Our Rudder

Last weekend my sister and brother-in-law celebrated their 65th Anniversary. As we were looking through the photo album my sister Burneta shared a story of leaving the church for the honeymoon. They were driven by a friend to the place where they had hidden their car so no shenanigans could be done to it.

I was amazed at how similar our stories were. We also had arranged for a friend to drive us to a hidden location where our car was. We left the church with a friend and several folks tried to follow us. Our driver drove around trying to lose them but they were insistent until we finally got stopped by the town cop in Albion. Once he heard our story and saw how we were still dressed in wedding attire, he said he'd take care of the rest and promptly let us go and stopped the rest of the group behind us. That gave us time to get away and into our own car before they caught up with us.

"When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go," (James 3:3-4 NIV).

Sometimes we try to direct our own way without waiting on God's plan for us, and it doesn't always go so well. But if we follow God's plan as we feel in our heart that it is the right way, things usually go better for us. God is our rudder for life.

 May God guide you safely today so you can get where you want to go. Blessings.

God's Grace is Sufficient

My Dad loved horses. Horses were his passion. He had 15 at the most, usually just one or two to ride. His main riding horse during my lifetime was Chip. A sorrel and white spotted horse with an attitude.

Dad rode Chip to herd cattle on the farm and he loved to ride him in local parades. He would spend an hour or two getting Chip ready, then haul him to the nearest parade, usually State Center's annual Rose Parade. He'd make it just in time to follow in where the horses rode at the back of the parade. Then he rode proudly through the parade route. Sometimes he'd have a grandchild ride along with him.

Chip was Daddy's horse. Chip knew who his owner was and would do anything he asked of him. He was well trained. But if someone else wanted to ride when Daddy was away, things went a little differently. Mainly if I wanted to ride Chip. It wasn't for a lack of trying. I made many attempts. All were fails. 

My nephew Randy and I tried to ride Chip around the farm yard and got bucked off in the field north of the house. Chip went running back to the barn. Another time I decided I was going to ride Chip two miles to the neighbors farm. They rode their horses down to our place and I followed them home. Chip was okay following the other horses, not good but okay. Once I headed home by myself it was a different story.

First he didn't want to leave the other horses, then he started to get anxious to get home. I rode down the gravel road for about half a mile then Chip decided to take a short cut, through our corn field that led back to our farm yard. He didn't walk along the edge of the field. He took me down between rows of tall corn. I couldn't control Chip, he was flying as fast as he could while the corn stalks and leaves slapped my bare legs. I held on with all I had. Chip raced all the way back to the barn. I think that was the last time I tried to ride Chip.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong," (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV).

God's grace is sufficient for us all. May you be blessed by His loving grace today.

I Need Thee Every Hour

"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, m O Lord, for I call to you all day long," (Psalm 86:1-3 NIV). 

As the sun rises on a new day, it is a good time to pause and thank God for His presence with us all day long. I love that I can turn to God whenever I need Him. I don't have to make an appointment, call up Zoom, or go to a certain place. God is always with me and I know I can count on Him to hear my every prayer. 

Annie S. Hawks, 1835-1918, was a busy housewife who suddenly felt the presence of God. She said later, "I began to wonder how anyone could ever live without Him, either in joy or pain. Then the words were ushered into my mind and these thoughts took full possession of me."

Annie S. Hawks wrote the words to "I Need Thee Every Hour" which became a popular hymn. The refrain was added by Robert Lowry. The words go:

"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; teach me Thy will, and Thy rich promises in me fulfill. 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!"

May you feel the presence of God every hour of this day and be blessed by His love and nearness.

My Sins Were Nailed to the Cross

I grew up in the church. My parents were involved in the music of the church, teaching Sunday school and in its leadership. I was there every Sunday. I absorbed the teachings I received as the truth. I had special teachers like George Smith and Dick Sommerlot who made the Bible understandable and real. Many pastors helped me grow in my faith and definitely my Bible study groups made a huge difference in my life by helping me learn what was in the Bible.

Who helped you find your faith path? How did they change your life? Can you find a way to thank them today?  

"God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away nailing it to the cross," (Colossians 2:13b-14 NIV).

It is another beautiful morning, knowing that my sins are forgiven. I am so thankful for Jesus. I'm so thankful for those who helped me find my faith pathway. I'm so thankful my sins are nailed to the cross.

My Rock

 When I was in junior high our church group took a visit to a man who polished rocks. He had a whole room full of rocks. Some were shiny, some were raw. I was in awe because I loved rocks. I had a collection of pretty rocks I'd found on the farm. I added to a collection of bigger rocks outside. I was able to purchase a small box that displayed different kinds of stones and gave the name of them. I cherished the box and studied them often.

