I was thinking a month ago about the creepy account of King Belshazzar, that wicked and arrogant ruler of the ancient Babylonians. During a feast, he and his guests suddenly saw a disembodied hand writing on the wall: “Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin.”

The Israelite prophet, Daniel, interpreted the words to the King: “God has numbered your kingdoms and finished it; you have been weighed in the balance and found wanting; your kingdom will be given to the Medes and Persians.”

That very night, King Belshazzar was deposed and his kingdom conquered by the Medes and the Persians.

And I thought, if God were to write on my wall, what would He say?

• Would He remind me of my pledge to speak life into others rather than criticism or condemnation?
• Would he project precious memories on my “wall”?
• Maybe he would put some friend on my heart who’s struggling with illness, discouragement,  or a difficulty in their family, or job, and urge me to pray for him or her.
• Maybe my wall would contain dream and goals, and creative ideas for future stories.

So there was this blank spot next to my computer just screaming to be filled. What would I put there? Another print? A small shelf?

And I got this idea from the Whatcom County Pregnancy Clinic. They have this lovely bulletin board in the meeting room with inspirational thoughts, photos of beautiful babies that have been born to clients, thank you letters from clients.

Why couldn’t I do that, too? So I told my son and daughter-in-law that I wanted a plain but fairly big bulletin board for my birthday. When they came out to visit, Carissa and I went to Michael’s and found the perfect size. We also bought lots of tiny decorative things to hot glue onto the frame.

This is it so far. What do you think? Can you see the words I’ve glued to the top and the bottom? “Speak life” on the top, and “faith,” “hope,” and “love.”

I’m sure, as time passes, there will be letters, photos, business cards, more timely inspirational thoughts and scriptures.

Things for me to meditate on each day: what my life is about.

A daily reminder to me “speak life” into other people’s souls and to do so in the power of the Holy Spirit empowered by the faith God had given me, and the hope and love He supplies. His, not mine.

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure,whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” (NKJV, Phil. 4:8)