April Showers for May Flowers

Are you ready to turn the page from April to May? We have had several April showers that should bring May flowers. Typically, I have followed an unwritten "rule" of not planting annuals or vegetables until Mother's Day. Though we have had some very warm days already, there is a chance of frost in some parts of Iowa this week. 

So, maybe the old wives tale is good advice this year. It could have been a word to the wise from the Farmer's Almanac, or better yet, teaching from my mother many years ago. Where do you get your gardening advice? These days it could come from Google.

Things change over time. Some guidance remains wise through the years. Other ideas are replaced by new thinking. When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth he made it clear where our wisdom should come from.

"My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power," (1 Corinthians 2:4-5 NIV).

The Scriptures remain true and good even after hundreds of years. There are few books that remain relevant and wise through the ages of time. Our Holy Bible has never changed its wisdom. It is as true today as it was being written in the time of Moses or Abraham, Jesus or Paul. 

Thank You, God, for the Holy Scriptures that guides my life of faith even today. Help me grow in Your wisdom and grant me the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus promises all believers. Thank You for sending Your Son to die on the cross so I can live again with Him eternally, one day. I pray in the Name of Jesus, Amen.

The Growing Season

Have you been listening to the rain? It sounds like we got a lot of rain but it is too dark to see the rain gauge. It is rather delightful to hear the rain after two dry springs. The grass is so green! The leaves are appearing on the trees like a magician's flowers out of a wand. But it is all by God's hands. 

We have lived in Ankeny for 10 years now and during that time we tried to plant rhubarb three or four times. It would do great at first, then die. Last year we tried a different spot and it survived the winter and it is prolific this year. I'm so excited!

"For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations,"(Isaiah 61:11 NIV)

Thank You, my God, for the amazing way seeds and crops grow, even when it seemed too dry to grow. I praise You for the rain that is replenishing the soil with moisture that helps all things grow. Lord, I ask for some dry weather so farmers can plant their fields. Thank You, God for knowing what is best for all of us. I thank You that You make righteousness and praise rise up before us.You have made these blessings available to all of us when we believe in Your Son Jesus Christ. Be with us this day and throughout the week ahead. Guide our steps, our decisions, and our speech. We pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

God is My Shepherd

Lamb Sorting Day

This time of year always reminds me of lambing season. More specifically, a barn full of baaing lambs. This is about the time the lambs are weaned from their mothers and started on feed. 

"He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young,"             (Isaiah 40:11 NIV). 

The lambs learn to play with the others quickly and are distracted from the loss of their mothers before long. And the mothers, also baaing loudly because their bags are too full for a while, are distracted by the fresh green grass growing in their pastures. 

The lambs in the picture are older. They still baa, but mostly when they see the shepherd and know feed is about to fill their troughs. These lambs are too heavy to carry and they are still wild and crazy when we would try to catch them when sorting. This picture probably brings nightmares to my husband and son who were doing all the catching.

I love the image of God as my Shepherd. I want to be gathered into His arms, and carried close to His heart every day. 

God, my Shepherd, thank You for Your tender care throughout my life. Lead me on Your paths that are straight and narrow. Guide me and protect me from the evil that lies around every turn. I thank You and praise You, Lord! I pray in the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Asking for Joy, Patience and Faith

Near Amana, Friday, April 17

Good Monday morning to you! It is wonderful to have things calm again after last week's stormy weather. We were fortunate to miss the dangerous and damaging winds, though we received four inches of rain. I hope you were safe, also. Along with the storms were beautiful and frightening clouds.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer,"     (Romans 12:12 NIV).

This scripture is speaking to me today. It says to be joyful, patient, and faithful. What a big ask! These qualities are challenging for me at times. 

Being joyful has been challenging for me as I am often draped in chronic depression. I am a hopeful person. I love how some people are filled with joy. Their smiles radiate the love of Jesus! I would like to be like that. 

I have learned to be patient in affliction. Patience is something difficult to develop. After all my years I have learned to be patient. I don't always want to be patient, but I wait in my afflictions.

Faithful in prayer...that takes practice. When I tell someone that I will pray for them, I hope that person can feel confident that I pray. I carry that person in my heart and ask God to be with them in the illness, the sorrow, or the dilemma the person is facing.

God Almighty, as I pray, I ask You to strengthen me with joy in my hope, patience in my affliction, and faith in my prayers. I trust You Lord, to hear my prayers. Help me to grow in these qualities: to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in my prayers. I pray in the Name of Jesus, my Savior, Amen.

Speak With Grace

Good Morning, Friends.

Can you hear the birds chirping outside your windows? I love this about spring. It is still dark out but the birds are waking up and they sound so happy! Why are they so happy, I wonder? It is a new day.  We woke up. God has blessed us with another day of life. So, how will we use it?

After writing this blog, I go to the gym for aqua fitness. There is room for 40 or so in the pool, if everyone spreads out perfectly. It is much more comfortable with just 25 or 30 participants. You don't have to worry about kicking someone.

