A Poor Family Raises Jesus

My thoughts are still in the manger with baby Jesus as we close out 2025. We aren't told how long Mary and Joseph stayed in the manger before they moved into a house. We know the crowds in Bethlehem would subside as people completed their registration and returned home. 

According to my NIV commentary for Luke 2:21-24, Jewish babies went through several ceremonies soon after they were born. Circumcision and naming the baby boy happened on the eighth day. Jesus would have been taken to the temple for this. Then also, "A firstborn son was presented to God one month after birth. The ceremony represented buying back--"redeeming" --the child from God through an offering. Thus the parents acknowledged that the child belonged to God, who alone has the power to give life."

"The parents would bring a burnt offering to the temple and the priest would sacrifice a lamb and a dove or pigeon for a sin offering. If a lamb was too expensive, the parents could bring a second dove or pigeon instead. This is what Mary and Joseph did. Jesus was God's Son, but his family carried out these ceremonies according to God's law. Jesus was not born above the law, instead, he fulfilled it perfectly."  (footnotes for Luke 2:21-24 NIV Life Application Bible).

Knowing the history of Jewish law helps us understand the life of Jesus as it began as a human baby who grew up just like us, but became the Savior of the world, as God intended.

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich," (2 Corinthians 8:9 NIV). 

Father God, we thank You for sending Your Son as a baby of poor parents to show us just how much You love us! We consider how much Jesus gave up, as part of the Trinity, to come to live on earth as a man. Jesus, we thank You for giving so much to us in Your living Sacrifice to mankind. We praise You and thank You and pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Remembering More Than Bethlehem

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:1-7 NIV).

Christmas can be difficult when you live with depression. It is supposed to be all merry and joyful and instead it reminds me of sad things. My parents have been gone more than 20 years, still I grieve their absence at Christmastime. Mother spent the month of December baking cookies and making candy. Then close to Christmas she would bring out all the containers of goodies and begin to fill trays that she would make Daddy deliver to friends, neighbors and others who were in need of a plate of cheer. She was amazing.

Daddy was known for his Christmas surprises. The day before Christmas he would go shopping. Sometimes he would bring home a surprise for mother: a new stove for instance. Here was mother up to her ears in dinner preparations and Daddy would be putting in a new stove for her. 

Christmas at Mom and Dad's house meant gathering all the daughters and their families together for a big meal. Once the food was put away (taking much too long for the kids) everyone would circle around the living room. There were presents to open but my favorite part was singing Christmas carols with Mama at the piano. There was time to look at each face that I loved, and hear the story of Jesus' birth in the songs that we sang. That memory still brings tears to my eyes.

Christmas is more than Jesus' birth in Bethlehem. It is filled with emotions and memories of all the past celebrations, the desire for a perfect gathering of all my family together, the many midnight Christmas Eve candlelight services around my home church, the many Christmas pageants performed through the years, and yes, the precious gift of baby Jesus coming to earth as a human: to grow up as a Bible scholar who lived the perfect life for us to be like. This baby became the Man who gave His life for us on the cross. We remember so much!

Lord, be with us this Christmas. Fill us with the Love of that came down that Christmas morning. Heal our broken places and help us live a life for You as You planned for us. In the Holy Name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

Are You Ready?

Winter arrived yesterday with warm sunshine and a false comfort of the months to come. Are you ready for the arrival of our King? The stars shine brightly this time of year against a slate of darkness. A baby is about to be born in Bethlehem, under the star as placed by God.

"Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and strength, not one of them is missing." (Isaiah 40:26 NIV).

Just as the shepherds paused to see the bright light to lead them to the Christ Child, we must look up and see where God will lead us this Christmas. Even when we are tired or weary, God promises to walk with us.

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint,"  (Isaiah 40:29-31 NIV). 

God is with us. He walks with us. He lifts us up when we just want to quit. There is a path before us.

"So, do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand," (Isaiah 41:10 NIV).

Do not be afraid. God has a plan that has been in place for generations. He knows the future of our great grandchildren as well as He knew the path of our great grandfathers!

"For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you," (Isaiah 41:13 NIV).

The Savior is coming. Are you ready? He will come whether the packages are wrapped; the cookies are baked; or the baby Jesus is in the creche.

O God, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to walk with us through the plan You have for us. Quiet our hearts of fear and show us Your right hand that invites us to be with You. Help us keep Jesus, the reason for the season, as You intended. We praise You, Lord, as we pray in the Name of Jesus, Amen.

#1160

Christmas is a Time To Treasure

“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart,” (Luke 2:15-19 NIV).

Most of all, Christmas is a time to treasure. Christmas is a time to reflect on our blessings and to give thanks to God; a time to celebrate quiet family time, perhaps by reading the Christmas story in the light of your tree. It is the feeling you have when you tuck your trusting little ones into bed at night. It is remembering wonderful times together and the loved ones who are no longer with us. Christmas is a time to give selflessly and loving completely.

Christmas is a time to treasure all these things and ponder them in your heart. Christmas is a time to take all the good things in life and locking them in your heart, never to be forgotten.

The time of anticipation is nearly over. Christmas is one week away. It is time to be ready. Ready to feel the joy. Ready to hear the music. Ready to treasure the moments of Christmas’ past.

