Counting Blessings

There is an old song published back in 1897 which is still quite often sung in our church.  Although we were out of town this week-end, and visited another congregation, it was a song which came to mind when I looked back on the week-end.

The chorus goes as follows:

Count your blessings, name them one by one;

Count your blessings, see what God hath done

Count your blessings, name them one by one;

Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

 

The verses are written from the perspective of one who has been facing trials, burdens and conflicts, with the chorus repeatedly reminding the singer to always count your blessings as a reminder of all God has done in your life. 

 

Honestly, I cannot come up with one trial, burden or conflict from the week-end, but can count many a blessing.  Here are just a few:

 

Being with my husband, kids and grandkids celebrating my birthday in Medora

Loving once again the Medora Musical in the beauty of the North Dakota Badlands

Enjoying a morning swim at the motel with the grandkids

Seeing my nephew dressed in the Dickinson State College football team uniform

Spending time with my brother, sister-in-law & nephew over a meal at Bonanza . . .YUM!

Indulging in times of fellowship with my brother-in-law and his family

Neglecting not the assembling of God's people & worshiping in a new church

Getting to enjoy a pedicure and manicure at my favorite place at the Dickinson Mall

Safely traveling the miles of our week-end journey

 

How many blessings can you think of to count today?

Something Old, Something New

Last week-end our community hosted something new.  It was billed as the "Worthy Cause" Rummage Sale.  It all began with a simple Facebook post by a woman who wanted to get rid of things, but didn't want to take the time to mark everything for a rummage sale.  She suggested having a free will offering rummage sale and donating the proceeds to a cause, such as the food pantry or "angel tree" project done at Christmas time.

The next day a second woman jumped on the bandwagon, and helped do the organizing.  A date was set, and location determined.  Then everyone was encouraged to donate and also attend.  As the old saying goes, "One man's junk is another man's treasure".  Such was the case once the day arrived and shoppers began showing up to sort through the vast assortment of items.

The fun part of a rummage sale is realizing what is old to one person becomes something new to another.  Items which have outlived their purpose in one household suddenly receive a new purpose in another.

In the end, the sale realized a profit of over $4,000, which will be split between the Food Pantry and Angel Tree.  The items remaining were boxed up today and will be donated to second hand stores, spreading the benefits of the "Worthy Cause" even further.

When I think about the generous spirit of all those involved, whether it be through donating items for sale or by "purchasing" items with a donation, I find a Biblical principle at work.  In Paul's first letter to Timothy, he ends by encouraging him as follows:

 "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.  Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share."

~1 Timothy 6:17-18

 

As I consider the overabundance of "stuff" we enjoy here in the United States of America, I can't help but wonder if we are neglecting our God-given duty to be generous and willing to share.  I realize, too, there are many living within our borders who are also in need.  As an incentive to be more consistent in your generosity, take a look at the next verse:

 

"In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."

1 Timothy 6:19

 

In case you're wondering, we plan to make the "Worthy Cause Rummage Sale" at least an annual event!



Never Stop Learning

Today my morning was blessed by spending special time with my friend, Louise.  At 90 years young, she carries with her a lifetime of knowledge which has spanned everything between the horse and buggy days to the modern world of technology.

Recently her son purchased a Samsung tablet for her, hoping it would allow her to stay better connected with her daughter, granddaughter and great granddaughter, who all live in California.  When they were here for a visit earlier this month, they set Louise up with email, Facebook and the basics she would need to start using her new "toy".  Unfortunately, the time to leave came before they had a chance to teach her how to use it all.

This is where I stepped in, and today we had our first lesson in navigating the new world of her tablet.  Since what I am used to is an iPad, there were a few differences in how things were laid out, so I felt I was learning right along with her.

How brave she was to venture beyond her comfort zone and seek to learn new things!  As we concluded our time, I encouraged her to just experiment and explore on her own.  Turning the tablet off, she held it in her lap and expressed she just needed to think about all she had done so far.  You could almost see the wheels turning in her brain!

