The First Step

Baptism means different things to various church members. Some traditions use infant baptism while others use immersion. I grew up in a Disciples church that baptized when the individual was able to choose baptism as a way of cleansing of sin and beginning a new life with Christ. My parents grew up in the same church and they were baptized in the Iowa River near Liscomb. I was baptized in our church baptistry on April 9, 1967.

Perhaps Jesus' first act of ministry was His own baptism by John. Baptism represents repentance of sins and the changed life that follows. However, for Jesus, who never sinned, baptism was a way to show His obedience to God's plan or as Jesus said, "To fulfill all righteousness," (Matthew 3:15 NIV). 

John the Baptist was preaching in the Desert of Judea, preparing the way for Jesus. He was a prophet who praised God in all he did. He said:

"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire," (Matthew 3:11 NIV).

John was humbled when Jesus came to him, asking to be baptized. 

"As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased"," (Matthew 3:16-17 NIV).

No matter how or when you were baptized, I pray that you can come before God with a heart that is His alone.

O, God, Father of all Mankind, we can only imagine the awesome sight of Jesus' baptism. We would love to have been there. We open our hearts and ask the Holy Spirit to work in us today. Let us be led by You and guided in all that we do. We worship You, O Lord, and offer our complete devotion to You and the teachings of Your Son. This we pray in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Walking to Jerusalem

The season of Lent means different things to different people. I first heard of Lent in high school when my Catholic friends would discuss what they were giving up for Lent. Meat, cursing, chocolate, television watching. Perhaps these days it might include cell phones or video games. For me the biggest thing to give up would have to be ice cream. Lent can be a time of using self-discipline by giving up something important to us. But I never really understood the reason behind giving up something you can hardly live without. 

Lent is the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter, replicating the 40 days that Jesus was tempted in the wilderness before He began his work of teaching. Lent is a time to understand that our humanness is sinful. It is a time to seek our hearts for evil and reflect on the gift of grace we receive through God. Lent is an opportunity to repent from our sins. To pray more, worship God more, fast and to solemnly prepare our hearts and minds by remembering the life and death of our Savior Jesus Christ.

I like to think of using these 40 days to walk along side Jesus, listening to His teachings through the scriptures, and purifying my sinful life. I'm still amazed that Jesus, knowing full well what lay ahead for Him, continued walking toward Jerusalem and His physical and spiritual torture. If only I could be a little bit like Him. To reflect His glorious, sinless, life of devotion. 

"Remember these things, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel. I have made you, you are my servant' O Israel, I will not forget you. I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you," (Isaiah 44:21-22 NIV).

I love the translation in The Message: "I have blotted out your sins and dissolved them like the mist."

Heavenly Father, I humbly come before You, baring my sinful self, ready to accept the wonderful blessing of Your grace. Make me strong enough to walk beside Jesus during this season of suffering and help me to be the person You want me to be. I kneel before Your Holiness, in solemn worship and pray. Amen.

Looking for Signs

This has been a week of warm weather and I was reminded of the pussy willow tree in my mother's garden. I never had good luck growing a pussy willow. I tried several times to start a new plant from a pussy willow branch. After it rooted in water I thought it was ready to plant. It was the transfer to the ground that was the problem. Mine never seemed to grow. But mother's did, beautifully.

It was always such a surprise when the tree was suddenly covered with furry branches or catkins. It is a beautiful sight. So beautiful that many home decorators love to bring branches inside to display. They don't last long, as I recall. The pussy willow in full fuzzy glory was a sign that winter was over.

The pussy willow tree is rather rare. I haven't seen one for a long time. Viewing one in spring is a very special sign. God uses many things in our lives as signs. The prophet Isaiah spoke of signs his people would see as a result of God's blessing on Israel.

"For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar (willow) trees by flowing streams," (Isaiah 44:3-4 NIV).

I will be watching for signs of spring as we enter the month of March on Saturday. Pussy willow trees, forsythia in its glorious yellow display, and crocus that burst forth from the ground. I saw two bluebirds sitting on our deck yesterday. Is that another sign? Anyone spotted a robin yet?

Thank You, Beloved God, for all of creation and for the signs of spring. We place our trust in You alone, Lord, for You have shown us Your love through Jesus Christ Your Son. Prepare our hearts for the season of Lent. Walk us through this holy season with eyes wide open for Your signs and strengthen our faith. We praise You, in the Name of Your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

Contemplating Our Favor

What a relief this weekend was. Warm enough to actually breathe outside without every inch of skin being covered up. It was like coming out of hibernation after a long winter's nap. Oh, I'm sure there is more winter to come but I'm thankful for a week's reprieve.

