Our Hope

“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted,” (Isaiah 12:2-4).

 

We end a year filled with unknowns and fears but yet we persevere with our masks and social distancing and the hope of a vaccination in our future. Perhaps 2021 will be different. Aren’t you glad you didn’t know what was coming a year ago? We took it day-by-day, sometimes hour-by-hour, hoping, trusting, worrying, and praying. 

 

And here we are. God is still our hope. He is the first One we turn to, in prayer. He is the One we turn to when everything else fails. God is our strength and salvation. He is our song and our trust. We exalt His Holy Name! We sing praises throughout the nations and rejoice in the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ.

 

The new year is almost here and life will go on for most of us. We celebrate the end of 2020! We lift our hopes for 2021 high and rejoice. God is our hope! 

“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed,” (Psalm 20:4 NIV). 

 May you be blessed with a Happy New Year!

After the Rush

 “Later”

“Later after the angels, after the stable, after the Child, they went back… as we always must, back to the world that doesn’t understand our talk of angels and stars and especially not the Child. We go back complaining that it doesn’t last. They went back singing praises to God! We do have to go back, but we can still sing the alleluias!” 

“Later” by Ann Weems, “Kneeling in Bethlehem”.

 

Christmas is over and all the leftover decorations are on sale in the stores, I suppose. The Valentine candy will be on display in a few days while candy canes are bargain basement prices. The trashcan is full of scrunched-up wrapping paper. Broken gingerbread men are all that remain on the cookie plate. Some people have already taken down the tree and stashed away all the Christmas decorations.

 

It makes me sad to put away Christmas. I want to keep playing the music and watching the Christmas lights. I want to keep the spirit of Christmas in my heart and feel the happiness through the new year. My tree will stay up a little longer because I love the lights and the colors of Christmas. I’ll keep playing my Christmas CDs and singing along for a while, because I love Christmas. I love that Christ was born in a stable instead of a palace. I love that Christ chose to die for my sins.

 

We have much to rejoice about. Christ came as an infant to bring us new life. Isaiah tells us what Christ will be like.

 

“The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord—and he will delight in the fear of the Lord,” (Isaiah 11:2-3a NIV).

The Christmas Story

"So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 

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." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger." (Luke 2:4-16 NIV).

Merry Christmas!

The Trip

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.” (Luke 2:1-4 NIV).

 

What a trip! Nine months pregnant (give or take a week or two) and a 70-mile walk was ahead. Joseph secured a donkey and gave Mary the option of walking or riding. Neither one sounds wonderful when you are big as a barn with baby. Walking is painful or at least uncomfortable at that stage and riding on a donkey wouldn’t be much better. 

 

God had a plan and so Joseph and Mary took off on the long trip, hoping to make it in time for the baby to be born. God’s plan was set long before Mary and Joseph were even born.

 

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times,” (Micah 5:2 NIV).

 

The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Maybe it was the long walk or ride that made Mary’s labor start. Or maybe it was just God’s plan. What a great story for us to remember and share with others. I wonder if Mary shared the story with Jesus when he was growing up? But she didn’t need to; Jesus already knew the whole story.

May the stories of Jesus be told and retold with your family this Christmas and make this season feel perfect.  

The Promise

"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. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne, and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this," (Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV).

I cannot read these verses without hearing the music of "The Messiah" written by G. F. Handel. My home community presented this every year on the first Sunday of December. A chorus, made of dedicated musicians, filled the First Methodist Church of Marshalltown. My dad was one of the faithful who sang every year as long as he was able. So it was tradition for our family to attend each year. 

The music tells the story of Jesus Christ and the score includes the "Hallelujah" Chorus. It is sung after Jesus rises from the dead on the third day. Because this music meant so much to our family, we used the "Hallelujah" Chorus at the end of my parents' funerals.

As Christmas approaches, our thoughts turn to the beginning of Christ Jesus' life and we rejoice in His holy birth. But we cannot forget the rest of the story. The reason why Jesus came to Earth, to save us from our sins. What a glorious gift Jesus is. May the meaning of Christmas be filled with the hope that is coming in His birth.

O Lord, thank you for sending us Your Son, to save us from our sins. May our hearts be filled with the true meaning of Christmas this season. Amen.

The Expectant Mother

Mary, dressed in blue with a cloth covering her head, petite, young and lovely...this is how I picture Mary the mother of Jesus. It may be a false image but it's one that has developed by seeing many nativity programs over the years.

The facts from the Bible are that Mary was a virgin. She was highly favored by God and the Lord was with her. Mary was pledged to marry a man named Joseph. She would bear a child - the Messiah, God's promised Savior, God's Son.

Mary willingly accepted the remarkable choice God had made in selecting her, "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said," (Luke 1:38 NIV).

What a brave and trusting girl she was. I've often wondered how Mary endured the doubters' ridicule and even Joseph's questioning thoughts.

If only I could be as brave and trusting as Mary. Imagine how my life might be different.

Let us accept Mary's attitude toward God's directing of our lives and say - "I am the Lord's servant."

Use me, Lord, and let me be open to all that you say. Amen.

The Prophet

"When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!" (Luke 1:41-42 NIV).

"When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy," (Luke 1:57-58 NIV).

Zechariah said, "And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him," (Luke 1:76 NIV).

The baby Elizabeth was carrying was the future John the Baptist. John came before Jesus to prepare the way for Jesus Christ's ministry, baptizing of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. He fulfilled the words of the prophet Isaiah,

"A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God's salvation.'" (Luke 3:4-6 NIV).

John the Baptist was a miracle baby, given by God, for a purpose of making the way for Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, also a miracle baby. The prophet was foretold in the prophet Isaiah's writing in Isaiah 40:3-5. 

I love the way God wove these two women's stories together. It is also wonderful how God weaves lives together yet today. Rejoice for the prophet who led the way for Jesus! Rejoice for the coming of Jesus' birth. Rejoice!

The Sign

"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).

 Advent is a time of waiting patiently for what we hope for: baby Jesus, the promised One, a Savior. As a child there is so much excitement during this season. Presents are under the tree. There are bright lights and shiny bows, nativity sets and tinsel. All the senses are sharpened as Christmas Day draws near. The fragrance of a pine tree or cookies baking in the oven fills the air. Christmas music plays in the background.  The touch of special ornaments as they are hung on the tree and the taste of peppermint candy canes is on the lips and tongue. Christmas is coming.