Father God, thank You for this season of remembering and treasuring all these things in our hearts. Thank You for sending Your Son to earth as a baby that everyone could love. We treasure the Christmas story as the beginning of His life with us. Show us what we need to do this season to be ready to hold the Christ Child in our hearts. Praying in the Name of Jesus, Amen.

The Joy of Christmas Music

"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:13-14 NIV). 

Wouldn't you love to experience that? Or as The Message puts it:

"At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises: "Glory to God in the heavenly heights. Peace to all men and women on earth who please him." (Luke 2:13-14 The Message)

It gives me goose bumps to imagine how beautiful that would be. I have been enjoying Life 107.1 as they have been playing all Christmas music since December 1st. My car ia always on that station and I have Alexa turn it on in my kitchen. It fills my heart with joy!

One of my favorite Christmas memories is hearing my Dad sing "O Holy Night" at our church Christmas Eve candlelight service. For many years it was a tradition at Bethel Grove Church. "O Holy Night" was written by French poet Placide Cappeau in 1847 and set to music by French composer Adolphe Adam (1847) with the most famous English translation by American critic John Sullivan Dwight in 1855. The carol first debuted at a Christmas Eve Mass in France.

O Holy Night

The stars are brightly shining. It is the night of our dear Savior's birth  Long lay the world in sin and error pining  "Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices. For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees; O hear the Angel voices. O night divine, O night when Christ was born. O night, O night, O Holy night, O night divine!  Truly He taught us to love one another;  His law is love and His Gospel is Peace. Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother. And in His name, all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we. Let all within us Praise His Holy name. Christ is the Lore' O praise His name forever! His power and glory evermore proclaim. His power and glory evermore proclaim.

Music touches hearts with its beauty. Whatever your favorite Christmas song is, turn up the volume and enjoy the beautiful sounds of the season.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for creating music that fills the air around us. Perhaps music was first sung by Your angels. How I would love to hear Your angels sing! Thank You for sending Your Son to earth as an infant who saved us all. Help us prepare our hearts to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas in the days ahead. We praise You and love You, praying in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.

Good News of Great Joy

 There is nothing quite like the look on the face of a child who opens a gift he has been longing for. One favorite family story that is retold nearly every Christmas happened when my brother-in-law was just a tike. After opening a special present this little boy shouted out, "Just what me always wanted!"

The eyes of children seem to hold special magic at Christmas. The excitement they feel can't be contained. It spills over into bouncing and jumping and hugging. There is true joy. Though there is joy in getting something you love, there is even greater joy in finding that perfect gift that you know is just right. 

Christmas joy is the cooing and smiles of a baby resting in your arms. Christmas joy flows on the face of a grandparent when the family gathers together. There is Christmas joy when that independent college-aged son or daughter comes home for holiday break. It is receiving a card from a friend you haven't heard from in a few years.

"But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger," (Luke 2:10-12 NIV).

This Christmas, the words of the song, "Mary Did You Know" have really touched my heart. The song as performed by Pentatonix is especially beautiful.

"Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water? Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters? Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new? This child that you delivered, will soon deliver you?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man? Mary, did you know that your baby boy would calm the storm with his hand? Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod? When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man? Mary, did you know that your baby boy would calm the storm with his hand? Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod? When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God?

The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again. The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb (Lamb) Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations? Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb? That sleeping child you're holding is the great I am?"

Oh, God, thank You for creating the beautiful Christmas story that we share again and again, generation to generation. Thank You for sending Your Son to earth as a baby that changed the trajectory of the sinful world. Heavenly Father, the joy of the birth of Your Son fills our hearts this Christmas and every Christmas. Your gift to us shows Your Great Love for us all. We pray in the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Anticipation of Joy

It is hard to wait, especially when you are little. When our boys were young we had an advent calendar for them. They could open a new door each day to help count down the days until Christmas. We also had a hanging with buttons tied to a ribbon with yarn. They could remove a button every day beginning December first and when they were gone, it was Christmas Day. Another year my mother prepared little packages given on the days before Christmas to make the waiting a little easier for the boys.

Even as adults, we often find our expectations inflating with each approaching day. We hope for the perfect Christmas and often rush around trying to do more: bake more, send more Christmas cards, buy more gifts, clean more throughly... so everything will be just right when the anticipated day arrives.

Instead of trying to make all the "things" better, we can fill our hearts with joy by anticipating the arrival of our Savior! That is true joy. As with the arrival of any baby, there is such overwhelming joy! I can't even imagine the joy of Mary as she looked upon her Holy baby, the Son of God, in physical form.

""Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of Most High," (Luke 1:28-32a NIV).

I wonder if the angel's words came back to Mary as she rested, after giving birth to the Kingly Child. Anticipation of the life of a Savior was before her. 

The author of Hebrews described Jesus as the, "Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven," (Hebrews 1:3 NIV).

Lord God, we bow down in humble adoration of Your Son Jesus. We know the story of His life, yet we enjoy remembering the way you brought Jesus into the world. We pause to anticipate the joy of the Coming Savior. Thank You, God, for sending Your Only Son to bring Salvation to a sinful world. We pray in the Holy Name of Jesus, Amen.

