Endings and Beginnings

New Year's Eve blessings to you all. Will you celebrate with bubbly champagne and noisemakers? Music and dancing? By watching the Waterford Crystal ball drop as 2019 arrives?

Midnight is past my bedtime so I will probably be sleeping when all the excitement of a new year arrives. It will come and go without my noticing. My traditional activity for the end of the year is to fill out my calendar for the new year. I transfer birthdays and appointments to the crisp clean pages of 2019. It is my way of saying goodbye to all that happened in 2018 and think ahead to the days of the coming year. Life moves so quickly now that I am old.

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil--this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him," (Ecclesiastes 3:11-14 NIV).

Each day holds its own beauty. There are moments to cherish in each hour of the day. There are memories to reflect on and new events approaching to consider. Time ticks on. Minutes come and go. Life passes before our eyes. God is present in every instant.

As I pause to pray on this New Year's Eve, I thank God for His presence and protection throughout the year and ask Him for guidance, grace and strength for the coming year. May you be blessed by God's love and mercy in 2019. Amen.

The Star Over Bethlehem

I love to gaze at the sky with wonderment. I remember walking down to the mailbox in the dark of night when we lived on our acreage and all the way back to the house I searched the sky for constellations. They were awesome and bright against the black sky and I could easily find many star formations and occasionally a bright star that I could have tried to follow. I doubt anything I have seen would compare to the beaconing of the star seen by the wise men of the Christmas story shared in Matthew.

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea, they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: "But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel." (Matthew 2:1-6 NIV).

I love the persistence of the Magi who came to follow the star. They were wise to proceed in following the star across the sky to the place where Jesus was born. And even wiser to avoid Herod when they returned.

"...the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream, not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route," (Matthew 9b-12 NIV).

The Christmas hymn, "As with Gladness Men of Old" tells this story in song. It was written by Conrad Kocher in 1838 and William C. Dix in 1858:

"As with gladness men of old Did the guiding star behold; As with joy they hailed its light, Leading onward, beaming bright, So, most gracious Lord, may we Evermore be led to Thee. As with joyful steps they sped, To that lowly manger bed, There to bend the knee before Him Whom heaven and earth adore, So, may we with willing feet Ever seek the mercy seat. As they offered gifts most rare At that manger rude and bare, So may we with holy joy, Pure and free from sin's alloy, All our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to Thee our heavenly King. Holy Jesus, every day Keep us in the narrow way; And when earthly things are past, Bring our ransomed souls at last Where they need no star to guide, Where no clouds Thy glory hide. Amen."

The song also speaks to us today, reminders that we are to seek the narrow way, the Lord's way, and someday we will see heaven without stars to guide us and without clouds to hide us.

May your day be blessed by heavenly sights and sounds, reminders of our Lord's earthly birth that was for our salvation.

Christ the Savior Is Born on This Holy Night!

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace," (Isaiah 9:6 NIV).

Isaiah prophesied with such accuracy and exuberance, you would think he was there. But, God gave him a vision of what was to come. The long awaited Savior of the world would come as an infant, born in a stable to a virgin mother, announced by angels, visited by shepherds, and worshiped by wise men. Today the excitement culminates with a resounding Amen! All of our hopes and dreams become reality as the baby is born in Bethlehem.

"The shepherds found Mary, Joseph and the baby lying in a manger. They were amazed and rejoiced, worshiping the tiny King. Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. On their way home they told everyone they met what they had been told about this child, and all who heard were amazed! The shepherds continued their journey glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told," (Luke 2:16-20 NIV, paraphrased).

The beloved Christmas carol, "Silent Night! Holy Night!" was written by Joseph Mohr, and Franz Grijber in 1818. It is perhaps the most familiar carol in all the world. Ponder the words and the story it tells as you sing along:

"Silent night! holy night! All is calm, all is bright; Round yon virgin mother and Child, Holy Infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night! holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight, Glories stream from heaven a far, Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia; Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born.

Silent night! holy night! Son of God, love's pure light, Radiant beams from Thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord at They birth, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth. Amen."

No longer must we cower in a corner because of our sins. Jesus, our Savior is born! May you worship Immanuel, the Son born of a virgin, delivered in a stable. For unto us is born our Savior! The One who has been waited for; the One who has been promised! The precious One who saves us from our sins and gives us a bridge to The God of Glory. Hallelujah! The birth of This baby allows us to worship God as if we were perfect, like Jesus. We are cleansed of our sins by His sacrifice on the cross. Baby Jesus brings grace, redeeming grace. Keep following the story in the Word for there is more to hear. His birth is just the beginning!

May you celebrate a very Merry Christmas.

Lowly Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

Sheep and shepherds. My favorite Christmas time subject. I love sheep and shepherds. There they were out on a hillside watching their flocks and all of a sudden an angel appeared. They were afraid but in an instant the angel spoke to them GREAT news of joy! The angel explained about the birth of a Savior in Bethlehem! It was wonderful news that would cause the shepherds to pick up their crooks and travel to the city. And they were the first to hear the great news. It wasn't a king or a rich land owner, the angel came to the shepherds - lowly, uneducated, unclean, smelly, without a real home, always on the move. But the shepherds were attentive, protective, caregivers to their sheep, and familiar with the land around them. How appropriate, how ironic, that the Savior of the world would be announced to the shepherds! God come down to be a human baby born in a stable was introduced first to the sheep keepers.

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another. "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about," (Luke 2:8-15 NIV).

I love the image of shepherds on a quiet hillside in the dark suddenly awakened by the brilliance of an angel arriving to celebrate the Lord's birth! A fireworks show just for the lowly shepherds! Magnificence and grandeur fit for a true King, shared with the guardians of the sheep. It is a scene fit for music. A song written by Nahum Tate in 1700 with music by George Frederick Handel in 1728 tells the story beautifully:

 "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks"

"While shepherds watched their flocks by night, All seated on the ground, The angel of the Lord came down, And glory shone around, And glory shone around. 

"Fear not!" said he; for mighty dread Had seized their troubled mind, "Glad tidings of great joy I bring To you and all mankind, To you and all mankind. 

