September Goodbye

Goodbye September! It seems like you just got here and now you are leaving. I know this feeling is part of growing older. Time flies by faster and faster the older I get. 

Lord God, fill me with Your Holy Spirit today, that I can be a beacon of Your love to others. Speak to me what I should do and say. Guide me with Your loving, caring hand. Show me Your Word for this last day of September, for I am in the September of my life. I love You and praise You for all You do for me. Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to save me and to teach me the Way. Amen.

"For God's Word is solid to the core; everything he makes is sound inside and out. He loves it when everything fits, when his world is in plumb-line true. Earth is drenched in God's affectionate satisfaction. The skies were made by God's command; he breathed the word and the stars popped out. He scooped Sea into his jug, put Ocean in his keg. Earth-creatures, bow before God; world-dwellers--down on your knees!" (Psalm 33:4-8 MSG).

God bless you in all you do today.

God Sees Me

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't have something - usually many things - to be thankful for. John just got home from running an errand and announced that he got sweet corn! It has to be the last of the season. We have had several enjoyable meals throughout the summer and I even got eight packages put in our freezer that will taste great this winter. I am thankful.

This September has offered us the most beautiful days to enjoy. One after another we have had sunshine and warm temperatures. The days have been nearly perfect. School kids haven't had to bother with jackets. House windows can be opened at night. I'm still wearing sandals and short pants. It is delightful. I am thankful.

This month one of my sisters had a knee replacement to alleviate her pain. She is recovering with physical therapy. Another sister celebrated her 87th birthday. Yet another sister turned 90 on Saturday! I am so thankful.

The Biblical story of Hagar, Abram's wife Sarai's Egyptian maidservant, tells how Hagar ran away to escape Sarai's jealous anger. But, God was watching over her and sent an angel to her with a message. Hagar was blessed in spite of her misery. She speaks below.

"She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me."" (Genesis 16:13 NIV).

God is watching us also. No matter what situation we find ourselves in, God sees us. God sees our problem and has the solution if we are willing to let God help us. God sees us when we are thankful, too. There is nothing that can turn our days around like a measure of gratitude. God sees us.

Heavenly Father: I lift up my hands in praise to You for I have so much to be thankful for! I know You see me every moment and I am so thankful. Guide me today to follow Your will for my life. Remind me that You see me and care for me with Your constant and abiding love. Amen.

Walking Close to Thee

Monday is plant watering day at my house. Some of the plants show their thirst, others would be fine for a few more days. I have ten houseplants to care for. One isn't looking the best. It's bottom leaves are turning brown. I have no idea what is wrong with it but my guess is that it needs to be transplanted into a bigger pot.

I get ads for all kinds of apps that will diagnose your plants and tell you how to remedy its problems. I'm tempted to try them but I'm too cheap to spend the money for a subscription. I need to try replanting my problem plant while the weather is still mild but first I need to see if I have a bigger pot that will work. It is a process.

Growing as a Christian is a process, too. You would think that by now I'd have faith mastered. But I find there is always more to learn and more work to do. Every sermon, every Bible study lesson, every scripture I take to heart, and every Christian book I read leads me a little closer in my walk with Jesus.

"I am weak, but Thou art strong; Jesus, keep me from all wrong; I'll be satisfied as long As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.  Ref.: Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it, Jesus, is my plea, Daily walking close to Thee, Let it be, dear Lord, let it be. Thro' this world of toil and snares, If I falter, Lord, who cares? Who with me my burden shares? None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee. When my feeble life is o'er, Time for me will be no more; Guide me gently, safely o'er To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.  Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it, Jesus, is my plea, Daily walking close to Thee, Let it be, dear Lord, let it be."  ("Just A Closer Walk With Thee," Source unknown).

"Let the weakling say, "I am strong!"" (Joel 3:10b NIV).

Heavenly Father, as I begin a new day, guide my steps and draw me closer to You. Help me grow and learn more about You today and practice Your Way in all that I do. I pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Teamwork

When I was working, I was part of a team. I was very fortunate to work with a wonderful team of women. We worked together well and have remained friends even after a few have retired. We try to get together once a month when possible.

My team was the marketing office for two community colleges. We were writers and graphic artists, who shared tasks and learned together how to manage the website. Inevitably there was change. We faced challenges every time we turned around, it seems. Computers and their systems were forever evolving. Just as I felt good about knowing something it was sure to change.

My team worked together. We helped each other learn new tasks. We supported each other. When the work load became too much at one desk, we shared it with another. Together we brain-stormed to find solutions to problems we had. We listened to each other and cared about each other. It was a great team.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV).

Cooperation and working on a team, has been around a very long time, as you can see through the scriptures. Teams can be as informal as friendships or as structured as in the workplace. God knew we needed each other.

Heavenly Father, we thank You today for the teams in our lives. Thank You for our prayer teams who share our praises and concerns; for those who help us grow in our faith; and for our teams at work, at study, in the community, and at church. We praise You for the wisdom You share through the Bible. Help us be good team members today. We pray in the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Fix Our Eyes On Jesus

My goodness, September is flying by. It is already halfway through! How did that happen? We have been blessed with a long stretch of beautiful weather all month. Hopefully it has been a good time of drying weather for the corn and beans that finish ripening in the fields.

Sometimes, though the weather is perfect, we face challenges in our lives that drag us down. It might be a health issue, an emotional burden, a problem at work, a relationship struggle, or a number of other things that cause us to cling to our faith with all our being.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God, " (Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV). 