Judging by the noise level, people love to talk. Friends catch up on what happened over the weekend, what they are doing this week, or how they are feeling. Quite often, these friends only see each other in the pool. This creates a problem for the instructors. Their time of preparation for the class, setting up the music, and displaying the exercises seems disrespectful when the talking overshadows the teaching.

Paul wrote the book of Colossians to teach that Christ gave us a pattern for living and the power to grow spiritually. Paul taught that everything a believer needs is in Christ Jesus who is supreme in power and authority because Christ is God.

Colossians is filled with teaching the ways of following Christ. 

"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone," (Colossians 4:6 NIV).

God, we lift our praise to You this morning and we thank You for the teachers of Your Word, like Paul. Your Word shows us how we should live and act and speak. Lord, speak to us through the Holy Spirit, to remind us how You want us to follow Jesus. We thank You for sending Jesus to make a way for us to communicate with You. We pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Take My Life, Lord

During this time after the celebration of Jesus' Resurrection, I often find myself examining my life a little closer. I so want to be worthy of this great gift, though I know I never can be. So how must I proceed? Music always speaks to my heart and a contemporary Christian artist, Lauren Daigle, wrote the song, "Let It Be A Hallelujah", that expresses what I'd like to live out. The lyrics follow:

"Let It Be A Hallelujah"

VERSE 1:
Take my life and let it be
My soul devoted Lord to Thee Take my moments and all my days Make them endless praise
Take my heart and let it move
In spirit and in truth
For the glory of Your name
CHORUS:
With every breath that’s in me With every song and melody Let it be a hallelujah
In every breaking moment
In every blessing that You give Let it be a hallelujah
Oh Lord, let it be a hallelujah
VERSE 2:
All my hopes and all my fears Every trial, every tear
In the chaos, You remain Faithful all the way
Through the victories Through the scars
Let me echo who You are For the glory of Your name
BRIDGE:
Oh, let it be a hallelujah
Let it be a hallelujah
Nothing, but a hallelujah to you, God Oh, let it be a hallelujah
All my life a hallelujah
Let it be a hallelujah to You, God

By Lauren Daigle

But, as I reread the words of Lauren's song, another older hymn, written by Henri A. Cesar Malan in 1827 and Frances R. Havergal in 1874, came to mind: 

"Take My Life and Let It Be" 

"Take my life and let it be Consecrated, Lord to Thee; 

Take my hands and let them move At the impulse of Thy love. 

Take my feet and let them be Swift and beautiful for Thee; 

Take my voice and let me sing Always only, for my King, Always, only, for my King. 

Take my lips and let them be Filled with messages for Thee; 

Take my silver and my gold, Not a mite would I withhold, Not a mite would I withhold. 

Take my love, my God, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store; 

Take myself and I will be Ever, only, all for Thee, Ever, only, all for Thee."

These writers have so eloquently expressed my thoughts and feelings for today, this week, this tine. I hope they speak to you today also. Paul wrote in the Scriptures, another reminder for us to focus on.

"But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord," (Romans 6:22-23 NIV). 

Oh, Lord God, we remember the miracle of Christ's Resurrection, that only You could make possible. We thank You for the blessed gift of eternal life, available to every believer in Jesus Christ. Thank You for the talented musicians who bless us with music that speaks to our hearts. Use us today to touch someone in our paths with the love You have given us. Thank You, God. We pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.

#1190 gds  Glory to God Forever!

After Three Days

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time," (1 Peter 1:3-5 NIV).

How wonderful! After the torture of Good Friday, our sorrows were lifted when our Savior Jesus Christ rose from the dead! We celebrate on Resurrection Day, as we rejoice that death cannot hold our Savior!

Something like 60 years later Peter wrote this book to continue his preaching of the Good News. Jewish Christians were being scattered away from Jerusalem throughout the Mediterranean world. Christians were being persecuted for their faith. Their lives were in danger. Peter encouraged them to stay focused on their faith.

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed," (1 Peter 1:6-7).

Heavenly Father, we come to You in gratefulness for the gift of Your Son, who hung on the cross but was raised from death for our salvation. Guide us today to please You in all we do. Work in us, correcting our missteps and failures, so we can live our faith genuinely. We praise You, God! We give You all honor and glory in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Praise be to God!

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and He gathered them together for the Last Supper and some of the most powerful and insightful teaching of His life. Jesus knew what was ahead for Him so He explained as much as He could to the disciples. Still, they could not understand until much later. 

The prophet Jeremiah, called "the weeping prophet", shares his great grief over the judgment for the sins of his people, in the book of Lamentations. Yet he remembers the hope he has in God's faithfulness. Like Jeremiah, we can trust God to hear our cries for help, each day. When we place our trust in God we can be confident of the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him," (Lamentations 3:21-24 NIV). 

The book of John is filled with the truth of Jesus Christ, God's eternal Son. To read John's account of the Upper Room with Jesus, read John 13-17. I can almost hear Jesus' tears as He prepares to leave his disciples.

"Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it," (John 14:11-14 NIV).

Father God, fill me with Your Holy Spirit this day and guide me with Your faithfulness. I ask for "Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!" For great is Thy faithfulness! Help me follow Jesus' example and His teachings in all that I do and say, I pray in Jesus' Holy Name. Amen.

All For My Sake

It has always been a mystery to me. How the same people who welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem by spreading cloaks and palm branches on the road, and shouting "Hosanna to the Son of David!," could quickly turn against Jesus and cry "Crucify Him!". (Matthew 21:9b, Matthew 27:22b NIV).

I'd like to think they were different groups of people, but all the events of this Holy Week were foretold by the prophet Isaiah, hundreds of years before:

"He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all," (Isaiah 53:3-6 NIV).

Oh, God of Awe and Wonder, I just realized howYour heart was breaking as Your Son, Jesus, took all of my transgressions and my iniquities to the cross. All of Jesus' pain and suffering was because of my sin and shame. Lord, how can I thank You enough for the sacrifice of Your Son for my sake? I know I can't, but I dedicate my life to You. Use me, Lord, however You desire. I pray in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Worship in Spirit and in Truth

The story about Jesus and the woman at the well is often preached about because it contains so many important ideas that Jesus shared in this one conversation. Jesus was just beginning his ministry. He took a short cut through Samaria where a mixed race of Assyrians and Jews lived. As a pure Jew, Jesus would have been taught to hate Samarians.

However, this is Jesus we are talking about. He had no reason to hate anyone. It was noon. Most women gathered water from the well in the morning or evening. This woman was probably avoiding others due to her dark reputation. Jesus was probably tired and thirsty. But He shared with this woman that there was a living water that would forever quench her thirst for God.

The woman recognized that Jesus was special. She says he must be a prophet so she asks him why she must worship in Jerusalem, as the Jews believed, not on the mountain where their fathers worshiped. Jesus explained that one day she would worship the Father anywhere.

""Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he," (John 4:23-26 NIV).

Jesus tells us that it doesn't matter where we are when we worship, but how we worship that is important. We should ask ourselves if our worship to God is genuine and true. Do we call on the Holy Spirit to guide our worship?

Oh, God, fill me today with Your Spirit. Teach me. Pray for me. Love me. Help me understand what it means to worship You, O Holy One. I humble myself before You and worship You in Spirit and in truth. I pray in the name for Jesus. Amen.

Jesus is the Only Way

Easter is less than two weeks away. I try to imagine what Jesus is walking through during this time before his resurrection. Jesus had so little time left to finish preparing His disciples to carry on His message. The Son of God performed miracles, spoke with wisdom and lived as an example for all to follow.

The book of John was written by the apostle John to prove, without a doubt, that those who believe in Jesus, the Son of God, have found the only way to eternal life. 

Jesus taught about the Holy Spirit who lives in us to help and guide us when we believe. 

Jesus taught about prayer by praying for Himself, for his Disciples, and for future believers. That is us! Jesus prayed for those who believe in Him because of reading the Word. He told his disciples to pray using His holy name.

"For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him," (John 3:34-36 NIV).

Thank You, O God, for sending Your Son to live among us, to teach us Your way, and to show us Your love. We call on You, in the name of Jesus, to be with us today. Walk with us through our daily trials, speak to us through the Holy Spirit and help us to listen to what You say. We believe in You, Jesus, and we pray in the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Savior of the World

Yesterday I realized that I don't have the Easter decorations out yet. There are only two weeks until Easter!  I am really behind. Over the years I have gathered small figurines, mostly of sheep, that say things like: "He Arose", "Hallelujah", "He Lives"...

Of course there are the brightly colored eggs and baskets, with little stuffed rabbit, chick, lamb and duck. Nothing fancy, but it is the little figurines with Easter messages that I like the most. I used to hang plastic eggs on the tree in the front yard. I liked seeing the colorful reminder of Easter. I feel bad for those who only know the Easter bunny, candy, and Easter egg hunt part of the holiday.

Easter is so much more! We were condemned to death by our sins until Jesus came to save us! He walked this earth, teaching us how to live and to believe in Him (Jesus is God). Jesus spent His final days teaching His disciples to follow Him.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him," (John 3:16-17 NIV).

Heavenly Father, help me focus on You this Easter. Remind me of all that Jesus did while He was here, living among sinners. Thank You for sending Your Son to save me from all the wrongs in my life. Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to guide me through my days. Help me to listen carefully. Lord, I put my trust and confidence in You. I pray in the Holy Name of Jesus, Amen.

The Lord is my Rock

Good Morning Friends,

Iowa is cold and bitter, again. The wind has been howling all night but now the snow is frozen to the ground. It is still blowing mightily but the snow has moved on to the east. 

"David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said, The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior--" (2 Samuel 22:1-3 NIV).

This song of praise was written by David following one of his successful battles. God was with David through many battles because he was dependent upon the Lord. He loved the Lord and worshiped Him through words and music. Even after he sinned, David was convicted by the prophet Nathan and paid dearly for his sin. But, David returned to worship God with this song.