Although as believers we know we are saved by Jesus Christ, yet Paul writes in Romans that salvation is past, present and the future. My NIV Life Application Study Bible explains Romans 8:24-25 that we were saved at the moment we believed in Jesus Christ as our Savior (the past), and we are being saved through the process of sanctification (the present), and one day our salvation will be complete when we are made pure as Jesus Christ (the future).

"But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently," (Romans 8:24b-25 NIV).

Christmas is coming. Let us watch for the sign and see it coming. Let us rejoice in the salvation that Jesus Christ brought into this world, gives to this world, and will give to all believers in the future when He comes again. Amen.

The Stars

I like to look at the stars and the moon at night. The moon has been especially bright on these cold, clear nights. The stars are hard to take a picture of, I've found. But, there are nights when the stars sparkle and glimmer so brightly. I love those nights.

"Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing," (Isaiah 40:26 NIV).

Looking at the stars brings God closer to me. I remember whose Kingdom I belong to and I am so blessed to have such a creative and loving God. We are blessed to have lights in the night sky that show us whose we are. Our only way of estimating an image of our God is to view all He has done for us and try to imagine, with our limited perspective, how great our God is! It is impossible to picture Him and imagine Him with any sense of reality but He is our God, so big and powerful and majestic and just. He has no limitations, no boundaries to hold Him back. God is so so good!

Next time we look at the night sky and pause with amazement at all God has done, let us give God some thanks for all He has created. Stare at the night lights and soak up God's beauty. Take time to give God glory. Remember the purpose of the stars as we enter the Advent season. The stars guided the shepherds and the wise men to the home of baby Jesus. 

Thank you, God, for the stars.

Thankful For Advent

 All of a sudden it is a new season; the season of Advent is here. I needed a little transition time to adjust so I took down the Thanksgiving decorations before putting up the Christmas tree, I do love the Christmas season but this year is different. With COVID-19 life is strange so Christmas will feel strange, too.

We often jump from our plates of Thanksgiving dinner to Black Friday shopping without thinking what the season is all about - Jesus' birth. Though I never have gone shopping on Black Friday it seems like the rest of the world was all excited about it. Perhaps more of the shopping was done online this year. We did all our shopping online this year and are almost finished, We have two large boxes ready to ship to Virginia this week.

We are entering the Advent season and our minds need to focus on the Christmas story. I love reading the Christmas story to my grandchildren, though it doesn't always happen. The reason Jesus came to bless us with His life is because God wanted to send His Son to teach us about Himself and to save us from our sins. The little baby in the manger becomes the Savior of the world. What a joyous beginning for us!

The scripture from Isaiah 40 leads us gently to Bethlehem.

Desert walk in Sedona, AZ 2012

"A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken."" (Isaiah 40:3-5 NIV).

Advent is a time of clearing a path for Jesus Christ to enter our hearts. May we keep Him there all season. Even while we do the usual tasks of Christmas, let us remember to keep Jesus in our hearts. May you be blessed this Advent season and be thankful.

Thanksgiving Thoughts

 It is a different kind of Thanksgiving for us today. We are observing Thanksgiving alone because we felt it was best for our family during this time of so much COVID. It doesn't feel right but yet it is the right thing to do for us. 

I hope that all who gather together will remain safe and healthy. I wish all who aren't getting together with family or friends a peaceful day, filled with gratitude for previous gatherings and anticipation of future times of pleasure. 

Thanksgiving 2017

We will have a turkey and maybe even a pumpkin pie but I'm skipping all the sides for just the two of us. We will enjoy some football games on television and a Zoom gathering with some of the grandchildren. 

It will be a day of giving thanks for all that we have: our family, our friends, our faith, our home and food on the table, in the refrigerator, the freezer, and the pantry. We have so much to be thankful for, how can we be sad. We are blessed beyond measure.

"Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song," (Psalm 95:1-2 NIV).

May God bless your day with gladness and gratitude. May being apart make your thanksgiving more special than ever before. May being together make your heart burst with joy. God bless you all this Thanksgiving!

Thankful For Jesus

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19 NIV).

This story is one of the first I learned in Sunday school along with a song, "I Will Make You Fishers of Men." It taught me to follow Jesus with my own life. I'm still touched by the faith of the fishermen that Jesus took under His wing and nurtured with His own life practices. When I was little I wanted to be one of those fishermen who got to know Jesus personally. I wanted to walk with Jesus and become like Him. I'm so thankful for Jesus and the change He has made in my life over all these many years. Jesus is my Leader, my Teacher.

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven," (Matthew 5:14-16 NIV).

This is another story I learned in Sunday school and it also came with the song, "This Little Light of Mine." It taught me to be a light to others with my own life.  I'm thankful for my Sunday school teachers who taught me the basics of faith. I'm still trying to shine my light with Jesus' light within me. Jesus is my Light, my Guide.

"Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way." (Luke 19:1-4 NIV).

This is yet another story I learned in Sunday school along with the song, "Zacchaeus was a wee little man". It taught me that anyone, no matter his sin or type of life, could become a follower of Jesus. I'm thankful that Jesus taught us to love others and have forgiveness for others, even if they don't look or act just like us. Jesus is my Friend, my Mentor.

Thank you, Jesus for being my inspiration, my Savior. I'm so thankful I got to know you, Jesus, as a child and that I have grown in my faith through the years. Thank you for being there for me and for everyone whenever You are needed. You are my Rock and my Fortress. 

I'm thankful for You, Jesus. Amen.

Thankful for Nature

"Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God,"     (2 Corinthians 9:10-11 NIV). 

We took a walk yesterday and noticed the leaves are still falling. There was a crunch under our feet as we walked and leaves occasionally drifted past on the wind. It was a beautiful day for a walk. Though many trees are now bare there are some trees that keep their leaves through most of the winter. Oaks are one of them. Some of the sheltered burning bushes still have their bright red foliage and other trees now display their berries to sustain the winter birds.

The sky offers beauty of its own. The bright blue sky contrasts with the white clouds that float past. The sunrise and sunset display their own canvases of beauty almost every day, and the geese and ducks that have decided to winter over in Iowa test out the ponds for comfort and sustenance. 

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world," (Psalm 19:1-4 NIV).

Thank you, God for the beauty around us. Let us look for the amazing sights You create for us. Let us give thanks always for the nature created by Your hand. Amen.

