Following Rules

The 15 Days to Slow the Coronavirus Guidelines were issued on March 16, 2020 and have been urgently repeated and reminded by Vice President Mike Pence, almost daily. I can't remember a time when rules were so important to be followed. The Guidelines include 1. Listen to and follow the directions of your state and local authorities. 2. If you feel sick, stay home. Do not go to work. 3. If your children are sick, keep them at home. 4. If someone in your household has tested positive for the Coronavirus, keep the entire household at home. 5. If you are an older American, stay home and away from other people. 6. If you have a serious underlying health condition stay home and away from other people.

The guidelines include encouraging everyone to wash hands regularly and to wipe down surfaces in the home often. Thus disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer have been flying off the shelves. Life has changed dramatically in 15-days. Restaurants have closed and curbside pickup and drive-through have replaced eating out. Nearly all stores and small businesses, including services, have shut down except for grocery stores, convenience stores and supermarkets.

Yesterday, the President announced the guidelines would continue to April 30. Governor Reynolds is expected to follow with similar instructions when she makes her daily address later today.

""Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these tow commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."" (Matthew 22:36-40 ESV).

Christians have rules to follow also and they are even more important to follow than the 15-day guidelines, especially during these challenging times. Love God and your neighbor. Short and succinct.

God, thank you for being with us throughout this scary and remarkable time. Help us to be patient, law-abiding citizens with hearts filled with love for our fellow man and woman. Show us ways to love our neighbors, and accept our love to you, Lord. We pray. Amen.

Be safe and be well. God bless you.

Words of Wisdom

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." (Romans 12:12 ESV).

I was reading the Bible this week and this verse just jumped off the page to me. How perfect are the words for this pandemic crisis we are in! We are in the downhill side of the government's 15-day plan to slow the spread of the Coronavirus, COVID-19. However, no one is sure what will happen as the 15-days end.

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." (Romans 12:12 ESV).

We have plenty of hope to rejoice in. We have hope in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We have a home that is comfortable; we have plenty to eat; we have books to read, TV to watch, a computer and I-pad to operate, and phones and FaceTime to reach others. We have the medicines we need. We are well. We don't have to go to work.

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." (Romans 12:12 ESV).

As we attempt to stay home and remain six feet from other people if we go out, our patience can be challenged. Luckily, being retired we cancelled all our non-essential appointments and are waiting for the all-clear sign to resume normal life. We have taken walks to the mailbox and around the neighborhood and everyone followed the six-foot-distancing rule.

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." (Romans 12:12 ESV).

We can pray constantly. I lost another friend this week and I found myself waking up every hour or so  with her on my mind and in my heart. I prayed for her family and for the blessing of her friendship for many years. I wasn't aware she was ill or I would have encouraged her with cards and my words. I feel terrible that I didn't know she was suffering. I've been praying for my usual prayer list from our Growth Group and from my Bible study groups several times a day. I can be in constant prayer.

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." (Romans 12:12 ESV).

Lonely Places

When I get up and write these blogs, sometimes it is quiet and lonely. I appreciate the quiet when I'm writing but other times the lonely times feel lonely and sad. Are any of you facing loneliness as you find yourself alone due to COVID-19? Some call it shelter-in-place, stay at home, self isolate; call it whatever you desire, it can be lonely.

Ask my husband and he will tell you I prefer to stay home over going to a gathering of people. But there is something about not being able to do something that makes me want to do it. Well, almost. I really don't mind being isolated with my husband and son. We have been inventing activities to do and playing pool and a lot of cards. We watched church together on my computer yesterday. We have been taking turns preparing the meals. That I enjoy.

Being alone is a perfect time to pray. I've been doing a lot of praying through this time of seclusion and it always gives me a sense of calm and peace. I've been going through and praying for all the people I know who need extra prayer and I've started going through a mental list of those I know and love also. There are many people to be concerned about at this time and prayer is better than worry.

"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed," (Luke 5:16 NIV).

