Random Thoughts

There's snow on the ground and it's spring. The tulip leaves peek through the snow wondering what has happened to the warm sun. April Fool's Day is tomorrow yet nature has played a trick on us today. We need the moisture for our parched soil, so thank you, God. You are so good.

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We have a clock in our dining room that opens up the face when it chimes on the hour. It reveals the inside and plays part of a song that alternates with four others. When our grandson Graham was just walking he loved the clock. Whenever it would chime he would run to the clock and watch it open and listen to the music. He still loves the clock though he is now eleven.

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Do you ever eat something that might seem strange to someone else? How about peanut butter on celery? Butter on saltine crackers? Frosting on graham crackers? Jam on cottage cheese? Sugar on cottage cheese?  Sugar on tomato slices? Cottage cheese on tomato slices? What are some of yours?

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"Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me---put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you," (Philippians 4:8-9 NIV). 

Have a blessed day.

Love Thy Neighbor

"The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these," (Mark 12:31 NIV).

We have good neighbors. When we moved in to our house five years ago we had no neighbors because the surrounding houses weren't built yet. Gradually homes were built next to us then across the street and down the street. We met our neighbors usually out in the yard when we or they were working on their lawns.

John is better at neighboring than I am. He is always helping one of them with something.Working on the lawn is a big deal here. There is a matter of competition: who has the best looking lawn. Our first year here our lawn was dreadful. John was still working so he only had weekends to give attention to the lawn. The sod they used was dried up from no watering while the house sat for sale. And we eventually found that the soil underneath was hard clay.

The neighbors shared ideas about the lawns and offered John hope that his lawn would get better. The neighbors share equipment and John is ready with his snowblower to help all the neighbors who look like they are struggling with snow shovels. 

We support the children in the area when they are selling painted rocks or Girl Scout cookies or fruit for the band. It's the neighborly thing to do. Now that the weather is getting better (I hope) we will be outside more often and visit with our neighbors more. It's nice to know your neighbors look out for you and watch your house when you are gone.

Loving your neighbors is one of the greatest commandments we are given. It is only after loving the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your mind and strength. Go forth and do something neighborly like sharing cookies with your neighbor this week.

My Story

I always wanted to be a writer. When I was in elementary school I wrote out lessons as a teacher. In middle school and high school I joined the school newspaper. My favorite test questions were essays. Projects that involved writing were my best. I knew journalism would be my dream career. 

I got a job as a reporter for a small-town weekly paper. There I learned the ropes of news writing and laying out the newspaper when it was still done manually. I reported on city council meetings, school board meetings and community events. My favorite was writing feature stories about people in the school district we lived in. I wrote for the paper for five years, until I decided to go to school full-time and earn a degree in journalism.

I was forty-years-old, my dream lasted a long time. It waited for me. I completed my AA from Marshalltown Community College and then went to Iowa State University to complete my BA in mass communication, with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in English. I finished in four years, taking classes during every session that was offered and evening classes, too. 

Then I worked for eleven years for Iowa Valley Community College District as a supervisor of media relations. After I retired I began writing this blog. This is number 791.

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life," (John 8:12 NIV).

I'm thankful I have the light in me and I pray that the light shines through me to touch you each time I write. That is my goal. I'm thankful that your light shines through you to lighten my walk, too.

Spring Hodgepodge

Welcome spring! We are glad you are here. If only everyday would be as nice as yesterday in Iowa. We had 70 degrees and sunshine. Though I know that weather won't last, it is good to know that warmer weather is ahead.

I love March Madness, the NCAA Men's and Women's basketball tournaments. We have a tradition of filling out brackets and keeping watch for who has the best guesses. My bracket broke the first day as I had the Iowa Hawkeyes going to the final game. I was also surprised by the Iowa State Cyclones making it into the Sweet Sixteen. I'm so happy, even if that isn't what my bracket says. I'm so proud of my Alma Mater. There have been several big upsets, as usual. It makes for an exciting tournament.

It is also the Lenten season, the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter. A season of penitence, especially for those of the Catholic faith. Often they give up something for Lent. This is a powerful way to show penitence. Reading scripture of the final days of Jesus' life is another way to recognize Lent.

"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are hiss. He changes times and seasons;" (Daniel 2:21 NIV).

May you enjoy this new season of spring as we prepare for Easter's coming. We will celebrate our Risen Savior, so let us fill our hearts with rejoicing. 

St. Patrick's Day

"May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

May the rains fall soft upon your fields, 

and until we meet again

May God hold you in the palm of His hand."

Traditional Gaelic Irish Blessing

I'm not Irish but we do have red hair in our family so I'll wish you an Irish Blessing. 

It may have gotten its start from the blessing the Lord told Moses for the Israelites.

