Count Your Blessings

There is something about receiving a bag full of green tomatoes that makes us smile. Our neighbor knows that we like fried green tomatoes so he picked some from his beautiful tomato plants and shared them with us. Even though he originally thought green tomatoes were poisonous. He also shares his red tomatoes with us. His bounty is great and he is happy to share. We receive most gratefully.

A friend of mine from water aerobics shared zucchini and cucumbers with us also. It was nice to be able to make zucchini bread and chocolate zucchini cake like I used to when we had a garden on the farm. We were blessed. 

"Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare," (Psalm 40:5 NIV).

"When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done. Count your blessings-name them one by one; Count your blessings-see what God has done; Count your blessings-name them one by one; Count your many blessings-see what God has done."

"Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? Count your many blessings-every doubt will fly, And you will be singing as the days go by.  Count your blessings-name them one by one; Count your blessings-see what God has done; Count your blessings-name them one by one; Count your many blessings-see what God has done." Written by Johnson Oatman, Jr. 1897 and Edwin O. Excell, 1897.

May your day be surprised by unexpected blessings! "Count your many blessings, name them one by one."

School Days

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these," (Luke 18:16 NIV). 

I love looking through Facebook this time of year. There is nothing as special as the back to school First Day pictures.The children are dressed in their best with combed hair and smiles. I love the boards they hold up, telling about their favorites and what they want to be some day. I had no idea that my youngest granddaughter wanted to be an engineer but it sounds perfect for her. What fun to see how they change or stay the same!

I can't believe another granddaughter entered her senior year of high school. A year of dreams come true or changing dreams, who knows? How is it that time flies by so fast when you get old? Every year that goes by is faster than the one before, it seems.

Life is the strangest thing. It teaches us so much through our experiences and education, of course. Opportunities unfold into our hands and we grow and learn. Even when we are old we can learn new things. I learn something new almost every day, thanks especially to my husband.

"I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it," (Luke 18:17 NIV).

What first can you begin this week? Give it a try and let me know how God blesses you.

In Jesus' Name

I love contemporary Christian music. I have the radio on in our car and often in our home when I'm cooking or cleaning. It helps me stay connected to God and it fills me with hope. Some songs fill me with an attitude of prayer. There is a fairly new song by Katy Nichole, "In Jesus Name (God Of Possible)", that is such a good song of prayer, I want to share it with you.

"In Jesus Name (God Of Possible)" by Katy Nichole

"I speak the name of Jesus over you, In your hurting, in your sorrow, I will ask my God to move, I speak the name 'cause it's all that I can do, In desperation, I'll seek Heaven, And pray this for you.

"I pray for your healing, That circumstances would change, I pray that the fear inside would flee in Jesus name, I pray that a breakthrough would happen today, I pray miracles over your life in Jesus name, in Jesus name. 

"I speak the name of all authority, Declaring blessings, every promise, He is faithful to keep, I speak the name no grave could ever hold, He is greater, He is stronger, He's the God of possible.

"I pray for your healing, That circumstances would change, I pray that the fear inside would flee in Jesus name, I pray that a breakthrough would happen today, I pray miracles over your life in Jesus name, in Jesus name. 

"Come believe it, Come receive it, Oh, the power of His Spirit is now forever yours, Come believe it, Come receive it, In the mighty name of Jesus, all things are possible.

"I pray for your healing, That circumstances will change, I pray that the fear inside will flee in Jesus name, I pray that a breakthrough, Would happen today, I pray miracles over your life in Jesus name, I pray for revival, For restoration of faith, I pray that the dead will come alive in Jesus name, In Jesus name."

"In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me," (Psalm 86:7 NIV).

I love the prayer that this song is and I sing it over and over in my mind. I hope you can hear it soon, also. May it lift you up in prayer and express what your heart longs to say. Have a blessed day.

Temptations

The Iowa State Fair is one of the most temptation-filled places I know. At least for those of us who are watching what we eat. The air is filled with smells that draw us in, increasing our temptation. The fragrance of mini donuts freshly made, baked cinnamon rolls, fried corn dogs, grilled lamb burgers, pork chops on a stick, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, beef sundaes, turkey legs, funnel cakes, fried cheese curds, and about anything you can imagine deep-fried on a stick or grilled.

It is easy enough to avoid the food temptations by keeping walking past the booths and seeking out something healthy. I turn to the upstairs of the horticulture building where we can find fresh salads and fresh veggies on a stick, or even down below the egg council is handing out free hard-boiled eggs. The grilled choices are good compared to the deep-fat fried options.

"When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed," (James 1:13-14 NIV).

There are plenty of evil food desires at the State Fair but God promises help for the weak-spine among us. But they can also be an indulgence, which can be okay, too.

"And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it," (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV).

Thank you, God, for being there for us whenever we need you. 