It is always good to follow Jesus' example. When He was teaching He was often surrounded by mobs of people trying to get close enough to hear what He was saying. Everyone wanted to be close to Him. Jesus had to make time to be alone and pray after the crowds returned home. We too, can follow Jesus' example and use this unusual time of aloneness to spend extra time with God. We gain our strength from God by spending time with Him.

If you are feeling lonely, reach out to someone and let them know. There are people who care and may be experiencing the same loneliness you feel. And use this time of quiet to pray. God is always there to listen.

Persistence Pays

I've had a couple of problems or "issues" that have frustrated me lately that have resolved themselves, much to my delight! Both have dealt with technology. (Big surprise).

One day the keyboard for my desktop computer just quit working. Nothing I typed would record on the computer. My keyboard is nine years old and the 'n' key is nearly faded away. It would be no surprise if it quit working. But it was very irritating. I even got the keyboard that came with the computer, (very small and impractical) and tried to get it to work, but I didn't know how to make it connect with my Mac. So that didn't work. So for several weeks I've been using my new laptop for everything I needed to do. That was fine but I debated if I should just pack up my Mac and say goodbye.

I didn't and one day I happened to be messing with the keyboard and I found a button I hadn't touched before. It has a sun on it. It wasn't the on-off button; that is clearly marked. But the sun button evidently turns on and off the ability for my keyboard to use solar power. And my computer worked again when I pressed it!

Secondly, I bought a new external memory device for my new laptop. My old one was full and could no longer back up my data. I thought it was as simple as plugging it in to get it to work. Apparently not. I spent the next three weeks frustrated because it wouldn't let me log in and start the backup. At first I had both memory devices connected at the same time but that didn't seem to work. So I unplugged the original device and plugged in the new one. The plug wasn't the right size. I plugged it in at the computer and it fit but still it wouldn't let me connect. I tried installing the new memory device probably a dozen times and still no luck. One day I was just messing around and tried once again to install it. It worked and now it has backed up my computer's memory efficiently ever since.

I could have called the Geek Squad for help but I'm stubborn. I want to figure it out myself but I don't know what I'm doing when it comes to technology. I could have saved myself weeks of frustration but the issues resolved themselves, sort of. It took persistence and multiple attempts and good luck I guess.

It sort of reminds me of prayer. I have some prayers I've been saying for years but I've recently beefed up my prayers. I say them multiple times a day, day after day. I'm practicing persistence and perseverance in prayer.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God," (Philippians 4:6 NIV).

Peace in the Midst of Distress

Blessings to you this morning.

It is a time of disturbing news and uncertainty and even fear as we hear of the spread of the coronavirus. Who has seen a time like this? It has been some time since the United States has faced such an invasive illness. Yet, it is here and a reality we must be aware of and take rational measures to protect ourselves.

Only God knows our future and only God offers us the comfort of His words of wisdom from Scripture. These words offer us peace to keep our attitude level and calm. Whatever you are facing, be it decisions or illness, may these words from God surround you with a peace of mind during these
days of distress.

"For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you," (Isaiah 41:13 NIV).

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline," (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV).

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble, Therefore we will not fear," (Psalm 46:1-2a NIV).

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid," (John 14:27 NIV).

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord," (Romans 8:35-39 NIV).

May God be with you and give you peace.

Creation Continues

I have a mug placemat that I've been using for more than a decade. It is made of a tube of fabric filled with sand then coiled around itself. And hot glued into a circle. It was made to absorb some of the heat, keeping my cup warm longer. It sits next to my computer and most of the day it holds one of my mugs. Someone was smart to think of such a thing to make.

All around me I am amazed by things someone invented. The printing press made it possible for us to hold a book in our hands while we read. Johannes Gutenberg of Germany invented the first printing press in the late 1400s. The Bible was the first book Gutenberg printed in1455. The first English Bible was printed by William Tyndall in the 1500s. It was illegal and banned in England, because the King didn't give his approval. Eventually Tyndall was executed for his betrayal of the king.

I was sitting looking at some simple invention the other day and wondered how the idea for some of our most used gadgets came to be. Through the years people have creatively made things to meet the need of the public. Tea bag holders, chip clips, emery boards, measuring cups, dishwashers, music stands, cup holders in cars, shoehorns, eye glasses, remote controls, shoe strings, disposable diapers and more.

