Through the Waters

When I was a little girl I was very shy. I would hide behind my mother's skirts. I remember being afraid when trying to recite my piece for the Christmas program in Sunday school. It was painful to be in front of a crowd and just as fearful when I was the center of attention. I wasn't comfortable. In fact, it makes me uncomfortable just thinking of situations when I was shy.

It took developing self confidence to begin to overcome the shyness and that took a lifetime. I tried to enroll in college three different times before I was able to make myself go. That's why I was nearly forty before I became an adult student. It took a number of jobs and life experiences to become accepting of myself. 

I worked as a receptionist, an insurance processor, and a newspaper reporter, five years each. In college I was able to do well and that increased my confidence. But most of all, my dependence on God is what helped the most.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;" (Isaiah 43:2-3 NIV). 

I still struggle with shyness at times in certain situations. But, I've learned to trust God to help me through new and challenging situations. I've found that putting myself out there reaps benefits of new friendships and experiences. God is so good!

God's Testimony

April is nearly over and the dry weather has allowed farmers to work the fields in preparation of planting season. The soil might be too cold yet, but today's temperature will help that. The sun's warmth reminds us of God's constant love and mercy. He never leaves us or forsakes us. We have an ever-present Father who knows our needs and shows us kindness at every turn in our lives.

Paul understood this and tried to teach the people of Lystra but all he got was a stoning. The people refused to listen. 

"We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your heart with joy," (Acts 14:15b-17 NIV).

This scripture is filled with evidence of God's love; all we have to do is read it and believe. I love these words and I appreciate God's presence every day in nature. For without God we have nothing. Not even joy is ours without God.

As you enjoy today may you remember to thank our God for His kindness and may your heart be filled with joy.

The Box

My Bible reading is taking me through Kings and Chronicles so I've been reading about Solomon building   the temple for the Arc of the Covenant. The construction of it is described in great detail and it reminded me of a project John did for me this winter.

I have a sort of card ministry I do and have lots of cards on hand to meet the needs that may arise. I had them on a shelf of a bookcase in my office. It was at the back of the office so it wasn't so visible. To get to them I had to get down on the floor to search for the right card. They were separated by category so they were easy to find. But John thought it was an inconvenience to kneel down and proposed a box he could make to hold the cards. He was rather insistent so he proceeded with the project.

John made a beautiful oak box and placed it in the middle of my file cabinet. It is thirty-six inches long, eleven inches wide, and nine inches high. It is made of red oak and features two long doors on top that open. There are four rubber feet on the bottom and four brass hinges with two brass knobs on the doors. The box was glued and sanded so no nails were used. It was stained in oak and varnished with clear coat. John calls it "just a rough box" but he is most proud of the invisible joints.

"Solomon had made a bronze platform and had placed it in the middle of the enclosure. It was seven and one-half feet long, seven and one-half feet wide, and four and one-half feet high. He stood on it and then got down on his knees in front of the entire assembly of Israel. He spread out his hands toward the sky, and prayed," (2 Chronicles 6:13-14 NIV).

The new box is very handy for me to reach my cards now. John's thoughtfulness is saving my back and making it fun to choose and send cards again. And I own a one-of-a-kind box that I bet no one else has. I am most grateful for my husband's talents and precision tooling.

God gives us all different talents to be used to honor Him. 

Lord, help us to use our gifts to bring glory to Your Name. Amen.

Reminders from the Pioneers

We took a day trip yesterday after church to the Neil Smith National Wildlife Refuge near Prairie City and then on to Pella to see the tulips. It was a beautiful day for a drive across Iowa. Things are greening up and  the bison were roaming and munching grass. The elk were back away from the road so we couldn't see them as well. It was amazing to see all the prairie land that is protected and preserved.

I couldn't help but imagine the pioneers coming across the gentle Iowa hills to make a home in Iowa. Their wagons must have offered a bumpy ride; I think I might have chosen to walk alongside. Life would have been hard back then. They must have chosen a place near water and trees so they had resources for building a cabin and living. 

The faith the pioneers had has always impressed me. It would have been a frightening trip, traveling into the unknown. They must have prayed intently for God's guidance and protection. Just as we do today. We can learn much from the pioneers. They read the Bible daily and taught their children what they read. 

"I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations," (Isaiah 61:10-11 NIV).

May God be close to you today and bless all that you do. Amen.

April Showers

"April showers bring May flowers" is an old saying I'm familiar with and I'm trying to apply it to this April. We have had showers but only one and it's been colder than normal. The daffodils and tulips have bloomed or are still blooming now. I'm spoiled, I want warm weather. We are getting the April winds making even our sunny days feel bone-chilling.