Saying Goodbye

It was a beautiful September Sunday. My dear friend and I and her mother drove to Minneapolis for a work convention. Her brother was picking up his mother for a visit. When we arrived and checked in at the desk there was a message waiting for me. Family emergency: call home. "Your mother is dying come home now!"

My mother had congestive heart failure and was on oxygen for some time before this. Two of my sisters had prepared dinner for mom and dad. I was told that Mama had gone to her bed for rest. Then suddenly she came out to the kitchen and announced she needed to go to the hospital.

I gathered my bag and headed to the airport in the hotel's van to get a rental car that John had arranged. I was scared as I didn't drive in big cities. Somehow I would get out of town. I got directions from the fellow at the car rental place. I left in a strange car, in a strange city, to drive the three hours back to Marshalltown. 

I got on the interstate and promptly missed my exit so I had to back track. Once I did that I calmed down a little and began to think about what was ahead. Would I make it in time? Was mother really dying? How could that be? I turned on a Christian radio station and each song seemed meant for me. I felt God's presence with me as I cried and calmed and cried my way to the hospital.

I arrived at the hospital and John came running to the car, then whisked me to the ICU where mama was lying surrounded by family. I got to say my goodbyes which I believe she heard. Then in a short time she passed away.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit," (Romans 15:13 NIV). 

Love the Lord

I love the words of this scripture. It shows us how intimately we are to be connected to our God.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframe of your houses and on your gates," (Deuteronomy 6:5-9 NIV). 

I think the first verse is one of the first verses I memorized as a youth. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." What does that mean for each of us? To love God with all my heart and soul and strength is to love God with all my being! To be wholly devoted to God, to be dedicated to God without exception, and to love exceedingly, totally, all in, and completely.

Love God with everything we have, who we are, and who we should be. Loving God is a life style. Something that consumes you and exudes in every action, every thought and every word.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Amen.

Work of Our Hands

"May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us--yes, establish the work of our hands," (Psalm 90:17 NIV). 

I have learned a lot about using hands in the past year and a half, since I started trying to find answers to the mess my right hand is in. Wearing three, now four different splints I have had very limited use of my hand to somewhat complete use of the fingers. I've discovered how important my hands are to getting things done.

We use our hands for typing, sewing, cooking and stirring, buttoning buttons, buckling belts, combing hair, washing hair, blowing our nose, driving a car, dusting, watering plants, taking pills, opening door knobs, washing windows, opening cans and jars, reading a book, turning on a light switch, carrying groceries, pushing a grocery cart, opening a vegetable bag, peeling potatoes, cutting up vegetables, cutting meat, picking flowers, slicing tomatoes, making the bed, washing hands... that is enough examples. You get the idea.

 Our hands are important accessories to our bodies and are often taken for granted - until you don't have use of them. I certainly appreciate my hands more than I used to. 

Thank you God for our hands. Help us to use them for good works with Your favor. Amen.

Appreciating the Now

Have you ever noticed how important things are to you once they are gone. I've been reading a book about a couple who moved to an acreage to start a sustainable garden. It brought back memories of living on our acreage. I have grown homesick for our 18 acre "farm". I miss the sheep of course, though I have a houseful of sheep statures and pictures, I miss seeing and hearing the live sheep every day. I miss watching them graze through the pastures and come running, baaing, when shepherd John headed down to the shed at feeding time.

Most of all, I've realized how much I miss having a garden and country space. I miss the garden produce we used to have and freeze for the winter. I love the act of digging in the soil and watching things grow. I love the bursting forth of the first plants; the amazing life that comes from the seeds. It reminds me of God's touch on everything. Nature always brings me closer to God. Maybe that's what I miss the most.

Though I miss all those things from our former life, I realize also that I'm not the same person I was six years ago. My body is older and less able to handle the back breaking work the acreage involved. I used to spend hours weeding the garden and the flower beds, that's something my back wouldn't take so well. 

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven," (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV).

There are seasons of life that are meant for different things, so I must accept that this is a time for retirement. 

August Faith

Welcome to August in Iowa. It's a new month starting with a week of hot temperatures and dry conditions. Continuing what July offered us. August is known to bring hot weather, bountiful garden harvests, sweet corn, the Iowa State Fair, tall field corn, and the beginning of school. 

Youth have their animals in prime condition following the county fairs, in preparation for the State Fair. The daily tasks of grooming, walking and feeding fill their days. Gardeners spend time watering their vegetables since Mother Nature isn't helping out with rain. It is the peak harvesting time for many vegetables: sweet corn, green beans, and tomatoes are a few top producers. Kitchens are filled with sanitized canning jars or freezer bags and all the accompanying supplies to preserve excess vegetables for the winter.

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

August is like faith. We can be assured and anticipate what August holds for us, with a few surprises like the Derecho that happen. Faith can be described as sure and certain. When we have faith we trust in God and in what God promises. Even though we can't see all God's promises yet, we can be sure and certain of those promises because of who God is. That's faith.

May your faith be strong today and your August be grand.