By Your Side

When I start writing this blog I must always remind myself of its purpose. Sometimes the topic just presents itself. It is a God thing when that happens. I know He places the thought in my mind and I love it when He does.

“That you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith,” (Romans 1:12 NIV).

The Scripture above is the theme and purpose for this blog. Sometimes I hit the mark. Sometimes I get sidetracked. I want to encourage you, the reader, and I count on the encouragement through your faith shared. 

During the last 10 days there have been so many prayer needs. It seems everywhere I turn there are people hurting. All I can do is get down on my knees and pray. The words don’t always come and I end up crying, “Jesus”, “Jesus”, “Jesus”. Maybe it is the age I am at, but I don’t remember another time when so many crises have happened at once. 

I must remind myself by looking around at the beauty of the landscapes and God’s Creation, every tree, every plant, and every blade of green grass is His. He put the color, the shape, the size and form in each one. He makes the wind that moves the blades of the wind turbine. He offers the sun, the clouds and the rain to remind us to depend on Him. This also reminds me to thank Him.

When I am struggling through a rough time, I turn to Jesus. I stop in my tracks and let Jesus guide my plea. I offer my praise for the beauty and grace He gives and I let my heart cry out my deepest pains. Even when I can’t speak the words, I know God hears my cries. 

Whatever your burden is today, give it to Jesus to carry. He’s already by your side.

Sharing the Mystery of God

This week is Vacation Bible School at Lakeside Fellowship in Polk City. We have been totally amazed at the work of our church to spread the news of Jesus to the Polk City community. The past few years have yielded more than 300 children. Many are unchurched and come to know about Jesus for the first time! It takes nearly 150 workers to make the five days happen, working and preparing for weeks ahead.

This week's and the countless others held at churches throughout the land this summer are outreach opportunities to spread the Good News.

The writer, Paul, may be known for his long sentences in Scripture, however equally, he should be known for his powerful encouragement of believers. He was a religious martyr for Christ. The message of Christ Jesus, our Savior, bubbled from his mouth, or through his pen. He taught the guards outside the prison and other prisoners. He wrote letters to churches. He used every opportunity he had to profess the Good News.

Paul wrote to the church of Colosse because he had heard people there were mixing the teachings of Jesus with worldly teachings and he wanted to correct them. The leaders of the church needed to be reminded to teach the true Word of God, correct those who were wrong, and unite the church in the love of Christ.

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ," (Colossians 2:2 NIV).

I'm so thankful for all the VBS weeks held this summer. I remember helping with many VBS weeks starting when I was a teenager, through years of being a parent. I loved the music, the lesson times, the crafts, the game times, and the snack times. I remember helping shy children feel involved and watching the faces of children as they delighted in the stories of Jesus.

That's what it is all about for Christians: sharing the Good News with others. May we always remember to use the open doors that present themselves to us. May we share that wonderful mystery of God with others every day.

When Tomorrow Comes

Last week I had a bad day. I felt overwhelmed by sorrow and concern. Those days happen. Even to Christians. We aren't exempt from trouble and we fall into the pattern of worry and sadness sometimes. That's where I was until I searched Scripture for an answer and I found many. I chose John 12:46 NIV where Jesus says, "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness."

Although I was really hurting, I began searching for the light. I prayed for those who were also feeling the grief of losing someone very special: his family and friends. I prayed for the relative facing stage 4 cancer and his family, though I could not find enough words to console them. I prayed for my son's family as they were finally through the difficult packing and moving days and able to enjoy being a family again!

I found another Scripture that spoke to me.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own," (Matthew 6:33-34 NIV).

Today I will be strong in the Lord and trust Him. Today's trouble will be past tomorrow.

Thank you, God, for being a loving and righteous God whom I trust to be my light in the darkness.

Listen to His Voice

I'm on a roll with the sheep and shepherd verses in John 10, so I'm sticking with them. They are some of my favorite verses. As a child I could picture Jesus as a shepherd embracing a lamb in his arms. As I grew in my faith I was able to imagine myself as the lamb. Even now, as a senior citizen, I am held lovingly by my shepherd. When I'm feeling down I close my eyes and curl up in his arms and rest my head on His shoulder.

When we had our sheep farm I loved to watch as John went out to feed the sheep in the morning. He would start down the hill to the sheep shed while the sheep were out in the pasture. One sheep, then another would lift up its head and listen to his voice and suddenly start running - as fast as they could - toward the shed. It was a stampede of sheep with dust rolling as they made their way to the feeding area, baaing all the way. Sometimes he would call them, but other times it was only his footsteps they heard. And they came.

