Prairie Wind

THE WAY

Posted on January 11, 2026 by Wendy Kleker

THE WAY by Wendy Kleker

“Your road led through the sea, Your pathway through the mighty waters. A pathway no one knew was there!

You led the people along that road, like a flock of sheep with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds,” Psalm 77:19-20

Sheep follow the voice of their shepherd. My shepherd is Jesus. He will lead me down pathways no one including me, knows are even there. It might lead through a sea where there is only water. Where I can’t see a path. Where the water is mighty and roaring with high waves.

He will make a way where there seems no way. He will make a path through the sea like He did for the Israelites. He will flatten mountains and shatter iron gates. He will guide me in places I didn’t think I could go.

It may not be easy, but He will make a path. He will be beside me helping. He will go before me preparing the way. He will come behind me protecting.

Where He leads I will follow.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,” plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

I wrote the above this morning, then I read my devotional and the title was:

GOD MAKES A WAY FOR YOU

“Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today.

The Lord will fight for you.

Just stay calm!” Exodus 14:13-14

So it seems He wants to tell me something. He says:

“I am leading you where there seems no way, down a path that is hidden, in a place you do not expect.

The way may be difficult. You may experience troubled waters. You will need to hang on to Me and follow my every step, but it will be good.

You will not just survive, you will thrive.

You won’t just walk, you will shine.

You won’t just make it through the day you will sing.

I will give you a new song.

A new song of peace and joy and VICTORY!

“I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously.

He has hurled both horse and rider into the sea.

The Lord is my STRENGTH and my SONG.

He has given me VICTORY.” Exodus 15:1-2

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Deliverance

Posted on January 2, 2026 by Wendy Kleker

Deliverance

Wendy Kleker

David was having a hard time of it. His father-in-law, his new found mentor, his king was chasing him all over the country side trying to kill David by any means he could. Yet David would not raise up arms against his king. Even though Saul claimed David as an enemy, David refused to kill him when he had the chance. Yet David was a fugitive, run out of his home, forced to hide in dark caves and scrounge for food for himself and his followers.

David was a tough young man. He knew what it was like to live in the hills with his sheep for weeks without the comforts of home. He fought with bears and lions to protect his sheep. He downed a mighty giant with a sling shot and cut off Goliath’s head with his own sword. He was no wimp, yet to spend years running and hiding out in the wilderness was a hardship almost too much to bare. He had to wonder why God who had anointed him the next king would allow this hardship to go on. He prayed often to be delivered and saved from his enemy.

“Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress. Tears blur my eyes, my body and soul are withering away. I am dying from grief, my years are shortened by sadness. My enemies conspire against me, plotting to take my life.

But I m trusting You, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!” My future is in Your hands.

Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly. In Your unfailing love, rescue me.” Ps. 31:9,10,13-15

However David found out through his tribulation that deliverance is not only being rescued but, also being restored to Someone. What he looked at as survival became surrender to God’s way. What was a hiding place to him, became a deeper relationship to his Father. He found that His deliverance was God Himself.

I find this so true for me. Instead of finding my refuge in security, a house, a safe zone, a life partner, I realized I can find my Refuge is in no one else but Jesus Christ. Like David, I find, survival becomes surrender to God’s will and fear can change to worship, which is obeying and following Him.

Jesus is rebuilding my tumbled down life, which He tore down, and replacing it with His Presence.

“One thing I ask of the Lord is that I may dwell in the house (presence) of the Lord all the days of my life.” Ps. 27:4

HIS PRESENCE MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

Deliverance isn’t found in escaping the hard times, its in knowing WHO holds me through it.

In really knowing Him, in seeing Him with my heart, with the eyes of my soul.

My home isn’t a house or even a husband who fills it. My home is His presence. Its in God, and God alone. Its under His wings, in the secret place near His side.

So deliverance is not the absence of struggles and hard times, but in having peace in the midst of it. Its not the end of the battle, but Jesus Himself with me, in me, over me in the battle. He fights the battle. He is my VICTORY.

Deliverance is not a husband by my side, a solid house, or a secure future.

It is my Jesus.

He is everything.

He is my Life.

He is my Refuge.

He is my Joy.

He is my Deliverance.

This is what I wrote yesterday, December 31, 2025, and I was going to end it here. But this morning, January 1, 2026 this came to me:

Yet in knowing this it doesn’t dispel the loneliness or take away the pain of missing John, as I realized upon waking up this dreary, foggy, chilly New Years morning.

“Why my soul, are you down cast? Why so disturbed within me?”

So we see David had his down times. But when he did this is what he told himself to do:

“Put your hope in God, for I will YET praise Him.” Ps. 43:5

My only hope is in God, He is my Deliverer. No one, nothing else.

He is my Comforter.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of ALL comfort.” 2 Cor. 1:3 NIV

My God is the God of comfort, He has compassion on me, He will comfort me when I seek Him. He is everything I need, but I must seek His face and be aware of His Presence. I need to acknowledge Him, talk to Him, praise Him, Thank Him. Every day. Several times a day.

When things around me fail, when ALL else fails, I need to gaze upon my Jesus. Nothing else just my Jesus.