"To you, in David's town this day, Is born of David's line, The Savior who is Christ the Lord, And this shall be the sign; And this shall be the sign: 

"The heavenly Babe you there shall find To human view displayed, All meanly wrapped in swathing bands, And in a manger laid; And in a manger laid. 

"All glory be to God on high, And to the earth be peace: Good will hence-forth from heav'n to men, Begin and never cease, Begin and never cease." Amen.

May you feel the excitement of the shepherds as you anticipate the anniversary of our Savior's birth on Christmas Day.

The Angels Sing

Angels have always puzzled me. I know they visited people in the Bible when something important was happening. But I never felt an angel was part of my world. I often relate angels with death and heaven. I'm not sure why. But, for that reason, I guess, I don't turn to an angel as my rescue or protector, I turn to God and Jesus. But today I want to focus on the angel who visited Mary to tell her what God planned for her.

The angel Gabriel was sent by God to let Mary know she was highly favored and the Lord was with her (Luke 1:28). Gabriel told Mary not to be afraid. So I guess she hadn't seen an angel in person before. Gabriel explained everything to Mary who must have been in shock to hear such amazing things. Yet, Mary was gracious and trusted in her God to guide her. When she asked the angel how all this could be, he answered,

"The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God,'" (Luke 1:35-37 NIV).

Wow. Talk about being blown away! This was amazing stuff. Mary found herself in the middle of God's plan to save the world. No wonder Christmas songs say the angels sang! Wonder! Excitement! What wonderful joy to experience! But, Elizabeth, Mary's relative, says it best,

"Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" (Luke 1:45 NIV).

The Christmas carol, It Came upon the Midnight Clear was written by Edmund H. Sears in 1849 and Richard S. Willis in 1850. It has four flats so maybe it isn't as commonly played as others we hear but it has a lot to say about angels. Enjoy.

It Came upon the Midnight Clear

It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth To touch their harps of gold; "Peace on the earth, goodwill to men, From heaven's all gracious King" 
The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come, With peaceful wings unfurled, And still their heavenly music floats O're all the weary world; Above its sad and lowly plains They bend on hovering wing: And ever o'er its Babel sounds The blessed angels sing. 

And ye, beneath life's crushing load, Whose forms are bending low, Who toil along the climbing way With painful steps and slow, Look now! for glad and golden hours Come swiftly on the wing; O rest beside the weary road, And hear the angels sing.

For lo, the days are hastening on, By prophet seen of old, When, with the ever circling years, Shall come the time foretold, When the  new heaven and earth shall own The Prince of Peace their King, And the whole world send back the song Which now the angels sing.

I pray the angel songs can lift us up today as we draw closer to the birth of our Savior.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Christmas music is a blessing to me this time of year. If I need to feel the Christmas spirit I play my Christmas CD's as loud as John can stand and instantly I feel like wrapping gifts, or baking cookies, or completing whatever task is at hand. Music speaks to me. My car radio is always tuned to the local Christian station (107.1) where they play a mix of Christmas with other contemporary Christian music. During this season they play all Christmas music on the weekends. I still have 101.9 saved for when I drive north of Des Moines. I'm sure you can find a Christian station in your area, too.

As we draw closer to the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the anticipation grows. One traditional hymn of Christmas is "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," a Latin hymn translated by John M. Neale in 1851, with music by Thomas Helmore, 1854. It is a beautiful Christmas carol that has been sung for more than 167 years. I encourage you to read the words below and truly see the hope that the hymn speaks of - the arrival of the Son of God and heavenly peace.

"O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel! O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan's tyranny; From depths of hell Thy people save And give them victory o'er the grave. O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here; And drive away the shades of night, And pierce the clouds and bring us light! O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heavenly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. O come, Desire of nations, bind All peoples in one heart and mind; Bid envy, strife and quarrels cease; Fill all the world with heaven's peace. Rejoice! rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel! Amen."

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel," (Isaiah 7:14 NIV).

May this Christmas carol ring repeatedly throughout our day, reminding us of the reason we celebrate Christmas Day.

God came as a baby to save us from our sins, to bring light into the world, to lead us to heaven, and to bring peace,

O Come, Baby Jesus, Come.

Joseph's Choice

Joseph had a choice to make. Mary was pledged to marry him but she was with child through the Holy Spirit. As it says in Matthew 1:19, Joseph was a righteous man and he did not want to disgrace Mary publicly; "It was on his mind to divorce her quietly."

Something major happens next. An angel of  the Lord came to Joseph in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins," (Matthew 1:20-21 NIV).

Don't overlook the last sentence of this scripture. Joseph was to name his son, Jesus, just as any father would name a child. But, look at what the angel tells Joseph his son would do: Jesus will save his people from their sins! Every Jewish boy had been taught that a king was coming in the future who would save the people. Now, Joseph was part of this wonderful prophecy.

Michael Card is a contemporary Christian musician and song writer whose work I have enjoyed for many years. He has a way of turning a story into a song, like no other artist. One of my favorite songs he wrote is, Joseph's Song. To hear it sung is a true delight, but to read the words will give you Card's version of the story from Joseph's perspective.

"How could it be this baby in my arms
Sleeping now, so peacefully
The Son of God, the angel said
How could it be?

Lord, I know He's not my own
Not of my flesh, not of my bone
Still Father let this baby be
The son of my love

Father show me where I fit into this plan of yours
How can a man be father to the Son of God
Lord for all my life I've been a simple carpenter
How can I raise a king, how can I raise a king?

He looks so small, His face and hands so fair
And when He cries the sun just seems to disappear
But when He laughs it shines again
How could it be?

Father show me where I fit into this plan of yours
How can a man be father to the Son of God
Lord for all my life I've been a simple carpenter
How can I raise a king, how can I raise a king?

How could it be this baby in my arms
Sleeping now, so peacefully
The Son of God, the angel said
How could it be? How could it be?"

by Michael Card

As we move through this Advent season, filled with wonder and delight, let us remember the reason Jesus came to earth as a baby: "because he will save his people from their sins," (Matthew 1:21b NIV). Joseph made the right choice. Once he learned that Mary had not been unfaithful, he obeyed God and married Mary. He didn't worry about what other people would think. Joseph trusted in God's plan for Jesus, and Mary and himself. We too, have a choice to make: Jesus as our Savior.

Jesus comes as a baby bringing God's Grace.