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace," (Numbers 6:24-26 NIV).

Each blessing asked God's divine favor upon others. The NIV Bible says each blessing contained five parts that you ask God to do for the other person: 1. protect and favor;  2. to be pleased; 3. merciful and compassionate; 4. give approval; 5. give peace. When you ask a blessing upon another person you are asking God to do these five things. It also shows your love toward them and gives them encouragement.

Have a blessed day.

Sunrise, Sunset

I have a friend who posts God's beautiful sunrises and sunsets as seen from their rural area in Iowa. I am amazed at the views she sees. The majestic colors of reds and oranges, pinks and blues. It is magnificent. She shares the scenes taken from her phone, I assume, at the most colorful moment of the morning or evening. She captures the best color that may only last a few moments, but by taking a photo of it, the colors last. For those of us who live in town with obstructed views her pictures open up the world in a wonderful way.

David wrote a psalm that offers his praise for the blessings God gives us.

"O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations. Those living far away fear your wonders; where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy," (Psalm 65:5b-8 NIV).

Even without the seas or mighty mountains, God creates paintings that are new every morning and again every night. The views of an Iowa landscape offer beauty of its own as the sun comes up and as it goes down again. If you have the chance to pause and watch the morning sun and the evening setting, you will be blessed, even if it appears between houses or on a city skyline. God's beauty fills the skies. 

Lord, thank you for the amazing sky that you decorate so beautifully each day for us. Help us remember that the wonders of Your hands paint a picture that represents Your mercies that are new every day. Amen.

Spring Ahead

Iowa has been experiencing mixed up weather. In the past week we had a 60 degree day, a night of tornados, snowfall and 20 degrees. Someone is confused - me. It's hard to know how to dress but since I'm always cold I just keep wearing my coat and gloves. A weather person said March 1 is the meteorologist's spring. This March is just proving him wrong.

I don't really mind that it is still snowing because it doesn't seem like we had that much snow this winter. I like snow for it's beauty. It creates a perfect picture of beauty, coating the world with sparkling white. I know I won't convince anyone to like snow but I'll stand in my little corner and hold up my "snow" sign anyway. I'm disappointed that today's forecast snow is going south of us.

But then comes another spring event...the changing of the clocks to Daylight Savings Time. It happens this Saturday night. It jumped up on me this year. We lose an hour of sleep and gain sunlight at the end of the day. I never like the changing of the clocks. For one, it is a hassle to run around and change the time on all the clocks. We have a lot of clocks. Only one changes itself. For two, I always feel tired for a day or two after. It may be all in my head but that figures.

Fortunately, God is the same no matter what the weather, no matter what time the clock says it is.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever," (Hebrews 13:8 NIV).

May you rejoice in the knowledge that Jesus/God is always the same. 

You are Dearly Loved

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience," (Colossians 3:12 NIV).  

In February, our church held a day of preparing Meals from the Heartland and John and I participated. We (the church) filled 40,000 bags with nutrient high meals that will help feed the hungry. It was easy work. Each shift took one hour. I felt good about the process and felt good about my little part of helping others.

It was an act of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Few actions in life make you feel so good. But look at that scripture again and see what it says about us. We are chosen. We are holy. We are dearly loved. What a blessing Paul gives us. 

Because we are chosen, holy and dearly loved, we can clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. We need to remember what Paul tells us every day and put on the clothes of God's chosen people.

May your day be blessed with ways to exhibit the actions of a dearly loved individual. 

Our Hope

The season of Lent always makes me want to review the teachings of Jesus as we prepare for Holy Week and Resurrection Sunday. In the book of Matthew there are four verses that are repeated from the prophet Isaiah about the coming Jesus. Even in the days of Isaiah in the Old Testament, they knew about Jesus and waited expectantly for Him to come.

Unfortunately it isn't until after Jesus' death and resurrection that people began to realize who Jesus was: the Savior of the world. Following His life and teachings reveals many of the things predicted by prophets.  The signs were all there. His birth in Bethlehem, His birth by a virgin, triumphal entry, rejected by His own people, betrayed by one of His followers, tried and condemned, silent before His accusers, struck and spat upon by His enemies, mocked and insulted, die by crucifixion and more.

It was in God's plan that people didn't know who Jesus was while He was living. The word spread that Jesus was a great story teller and wise about the Old Testament. His followers grew in number. What a great preacher He was! He cared for His people, brought the dead back to life, turned water into wine, and healed the sick.

"In his name the nations will put their hope," (Matthew 12:21 NIV) (Isaiah 42:1-4 NIV).

As we prepare for Easter, let us not forget the man who this day is about. Jesus, the Savior of the world. Our hope.