Come, Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appears.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

(Latin hymn translated by John M. Neale, 1851,  Thomas Helmore, 1854.) Based on one of the earliest forms of music known - the Chant or Plain Song.

This beautiful hymn calls us to remember the meaning of the Christmas season...the arrival of Jesus' first coming and expectation of Christ's second coming still ahead. Rejoice! We can sing these words over and over during the Advent season. 

At our house, the Christmas decorations are mostly in place now. It is kind of a hodgepodge of things collected over the past 52 years. Somewhere along the way, I gathered several creches and three of them are on display. My decorations aren't something you would see in "House Beautiful," rather they are meaningful only to me. There is a lot of blue because I love that color: blue lights on the tree, blue bows on the light fixtures next to the fireplace, a blue scarf on a pudgy little snowman, (made by granddaughter Piper years ago), and a blue tablecloth. 

The creches are the focal point of Christmas for me. I hope to remind anyone who comes, that Jesus is number one in my Christmas.

"In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you," (Luke 1:26-28 NIV).

Heavenly Father God, Thank You for this season of preparation for the birth of Your Son, and His arrival as a human baby on this earth- that You alone created. Thank You for the Christmas lights that remind us of  Jesus' arrival as Emmanuel, the Light of the World. Thank You for sending Him to be born a baby in Bethlehem, as foretold hundreds of years before. We Rejoice! Amen.

We give God the Glory. 

Our Hope is Light

The turkey is cooked and nearly gone. The wreaths of gold and brown have been taken down and replaced with red and green. The outdoor lights are glowing and the artificial Christmas trees are up and decorated. The flurry of Black Friday is replaced by Cyber Monday. Calendars have turned to December. The nativity scenes are in place and the lawns (in Iowa, at least) are coated with a plentiful blanket of snow. It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  Or not.

Christmas can be a difficult season. I think of those who have lost a loved one since last Christmas, especially. The "firsts" are hard. It is challenging to see everyone else in such a joyful mood when inside your heart is breaking. 

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel," (Isaiah 7:14 NIV).  

God's promise is hope. 

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned," (Isaiah 9:2 NIV).

Hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, Isaiah proclaimed hope was coming. A virgin will conceive! A Son will be born, coming in the physical presence of baby Jesus. A child will be our Deliverer. The Messiah. Immanuel.

Mighty God, we enter this season with hope. Even when our hearts are breaking, we see Your Light coming. We have hope. Fill us with Your Great Light and lift our spirits as we anticipate the coming of baby Jesus, once again. Remind us of what is truly important this Christmas: Your Son. We pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.

With Thanksgiving

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 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 4:4-7 NIV).

Thank you, God, for the sunshine before the storm. Thank you, God for the leaves that blew away yesterday. Thank you, God, for a warm home and a refrigerator full of food to prepare. Thank you, God, for good health for our family. Thank you, God, that I am able to prepare a meal, (and an extra day since our family gathers tomorrow). Thank you, God, for our two sons who make us so proud. Thank you, God, for eight beautiful grandchildren who delight us in every way. Thank you, God, for our extended family. Thank you, God, for friends who touch our hearts.

Lord, may You be with each and every one today, blessing them with wellness and safety. You have given us so much to enjoy! May we never forget the sacrifice of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, our greatest Thanksgiving of all. With humble and thankful hearts, we worship and adore You, Amen.

His Love Endures Forever

With hearts filled with anticipation, we enter the week of Thanksgiving. Along with the pumpkin pie making and turkey baking, there will be precious conversations and joyful reunions. Our grandchildren are nearly all adults (plus three teenagers). Gathering is so interesting as we catch the interactions of the cousins. They are not all like-minded, but individuals with a plethora of interests and studies. Thank You, God! 

So often I am in the kitchen so I miss the conversations that happen downstairs in the family room, or around the pool table. But what a delight to hear them banter in the living room or at the dining room table. Food always brings us together. Thank You, God!

There are favorites at the Thanksgiving "buffet". Most would say the homemade noodles are number one, followed by the Stewart family tradition of lamb that will accompany the turkey. There will be other favorites like a bing cherry salad my mother always made, an overnight lettuce salad, and a pistachio pudding dessert that my sons love. Thank You, God, for our food.

There was also a tradition (for only a couple of years) of a Stewart Thanksgiving race, down our cul-de-sac's street. Grandpa provided an incentive for the winner ($) the second year, but there were no takers last year. We have two former cross-country runners in our midst and one middle school speedster ready to take on any challengers. Most of us just watch the race, thankfully no one has been injured. Thank You, God!

Our meal always begins with a prayer of Thanksgiving, with the youngest to oldest order of filling our plates. Dessert usually happens a few hours later after dinner has a chance to settle. There will be pumpkin pie, of course, an apple pie, lemon ice cream from Ev's in Marshalltown, and the pistachio dessert. Thank You, God!

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.  Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever.  Give thanks to the Lord of Lords. His love endures forever. to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever." (Psalm 136:1-4 NIV).

