A Christian on the Shelf

Anyone who knows me well knows that vintage or antique glass, especially faceted lead crystal, pushes my happy button.  I also love the color and design of Murano and Murano-style glass.  Pair my admiration of glass with my enjoyment of antiquing and thrifting and add my lack of discipline when I spot a bargain, and you’ll understand how pieces often end up coming home with me.

After a few recent shopping trips, I found myself with several unusual pieces and I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with them.  A beautiful, heavy lead crystal ashtray, a small relish dish and a swirled blue margarita glass all ticked my checkboxes where beauty and bargain were concerned, but what to do with them? Ours is a non-smoking home, I seldom pull out the china and crystal for meals, the glass didn’t match anything else, and my display cabinets are filling up.  What to do with them?

I was musing over this when I noticed that Ralphie looked thirsty.  Ralphie is my Christmas Cactus, given to me by a dear friend in December of 24 when I was battling cancer.  I’ll admit it, when the plant showed up I appreciated the love behind it, but not the cactus itself.  I have a long history of killing house plants despite my best efforts.  

Years ago, when I was bemoaning the death of yet another pair of porch plants and wondering why I couldn’t manage to keep a plant alive, a friend looked me in the eye and said, “Karlene, they don’t bark.”  

I accepted that wisdom and hadn’t had a plant since, until Ralphie.  I’m quite proud of our relationship, however, as I’ve kept him alive and well for over a year. He bloomed in January, and is actually putting out little buds again!  

As I watered Ralphie, succulents jumped into my mind.  I’ve heard they’re very hearty.  Suddenly, I knew what I wanted to do with my recent glass purchases.

A trip to my local home store sent me home stocked with soil and so many succulents that when I tried to decide which plant would go where, I realized I had more succulents than glass to put them in.  Rather than returning any of the plants, I went to my china cabinet and pulled out another piece of lead crystal.

Two hours and much effort later, I had four beautiful little succulent gardens, tucked into vintage glassware which I had given new roles.  My vintage pieces, which were destined to take up space and be casually admired on occasion, are suddenly adding to the ambiance of my home.  I’ve had a few guests see them and remark on how pretty my “planters” are.

Looking at those old pieces being used in a completely new way, I found myself thinking about the ways God changes us—not simply what we do, but who we are. A familiar verse came to mind... 

It was 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”  

I started thinking about how my life can sometimes compare to a piece of crystal in a display cabinet.  The pieces sit behind glass doors, pretty enough if someone takes the time to look at them, but otherwise, they’re just . . . there.

I’ve been a follower of Christ for much of my life, but I am far from perfect. It can be very easy to be a “Christian on a shelf,” sitting quietly in my space, reading my Bible, saying my prayers, going to church, lifting my hands in worship. Those are all good things. But none of them were meant to leave me unchanged.

My glass pieces were all perfectly fine. They were pretty. They weren’t broken or worthless. They were all capable of doing the job they were designed to do. But if I’d placed them in the cabinet, their only use would have been to occasionally sparkle at someone who glanced their way.

Ephesians 4:22–24 tells us, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." 

How often do I do that?  Do I allow myself to fall into bad habits and “easy Christianity” that does nothing to further God’s kingdom?  Do I casually tell people, “I’ll be praying for you” because it’s what Christians say to each other, or do I approach the throne on their behalf?  Do I read my Bible, mining for truths in God’s Word and application to my life, or do I quickly skim “today’s reading” so I can mark off that checkbox?  I was made for more!

We are commanded, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

Am I conforming, or am I continually working to renew my mind?  If I look to Jesus and allow my mind to be transformed, then God will continue to show me new pathways and purposes for my life.  

I don’t want to be sparkling crystal sitting on a shelf, pretty to look at but overall useless.  I want to be equipped and ready for God to use me in new ways!

Trusting God in Life’s Unexpected Challenges

Sometimes faith looks like trusting God through one thing after another.