College basketball is winding down, the Iowa High School wrestling tournament is over, the groundhog saw or didn't see his shadow, and the Lenten season is still a week or two away. What's a person to do in Iowa in February?  Read the Bible and pray!

The scripture that follows caught my eye, not for the reminder of being an evil sinner but for the reminder of what Christ did for me and the hope it gives.

"Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight without blemish and free from accusation--- if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel," (Colossians 1:21-23a  NIV).

I can't be a good-enough-Christian to deserve the eternal life that Christ earned for us by dying a physical death on the Cross. Christ's sacrifice changed me from sinner to holy in God's sight. Jesus' death on the Cross wiped away my endless list of sins and gave me a new, clean slate - free of accusations. My commitment to faith in Jesus Christ promises me hope. The only way to salvation is through Christ. There we receive God's grace!

What wonderful things to ponder on this late February day! Take a few moments to contemplate what Jesus did for you. He makes us holy and righteous and He gives us hope. All we have to do is trust in Jesus and claim the hope that is ours.

Lord, fill our minds with this food for thought. Guide our steps, our words, and our actions today. Thank You for sending Jesus, Who provides the Way for us to receive eternal life with Him. Amen.

Citizenship in Heaven

Presidents' Day, officially to recognize George Washington's Birthday and Abraham Lincoln's Birthday, is now a federal holiday, celebrated on the third Monday of February. Perhaps you have the day off. There is no mail today. Banks are closed and many schools are closed. I wonder about other Presidents; are they included in this official day of recognition?

When the Pharisees asked Jesus if it was right to pay taxes to Caesar Jesus responded, knowing their evil intent and said,

""You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied. Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away." (Matthew 22:18-22 NIV).

We too have a dual citizenship. Our citizenship in the United States requires us to pay taxes for the services and benefits we receive. We are reminded of this as we prepare our tax forms before April 15.

But, our citizenship in the Kingdom of heaven requires us to pledge to God our obedience and our commitment to follow Jesus. Perhaps we should use this day to honor our true "president's day" by recognizing our honest and heartfelt commitment to the one and only God we serve. 

Thank you, Lord God, for guiding us by sending Jesus to us, as a man, to earth. Lord, help us to follow Jesus' example as we walk through this life You have given us. Help us remember Who we praise. In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen.

Happy Hearts

Day of hearts...wear red...shoebox full of little Valentine's...heart-shaped box of chocolates...red roses...sweet kisses...red envelopes... chocolate-covered strawberries... long hugs...smiles...candy hearts that say "Be Mine"...Valentine's Day 2025...What do you think of on Valentine's Day?

What fills your heart with love? What love language do you speak? How do you receive and express love in a relationship: 1. Words of affirmation, 2. Receiving gifts, 3. Acts of service, 4. Quality time or 5. Physical touch. It has been a long time since I took the test developed by Dr. Gary Chapman.

As a married person, it is my goal to discover the love language of my husband and then fill that need as often as possible. I'm positive that I fall short of the goal nearly every day. Thank goodness, our Father isn't limited to the five love languages. He is always there; He is the same every day. God's love smoothes over us like frosting on a cake. We are encompassed by God's merciful love whenever we reach out to Him.

"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word," (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).

God gives us eternal encouragement! How is that for a love language?! Wow. God just blows me away sometimes.

Heavenly Father, I am so thankful that You love me as Your child. You adopted me into Your family and You promise life everlasting with You because I believe in Your Son, my Savior.  Thank You for loving me in all of my mess, and for bringing me through hard times and blessed times. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Who Will Be the Winner?

So this is the big day. Have you been waiting for it? Super Bowl Sunday. There are two worthy opponents who will battle it out on the football field. It sounds almost like a war. The players battle so hard that the list of injuried players seems to be longer than ever this year. Bodies aren't made to be abused so much. I wonder if they will change the rules to protect those bodies.

I happen to love watching football. It is my favorite sport to watch but I don't like to see the injuries. I don't know how the players are able to walk to the locker room after the game sometimes. All for our entertainment? The stadiums are full of wildly cheering fans in appropriate team garb. Have we gone too far, I wonder?

The players are paid unimaginable amounts of money to get on the field and battle to win. My favorite team didn't make it to the Super Bowl this year, along with many others. But it is still my favorite team even though they had a bad year. It is hard to be perfect. None of the teams are. But still, one team will prevail at the end of this day,

 "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with  our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:15-16 NIV).

Lord, I need Your mercy and grace. I come to You pleading for Your strength in my weakness. Guide me out of the pit of despair and place my feet on Your solid foundation. I put my trust in You and I seek Your guidance for my life. And Lord, keep the football players safe from injury today and may it be a test of strengths so the best team will prevail with good sportsmanship. Thank You, Lord for Your grace. Amen.