Thankful For Things I Take For Granted

I woke up early this morning and looked at my clock. It said 5:30 so I got up. Then I looked at my office clock and it said 4:00. That's a little earlier than usual for me to write my blog but I'm up so here we go. I wanted to share about things that we often overlook giving thanks for. One I'm not so thankful for right now is my alarm clock. Often when I set the alarm I mess up the clock and don't notice it at the time. Operator error.

There are plenty of other things I do want to give thanks for, things I often take for granted. I'm thankful for a house with heat. I'm so grateful for heat. I'm always cold so the blessing of heat is something I don't take for granted so often. Thank you God for my home and for heat. I'm also thankful for blankets and a warm bed to get into and out of every day. 

I'm thankful for toothbrushes and toothpaste that make my mouth feel clean. I'm thankful for the kitchen timer and the meat thermometer and the stove and microwave that make cooking easier and more efficient. I'm thankful for refrigerators and freezers that store food. I'm thankful for canned goods and frozen food that make cooking a breeze.

I'm thankful for hot showers and sinks where we can wash our hands. I'm thankful for washing machines and dryers and all the automatic gadgets that we use everyday, like our phones and remote controls for the TV. Thank you God for my computer. I'm so thankful that it works and gives me access to the whole wide world.

I'm so thankful for my home and my car and a thousand other little things that make my life so convenient and comfortable. Thank you, God for my life of blessings.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever, (Psalm 136:1-3a NIV).

Thankful For Grandchildren

My greatest joy comes from my grandchildren. The gift of becoming a grandparent is a highlight in life. All of our babies have now grown up ranging from 7 1/2 to 22 years old. Although I long for babies to hold I am delighted to watch our grandchildren grow and become individuals with smart minds, wise thoughts, strong bodies, beautiful faces and independent ideas.

I have photo albums full of pictures of them all as babies. I always had my camera handy when they were around. They grew used to seeing grandma behind the camera and they still aren't surprised when I bring out the camera and order them to be seated.

Paige got the most pictures as the first grandchild but none of them are lacking. I delighted in the first smiles, the first rollover, the first food, first steps and first sheep shows. At least they all got a chance at the family hobby.

I'm so proud of them all: Paige, Calvin, Payton, Bailey, Graham and Piper. It is so much fun to see them interact together, though that doesn't happen too often now that Graham and Piper live in Virginia.

As grandparents we strive to be a good example for the grandchildren and we pray that they will become followers of Jesus for all of their lives.

"Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them," (Deuteronomy 4:9 NIV).

Thank you God for grandchildren. May You keep them safe and bring healing to Paige and Calvin who both have COVID-19. Amen.

Thankful for Friends

"It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night," (Psalm 92:1-2 NIV).

I'm thankful this morning for friends. I am so touched by the kindness of those who read my blog and comment occasionally or perhaps like it. Just knowing those who took time to read these blogs touches my heart. I'm thankful for friends I see every day at Aqua Fit classes who bring joy to my day by their smile and hello. I'm thankful for those dear friends I rarely see but I am connected to by my past church, school, or work. Those I shared many years with and will never be unconnected from. 

I'm thankful for friends who I know through WW who share a common goal or a common problem and who grow together. I'm thankful for friends who I've known since childhood and still stay connected through prayer chains or birthdays. Those friends I hope know that I will always care about and pray for in tough times and offer praise for in good times.

Friends are dear to my heart and I'm so thankful for them. My life would be empty without friends. They lift me up and they bless my life in so many ways, thank You God for my friends. Please bless them, each one, today with Your love and grace, healing and care. May they know I'm writing about them, because I am. 

"A friend loves at all times," (Proverbs 17:17a NIV).

Thankful For Harvest

I love to watch harvest happening in Iowa fields. When my boys were little they loved seeing the machinery in the fields. I would point out every sighting so they wouldn't miss them. I still feel that same excitement when I see harvest happening now.

This year in Central Iowa the harvests were extremely difficult if they happened at all. The derecho that went through in early August destroyed many corn crops by blowing them to the ground. Some fields were totally destroyed and ended up being plowed under. In other fields the corn was bent over, making harvest a terrible struggle. My heart aches for the farmers who lost their crops or had difficult harvests because of the derecho. 

Corn picture in Iowa Capitol

Although this was an atypical harvest year there are many good years to remember and be thankful for. I hope this season of thanksgiving gives each of us many reasons to be thankful for the harvest. We all can give thanks for the produce in our gardens, at the farmers' market or in the grocery store. Somewhere someone labored for the harvest of the many items we enjoy on our tables.

"Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things," (Psalm 107:8-9 NIV).

Thank you God for harvest season and for the crops that you have given us. Thank you for watching over the farmers as they harvested the crops safely. We thank you again for the harvest. Amen.

A Month of Thankfulness

 "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 100:4-5 NIV).

Good morning, November. It's a new month and we are off daylight savings time. Thank you for lighter mornings but shorter days. I'm ready for bed at 5:30 pm now. My goal for this new month is thankfulness. I want to give God praises all month long.

Today I'm thankful for warmer temperatures and beautiful sunshine, I'm thankful for the beautiful full moon last night and the night before. I'm thankful for the colorful leaves that remain and for the circles of leaves left under the trees. I'm thankful for warmth to plant bulbs and time to finish cleaning off the gardens.

I'm thankful it is time to get out the Thanksgiving decorations. It is time to remember the first Thanksgiving and the attitude of sharing and fellowship. Though our Thanksgiving may be smaller this year due to the pandemic and being cautious, we can still give thanks to God for all our blessings.

This month I'm going to take time to praise God for all His gifts in life and keep an attitude of thanksgiving in my heart and mind.

Thank you God for Your goodness and Your love and for Your faithfulness that continues through all generations. I give You praise. Amen.

The Refuge of the Lord

 What do you remember about your childhood? I have a few select memories of when I was young but I don't remember much else. 

One day I probably begged to go to Grandma's house when Dad was heading somewhere else so he dropped me by her house in the town of Albion, Iowa. These were the days when no one locked their doors. I went to the door and entered after knocking several times. I was 5 or 6 years old. Grandma wasn't home and Dad had already left.

I walked around the kitchen and dining room, looking at all her pretty things. She had a collection of pitchers, (which is why I now have a collection of pitchers that includes one of hers). I soon became bored so I found something to write on and wrote in my elementary way that I had been there and signed my name. 