Thank You, God, for all things, especially families this week. We are thankful that Your Love endures forever! We thank You for time together, and we especially pray for our family members who can't be with us this Thanksgiving. Please keep families safe as they travel, and bless our families with peace and Your enduring love. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

Never Changing God

I was reminded of Thanksgiving activities of school days when I noticed a colorful turkey on my sister's chest of drawers this week at the nursing home. I remember using hands and fingers to draw a turkey when I was a child and again when my boys were young. Some crafts never grow old, they just get updated at Hobby Lobby! There were Pilgrim hats and Indian headbands with feathers. The story we listened to included a big table spread with meat, potatoes and maize to share.

As our preparations continue for Thanksgiving I remember a harvest song that we often sang in church when I was growing up. "We Plow the Fields, and Scatter" by Matthias Claudius, 1782, and Johann A.P. Schulz, 1800.

"We plow the fields, and scatter The good seed on the land, But it is fed and watered By God's Almighty hand; He sends the snow in winter, The warmth to swell the grain, The breezes and the sunshine, And soft refreshing rain. All good gifts around us Are sent from heaven above; Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord For all His love. He only is the Maker Of all things near and far, He paints the wayside flower, He lights the evening star; The winds and waves obey Him,  By Him the birds are fed; Much more to us, His children, He gives our daily bread. All good gifts around us Are sent from heaven above; Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord For all His love. We thank Thee then, O Father, For all things bright and good, The seed-time and the harvest, Our life, our health, our food; Accept the gifts we offer For all Thy love imparts, And what Thou most desires, Our humble, thankful hearts. All good gifts around us Are sent from heaven above; Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord For all His love. Amen."

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows," (James 1:17 NIV).

Heavenly Father God, We thank You for all the blessings in our lives. Remind us to pause and record the myriad of gifts You have placed in our lives, as evidence of our great thankfulness to You. We are so thankful that You are never-changing. You remain the same from generation to generation. We can count on You from birth to death and everything in-between. We thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to earth to save us from our sinful mistakes. In all things, we pray in Jesus' holy Name. Amen.

Thankful for Everlasting Encouragement

Somehow, somewhere this week, the Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17, spoke to me.

"So then, brothers, stand firm and hold on to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." (2 Thessalonians 2:15-17, NIV).

The words "everlasting encouragement" or "eternal encouragement" as the NIV says above, ministered to my soul. I also read The Message's contemporary language translation.

"So friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter. May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech," (2 Thessalonians 2:15-17, The Message).

I guess I needed the encouragement. It's been a rough week. Sometimes we need The Lord's touch to help motivate us for the next step in our journey. This scripture promises everlasting encouragement! It doesn't get any better than that.

Lord God, we are so thankful for the unending help and confidence You provide. We need Your encouragement when our hearts are broken and weary. We turn to You, alone, for the restorative care You give us. We seek Your love and grace to heal us. Gift us with new energy and a fresh heart to do and say all that You require of us. We are so thankful for Your blessings of everlasting encouragement. We pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

#1150 gds 

With Gratitude

October 23,2025

It has been a beautiful fall in Iowa.. The colors were the best I've seen in many years, it seems. It has been a good harvest season. Iowa even experienced amazingly vivid northern lights this week. The weather is warm again for a few days so we can finish up any outdoor cleanup we need to do. There is so much to be thankful for. What surprised me was how fast the colorful leaves fell from the trees. We have a view of a lovely maple tree that shed its leaves almost overnight. Those who have deciduous trees will have a bountiful raking job. We only have one oak tree in our yard and it holds most of its leaves until spring. It has been a lovely bronze color this fall. God's artistry is amazing!

"We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy," (Acts 14:15-17 NIV).

November 12, 2025

There is a simple song by Brandon Lake called, "Gratitude" that expresses the way we can offer our praise to God for all He has done.           

All my words fall short
I got nothing new
How could I express
All my gratitude

I could sing these songs
As I often do
But every song must end
And You never do

Chorus
So I throw up my hands
And praise You again and again
‘Cause all that I have is a hallelujah, hallelujah
And I know it’s not much
But I’ve nothing else fit for a king
Except for a heart singing hallelujah
Hallelujah

I’ve got one response
I’ve got just one move
With my arms stretched wide I will worship You

Bridge
Come on my soul
Oh don’t you get shy on me
Lift up your song
‘Cause you’ve got a lion inside of those lungs
Get up and praise the Lord

Heavenly Father, You alone are worthy of our praise. We are surrounded by beauty Your hands created. Thank You for the blessings that overflow in our lives. Hear our gratitude and Hallelujah's from thankful hearts. We pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Compassion For Our Veterans

Tomorrow is Veterans Day. It is a day to be thankful for every person who has served his/her country. I am not privileged to be from a family of Veterans so I have never had the personal connection that others who have lived with the separation time, the fearful times of war, or the painful loss of someone dear.

Although it is fiction, the book, "The Women" by Kristin Hannah, (one of my favorite authors), presented a powerful story of the women who served as nurses during war times. Her research gave the story a true life feel and perspective that was gut-wrenching at times - just as war times must be.

I can only imagine how difficult it must be for servicemen and servicewomen to be far from home and family, facing danger every minute, not knowing if they would be going home. Our Vietnam War Veterans also faced an angry public backlash when they did get home. Some of those Veterans still suffer the torment of flashbacks from a terrible conflict. 

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God," (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV). 