We can sing these words of David every day, "The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliver; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior"!

Lord God, I come to You, trusting in You alone, for today and for my future. I know You are my rock. My fortress. My deliverer. My shield. My stronghold. My Savior! Thank You, God, for being more to me than I can even imagine. No matter what is going on in my life, I can count on You to be there for me. I pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Our Inspiration

What was the last thing you were inspired to do? Bake a cake? Sew a quilt? Design a scrapbook or photo album? Paint a picture? Teach a child? Plan a flower bed or vegetable garden? Organize a closet? Prepare a meal?

Most of us are free to do whatever we feel like doing, whenever we desire to do it. Retirees especially.

Can you imagine being in jail? I cannot. Living alone in a cell that is certainly simple, and I imagine it being cold and dark. Yet, Paul wrote many of his letters of encouragement while he was in prison. He was inspired by God to write down all the things he wanted believers to know about following Jesus. Paul wrote to equip believers to strengthen their faith and to be inspired to do good.

"All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work,"                         (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV).

The more I study the Word, the more I admire the work and life of Paul. I imagine him writing feverishly in the corner of a cell, sending out letters to churches and individuals so they would be ready to carry on his mission after his life ended. Paul must have wondered every day if this was the day he would face death.

Oh, God, so holy and righteous, we are humbled to come before You because You are so great! We thank You for giving us the Word to help us grow into Christians who do good work. Lord, help us see the opportunities to spread the saving news of Jesus Christ. Inspire us today to do good. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Opportunities

When I woke up 20 minutes before my alarm went off I considered lying there for awhile before getting up. I thought a little longer then reached up to turn off the alarm. I discovered that I set the time but I hadn't pushed the button to set the alarm! Another disaster averted by an internal clock controlled by God, I believe.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers," (Galatians 6:9-10 NIV).

It seems like when I hit this -zero birthday last summer my body hit a road block that I just can't get around, over, or through. Paul warns us not to become weary in doing good. Sometimes I feel weary. I think maybe I could skip aqua fitness today. Or maybe I won't write my blog today. Or maybe I won't write a letter today. Hum...

If I quit going to water aerobics I know my physical body will get stiff and sorer. I will sit down and become immobile. I will eat my way to the next meal and move from one chair to the next... I've been there before.

Paul says not to give up. Let us use every opportunity to do good! For me that means getting up early so I can write this blog before I go to my aqua fitness class. I am using this opportunity to encourage someone else to keep moving...to keep using whatever opportunity God gives us to do good. I want to reap a harvest one day, like Paul suggests, if I don't give up.

Heavenly Father, God, Thank You for waking me up today, for giving me another opportunity to do good. Open my eyes to those opportunities where I can make a difference in someone's day or life by doing good. Thank You, God, for choosing the authors of Your Book and for all the wisdom they share. Thank You for sending Jesus to save us from our sins. We pray in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.

"The Peace of God Transcends All Understanding"

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will 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).

There is so much good in these three verses that I don't know where to start. The focus could be on: rejoicing, gentleness, don't be anxious, thanksgiving, peace of God which transcends all understanding, or guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Any of those ideas would make a good blog topic. I will place the rest in my "idea" folder for the future.

"Peace which transcends all understanding"! Paul wrote these words from a Roman prison cell to encourage the new believers in Philippi. The word Rejoice! is the key verse of the whole book but I want to look at the "Peace which transcends all understanding". What beautiful words Paul chose. I wish I had said that! The word transcends makes me think of God's arms stretching from heaven to earth and beyond!

Webster's New World Thesaurus (2003 version) suggests: rise above, transform, excel or exceed, for the word transcend. God's peace is greater than any conflict on earth. God's peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. God's peace is in Christ Jesus ! His peace is beyond our understanding. We can never wrap our minds around God's peace. But, we can feel it. When we put our faith and trust in Christ Jesus, He lives in us, guarding our hearts and minds.

Lord God, we pray for Your Peace today. We feel anxious about the world's troubles, so we lay them down and pick up Your Peace, Lord. May You heal those who suffer, and comfort those who grieve.
May those facing serious illnesses feel Your Peace. We pray in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.

Unpredictable

March has arrived bringing unpredictable weather, especially in Iowa. It can be gray with a cold wind in the morning, then shift to a breezy afternoon of warm sunshine, like today. We are so close to spring (we were spoiled by the recent warm spell) that we are aching to get outside to do anything!  The lion/lamb scenario may be in play in 2026, though I'm not sure which it was yesterday (35 degrees, windy, and cloudy). That hardly qualifies as a lion, does it?

March also brings the Girls and Boys State Basketball Tournaments. Will they bring big snowstorms this year? The State Wrestling Tournament brought 10 inches. Can basketball outdo that? Then it is on to the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Together they have earned the name, "March Madness". Who can predict the winners?