I need to keep my eyes on Him, bask in His presence, soak in His Glory, know His love.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever!” 2 Chron. 16:34 NIV

From fear to Freedom,

stronghold to Sanctuary,

hiding place to a Safe Place,

panic to Peace

running to my Rock.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged david, deliverance, deliverer, father, god, hardship, home, Jesus, Life, presence, psalms, Refuge, sanctuary | Leave a comment

THE SON part 3

Posted on December 26, 2025 by Wendy Kleker

THE SON

part 3

MORNING LIGHT

“Because of God’s tender mercy the morning Light from Heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide us to the path of peace.” Luke 1:78-79

The stable that was under the living quarters of the house was quiet. Now and then an animal shifted in the straw and dim light shown throughout. Mary’s father sat leaning against the far wall and dozed in the stillness. Joseph sat by Mary holding her head in his lap and every so often wiping her sweaty face with a cool cloth.

Joseph had no idea that birthing would be so hard, but Mary labored much and once in awhile a soft moan would escape her drawn lips. He was happy Mary’s mother was there to attended to her needs. He would not have known what to do. It was all he could do to watch her in such pain. In between the contractions she would look at him and smile assurance while he wiped the sweat from her forehead. His heart swelled with love for this young, strong woman who God chose to deliver His very own Son to a dying world.

In the wee hours, when the night is the darkest and when the evil one is prowling the earth to see what havoc can be wreaked, a soft light bathed the house where Mary lay.

In the dark sky a great star burst forth, with bright light upon the black night. The evil one screamed in anguish and ran from the legion of angels surrounding the house.

In the dim room filled with the smell of cows and donkeys and musty straw, a lusty infant cry broke the stillness. Mary’s father jerked as his head came up. Joseph stared as his mother-in-law held the kicking baby boy in both her hands.

“Here he is, Mary,” she said with a grin, “healthy and ready to face the world!”

Joseph helped Mary to sit up, then her mother placed the squirming baby in her arms. After examining fingers and toes, and wiping his tiny body clean, Mary wrapped him in the swaddling clothes she had brought. Then she grinned at Joseph who couldn’t take his eyes off the tiny baby in her arms.

“His name is Jesus,” he said and Mary nodded as she leaned against her husband, content with her baby secure in her arms.

Mary’s exhausted heart swelled with love, as she gazed at the tiny face and hands. Was it true? Would this baby of hers really grow into a mighty king? Would those tiny hands really save the nations? And was He truly the Son of Almighty God? But He had to be, how else could it have happened that she would have been with child before knowing a man?

This miracle baby of hers seemed so normal, like so many other babies she had seen. She glanced around the dim, dirty room that housed the family’s animals and realized for the first time that she had delivered her baby in a stable, on the dirt floor, and the only place to lay him was a straw filled manger. Not a fit place for the King of Kings to enter the world. What was God thinking?

Mary laid back on the straw and robes that had been put on the floor and snuggled the baby close to her breast. Joseph tucked robes in around his son and wife then huddled near by to shelter them from the cold draft.

Just outside Bethlehem a group of shepherds who kept their flocks of sheep together in a fold at night for protection, slept around a fire. Two or three were awake, sitting by the fire trying to stay awake to keep the night watch. Their heads dropped between their knees in the wee hours of the night as sleep overtook them.

Suddenly a bright light shone all around them. The watchmen sprang to their feet. The sleeping shepherds sat up and looked around befuddled. The light came out of the sky and was so bright they covered their eyes. They had never seen such light, it pulsated with brilliance. Terrified of what this could be, they lay prone upon the ground.

Out of the light they could just make out a figure. The tall, commanding being that seemed to be made of the light spoke.

“Don’t be afraid!” A voice boomed out of the light, “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people! A Savior–yes, the Messiah, the Lord–has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize Him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth lying in a manger.”

Suddenly the dark sky was filled with many angels, the armies of Heaven, all glowing in great light and singing this heavenly song.

“Glory to God in highest Heaven and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased!” Luke 2:14 NLT

The glory of God illuminated the night and the hills surrounding Bethlehem. The shocked shepherds stood with their amazed eyes turned upwards to the glorious sight of thousands of brilliant angels singing and praising God. Their mouths hung open and their hearts swelled with joy.

The shepherds were the lowly of the working men. They lived in the hills with their sheep, they had no homes, no beds, eating only what they killed or found. They were hard working men who preferred to be in the open country rather than a warm house. They would rather have the company of their sheep and dogs and sometimes each other instead of other people. They were considered outcasts, socially inept, poor and downtrodden.

Yet God chose these men to be the first to see His Glory that night. He chose the lowly and humble, not the high and mighty, to be the first to welcome His Son. God chose a peasant girl and a common carpenter to be the parents of His only cherished Son. He decided the Prince of Heaven would be born not in a palace warm but a cold drafty, dirty stable with cows and donkeys and maybe goats to witness the birth.

Every year when I read this story it amazes me that the God of the universe would use such common people and simple surroundings to execute His great plan. Why God even planned for His Son to born amongst the very animals He had formed with His own hands! Animals who warmed His tiny body with their heat and gave Him their own bedding. Did the cows look on with wide eyes and moo softly as the birth took place? Did the donkeys and goats and maybe a dog or cat know who was in their midst and eagerly try to get a glimpse?