Mary's Favor

Every time I read the story of Mary and angel Gabriel I try to imagine what it must have been like. A very young woman of Nazareth, a virgin, finds out she is to bear a child. But, not any child, Jesus, the Son of the Most High, the Son of God! No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to put myself in such an honored position.

Mary had to be very special. Twice, Gabriel calls her "highly favored" by God. Mary was no ordinary girl from Iowa. Her entire young life must have been dedicated to God's service. She was worthy of being chosen by God for this holy endeavor. Yet, Mary wondered how this could happen to her, a virgin.

"The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God...For nothing is impossible with God," (Luke 1:35-37 NIV).

What faith Mary had to respond, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said," (Luke 1:38 NIV)!

There was only one Mary, mother of Jesus. She was truly honored to be the vessel through which God Himself came to earth, to walk with us, to teach us, to show us the way to salvation through Him. Only one mother of Jesus suffered the loss of her Son by crucifixion on the cross, so that we might have eternal life with God in heaven. Only Mary received favor that led to such a painful burden of loss, until He rose again. Such joy, such heartache, such favor.

"O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth, The everlasting Light; The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight. 

For Christ is born of Mary, And gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wondering love, O morning stars, together Proclaim the holy birth! And praises sing to God the King, And peace to men on earth. 

How silently, how silently The wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of His heaven. No ear may hear His coming, But in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive Him still The dear Christ enters in. 

O holy Child of Bethlehem! Descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin, and enter in; Be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel." (O Little Town of Bethlehem, Phillips Brooks, 1868, and Lewis H. Redner, 1868).

May we anticipate the arrival of our Lord, Emmanuel, Christ Jesus, Savior of the World, with song in our hearts. May You abide in us today, we pray. Amen.

A Prayer Answered

Think about what you have prayed for during your lifetime. What if God answered one of the desires of your heart today! How would it change you?

Elizabeth and Zechariah were good and faithful believers. Yet, they were barren.

After many years of life together, Elizabeth and Zechariah grew old together. Zechariah was a priest and was on duty at the temple. Chosen by lot, Zechariah was to burn the incense in the temple this day. When he approached the altar, angels appeared to him and told him that his prayer had been heard by God. Elizabeth would bear a son and he would be named John. He would bring great joy to the family because he would prepare the way for the Lord.

Like most of us in our later years might be, Zechariah was in disbelief. He wondered how this could be possible, instead of trusting in the all-powerful God. Because of his disbelief, he was made unable to speak. Elizabeth indeed became pregnant and awaited this miraculous birth. Elizabeth rejoiced in her state of being and was thrilled that she would no longer be shunned as barren.

"The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people," (Luke 1:25 NIV).

Even when things seem impossible to us, with God, nothing is impossible. Our wildest dreams, or deepest desires, our heart cries and our physical needs; all can be made possible by God.

"Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible," (Matthew 19:26 NIV).

This season of making ready for Christmas is filled with anticipation and wonder. Let us focus on the wonders of the Bible so we can experience a far greater Christmas season than ever before. A prayer is answered and a baby boy named John will lead the way for our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Rejoice, our Savior is coming! Rejoice!

Thank You God For Jesus, My Savior

"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst." (1 Timothy1:13 NIV).

This scripture reminds me who I am: a sinner who is saved by Jesus Christ. I'm so humbled when I remember my true place in life and realize once again, what Jesus Christ did for me. During these last days of the month and my last blog in November, I wanted to be thankful for Jesus, our greatest gift. We will celebrate in December His holy virgin birth, but now I want to focus on His last days here and all that He sacrificed for me.

Because of Jesus in my heart I will not perish in hell, but live eternally with Him in heaven. Because of Jesus in me I have hope. Because of Jesus in my heart I know where I am going when I die. Because of Jesus in me there is more to life than what happens on this earth and heaven will be better than I can imagine.

"Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus," (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV).

No matter how much sorrow or pain or difficulty I experience in my life I can look forward to eternity with Jesus Christ, my Savior. This world is not my home; it is not the end if I believe in Christ as my Savior.

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him," (Colossians 3:15-17).

Thank you, God the Father, through Jesus Christ, my Savior.

Thank You, God

"Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens," (1 Chronicles 16:24-26 NIV).

Thanksgiving isn't complete without a proper "thank you" to God the Almighty. For He alone created all that we are thankful for and every living being that we love. Thank you, God.

Thank you for the blessings of Your creation: the sun, the moon, the Earth, mountains, rivers, streams, the oceans, the lands, and the sky above. The flowers, the trees, bushes and wind breaks, the pampas grass bending in the wind are made by His hand. The birds that fly in every shape and size, color and wing span, are designed by God's hand. Deer, squirrels, raccoons, bear, elk, buffalo, turkey, rabbits, wild pigs and moose run freely through the woods because He created them. The domesticated cows, pigs, chickens, horses, sheep, and the cats and dogs we love, are all by His hand. Thank you, God.

The manufacturing wisdom, the inventions of past and present, the technology that overwhelms us, the cures and vaccines that doctors administer, all come from Him alone - from the minds He created and placed in our brains. The architectural wonders, the skyscrapers, the massive bridges stretched across the waters, all are conceptualized by the minds He formed by His touch. Thank you, God.

The thousands of individual, uniquely formed humans who cover this Earth are made by God's hand. Each soul is valued and created to be the original, distinctive person God made him and her to be. God gave each one purpose and special characteristics so each is different from the next. We are to love each and every one. Thank you, God.

"Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations," (Psalm 100:3-5 NIV).

Thank you, God. Amen.

Giving Thanks

"I thank my God every time I remember you," (Philippians 1:3 NIV).

Thanksgiving Day makes my heart ache for those we miss around the table. And I know your hearts also ache for those you have lost. Their seats are now filled by someone else, perhaps a grandchild, or there is one less chair at the table. My heart breaks for those who are grieving during this season. I remember how difficult it was the first year after my mother died or when my daddy was also gone.

Thanksgiving is about being thankful and one of the most wonderful blessings in life is the people we share our life with...family. Although there is a turkey to put in the oven and a table to set, I want to take time to remember the blessings of family, especially today.

