"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it," (1 Timothy 6:6-7 NIV).
This scripture is so holy and pure. It is hard to consider myself ever achieving godliness but Timothy tells us one way to draw closer to God is godliness with contentment. The American Heritage Dictionary defines godliness as divine or devout. Contentment means happy or satisfied. Timothy is talking about divine satisfaction leading to great gain. But how do we achieve divine satisfaction?
I remember as a newlywed, longing for what everyone else had. We were tight on money, sooo tight! It was a hard time trying to make ends meet at the end of the month. We had a nice home and enough food to eat but there were wants like a washer and dryer that we desired. John would take me to work then go to the laundromat and wash clothes. We had one car so when John was at work, I was at home.
One of our first big wants was to move to the country. My parents helped us by selling us a block of land to move our mobile home to. I don't know how we afforded all the work it took to make that happen, (we must have saved money somehow). We got to the country and began making our place a home. But, then it was a desire for a real house and a second car and bigger space for our children and on and on.
Through the years we jumped through hoops to get more and more. Finally, in retirement age, I'm satisfied. I can't think of a thing I need. There are still wants occasionally, but I no longer want the bigger house with lots of stuff. I'm at the point where I want to downsize and get rid of all the unnecessary stuff that clutters my house. I want a simple life. I've reached contentment, far too late it seems. But it is a blessing and indeed, great gain.
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well," (Matthew 6:33 NIV).
Monday, June 29, 2020
Thursday, June 25, 2020
The Earth is the Lord's
I grew up on a farm where my Dad taught me to love the earth as he did. He was a farmer at heart. He was a poor farmer so he ended up getting day jobs to be able to afford his delight of farming. Daddy was a surveyor for the County Conservation Board where he marked out waterways and terraces to protect the land from erosion. When that job ended he got a job for the State Highway Commission where he marked out roads and worked with other farmers who were affected by new roads being constructed through their farms.
Daddy's farm equipment was never quite up to par. He could only afford an older used tractor, and had older models of every other equipment he needed. Still he loved working the fields when he could. He loved being close to the soil and watching what the Lord brought forth from it. He was a good steward and caretaker of the land.
As a young girl I loved "helping" whenever Daddy would allow it, which was quite often. I would ride along and listen as Daddy answered my many questions. I grew to love the smell of the rich black earth of Marshall County, Iowa. My favorite job was picking up rocks from the fields. Nearly every year the plowing of the earth would bring stones to the top of the soil that would be hard on the equipment. So my sister and I would help in the field by picking up the rocks we could lift and point out bigger ones that could be picked up by the tractor and scoop. We had a rock pile at the back of the barnyard that grew bigger every year.
Daddy's real talent was singing. And no song was more appropriate for him than, "The Earth Is The Lord's." He would sing it in church every spring. He shared his love of the earth with everyone there.
"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters," (Psalm 24:1-2 NIV).
Daddy's farm equipment was never quite up to par. He could only afford an older used tractor, and had older models of every other equipment he needed. Still he loved working the fields when he could. He loved being close to the soil and watching what the Lord brought forth from it. He was a good steward and caretaker of the land.
As a young girl I loved "helping" whenever Daddy would allow it, which was quite often. I would ride along and listen as Daddy answered my many questions. I grew to love the smell of the rich black earth of Marshall County, Iowa. My favorite job was picking up rocks from the fields. Nearly every year the plowing of the earth would bring stones to the top of the soil that would be hard on the equipment. So my sister and I would help in the field by picking up the rocks we could lift and point out bigger ones that could be picked up by the tractor and scoop. We had a rock pile at the back of the barnyard that grew bigger every year.
Daddy's real talent was singing. And no song was more appropriate for him than, "The Earth Is The Lord's." He would sing it in church every spring. He shared his love of the earth with everyone there.
"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters," (Psalm 24:1-2 NIV).
Monday, June 22, 2020
Seeking Answers
"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).
What do you need today? These scripture verses assure us that if we are persistent in asking God for what we need it will be given to us. Be tenacious in asking for wisdom, knowledge, patience, love and understanding and we will receive it.