This whispers to me that God will use me, a common person living in a simple humble home surrounded by His creation and even the animals He put on earth, to bring about His glory! If only I, like Mary and Joseph, have a willing heart. If only I am eager to follow His will, even if the road leads up steep, difficult mountains and things seem to go all wrong.

Tired and worn the shepherds came. The light of the star marked the house. The back country men filed silently inside and stood reverently looking down at the sleeping Mary with her baby snuggled close to her side.

Mary’s mother and father, wrapped in robes by the other wall, slept on undisturbed. Joseph, who lay beside Mary, jerked awake and jumped to his feet. The shepherds smiled and softly told him of the angel’s visit. Joseph, who wasn’t surprised at all, motioned for them to sit and they knelt on the dirt floor. Mary’s eyes fluttered open and after a startled glance at Joseph who nodded, she held out the sleeping baby. As the rough, crusty shepherds took turns holding the tiny newborn, Joseph and Mary shared their stories of visits from angels.

In the cold dawn of a new day, the rough, dirt-crusted, outdoor men bowed their heads and worshiped Heaven’s Prince, the Savior of the world.

The Morning Light had come!

The Morning Light from Heaven burst upon a dark and dying world over 2000 years ago. The world we now live in is still dying, and dark. Evil reigns.

Blackness is creeping into every crack and extinguishing all light. So it seems.

Nevertheless, the Light from Heaven has not been put out. The evil one could not extinguish the Flame of Grace. Jesus who lived and walked on this earth and who died for you and for me, now lives!

He is a Light that is brighter than that star that shone down on Bethlehem that night. He is a song that is sung sweeter than Heaven’s armies singing in the night. He is more radiant than God’s Glory shining bright in the Bethlehem sky.

He is the Prince of Heaven, the Morning Star, the Commander of Heaven’s armies, the great I AM! He is the Lover of your soul. The Light in your darkness. The cleanser of your heart.

He will wash away your sins. He will give you new life and life eternal forever and ever in Glory with Him. He walks beside you, He lives within you, He stands between you and the evil one.

He is my strength, my shelter, my everything. I can not walk a single day without my Jesus by my side.

When darkness comes, He is my Morning Light. When a storm blows into my life, He is my Refuge. When all else fails, He is my Strong Tower.

He supports me. He carries me. He puts me on the Rock that is higher than I.

He will never leave me. He will never forsake me. He is my Savior, my Friend, my life.

He was born a baby in a stable. He died as a criminal on a cruel cross. He is now the Prince in Glory. He will return to Earth a conquering King.

Jesus Christ our Lord.

He is the Son of the Almighty God.

He came as Light, bursting upon a dark night.

He brings Hope to a cursed, sin filled planet.

He gives Salvation to mankind, who live in the shadow of eternal death.

He is the Morning Light in your heart.

His light illuminates sin.

Yet He washes them all away.

All you have to do is ask.

He stands at the door of your heart and says,

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear My voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” Revelations 3:20 NLT

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bible, Birth of Jesus, christmas, faith, god, God's Son, Jesus, Jesus born, Jesus king, Light, Mary, Savior | 4 Comments

The Son

Posted on December 26, 2025 by Wendy Kleker

The Son part two

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THE SON,

Posted on December 24, 2025 by Wendy Kleker

part one

We tend to glamorize the birth of Jesus. To romanticize the betrothal and marriage of Joseph and Mary. To think of the journey to Bethlehem as a walk in the park or should I say wilderness. To whitewash the stable with clean straw and lovely smelling cows. To recreate a beautiful sparkly night with twinkly lights and a balmy breeze and Heavenly music.

Where I think its fun to imagine it this way, it was also reality for Mary and Joseph. It was the real deal, where the rubber meets the road, so to speak, and their lives were turned upside down by one short message from God. A message delivered by the mighty angel Gabriel to a young peasant girl in a small out of the way village in Galilee.

Have you ever wondered what it was really like for Mary? That blessed, glorious experience of giving birth to the Savior of the world. How did a young peasant girl really see it? This is how I imagine it might have been.

The Message

One day I was washing dishes after breakfast and singing one of my favorite Psalms, when suddenly there was a tingling down my back. You know it’s when you get goose bumps on your arms and you know something great is about to happen. But what? I can’t imagine since I’m just a plain peasant girl from a small village in Galilee, of unimportant birth. Except that it is said my family line has come down from David. Does that mean anything? Not that I know of. My betrothed Joseph is also from the line of David so when we are married our humble house of a simple carpenter will be of Noble blood. Ha! Something to tell our children when we tell them the stories of our ancestors. Of Abraham and Jacob and King David and all the glorious things God did back then.

Oh I think it would be so grand to hear from God or see Him work in a mighty way. Don’t you? I mean we talk about it, we see the memorials, we remember the stories. Like the stones Joshua placed near the Jordan after the Children of Israel crossed over to the promised land on dry ground. But that was so long ago and God has been so silent and they seem like fairy tales that are not real. I would just love to feel God’s presence and know He is real!