Only God can help those who served, by being side-by-side with them in battle, in their bunks, in the dark, when they are alone years later. It seems like it has taken us 50+ years to find ways to help these men and women return to the living.

Lord God, I lift up our Veterans, asking that You touch their broken hearts with Your comfort. Heal those who still suffer the memories that tear them up inside. Help us reach out to our Veterans with compassion and appreciation for protecting our freedoms around the world. Give wisdom to those who help them endure their past. Bring blessings over our Veterans who have served so faithfully. In Jesus' Name, I pray, Amen.

A Season of Gratitude

This harvest season is one of gratitude. How can we not be grateful when lawns and gardens are decorated in pumpkins, gourds, cornstalks, acorns and falling leaves?

Life often reflects the change of seasons. There are seasons of thankfulness and seasons of sorrow. Many writers have realized how beneficial it is to list ways we are grateful. To have a heart of gratitude is to lift our spirit toward heaven. 

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations,” (Psalm 100:1-5 ESV).

Taking time to write down what we are thankful for brings us closer to Jesus. Some suggest journaling three things we are thankful for at the end of each day. It will not only help us sleep better, it will change our attitude for tomorrow.

“Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things,” (Psalm 107:8-9 ESV).

Every day we are blessed in countless ways. When we are down or feeling sad, the fastest way to restore our joy is to list our blessings…A good meal, time with grandchildren, a call from a friend, no bills in the mail, snuggle time with a pet, time to study the Bible and pray, our spouse, items checked off the ‘to do’ list, a sunny morning, a blue bird sighting, colorful leaves, acorns under the oak tree, a squirrel dashing across the lawn, a warm house, hot coffee, fragrance of something baking, running water, an indoor bathroom… the list goes on and on. 

This season of thanksgiving and gratitude is a perfect time to draw closer to the presence of God, for nurturing our relationship with Our Savior. Try a gratitude journal for this season of thanksgiving. Or try writing down three things you are thankful for every night.

The directive comes from the words of John, “He must increase, but I must decrease,” (John 3:30 ESV).

Good morning, Father God: thank You for the full moon shining overhead. Thank You for the sun that will rise in the east. Our hearts are full of Your blessings. Even when we are sad You wash over us with blessing after blessing. God, You are so good! Thank You for sending Jesus to teach us and to save us from our sinful lives. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

 

Give Thanks

Did you notice that the Halloween candy aisle turned to Christmas candy overnight? It always amazes me how early the Christmas displays appear in stores. I usually just ignore it. I know several people spent the weekend getting their Christmas decorations out and putting up their trees. 

I set out my Thanksgiving decorations. I like to spend the month of November in thanksgiving mode. I'm not opposed to decorating for Christmas because I love the beauty of red and green and sparkles but I have so much to be thankful for that it takes me all month to express it.

"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 minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things," (Philippians 4:6-8 NIV). 

Thanksgiving is late again this year so I expect many will have their Christmas trees up for Thanksgiving so they can enjoy them longer. Whatever you do for the end-of-the-year holidays, let's remember to give God our thanks in as many ways as possible.

I doubt if I'll see many turkeys on display in yards, though I know where to see real wild turkeys on lawns nearly every day here in Ankeny. A big blow-up gobbling turkey might be fun to see in someone's lawn!

Dear God, Thank you for this season of thanksgiving ahead of us. Help us remember to pause and give thanks to You for all that You do for us. We anticipate the season of the birth of Jesus, Your Son, and raise our hands in worship for this wonderful gift of Salvation. Lord, we know that all gifts come from You and we come to You in gratitude and praise. Show us Your mercy and grace, we pray, Amen.

That Nasty Envy

I have a friend who is talented in every respect I can think of. She has a beautiful voice and can lead music and praises. She is very crafty and has made all kinds of lovely things for her home and for gifts to others. She decorates her home with amazing talent and she has designed a new home and several remodeling projects by her husband. She is a great cook and a thoughtful grandmother. Her latest activity has been quilting. I didn't even know she could sew, but she started making stunning quilts, right and left! She has made a quilt for every member of her family within one year of starting! Who does that?!

Can you hear envy creeping up around my words? Forgive me, Lord. 

"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones," (Proverbs 14:30 NIV).

"If you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth... For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness," (James 3:14, 16, 17, 18 NIV).

It is a sin to envy. I confess my sin and seek to replace that evil desire with the blessing of "wisdom from heaven". I want to be "peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere". I release my desire to be like someone else and I accept myself as I am: a sinner created by God for His purpose. 

Lord, forgive me for the envy I hold. Help me change my heart to be the person You want me to be. Eliminate the evil envy inside and replace it with Your love. Let me wish blessings on others who seem to have it all together, while I don't. I love You, Lord, and I want to follow Jesus in all that I think and do. I pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Temporary Beauty

Happy Monday. May your day be blessed with quiet moments of gently falling leaves in a breeze, amazing views of a palette of fall colors on a distant hillside, a tasty morsel of apple, pumpkin or cinnamon to quench your appetite, comforting softness to cuddle and warm you, and the fragrance of leaves gathering on a trail through the timber.

Those are the things I love about autumn. Beauty that is here and then so quickly gone. Too soon the colors evaporate into brown. The beauty is temporary.