What are you looking for? Jesus will help you find it. Are you looking for answers, forgiveness, mercy, or grace? God's Word will reveal answers to us as we read it. Jesus bought us forgiveness, mercy and grace when He went to the cross for us.
Are you knocking on a door? Are you looking for employment or knocking for God to hear your prayers? God will answer the door and hear our questions and desires. God will open doors for us regarding employment if we consistently seek God's guidance and direction as we look for a job. We can't give up or lose patience. God wants us to be committed to our request.
God doesn't always answer in our time frame (now). He may be teaching us a lesson, helping us grow in our faith, or teaching us to wait for what is best for us. The more we learn about God the clearer our answers become in God's time.
What do you need today? These scripture verses assure us that if we are persistent in asking God for what we need it will be given to us. Be tenacious in asking for wisdom, knowledge, patience, love and understanding and we will receive it.
What are you looking for? Jesus will help you find it. Are you looking for answers, forgiveness, mercy, or grace? God's Word will reveal answers to us as we read it. Jesus bought us forgiveness, mercy and grace when He went to the cross for us.
Are you knocking on a door? Are you looking for employment or knocking for God to hear your prayers? God will answer the door and hear our questions and desires. God will open doors for us regarding employment if we consistently seek God's guidance and direction as we look for a job. We can't give up or lose patience. God wants us to be committed to our request.
God doesn't always answer in our time frame (now). He may be teaching us a lesson, helping us grow in our faith, or teaching us to wait for what is best for us. The more we learn about God the clearer our answers become in God's time.
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Doing Good Works
Yesterday I gave platelets at LifeServe Blood Center in Urbandale. They know me and I know all the faces there, even with their masks on. They are a wonderful crew and they are kind and thoughtful. It is their job to make each donor feel comfortable during their experience. I always do. Yesterday it wasn't very busy when I arrived but when I left there was a line coming in. That makes me glad. I know summertime can be slow for them.
What surprised me was the number of people giving blood during the pandemic. It seemed busier than normal and I know now people are donating their blood after having COVID-19 for research.
I have been donating for many years. It is one thing I can do for the community. It is my way of volunteering. I feel blessed that my health is such that I can give blood. Not everyone can. But there is almost always a need. I encourage anyone who is able to make an appointment or volunteer in another way.
"Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives," (Titus 3:14 NIV).
We all have gifts to use and can be kind, compassionate and caring to others as Jesus asks of us.
"For we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do," (Ephesians 2:10 NIV).
Blessed is this day. Go and do good and be blessed.
What surprised me was the number of people giving blood during the pandemic. It seemed busier than normal and I know now people are donating their blood after having COVID-19 for research.
I have been donating for many years. It is one thing I can do for the community. It is my way of volunteering. I feel blessed that my health is such that I can give blood. Not everyone can. But there is almost always a need. I encourage anyone who is able to make an appointment or volunteer in another way.
"Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives," (Titus 3:14 NIV).
We all have gifts to use and can be kind, compassionate and caring to others as Jesus asks of us.
"For we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do," (Ephesians 2:10 NIV).
Blessed is this day. Go and do good and be blessed.
Monday, June 15, 2020
What Makes You Shiver?
There is a little two-year-old boy across the street who loves garbage trucks. Every pick-up morning his mom or big sister brings him out to the front step where they sit and watch as the big truck gets closer and closer. The little boy shivers in excitement.
When is the last time you shivered in excitement? Our neighbor set off a fireworks show in our backyard a couple years ago and I remember sitting with my granddaughter watching the beauty explode in the sky. We shivered. Our granddaughter Paige rode into the State Fair pavilion carrying the United States flag; her horse's tail flowing in the breeze. I shivered.
I know I would shiver with excitement if my North Carolina grandchildren walked through the door.
Can you imagine the shivering going on when the eleven disciples gathered with the recently Arisen Jesus and heard Him say:
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been give to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age," (Matthew 28:18-20 NIV).
Thinking about Jesus and His love for us makes me shiver. I need someone like that to love me and never leave me as He has promised to do. He is with us always. I shiver. May today fill you with experiences that make you shiver in excitement or delight. God is that good.
