Are You Ready?

November is coming to a close and December is waiting in the shadows. The month passed in a flurry of mostly nice weather and just one light coating of snow here. Not many are complaining about that. The eve of Advent is upon us and there is much still to be thankful for. The Greatest Gift of All Time will be celebrated all month in many different ways. What Christmas traditions do you have?

From my preteen years to middle age, the annual presentation of Handel's Messiah in Marshalltown, Iowa, was our family's official start to the Christmas season, on the first Sunday in December. For decades my father participated in the community chorus presentation of the story of Christ in song. Even if you aren't familiar with the Messiah in full, most people recognize the "Hallelujah Chorus" when it is played.

The music of the Messiah fills my heart with the true meaning of the season. This year Marshalltown is holding the concert on Sunday, December 3, at 3 p.m. in the First Methodist Church on Main Street. What a wonderful tradition to begin or to continue. The program is free with only a free-will donation to help keep the tradition going in the future.

"Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you," (Isaiah 12:4-6 NIV).

With hearts full of thanksgiving, let us begin the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! Amen.

So Thankful

I am still filled with thanksgiving following a wonderful weekend with family. There were so many moments of joy! Ending with the excitement of our youngest granddaughter running through the yard playing in the snow at 7 am before they headed back to Arkansas. She braved the cold just to spend time in the snow. She hadn't seen much snow since they left Iowa several years ago.

There was a lot of laughter and fun. Grandpa taught the grandchildren how to play a card game called Wizard. Then there were games of Trivial Pursuit and Scattergories, as well as the second annual Stewart Thanksgiving Race down the road in front of our house. Payton was the winner by a hair in front of Mark and then Graham. There was a creative afternoon when four of the grands made gingerbread houses. On Thanksgiving day six Stewarts went to fill bags for Meals from the Heartland. 

So much to be thankful for! So many blessings! Having the whole family together for Friday was wonderful. There was plenty of good food and great conversation. A time of gathering and reconnecting was a joy.

The house seems a little too quiet now, but my mind is swirling with new memories. and I'm so very thankful.

"Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live," (Psalm 146:1-2 NIV).

We Gather Together

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Thanksgiving is such a special holiday. There aren't presents to distract. The complete focus is on being together with family and friends. I am so fortunate that all our immediate family will be here on Friday. There will be 16 of us sharing conversation and a buffet of good food. It is always fun to hear the cousins reconnect and to listen to the laughter over stories that are shared.

A favorite Thanksgiving hymn that we often sang in church when I was young is "We Gather Together". It is a Netherlands folk hymn originally written in 1626 and translated by Theodore Baker in 1917. The words copyright by G. Schirmer, Inc. The words are a complete prayer worthy to be said or sung every Thanksgiving.

"We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing; He chastens and hastens His will to make known; The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing, Sing praises to His name: He forgets not His own.  Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining, Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine; So from the beginning the fight we were winning: Thou, Lord, wast at our side, all glory be Thine!  We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant, And pray that Thou still our Defender wilt be. Let Thy congregation escape tribulation: Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free! Amen."

"If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:31b-32 NIV).

May your day be filled with a grateful heart as you remember all the blessings God has given you to enjoy. 

Count Your Blessings

When we sit down for a cup of coffee while our pies are baking today, let us pause for a moment and write down a list of the things we are thankful for. Putting things in writing makes them real. We can reread the list over and over and thank God each time. Our hearts will be full and our minds will be happy. 

One of my favorite songs of the season is "Count Your Blessings", by Johnson Oatman, Jr. and Edwin O. Excell in 1897. The words remind us that even in our darkest days, there is still something to be thankful for.

"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.  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.  When you look at others with their lands and gold, Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold; Count your many blessings--money cannot buy Your reward in heaven not your home on high.  So amid the conflict, whether great or small, Do not be discouraged--God is over all; Count your many blessings--angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your journey's end."

Refrain: "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."

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ," (Ephesians 1:3 NIV).

I hope you start the day by singing and that your blessings' list keeps you smiling all day long. May God fill you with a heart of gratitude all week long.

Changing Seasons

Iowa has been enjoying some beautiful November weather. The last two days have been in the upper 60s. But we all know that weather will change. That is coming tomorrow: highs in the 40s. There are Christmas lights doting the landscape already. But I want to pause and give thanks to God before we get to Christmas.

Fall is such a beautiful time of year. The leaves rustle all around as we walk through them. The leaves drift down like snowflakes forming piles along the fences and along the perimeter of the houses. The sky has been a stunning blue with rarely a cloud to be seen. 