I’ve had a rough week over the past 24 hours.

Last night, I was watching TV, relaxing after a busy day, when my sweet Aragorn approached me, drooling copiously. I wasn’t eating, which is usually the only time he drools, lying on the floor politely but unable to control the thin thread of desire as he watches. This was a huge, slimy rope hanging from his jowls.  Examining him, I realized his lip was thick and swollen, and he was panting as if he’d just completed a marathon.  Clearly, something had bitten him, and the venom of whatever was making him VERY ill.

Aragorn seeking comfort from his mama.
He doesn’t understand what’s happening to him.

I’m usually careful not to take advantage of my friends, but this was my Gornie. I called a vet friend (who is married to a vet!) and told them what I was seeing. With their guidance, I stayed home and monitored him—checking his temperature and watching for other symptoms.

By 2 AM, the panting had stopped, the drool was under control, and his temperature was normal. The swelling was still there, but he was stable. I went to bed but set an alarm every hour through the night to check on him.

Troubles in the Barn

I was exhausted this morning and slept in a bit—which did not sit well with my goats.

A couple of weeks ago, we lost one of our babies, likely to one of the Great Horned Owls in our woods. Since we have too many goats to stall, I cobbled together a solution using wire panels, fence staples, and bungee cords, so they can stay safely under the barn roof at night.
Usually I’m out fairly early to release them, but this morning I was soooooo tired. I slept in a little once I knew Aragorn was safe.

Jethro, my buck, was not pleased.

Jethro

He was NOT happy with me.

To show his displeasure, as I started unhooking the wire gate, he began butting it—and before I could stop him, he hit it so hard that the board the gate was attached to ripped right off the barn. That’s just —wonderful.

My husband is out of town. The nails are sticking out of the board, so it clearly needs to be screwed in instead of hammered—which means finding the drill, buying long screws, and somehow holding the long board with a wire gate attached to it in place while I fix it… alone.

A Roadside Setback

A couple of hours later, I headed out for a quick errand.

As I drove down our driveway, a lost motorist pulled in. I eased off to the side so we could talk—and hit something hidden in the grass (later discovered to be a stump).

After I redirected him and continued on, my truck started to shimmy.

That stump destroyed my tire.

Why is this happening to me?

There I was, pulled over on the side of the road, with a truck that wasn’t going anywhere… and I just felt defeated.

As I stood there staring at my tire, I could hear Shane & Shane singing in my mind:

“Though You slay me, Yet I will praise You.
Though You take from me, I will bless Your name.
Though You ruin me, Still I will worship
Sing a song to the one who's all I need.”  

As my soul settled into those words, the Lord reminded me—He is my all. No matter my circumstances, He is enough.

I began to sing the words, and thank Him for being Jehovah-Jireh, “The Lord Will Provide.”  I began thinking of scriptures and personalizing them.

“And my God will meet all my needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:19

“God is my refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore I will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging…The Lord Almighty is with me; the God of Jacob is my fortress.” —Psalm 46:1-3, 7

There is something powerful about taking Scripture and making it personal—claiming it as truth for your own life.

Reflections on God’s Provision

Now, sitting at my computer, I can see all the ways God showed up for me in just these past hours.

When I was worried about my dog, friends were praying—and others were available by phone when I needed help. I didn’t spend panicked hours in an emergency clinic or sit alone in a house worrying after I had to leave him there; I was able to care for Aragorn at home and watch him improve.

My adult son gave up part of his day to come over with the tools needed to reaffix the gate to the barn, so my goats will be safe tonight, and I didn’t have to struggle on my own.

My spare tire was in good condition. Roadside assistance came quickly. I was close to home, on a quiet road—and the tire went flat instead of blowing out on the interstate.

Would I have placed,
“Dog bitten by something dangerous”
“Goat damaging barn” or
“Flat tire”
on my Bingo card had I been choosing?

Not a chance.

But God was present in every single moment.