I decided to walk home, a distance of a couple of miles. I knew the way so I proceeded, walking along the busy road toward home. 

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps," (Proverbs 16:9 NIV).

I got as far as the corner of the gravel road we lived on and a car stopped beside me. It was full of people I didn't know but they said they were headed to my house so I reluctantly got inside their car. I was tired and may have been crying. 

"He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge," (Proverbs 14:26 NIV).

The folks that picked me up were relatives from out of town so I was safe and secure. I know it was God's protection that was with me on my walk. 

Thank you, God.

Anniversaries

"Rejoice in the Lord always I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus," (Philippians 4:4-7 NIV). 

I'm thankful to have 47 years with my husband today. It seems amazing that it has been that long already. But when I look back at all we have been through it doesn't seem possible that we packed so much into only 47 years. 

We started out with nothing but wedding gifts and a new mobile home. We each had jobs but I'd spent my last $50 to buy John's wedding ring. Our wedding was so simple compared to these days. Just a cake and punch reception in the church basement, before rushing off to start our 3-day honeymoon in St. Louis. We packed a lot of driving and touring into those hours and I remember feeling out of place in our fancy hotel; just 18 and 20 year-olds braving the cold, cruel world together.

Now, life is good. We are both retired and able to spend our days as we choose. God has blessed us greatly with a wonderful family, a comfortable home, good health, and the peace of God. Our reality is far better than I ever dreamed of as an 18-year-old. I'm so thankful that we have grown together in our faith during these years.

Thank you, God, for the blessings. I Rejoice!

COVID-19 Week 31

Life is continuing to be a new adventure that is becoming old. Masks are the norm, outside of our homes. We don't go out except for necessary errands like grocery shopping. A few Zoom things have returned to in-person meetings with masks and social distancing, including church as of last Sunday.

Our family is experiencing the risks and advantages of using airlines during COVID-19. So far trips during the pandemic have been safe for us. This week we are glad to have our daughter-in-law and two grandchildren visiting from Virginia! Yeah! It is so wonderful to have time with them. 

We are enjoying watching the kids deal with their virtual learning classes and assignments. I now understand how much work it is for mothers or fathers who help their students work online. There are network issues, program issues, log-in issues, motivation issues and more. It is challenging and hard work. I have great respect for all parents working through these times.

It is also interesting to see what subjects second and fourth graders study these days. They are so smart! I've been away from school days too long. The teachers have very challenging days. I'm amazed at the creativity they need to keep their students interested and engaged. Kudos to all parents and teachers!

"We will tell the next generation the praise worthy deeds of the Lord...which he commanded our forefather to teach their children, so the next generation would know them," (Psalm 78:4b-5b NIV).

I still have teaching to do as a grandmother. I ask God to give me the words I need to say, the opportunity to speak, and understanding from my grandchildren.

Tell It To Your Children

"Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation," (Joel 1:3). 

When I came upon this scripture verse this morning it reminded me that as a grandparent I have a responsibility to my grandchildren. I need to make sure that they know the history of faith in our family so they can carry it on to future children and grandchildren. They need to know about my personal path to faith and my husband John's story, too.

My grandchildren need to know about my ancestors who came to Iowa from Indiana and settled along the Iowa river in Marshall County. They met with neighbors on Sunday mornings to worship together until they decided to establish the first church in Marshall County, Bethel Grove Church. It is the church family I grew up in and both my parents grew up in it and met and got married.

My grandchildren need to know how I grew up in a Bible-studying church where I professed my faith when I was 12 years old. But that was just the beginning. I studied in youth group and church camps. Then as a young adult I was asked to join a local group of women studying Friendship Bible Coffee materials. Based on mostly books of the Bible, I learned so much from the weekly fellowship with the faith-filled women, their experiences and how they held on to their faith no matter what happened in their lives.

I still meet with a group of those ladies to study scripture monthly. They are my prayer warriors, lifting me up in the low times and rejoicing with me in the good times.

Faith grows. God's not done with me, yet. I continue to study my Bible and learn through hearing the Word at worship and sharing my faith with those I've come to love through fellowship gatherings and group study. 

I need to tell this all to my children and grandchildren. 

Jesus' Burden is Light

 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I an gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV).

Jesus says a lot about himself in this scripture. He offers us peace, love and healing if we walk with Him. He says He is gentle and humble in heart. Oh, how often Jesus has proven that. He has always stopped to heal those sick along the side of the road when they call to Him, filled with belief in Him. Jesus promises that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. When we walk with Jesus in our life our burdens become service for Him and the load becomes bearable.

This promise of walking with Jesus is one of my favorite scriptures. I think of it often as the peace I will find when I die but it really is applicable during life. I believe Jesus meant for us to find peace amidst the hustle and bustle of a busy life. Raising children, working, busily helping at the church, gardening, cooking, cleaning, and farming are all examples of what Jesus wanted to share the burden of with us.

My Life Application Study Bible suggests that people of Jesus' time were burdened by their sin. Once we accept Jesus as our Savior we can release the burden of sin from our yoke forever. People were also burdened by unfair demands by their religious leaders, oppression and persecution or weariness in their search for God, my Study Bible adds.

It's a new day. Why not try taking on the attitude Jesus offers, share His yoke and make our burden lighter today. Whatever burdens you today can be shared with Jesus and will become light. What a wonderful promise He gives.

Thank you, God, for sending Jesus to be our Savior. Let us share His yoke and make our burden light. Amen.

Ask, Seek, Knock

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8 NIV).

This past weekend we took a drive to Eastern Iowa to view the leaves along the Mississippi River. It was an enjoyable get away with our masks in place outside of the car. I took my camera along, of course. I found it was hazy on Friday so none of the colors seem to pop as I would have liked. But we sought and found some beautiful leaves. 

We visited Iowa's Pikes Peak and the Yellow River Forest, drove along the river and stopped in Guttenberg at the Locks and walked through Amana on our way home. I enjoyed the views of harvest happening along the way, the contrasts of the green grass with tan fields picked clean. 

We asked for safe travel and received. We sought beautiful Iowa views and found them. We knocked on the door of Eastern Iowa and it was opened to us. We experienced God in all the beauty we saw. No human can create leaves of the full spectrum of colors we saw; only God can. The colors are right here at home, too. Take a short drive in your own home town and you will see the same majestic art near you.

Thank you, God, for the beauty of Your Creation. All we have to do to experience You, God, is Ask, Seek, and Knock.