Sometimes our lives can be unpredictable. We don't always get what we expect. There is plenty of heartache to go around: illnesses, surprise medical results, injuries, falls, depression, and sudden deaths are a few of the things we don't put on our radar for the future.

"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 right hand," (Isaiah 41:10 NIV).

Families can experience all sorts of unpredictable events during a lifetime. Both of our boys endured broken bones at different stages of growing up. We didn't know exactly what to expect when we had three in college at once ($$$).

"I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken," (Psalm 16:8 NIV).

When our knees and hands are shaking and all we can do is fall on our knees and pray, God is there waiting for us. We will not be shaken. God is our strength and our help. He clears the path before us and helps us keep walking, one step at a time.

Oh God, we are thankful for Your strong right hand of protection and aid. We are so grateful that You have given us a Savior who brought victory over sin and death. Lord, help us as commissioned believers to represent Jesus in our little corner of the world. Give us courage to share Your Word with others. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Put Your Trust in God

What a good way to start the day! Place your trust in God. He has a perfect plan to save us. I often ponder about God. He is so big and wonderful. He is greater than I can ever imagine. He watches over us, each one of us, and He knows our every thought and motive. There is nothing we can hide from Him.

So why would we ever not trust in God? I don't know. I'm so thankful that God is there for me every moment. I'm studying a book that reminds me not to come to God as my best friend or buddy, but to come to God in a worshipful and respectful way, giving God the honor and awe He deserves.

I am guilty of cuddling up to God, telling Him all my troubles because He is always there for me. He is always there for me, but where is the fear of God that Old Testament believers had? 

"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him," (Nahum 1:7 NIV). 

Yes, God is the One whom we can place our trust in. He is there for us and cares for us always, if we trust in Him.

"Thank You, God, Most Holy and powerful One. Only You created the world with Your hands, caring for each detail that we see and notice. You are beyond amazing, Lord! I put my trust in You. Forgive my casual attitude toward You, God, and help me bow down and worship You as I should. I trust in You, my God. And I pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 

Focus on Christ Jesus

It's another Monday morning. Is your week filled with a lot to do? My week is fairly quiet. That is the way I like it. I'm looking forward to a warm up. We were very cold yesterday: 10 degrees when we went to church. The sun was so bright and reflected off the nine inches of snow we received on Thursday night through Friday. God is good.

My big Bible sits on my desk, open, ready to be read during devotions, Bible study, prayer time, any time. God's Word is always available to lift me up and inspire me. I was drawn to the following verses that were underlined with a note I had written: "Focus on Christ!" 

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus," (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV).

These instructions are easier to follow on good days and harder to follow on difficult days. Dah! But if we make these instructions part of our lives, day in and day out, we will begin to obey these commands more easily. I have practiced saying short, frequent prayers as I drive ("Lord, keep me alert and aware of my surroundings"), as I meet with a friend, as I go to sleep and when I wake up;

I am thankful, always, for God's presence with me as the Holy Spirit Who guides me through all of my days. I struggle with being joyful always. As a person with chronic depression, joy seems elusive.

God, be with us today and help us find joy in all things. Remind us to speak to You throughout our day through prayer. And guide us into a thankful attitude no matter what circumstances we face today. We ask a lot here, God, but we want to do Your will for our lives. You can help us focus on our Savior Jesus Christ. We pray in His holy name, Amen.

A Recipe for Growth

One of my weaknesses of late has been gathering recipes. Once I clicked on a Facebook page for a   "healthy" recipe and now I get dozens of recipe ideas every day. I have yet to find a great recipe that is both healthy and tastes good.

Actually, I've been addicted to recipes all my married life. I have a whole row of cookbooks in my bookcase. There I have found some wonderful recipes by great cooks. I have tagged pages with favorites that I go back to again and again.

Peter wrote a specific recipe for growing Christians. The ingredients are important individually. But, they all work together to make us resemble Jesus Christ more closely. God empowers us, but the recipe is not complete until we work at these characteristics daily and show growth.

"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control, and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ," (2 Peter 1:5-8 NIV).

Wow. What a list of qualities to work on! 

Faith
Goodness
Knowledge
Self-Control
Perseverance
Godliness
Brotherly Kindness
Love

And, as we read in the Scriptures elsewhere, the greatest of these is love. But it takes them all to be a growing Christian. They aren't automatically ours when we are born again. We have the Holy Spirit in us that helps us, but the work is ours to do.

Heavenly Father: when we see this list of our responsibilities, we are overwhelmed and convicted of our weaknesses. Please hear our confessions of failures, and help us rebuild our character to be the follower of Jesus Christ that You desire us to be. Thank You for sending Your Son to save us from our sins. Praying in the name of Jesus, Amen.

God Cares for You

What is happening outside? It was above 64 degrees yesterday. We walked a couple of miles in the glorious sunshine. It felt so good. My sweatshirt was too warm by the time we got home. It seems like our trees and plants must be confused. It wasn't just one day of warmth...here in Iowa. We are experiencing a string of warmth that extends more than a week long.