The book of Proverbs has much to say about wisdom, instruction and learning.  Following are a few verses which seem to indicate there are always lessons to learn in life:

 

"Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance."  ~Proverbs 1:5

 

 "Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning."  ~Proverbs 9:9 

 

       "An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge."  ~Proverbs 18:15

 

"Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise."  ~Proverbs 19:20 

 

 

Here's to you, Louise!  Your desire for learning inspires me!!



Troubled or Triumphant?

This morning began with a reading from an updated edition of Oswald Chambers classic devotion book, "My Utmost For His Highest".  Not every day begins this way, but today I was especially thankful for my decision.  It seems when God has a lesson to get across to me, He will always lead me to the place needed to deliver it.

The title of the page read, "Are You Ever Troubled?"  This would be what I call a "no brainer" of a question.  Aren't we all troubled at one point or another in our lives?  Actually, my world is mostly one of contentment these days, but at any given moment, the waves of turmoil can invade.

The devotional pointed to the fact "true inner peace" is impossible unless it is received from Jesus.  The start of John 14:27 was quoted, which is the voice of Jesus saying, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you".  The verse continues with, "I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid".

According to the thoughts of Oswald Chambers, we have two choices when facing a troubling situation.  We can "look up and receive the quiet contentment of the Lord Jesus" as one option.  The peace comes as we turn our mind to Him and rest in the fact He is in control.

If your relationship with Him is not what it should be, the alternative is to focus on yourself as the one in charge.  This leads only to fretting and stewing as an attempt is made to take over a responsibility which was never meant to be yours.

How grateful I am for a family who introduced me to Jesus at a young age.  The Bible story of Jesus calming the sea has long been a part of my memory banks.  Knowing He is capable of calming the turbulence of wind tossed waves gives me assurance He is also going to bring about a calm to whatever storms come my way.

As often happens in my life, thoughts lead to the words of a song running through my mind:

There is peace in the midst of the storm-tossed life.
There is an Anchor, there is a rock to build my faith upon.
Jesus Christ is my vessel so I fear no alarm.
He gives me peace in the midst of the storm.



Moments By the Mile

So often the best moments in life occur when the unexpected happens.  Such was the case today when I received a call from my husband shortly after lunch.  He was in need of traveling to a neighboring town and asked if I wanted to ride along.

Without anything pressing on my agenda, I took advantage of the offer and we had a most enjoyable time as we made our way through the countryside to our destination of Powers Lake, ND.  Part of the reason for going was to pick up a recliner and corner curio cabinet we had purchased earlier from a furniture store which was going out of business.

Upon arrival, Bert and the salesman got busy loading things, and I wandered into a section of the store which had been closed off the last time we were there.  It was more of a gift shop, and was packed wall to wall with so many fun things.

The first item to catch my eye was a little plaque.  The message really spoke to my heart:

A LITTLE FAITH

WILL BRING YOUR

SOUL TO HEAVEN

BUT A LOT OF FAITH

WILL BRING HEAVEN

TO YOUR SOUL

Making my way around the perimeter of the store, there were picture frames, a section with fall decorations, a Christmas area and then a spot with items to tempt the men.  There were shelves of dishes and other items for the kitchen and even a little corner with things for children.  The best part was knowing everything was 21% off!

In the end, I did purchase the plaque. . .and some fall flowers. . .and another bunch to use come spring.  From the children's section I decided to purchase all 14 of the remaining 24 piece mini jigsaw puzzles.  There were six different pictures, and all of them were so cute.  They will be tucked away and put in our Operation Christmas Child Boxes later this fall.  One last item found will be a gift for my youngest grandson at some point.

As we left the store, I found myself smiling as I stowed away my loot in the back of the Suburban.  Not only did I have a chance for some good quality time with my hubby, but snagged some bargains, too!

 

Looking back on the day, a Bible verse comes to mind.  A good one for all the moments of our lives:

 

"This is the day The Lord has made!

