Remember With Anticipation

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. I love the image of palm branches and cloaks being spread on the ground before Jesus came riding into town on a donkey. But more than anything I am conflicted by the way the attitude of these people changes in a few short days. I try to imagine being one of the people who shouted "Hosanna." What would make my opinion of Jesus change so quickly? Mob mentality is the only explanation I can find.

Scripture shares that many of the people who welcomed Jesus on the donkey didn't know who Jesus was. They didn't understand what was happening.

"The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!" When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." (Matthew 21:9-11 NIV).

What amazes me is that in approximately 480 B.C. the prophet Zechariah wrote that this would happen.

 "See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey," (Zechariah 9:9b NIV).

God told Zechariah His plan nearly 500 years before. That is truth. That is the living Word. That is Jesus, our Lord and King.

May you walk through this week remembering the last days of His life and in anticipation of our Risen Lord. 

Changing Things Up With Hope

If you noticed I missed a blog on Monday, my apologies, we were in Virginia at our son and daughter-in-law's home for a short visit. And I was adjusting to a splint on my right hand. I had a doctor's appointment the day before we left for what I thought was arthritis in my hand. But it turned out to be sagittal band rupture at metacarpophalangeal joint, or a ruptured tendon for short. My hand and forearm are in a splint for six weeks, 24/7.

I'm learning to eat with my left hand and do everything else left-handed. Brushing my teeth is one of the hardest things so far. And washing my hair is a real challenge with one arm in a bag. But like everything it becomes easier with practice. In six weeks I will be ambidextrous!

Life throws us hooks sometimes to make us more aware of our surroundings. It is good to change things up so we appreciate what we can and cannot do. I can't type with my right hand except finger picking so I'm slow like a turtle. But there is hope that my hand will work better in six weeks. There is always hope in the Lord.

"We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you." (Psalm 33:20-22 NIV). 

Proverbs and Parables

God’s Word offers us so much knowledge and wisdom. I love to seek through the pages for the answer I need or the right verse for my blog. I often use my Bible Concordance to search for a specific word or idea. But just reading the Word is the best way to find the treasures it has to share.

 

“For attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young—let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise,”     (Proverbs 1:2-6 NIV).

 

Each time I study God’s Word I am surprised by something I read and I think how perfect the words are for me right at that moment. Even as I have been reading through the Old Testament I see how God’s Word speaks to my heart, even now so many years after the text was first written. 

 

The scripture written above was given as a prelude to the book of Proverbs, largely written by Solomon. Much of the book is written to youth, explaining the value of wisdom. I can’t say I am wise yet, though I’m getting up there in age. With God’s Word as my reference I am drawn closer to wisdom with each reading.

May God speak to you through the scriptures today. Pause and listen for the Proverbs and Parables and be blessed. 

Transformation in Christ

It was about thirty years ago that we first went to look at an acreage to buy. We parked and got out to look around while we waited for our realtor. We were immediately struck by the sound of birds. Many birds. It was amazing and beautiful. We fell in love with the place even though the work ahead of us was daunting. 

We purchased 18 acres which became our home for 25 years until we retired to Ankeny. We started with a tiny shed for 4-H lambs and an almost new house. The hours we spent cleaning up the place, landscaping the yard, building fence and three large sheds in time were uncountable. We put our heart and soul into that place. We loved it. 

Our sheep flock grew to forty. And the equipment multiplied. A barn was loaded with hay, another filled with sheep, another with baby lambs. With a lifetime invested it became a successful sheep farm. The work and time committed was day to day dedication, only when added together did it become a vocation. And it was a second career to both of us as we each held full-time jobs off the farm.

"My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus," (Philippians 4:19 NIV).

As I look back over our life on the farm I am amazed at how we transformed it from a house on an acreage to a home on the farm. It was fun, very hard work, but rewarding at the end of each day. 

God blessed us by giving us the energy and determination we needed. That time of our life will never be forgotten. God meets our needs whatever they are, wherever we are in our lifetime. May God bless you by His glory in Christ Jesus. It is more than we need. It is always enough.

A Time for Everything

This week has been one of sightings. We used the nice weather to take a long walk on a path that winds along ponds in a residential area of Ankeny. First we saw a lone robin in the park we pass through. It looked faded and disheveled. I haven't seen another one yet. 

Yesterday's Sunset in Ankeny.

Then as we were headed up a long hill to come home a red fox ran across the road in front of us. It came out of one water drainage opening and ran into another one on the other side of the road. It was just thin enough to slip between the iron bars and disappear. 

As I went to aqua fitness yesterday I parked in my usual spot and there was a mallard duck sitting along the curb of the parking lot. It's colors were brilliant and though it looked out of place, alone in a parking lot, it was beautiful. As I opened my car door the duck flew away toward one of the many ponds in Ankeny.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven," (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV). 

Spring is coming and there will be many delightful sightings to enjoy. And some not so appreciated like the snow that is predicted for next week. It is a time of transition as we change to Daylight Savings Time and from winter to spring. Enjoy whatever you see for God's world is beautiful.

Wind Be Still

March is known for its windy days. Yesterday was one example. A warm breeze started blowing before noon and by mid-afternoon the wind picked up to 35 mph at times. The wind can bring a change of temperature, rain, dust, derecho force, breaking branches, sleet, or snow. When calm it can gather a fragrance or gently touch us.

Jesus and his disciples took a boat ride to cross the Sea of Galilee and Jesus was sleeping in the stern. A squall came up and frightened the disciples by its waves slashing into the boat, filling it with water. They awoke Jesus, saying, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

"He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith? They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

Storms can come into our lives in many different ways. Some can be emotional or physical that rock us to our core. Jesus want us to put our trust and faith in Him. He wants us to call on Him for help, tell Him we need Him, and then wait in faith for Him to answer.

Waiting can be the hard part. But just remember Who Jesus is. He can calm the storm. Your storm.

Lord, May you calm the winds that are disturbing the peace. Wind, be still. We trust in You. Amen.

Come All Who are Weary

"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 am 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).

I love this scripture. It is one of my favorites. It gives me peace. I need to read it over and over again at times when I feel weary and burdened. It especially touched me when I was struggling with depression. My heart was so heavy I could barely think clearly. 

Jesus offered these words of comfort to those seeking freedom from their burdens of sin, slavery, heavy demands by religious leaders and more. He promises us the same freedom today from whatever is weighing us down. Reading these words of hope lifts the heaviness from our shoulders or our hearts.

Being yoked with Jesus makes our life easier. We live with hope and find peace as we walk with Him. Jesus is gentle and humble and offers us comfort from our burdens. What a blessing we have in Him!

If you feel weary and burdened, may you find the love of Jesus is exactly what you need. 

Life is a Puzzle

Winter days of our retirement are often filled with doing jigsaw puzzles.  We have completed eight this year on my new puzzle board that was a gift from my son's family. It has drawers for sorting pieces. Sorting is a major part of doing a puzzle. First we pick out all the pieces with a straight side for the border. 

Then we sort by color or an object that is dominate in the puzzle. Sometimes it gets to the point of matching sizes and shapes of the pieces. Puzzling takes time and patience.We have fun working on them together. We take pieces and make something whole again, a beautiful picture. 

Life is like a puzzle, full of pieces that fit together. We start as an infant and the pieces continue to accumulate as we grow. We are constantly adding pieces that fit with the rest and make us whole only when our life is complete. Some pieces change us, others expand a certain part of us. But always we are growing.

"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple," (Psalm 27:4 NIV).