I'm not complaining. I love the warmth but this is February! I am confused and concerned about the changes happening in our earth. I won't step up on a soapbox here, but I really care what kind of air, water, and soil we are leaving for our grandchildren and their children to live with.

We must trust God with our concerns. To do that means we must humble ourselves, giving up the control, and realizing that we need God in every situation. We aren't to sit back and wait; we need to take action that is within our ability and God will lift us up in due time.

"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. (Proverbs 3:34)." Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you," (1 Peter 5:5b-7 NIV).

Lord, I need Your grace. I repent of my sins and humbly obey You. Show me what I need to do, Lord, and help me be the best me I can be. I trust You, God. Heal me, and heal our country, our land, sea, and air. Praying in the holy name of Jesus, Amen.

#1175 gds

Love

What is a four-letter word that we are encouraged to say? 

"If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing," (1 Corinthians 13:3 NIV).

Love: "Deep affection and warm feelings for another." (The American Heritage Dictionary, Fourth Edition 2001).

I just realized, as I read the definition in my 'old' dictionary, that the meaning of love in a current publication might be completely different. I don't think I want to search for a 2026 version of love. The example shown throughout the Bible is the one I want to use.

In reading the Scripture again, the meaning and purpose of love seems to indicate that to love is beneficial to the givers. Love is living our lives for someone else's good. Love is a decision followed by an action. Love makes us more like Jesus. That's the real goal in a Christian's life.

"If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love,"  (1 Corinthians 13:3 The Message in Contemporary Language). 

Paul, the author of the letter to the Corinthians, concludes his love chapter with the following:

"Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love," (1 Corinthians 13:13 The Message in Contemporary Language).

O, God,  we know that love is the greatest of all human qualities. Love is what shows we care. Love is what You have shown to us over and over. Help us love others like ourselves. Let us live today, filled with love for others. Show us when to love, how to love, and make us live with love. God, we thank You for Your love in sending Your Son, Jesus, to give His life for us. Fill our hearts with love today and every day. We pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Put On Love

It's the month of red hearts, candy conversation hearts, shoeboxes covered in hearts, paper valentines, chocolate-covered strawberries, red roses, and romantic dinners by candle light. Valentine's Day is just around the corner. 

I did not remember that Valentine's Day was originally a Christian feast day named for a martyr, Saint Valentine of Rome. One legend says Valentine was imprisoned for protecting persecuted Christians and was buried on February 14, on the Via Flaminia, an ancient Roman road through the mountains. Accounts say there is not much known about Saint Valentine.

Through the years, Valentine's Day became associated with romantic love and "lovebirds" of early spring. In 1868 Cadbury created heart-shaped boxes for their chocolates, beginning a favorite Valentine gift of candy, Just walk through a store that sells candy and find hundreds of varieties of heart candies.

"And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity,"  (Colossians 3:14 NIV). 

It is always a good idea to "put on love" as we strive to live out our faith. As Colossians 3:12 tells us to "clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:14 continues: "over all these virtues put on love."

The virtues listed can make showing love so easy if we just work at living them out.

Oh Gracious God, thank You for giving us Your Word to guide us in our faith. Keep these virtues at the top of our minds this week. Help us choose these actions in all that we do. We want to live like Your Son. Thank You for sending Him to teach us and to save us from our sins. We pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Fix Our Eyes on Jesus

"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 12:2 NIV). 

Sometimes when I am walking I set my eyes on where my next step is to be placed. There are some sidewalks that have uneven edges, broken pieces of concrete, or tree roots that have forced the cement to break or buckle. They can be dangerous if I set my eyes on where I am going instead of where my foot will be placed. 

That is what makes a walking track nice. Each step is the same. The surface is even and smooth. The only hazards are other walkers who may stop suddenly on the track or back into you, or when you stub your toe. (I am a danger to myself anywhere I walk).

The Scripture above tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus in our big picture of life. We need Jesus to make our faith stronger and more perfect, like Him. Jesus endured the painful torture and hanging upon the cross for us! He must always be in sight or we will focus on ourselves and stumble and fall.

"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 4:18 NIV).

Lord God, Help me keep our eyes fixed on You. The path of my life is bumpy and long. It winds around and through dangers that only You can help me through. I need my focus to be on You. Fix my eyes on Jesus, in whose name I pray, Amen.

Run With Perseverance

Welcome to a new month, a new week, and a new day. February. One month closer to spring! Will it be warmer than January? Will we get more snow? What will our path look like? Will we have a smooth, rock-free, hill-free road to travel this month or will we face challenges with every step? Only God knows what lies ahead.

"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." (Hebrews 12:1 NIV).

The author of Hebrews recognized that he was surrounded by faithful believers who had experience and wisdom and encouraged him to keep running the race, whatever it looked like. We do not walk alone. Others have walked through our troubles and survived. We can make it, too.