Just as I was dreaming about this with my hands in the warm soapy water, suddenly there was a bright light filling our small humble living space. A light like I had never seen, brighter than the brightest sun rays and I covered my face with my arm, as I turned around. Slowly lowering my arm, I saw a bright, glistening being, tall and commanding. Dare I say an angel of God? My heart began to pound, yet for some reason I was not afraid, only filled with such awe I could not move or speak.

“Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” The angel’s voice filled the room and my mind.

I was confused. Favored woman? God is with me? Me? What could that mean?

“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel said, and I wasn’t sure if he really spoke or the words were only in my head. My mother who was in the back room at the time, said she never heard a thing. “For you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever. His Kingdom will never end!”

I stumbled back against the counter. This was too much to take in! “Wait a minute how can this happen? I have known no man, I am a virgin!” I cried.

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,” the angel explained, “and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy and He will be called the Son of God.

Then he went on to explain that my cousin, Elisabeth, who was in her old age and had been barren all her life, was also with child, given to her from God for His purpose.

“For nothing is impossible with God.” The angel firmly stated.

My surprise knew no end. I was shocked and could only stammer the first thing that came to my mind. “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” I mean what can you say to an angel? Right? Then the angel left. (from Luke 1:26-38)

My legs felt like the dishrag I had dropped in the dishpan and I had to sit down. I sat on a cushion and putting my elbows on the table I buried my face in my hands.

Was this true? Did this really happen? Was I really going to have a baby? But I had no husband! Just my fiancé Joseph, and we were only engaged! What will happen to me if I become pregnant?

Those tingles I talked about before, spread down my back and across my arms. I felt suddenly warm all over and funny, like I was being pulled from my body. A glow came before my closed eyes, and I was filled with great peace. I breathed slowly and felt a deep assurance that all would be well. God, my God, the God of my ancestors, would take care of everything.

Great joy filled my heart. I, just plain Mary, had heard from the Almighty God of the universe!

I floated for days on this feeling of joy and assurance. Sometimes I felt as if I was floating above the ground. I went to visit my cousin, Elizabeth, in the hill country of Judea and was so excited to find it all true. She was indeed with child!

I hadn’t know for sure, before seeing her, if what the angel said was true. But it is! Elizabeth called me the mother of her Lord! She knew I was carrying a child, even before I told her about the angel’s visit. Wow! I am amazed!

This feeling is nothing like I had ever felt before! I can only call it exhilarating! Like standing on a mountain and seeing a vista of grandeur and majesty spread at my feet.

“Oh how my soul praises the Lord! How my spirit rejoices in my Savior!” I said to Elizabeth. “For He took notice of His lowly servant girl and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy and He has done great things for me.

He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear Him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things!” (Luke 1:46-51)

I am just so amazed and blessed to see God working and to actually hear from His angel! I am so greatly humbled that He would choose lowly me to carry out His great promise to His people.

So I stayed with Elizabeth about three months and by then I knew I was indeed carrying a child. Of course I had been with no man so I knew without a doubt this child was indeed the workings of Almighty God. However what would I face when I returned home?

Soon after getting home I told my parents all that had happened. At first they didn’t believe me. My mother swore up and down that she never saw or heard an angel that day. Surely, she said, she would have since the house is not large. Well I couldn’t explain that but I told them again and again that I had not known a man in an intimate way.

Finally my father traveled to Elizabeth and Zechariah’s village and found out for himself that a miracle had indeed happened to his aged niece, who was about to finally give birth to a child. Also Zechariah could not speak because he had not believed the angel, Gabriel, who had given him the message of the son his wife was carrying. This Zechariah wrote out explaining all, with great excitement, to my father. So having heard this with his own ears, he and my mother were more inclined to believe me.

However it soon came time to tell Joseph my betrothed that I was with child. Oh my! What a time. We took a quiet stroll outside the village and I explained all that had happened. His expression was incredulous.

“What?!” he cried in his calm controlled manner, “Let me get this right. You are with child, but you say this child came from God not a man?”

I nodded, “It’s true, really!” I explained about Elizabeth and her child but I didn’t really expect Joseph to believe me. I mean who would? Joseph is a simple man, a practical man who believes in God and the scriptures, but to swallow such a wild tale from your young fiancé, I mean that would be hard for any man. In these days we don’t expect visions of angels and messages from God. Who would since none have been known in such a long time. How long since anyone has heard from God, we do not know.

Joseph was silent for along time, walking along with his head down and his hands folded in front of him, inside his long sleeves. I walked beside him, my stomach sick and not due to the pregnancy either, and prayed that God would please talk to Joseph’s heart. I wasn’t sure if I loved Joseph. I had known him for a long time, and he was a good man. I would need a man by my side to raise this child. Without a husband the child would grow up in disgrace and how could God’s Son do that?

Before we entered the village again, he stopped and looked at me with sorrow in his eyes. I knew he thought I had betrayed him and my heart broke for him.

“Oh Joseph!” I cried, “Please don’t think I would hurt you in any way! Oh please believe what I say is true!”

He lowered his head but before he did I saw the sheen of tears in his eyes. “I will have to think on this, but believe this, I will not disgrace you publicly. I will probably break our engagement, but will do it quietly. How you will explain a child, I don’t know, but I just don’t think I can accept your story.”