I will rejoice and be glad in it!"

~Psalm 118:24

Blessings in Song

Today was a special day.  Our church hosted an ecumenical music service, which brought together around fifty people to sing and share music.  We didn't wear denominational name tags, and it was a true blessing to blend our voices in song.

Earlier in the day I heard the following statement in a video promoting a new "Praise and Harmony" CD:

"Singing is not for singers."

It seemed rather odd. . .until I heard the clarification which followed:

"Singing is for believers."

Certainly there was evidence of the truth to this in our gathering today.  Songs of faith sung together as believers included one of the earliest we could all remember learning, " Jesus Loves Me" and one of the good, old Bible Camp songs, "Give Me Oil in My Lamp".   We also joined voices on "This Little Light of Mine" and "I'll Fly Away".

In addition to the congregational singing, several of us performed either as a solo or as part of a small group.  The song I chose to share was one written by Laura Story called "Blessings".  Knowing the background to the song makes it even more of a blessing to share.  You can hear it from Laura herself

at this link:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tDiTuSLSJB8

To hear it performed by her follow this link:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2pF3-C1s7wo

What blessings will God bring into your life this week?  The first of many for me was being able to share the gift of music God gave me!  If you don't think your voice is good enough, just remember singing isn't for singers. . .it's for BELIEVERS!  You can be sure God hears and appreciates even when we, as Psalm 100 says, "Make a joyful noise"!

Each One Unique

The day started out rather gloomy.  By noon, a gentle mist began.  At some point in the afternoon, the mist turned into sprinkles.  Come evening, the assessment became a "steady rain".  I'm not sure how much rain we've received today, but the rain barrel is once again full and overflowing.

For our evening meal, we decided to have salads fresh from the garden.  The rain was still pretty gentle when I stepped out to the backyard to retrieve some lettuce and carrots.  Several cucumbers were already in the refrigerator.

With all the moisture, the carrots were easy to pull out, so I decided to finish pulling most of those left in the first of three rows.  It was interesting to find carrots of every size and shape.  Some were long and skinny.  Others were short and fat.  Several were wrapped around other carrots, so ended up twisted in shape.  The oddest shaped one had one main "leg" and three other shorter ones.  No matter what their appearance, each was unique.

As I washed them off in the sink, I saw a picture of what God must see when He looks down on us.  Here we are, down on His earth, each one with a completely unique look and personality.  Beyond looks, God also designed each one of us with a specific personality and the ability to accomplish something special for Him.

Ephesians 2:10 says we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  Have you figured out what your assignment is?  If not, there's another Bible verse which will help you:

"Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." 

~James 4:8a

You see, the closer you are to Him, the easier it will become to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit guiding you in the way you should go.  The rest of the verse also has some advice for you:

"Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts,

you double-minded."  ~James 4:8b

Yes, just like the carrots, we're best when we're all cleaned up!  : )

Friday Fruit - Patience

"Sometimes I get so tired down here, Lord, I just want to go home!"  These were the words to a catchy little chorus a former pastor of ours taught us.  For some reason, tonight I found myself singing it in my mind.

It seems there is trouble brewing everywhere.  People are more interested in promoting "self" than reflecting God's glory, as we were designed to do.  I get frustrated when they don't seem to have any time for Him in their lives.

Oh, what to do!  Actually, there is nothing I can personally do to change someone else.  The only one I have control over is me.  This is perhaps why Jesus told us in Luke 9:23 we need to daily deny ourself and take up our cross for Him.

Yes, it is a perplexing world we live in.  And I must be patient, as God reveals Himself to different people at different times.  I must be faithful in being salt and light in a darkened world, but also patient with those I attempt to "flavor" and "shine on".

It could be, in my impatience, God is also wanting to remind me He still has work to do in my life!

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;

Perplexed, but not in despair;

Persecuted, but not abandoned;

Struck down, but not destroyed.