For more than 15 years I spent a weekend each fall at a women's retreat in a beautiful campsite in rural Iowa. Called Metanoia, meaning 'change of heart,' it featured a spiritual leader, a time of fellowship with other women, and precious moments of personal connection with God. It became a greatly anticipated time of respite and renewal. 

Then life got hectic with college, then full-time work, and grandchildren. Times change and new priorities nudge out old traditions. That's just the way life is. The one constant has been my relationship with God, no matter what fills my calendar.

"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. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal," (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV).

Gracious God: awaken our senses today so we can take in all the beauty that surrounds us. We are aware that this season will soon be replaced by the next and in Iowa that means winter. As believers, we know that our suffering in this life is also temporary. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so we can prove our faith to others. We thank You Lord, and we pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

The Mystery of Threes

There is a superstition or old wives tale that says bad things happen in threes. It sure seems to run true at our house. Last spring my old computer (2011 era) decided to "give up the ghost" (appropriate for October, don't you think?). And I had killed my laptop by keeping it plugged in all the time. (Don't do that). 

Next, our dishwasher quit working. It was original with our house (2015). Then shortly thereafter our living room TV decided to give us colorful lines instead of a nice picture (era 2016). Besides the  hit on our pocketbook, it completed our misery of three. And made us realize things don't last as long as they used to.

In looking up "bad things happen in threes" with my semi-new computer it says it is not fact, it is a "popular superstition rooted in human psychology", that suggests if two unfortunate events happen, a third is likely to follow. Google says, "it is rooted in the human tendency to find patterns (apophenia) and seek closure, offering a sense of control over a seemingly random string of bad luck".  Oh.

So, I'm just trying to explain why I'm having a streak of bad luck and seeking to take control over the situation. 

Fortunately, when we go to Scripture, good things come in threes, not bad things. Beginning with the Holy Trinity. God is three persons: Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. According to his website, "Deacon Pedro", "the number three appears in the Bible some 467 times!" Some of his examples are: the three patriarchs of Israel - Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; Noah had three sons; Jonah was in the whale three days; Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months; the wise men bring three gifts to baby Jesus; and Jesus was tempted by satan three times...  I'm sure you can think of a few others.

Isaiah says God is three-times Holy, and Paul clearly defines the three persons of God:

"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all," (2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV).

Finding The Way

On the Trail near Sedona, Arizona

One of my husband's favorite stories to tell about me involves a trail to a waterfall, a hot day in a desert, me taking a wrong turn, and us wandering for about an hour, trying to find the trail. I like to remind John that the waterfall was beautiful when we finally got to it, but somehow my part of the story never makes up for the time spent looking for the trail.

Have you ever gotten lost? It has happened to me more times than I can count. I remember getting lost in St. Louis on our honeymoon. We ended up in a less than desirable neighborhood at night when John's wedding ring slipped off his finger in the car. We pulled over and turned on the overhead light to help. I remember feeling so exposed as we sat there. Fortunately John found his ring quickly and we moved on. This was before GPS, cell phones, and in-car mapping systems.

Believing in Jesus Christ as our Savior leads us along a path that is clearly the Way. Jesus describes this path in what I consider to be one of the most beautiful sections of Scripture.

"Do not let your heart 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."

Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him," (John 14:1-7 NIV).

O Gracious God, our hearts are so thankful for Your Word. Your promises comfort us and assure us that we know the Way to You. Thank You for sending Your Son to show us how to find You and the place that is prepared for us in eternity. We pray in the name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

One Bright Flash

A flash of lightening appeared as I was putting on my glasses this morning and a few minutes later the heavy rain followed. God is at work already this morning by quenching the thirsty ground and plants. Farmers are probably conflicted: the earth needs moisture but their crops need to dry for harvest. Now the rain has stopped so it was probably one of those "spotty showers" the meteorologists are telling us about.

Meteorologists have a tough job. They are always being criticized for the weather if we don't like it. The old adage "If you don't like the weather in Iowa just wait five minutes and it will change." I think that is the way the rest of the week will be as a front moves in.

"The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red' and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times." (Matthew 16:1-3 NIV).

Jesus refused to give them a sign, even though He easily could have done so. He knew that even a miracle of weather, would not convince them that He was the Messiah.

Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed," (John 20:29 NIV). My Bible commentary suggests, "If you simply step forward in faith and believe, then you will begin to see the miracles that God can do with your life!" (NIV notes for Matthew 16:4).

Thank You, God, for sending Jesus to show us the many miracles chronicled in the Bible so we can believe. I believe in Jesus, my Savior. Work through me today to fulfill Your Will. I pray in the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Stay On the Tracks

 My hometown of State Center has a train track running parallel to Main Street. Crossing the tracks and waiting for a train to pass was just part of life. When the train rattled through town, voices were diminished so teachers paused their teaching, business waited, cars lined up on the streets, and conversations suspended. The noisy interlude was common and expected.

For five years we lived in State Center just a few blocks from the train tracks. We worried about being able to sleep but the train just became background music. When we moved to the country acreage we were parallel to train tracks but a few miles away. We could see the train from our house on the hill but did not hear it. 