Then he walked away, his head bowed, his steps dragging. My heart broke into a thousand pieces. It was then I knew I loved this man who had been more like a big brother to me than anything. “My God!” I cried, “Please make him see the truth.”

I made my way home and later fell into bed but not into sleep. My soul and mind were troubled indeed. I felt sick to think I had hurt such a gentle, caring soul as my Joseph.

“How can you do this God?” I cried. How could He bring such turmoil into my ordered life? Everything was going so good, just as it should. I am of a good age to be betrothed. The engagement would last a year or two until I am more mature and better able to handle being a wife and have children, so my mother explained. Joseph and I would see each other often, every day usually, and get to know each other as friends. It’s the way it should be. The way it usually is with our people. But now!

“Now God my life is all messed up! Joseph is hurt and feels betrayed and I will be disgraced and the child, God your Son will have such a hard time!”

“It is ok, Child, I will take care of you and Joseph and my Son. Nothing is impossible for Me.” These words came into my head and I felt such peace fill my heart. I knew it would indeed be ok. God was in control and He would handle everything. With that I fell into a deep sleep.

That night Joseph lay in his bed and tossed and turned. Thoughts of what Mary had told him going around and around in his head like a butter churn. He just couldn’t believe an angel had actually spoken to her. Had she gone daft? He knew she was given to fanciful thinking and romantic day dreaming, but this was far beyond anything normal for a young woman. Wasn’t it?

He could hardly pray. His befuddled mind could only find the words, “Help me God to know what to do!” As he was whispering these words over and over he finally fell into a troubled sleep.

He had a dream where a shinning angel stood before him and spoke to him, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. For he will save his people from their sins.”

And in a half sleep state Joseph remembered the words of the prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which means God is with us.” (Math. 1:20-23)

When he woke up, Joseph whispered, “The Messiah! Mary is giving birth to the promised Messiah!”

Jumping out of bed, Joseph donned his robe and sandals and rushed over to Mary’s house. He burst upon her family’s breakfast and rushed over to Mary. Her parents were surprised at the behavior of this stoic man but Joseph ignored them and knelt before Mary.

Taking her hands in his he said, “Mary forgive me for not believing you, but I have had a dream and God has confirmed all that you have said. I will marry you, if you will still have me.”

Tears sprang to Mary’s eyes and she threw her arms around his neck nearly knocking him over backwards. “Oh yes! Yes I will marry you! Thank God! Thank God!”

This was not, I’m sure, how Mary had dreamed her marriage would be. A quickly planned affair brought on by an unplanned pregnancy! Her world was turned upside down and inside out with Gabriel’s message. One little message from God.

Yet, God used the miracle of Elizabeth’s pregnancy to confirm for Mary and others that what He was working in Mary was indeed from Him. He usually does this in my life. If He gives me a message, or a direction, it is always confirmed by other means.

Turmoil and trouble came into Mary and Joseph’s world all because of God’s plan. Because of God working His will in their lives they experienced confusion, doubt, stress and pain. But through it all I’m sure they had peace. God was with them and He gave them the strength and all that they needed to go through it.

In the same way, God’s will, His plans don’t always make my life great! In fact, sometimes God’s will brings turmoil and trouble. Often times when God works in my life there is confusion, stress and pain. However, God is working for my good and for the good of others around me. This I know, this I trust. He always gives me His peace, His joy and His strength through it all. I just need to trust and lean on Him in the worst of times. And, like Mary, I will praise my Lord!

“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to You for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of Your wings until the danger passes by.

Be exalted O God, above the highest heavens! May Your glory shine over all the earth!” Ps. 57:1, 5

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My Journey through the Valley of the Shadow

Posted on August 21, 2025 by Wendy Kleker

Part 1:

THE DARK VALLEY

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Your rod and Your staff protect and comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 NLT

I started my trek in the valley of the shadow of death when my husband, John, breathed his last May 3, 2024. Over a year ago, near John Day Oregon.

On the ridge tops the sun was shinning most of the time. When John walked by my side it was brighter. There certainly were gray days, but with John’s presence, his help and his security, the way didn’t seem so hard or so dark or so scary.

The valley of the shadow of death is dark and many terrors lurk there. Fear was my constant companion. Anxiety rode on my back and dread of the future was my guide. But you see, I wasn’t alone in this valley. God was beside me. The Good Shepherd was leading me through the darkness. He wasn’t just with me, but His rod protected me from wild animals and all the other dangers that could pop out of the darkness. Also His staff gave me direction and kept me going the right way. If I could just remember that He won’t leave me. He is with me always. He goes before me, His rod and His staff protect me. I can’t get lost from His presence. He follows me where ever I go. Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. He is Goodness and Mercy, so He follows me, He never leaves me. His presence full of goodness and mercy is with me forever.

Let me tell you a little story. John and I were hunting near Plains Montana one evening. We thought we could run out and hunt for the afternoon and be home soon after dark, since 9 year old Stephen would be riding the bus home from school. We had told him to watch TV and we would be home soon after he was. Little did we know how plans can go awry.