When is the last time you shivered in excitement? Our neighbor set off a fireworks show in our backyard a couple years ago and I remember sitting with my granddaughter watching the beauty explode in the sky. We shivered. Our granddaughter Paige rode into the State Fair pavilion carrying the United States flag; her horse's tail flowing in the breeze. I shivered.
I know I would shiver with excitement if my North Carolina grandchildren walked through the door.
Can you imagine the shivering going on when the eleven disciples gathered with the recently Arisen Jesus and heard Him say:
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been give to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age," (Matthew 28:18-20 NIV).
Thinking about Jesus and His love for us makes me shiver. I need someone like that to love me and never leave me as He has promised to do. He is with us always. I shiver. May today fill you with experiences that make you shiver in excitement or delight. God is that good.
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Be Blessed in Your Doing
This week I’m enjoying the Cedar Falls Christian Writers Workshop virtually, on Zoom, yet another sign of the pandemic times we are in. It is an annual workshop, usually held in person, so it is nice to see familiar faces and greet new faces as well. I enjoy the workshop because I always learn something new.
Sometimes it is challenging to come up with a topic for my twice-weekly blogs, so I appreciate new insights and ideas. The Scriptures are always available for inspiration so I shouldn't complain. And thankfully, God always comes through when I'm stumped. The workshop encourages me to keep writing for God’s glory.
The goal of my blog is to inspire you and lift you up. I pray for my words to be a blessing to you and that you retrieve some morsel of God’s truth that you needed to hear. I hope you are drawn to God’s Word and that it blesses you.
“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves…But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets, but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing,” (James 1:22, 25 ESV).
May your day include being a doer who acts, living the Word for God. May you be blessed in your doing.
Monday, June 8, 2020
A Quiet Life
"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody," (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 NIV).
With the coronavirus pandemic we have been living a quiet life for 12 weeks. I miss my grandchildren so much that I can hardly stand it. I look forward to getting groceries or picking up prescriptions because they are my only outings. Well, we also walk around the neighborhood daily. That helps, too. We see other people out and about but don't talk with them except for a casual "hello". Ours is a quiet life.
I have been keeping my hands busy with cooking and baking and laundry and cleaning (very little cleaning). I also worked a puzzle or two, colored a book full of inspirational images, baked some more and spent time writing. That's about it. My husband took over watering the plants and is doing a far better job than I did. He is now the lead gardener. He gets an "A+" for his efforts.
I admit I'm getting tired of this quiet life. I am a homebody anyway so this time of isolation has been right up my alley, right? John has always had a hard time getting me out of the house to go somewhere. But lately I've been longing for something else. Isn't that that way we humans are: wanting what we don't have!
Things are beginning to open up. Whether that is a good thing or not, I don't know. Is it safe? John has several things that makes him more susceptible to getting illness so we are trying to prevent exposure to the pandemic.
Meanwhile, back on the city ranch home, we are leading a quiet life, minding our own business and working with our hands so that we may win the respect of outsiders and not be dependent on anybody.
May God bless your day. Amen.
With the coronavirus pandemic we have been living a quiet life for 12 weeks. I miss my grandchildren so much that I can hardly stand it. I look forward to getting groceries or picking up prescriptions because they are my only outings. Well, we also walk around the neighborhood daily. That helps, too. We see other people out and about but don't talk with them except for a casual "hello". Ours is a quiet life.
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| Beans and tomatoes 2020 |
I admit I'm getting tired of this quiet life. I am a homebody anyway so this time of isolation has been right up my alley, right? John has always had a hard time getting me out of the house to go somewhere. But lately I've been longing for something else. Isn't that that way we humans are: wanting what we don't have!
Things are beginning to open up. Whether that is a good thing or not, I don't know. Is it safe? John has several things that makes him more susceptible to getting illness so we are trying to prevent exposure to the pandemic.
Meanwhile, back on the city ranch home, we are leading a quiet life, minding our own business and working with our hands so that we may win the respect of outsiders and not be dependent on anybody.
May God bless your day. Amen.
Thursday, June 4, 2020
What is in a Name?
When I was young I struggled with disliking my name. Gloria was such an old-fashioned name, I thought. Nobody else in school had my name. It wasn't like the popular names of Debbie, Diane, Linda, or like the pretty names of Holly, Cindy, or Josie. My name just sounded old or religious.