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,

So that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 (NIV)

"Help me, Lord, to live as You would have me live so others would see You in me!  Thank you for your patience with me, and help me be the same with others!"

Someone Else's Thoughts

Today has been a full day of activity, and the best I can do is share someone else's thoughts.  This blog came my way when it was shared over Facebook by my sister-in-law.  He makes several valid points.  There are times when I, too, wonder if Jesus would even recognize the churches of today as part of His body, as we are meant to be.

Written in his blog, "Stuff That Needs to be Said", John Pavlovitz issues a few challenges to the modern day church.  He titles this post, "Church, Here’s Why People Are Leaving You. Part 1".  I don't know this man, but by the end of the read I really felt like he (and the people he was speaking for) needed a hug! 

*******************************************************************************

Being on the other side of the Exodus sucks, don’t it?
I see the panic on your face, Church.
I know the internal terror as you see the statistics and hear the stories and scan the exit polls.
I see you desperately scrambling to do damage control for the fence-sitters, and manufacture passion from the shrinking faithful, and I want to help you.
You may think you know why people are leaving you, but I’m not sure you do.
You think it’s because “the culture” is so lost, so perverse, so beyond help that they are all walking away.
You believe that they’ve turned a deaf ear to the voice of God; chasing money, and sex, and material things.
You think that the gays and the Muslims and the Atheists and the pop stars have so screwed-up the morality of the world, that everyone is abandoning faith in droves.
But those aren’t the reasons people are leaving you.
They aren’t the problem, Church.
You are the problem.
Let me elaborate in 5 ways…

1) Your Sunday productions have worn thin.
The stage, and the lights, and the bands, and the video screens, have all just become white noise to those really seeking to encounter God. They’re ear and eye candy for an hour, but they have so little relevance in people’s daily lives, that more and more of them are taking a pass.
Yeah the songs are cool and the show is great, but ultimately Sunday morning isn’t really making a difference on Tuesday afternoon or Thursday evening, when people are wrestling with the awkward, messy, painful stuff in the trenches of life; the places where rock shows don’t help.
We can be entertained anywhere. Until you can give us something more than a Christian-themed performance piece; something that allows us space and breath and conversation and relationship, many of us are going to sleep-in and stay away.

2) You speak in a foreign tongue.
Church, you talk and talk and talk, but you do so using a dead language. You’re holding on to dusty words that have no resonance in people’s ears, not realizing that just saying those words louder isn’t the answer. All the religious buzzwords that used to work 20 years ago, no longer do.
This spiritualized insider-language may give you some comfort in an outside world that is changing, but that stuff’s just lazy religious shorthand, and it keeps regular people at a distance. They need you to speak in a language that they can understand. There’s a message there worth sharing, but it’s hard to hear above your verbal pyrotechnics.
People don’t need to be dazzled with big, churchy words and about eschatological frameworks and theological systems. Talk to them plainly about love, and joy, and forgiveness, and death, and peace, and God, and they’ll be all ears. Keep up the church-speak, and you’ll be talking to an empty room soon.

3) Your vision can’t see past your building.
The coffee bar, the cushy couches, the high tech lights, the funky Children’s wing and the uber-cool Teen Center are all top-notch… and costly. In fact, most of your time, money, and energy seems to be about luring people to where you are, instead of reaching people where they already are.
Rather than simply stepping out into the neighborhoods around you and partnering with the amazing things already happening, and the beautiful stuff God is already doing, you seem content to franchise out your particular brand of Jesus-stuff, and wait for the sinful world to beat down your door.
Your greatest mission field is just a few miles, (or a few feet) off your campus and you don’t even realize it. You wanna reach the people you’re missing?
Leave the building.