John and I had split up as we worked our way up the side of this ridge, planning on meeting up at the top. I saw some elk and quickly scoped them. One was a rag horn (small) bull. He walked out into the open and I put the cross hair behind his shoulder and squeezed off a shot. Faster then I could reload, the bull whirled and ran back the way he had come.

The hillside exploded with elk running everywhere. They ran towards the top of the ridge and disappeared from sight. Soon the sound of their flight faded away. I ran to the place where the bull had been. Nothing. I tramped around peering at the ground, but found no blood, no tracks, nothing. Just a melee of tracks from the herd.

John soon showed up and asked if I got him. I said he must have run with the rest of the herd which went to the top of the ridge. So we started tracking. The sun soon set and the light was growing dim when we reached the top of the ridge. The path of tracks clearly went down the other side. So we followed.

As we dropped down towards the deep and forested canyon below, it got darker and darker. Soon I could not even see John in front of me. We decided to continue down instead of going back up. We were sure we would hit a road below that would take us back to our rig.

I was afraid of losing my way, of losing John, so I grabbed his coat and hung on. He held his hand out in front of him so he wouldn’t run into a tree. The ridge was steep and the going was hard as we continued down with branches snagging our hats and coats. After what seemed like a long time groping and stumbling in the dark on the steep mountain side, we fought through some brush and came out on a small road, not much more then trail.

We continued down this old, overgrown logging road, knowing it would lead to the main road. We still couldn’t see our hands in front of our faces down in this canyon, but we followed the road. I was somehow in front when my foot went out into nothingness. I back peddled and kept my balance, but I realized there was nothing in front of us. I told John it was a drop off.

We stood there staring a little while and way down below, I could see the lighter shade of a road. But it was a sheer drop and it looked to me as if it was waaay down. John said it wasn’t very far and I should let him lower me down. So with my riffle across my back, I lay on my belly and scooted out over the drop off. He grabbed my hands and laying on his belly he lowered me. He said he would let go of me and I could drop down the rest of the way. I hung there staring below to the ground which looked as if it was way too far to drop to. At least without a broken something.

“No!” I hollered, “I can’t drop its too far. Way too far!”

“No its not too far,” he said, “just a couple of feet for you to drop.”

I clung to his hands like a cat clings to a tree limb. I kept saying I couldn’t let go. John kept assuring me it would be ok. “Just trust me,” he said in his steady voice.

Ok, I decided I could trust my trustworthy husband. After all he wouldn’t want to carry me out of here. So I closed my eyes, said a quick prayer, and let go.

I slid a few feet down the steep bank and my feet hit the road below. I was safe and sound on solid ground. We ended up walking several miles that night to get back to our rig. It was like 10:00 when we got home to Stephen. Even though I was frantic, he was calmly watching TV. He said he got some cereal for supper and was just about to go to bed.

So you see, I wasn’t alone in that headlong plunge to the canyon below. I had a guide. Someone who could lead me around the trees and through the brush. I wasn’t really afraid. Not until I was faced with the deep drop off. My brain screamed DANGER! DANGER! While John’s quiet calm voice said I would be safe if I trusted Him.

This is what God has been telling me for over a year. As I walked down that dark valley of the shadow, and I came face to face with many scary and what I perceived to be dangerous situations, God would say quietly, “Trust Me.” “Trust Me for I am trustworthy. Trust Me for I won’t ever let you go. Trust Me because I am with you always. Trust me because I uphold you in my victorious right hand. Trust Me because I lead you down the best path for your life.”

So, I let go and I let God. I put my life and my journey in His hands. Oh its been a bit rocky at times, and steep and dark, but He’s been there with me. I grabbed on to Him, clinging to His robe so I wouldn’t be lost.

His rod indeed has protected me many times, and His staff has given me direction and help. He is with me. ALWAYS. Its been quite a journey. So many promises along the way have bolstered me, nudging me and helping me just as His staff would.

So I want to write my story for you. I will be telling you about my journey the past year. I want to share how God has been my Good Shepherd leading and carrying me through that dark valley, the darkest valley. That valley of the shadow of death.

Note: Just so you know, that night as I was trying to sleep and remembering what had happened, I saw in my memory, that bull running back the way he had come across the hillside. Not running with the rest of the herd.

I woke John up and cried, “I remembered! He didn’t go with the herd! He back the way they had come, across the hillside.

“Ok,” he said calmly, “we’ll go back up there in the morning and check it out. Just go to sleep for now.”

Sure enough when we went back we found a trail running across the mountainside and not a 100 yards away lay the bull elk. It had been cold that night so the meat was good. Praise God!

“Do not be AFRAID or discouraged, for the Lord will PERSONALLY go ahead of you. He will be with you. He will neigther fail you , nor abandon you. Duet. 31:8 NLT

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged faith, father, god, He is my guide, He is with me, Jesus, john, Trust, Trust God, trustworthy | 4 Comments

Posted on April 19, 2025 by Wendy Kleker

The Crucifixton

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Crucifixion, Jesus, Light, Salvation, Son of God | Leave a comment

The Son part two

Posted on December 23, 2024 by Wendy Kleker

The Journey

“Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead be very glad for these trials make you partners with Christ in His suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing His glory when it is revealed to all the world.” 1 Peter 4:12-13 NLT

Mary:

I draw in a deep breath of the fresh morning air as I walk beside the donkey Joseph is leading. It is a fine day. The sun, not far on its journey, shines brilliant in a bright blue sky. The friends and family we travel with, sing a merry song as we march, only a few hours into the journey to Bethlehem to register for the census.