Lost and Found

When we were looking for a house somewhere near our son's family in rural Grimes, we had a realtor who drove us around to houses we wanted to look at. We were pretty much lost and not paying attention to how she got us where we wanted to go. So when we decided to buy this house in Ankeny, we had no idea how to get back to it and it wasn't on GPS yet because it was a new build!

We eventually found it, of course. 

One of my favorite parables that Jesus shared is the parable of the lost sheep.

"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep ad loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent," (Luke 15:4-7 NIV).

I love to picture this rejoicing in heaven, every time someone accepts Jesus Christ as his/her personal Savior. If you haven't chosen Jesus yet, I'd love to talk to you about it. Jesus is a wonderful Savior!

The Unexpected

Sometimes things happen that are unexpected. A surprise visit from a friend or grandchild, a weight loss, a bluebird sighting on the deck, a knock at the door, a phone call, or a colorful balloon sighting over Ankeny. Many unexpected things are good. The things above are blessings usually, like the balloon we saw flying over Ankeny last night. We had a distant view of the balloon but its colorful design made it visible from far away. 

I like nice surprises. They are gifts of grace. Delightful. Heart-warming. Spirit-lifting. Wonderful blessings.

Not all unexpected things are good, they can be challenges.

There can be unexpected illnesses, car crashes, falls, sports injuries, bumps and bruises, a sleepless night, a lost item, or the death of a pet.

No one likes unwelcome surprises. They are burdens, challenges, painful times, difficult to get through.

Jesus knew the disciples would face the unexpected as He fulfilled His purpose on earth. So He tried to prepare them by explaining what they might face.

"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the whole face of the earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man," (Luke 21:34-36 NIV).

Watch and pray in all times of unexpected circumstances. God is always listening. 

Be Prepared

 Welcome to October. The month of falling leaves, pumpkin spice, baseball playoffs, and changing colors has arrived. It’s a beautiful time of year. And it happens to hold my husband’s birthday and our anniversary, so that makes October special to us.

When we planned our wedding for late October I really didn’t worry about the weather as it was planned indoors in the evening. It was a beautiful fall day but by the time our cake and punch reception was over, it was down right chilly. So my new husband put a beautiful white, fur-trimmed coat around my shoulders as we ran to a friend’s waiting car.

 

October holds a variety of weather from cold bristly days to warm surprises in late autumn. The birds and ‘snowbirds’ prepare for a trip south while the rest of us make the semiannual exchange of wardrobes, pulling out the coats and sweaters once again.

 

And in case you haven’t noticed all the commercials on television and yard signs posted, it is also an election year. October is a month of preparing for the chance to use our right to vote.

 

“Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear,” (2 Timothy 4:2-3 NIV).

 

Timothy’s wisdom was well beyond his years. This scripture couldn’t be more relevant to today’s current events and issues. Be prepared by knowing the Word. October is a good month to spend time reading the Bible and studying the Word. So slip on a sweater and cozy up with Scripture; be prepared.

Rainy Days and Mondays

What a blessing! A rainy Sunday that was as dark as night, brought much needed moisture to the ground. Followed by a Monday morning red sun that filled the sky.

"The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises," (Ecclesiastes 1:5 NIV).

The month is drawing to an end and so is the season of summer as it passed. The rain and cooler temperatures welcome in the new fall days with changing colors and falling leaves. The breeze moves the tall grasses in the wind creating soothing sights, yet cool.

God's touch makes all things change with beauty. Only His hands can turn the seasons and bring changes. It is the time for harvest. Gardens explode with ripe squash, round potatoes, pumpkins and gourds. The grapes and apples are ripe and ready for picking. Fields are full of corn and soybeans waiting for their turn to be harvested. Hearts are broken as Iowa farmers mourn the ruined crops in fields damaged by the derecho in August.

"May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works--he who looks at the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke," (Psalm 104:31-32 NIV).

Let us rise up today with gladness and celebrate the coming harvest in fields and in churches. Let us give thanks for our God is mighty! Whatever you need today, ask of God and listen for His answer. Thank you, God for hearing our prayers. Amen.

New Every Morning

Some days all we need is some encouragement. We may feel down or discouraged; lonely or sad and nothing seems to make it all right. Trust in the Lord for He is the same day or night, today and tomorrow. We can always depend on Him. God is our Rock and our Fortress; our Shelter and our Guide.

Stop and pray for what you need and God will answer you. Listen for His answer, stay silent until He speaks. Allow God to speak unto you and bless you with His message. God's Word is true and honorable. He never fails.

"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. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him,"" (Lamentations 3:21-23 NIV). 

Let your heart sing out the words of the great hymn, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." "Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changes not, Thy compassions they fail not; As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be. 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!

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

"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!" (Thomas O. Chisholm, 1921, William Runyan, 1923).

Birthdays

Happy birthday sister! One of my three sisters has a birthday today. I hope she has a wonderful day. With COVID-19 birthdays have been less than delightful for many. We've seen lots of yard signs to celebrate kids and significant adult birthdays this summer. And I'm sure some families have continued to gather for parties. But others have had to downplay the events due to the virus.

Today is also significant because my mother was buried on this day 21 years ago. It wasn't a good birthday for my sister that year either. Though the family was all together, we weren't celebrating her birthday. Birthdays are just like that sometimes. They happen every year and some years the birthday just gets slighted for one reason or another. As I get older I don't want a celebration for some birthdays. This year was one of those years. I turned 65 and got Medicare. Oh boy. That was something to celebrate.

When you are little birthdays are a really big deal. It seems like the world revolves around those birthdays. And when you are six or 10 that is a big deal. Presents are pretty important at that age. When you are older and have everything you need, presents aren't necessary.

I'm thankful for every birthday you have and I'm glad God's truths see each of you through every year.

"The Lord will keep you from all harm--he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore," (Psalm 121:7-8 NIV).

Happy birthday, Burneta. I love you.

Just Breathe

We have had some hazy days lately, caused by the fires out west. The weatherman said the smoke will make for some beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Perhaps you have seen one. They are another example of God's creative beauty that we can experience.

The hazy skies remind us that out west people are living in danger, their homes and lives are in danger. It also reminds me that their air quality is terrible because of the smoke. They can hardly breathe; they are encouraged not to go outside. This reminds me how fortunate we are to have good clean air to breathe. 

