a thought is hurting us and triggering our stress response, we can choose a different thought.

Not only does God promise to take care of all that worries us when we "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33), but He has so designed our bodies that the very act of walking out this life of faith and obedience (starting in our minds) will set in motion physical processes of healing... 

As We Go!

Want to learn more about biblical and scientific Brain Rewiring? You can sign up for my occasional newsletter HERE.

~ Hannah

Celebration, Heritage & Gratitude

Just under 80 relatives gathered for our annual Independence Day celebration at the lake cottage. A small, but cosy group!

For the first time in a decade, I ate everything from the potluck tables! All I still avoided was anything overtly made with gluten. It's hard to believe I could get back to this point!

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow! I know it's not Thanksgiving Day, but gratitude is always in season,and right now I am thanking God for...

Family and Relatives with a shared godly heritage 

Good memories brought back as rain drove us into the old living room... and the ability to once again enjoy the building I had to avoid most of the past decade due to sensitivities

A widening range of flavors to enjoy

...And a nation which was founded by brave and often God-fearing men.

"The world seems to me an immense battle-place, where wrong and right have been struggling; always struggling. And sometimes the wrong seems to cover the whole earth, like a flood, and there is nothing but confusion and horror; and then sometimes the floods part and one sees a little bit of firm ground, where grass and flowers might grow, if they had a chance. And in those spots there is generally some great, grand man, who has fought back the flood of wrong and made a clearing."

▪︎ from "Nobody" by Susan Warner 

Another Birthday at the State Park

Another year = another birthday at the state park!

First time in a lake for this 6-month old! The sand was a hit... especially in the mouth.

Big brother is getting brave in the water and creative in the sand!

Big sister is always looking for fun!

 "The earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord." ▪︎ Psalm 33:5

Getting Back to Concerts!

One of those opportunities to "get back to life" mentioned in my previous post was attending my first concert in nearly a decade!

Thanks to a trumpet-playing, music-major Dad, I enjoyed growing up with the music of the Canadian Brass. So when one of their former members came to our local concert association, it was not to be missed!

Dad actually attended the concert twice as it came to two area towns. Mom went with the first time, and I got to join him for the second. And due to stories told in concert and some talk Dad had with the performer after the first one, Dad brought his own trumpet along for Jens Lindemann to sign the case. [You had to be there to understand. 😊]

Dad's trumpet is a Yamaha bought through the Canadian Brass and tested by one of their members. The special story behind it was that Dad's college trumpet broke around 20 years ago, and he was ready to give up playing for Easter and Christmas anymore. But his mom wouldn't let him stop and bought this trumpet to keep him playing. 

Now Dad practices an hour most days and is getting better than I have heard him in my lifetime!

At the second concert, Dad also had the surprise of finding someone he had played with in college who had since had a professional trumpet career. Dad had him sign the case too... just for fun!

So my first concert was a treat and a successful chance to exposure-train with several of my long-time triggers.

Healing is Not Linear.

Fact #1: “Healing is not linear.”

Fact #2: “Your trajectory is more important than your current state.”

I have been glad to know these two facts once again the last couple weeks.

Pushing too hard through many exciting opportunities to “get back to life” led to my slowly refilling the “stress bucket” I have been working on emptying. At a certain point, it began to overflow in old symptoms.

But I am learning to be patient with myself as I slowly figure out how much I can push and exposure-train with returning strength... and how to rest better when I should not push.

It helps me to view this healing journey as a mountain climb. There are many ups and downs through peaceful valleys, steep inclines and rough ravines, but if my trajectory is always toward the peaks I can glimpse in the distance, I know I’m on the right track!

And I could never do this without my Good Shepherd!

~ Hannah

Book Review: Shipwrecked! by Rhoda Blumberg | The True Adventures of a Japanese Boy

Shipwrecked!

Adventure, Drama, History, Culture and more are packed into this easy read by Rhoda Blumberg.

The best part is, this is a true story! Manjiro was the first Japanese boy to live in United States, and the things he faced, learned, and accomplished both before and after that time were remarkable. He even helped open Japan to the rest of the world.

Don't miss this fascinating part of world history! I am glad my relative told us where to find this book in the children's section of our local library.

~ Hannah

Find more book suggestions on

Instagram: @storytime.with.hannahmary

Facebook and YouTube: Storytime with HannahMary

Long Enough to Take It In...

"There is a very real sense in which the ambition of art simply consists in the valiant effort to seize some small piece of the world and to hold it still long enough for us to take it in."

• Cameron McAllister

"Weeds are flowers too,

once you get to know them."

• A.A. Milne

Finally got another page filled in my nature journal! It was a workout on a less-than-optimal day, but also amazing to study these details of one of God's creations up close.