Appreciating What We Have

Last week we escaped the routine and traveled to South Dakota. We saw all the traditional tourist sites including Mount Rushmore National Memorial, the Badlands, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park, Deadwood and several museums. The weather was beautiful and there were ice cream shops on nearly every corner.

We saw buffalo, mountain goats, big horn sheep and wild donkeys and the beauty of nature in the Black Hills and the Badlands. We also noticed the difference between South Dakota and Iowa. The land is poor for more than raising cattle in South Dakota but Iowa's rich soil produces beautiful green corn and beans.

There were some fields of weak looking corn, sunflowers, and sorghum. They did have trees, so many beautiful evergreens that covered the hillsides of the Black Hills. On the prairies they mowed every available grass and made bales of the ground cover. Not like the hay we raise here in Iowa. We are a privileged people who live in Iowa. 

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance. From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth--he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do," (Psalm 33:12-15 NIV).

No matter where we live or what we see, America is blessed with beauty of all kinds. We are fortunate to live in such a diverse land that offers so many different options in nature.Each day we should thank God for the beauty of His creation and the unique characteristics of our land.

Thank you, God, for the beauty of the United States of America. Thank you for the freedoms we have here and the rights we have been given. Thank you, God, for loving us and watching over us in all that we do. Amen.

Dog Days

We live on a cul-de-sac and dog walkers love to take a walk down our street. It seems like every person in Ankeny owns a dog except us. It is probably 50/50, at least on our street. We see all sizes and shapes of dogs go by with their owners.

There is a pretty sandy brown and white dog at the end of the street who runs circles in their yard playing by himself. When they walk by John claims the dog as his and tells the real owner that they must take care of it for him. 

Next door to the brown and white dog is a pretty yellow lab who gets walked occasionally by his owners. We don't see him very often but he is well-cared for. Two doors away live two dogs. The really big brown and white dog who got shaved for the summer but soon he will have his heavy coat back. He is partnered with a small blonde puppy who is well behaved and fun to watch. The big dog doesn't get excited about much while the puppy watches and patrols everything on the street.

Back down our street the other direction lives a pair of small yippy dogs that runs circles around their owner when they take them out for walks. They are just wild things that leave their owner flustered and exhausted until they go back in the house.

I don't know the breeds of dogs but we see all kinds and all kinds of owners. They all love their pets and the pets love being walked. The black and white herding sheep dog brings his owners by every so often at a pace that looks uncomfortably fast. It is fun to watch them all go by.

"This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment , that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it," (2 John 6 NKJV).

Do you have a dog or did you love one in the past? God didn't document dogs being on the ark but they must have been there somewhere. Dog are special to our hearts.

I Need Thee Every Hour

A favorite hymn of mine is, "I Need Thee Every Hour" written as a poem by Annie S. Hawks. Mrs. Hawks wrote the words in response to a feeling of nearness to the Lord. She was a young mother at the time and was overcome by the Spirit. Years later when her husband passed away she was reminded of that time of sweet peace and serenity when she read the words again. 

Robert Lowry added the music and refrain later in 1872. The hymn became well known and commonly used by churches everywhere. The message speaks to all of us who share a dependence on God.

"I need Thee every hour, Most gracious Lord; No tender voice like Thine Can peace afford. I need Thee every hour, Stay Thou near by; Temptations lose their pow'r When Thou art nigh. I need thee every hour In joy or pain; Come quickly and abide or life is vain. I need Thee every hour, Most Holy one; O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son!"

Refrain: "I need thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; O bless me now my Savior, I come to Thee!"

"Hear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long," (Psalm 86:1-3 NIV).

Lord, be near us this day. Help us depend on you in every hour. Fill us with the Holy Spirit so we may experience the sweet peace and serenity of Your presence. Amen.

The Green, Green Grass of Home

After we moved from the farm, John was busy with work, driving from Ankeny to Cedar Rapids and beyond for the next year until his retirement.  Our house was a model home for a builder that was about a year old so the lawn was sodded then neglected. It looked like a winter lawn when we bought the house but by March we realized it was in sad shape.

John didn’t have time to worry about it until he retired. Then all his energies were directed at making the lawn look like a lawn. There were bare patches and weed patches and crab grass patches and Fescue all over. It was very, very sad.

 

A sad lawn doesn’t correct itself and it doesn’t improve overnight. John literally had to kill all the bad, replant blue grass, then meticulously use tweezers to pull out the Fescue, plus water the new lawn, after it survived the 10 inch rain we received one spring.

 

“If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:30 NIV). 

 

We had faith in God, though, not so much in the soil we were given for our lawn. So over four years John has nurtured and cared for the grass as lovingly as for a child. Today it is rich and lush like carpet. Beautiful to the barefooted and the shoe-footed alike, the grass is perfect, except for the drought conditions that require a high water bill, when watering is allowed.

 

“Let grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon; let it thrive like the grass of the field,” (Psalm 72:16-17 NIV).

May you be blessed by a green lawn and rejoice in the wonder of God.

