Words

Have you ever said something you regret? Do your words ever come out all wrong? I tend to put my foot in my mouth plenty often. What is so hard about talking? Sometimes my mouth gets in the way of my thoughts. 

Fortunately I write more words than I talk, usually. Writing allows me to edit before I send my text, email, or letter. Yes, I still write letters and send snail mail. I know it is unusual these days to do things the slow way but I think people like to get mail other than bills. Writing also allows me the chance to proofread and correct what I have written.

Thankfully, when we pray it is okay to make mistakes and change what we say to God. He knows what we are thinking anyway so He understands where we are coming from. He knows what is in our hearts. Every thought and word that comes from us reflects on who we are. David wrote a prayer that I need to say every day:

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer," (Psalm 19:14 NIV).

May your words be acceptable to God today.

Our Strong Tower

I don't remember being scared by anything except a tornado, at least while I was an adult. We lived in a mobile home during the first 15 years of our marriage and I was constantly nervous about tornados or wind storms. We would make our way to my parents' house if we had warnings that were serious. Fortunately we never had an issue. 

We have gone to the basement several times since we lived in a house. Once was during the deratio here in Ankeny. Another storm hit us during the night and we lost nearly a hundred trees on our acreage but had no damage to our house. Storms can be scary. One thing I've always counted on is God. He has always been there for me when I was frightened. 

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe," (Proverbs 18:10 NIV). 

When I was a pre teen we had a bad storm hit our farm near State Center. Dad and I rode the flying linoleum after a window in the basement blew out, creating the exciting ride. We lost a barn and had damage to other out buildings and many trees that time. I was afraid but I felt safe with my dad there and my Heavenly Father.

I feel blessed that I've never had to fear for my life. I think of those in the Ukraine who face death nearly every day and I pray that they will turn to their strong tower, Jesus, and run to Him for safety. 

May you always feel safe and protected by our Lord. Amen.

Summertime

It is summertime! The signs are all here: the grass is green, the leaves on the trees are out, the flowers are blooming, the days are longer, the sun is full of heat, the birds are singing, and the babies born this spring are now bigger and feeling independent, as long as mom is nearby.

"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near," (Matthew 24:32 NIV). 

I love summertime. I need the sunshine to ward off my depression. I enjoy the heat and would love to sit and soak it up all day long, but my pale skin doesn't like the sun. After years of enjoying the sun I now have to worry about skin cancer. I've already had several pre-cancerous spots removed so I'm using sunscreen and caution about being in the sun now. Something I should have been smarter about much sooner.

Summer brings reunions and weddings, camps and road trips, vacations and picnics. Summer is bicycle riding, working in the garden, making hay, picking flowers, eating on the patio or deck, long walks, swimming, and of course, ice cream.

Get out and enjoy this beautiful day anyway you choose. 

Momentary Troubles

Lately I've been realizing just how old I am getting to be. I'm not afraid of dying but I do think about how I might die and that sometimes concerns me. I think most everyone would choose to die in their sleep. Just go to sleep and never wake up seems like a pleasant way to go. But, only God knows the plan and the time this will happen. 

It is a good thing that we don't know when we will die or we would try to get everything done and ready. Although perhaps it is better that we do have some things done. We do need to have a will in place and perhaps a living will also so things we desire to control will happen. 

As we age we face possible illnesses and trials due to our physical or mental state. I'm facing trials with my right hand. Rheumatoid arthritis has crippled my hand. It limits what I can do with it and makes other things difficult. I feel fortunate that only one hand is involved, not both. And the rest of my body is okay except it is getting older. 

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all," (2 Corinthians 4:16-17 NIV).

There is a reason for our suffering and trials. They teach us to depend on Christ Jesus and remember His suffering for us. They keep us from becoming prideful. They keep us looking beyond this life and toward our eternal one. They show our faith to others. And our sufferings provide an opportunity for God to use His power. 

Lord, be with us this day. Let us use this day of our life to please You. Amen.

Restoration

I was a terrible teenager. I argued with my mother about everything. I feel ashamed even now. I feel ashamed sharing this with you. Fortunately, after I was married and out of the house. Our relationship began to mend and we became very close. Thanks to my mother being forgiving. I was so terrible that I prayed for boys, not girls, because I didn't want a girl like me to raise. God heard my prayer and gave me two boys.

For years I lived with guilt over how I treated my mother. I knew God knew how I acted as a teenager and I prayed for forgiveness. It took me a long time to accept God's forgiveness and to forgive myself. 

"Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good," (1 Peter 2:2-3 NIV). 

Thank goodness I grew up and out of my terrible teens. Studying the Word helped me restore my relationship with my mother, I'm sure. I'm so thankful for the years of a good relationship with my mother. God is good.

May your relationships all be healed in Christ Jesus so you no longer feel guilty or sad. Blessings.

Always With You

When our youngest son was about 11 years old we moved from the country to town, away from being neighbors to my parents. We decided to get him a kitten to help him with the loss of the farm life. The gray and white kitten was adorable and they quickly became best friends. I have photo albums full of pictures of them together. He was responsible for feeding Allie. Allie soon became a member of the family.

Allie was a compassionate cat. He could always sense when our mood was such that we needed some loving and he would hop up on our lap and make himself comfortable. His long hair was always needing petting. There was something about his warmth on our laps that was comforting. There was love going both ways. Allie was always there when we needed him.

That's the way with God, too. He is always there whenever we need Him.

"Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age," (Matthew 28:20b NIV).

Allie favorite place to hide was on top of our kitchen cupboards. Allie liked high places. He never had trouble jumping to the high spots without disturbing anything that was up there. But he could give you a start when you walked by unsuspecting.

May your days be filled with high places of love. May you always know that God is there for you.

Good Soil

I love driving through the countryside this time of year. Seeing the crops pop out of Iowa's rich black soil is delightful. I grew up on a farm and my father instilled in me the love of our soil. He was a soil conservationist for many years and helped farmers create waterways in their fields to prevent erosion. He introduced farmers to terracing, a new idea in the 1960s for protecting the soil on hillsides. Jesus also talks about soil and managing crops but He related it to spreading the Word of God to others.

"Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly,, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up the plant were scorched, and they withered because they had not root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil where it produced a crop -- a hundred sixty or thirty times what was sown, He who has ears, let him hear,"" (Matthew 13:3-8 NIV). 

Jesus taught that not all our seed will fall on good soil, those who truly hear the Word and understands. Some people won't be ready to hear, while others have the Holy Spirit to help them understand the message you give. Jesus explains the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:18-23.

If you have the chance to go for a drive through the countryside this spring, do. The beauty of the corn and beans growing may inspire you to share your faith with someone else who needs it. May you be provided the opportunity to share the Word of God with someone this week.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness," (Lamentations 3:21-23 NIV). 

In this scripture Jeremiah writes that he remembers the wrongs of the people of Jerusalem that led to the destruction of the city, yet he has hope. He knows that God is a loving, faithful God who hears our cry for help and He answers us. He explains that God is compassionate and His compassions are new every morning. Finally, Jeremiah states what his heart feels: great is your faithfulness, God.

Forty years ago when I was in one of my deepest periods of depression, God spoke to me through these words and gave me peace. Though I had sinned I had a faithful God who cared about me new every morning. His compassion never runs out. God has forgiveness for everyone and He guaranteed it through His Son Jesus.

If you ever feel overwhelmed by your sin or circumstances, may you remember that Jesus died for your sins and you are forgiven. Sing this song and let the words speak for you. It was written in 1923 by Thomas O. Chisholm and William M. Runyan: "Great Is Thy Faithfulness."

"Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changes not, Thy compassions they fail not; As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be. Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided--Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided--Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided--Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!"

May this song brighten your day today, for His mercies are new every morning, for you.

Answered Prayers

How many times have you prayed for something and your prayer was answered. I have a prayer journal that a friend gave me. I have recorded many of my prayers there and looking back, many have been answered. It is interesting to look back on the prayers I have written down. Some have been answered, others are still pending and I can say them again today because they are still relevant.

Jesus encountered a fig tree that was not producing figs and he told the tree, "May you never bear fruit again," and the tree withered. The disciples were amazed and asked, "How did the tree wither so quickly?"

"Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe you will receive whatever you ask for I prayer," (Matthew 21:22 NIV). 

Every day I lift up my grandchildren and several friends who have struggles in their lives right now and I pray for them. I even use a prayer app on my phone that reminds me to pray for what I have written down. It helps me focus on those prayers that I feel are most important to me and worth repeating.

Though not all my prayers are answered the way I want, I know that God is hearing my prayers and touching the lives of those I pray for. All my prayers need to be in line with God's will. Jesus wasn't saying that we could literally move mountains, He was encouraging us to have faith and not doubt.

May your prayers be answered and your trust in God be great. Amen.