Breathing is a natural action of life. Yet, to relax we are often encouraged to breathe deeply, in and out. Slowly inhale and exhale, concentrating on the air moving in and out of our bodies. It is calming to breathe purposefully. It is something so easy to do, yet we rarely take the time to stop and do it.

Breathing exercises offer us a way to release our anxieties; breathe in the Holy Spirit and breathe out our anxieties. It is a good way to calm yourself in anxious times of worry or frustration.

"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord," (Psalm 150:6 NIV). 

Lord, help us to breathe deeply and release the air to cleanse our souls of whatever is troubling us. Let us release the poisons that pollute our breathe and accept the air of Your giving. Thank you, God. Amen.

Beautiful Days

Beautiful days bring me closer to God. I can see clear to heaven when the sun is shining bright and there are no clouds to block my view. God is so good to bless us with sunshine, especially after five days of rain. A person can get plenty grumbly without the sun for that long. I need the sun and thank you, God, we have had lots of sunny days this summer.That is probably one thing that has helped us all get through these days of COVID-19.

"Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain. It is beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth," (Psalm 48:1,2a NIV) 

I want to sing His praises when it is perfect weather like this. My whole soul sings that God is worthy of praise! 

But what about last week when it rained all week. Yes, I want to praise God then, too. It might be a little harder to get started, when it is gloomy and gray, but then I consider how badly we needed the rain and I rejoice to God for ending (at least partially) the drought. And I watch as the plants reach toward the sky, soaking in the raindrops so happily. Yes, everyday is a day to praise our Father above.

Thank you, God, for this beautiful day. Thank you for the sunshine and the rain, for the clouds and the mist. Thank you God for watching over us day and night and for providing all that we need. Amen.

The Falling Wreath

I have a blue wreath on my front door. It is made of blue stems of flowers (fake) but it looks pretty from a distance. We have a large window in the door so I use a suction cup hook to hang the wreath. Sometimes the suction cup lets go and the wreath falls to the porch floor. I think it has happened three times this summer due to changes in the heat usually.

The wreath suffers a little more damage every time it falls, losing a few flowers every time. The wreath still looks surprisingly good, though it has lost many flowers by now. Still, even from up close you won't notice the loss. It's still full and colorful and matches the rest of my decorations. But it is much less bright than it was when it was new.

We are kind of like that wreath. As life moves along we are hit by things that damage us a little bit and then we pick ourselves up again and move on as if nothing happened. No-one sees anything different about us, but we have changed a little. Then the next event happens and we are changed again. Life goes on but each time we suffer a life changing event we are affected in our hearts.

We all have been enduring this pandemic together yet six-feet apart. No more hugs when we need them. That's what I've missed the most. It makes us feel like we are emotionally separated also.  We are faithfully wearing our masks to protect others but we can't see the smiles behind the masks. It feels isolating.

C'OVID-19 has changed us all a little bit. We will go on each day as if nothing happened but we are not the same. 

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting," (Psalm 139:23-24 NIV).

Just One Seed

  Last spring I found a baggie full of seed that I had saved from my mini hollyhocks that grew along our front sidewalk at our former acreage. They reseed the ground and come up again the next year. A good friend shared the seed with me many years ago. They remind me a bit of my mother's hollyhocks that were much larger, growing head high. 

So even though I thought the seeds might be too old, I planted them all in a little two foot square area and wished for the best. I waited and waited for the seeds to sprout and waited some more. Finally after several good rains I recognized one sprout of the mini hollyhocks. I thought sure there would be more to follow but only one plant began to grow.

I feared bugs would get the little lone plant or that it would just dry up and die in our terrible, hard soil, but it kept growing. I kind of forgot about it this summer so it didn't get any water, still it grew. It was jostled around by the derecho, protected behind a north jutting wall. It grew and grew no matter what the conditions were. 

"Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him," (Psalm 126:5-6 NIV).

This week I remembered the plant and went out to see if it was still growing in spite of near drought conditions Ankeny has been experiencing. There it was, spread all over the area, tangled into the nearby plants. When I tried to move the vines the seeds sprinkled all over the ground and I know next year I will have many of the mini hollyhocks coming up in its own little garden. Even when I could get nothing besides milkweeds to grow there, the hollyhocks persevered.

God is good, so very good.

A Blank Page

 I got up early to write my blog and I am faced with a blank page and a new format. I don't like change but here I am adapting to the changes. Life is like that. Each day we face a blank page. What will we do with the new day? How will we use our time. How can we touch someone's life in a meaningful way? What can we do that blesses someone else?

It is a blank page. It could be intimidating or feel like a wonderful blessing. A new day to use as I desire. Will I exercise? Will I eat a healthy diet? Will I get enough sleep? Will I use my body as a temple of the Holy Spirit?

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body,"       (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV).

It is good to be reminded that our body is a temple. How are we treating that temple?Do we care for it as it is precious? Sometimes not. It seems like I often take my body and abuse it, overuse it, and forget to treat it as a treasure. Maybe it could use more pampering, especially as I am older. Parts are wearing out. Aches and pains are more common. 

It is a new day. A new page to write in our life's journal. May your day be filled with blessings.

Amazing Life

Our resident hummingbirds have been especially hungry of late. They are very active and at our feeders almost all day long. I don't know my bird facts well enough to know what it going on but I am enjoying watching the action.

I am amazed at their tiny bodies made for such active lives. Their long beaks are perfect for accessing nectar from flowers or feeders. Their tiny wings flutter so fast they are almost invisible. God's creation skills are perfect.

It isn't just hummingbirds that are a miraculous design. Every animal has individual skills and abilities that make them able to do their own role in life. I'm amazed at the number of dogs and their different breeds as they walk through our neighborhood. They are so different yet they all walk with their owners, at varying degrees of ability. Some are tall, or short, long-haired or short-haired, solid coats or multi-colored. I love the way they look around and smell around, keeping their owners at attention.

Then I think about all the different species of animals and I'm even more amazed at God's creations. Giraffes, gorillas, elephants, tigers, lions, bears, oh my, alligators, mountain goats, sheep, cows, pigs, horses, monkeys, buffalo and so many more animals just amaze me in the detail of their bodies and their lives.

"Take with you seven of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and two of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate, and also seven of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive through out the earth, (Genesis 7:2-3 NIV).

Thank you God for your plan for life on this planet.  Thank you for the animals you have placed here and the birds that fly. Thank you for all the individual people who bless me in many different ways. Your Creation is amazing. Amen.