One thing I've noticed is how the kids don't care if it is windy or not they are playing outside in short sleeves and shorts. It's a sign of my age, I guess. 

I watch with excitement as the plants bring their buds through the ground, bursting forth bravely. The leaves pop out on the trees and blooms turn to fragrant flowers as some trees share their showy display. I love the signs of spring all around me, even if the wind is cold and frost threatens to strike.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it," (Isaiah 55:9-11 NIV). 

Amen.

Wash Day

Years ago, Mondays were the traditional laundry day. Now with automatic washers and dryers any day is laundry day. When I was a kid my Mom had a wringer washer. The process was time consuming and much of the day was spent watching the clothes gurgle in the wash water then sending the clothes through the wringer. If I remember right you had to be cautious of how the buttons went through the wringer.

After all the laundry was washed, rinsed and wrung out the clothes got hung outside on a clothesline if the weather was respectable. Once I was tall enough to reach the clothes line, I was enlisted to help because there were more loads of laundry that needed to be washed. Shake the wrinkles out then pin the clothes to the line. Each item had a proper way to be hung. Then you hoped for a good wind to dry thing faster and remove wrinkles.

Sunshine was good, too. When I had my own clothes lines they were used for diapers, cloth diapers, and the sun would help bleach them and the wind softened them. Bed sheets would often spin around the line before the day was over. Towels would snap in the wind. John hated when the towels would feel like boards after a day on the clothesline. Mostly though the clothes had a great fresh smell to them.

I remember when I was little and Mama would wash my quilt. I loved the smell of it when it came off the clothesline, and I would cuddle with it the rest of the day. Then, Tuesday was ironing day. How times have changed.

"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness," (Proverbs 31:25-27 NIV).

Memorable Stories

About this time 47 years ago I was big with a baby waiting for our first son to be born. He was due on the ninth but he came on the thirteenth. I awoke in the middle of the night but didn't call the doctor for a couple hours. I didn't want it to be a false alarm. 

I don't even remember the ride to the hospital, though it was quick. I think we got there about six in the morning. We found that the furnace was stuck on and the hospital was over heated. They kept John busy opening windows on our floor. In a couple hours Brent Allen arrived, all 8 lb 7 3/4 oz of him. Born at 8:13 a.m. The Saturday before Easter.

Times like these remain memorable for a lifetime. Imagine how the apostles felt after seeing Jesus following His Resurrection. Who could forget talking with Jesus again! What a powerful image was left in their minds. Jesus was alive and walked with them, and even fished with them!

John wrote: "This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down, We know that his testimony is true. Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written," (John 21:24-25 NIV).

John compiled stories of Jesus that would show He was the Son of God. The stories are left so that we all would believe. Just like the memorable stories of births, the Bible stories remind us of Jesus' life and His mission here on earth.

Thank you, God, for sending Your Son to us so we can know how much You love us. Amen.

Jesus Lives!

I'm thankful for an empty tomb today. God has blessed us with the perfect example who willingly sacrificed His body for you and me, so we could be forgiven of our sins when we believe in Jesus Christ. What a gift! What a blessing! Salvation!

Easter isn't the end of the story of Jesus. He appeared to many of His disciples and other believers after His resurrection. He Lives! Even now He lives in the hearts of His believers. Watch for Him today and be a sign of His life in us everyday. 

Jesus was resurrected to fulfill His promises and the words of the prophets of old. Jesus reminded the disciples that they needed to carry on His ministry by spreading the word of Jesus throughout the world. And they did. That's how we know of Him today. Jesus returned to life to assure us that we, too, will be resurrected in death. The same power that raised Jesus is available to us. Jesus' resurrection proved that He is indeed the Son of God. Alleluia! Jesus Lives!

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name if the Father and if 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 28:19-20 NIV).

Communion

One of the things I was most honored to do in my life was being an elder in a previous church. One responsibility was praying before communion. For many years John and I served together, one of us praying for the bread and the other praying for the cup. It was a solemn time of remembrance of Jesus' Last Supper and of what Jesus did for us on the cross.

Today we celebrate Maundy Thursday, the day Jesus served the Last Supper. The Bible shares the story best.

"When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them,"I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God." 

"After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." 

And he took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body give for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you,"" (Luke 22:14-20 NIV).

Let us take time today to attend a Maundy Thursday service, if available, or pause and remember Jesus" last meal shared with his disciples. A meal that represented so much more than they understood at the time. For us, communion is a truly precious time of remembrance.

May your day be blessed in honor of Jesus.