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him," (Colossians 3:16-17 NIV). 

Thank you, God, for the changing seasons we experience in Iowa. Be with us as we prepare for a day of thanksgiving with our families. Fill our minds with psalms and hymns that bring honor and glory to You. We pray, in Jesus' name, Amen.

"Come, ye thankful people, come, Raise the song of harvest-home: All is safely gathered in, Ere the winter storms begin; God, our Maker, doth provide For our wants to be supplied: Come to God's own temple, come, Raise the song of harvest-home." (Come, Ye Thankful People, Come.  Henry Alford, 1844, George J. Elvey, 1858)

What's On Your Calendar?

What does your calendar look like? I'm feeling the pressure of our family's Thanksgiving dinner looming in the distance. I don't want to wait too long to move the turkey from the freezer to the refrigerator. The menu needs to be finalized and the final grocery list made. I like to see blank spaces on my calendar but there aren't many coming up.

In reality most of the things on my calendar won't take that much time out of my days as long as I get organized and use my time well. I can do two things at once: I can make a salad while I watch my soap opera. (No, that's not on my calendar.) I can plan my day's agenda while I do aqua fitness.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus," (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV).

Thank you, God, for hearing my prayers, even when I am having my own little pity-party. Give me the energy I need and help me use my time efficiently. I will start my days by spending time with You, then the rest of the day will go better. Thank you for Your peace and Your love. I pray in Jesus' holy name. Amen.

Blue Eyes

While I recently went through my annual eye exam I noticed a promotion for contacts that change the color of your eyes. It caught my attention because I've often wished my eyes were as bright blue as my grandchildren's eyes. Mine are a dull gray-blue color.

God creates each of us from scratch. There is no one else like you. He formed us in our mother's womb with a complete plan for our lives. Instead of wishing I looked like someone else or had her hair or eyes or flat stomach, I need to embrace my own characteristics and thank God for them because I am uniquely made.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be," (Psalm 139:13-16 NIV).

I'm sure I will continue to admire others' characteristics that I don't have. But I know that God created me to be as I am, so in His eyes I am better than okay. I'm His. 

Lord God, Thank you for making us all individuals, with uniquenesses. Only You can be so creative. Help us accept ourselves and love ourselves every day. We are in awe of You, Lord, and we lift our hands in worship and praise to You. Amen.

A New Day

It is a new Monday of a new month and the sunrise comes at a new hour for the second day. Thank you, Lord, for Your blessings of today.

The time change in the fall doesn't seem as difficult to adapt to as in the spring when we lose an hour of sleep. What affects me most is the darkness that creeps in an hour earlier in the evening. When I was still working, it meant that I left the building and drove home in the dark. I didn't like that. I was ready to go to bed as soon as I got home.

I have never really understood the benefit of Daylight Savings Time, even though I grew up on a farm. Now that Daylight Savings Time has ended I wonder what it would be like if we used it year round. There is a bill, the Sunshine Protection Act, that passed the US Senate unanimously in March of 2022 and went to the House of Representatives for consideration. The bill would make Daylight Savings Time permanent in all states except Hawaii and most of Arizona.

Daylight Savings Time or not, some days are just more difficult than others. We may feel sad or down and not really feel like rejoicing. But the Psalmist who penned Psalm 118 was honest with God and told Him how he felt. We should do the same. Whether we are feeling lonely or sad or worthless, we can give thanks to God and be glad in today.

"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it," (Psalm 118:24 NIV).

November Arrives

Shocks of corn by the lamp post; squirrels gathering acorns and nuts; freezing temperatures; piles of leaves under the maple trees; a hint of the 'S' word (snow) in the air; it is November. I love seeing the beautiful harvest displays. Our home church always had a beautiful arrangement of colorful gourds and pumpkins, various squash, ears of field corn, pails of apples, and rows of canned goods ready for winter.

By this time each year, the farmers are finishing up the harvest of corn and beans and many have put their garden to bed. The hard work is done and there is a volume of produce to show for it. Bins are full. Barns have been stacked full of hay and straw for the winter. Vegetables fill the freezer and pantry.

There is a comfort in knowing a supply is prepared for winter use. There is gratefulness for all that the Lord has supplied. Our hearts are overflowing, just as our tomatoes over produced this year. The plants still had fifty or more green tomatoes on them when John put them down. Thank you, Lord.

"You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder," (Isaiah 9:3 NIV).

Lord, help us to recognize all the blessings in our lives, and give thanks during this season of harvest. Amen.