The robe I had worn at the start of our journey in the chilly predawn hours is now tied to the pack on Josephine, my father’s borrowed donkey.

I chuckle remembering the teasing I mercilessly gave Joseph as he was tying our belongings to the pack. “Well, guess we have two Joes now,” I said with a smirk referring to my pet name for Joseph, who only grunted and hid a smile. “Well guess I could call you Joey instead, but that’s what I usually call Josephine.” I chuckled at his disgusted look. “Not a good idea, huh?” Laughing out loud, I made my waddling way back to the house for another load of meager belongings.

Joseph had said I could ride Josephine, and he would carry the pack. He was perfectly capable of doing that, he said. I assured him that I was perfectly capable of walking and should be able to make the three day journey on foot, if we didn’t go too fast.

Now, even though I am extremely heavy with child, there is a spring in my step and I feel vigorous and strong. My eyes scan the surrounding open countryside with scattered scrub brush which is mostly in the bottoms of the arroyos the trail occasionally dips into. Leaves are changing on the few trees that grow along the Jordan river, we follow most of the way, causing a splash of orange or yellow in the brown landscape.

When Joseph first told me we must make this journey, I was afraid and positive that at nine months pregnant I would not be able to make it. However, he did not want to leave me behind since he knew the child would come while he was gone. Not only that, if I was away from the village at the time of the birth the discrepancy in the time of pregnancy would not be so obvious to anyone keeping track. And I am quite sure there were those who were counting months since Joseph and I were married. Was this order from Augustus, the Roman Emperor, to register for this census in our ancestral towns, actually God’s hand at work?

As the time drew near and I packed things needed for the baby, I was filled with fear. What if I gave birth on the trail? What about the dirt and what if there was no water to wash or fire to heat the water or shelter if it should rain? My hands shook as I folded the swaddling clothes and tears threatened.

Arms came around me as Joseph covered my abundant belly with his strong capable hands. “Don’t worry Little One,” he whispered in my ear always sensitive to my moods. “God will be with us. He will take care of us all, even this child. “

Of course, I knew this, but still the fear threatened to overcome my good senses. Then the night before we left, as I lay awake next to my snoring husband I prayed to God to take away the fear and give me strength for the journey.

Suddenly my heart was filled with warmth and quiet stillness.

All will be well, My child. Have no fear.

Amazingly the anxiety fled and in its place was–how do I explain it? Peace, assurance and an enveloping love that seemed to fill every crack of my heart. I am sure that the strength I feel now even after hours of walking is only from my Father God.

Once the sun goes down, we make camp beside the river. There are several families, some with young children traveling together, since it is not safe to travel alone. Joseph sees to Josephine, leaving her in the care of some young boys who watch the animals while they graze before night, and then he starts a fire. I bustle around pulling out food that was prepared ahead that can be warmed by the fire. I make tea to warm us as the night grows chilly.

I am tired but not exhausted, my feet do hurt a bit and my lower back aches. Pretty normal for a women in her ninth month of pregnancy who has walked all day, Joseph assures me, as he rubs my back under the cover of our robes before we fall asleep. I fall into a deep dreamless sleep instantly and hardly move until Joseph is holding me and whispering in my ear that it is time to wake up.

A hasty cold breakfast is eaten, gear packed and loaded on Josephine and we are on our way before the sun shows its face. Streaks of pink and gold stripe the eastern horizon and the sky is turning to a light gray as I once again trudge beside Joseph. I am a bit stiff this morning, not feeling quite as vigorous as yesterday. But as the sun peeks out and the birds sing from the trees, I feel my muscles loosen and my spirits lift.

It was a tough day. The country grew more rugged and there were many coulees, which meant going down steep hills and climbing back up on often loose gravel and rocks. One time going up a hill my feet slipped out from under me and I landed on my hands and knees. Joseph was immediately beside me, helping me to my feet.

“You can ride the donkey,” he quickly said.

But I was stubborn and after catching my breath and rubbing my knees, I insisted I was fine and could walk. And walk I did but every step was an effort for my screaming muscles, and my dragging steps slowed us down, so that Joseph and I came into camp at dusk. Joseph’s brother and cousin stayed with us to make sure we got there safely.

That night I had no energy to even get food out and I wasn’t sure how I would go on for one more whole day. Joseph, bless his heart, insisted I lay on the bedroll and rest while he did everything around camp. I fell asleep soon after eating a little and drinking some tea and was barely aware of my husband wrapping robes around me.

The next morning I was sore and stiff and the ache in my back was worse and very low. I walked for awhile but soon started getting cramps in my midsection that radiated to my back. Some of the older women in our group, my mother included, said it was the first stages of labor, but it would probably be many hours before I would deliver.

Joseph insisted I ride but after awhile the jarring and swaying of the donkey’s gait along with cramps tightening in a band across my stomach, became unbearable. I would walk for awhile, often stopping and leaning on blessed Josephine’s side when a cramp would hit. We made slow time and most of the party went on ahead at Joseph’s insistence. Only my parents, his brother, Jesse, and cousin, Obed, stayed with us and as the sun set behind the distant hills, I knew Joseph was getting tense.