The key is perseverance. I never noticed what a long word perseverance is. Just saying the word takes a while. That gives a hint to the challenge that might be ahead. Our walk in life as a Christian is not easy. We have temptations and sin that gets in our way. We must confess those hinderances and keep going. 

We must get rid of anything that gets in the way of our relationship with God. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to help us run toward the freedom we receive through confession of our sins. We need to start again, if we pause. Keep Jesus in our sights. He leads the way.

Lord God, I'm not a good runner, never have been, never will be. But I can persevere on the path You place before me. Guide me, Lord. Show me the way. Point out the hazards in my path. Don't let me give up. I need the encouragement that You and fellow believers provide. Thank You, God. Make my life give You praise in all I do. Let every step I take bring You honor and glory. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

What I Need to Do

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness," (Colossians 2:6-7 NIV).

I am totally blown away by the beautiful verses that can be found in the Bible. Those above just spoke to me when I ran across them again. My study Bible has been my go-to since 1991, I think. I have read through it several times so it has many stars, underlines, notes in the margins and a number of bookmarks with an assortment of treasured writings of friends and authors. There are a couple very special letters inside. And a few study guides clutter inside the front and back covers. It has become too heavy for me to carry to church or to my Bible studies. I use it at home where it lays open on my desk.

"Continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him..."

Live in Christ Jesus. That's what I need to do.  To be rooted and built up in Him! Like a tree stretches its roots out seeking nourishment and the water it needs to grow, that's what I need to do. With my branches, my arms, stretching out toward the sun, the Son, praising the Father.

"Strengthened in the faith as I was taught..." 

Returning to the basics of my belief, grasping the foundation that was built in Sunday school, youth group, church camp, sermon after sermon, and Bible study after Bible study. That's what I need to do.

"Overflowing with thankfulness..." 

Thank you, Father God, for giving me the Word to guide my life in Christ Jesus. I need You every moment of every day. Fill me with everything I need to stay rooted and grounded in You. You are my source. I praise You and thank You with my whole heart, and I pray in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

A Monday Morning Challenge

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience," (Colossians 3:12 NIV).

That is a lot. A verse so full of direction and challenge is a big way to start the morning. But, the reminder Paul gives us here, in his letter to the church in Colosse and all believers, is so precious for our hearts to hold close. 

First we are called God's chosen people. What an honor and what big shoes to fill! Yet, Paul reminds us that we are holy and dearly loved. I picture God's mighty hands lifting us up and embracing us with His wonderful love.

Then comes the directive on how we are to act, as God's chosen people. Clothe yourselves with compassion and kindness. Oh, if only my heart was always filled with these characteristics. What a beautiful world we would live in if we all held compassion and kindness as our usual pattern of action.

Then Paul tells us to clothe ourselves in humility. Being humble used to be easy when I had no self-confidence. Can I consider myself worthy of God's love and be humble at the same time? It seems to be a serious balancing act for me. 

Finally, this verse tells us to be gentle and patient. Gentleness fits well with acts of kindness and a heart full of compassion. But, patience is a quality that seems to take more work than the others. Our society seems to have the attitude of wanting things to happen right now. That doesn't fit well with having patience. I need to slow things down and wait for God's timing to be my guide; easier said than done.

Wow. I want to be this person that Paul describes. I want to wear compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Do you struggle with any of these or am I the only one?

O God, so Great and Caring, help me be the person you want me to be, today and each day forward. I need your help. I miss the mark by so much! Help me change my attitude to be as Paul tells me. Give me encouragement to be a person of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Show me the way, Lord. I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

The Blessing

In the book of Numbers God told Moses how to ask Him to place His divine favor upon others. Giving a blessing included five parts, as shown in the scripture below. A blessing included: favor and protection (bless and keep), be pleased (make his face shine upon you), merciful and compassionate (be gracious), give His approval (turn his face toward him), and give peace. God taught Moses how to ask for a blessing upon others. 

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-26 NIV).

Giving a blessing upon others helps the one receiving it but also demonstrates love, encouragement, and is a model of caring for others. Moses taught Aaron and his sons the blessing they were to ask for the Israelites as their priests.

Lord God, I ask a blessing upon all who read this blog. May they be encouraged, loved and cared for this day and beyond. Give us all a heart of a blessing. Make us kind in all situations and help us love others as You have commanded. Bless us with Your wisdom through Jesus Christ. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

 

Handling Hard Better

Today the words won’t come. I’ve been searching the Bible for the right verse but half an hour later I’m still looking. The one I chose seems to be a reminder to me that God is way bigger than I can imagine. He handles the hard better than we think is possible. Even in grief we have hope in Jesus that one day He will return with believers who wait in heaven to rejoin us.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV). 

A friend whom we admire for his strength in his illness earned his angel wings yesterday. Our hearts are broken for his wife and two sons who face all the tomorrows without him. We must cling to Jesus more than ever before because He is with us through all the hard days ahead.

Lord God, hold this family close to You. Don’t let them slip away. May they feel Your strength and power flow through them as they move through the hard days ahead. Thank You for standing with us through the tough times and lifting us up above the pain. We need You, Lord, and we pray for those who can’t find the words today. Embrace them and comfort them. We pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Who Gets a Miracle?