Enjoy Life

Today is the first day of the Iowa State Fair. I grew up with a trip to the State Fair being our family vacation. Living on a farm, there just wasn't time or money for travels. The State Fair was looked forward to with excitement. We would pack a picnic lunch but there was usually money for a glass of root beer or lemonade or an ice cream cone - my dad's favorites at the fair.

We wandered the fair grounds checking out the farm animals, the biggest and best. We checked out the horse shows and whatever was open that day we usually spent some time in the Pavilion. If I went with my mom we watched the food judging and observed the homemade items displayed and browsed through the 4-H building watching some of the demonstrations. 

At noon we would head back to the car and have lunch. This was when there was a lot more parking on the grounds. One year we were parked near a row of pine trees along the north edge of the Fair so we sat in the shade of those trees to eat our lunch out of a wooden picnic basket. Mom would take an empty milk jug and freeze it half full of water, then add water or tea to the ice.

After I got married John and I made it a habit to continue going to the Fair each year. We even took 5-year-old Brent and infant Brady to the Fair when he was less than two months old. There were stroller days which were awful at the Fair, fighting the crowds, and the Midway cords and hoses. We enjoyed the Varied Industries (Commercial) Building and the animal barns and the Horticulture Building. I love walking through the Art Building looking at all the photographs and handmade items on display.

For about 10 years we had sheep shown by grandchildren in FFA and 4-H shows. Those were hard working years and yet so rewarding. The kids became expert showmen and won awards for their ability to show sheep well. There were so many memories made during those years, we can't help but smile as they come to mind.

"I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil--this is the gift of God," (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 NIV).

If you chose to attend the Fair this year, may your days be blessed and happy. 

Have Hope

Sometimes we need a little hope. With faith in God we have hope; our hope is in Jesus. Whatever we are facing we can trust God to be there with us. He hears our prayers and He loves us. There is nothing He can't do. He is the source of miracles. Have hope.

"We who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul. firm and secure," (Hebrews 6:18b-19 NIV).

It seems every week I hear of another cancer attack upon someone. My heart is filled with prayers for those suffering with cancer or the treatment of cancer. There are those who suffer from other physical ailments also. There are many who need prayer. God hears and He cares.

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see," (Hebrews 11:1 NIV).

An old hymn speaks to this hope we must hold on to, "My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less" by Edward Mote in 1834. William Bradbury added the music in 1863.

"My hope is build on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust and sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus' name.  When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil.  His oath, His covenant, His blood Support me in the whelming flood; When all around my soul gives way He then is all my hope and stay. When he shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in Him be found; Dressed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne. 

On Christ the solid rock I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand."

May you have hope in Jesus in all that you face today. Amen.

Fears

I have a fear of heights. I couldn't get too close to the edge of the Grand Canyon. I felt like it was drawing me in and I feared I would fall into the canyon. I've felt the same experience at other high places. I don't do ladders if they are too high. I couldn't look down when I stained our house on the farm. There were two high peaks that needed to be stained. The only way I could finish was to hold close to the ladder and shimmy up very slowly then not look down or lean back.Yikes. Even thinking of it makes me shake.

Driving close to the edge of a mountain or cliff is something I leave to John. Even riding makes me cling to the handles of the car and cringe. When there is a commercial on television that shows rock climbers from a view overhead, looking down, my heart drops into my stomach. There seem to be more and more of those views used. It freaks me out watching the high divers in the Olympics. Heights just aren't my thing.

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand," (Isaiah 41:10 NIV).

This topic reminds me that God is always close to me: walking along the canyons, climbing the ladder, standing near a cliff. It reminds me of the chorus of a song whose source is unknown, "I Am Weak, but Thou Art Strong".

"Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it, Jesus, is my plea, Daily walking close to Thee, Let it be, dear Lord let it be. I am weak, but Thou art strong; Jesus keep me from all wrong; I'll be satisfied as long As I walk, let me walk close to Thee. Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it, Jesus, is my plea, Daily walking close to Thee, Let it be, dear Lord let it be. Thro' this world of toil and snares, If I falter, Lord, who cares? Who with me my burden shares? None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee. Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it, Jesus, is my plea, Daily walking close to Thee, Let it be, dear Lord let it be."

May you walk close to our Lord everyday, where ever you may go, especially if you are up high!

Numbers

There are a lot of objects that we just can't count. The stars in the sky, the grains of sand on a beach, the corn stalks in a field, soybeans in a wagon, grains of salt in a shaker, crystals of sugar in a bowl, or flowers in a garden. 

Life is full of numbers. There are many things we can count and do. The money in our bank account. We count our children and grandchildren; we count the years we work; we count our fingers and toes; we number our to do list; we teach numbers to preschoolers; and the list goes on. 

Our addresses have a number; we have a phone number; we have a social security number; we have credit card numbers; numbers on our health insurance; numbers on our accounts, and in our accounts. 

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom," (Psalm 90:12 NIV).

We number so many things in life. Each day has a number. We are starting a new month. May your day be blessed beyond number! 

Blog # 725