We spent many minutes watching the train cars pass as we waited to cross the tracks. We counted the cars and watched for the caboose until the red cars were eliminated. I watched in wonder and in awe of the artistic graffiti on the sides of the cars. We once took an 8-hour ride through Alaska's beautiful wilderness. I think it would be wonderful to take a train ride through the United States.

Jesus didn't travel by train. He walked great distances throughout Israel and Judah. His journeys were by foot not rail. I've always been amazed by all that was accomplished during Jesus' time on earth.Perhaps Jesus' most important teaching for believers was about the end times. During His return, the nations of the earth and unbelievers will mourn because they realize they are on the wrong side of the "tracks".

"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other," (Matthew 24:30-31 NIV).

Thank You, God, for sending Your Son to teach us how to believe. Help us strengthen our faith with Your Word and give us opportunities to share the Good News with others. We pray in Jesus' Holy and Gracious Name. Amen.

Numbering Our Days

Marcella Palar 88: 9 18 25

Last week when we shopped for out weekly groceries, the young lady who sacked our purchase was excited. She told me that on the night before she had celebrated her birthday! She was beaming! We were ready to leave so I didn't have a chance to ask how old she was. 

It's been a long time since I was that happy about a birthday. To put the right number of candles on my cake would have resulted in a bonfire. This year was one of those big birthdays ending in zero. I had no desire to celebrate.

My sister who lives with her daughter in Pennsylvania was back in Iowa for her 88th birthday. We celebrated with a little cake with eight candles on it. She enjoyed the party and was proud to reach 88. She even blew out all eight candles at once! It was fun watching her enjoy her day.

So what does the Bible say about birthdays? Birthdays are mentioned only two or three times.

"Now the third day was Pharaoh's birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials." (Genesis 40:20 NIV)

"Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee." (Matthew 14:6 and Mark 6:21 NIV).

Though 'birthdays' are not mentioned in Psalms, we can find many words of wisdom about aging.

(Psalm 90:9, 10, 12 NIV). "All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. The length of our days is seventy years--or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.  Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

Heavenly Father, sometimes the days float by us so fast that we hardly notice them at all. Then we check the calendar and another week or month or year has already passed. Help us, Lord, to pause and breathe in our experiences, one day at a time. We thank You that we are here for another day and we acknowledge that our time comes from You. We worship You, Lord and thank You for sending the gift of Your Son, in whose Holy Name we pray, Amen.

Morning Rituals

Where does your power come from? When you get up in the morning are you excited to get going - jumping out of bed, full of energy? Are you the person who needs that cup of coffee or a Diet Coke to get you going? Or are you the person who gets to the gym for a good workout to start your day? Or do you head out for a morning walk or run in the dark? Or do you hit the snooze button a couple of times and drag yourself out of bed one appendage at a time?

There are a lot of ways to start your day. I happen to be the one who usually wakes up about ten minutes before the alarm goes off, then runs through the usual routine of brushing my teeth, take my morning pills, packing my charged phone into my purse, putting on my swimsuit then clothes on top, slips on my flip-flops, grabs my gym bag and my keys, and I'm out the door, drive to the gym and plunge myself into the cold pool water (sometimes it isn't so cold), and I'm ready to exercise by 7:30 a.m. I choose the 8 a.m. class because it starts my day in a good way.

"Then the Lord said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning and confront Pharaoh as he goes to the water and say to him, 'This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me,'" (Exodus 8:20 NIV).

 What a great way to start the day - with prayer and worship. I always have my car radio on the local Christian radio station. The minute the car starts I am greeted by a beautiful song and my spirit is lifted up. Though I only drive for ten minutes, that is enough time to be filled with the blessings of praise and worship.

Oh God, I lift my hands in worship this morning. Greeting You with my love and praise! For You alone are worthy of my praise. Fill me with Your love for others that I meet this day. Make me aware of those around me and let me be a beacon of light, Your light, to them. You have blessed me with another morning and I thank You. Use me to bring the Light of Jesus to others, I pray. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Words

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." (John 1:1-3 NIV).

Some people are numbers people. I'm a word person. Don't ask me to figure a tip. John has tried and tried to teach me and I still fail. Although I passed the required math courses in college, I'm useless without a calculator. 

I read somewhere that the average person speaks 16,000 words every day. I don't think I'm average in this category. I'm a better listener than a speaker. My personal library has an entire shelf of books on writing. Writing is my passion. When I started a job as a weekly newspaper reporter I was so excited that I saved clippings of my articles. I have a whole scrapbook of them somewhere in this house. That's one thing I can get rid of. First of all, my writing wasn't very good at that point. But thousands of words later, I got better - with practice and education.

Words have real power. I am touched by the words my friends write or say to me. I am so humbled by the Word of God. Within the pages of Scripture are words of wisdom and guidance. Just look in a Bible Concordance and you will find thousands of words used by the authors of the Word. God Himself is the true writer of the Word.

On my desk is a marble coaster that says, "Words are the voice of the heart," originally said by Confucius. For me, the words I write come from my heart. I write with authenticity, revealing my true emotions and beliefs. 

"For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks," (Matthew 12:34b and Luke 6:45 NIV).