The most amazing creations, to me, are God's. His creation of the beautiful landscapes around the world and the wonderful individuals that populate the earth are the most incredible creations. I believe God brought all things into existence. I thank Him for His creation.

Jesus prayed a prayer for us in John 17:24-26 MSG, noting that God loved us even before we were created.

"Father, I want those you gave me to be with me, right where I am, so they can see my glory, the splendor you gave me, having loved me long before there ever was a world. Righteous Father, the world has never known you, but I have known you, and these disciples know that you sent me on this mission. I have made your very being known to them--who you are and what you do--and continue to make it known, so that your love for me might be in them exactly as I am in them."

Thank you, Father, for creating this amazing, complicated world we live in. Help us be the best we can be, reflecting Jesus every day. Amen.

Hide and Seek

When was the last time you played Hide and Seek? Kids love to play it. Parents and grandparents are wonderful when they play along. There are favorite hiding places in our house. At our house try the pantry or the shower, the closets, under the desk, or beside the washing machine if you are small.Where do you hide at your house?

Adam and Eve found out they couldn't hide from God.

"Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, "Where are you?"  He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid." And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" (Genesis 3:8-11 NIV).

God sees us everywhere we go. There is no use hiding. God reads our minds and our hearts. Not even our most isolated thoughts are private from God.

"O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts," (Psalm 7:9, NIV).

O God, when I am ashamed and sorrowful for what I have done, I come to you and you greet me with open arms and a loving hug. I'm so thankful that I can come to you and ask your forgiveness once again. You continue to love me through my mistakes. I cannot hide, nor do I need to hide from you. Thank you, Lord.

We are His Sheep

It's been almost two years since we ended our sheep showing days so you would think I'd be over the sadness by now. But sometimes sadness is reawakened by a sudden memory or thought. It comes creeping in suddenly. As I lay in bed last night I had a flood os sadness come over me as I wondered what it would be like if my grandchildren could have continued to show sheep,

It's silly because I know it wasn't possible to continue without a place to put the sheep. It was getting ridiculously expensive to buy quality lambs, too.

For around 30 years we raised and bred the lambs, each year the stock getting better. We even endured a tragedy of losing the whole flock to disease and had to wait a full year before having sheep on our property. It was devastating but John started all over with a new stock and built a flock again, even better than the first.

When we moved to Ankeny from our acreage our youngest son had room on his acreage to house show lambs for two more years.

I miss the sheep, especially the baby lambs that come this time of year. But, my deepest sadness is for my grandchildren's experiences. They were so good at showing sheep! They had developed such great skills that it is sad they can't use them anymore.

But that is life. Things change. We adjust and conform to new opportunities, stretching our abilities in new directions, perfecting new skills.

"You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are people, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord," (Ezekiel 34:31 NIV).

God is consistent throughout all of life. The ups and downs, the unknowns and the struggles. God is always there for us. Even through times of sadness greater than mine, God is the constant blessing we can turn to. He knows His sheep and He understands our sorrows.

Thank you, God.

God's Gift of Hope

Sometimes when things in life get rough, be it times of illness or discouragement or grief, we need God's hope to see us through. We may not have enough of our own hope, so we depend on God's. When we turn to His Holy Word we find His hope woven through the verses, ready to lift us up when we need it most.

When the weight of our sin weighs heavy on our shoulders we can turn to His Word for hope.

"My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word," (Psalm 119:81 NIV).

And be raised up and forgiven.

When we are tired and weary and feeling weak in our whole constitution, His hope is for us!

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken," (Psalm 62:5-6 NIV)

And be strengthened.

When nothing seems to be going right and we feel downhearted, His Word gives us hope for the future.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you," (Jeremiah 29:11-12 NIV).

And be prayerful.

When we are afraid and fearful of the world, we know God is in control.

"The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love," (Psalm 147:11 NIV),

And be blessed, loved, and thankful.

May you find today filled with God's hope.