Thanksgiving 2017

I remember the wonderful Thanksgivings we shared around my parents' dining room table. It was massive; though I now forget how many places we could fit around it. We often had the kitchen table and extra tables in the 'front room' to seat the overflow crowd of family. It was always a blessed day of laughter and even a few tears, and oh, so much good food. There was a barnyard full of cars most of the day, and it makes me smile when I think about it. No matter the weather, family members would venture outside after the big meal to wander the farm grounds, check out the barn, visit with the animals or join in a game of football.  It was sad to see it come to an end when family began to leave for home.

No matter how I try, I can't quite recreate the wonder of those Thanksgivings of home. Some of the same recipes are being used but now my family fills the seats at our table. What a blessing it is! I'm so thankful today for the blessing of family, those gone, those far away, those around my table.

May God remind you today of all the family blessings in your life, past and present. May your day be filled with laughter and a few tears. May your day be memorable, one that you cherish for many years to come.

"We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all believers--the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you," (Colossians 1:3-6 NIV).

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Season of Reverence and Awe

I can't go outside without being thankful for God's Creation. Everywhere, God has created beauty and intrigue. I am amazed by the colors and textures, patterns and shapes that make up our Earth. Fall is a beautiful time of year to examine the wonders of God.

First the leaves on the trees become brilliant bouquets of color. Then the trees shed their leaves, creating carpets of reds, yellows, and browns on the lawns below, before becoming bare for winter. The grasses proudly wave their blooms in the wind, bowing as the breezes pass through.

The frost touches plants, leaving them with brown and wilted leaves, as they succumb to the approaching cold. Fields become barren after the harvest is gathered and stored safely away. And the task of preparing the grounds for winter is completed.

Saylorville Lake turns from a hustling recreation area to an empty marina with boats brought to the land and covered in blue protective shells. The lake has returned to a haven for migrating birds and wildlife. The shimmering water surface reflects the sunlight and the colors of the sky, morning and evening.

"Let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe," (Hebrews 12:28 NIV).

There is such an abundance of beauty in nature walks this season. Leaves crunch under your feet or they skate over acorns and walnuts. Squirrels scamper from ground to tree, burying their harvest. Deer gracefully prance across open fields to hide in the wooded protection. The pleasant fall days give way to nippy chills that bite at your nose, warning of winter's approach; or are taken over by the angry north wind that slips under your scarf and chills you to the bone.

Thank you, God, for filling our surroundings with such beauty. We praise You for Your amazing creativity and immense variety in nature and in human beings. Help us have hearts and minds that celebrate individuality and uniqueness in nature and in all things. We praise You with our whole beings. Amen.

Be Thankful in All Things

It is definitely time to give thanks and to be thankful. We should always express our gratitude to God but the Thanksgiving holiday gives us a great opportunity to really pause and consider all our blessings. We have one week to give God our best thanksgiving praise. If we start today we might get a good start by Thanksgiving Day.

Just walk around your house and pay attention to all the things you have. Stuff. Collections. Antiques. Dishes. Trinkets. And what about appliances? Are you thankful for the dishwasher? The super size clothes washer and dryer? The microwave? The freezer and refrigerator combination? Years ago we didn't have our fancy electronic equipment. We had phones that we answered by picking up the receiver, connected by a curly cord. How cool was that? Better than the multi-party phone - where all your neighbors could listen to your conversation and even join in? Now we have phones that take pictures and do a thousand other things. Better than my old flip phone, I guess.

What about our beds? There are beds that cushion you, bend you, lift up your head or your feet, or even warm and cool you. Showers can give you a spa experience in whatever temperature you choose. Furnaces and air conditioners created the perfect, constant climate. Blinds and shades can be regulated to the sunrise and sunset. I can print out what I write or send it miraculously to be read by folks thousands of miles away.

Check out your car. For the first time I have a car with a heated steering wheel. Thank you for the invention catching up with the need! I remember all those cold mornings driving to work and my hands were frozen after holding on to the wheel - even with gloves on. I'm so thankful for warm spots on my steering wheel and heated seats, and just plain heat in our cars! We have defrosters built into our rear windows. Are we lucky, or what?!

This doesn't begin to cover the things inside your home that you can be thankful for; let alone outside (I'll cover that on Monday). But I hope that you won't be able to walk through your house today with out saying thank you for the things you see, touch, use, smell, hear, or feel. It all blesses us so greatly every day though we often take things for granted. Let's not do that today.

"Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus," (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 NIV).

Breathe thank you's all day long.

Grace, Grace, God's Grace

Thank you, God, for Your grace.

Freely given, undeserved, unearned, impossibly repaid, perfect, holy, and righteous; thank you, God for Your grace.

I think back over my sinful life and I am overwhelmed by the gift of God's grace. He comes to my soiled life and wraps me in a blanket of white, covering the stains of past mistakes and wrongs, and erasing them with His love. He gives me a new life to live, desiring it to be rich in service to others, filled with kindness, gentleness, compassion and love.

"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. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do," (Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV).

There is a plan for me. God prepared it for me, even before I believed. He created me in Jesus by His own workmanship. He made me who I am. To do what He needs me to do; to be who He needs me to be. One step forward in time to share the grace He has given me. So I can be like His Son Jesus, My Father, My Brother, My Savior.

"Grace, grace, God's grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God's grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin," ("Marvelous Grace of Our Loving Lord" by Julia H. Johnston, 1911).

What a fortunate people we are to have such a loving God, who wants us to be His so badly that He sent His Son to save us. 

I will sing of His glorious Grace all day.

Who Do You Belong To?

We recently added a shelf on a wall in the basement. I wanted to display some of the old pictures we had resting in boxes in the storage room. The shelf hung empty for a couple of weeks before I attempted to fill it with history. John helped me by searching through the "Stewart" box while I looked through the "Springer"/"Hilsabeck" box. As one would expect, it took time as we discovered old things that reminded us of a memory or surprised us as we didn't remember seeing it before.

I selected pictures of my parents, grandparents and even my great-grandparents and John did the same. The shelf (only partially shown above) reminds us where we came from and who we belonged to. My father was an only child so we found several infant and childhood portraits of him, while John's father, the only son with five sisters had only a few pictures as the youngest child.