4) You choose lousy battles.
We know you like to fight, Church. That’s obvious.
When you want to, you can go to war with the best of them. The problem is, your battles are too darn small. Fast food protests, hobby store outrage, and duck-calling Reality TV show campaigns may manufacture some urgency and Twitter activity on the inside for the already-convinced, but they’re paper tigers to people out here with bloody boots on the ground.
Every day we see a world suffocated by poverty, and racism, and violence, and bigotry, and hunger; and in the face of that stuff, you get awfully, frighteningly quiet. We wish you were as courageous in those fights, because then we’d feel like coming alongside you; then we’d feel like going to war with you.
Church, we need you to stop being warmongers with the trivial, and pacifists in the face of the terrible.


5) Your love doesn’t look like love.
Love seems to be a pretty big deal to you, but we’re not getting that when the rubber meets the road. In fact, more and more, your brand of love seems incredibly selective and decidedly narrow; filtering out all the spiritual riff-raff, which sadly includes far too many of us.
It feels like a big bait-and-switch, sucker-deal; advertising a “Come As You Are” party, but letting us know once we’re in the door that we can’t really come as we are. We see a Jesus in the Bible, who hung out with lowlifes and prostitutes and outcasts, and loved them right there, but that doesn’t seem to be your cup of tea.
Church, can you love us if we don’t check all the doctrinal boxes and don’t have our theology all figured out? It doesn’t seem so.
Can you love us if we cuss and drink and get tattoos, and God forbid, vote Democrat? We’re doubtful.
Can you love us if we’re not sure how we define love, and marriage, and Heaven, and Hell? It sure doesn’t feel that way.
From what we know about Jesus, we think he looks like love. The unfortunate thing is, you don’t look much like him.

That’s part of the reason people are leaving you, Church.
These words may get you really, really angry, and you may want to jump in a knee-jerk move to defend yourself or attack these positions line-by-line, but we hope that you won’t.
We hope that you’ll just sit in stillness with these words for a while, because whether you believe they’re right or wrong, they’re real to us, and that’s the whole point.
We’re the ones walking away.
We want to matter to you.
We want you to hear us before you debate us.
Show us that your love and your God are real.
Church, give us a reason to stay.

**********************************************************************************
If you are interested in Part 2 of his thoughts, or other writings of his, you can find his blog at
http://johnpavlovitz.com

God's Not Dead

This evening the ministerial association in our community hosted a free showing of the movie "God's Not Dead" at the local theatre.  For us, it was the first time to view the movie, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone, believer or non-believer.

The storyline features a young college freshman who has his faith challenged by a philosophy professor.  At the same time, several other plots unfold.  For me, it was an excellent portrayal of how God is at work at all times and in all places to bring about His ultimate purposes.

With our recent Sunday School lessons being on "The Doctrine of Salvation" my mind has been sorting through my own belief system.  Having worshipped predominantly in Lutheran and Assembly of God churches, my views on what it takes to be saved have changed over time.

Growing up in the Lutheran faith, the emphasis was on your baptism as the starting point of when you became a child of God.  Then, during my teen years, there was a group of "Jesus People" who visited our church who talked about baptism in itself not being enough, and you had to make a conscious choice to be saved.  I remember going home from the meeting and praying for God to come into my life, but then feeling strange about it because I felt He was already there.

The next phase of my faith story came when I started dating my now husband who attended the Assembly of God church.  As I became more involved with their belief system, it seemed everyone had an exact time and place they could point to as "when they got saved".  It was typically as a young child at home, in Sunday School, at a Bible Camp or in answer to an "altar call" given by a pastor or evangelist.

Again I was challenged, as I could not point to any one point in time as the beginning of my salvation experience.  I was blessed to have been raised in a true Christian environment, and had never known anything but believing in God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as the one and only true God.  I grew up celebrating the birth of Jesus at Christmas and His death and resurrection at Easter.  Never do I remember doubting the legitimacy of the stories I had learned from the Bible.

Why was it, then, I always felt uncomfortable when an opportunity was presented for me to "get saved"?  Then again, if I did attempt to respond in some way, it didn't feel right either?  Over time, and years of reading the Bible, I'm finding it is still necessary to "work out my salvation" as Paul talked about in his letter to the Philippians (chapter 2, verse 12).

