The Chosen

This blog is my annual Iowa State Fair review. We went to the State Fair on Monday with our 19-year-old granddaughter Bailey. I believe it was just one of four trips she made to the fair . I'm not sure if it was because she loves the Fair that much or if she loves being with people she cares about. We were honored to be chosen.

We visited every animal barn: swine, sheep, cattle, and horse, of course. We toured the Varied Industries Building just as it was opening, before the crowd swarmed in and the aisles became impassable. There we hit the Iowa State University booth for a free bag and got the Iowa Public Television magazine and voted on our favorite IPTV character. A cartoon character(s) were ahead that day. We walked from the Avenue of the Breeds to the Animal Learning Center. 

We visited the Heritage Village for our traditional phosphate beverage then climbed the hill to the Cultural Center to view the photography exhibit on the third floor. We found another granddaughter, Paige's three photos that were chosen for exhibit. We walked through both levels of the Agriculture Building where we got the free hard boiled egg on a stick, and purchased our favorite cinnamon nuts.

We returned to the sheep barn where we had the required lamb-burgers near the entrance. We walked through the Walnut Center, had a favorite lemonade, then back to the sheep barn where another granddaughter was working the 4-H lamb show, gathering show person's cards and noting their placings. She was on break so we got to visit with her about her photographs on display.

Eventually we ventured back to our car, parked on a neighbor's yard located south of Dean Ave. We always parked near the south border of the fairgrounds when the grandchildren were showing sheep, to be closer to the Sheep Barn, Yes, I love the Iowa State Fair but this year I experienced my age. My hips are still sore. I could barely get out of the car when we got home.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light," (1 Peter 2:9 NIV). 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the amazing land of Iowa that we are privileged to live in, and the creative, hard-working, God-fearing people who live here. We praise You for Your Creation of differences across the United States and beyond. And we honor You as the Creator of all things. We pray in the Name of Jesus, Amen.

To God be the Glory!

A Well-Watered Garden

Some of my friends have said their tomatoes, zucchini and cucumbers are producing abundantly because of all the rain. Things are certainly well-watered in Central Iowa this year. The fields of corn and beans are as green as I've ever seen them, especially for mid-August.

The prophet Isaiah wrote for the nation of Judah to repent of their wicked ways and turn back to God. He also gave them reasons to change their ways and live godly lives. Isaiah also foretold the coming of a Savior who would save generations of believers.

"The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail," (Isaiah 58:11 NIV). 

On my father's ancestral farm, "the Arney Farm," located northwest of Albion, Iowa, is an artesian well. Now owned by one of my nephews, it flows into a pond that is part of a nature preserve managed by Marshall County called "Arney Bend." My father's grandfather, Carey Arney, instilled a love for the land that has been passed down several generations and beyond. The artesian well was so appreciated by my father and those before him, that he showed it to everyone who visited there. I believe the artesian well was just one thing that strengthened his belief in God. For only God could create such an amazing part in nature.

Thank You, God, for the amazing features You have placed in Your Creation. Help us be like a spring or an artesian well whose waters never fail. May You guide us to grow in our service with acts of kindness, charity, justice and generosity. We pray in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

To God Be the Glory!

G.G. #1225 gds

God's Protection

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning alert just came on my phone so I looked up the radar and see a rather large image of the storm coming closer and closer. I usually like to watch storms as they approach but it is still dark. There is.no thunder yet but there is heavy rain approaching Perry and the cloud bank is over Grimes moving closer to Ankeny.

"Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared," (Proverbs 3:23-26 NIV).

If only I had found these verses 50 years ago when we were living in a mobile home. Storms always brought anxiety, especially tornado warnings. But we were kept safe all 15 years we lived without a basement. Prayers surrounded us those years and I am sure that God was the reason why. We did use discernment and sound judgement when danger was imminent and made our way to a neighbor's house and basement.

That is what Christians must do: use sound judgement that comes from God to believers. We apply the knowledge from instruction, training and discipline; all according to God's truths.