"For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son--both alike belong to me...He follows my decrees and faithfully keeps my laws. That man is righteous; he will surely live, declares the Sovereign Lord," (Ezekiel 18:4, 9 NIV).

What a blessing it is to know that God's plan involves all generations. He desires for them all to belong to Him together. We can long to be reunited with those who have gone ahead, and be confident that there will be a reunion of those who believe when they follow us to heaven. It is my deepest prayer that all of my children and grandchildren will get to know their ancestors in heaven. What a day of belonging and rejoicing that will be!

Words of Fire

One of my favorite things about living on a farm was creating a bonfire. After every wind there were sticks and branches to pick up from under all our trees. During our 25 years on the acreage, there were many wind storms. Two were horrific, bringing down trees, so there was plenty of picking up and sawing to go around to everyone in the extended family who came to help us.

Courtesy of the Web

I enjoyed picking up sticks and branches and adding them to a burn pile. Sometimes the piles would wait a long time before we found the right calm day when it wasn't too dry to burn. John calls me a firebug because I love to start fires and watch fires burn. I promise I am not an arsonist. But now that we live in a city with a no-burn ordinance, I'm beginning to crave a bonfire.

What I love most about a fire is the smell of wood smoke and burning leaves. I love walking through a neighborhood and smelling someone's wood fireplace at work. I know for some people with breathing issues the smoke creates a physical problem. That's what was nice about the acreage, we were far enough away from most people that we didn't create a problem.

In the Bible there isn't much good about a fire. Fire often symbolizes hell and destruction. But God also used fire as a symbol of His power, to provide light in darkness, to refine or purify, and to represent what the tongue is capable of.

"Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell," (James 3:5-6 NIV).

The scars of hurtful words can last a lifetime and change relationships, damage a life. Words are able to cut like a knife. The tongue is "a restless evil, full of deadly poison" (James 3:8b NIV). We must use words with caution. I remember Mama telling me, "If you can't say something nice about someone don't say anything at all." I've tried to follow that advice, though I know I've failed miserably at times in my life, and I deeply regret some of the things I allowed my tongue to say.

As we begin a new week of a new month, in even a new hour, I'm going to try to keep my tongue from speaking negative things. But, I know it is only with Jesus that I can use my words for good.

May we all speak good things today and bless others with our spoken and written words and leave the fire for a pile of sticks.

Heart Treasures

Sometimes there is a belonging that represents more than the eye can see. I call that a heart treasure. Even if the possession is lost or broken or destroyed by fire, the heart will still hold the memory of that item, coddled tightly by love.

I had a box of plates that I collected during the first years of our marriage. Most had the name of states we visited. When we lived in State Center, John even built plate racks that went along the ceiling of our basement. We displayed the plates. Then when we moved five years later, I didn't want to hang them up again because it was a lot of work and I guess I'd outgrown them. Finally, 25 years later, when we moved to Ankeny, I decided I didn't need the unopened box of plates gathering dust so they were donated. They weren't heart treasures.

The stained glass window shown at the right is a heart treasure. It holds history and memories (some I haven't even remembered yet). This window was in the old sanctuary of my ancestral family church - the church my great-great-great-great grandfather and grandmother helped establish. It remains the oldest established church in Marshall County Iowa and is still going strong. Praise the Lord!

The window now hangs in the stairwell of our home. It graced the church for nearly one hundred years before a couple of years in storage with us, then we recently got it hung. It is a heart treasure.

I looked at the window nearly every Sunday for about 60 years. It hung over the old organs, and then a grand piano. Before that there was a choir and I'm not sure about before that. It looks prim and proper, holy and heavenly, lovely and everlasting. Fortunately, there were many others from the church who also got windows to keep the memory of Bethel Grove alive in their hearts and their homes, even if they have now moved on.

Jesus, Himself, established one significant heart treasure that would help us always remember Him and that He gave His body and blood for our sins. He established the Lord's Supper so we would remember Him.

"And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you," (Luke 22:19-20 NIV).

What are your heart treasures? Thank God for them and take some time to cherish your memories.

Forgive When You Can't Forget

Last week while I was studying my Bible I was brought to task that I was holding unforgiveness toward my parents from incidents in my teen years. Now, as I think of my teen years, it isn't me who should be complaining, my parents have much to forgive me for; I was a mouthy, obnoxious teenage girl.

When I was a teenager there were no cell phones. Yes, I'm really, really old. We lived on a farm five miles from the town I went to school in. Occasionally I had reason to stay after school for things. I was a stats person for the girls basketball team when I was a freshman. I remember being the last one at the school building, waiting for my ride, in the dark. I would stand or sit at the door with my books, watching.

I got to know the custodian pretty well and was embarrassed when the coaches would walk by, asking why I was still there. It was an awful feeling. I knew my dad would show up eventually, but it felt like I was there forever. I watched the car lights come and go until finally it would be my dad in his work truck.

It wasn't just after school that I waited. I waited at church camp to be picked up. It was me and the cook, then finally just the camp director left on the camp grounds waiting. He couldn't leave until all the kids were picked up. I called home and found out they were confused about the time to pick me up or forgot, so they didn't start driving toward the camp until most people were gone. It felt like I waited forever.

My parents were wonderful, but am I still holding some unforgiveness toward them because they were consistently late? After all these years, I need to let those hurtful times go. Mostly I have, but when I remember how I felt, waiting, the wondering if they would come, did they forget me, the loneliness and anxiety of being the last one picked up, it still hurts.

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity," (Colossians 3:13-14 NIV).

Fortunately, by the time my parents died, our relationship was truly one of love and respect for each other, making my grief so much greater. Forgiveness is so important. Life doesn't move on without it.

Thank you, God, for helping me forgive even when I can't forget. Your love is perfect and always on time. Thank you, thank you, Jesus. Amen.

Have You Accepted His Invitation?

I'm getting a late start to this blog. I slept in, instead of getting up early. I'm skipping the early water aerobics class and will attend one at 9:30 am. I'm puzzled at what I should write about today. And the clock is ticking away.

Do you ever feel like you are behind; chasing after the bus or flagging down a taxi that just drove on by? (Yeah, I get lots of practice at that in rural Iowa!) That's a feeling I want to avoid but here I am putting pressure on myself to accomplish something that really doesn't have a time line. Or does it?

