God's Testimony

Driving down a tree-lined street near our neighborhood I saw two maple trees with a strikingly rich red section of leaves. It looked like God had taken a brush and swiped through the tree, touching only one section. Somewhere I read that the colors of fall are to be especially beautiful this year. Only time will tell. 

There is no rushing the colors of autumn. They seem to appear magically. One day the color-embellished leaves appear where the day before there was green. As we drove through the hills of northern Arkansas last week I noticed touches of brown dotting the landscape.

"Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy," (Acts 14:17 NIV).

As we enjoy this season of fall, let us pay attention to the testimony of God all around us. No human can touch the leaves and change the colors. Only God can. May every leaf that falls on your lawn be evidence of the blessings from God. Even as you rake bushel baskets of them until your back aches.

Oh, Gracious God, giver of all things, open our eyes anew to the beauty of Your Creation. We thank You for this season and Your testimony. We know You are real! Thank You for sending Jesus to live and die for our Salvation. And thank You for giving us Your Holy Spirit to live in us and to guide our lives through every season. We worship You and praise You, praying in the name of Jesus, Amen.

To God be the glory!

Autumn Arrived

Tuesday was the first day of autumn. We were driving the hills of Arkansas that day and saw a sprinkling of gold among the green trees. It was still warm and humid there. No jackets were needed until we returned to Iowa. I hear it has been rainy most days. The grass grew while we were gone. I will look for more signs of fall today.

Fall is a beautiful time of year. Autumn flowers bloom and the leaves change colors creating a landscape of beauty. The palette God uses is filled with rich, warm shades that fill our views with awe. The fields of green corn and soybeans quickly change to gold as the harvest comes near.

Life is often given the symbolism of the seasons. I think of fall as the time we are most productive. Our labor produces a rich harvest in the fall of our lives. We grow in wisdom and in faith.

"The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good," (Ecclesiastes 9:17-18 NIV).

Solomon's words of wisdom in Ecclesiastes offer a good perspective for our lives. The verses above seem especially appropriate for us today.

Lord God, fill us with wisdom this autumn. Show us the things we need to learn and understand. Guide us in our walk of faith so that we please You in all we do and say. We pray in the holy name of Jesus. Amen.

Rules

How are you at following rules? As adults we may not think we have to follow rules but we actually have many rules to follow. When we drive we have many traffic rules to follow: speed limits, stop signs, yield signs, parking does and don'ts. There are weight limits on our suitcases at the airport. First come, first served. Watch your diet, from the doctor.

Christians have rules to follow as given by God to Moses: the Ten Commandments. But a new covenant was established in Jesus Christ, as professed by the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah, hundreds of years before.

"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people," (Hebrews 8:10, Jeremiah 31:33 NIV).

Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to live in believers, helping us live the life as God desires. With the Holy Spirit we are reminded of the way we should live. It helps us follow the path that God desires for our lives, and fulfill the purpose He has planned for us.

Lord God, we are Your people. We thank You for giving us the Holy Spirit to guide us. Help us listen to His whispers and do the good we should do. We are so thankful that You are our God, and that You sent Jesus Christ to carry our sins to the cross. We pray in the name of Jesus, Amen. 

Just Say Jesus

Sometimes it is hard to pray. It doesn't seem like a hard thing to do - put together a few words that express what my heart is feeling. But there were times when I needed others to pray for me. I just couldn't speak words to my God.

Maybe it was a Christian maturity thing, or maybe it was such a crushing, painful thing that I was just completely overwhelmed. Now, I do not remember that feeling, but I remember asking others to pray. Then, sometime I read this scripture and learned to say, "Jesus."

"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue  confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father," (Philippians 2:9-11 NIV).

Then in 2013 a song, "Just Say Jesus" by 7eventh Time Down was played on the Christian radio station I listened to. The words expressed just what I had been feeling.