He thought we should stop and set up camp for the night, but I insisted we keep going. I knew it was unsafe for such a small party to be out after dark and not only that, I did not want my child to be born out in the open countryside with no protection or shelter. I wanted a bed to lie on and a warm fire to take away the chill, which I was sure would make a tiny newborn sick.

I was near panic as the night came on and darkness fell around us, but I gritted my teeth and said not a word. The cramps were getting so intense that I barely could hold back a groan and my mother walked beside me with her hand on my leg murmuring soft words of encouragement. I could see Joseph’s mouth moving in silent prayer as he walked on the other side and his brother led Josephine in a fast walk.

I thought we would be stuck in this dark world of pain forever as Josephine’s short quick strides jerked on and on.

“Hang on my sweet, we are almost there,” Joseph’s words penetrated the pain fog and when I looked up I could see lamps burning in nearby windows.

“Oh thank the Blessed Father above,” I murmured, not even caring now if it was the ground I lay on as long as I could get off this blessed donkey.

We made our way to Joseph’s distant relatives, people we didn’t even know, but who would surely give us shelter. They only shook their heads saying there was no floor space left, even in the stable, which was, as is normal, below the living quarters of the house. We trudged through the small village to a house of distant relatives of my father’s but they too said there was no room. None at all. There was no room for my baby to even lay his head.

“Why oh why, Father are You letting this happen?” I screamed silently, slumping over Josephine’s withers. “Why is there no place for your Son to be born!”

Another cramp hit me, harder this time then ever before and I swayed forward and moaned. “I must get off,” I groaned. My mother said that my time was coming near.

Joseph reached up and lifted me gently off the donkey, but my legs would not hold me and I slumped against him. Joseph picked me up in his strong arms and told Jesse to go to the nearby house and tell them we would take any space they had to spare. I could feel Joseph’s fear in his tense muscles.

“I can walk, Joseph,” I whispered, even though I barely had strength to lift my head, “you can put me down.” But he carried me towards the house.

I saw a man open the door his brother knocked upon and peer out. After listening to Jesse’s plea, my heart dropped when he shook his head. Then, as Joseph approached the door, the man’s eyes met mine.

“She is about to give birth,” Joseph pleaded.

The man’s mouth fell open, “Oh Father God,” he said, then opened the door.

Joseph ducked into the lower level of the house where the animals, a couple of donkeys, a milk cow and some goats were bedded down in straw. My father led Josephine in with my mom and Obed following and the small space was crowded indeed.

The man scurried around getting straw to make a soft bed in an open space near the wall where there was a manger full of hay. Joseph let my feet sink to the ground but he kept a firm hold around my back. Jesse and Obed murmured that they would find another place to stay and quickly went out.

When the bed of straw was ready, Joseph helped me to it and I sank down into its blessed softness. Oh, the bliss of stretching out and letting my tense muscles relax. Until the next contraction hit, that is. Joseph asked for hot water and rags, my mother knelt beside me, Father brought in our pack and the animals shifted to make room.

I was too tired to worry about the dirt or animal manure, only very thankful for the warmth from the robes tucked around me and the soft light from the lamp that the man brought, along with food for the others. Through the fog of pain, I was aware of a warm glow that seemed to fill the small stable.

The animals stilled and it seemed the whole earth waited in the cold darkness. The angels held their breath and the whole of creation seemed poised for the dawning of the new age.

Sometimes our journey through life is a difficult march through a cold, barren desert. Like Joseph and Mary our trip through the wilderness is no lark. We have many steep hills to climb and sometimes we fall. We get up and trudge on, one weary step after another. The journey drags on and on in the dark and one thing after another goes wrong.

We wonder if this trip we’re on is really God’s will. Surely if it was His will, all would go smoothly and be a walk in the park. There would be flowers and birds and blessings along the way. Wouldn’t there be? You would think God would smooth the bumps out and make the road easy, if this was His path. Wouldn’t He?

But wait! How did He orchestrate the birth of His Son? Who would have thought that God of the universe would allow the Emperor of Rome to make such a decree just before His Son was about to be born? You would think that a God who controls everything in His creation would have caused an easier way for the parents of His Son. You would think that the Most High would have gone on ahead and prepared a clean, comfortable birth place for His only begotten Son, the Son who stood by Him when they created the world. Wouldn’t He?

Oh but He didn’t! He allowed it to be tough and dangerous for the ones He used to fulfill His most important plan. He let Mary be in pain and discomfort. He let everything that could go wrong, go wrong.

Yet not quite. He was there. He strengthened, He indeed prepared, He protected, and in the end He provided.

Mary and Joseph grew strong in their faith, they learned to lean on Him, they depended on His guidance. They learned to trust Him no matter how hard the journey.

So friends, He works the same in our lives. Does He not?

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for GREAT joy! For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2-4

So Let it Grow!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bethlehem, birth-pains, father, god, Jesus, Joseph, journey, long-journey, Mary | Leave a comment

The Son part one

Posted on December 21, 2024 by Wendy Kleker