Our pastor recently preached on the parable about the wedding feast in Matthew 22:1-14. And the most significant message I received from it is that there is a limit to God's invitation to believe. I hadn't really thought about it because I am a believer and will keep my faith in Jesus Christ. But, pastor brought up some questions that got our growth group thinking last night. Is there a time line to God's invitation to believe. Will His invitation expire? The answer we came up with is - yes.

"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes, 'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless. "Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' "For many are invited, but few are chosen," (Matthew 22:11-14 NIV).

If you read the full scripture of Jesus' parable of the Wedding Feast, you will see that the invitation was offered to many but many refused to come. Of the good and the bad that finally came to the party only a few were chosen.

"The Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings -- and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers," (Revelation 17:14b NIV).

I'm thankful that I've accepted Jesus' invitation to be washed whiter than snow and saved from my sins by Jesus' blood. If you haven't accepted Jesus' invitation yet, I urge you to seek out someone who can help you find the path to Jesus. I would be honored to help you. If you already know the Way, Praise God!

Harvesting

When my boys were little they loved to watch tractors and combines in the field. To be honest I did, too. And I still do. There is something so magnificent about watching the golden grain fill up the grain box, then out comes the spout (I'm a little teapot short and stout, here is my handle, here is my spout. Pardon the interruption.) The golden corn or beans come flooding out of the spout and begin to fill the wagons or semi truck parked and ready to transport the grain for storage. It is a beautiful sight.

This year especially in Iowa, the harvest is a true blessing, following weeks of rain and muddy fields that most tractors without tracks could not enter without getting stuck. Now it is finally dry enough for farmers to work on their harvest. Avoiding the wet spots for now, because there are many still lurking beneath the corn stalks.

"Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field,"" (Matthew 9:37-38 NIV).

Just as Jesus expressed concern over having harvest workers, the farmers may be searching for workers to help them with the harvest, too. Once the wagons are full, there is nothing to do but wait for them to be emptied again so the cycle of filling to emptying continues. Today the machines are bigger with larger capacity but there are still constraints of time unloading, waiting in lines at the elevator, filling the grain bins, transferring to road-ready trucks that meet weight limits. In spite of the delays and pressures of farmers, the blessing of a bountiful harvest remains.

Jesus was speaking to His disciples, encouraging them to be ready as the crop of new believers was ready for harvest. Jesus and His disciples needed to help the new believers understand how to respond to Christ and to give their lives to Him. We still need to know how to do this. As Christians it would be the ultimate harvest high to be able to help a new believer come to Christ.

As we observe the harvest, or spend the hours it takes to bring the blessings in, let us remember that we are the workers for Jesus' harvest of man and woman. May we always be ready to help someone new experience the forgiveness of sin that Jesus gives His children.

The Blessing of Pets

I grew up on a farm in Central Iowa. We didn't have close neighbors; there were no other kids to play with. So I improvised. My dog and cats and Daddy's horses were my playmates. I spent hours with them, talking to them, loving them. They never rejected me - oh, maybe Daddy's horse "Chip" did, whenever I wanted to ride him, but the other animals did not.

My black cat, Angel, was a busy mouser and mother. She was an outdoor cat but I encouraged her to live in the house whenever I could. When she had her babies even my mother welcomed her to nest inside the front porch for awhile. I loved on her a lot, stroking her silky black coat and teasing her with yarn or toys. She would wind around Mama's ankles as she hung out the laundry or worked in the garden, and she spent hours stretched out on the front step, soaking up sunshine.

One of my true companions as a young teen was "Charlie Brown". He was a mutt, part collie and part German shepherd? He came as a puppy and became a best friend for what seems like a short time. We would go up and down our long lane, visit the horses together and sit in the sun. But, Charlie loved to chase cars on our gravel road. One day the unspeakable happened. We had ridden down the lane like usual to get the mail. Charlie took off after a car and ended up getting hit and died. Right before my eyes. I remember just standing there, crushed. The fellow in the car got out and dragged Charlie to the side of the road. I got back on my bike and rode to the house, crying all the way. Then I just sat on the front step until Mama asked me what was wrong.

Solomon wrote, "I also thought, "As for men, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. Man's fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is meaningless. All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return,"" (Ecclesiastes 3:18-20 NIV).

Any true dog or cat lover will tell you their past pets are in heaven. I don't have an answer for that but I do believe that God sends us pets for a reason. It won't surprise me to see Cotton, Checkers, Charlie Brown, Major, Sparky, Lou, Bella, Angel, and Allie on the streets of heaven. Love-giving animals are a blessing. Give yours a hug for me today.

He Set the Boundaries of the Earth

This weekend the weather in Iowa took an about-face toward winter. We've been stuck in a rainy fall gloom most of this month but yesterday the north wind came whirling, first with rain, then with snow flakes that started to gather on parked cars and in grassy patches.

Our hummingbird feeder appears deserted now; there's been no sign of the tiny little birds for two weeks. Instead, several blue birds were sighted on posts around our yard. Perhaps they were checking out the neighborhood as they moved through. The Canadian geese are returning to the Ankeny ponds and adjacent fields, and the ducks are passing overhead.

Saylorville Lake is at a record high for this time of year, with water covering most of the boat ramps, stranding many of the houseboats that typically are being removed for the winter. Creeks are running high and water is pooled in the unharvested farm fields. I can't help but be reminded that God is in control. Every fall image we see has God's fingerprints on it. The beauty of fall color and even the hurricanes show us God's power and strength rolled into storm cells that scream across the water till they slam onto land with torrential wind and rain.

Every sign in nature reminds us of you, O God. We stop and watch in awe, all that you have done and the many blessings that grace our life. Even as we grumble about the clouds and the cold, Lord, we know that your gifts to us far outweigh the challenges. We must focus on Your grace and mercy and thank you, O God.

"It was you who opened up springs and streams; you dried up the ever flowing rivers. The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon. It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter," (Psalm 74:15-17 NIV).

Tomorrow the warm sun will shine again and we will be happy, forgetting all the rain and disappointment. Our life will be joy-filled again and how quickly we will forget the wet, gray days. Forgive us Lord, for being so short-sighted and focused on the moment at hand. Forgive us for forgetting how wonderful Your Son is to us. God, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus Christ to save us from our sins. Help us to focus on You, O God. In spite of the weather or our personal situations that give us grief, let us remember You, always.