"Nothing is impossible with God," (Luke 1:37 NIV). 

That certainly changes things. Anything that God is telling you to do is possible with God! This scripture was given to Mary when she asked the angel how she could be with child when she was a virgin. The angel also gives the example of Elizabeth being pregnant in her old age. "Nothing is impossible with God."

That doesn't mean everything we pray for will happen. We must use discernment and align ourselves with God's will for our lives. That's where it gets hard. Some of our prayers aren't answered the way we want. Some people get miracles. Why not all? 

I think I've ventured into a question for Biblical scholars or pastors to answer. I'm sure I've heard a sermon on this before. But here I am, still seeking God's answer for my prayers. This doesn't look like we will get a Lazarus story ending to our prayers.

I can't help but wonder why no miracle this time. I have lots of reasons why there should be a miracle.

Lord, I need Your help in understanding this prayer's answer. I do know that You must have a plan. Maybe we will see it down the road a few years. I trust You to lead this family through the pain. You have taught the family so many things that may change the direction of their futures. But, I will keep asking for a miracle because You make anything possible. Amen.

Seeking God''s Plan

Just before I turned 40 I started taking college courses for credit. I was still working at a newspaper as a reporter but I made a decision to attend college full-time and give up my 'dream job' as a writer. A new semester began in January so the timing seemed perfect. It was all in God's plan. 

"Divine guidance comes only to prepared hearts."(says my Life Application Bible in a footnote for Matthew 2:13). I'd like to think that I received divine guidance as I made this big change in my life. Much prayer and contemplation went into it. Perhaps like Joseph, my heart was "receptive to God's guidance".

"An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. 'Get up,' he said, 'take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.'  So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."" (Matthew 2:13-15 NIV).

Following God's guidance in life may not be as obvious as it was for Joseph - in a dream. But when we center out hearts on Jesus through Bible study, reading God's Word regularly, seeking His direction through prayer, and listening for God's voice, I believe God still speaks to us with His guidance. 

O God, Mighty and Holy, hear our prayers this day and speak to us with Your Perfect Wisdom. Help us make good decisions in our lives and remember to always include You in our plans in 2026. Thank You for being the same today as You were when Jesus was just a baby. Open our hearts and minds to be receptive to Your plans. We pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Taking a New Path

It is the first Monday of a new year. It's back to a normal routine. Exercise for me after a few days off. It will feel good. Back to work or back to school for others. No snow in Iowa. In fact, temperatures rising to 50 by the end of the week, they say. So what is different about 2026? It is a new path, if we choose to take it. Things can be different this year. 

The wise men were told in a dream to take a new path home, rather than reporting to Herod.

"After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped  over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route," (Matthew 2:9-12 NIV).

The wise men were warned by God not to return through Jerusalem. My study Bible suggests, "Finding Jesus may mean that your life must take a different direction, one that is responsive and obedient to God's Word," (footnotes to Matthew 2:12 NIV Life Application Bible).

Is God leading you in a different direction in 2026? Talk to God about it. Then listen to what He has to say. That is a great way to start a new year or a new path. 

"You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand," (Psalm 16:11 NIV).

God, thank you for the season of celebrating Christ's birth. As we move forward in 2026, direct us. Lead us. Help us make the changes You desire us to make. Help us be responsive and obedient to Your Word. Be ever at our side as we take a new path in this new year. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

Welcome to 2026

A NewYear is upon us. 1-1-26. January 1, 2026. Any way we write it we have a clean slate ahead of us ready to be filled with good things. Will the year go as quickly as 2025 did? What is ahead? Only God knows what is for us in 2026. God knows the path we will walk in 2026. There will be joys and sorrows, wellness and sickness, successes and challenges. Only God knows.

My usual activity for January 1 is to fill out my paper calendar with birthdays, anniversaries, appointments, days I want to remember. I enjoy this little task of looking ahead. I don't usually make a New Years resolution, though there are many things I need to work on to make me a better Christian wife, mother, sister, and friend. I pray that God helps me make some real changes that I haven't been successful at in the past year. Change is hard.

My prayer for 2026 is that God will be first in my life, every day. That His Word will live in my heart and be reflected in all that I say and do. If only that would be my resolution to keep in 2026.

Back to the story in Bethlehem:

"When he (Herod) had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, " they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 

"'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'" 

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him," (Matthew 2:4-8 NIV).

This scripture ends with Herod's lie. He didn't want to worship Jesus. He planned to kill him. The prophecy given was from Micah 5:2, written seven centuries before. The Word came alive when Jesus was born.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for sending Your Son as a baby born in Bethlehem. Hope came alive in the birth of Your Son. We still hope for the return of Your Son on that Great Day when You return to judge all people. We confess our sins before You and trust in You for redemption. We long for the day when we will see you face-to-face. We pray in the great Name of Jesus, Amen.