Thank God for Sprinklers

This has been a summer of dry, hot days. It seems we can't get any rain unless it is accompanied by hurricane force winds. So my husband has been yielding the garden hoses a lot. We have several kinds of sprinklers including a yellow tractor sprinkler that moves about the yard, following the path of the hose. Thank God for sprinklers.

When we walk we often have to dodge sprinklers or somedays when it is so hot, we don't even care if we get wet. We see every kind of sprinkler imaginable in action this summer. Lucky are those who have in-ground sprinkler heads that pop up and begin spraying as programmed.

The grass is getting brown without the water. It stays fresh and green with watering. The flowers also seek refreshment from watering and vegetables need water to continue growing and producing fruit.

Scripture relates the growing season to our lives and getting older.

"The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, "The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him,"" (Psalm 92:12-15 NIV).

Thank you, God for sprinkling us with Your wisdom. Thank you that we can have faith firmly in You. As we walk through our lives, thank You for giving us strength and energy so we can continue to proclaim You as our Rock! Amen.

Flowers and Butterflies

My butterfly bush is in full bloom and welcoming all the insect visitors who drop by. I was excited when a swallowtail was in our yard this weekend. Both the butterfly and the flowers remind me of God and His creation. Though butterfly is not mentioned in the Bibles I have, I'm positive God created the butterfly using His very best creativity. It is amazing to look at the way a butterfly can fly and get its food. And if you look closely this butterfly was even missing its left tail.

The butterfly bush is yet another amazing creation of God's. My bush regrows from the roots every year and is now a huge bush, in just four or five months of growth. Amazing! The tiny flowers that grow in long clusters are sweet treats for all the butterflies. Any time of day I look out, the bush is covered with the small orange and brown butterflies and bees; this was a rare and welcome view of the swallowtail.

""All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers ad the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."" (Isaiah 40:6b-8 NIV).

It truly seems that the breath of the Lord guides the butterflies and the bees to find their nectar. Perhaps if we close our eyes and concentrate we can feel the breath of God guiding us also. Life is filled with changes of direction of the wind and God is the only One who can straighten our path. His Word is the key to all of life. If we seek His Word diligently for answers we will find them. Just like the swallowtail finds the sweet blooms of the butterfly bush.

God bless your day with signs of His love for you.

Vocabulary 2020

Covid…Derecho…It’s been a year of stretching our vocabulary, hasn’t it? It just seems like it is all I can think about. My brain is just full of phrases and news reports and numbers, banging around in my head.

I know everyone is tired of hearing about Iowa’s derecho. It’s not in my dictionary but it must be real. It certainly felt real and left a pathway that is real. Anyone who experienced it will never forget it. And it is hard for me to stop writing about it when damage surrounds us and electricity is just coming back on for some people in Iowa.

With peeled off shingles, shattered and uprooted trees, broken fences, demolished sheds, flattened cornfields and deflated corn bins, one can easily find reasons to pray for those affected by the storm. It is a time to pray for others even if we don’t know their names. I can say prayers of comfort and relief, and praises of peace and survival.

“Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest—I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm,”” (Psalm 55:5-8 NIV).

Lord, search me and find those words of worry and fear. Take them away with Your mighty strength and protection. Restore our trust in You, for You are the blessed, gracious One, the Almighty One we love. Amen.

Be Filled With the Spirit

My heart is broken for those who suffered losses during the derecho last Monday. I had just finished my blog when our weather radio warned of a thunderstorm. I had to look out my windows because I thought it had been a pleasant day. It was just gray clouds that I saw. It didn't look like a serious storm.

Then moments later the radio warned again of the approaching storm and strong winds likely, soon the Ankeny sirens went off and the wind picked up. Suddenly the trees were blowing sideways and anything not secure was blowing by. We were lucky that our house had good shingles and we have no mature trees and our deck was on the east side of the house protected from the wind that came from the north/northwest.

It was a frightening storm. I was tempted to go to the basement several times. The pressure on the house was severe. It blew against our west side garage doors and even popped the attic door access open in the garage ceiling. Ankeny's downtown area and older areas of town with mature trees was devastated. Streets were completely blocked. Just like other towns the loss of big old trees was overwhelming.

With all the year 2020 has brought to Iowans already, it would be easy to sit back and pout about the hard life we have.

"Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of or Lord Jesus Christ," (Ephesians 5:18b-20 NIV).

Thank you Lord for our safety, for returning electricity to homes, for your protection during the storm, for Your constant presence in our lives. May we be reminded of your power and strength and control over all things. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Finding Strength

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint," (Isaiah 40:29-31 NIV).

Do you ever have a day when you feel weak and tired? When I wake up I can tell if I have enough energy for the day or if it is going to be a lazy kind of day. I never feel motivated to take our daily walk but when I get started I'm glad I did it. A cup of coffee will get me going sometimes and other times I just need to pray for God to strengthen me. With all the aches and pains that my body has, I need a bigger boost from God to keep me going.

I know there are others who have much more to keep them down and they never complain. I wish I could be more like them. I must give praise that I only have arthritis in one hand. Only one hip is sore and only my lower back aches. I give thanks for all that God has blessed me with and I receive hope and inspiration from the verses in Isaiah.

Read through those verses once again and allow them to touch your situation. May you find hope fills your heart and gives you strength for today, tomorrow and each day after that. God bless you.

#625

Cherished Moments

We flew home from Virginia, through Charlotte yesterday, leaving behind four of our beloved family, bringing along the older sisters to return to their home here in Iowa. The only exciting part of the trip was the hurried walk through the Charlotte airport as our connection flight was across the airport and we had limited time to get there. We made it, though there were some hungry girls when we arrived in Des Moines.

It was sad saying goodbye, not knowing when we will see them again. But we are so thankful that we made the trip. There are so many memories to treasure. We made a visit to historic Williamsburg downtown and walked through the street admiring the old shops and homes that have been preserved. Though the historic folk were not present because of COVID-19, we got a taste of the past and admired the old brick buildings and a farmstead with sheep.

We spent part of a day at Top Golf having fun hitting golf balls in preparation for watching the PGA Tournament. There was a lot of hide and seek played, some video games, a dangerous pancake game, Clue, and lots of laughter, too. We spent lots of time playing with Phoebe the dog. It was a delightful time.

"The Lord will keep you from all harm---he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore," (Psalm 121:7-8 NIV).