Praising God For Pastors

"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ," (Romans 10:17 NIV).

I have been attending church all of my life and I have been blessed by many pastors. They all had unique characteristics and gifts. The ones I remember most are those who played an important role in my life. Although their sermons were perhaps the most time consuming task of their role, often I remember the other ways they were present in my life.

Ray Bowler is the pastor who led my youth group and ultimately led me to believe in Jesus Christ and be baptized when I was 12 years old. He also taught me about peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  Even though I don't crave them, it was a new experience that I remember all these years later. Charlie Fry is the pastor who married John and me. I will always remember his attention to detail and kind thank you notes he wrote. Jump ahead to Roy Sanders. He was the pastor who helped John intervene when I was in a deep depression. He found a doctor and helped convince me to seek help. Cynthia Moore was there through some of the hardest times of my life. She will forever be precious to me and to God for loving my parents and helping me face the grief of losing my Mama, helping Daddy through the years without her, and then losing Daddy.

Although sermons are not the top of my memories, the cumulative effect of pastor messages in my  adult years are what help me to grow in faith and continue to study The Word. I won't forget the way Pastor Moore's series on the Roman road helped me fall in love with the book of Romans. Scott Hand presented The Word with humor and vibrance. Pastor Nathan Nemmers presented a comprehensive study on "The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus" by John R. Cross, that refreshed my faith and bolstered my understanding of The Word when we joined Lakeside Fellowship. Recently, Pastor Dave Heisterkamp's series on the Ten Commandments gave the ancient rules new and relevant meaning. His powerful messages leave me anxious to hear more.

"It was he (Christ) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ," (Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV).

Pastors have a big job and often go without thanks. October has been slated as Pastor Appreciation Month. Show your appreciation to those who build up your faith and knowledge in their own unique way of presenting The Word of God.

Thank you, all pastors.

Put Your Hand to the Plow

My husband reminded me recently that Daddy was not a great handyman. He was first a father, then a singer, then a farmer, then a surveyor for the Soil Conservation Service, then for the Iowa Department of Transportation, then a handyman. As a child I would spend my day following him around the farm, helping with projects by handing him tools or running to the house or shed for something he needed.

My husband knows. John spent many hours helping Daddy with the farm chores when we lived next door to Mom and Daddy. Daddy worked on broken machinery, but rarely had a successful outcome. Daddy's "go-to" was a neighbor who ran Warner's Repair Shop. He must have saved Daddy a hundred times. John has a multiple stories he loves to tell about Daddy and his lack of labor skills. I'm pretty sure Daddy was meant to be a white-collar worker but his life situations placed him on a farm first.

Sometimes that is the way life goes. What would you be doing if things had gone differently in your life? What did you dream of as a child?

I was one of the lucky ones who actually got to live my dream! It just took me a while. A kind (or perhaps desperate) editor hired me when I was 35 to write for a weekly newspaper. When I was 38, I finally enrolled in college and spent the next four years working on my journalism/mass communications/minor in English/public relations emphasis degree. Then I was able to write in the field of marketing as my career for 12 years. Now, I still get to pour my words out on this electronic newsletter blog twice a week.

Field near San Francisco

One scripture came across my desk more than once this week and it reminded me of the above thoughts.

"Jesus replied, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God,"" (Luke 9:62 NIV).

Jesus wants us to focus on Him, not follow Him sometimes, or once-in-a-while. Jesus needs His followers to entrust themselves in service to Him...looking ahead and making our rows straight, neat, and narrow.

Zacchaeus Is Saved

I love the story of Zacchaeus. Do you remember the song from Sunday School? I think that's why it is such a beloved story; I sang it so many times as a child. If only I could put all the stories of the Bible to memory as I did this song.
"Zacchaeus was a wee little man

And a wee little man was he  He climbed up in a sycamore tree  For the Lord he wanted to see
And when the Savior passed that way  He looked up in the tree  And said, 'Zacchaeus, you come down!  For I'm going to your house today!  For I'm going to your house today!'"
I am not a memorizer...I fail miserably at trying to memorize verses or anything else. My brain just doesn't work well or I just don't work hard enough at it. As I get older I see more clearly the benefit of putting scripture to memory. I want to be able to recall a verse when I need it. That's what I love about music, it helps you remember the words. 

Back to Zacchaeus. The song draws a picture of this tiny little man in a sycamore tree. Scripture says he's a tax collector for the Roman government - the chief tax collector. He is wealthy, so let's add bulging money bags to the picture, along with quality clothing, as well. Most likely he was despised by the common people because the Jews felt the tax collectors were traitors.  So he is a loner. But, he also wants to see this Jesus who was causing such a stir in town.

Jesus approaches and sees Zacchaeus in the tree. Jesus knows his name! Jesus spoke to him! Wow, what a great moment for this lonely little man. Jesus immediately tells Zacchaeus that He is going to stay at his house. The common Jews were appalled that Jesus would go to the house of a 'sinner' to stay!

But, that is who Jesus wants to preach to, those who need His salvation. As Christians, we, too, need to seek out the Zacchaeus'es who are searching for answers to their empty lives. We need to be the ones to show the Savior, Jesus Christ, to them. It is our job to tell them Jesus knows their names, and that He is calling them to come to Him.

"But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost,"" (Luke 19:8-10 NIV).

Yes, even we, the sinners, can be saved by Jesus Christ. Amen!

Welcome October!

October! Welcome! Time to turn the calendar page to a new month. My sheep calendar in our bedroom shows a mama sheep and twin babies looking at the camera.

By now you probably know how much I love sheep. We raised show sheep for more than 25 years before we moved to Ankeny. I started collecting sheep sometime before that. The collection of sheep moved with us as they don't require pasture land, hay or manure scooping. Just dusting and I manage to do that a couple times a year!

I don't know why the sheep make me so happy, but whenever I look at them I smile. John counted my sheep about 10 years ago and I had over 300, I believe. I don't add to my collection very often these days as I've run out of room. But, I did find a very unique rocking lamb recently that I had to get. I don't know what will happen to my collection when I die. I keep trying to spark interest in them with my grandchildren, but so far no takers.