These scriptures provide so much encouragement to Christians. "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Perseverance is what will keep us going, even when the wheels fall off our bike! God sets before us a path for our lives and that alone gives us confidence in our journey.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith." This scripture tells us that it is "Jesus who is the author and perfecter of our faith." Jesus has scripted our lives, every detail, and guides our faith toward perfection. Wow. What an awesome promise.

Lord God, we pray that You will help us "fix our eyes on Jesus" every hour of this day. Guide our feet along Your path and fill us with perseverance, no matter what the day may hold. We thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to be our Mentor and King. We pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.

My Forever Home

I was listening to a commercial yesterday and heard the term "forever home" used by a construction company. I began to consider what our "forever home" is or was or will be. We have lived in one mobile home and three houses. Of those I would consider our acreage as the "forever home" because we lived there for 25 years. Except it wasn't "forever". 

When I think of home, I think of my parents' home on the farm where I grew up. That three-story farm house was huge. The top floor was a full attic used to store everything imaginable. If you needed anything, Mama probably had it up in the attic. The next floor down was all bedrooms and a bathroom. There was also a wonderful sunporch. There were two enormous bedrooms, two smaller bedrooms, and a large open area at the top of the stairs.

The first floor held the "mud room" of early 1900's, a kitchen, a bedroom, a large dining room, a bathroom, and a living room. There was also a garden porch - an entrance from the garden side of the house where vegetables made their first stop before entering the kitchen. There was a full basement, definitely unfinished where the coal bin was and the furnace that heated the radiators in every room.

"In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you," (John 14:2 NIV).

My real "forever home" is heaven.

"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple," (Psalm 27:4 NIV).

Thank You, God, that we have a roof over our heads and a bed to sleep in, no matter what it looks like. Thank You for making a place for us to call our forever home in heaven. Guide us this day, Lord, we pray, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

For the Love of Grandchildren

Being a grandparent is one of the most wonderful things that ever happened to me. The excitement of our first grandchild was only multiplied by each additional grandchild. I remember the thrill of getting to see baby Paige in the hospital. I was a student at Iowa State University (Go Cyclones!) John was working in Cedar Rapids. We made a drive to Ames and Mary Greeley Hospital to see her. It was love at first sight!

With each successive grandchild my heart grew larger and was filled with more joy. I have spent many hours praying for my grandchildren through the years. I've prayed for physical healing when they were sick and when Bailey had open heart surgery last year. There was a broken leg, and a stress fracture in a foot to pray for. 

One prayer that I pray often is for the salvation of my grandchildren, found in Ephesians 3. Paul wrote this prayer to the Ephesians but I find it perfect to pray for my grandchildren.

"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).

This is my deepest prayer for my grandchildren every day because I love them so very much.

Thank You, God, for being so wide and long and high and deep in Your love. Thank You for sending Jesus to teach us the knowledge we need to know to be saved in Jesus Christ. Please hear our prayers this day, Amen.

He Watches Me

The hummingbirds at our feeder have suddenly become comfortable with us. We have a hanging plant about two feet away from the red feeder. The hummingbird (one in particular) has taken to roosting on the plant's straps or on top of the black hook that holds the plant. It sits there, as if on guard, protecting the feeder. Whenever another hummingbird tries to drink from the feeder there is a battle in flight. There have been four or five hummingbirds flying around in a dance that I've so enjoyed watching.

The words to "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" were written by Civilla D. Martin and music was written by Charles H. Gabriel in 1905. It was made familiar by Ethel Waters who often sang it during the Billy Graham crusades. I was reminded of it this morning.

"Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come? Why should my heart be lonely and long for heaven and home, when Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is he: his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me; "Let not your heart be troubled," his tender word I hear, and resting on his goodness, I lose my doubts and fears; though by the path he leads but one step I may see: his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me;  Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise, when song gives place to sighing, when hope within me dies, I draw the closer to him; from care he sets me free: his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me."

Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms, if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." (John 14:1-4 NIV).

Dear Lord,  thank You for the beauty of nature, created by Your hand. Thank You for the hummingbirds and the sparrows. Thank You for sending Your Son to be our friend and Savior every single day. Bless my friends and family today with Your protection and love. Amen.

We are God's Workmanship

Labor Day. The last summer holiday is upon us. Gone are the days of splashing in the sun, vacation days, and summer picnics. Well, not really. Times have changed. People are mobile year-round. Not even being back in school keeps families from taking a vacation these days. Global warming has made our warm season stretch a little farther both in fall and spring, it seems. 

Even work has changed for some. There are four-day weeks, 12-hour days, exercise breaks, and 60-hour work weeks. Take your pick. Some labor so long and hard, while others are fortunate to work where there are wonderful perks. There are nurses and teachers who dedicate their lives to their profession, then there are work-a-holics who can't seem to quit working.

Unfortunately there is a trend of laziness and lack of commitment, and "who cares" attitudes that have hit the workforce recently. "No one wants to work" is the response many employers give as they post, "Help Wanted" signs in their windows. People don't want to work their way up. Some young people want to start at the level their parents' worked years to achieve. Our workforce is in trouble.

"We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right," (2 Thessalonians 3:11-13 NIV).

God created us to work. We are all individuals with different talents and abilities. He prepared works for us to do. I doubt He had retirement in His plans, though I'm sure He intended older adults to become advisors and sharers of wisdom to young people. 

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do," (Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV).

Dear God, thank You for work and retirement. Help us live out Your purpose in all our days. Let us never grow tired or weary of doing good, but open doors for us to use our gifts for Your purpose. We pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.