In spite of our hesitations about making the trip we all were healthy and still are, thankfully. God kept us from all harm and watched over us both then and now. God is so good. He is so, so good.

As you go through today may you remember the promise from Psalm 121 and be blessed.

Fly Away

We recently boarded a plane for Virginia to see our beloved grandchildren and their parents. (Yes, the parents are beloved, too.) It was a difficult decision considering the pandemic situation, but we only live once. We brought the older girls with us to see their siblings. So it is a houseful of happy reunions and an introduction to the family’s new home.

I love looking at the clouds from the plane and from the ground also. It is easy to imagine myself floating through air or sitting on the soft white billows, if only I could. Sometimes I try to make the clouds appear as shapes; they move and change as the wind takes them on an adventure over land. 

I’m amazed at God’s creation of the clouds. He forms all different kinds of clouds to produce rain or to add beauty to the sky. I’m in awe of our God of Creation. Though I will always wonder about what happens to me when I die, it is a happy thought that I might fly away through the clouds. My guess is that for believers it will be better than I could ever imagine. 

“The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away,” (Psalm 90:10 NIV).

Thank you God for creating the beautiful clouds in the sky. Thank you for giving us imagination and faith to trust in You for whatever lies ahead. Amen.

New Compassions

“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. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him,” (Lamentations 3:21-24 NIV).

This scripture was probably the inspiration for the Thomas Chisholm song, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” written in 1923. “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!”

Those words are still true. Every morning I experience God’s new mercies in my life. Days are blessed with God’s compassion toward me, even when I don’t deserve it. Rarely do I pause and reflect on how blessed I am. How much compassion God has shown me each day.

One good way to be aware of God’s compassion is to make a list of five blessings God put in my life today. It is a great way to end the day and put me in the right attitude for a peaceful rest. 

Maybe you can try it tonight, too. You may be surprised at how long your list may be. Praise God for His faithfulness and His compassions! 

Goodbye July

I can't believe it is the end of July. I used to measure the summer months by sheep shows and fairs but not this year for anyone except the exhibitors. I'm so glad the FFA and 4H kids were able to take their projects to be judged this year. Hopefully the county fairs went well and without any COVID-19 problems.

Blooms on flowers and vegetables from the garden are another way to tell how summer is flying by. We got our first red tomato this week and several others are turning pink. That seems like the end of July. Except for needing more rain, I can't complain about July or summer weather. It seems like we have had more warm weather and sunny days that usual. And I've loved every minute of it.

"What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short," (1 Corinthians7:29 NIV).

How true for us older folks, especially. Time passes faster the older I get. I'm thankful for every day. July has been a blessing to me that John and I could walk everyday. We walk 2.5 to 3 miles once a day together, then usually John walks another 2-3 miles.

Thank you July for your sweet corn and flower blooms, for ball games and sunshine, for green beans and cucumbers and delicious fresh tomatoes.

May I enjoy every day you give us, Lord. Thank you for your gift of time. Amen.

Summer Secrets

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want," (Philippians 4:12 NIV).

Back when John and I first got married we had a very tight budget. Every paycheck was accounted for in bills. If anything was left over we bought groceries. Then we started counting on credit cards to get what we needed. We spent ahead of what we had and soon learned that was not a good thing to do. We realized our problem and began the long painful process of paying off all the credit cards. We soon learned to use credit cards only for what we could pay off each month. That has been our rule ever since.

I remember the year John made a lot of money at work and got a huge bonus. (Huge to us.) We were able to pay off three car loans and our house mortgage and we became debt free. That is the best feeling ever.

I know that God was with us through the entire learning process of our married life and He is still the One we turn to for wisdom and balance. God is our secret to being satisfied with our life. He blesses us with His Word when we search for answers. He loved us through the rough times and into the good times. God is so so good.

Thank you, Lord, for being our Secret to living. Without You we are lost and in need. You are our Secret for being content and we thank You and praise You. Amen.

The Good Book

I find myself remembering the days when I belonged to my home church. I grew up in a small country church - (you must drive two miles on gravel to get there). The church that I attended 60+ years of my life was established by my Great Great Great Grandparents in their home in 1849. That was when they settled near the Iowa River after traveling 400 miles from Owen County Indiana.

The settlers who came to the rural Liscomb/Albion area established the church with "the only creed the Bible." That is the creed I still live by. I've had many different Bibles during my life and all have played a part in making me who I am. My first Bible was given to me by the pastor when I was baptized at age 12. It was a RSV. Then I got the Good News Bible (Today's English Version) for use at church camp and Sunday school.

I progressed to other versions including the Living Bible, a Parallel Bible with four versions side by side. When I went to college I was to use The New Oxford Annotated Bible for my Bible classes. There were several others including a Women's edition and finally I got my New International Version of the Life Application Study Bible that I love for the footnotes. Then most recently I read through the English Standard Version and I'm working on the New English Translation God Speaks Interactive Bible.

Each one I've read through has helped me grow and learn through the Scriptures. As Scripture says "...for they received at the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true," (Acts 17:11 NIV).

We are to study the Word faithfully, with eagerness and delight in His Word. And we must use the Word to examine preaching or speaking for truth or falsity.

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work," (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV).

Lord, speak to us through Your Holy Word so we can hear the message You have for us. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen.

Our Shepherd; Our Protector

Can you imagine living in Jesus' time and traveling through the rocky hills around Jerusalem? In September we were scheduled to travel to the Holy Land, but COVID-19 happened and the trip was cancelled. I was anxious to see the landscape where Jesus lived.

I've heard the hills provided places for thieves to hide and jump out at their victims. They were dangerous as the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 121. This Psalm speaks to the ancient believer as well as it speaks to us today. God is our Helper, our Protector, our Guard, our Shepherd and our Watchman.

"I 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.

He will not let your foot slip--he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you--the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm ou by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm--he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." (Psalm 121:1-8 NIV).

I feel safe when I read this Psalm. It is so comforting when I consider God is so big that He watches over each and every one of us, no matter what we are doing or where we are. The Psalm says God never sleeps; He never takes a nap. God watches our footsteps, keeping our steps safe, free of falling. God watches over us from the time we are born to the time we die - forevermore. He is always there for us.

Thank You, God for being our Shepherd and Protector every hour of every day. Thank you for loving us as You do. Thank You for being there when the dangers come sneaking out of the hills. Help us remember we can turn to you in every situation of fear. Thank you, God.