Sheep have always reminded me of my Savior, Jesus Christ and the love He has for us. The scriptures use the illustration of sheep to represent sinners who need the Shepherd to save them. I am a sheep, sometimes lost, but as a believer I am His and forever saved. Thank you, God, for sending Jesus Christ to save us.

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations," (Psalm 100 NIV).

What a blessed day we have to rejoice in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. May October bring you time to worship the Lord with gladness, thanksgiving and praise!

The Glow of God's Beauty

Good morning! The bright moon was shining all night and is high in the sky this morning. Thank you, Lord, for the blessings of Your beauty. Each time I repositioned myself, trying to get comfortable, I noticed the long moonshadows and I smiled inside. I purposely left the curtains partially open so I could see the brilliance of the moon last night. I've been admiring it for several nights and it never gets old.

There are plenty of beautiful things to see during the sunlight this time of year, also. Fall is a lovely time of year, one of my favorites, and I love the colors of autumn. The plants are just beginning to change in Iowa so we have much to look forward to. Although each season holds its own unique characteristics, we also have art that we can admire even on the most barren of winter days.

I was pleased to hear that our church is featuring an artist from the congregation each week of a new sermon series on the Parables. I appreciate artists for their talents and I'm amazed by the unique craftsmanship that is his- or her-own. Their skills are God-given, as are all of our gifts and talents, I believe.

So how do you shine the light of Jesus on others? Are you an artist? A photographer? A teacher? A gardener? A seamstress? A cook? A farmer? A nurse? A mother? A postal worker? A computer geek? A babysitter? A grandpa? A knitter? A soccer mom? An executive? A sheep raiser? A dog trainer? A lawyer? A policewoman? A fireman? A musician? A bus driver? A secretary? An accountant?

"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life--your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life--and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him," (Romans 12:1-2 MSG).

Whatever you do today, do it with the glow of Christ's love and I know God will use your beauty to bless others.

The Blessing of Music

We attended a lovely outdoor wedding on Saturday that featured a string quartet. The air was filled with the quiet beauty of music drifting on the breeze, creating a peaceful setting. The music made me feel good. The tunes made me smile. Music is soothing.

A special song introduced the parents of the bride and groom as they were escorted in, and we all knew by the next concerto that the bride was about to appear. The song created an air of alertness. Music is attention-getting.

The married couple exited to a song of celebration, delight, and announcement. They nearly danced as they exited down the aisle. Later in the evening there was more dancing to music from many generations. Music is timeless and music is celebration.

From the time a child is born there are sweet lullabies of music that encourage sleep and calm, followed by songs that teach: "A, B, C, D..." , and "the B-I-B-L-E, yes that's the book for me".
Music teaches.

Songs help us worship in spirit and in truth. We lift our voices and instruments in praise and we glorify the God Most High. Using words from scripture and tunes of man's creativity, we are called to focus on our Heavenly Father and His Savior Son. Music is worship.

"Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob! Begin the music, strike the tambourine, play the melodious harp and lyre. Sound the ram's horn at the new Moon, and when the moon is full, on the day of our Feast;" (Psalm 81:1-3 NIV).

Music is a necessity to life. Even if you can't carry a tune, your ears and body respond to the music. Even the deaf can feel the vibrations and be moved. Rejoice in the great gift of music today. Sing, dance, play, and worship the God who gave us the blessing of music.

Construction Ahead

I can almost guarantee that you have experienced road work or bridges under construction this summer. It is a fact of life in Iowa. There has been a lot of work in Ankeny, including the street in front of our development. Surprisingly, the three block road was blacktopped in one day flat. It is almost unheard of to have a job started and completed in one day. I was amazed.

While just a few more blocks away , the construction of new sewer lines and every other buried cable or pipe plus the road has been ongoing since early March. So has a new wider interstate 35 outside of Ankeny. That project is complicated with new bridges in two directions and new lanes through the countryside connecting all the way to Ames. I don't know if that project will ever be 'finished'. It is just one phase after another.

As I view all the construction ahead I'm in awe of the engineers who designed our road systems. How do they ever figure out where to build and how to get people from one spot to another safely, especially through crowded cities. It blows my mind. And makes me want to stay inside my house.

That is just a taste of what God's great plan for our lives is like. He has a Master Plan laid out for us; a perfect map to get us where we need to go. He even allows for our sinful detours and dead ends. And He has the Master Map for each one of us, integrated with our family members' and friends'. Talk about boggling my mind! Only God can handle that kind of road map.

 "By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ," (1 Corinthians 3:10-11 NIV).

What direction are you going today? Is there a 'Road Work Ahead' sign, a detour, an unexpected round-a-bout on your journey? Thankfully we never drive alone. God is always along for the ride, our constant Companion, our Co-Pilot, our Highway Engineer. If our foundation is Jesus Christ, there is always a thoroughfare leading us Home.

God's Precious Word

I love it when I'm directed to a scripture, I open my Bible, and I find I've already marked those verses as important to me. I'm a Bible marker. I'm sure at some point, early-on, I felt the Bible was too holy and precious to write in and many people feel that way. I respect that. But, I need to mark The Word in my Bible that speaks to me.

Different verses speak to me on different days. Some verses speak to me every day. They are marked repeatedly in my Bible with underlining, some with stars or explanation points next to them, others with additional notations. I'm drawn to those scriptures time and time again.

In my many years of life, I've gone through many Bibles, of different translations. In fact, I must have four or five that have been well used for study and all contain my markings. Now, marketers even encourage you to use colored pencils or artistic drawings in the margins of specially designed Bibles. I haven't purchased one of those. I prefer to used my well-worn and used Bibles because of the previous markings I've made.

Some people memorize scripture but I just can't seem to do that. That's why I like to mark the scriptures to go back to time and time again; reinforcing the messages I want to try to remember. No matter how you study your Bible, God impresses each message we need at the moment upon our hearts.

"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ," (Romans 10:17 NIV).

Perhaps as you go through your day, God will speak to you from The Word, a scripture you have heard or read before. Cherish that in your heart and let it direct your comings and goings of today.
Open your Good Book and let God speak to you through it. You will be blessed and your faith will swell.

God's Word is a light on my path.

 I will let God lead me today.