Gracious God,I pray that the words I write will touch someone's heart today and lead her/him to You. Thank You for sending Your Son to walk on this earth and show us how to live so we are pleasing to you. We pray in Jesus' Holy Name. Amen.

Mornings

I love the quiet of early mornings. The wind is usually calm and the sun is just thinking about rising. The birds begin to sing so sweetly. I am a morning person. I do my best work before noon. That doesn't mean I am always ready to get out of bed. Or ready to write this blog. 

When I focus my mind on Jesus He lifts me up. He strengthens me. He encourages me. He walks with me every step of the way. I am so thankful for His presence at my side. I can face anything that is before me. Jesus will see me through it.

Consider what Jesus faced on His walk to the cross. Such courage! Our service men and women faced it as they went into battle. Our fire persons, EMT's and police men and women faced it as they went in to rescue persons from the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. Our protectors face danger in their jobs, with courage everyday. It takes courage to face each day when we are fighting a dreadful disease or when we are dying. Sometimes we forget what a dangerous and polluted world we live in.

Still, Jesus is with us in every step we take when we invite Him into our hearts. Thank You, Jesus.

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you," (2 Thessalonians 3:16 NIV).

Amen.

In Loving Memory of Gene McRill

Today is the first day of autumn. I noticed a few trees losing their leaves yesterday as we took a walk after church. It was another beautiful day-without rain. Farmers are busy harvesting already. The corn is brown and dry. I feel sad. Not because summer is coming to an end but because another member of our family is gone. Today is my brother-in-law's funeral - the day after my sister's birthday. She spent her birthday at her husband's visitation.

Gene McRill was such a good man. He made us laugh until we cried. Even in his wheelchair near the end he would sit, looking like he was asleep, listening to us talk. As the conversation continued he would suddenly insert one of his witty comments or a snippet of Scripture that would surprise us and make us laugh. I loved that about Gene and I will miss that the most.

Gene gave the best prayers, even on the spur of the moment he would pray heartfelt prayers to his friend Jesus. He was faith-filled and he loved his church. He was broken-hearted when the Albion Methodist Church closed and was later razed. He taught Sunday school, served on the board, and sang beautifully. He was "the church" to many.

Gene was dating my sister Burneta around the time I was born. I was told more than once that my colicky cries interrupted their courting. However, they married on October 21, 1956, and were married for 68 years! Together they raised four wonderful children, and had four grandsons, and four great-grandchildren. Gene worked on the family farm, at the local grain elevator, then joined his mother in the insurance business. He spent nearly 50 years with Iowa Valley Mutual Insurance. 

Gene served others through his church and Albion's organizations. He treated his insurance customers with respect and compassion. He remained a farmer at heart and one special moment was when his family restored and presented him his favorite red tractor. He loved to golf and spent many hours of his retirement on the South Hardin Golf Course in Union. At 94 Gene was ready, even anxious, to see God.

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39 NIV).

Waiting For Flowers

I'm so excited. My chrysanthemum is ready to pop. I can't believe how many blooms it has. We planted the "Hardy Garden Mum" last fall and it made it through the winter (when several other perennials did not). It was about the size of two hands this spring when it came up. Now it is at least two feet wide. Its color is "Autumn Spice Igloo." I can't wait!

Since the season for flowers is coming to an end, I want to share the words of a song I've been listening to recently. The words touched my heart and I hope they will touch yours also. If you get a chance to listen to the recording by Samantha Ebert, that is even better because it is beautiful.

Flowers

Song by Samantha Ebert ‧ 2024

Well, blue skies and hillsides feel so far away

And I wrote in my notebook that I've seen better days

Than the ones as of late

I can't bear the weight

The rain won't stop pouring out my windowpane

And I haven't left my bedroom in 76 days

I wish something would change

'Cause I'm losing faith

So I brought it up in a desperate prayer

Lord, why are you keeping me here?

Then He said to me, "Child, I'm planting seeds

I'm a good God and I have a good plan

So trust that I'm holding a watering can

And someday you'll see that flowers grow in the valley"

So whatever the reason, I'm barely getting by

I'll trust it's a season knowing that you're by my side

Every step of the way

And I'll be okay

'Cause I brought it up in a desperate prayer

Lord, why are you keeping me here?

Then He said to me, "Child, I'm planting seeds

I'm a good God and I have a good plan"

So trust that I'm holding a watering can

And someday you'll see that flowers grow in the valley

Mm, mm

When I'm on the mountain and looking down below

I'll see a valley of flowers that needed time to grow

And I'll thank you for the rain

The hurt and days of pain

And I'll bring it up in a grateful prayer

Thank you, Jesus, for keeping me there

You know just what I need, and you've planted seeds

'Cause you're a good God with a real good plan

And you hold my world in a watering can

So I can have peace 'cause flowers grow in the valley

Heavenly, Great Gardener God, I thank you for the beauty of nature around us that You created. Some of us love working in the soil and shaping our gardens to expound on Your beauty. As the song says, we count on You to hold our watering can, to nurture the seeds that are planted. Thank You for Your wonderful plan for each of us. Keep us on Your path so we can reach the mountain top one day. We love you, Lord. We pray in Jesus' Holy Name. Amen.

Seen on Facebook: The Best View Comes After the Hardest Climb