The sheep knew John was going to feed them and like me, they would never refuse a meal! They listed to his voice. They trusted him. They even loved him in their own way. They knew their shepherd was good and would protect them from evil.

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand," (John 10:27-28 NIV)

We know Jesus' voice. He knows us. We follow Him. He gives us eternal life and we will never perish! No one can snatch us out of His Hand.

No one! Nothing! We are His sheep and we listen to His voice. Praise God!

I'm listening to His Word today. It makes my day so much better when I stand with the Savior/my Shepherd, and hear His tender, loving voice and feel the comfort of His arms.

Know Your Good Shepherd

My husband John was a good shepherd. When we lived on the acreage near Marshalltown we raised sheep for show. For more than 20 years, John culled his flock, selecting the best ewes to keep for breeding the following year and purchased progressively better and better rams until he had a really good flock of sheep. 

The process was labor intensive, especially during the winter lambing season. Setting up pens, keeping watch on the ewes as they neared their due dates, moving them inside out of the cold and snow to wait, and feeding them properly for a hopefully easy and successful delivery. And this was all while he also worked a 10-12 hour day.

The weekends were packed full of preparation for the week ahead. Moving straw and hay from the barn to the shed, transporting feed to the shed, refreshing the bedding, removing the manure, carefully inspecting the ewes and new lambs for health, and studying the calendar to determine which ewes were next in line to deliver. There were shots to give, tails to dock and lambs to tag and record.

I honestly don’t know how John did it all except that he was a good shepherd. When he walked out the door every morning the sheep would hear him coming even before he called them. They recognized John as their shepherd. They knew him. They trusted him to feed them. They knew he cared for them.

Jesus is our good shepherd. He knows us, and He laid down His life for us when He died on the cross. Jesus cares about us. 

Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me--- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father---and I lay down my life for the sheep,” (John 10:14-15 NIV). 

We can trust in Jesus daily for sustenance, strength and mercy.  He won’t leave us hanging in our need. He will answer our cries for help. Jesus will come to us, lift us up, and hold us as a precious lamb, if only we know and believe.

Enter Through the Gate

This is the time of year we used to be busy with sheep shows, 4-H weigh ins, exercising and feeding lambs for the summer. One of the first things that happened each spring was sorting all of the lambs after weaning them from their mothers. The photo shows one spring's crop of lambs as John looked them over and chose the best of the flock.

Lamb sorting on the farm.

I love this picture. All the lambs are facing the same direction, looking at their shepherd, waiting for a signal to move or escape. The only way to get them together like this is to force them into a small space.

"I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full," (John 10:9-10 NIV).

The sheep are looking for a gate. They will take any opportunity they see to escape. In this picture the shepherd was guarding the gate closely. These lambs do not yet understand that the shepherd is their source of safety, protection, and care. Only the old ewes become wise enough to trust in the shepherd, and even they are cautious and skeptical.

We, like sheep, lack trust sometimes. We worry and fret, instead of turning to Jesus, our gate to salvation. Through Jesus alone, we find rest...in the pasture of lush green grass that delights the sheep. Jesus came to give us life to the full...lavish, unsparing, and bountiful, without boundaries, or fences. Jesus welcomes us.

Come and partake of a life of fullness with Jesus. His gate is always open to you.

Following Him

     We happened upon a wonderful sight this weekend. Two mama (or papa) geese leading their babies across the Ankeny Prairie Trail HyVee parking lot in a no passing zone. John caught a picture of them as cars waited patiently for them to pass safely to the nearby grassy slope.

     I immediately thought of followers of Jesus. We should be as obedient as the baby geese, striking a line, confident in the protection God provides, walking in His footsteps, following His example and pattern for living.

     "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life,""(John 8:12 NIV).

    I love the image this Scripture provides. We are walking along behind Jesus, following His perfect way, walking in a tunnel of brilliant, warm light as the darkness around us can no longer enfold us. His love, grace, and peace make us feel cherished, blessed, and calm as we wander through the unknowns of this life, surrounded by the glow of His guidance.

    Being a follower of Christ gives me purpose and a plan for life. I'm so thankful that I can follow the One who cares about me the way the geese care about their little goslings.

    Thank you, Jesus, for leading us through the challenges of this life and for guiding us with Your Light. Help us remember to look to You when we feel lost or anxious. Thank you for saving us from our sins by dying on the cross and being raised again. Amen.

(This is the 500th blog I have written. If you could take time to click like on the Facebook page, I would like to know how many readers are out there. Thanks. Gloria)