"Life gets tough, and times get hard
It’s hard to find the truth in all the lies

If you’re tired of wondering why
Your heart isn’t healing
And nothing feels like home
Cause you’re lost and alone just screaming at the sky

When you don’t know what to say
Just say Jesus
There is power in the name
The name of Jesus
If the words won’t come
Cause you’re to afraid to pray
Just say Jesus

Whisper it now, or shout it out
However it comes out, He hears your cry
Out of nowhere He will come, you got to believe it
He will rescue you
Just call out to the Way, The Truth, The Light

When you don’t know what to say
Just say Jesus
There is power in the name
The name of Jesus
If the words won’t come
Cause you’re to afraid to pray
There is just one name
Strong enough to save
There is just one name
There is just one name
Jesus

When you don’t know what to say

Just say Jesus
There’s still power in the name
The name of Jesus
If the words wont come
Cause you’re to afraid to pray
If the words wont come
And you don’t know what to say
Just say Jesus"

Oh, Gracious, Loving God, I'm so thankful that I can say "Jesus" and You listen to my cry. When I feel overwhelmed I can cry out to Jesus and He hears me. Lord, help those suffering in pain or grief or depression just call out the name of Jesus and You will answer. I'm so thankful You are there, Lord. I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

Praise God Forevermore!

My home church celebrated 175 years on Sunday. The small congregation planned and presented a beautiful service and program for a church full of people who returned to the country on two miles of gravel. The church was started by pioneer settlers who came from Owen County Indiana in 1849. They first met in homes for worship, but in the spring of 1851 the group established an organized church.

The Bethel Grove Church is the "first church of any communion in Marshall County," according to a history compiled by Miss Mae McKibben in 1961. The area just east of the Iowa River was chosen by the families of John Arney, Willian Arney, and John Hauser, and was referred to in those days as the "Arney-Hauser Settlement."

There are now 175 years of history for this beautiful church set amongst the trees and surrounded by beautiful corn and bean fields. The most important part of this history is the great faith and conviction of the many members through the years. I was a sixth generation member for more than 60 years.

"To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy--to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen."      (Jude 24-25 NIV).

Heavenly Father, Thank You for my family's deep roots in faith. Thank You for being our rock and stronghold through all time. Thank You that all around me there are churches that worship You. We thank You for sending Your Son Jesus Christ to wash away our sins and present us before You without fault. We honor You, Lord, and give You our loving praise. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Laboring for the Lord

Labor Day has a different meaning when you are retired. I just haven't figured that out yet. Today will be the same as every other day. However, I will be confused about what day it is for the rest of the week. 

When I was working, Labor Day was a welcome day off to catch up on tasks around the house and yard. Way back, when our boys were young, we had a picnic with John's family. When the boys started their own families we hosted a campfire across the creek in a forested area, complete with hot dogs roasted over the fire, S'mores and mosquitos.

Labor Day was established as a national holiday in 1894 to recognize the American labor movement and  its contributions to economic progress and the change from 12-hour to 8-hour work days. (Are you singing Dolly Parton's "9 to 5"?). Unfortunately, it seems like many full-time white collar workers put in more than the 40 hours a week they are paid. Have we reverted back to the 1800's?

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving," (Colossians 3:23-24 NIV).

Perspective makes all the difference. Whether we are house cleaners, receptionists, students, waiters, teachers, lawyers, doctors, cooks, concrete workers, ditch diggers, accountants, store associates, tool and die makers, machinists, bus drivers, ministers, or engineers, our attitude makes the difference.

Heavenly Father, touch me with a new attitude toward my work. Speak into me the purpose You created me for and remind me of my value here on earth. Even those of us who are retired have a job to do for You. Clarify my life's mission and let me labor for You. Amen.

Lift Your Eyes

"Lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth," (Psalm 121:1-2 NIV). 

These verses from Scripture delight my soul! I want to close my eyes and imagine I am surrounded by beautiful purple mountains, or the red hills of Sedona, or the forested slopes of Oregon, or the rolling hills along the rivers in Iowa. 

Choose your favorite picture and imagine the presence of the Lord around you. Protecting you from all evil. Guarding your family. Holding you safely on the edge of a cliff. Carrying you up a rugged trail. Just imagine.

"My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth," (Psalm 121:2 NIV).

No matter what you are going through today, our God is with you, helping you. What a blessing that we can 'turn our eyes upon Jesus' and receive His wonderful help because we cannot go where God is not. He is already there.

Lord God, Maker of all heaven and earth, we look to You for our protection. We trust in Your presence as we journey through life. No matter what lies ahead in our day, we can count on You for the help we need. Thank You, gracious God, Master of all things. We look to the hills and see You. We praise You with all our hearts, confessing our sins to You, and worshiping You alone. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.