I went through years of disliking my name; of being embarrassed when the teacher would call my name and when I had to introduce myself. It was just a name, but it was a major thing associated with me and who I was. I've come to realize it is just a name.
However, in the Bible names are important. God gave some of His beloved special names. Abram became Abraham. "No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations," (Genesis 17:5 NIV). Jacob became Israel (Genesis 32:28 NIV). Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah (Genesis 41:45 NIV).
Names set you apart. They spark memories. They carry meaning. Issac means "he laughs". Diana means luminous or perfect. Deborah means bee. Linda means beautiful or pretty. Gloria means glory.
The greatest name of all is Jesus. Jesus means Messiah, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Savior, Immanuel, Son of the Most High and many, many more. "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end," (Luke 1:32-33 NIV).
God's name is the Most High. His name is to be hallowed and lifted up. He is "I Am"and is described in the Bible as Lord God, awesome, Father, Lord of All, all-knowing and all-Present, Creator, sovereign, Holy, powerful, merciful and forgiving, righteous, good and generous, beautiful and desirable.
"I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word," (Psalm 138:2 NIV).
I went through years of disliking my name; of being embarrassed when the teacher would call my name and when I had to introduce myself. It was just a name, but it was a major thing associated with me and who I was. I've come to realize it is just a name.
However, in the Bible names are important. God gave some of His beloved special names. Abram became Abraham. "No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations," (Genesis 17:5 NIV). Jacob became Israel (Genesis 32:28 NIV). Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah (Genesis 41:45 NIV).
Names set you apart. They spark memories. They carry meaning. Issac means "he laughs". Diana means luminous or perfect. Deborah means bee. Linda means beautiful or pretty. Gloria means glory.
The greatest name of all is Jesus. Jesus means Messiah, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Savior, Immanuel, Son of the Most High and many, many more. "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end," (Luke 1:32-33 NIV).
God's name is the Most High. His name is to be hallowed and lifted up. He is "I Am"and is described in the Bible as Lord God, awesome, Father, Lord of All, all-knowing and all-Present, Creator, sovereign, Holy, powerful, merciful and forgiving, righteous, good and generous, beautiful and desirable.
"I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word," (Psalm 138:2 NIV).
Monday, June 1, 2020
Welcome, June
Welcome to June. It's almost summer. It's time for vacations, summer camps, swimming, reunions and picnics. Well, maybe. We still need to wear masks and remain six feet apart. It appears the COVID-19 pandemic rules are falling apart; so many mass gatherings have happened; protests for the death of a man by a police officer in Minneapolis. Some people may have hoped to hold a peaceful rally, but just a few riled up the crowd and turned them into a mass of mob mentality, causing damage to property, stealing property, vandalizing property, trashing property, starting fires. I don't understand.
God understands.
I wish June could arrive on a peaceful note, one of calm and quiet, so we could hear the birds chirping happily or the children playing joyfully. I wish life could return to normal where we could gather as friends or extended family. When we could attend church safely, and hug friends we care about. Who knows what these mass gatherings will do to the COVID-19 numbers in the future days.
God knows.
"I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me, Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken," (Psalm 16:7-8 NIV).
God is!
No matter what is going on in your life, God is there for you. Maybe we need to turn off the news and contemplate our own lives without worry over what is happening "out there". Turn our focus back to God and His plan for our future.
Thank you God for this new day and new month. May I keep my focus on Jesus. Guide me through the turmoil and ease my fears. May I praise you every day. Amen.
God understands.
I wish June could arrive on a peaceful note, one of calm and quiet, so we could hear the birds chirping happily or the children playing joyfully. I wish life could return to normal where we could gather as friends or extended family. When we could attend church safely, and hug friends we care about. Who knows what these mass gatherings will do to the COVID-19 numbers in the future days.
God knows.
"I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me, Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken," (Psalm 16:7-8 NIV).
God is!
No matter what is going on in your life, God is there for you. Maybe we need to turn off the news and contemplate our own lives without worry over what is happening "out there". Turn our focus back to God and His plan for our future.
Thank you God for this new day and new month. May I keep my focus on Jesus. Guide me through the turmoil and ease my fears. May I praise you every day. Amen.
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