And so I will remember, and

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.”

Thank you, Lord, for Your constant presence—no matter my circumstances.
You are good, all the time.

What a 50-Year-Old Measuring Cup Taught Me About Scripture

A simple kitchen tool reminded me of an important truth: a Bible sitting on the shelf won’t change our lives. God’s Word only transforms us when we open it and use it.

A measuring cup that has been faithfully used for over fifty years - and recently helped remind me to spend more time in God’s word.

An Old Cup Full of Memories

It’s old. In my kitchen cupboard sits a Tupperware 8-cup measuring cup from the 1970s. It’s nothing fancy, but you have to respect something that’s been faithfully doing its job for half a century. Thanks to its tight-fitting lid, you can mix something in it and move the whole container straight to the fridge.

Dad loved this cup. He enjoyed cooking—though not cleaning up afterward, poor Mom—and he used it for all kinds of batters: pancakes, cornbread, biscuits, and dumplings.

It shows up in many of my memories of him in the kitchen. When I picture him cooking, I can still see that measuring cup sitting on the counter beside him.

After Dad passed away, Mom gave it to me when she downsized her kitchen. It’s a link to my past and a reminder of him, but it’s not something I’d put on a shelf and admire. The memories only come when I actually use it. Right now it’s serving an important purpose: mixing and storing homemade formula for a rejected baby goat. Since he needs feeding every three hours, that old measuring cup isn’t spending any time in the cupboard these days.

It might sound a little silly, but as I stood in the kitchen pouring formula from the cup to the bottle, I realized something: it only connects me to my Dad when it’s out of the cupboard and being used.

Sitting on a shelf, it’s just another piece of plastic.

And suddenly I realized something uncomfortable. The same can be true of my Bible.

An unopened Bible sitting on a shelf doesn’t draw us any closer to God any more than that measuring cup reminds me of Dad when it’s buried in the cupboard.

With so many Bibles available today, the real question isn’t whether we have one - but whether we open it.

Throughout history, many Christians have gone without easy access to Scripture. Some faced persecution for owning it. Even today, having a Bible can be dangerous in places like North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan. In other parts of the world, believers simply cannot afford one.

Meanwhile, in my home, my husband and I have about a dozen Bibles in different translations, and anyone with a smartphone can access countless versions instantly.

God’s Word Changes Us When We Use It

A Bible we open and read, however, can change our lives.

Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Scripture gives us guidance, clarity, and direction. It helps us navigate life and make decisions that honor God. Since we usually do not pull out a Bible in the middle of every conversation or pause to study before every decision, it’s vital to have God’s Word already planted in our hearts and minds so that God-honoring choices become second nature.

Psalm 119:11 reinforces this idea: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” 

When we read and study Scripture, it begins to shape our character. God’s Word becomes part of our thoughts, our motivations, and our desires. It becomes a steady standard that helps us recognize and avoid sin.

When Scripture is truly hidden in our hearts, godly choices should come naturally. If a cashier accidentally gives us $20 in change instead of $10, returning the extra money with a smile shouldn’t require a long internal debate. It should simply be the obvious thing to do.

That old measuring cup has convicted me. It’s reminded me that I need to spend more time in the Word.

Romans 12:2 puts it this way: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” 

Culture is always shifting. What one generation calls wrong, the next may accept or even celebrate. But God’s Word never changes. If we want our thinking and our behavior to align with His will, we have to allow Scripture to shape our minds.

And that only happens when we spend time in it.

The amazing thing is that even though the Bible is thousands of years old, its message has never expired. Isaiah 40:8 reminds us, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” Jesus Himself said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35).

My reminder to dig into God’s Word is an old measuring cup sitting in my kitchen cupboard.

After fifty years, it’s still faithfully doing what it was made to do.

Maybe my Bible deserves the same kind of use.

Sometimes God uses the simplest things to get our attention. What has reminded you to spend time in His Word lately?