The farm I grew up on had lots of rocks. Every spring we would go out to a field and walk behind the wagon or skid and pick up rocks. We had a really big rock pile near a stream where we dumped the rocks we found. Sometimes we found the top of a very large rock and the tractor would have to help pull it out of the ground. It would be positioned in a place of honor on the barnyard or lawn.

When John and I first got married we lived in a mobile home in the country and one of my first landscaping acts was to find rocks and encircle a flower bed area all along the length of the mobile home. Now that we live in Ankeny we have no rocks in our lawn, except for ones we had to buy from a landscaping place. 

The Bible has no lack of mention of rocks and stones. There are many scriptures that reference God as our rock. Maybe that's why I've always loved the imagery that rocks represent.

"The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation," (2 Samuel 22:2-3b NIV).

When I was in the depths of depression this verse blessed me with hope. "He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand," (Psalm 40:2 NIV).

"Praise be to the Lord my Rock," (Psalm 144:1 NIV).

God's Tender Care

Garden grasses are beautiful this time of year. They grow all year then by fall they add their beautiful plumage. I always loved seeing pampas grass in ditches where it grew tall and lovely so it could sway in the wind. There are many grasses available to gardeners these days. We have four different kinds in our yard. They add height and texture to landscaping.The picture shows tall flame grass (lower) and rose fountain grass at the top, both as seen from our deck.

"God clothes the grass for 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).

The picture also shows part of John's pampered lawn. It is beautiful and lush even though it needs rain. Grass is often overlooked. Not John's lawn. It is like a carpet of green.

Grass is under appreciated and sometimes ignored until it needs to be mown. I like grass even if it is common; it is a reminder of God's tender care for us, as the scripture says. Have faith, child.

"There Was Jesus"

Music speaks to me. I love to listen to contemporary Christian music on the radio. I have the station set in my car so it is always on. The music and scriptures lift my spirits and help me worship God. It is a reminder of God's presence around me and that I need to show God to others by my acts of kindness. 

Recently there has been one song that I love to hear. It speaks of Jesus' presence all around us, all the time. There Was Jesus by Dolly Parton and Zach Williams is one of those songs that keeps running through my mind.

There Was Jesus

Song by Dolly Parton and Zach Williams

"Every time I tried to make it on my own
Every time I tried to stand and start to fall
And all those lonely roads that I have travelled on
There was Jesus

When the life I built came crashing to the ground
When the friends I had were nowhere to be found
I couldn't see it then but I can see it now
There was Jesus

In the waiting, in the searching
In the healing and the hurting
Like a blessing buried in the broken pieces
(Refrain: Every minute, every moment
Where I've been and where I'm going
Even when I didn't know it or couldn't see it
There was Jesus)

For this man who needs amazing kind of grace (Mmm)
For forgiveness at a price I couldn't pay (Mmm)
I'm not perfect so I thank God every day
There was Jesus (There was Jesus)

(Refrain)

On the mountain, in the valleys (There was Jesus)
In the shadows of the alleys (There was Jesus)
In the fire, in the flood (There was Jesus)
Always is and always was
No I never walk alone (Never walk alone)
You are always there

In the waiting, in the searching
In the healing and the hurting
Like a blessing buried in the broken pieces
Every minute (Every minute), every moment (Every moment)
Where I've been and where I'm going
Even when I didn't know it or couldn't see it
There was Jesus

There was Jesus
There was Jesus
There was Jesus."

I hope you can listen to the song sometime and enjoy the words to music. I hope the words speak to you as they did to me.

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God," (Ephesians 3:16-19 NIV).

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and in honor of my friend Ann who passed away two years ago, this column is dedicated to her. Schedule your mammogram today. Get it on your calendar and keep your appointment.

The first-degree relative (a sister, mother or daughter) who has had cancer diagnosis is key to getting checked every year. If you have two or more first or second-degree relatives (aunt, grandmother) your risk is higher. I have a sister who is a breast cancer survivor. I'm so thankful she got through her surgeries and treatments and is now cancer free.

Another risk factor is age. It begins at 40 years old and increases every year. That's why it is important to begin mammograms at age 40. Another factor of risk is dense breasts which is detected when you have a mammogram. Often doctors order ultrasound or the new 3-D mammograms to better examine your breasts.

You can lower your risk by avoiding obesity, exercising often, limit alcohol, and doing regular self exams. My friend Ann always encouraged the annual mammogram.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer," (Romans 12:12 NIV).

Better Homes and Gardens October 2021 has a  good article on page 102. Look for other publications to offer information this month, also.