The preliminary rain and thunder have arrived. But my confidence is in Christ Jesus!

Heavenly Father, thank You for the rain that You provide. For the beautiful green grass that surrounds us this August. It is such a blessing and a reminder of Your goodness. Thank You for Your protection and the confidence we can hold in You. Bless us with a good day, we pray, in the Name of Jesus, Amen.

"Great is Thy Faithfulness"

"My soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:20b-23 NIV).

Every morning! How amazing is our God that He will meet us every morning with new compassion. He is always near to us and forgives us through His Son Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Jeremiah wrote this soon after Jerusalem was destroyed by Babylon. He was crushed to see his people destroyed because of their sinful ways. Jeremiah was grieving with God.

Th following hymn was written by Thomas O. Chisholm's poem and William M. Runyan set it to music in 1923. Chisholm wrote these words one morning in response to God's overwhelming blessings in his life.

"Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, There is np shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changes not, Thy compassions they fail not; As Thou hast been Thou forever will be.

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above Join with all nature in manifold witnessTo Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided--Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!"

Thank You, God, for Your faithfulness! Though I fail You in so many ways, You are with me and Your compassions never fail me. May the Holy Spirit work in me mightily today, I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

To God Be the Glory! 

Trusting God's Plan

Some days don't go as planned, though in retirement that isn't usually a big problem.  I really like having nothing on my calendar. But sometimes things need to get done in a timely manner. And sometimes things don't go as we want.

The prophet Habakkuk begins writing his book by complaining to God about the desperate situation Judah was in. He pleads with God to punish the evil ones in Judah who have rejected God. God answers Habakkuk by giving him hope in a way Habakkuk didn't expect. God was using the evil Babylonians to punish Judah.

Although Habakkuk didn't understand God's plan, he knew God's ways were the best.

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior," (Habakkuk 3:17-18 NIV). (underline is mine).

Imagine looking all around and seeing nothing but crop disaster and dead animals. Judah was starving and depressed. But Habakkuk had faith in God and rejoiced in Him.

We can complain to God; He will listen. God is still in control no matter how much evil surrounds us, even today. If we watch the news, we too can become fearful and depressed. But we know God wins!

Heavenly Father, I am so thankful You have the answer to my questions and concerns in life. No matter what problem, large or small, You have the answer. I place my faith in You and I will be joyful in You, my Savior. Amen.

God Knows It All

Along the bottom of my iMac I post quotes or notes to myself that I want to remember.  My Post-it notes don't stick very well to the glass-like front of my computer. The notes come drifting down to my desk at strange times. One that I taped up was a quote I read somewhere but didn't include the author. 

"I will live my life knowing God is fully aware of my intentions, thoughts, words and actions."

Those words give me comfort, not fear, especially when I am misunderstood by someone I love. I believe God knows my intentions and my thoughts. He knows it all and will instruct me when I am wrong in thinking.

"Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal," (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV).

So, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face; And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace." (The refrain of a hymn by Helen H. Lemmel, 1922)

Oh, Mighty God, Fill me with Your Spirit, forcing all evil from my being as I begin this new day. As I focus on You, in the face of Jesus, show me how I need to change to be more like You. I pray in the Name of Jesus, Your perfect Son. Amen.

Goodbye July

Here we are at the close of July. Another month is nearly over and where did it go? What did I accomplish? Who did I encourage in their faith? How did I grow in my faith? What scripture touched my heart? 

I remember a lot of hot days. I remember dry weeks and torrential rains. What a month it has been!

The scripture that jumps out at me today was my Scripture reading on July 6. I put a star by the readings that really touched me on that day. I have eight stars in July and many of them I used to write this blog. God is so good at providing topics for the day. 

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God," (Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV).

I want to be a fragrant offering.

Lord God, thank You for bringing me through July as Your dearly loved child. Just as Jesus gave His life as a sacrifice to You, help me use my life, loving as Christ loved. Make my life a fragrant offering to those around me. I pray in the Name of Jesus, Amen.