So what is it one must do to be saved?  According to Scripture, the only place this question is asked and answered is in Acts 16:30-31.  The jailer asks the question of Paul and Silas, with the answer being, "Believe on the Lord, Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household".  Pretty simple.

Other passages include baptism as part of the process.  Perhaps the most familiar of these is labeled "The Great Commission" in Mark 16:16.  Jesus tells His followers to "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."

Yet, when we read Luke's account of the crucifixion in chapter 23, we learn there was a thief on the cross who merely asks Jesus to remember him when He comes into His kingdom.  There was no prayer prayed asking Jesus to come into his heart, nor were the words, "I believe in you, Jesus" spoken.  There certainly was no opportunity for a baptism to take place.  What he did do was admit his guilt for the wrong he had done, while at the same time looking at Jesus as the only one who could make a difference for him in his afterlife.  His assurance of being saved came from the words of Jesus, Himself:  "I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise."  (Luke 23:43)

Yesterday, I had one of my "open the Bible and see what God has to say to me today" devotion times.  Where I ended up was Ezekiel 18.  Although I know for a fact I have read this chapter many times in the past, one verse in particular stuck out to me.  Verse 4 states, "For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son--both alike belong to me.  The soul who sins is the one who will die."  To me, this gives assurance I was a child of God even before my baptism.

The chapter then goes on to describe a series of three generations of men.  The first is a righteous man who does what is just and right..  Because he follows the decrees of God and faithfully keeps His laws, the Lord indicates he will "surely live".

This man then has a son, who turns out to be violent and a doer of detestable things.  The Lord indicates he will surely be put to death, and his blood will be on his own head.  The third generation comes along and, seeing all the sins committed by his father, decides not to follow in his footsteps.  Like his grandfather, he keeps God's laws and follows His decrees, and is assured he will surely live.  The summary in verse 20 indicates the righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him.

The next section of the chapter, verses 21-24, explains there is also opportunity for a man to change his ways, either as a wicked man turning from his sins or conversely as a righteous man turning to sin.  God grants life to those who turn from sin and death to those who choose the way of sin.

Within the final two verses we find how God will justly judge and yet fully forgive a repentant heart.:

"Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign Lord.  Repent!  Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.  Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit.  Why will you die, O house of Israel?  For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord.  REPENT AND LIVE!"  - Ezekiel 18:30-32

Therein, I believe, lies the secret to the true salvation experience.  It comes from recognizing the sinful behavior in your life, asking God to forgive you and then turning from it to the kind of righteous life He desires you to have.  A steady diet of Bible reading, Christian fellowship and prayer will allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in your life choices, aligning them with His nature.

"Heavenly Father, tonight I pray for each one who reads the words of this blog.  I pray they would come to a point of true repentance.  I pray Your Holy Spirit would not only draw them to this point, but also guide them beyond into a new life, free from the sinful desires of the past.  Enlighten them with Your Word, the Holy Bible which teaches us all things.  Give them a new focus and desire to live for You alone, rejecting the sins of their past.  Set them on fire for the sake of Your kingdom and use them to further spread Your precious Gospel story.  For those who have known You, as I have, for a lifetime, help us to serve You with a renewed faith and a bolder testimony of what You've done for us.  I pray all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  AMEN!"  

Check, Check, Check, & Check

A wonderful thing about retirement is a less stringent schedule.  No longer do I have to be to work at 8:30.  My lunch hour can be whenever I want it to be.  The clock is no longer my master. . .except on days like today.

An 8:00am yoga class started the day.  Refreshing.  Then a visit with Aunt Mabel and time with my flowers and garden.  My lunch came later than usual, as it included fresh picked lettuce, cucumbers, carrots and sugar snap peas.  It was a very relaxed time, as I enjoyed the salad and caught up on my Facebook postings.

All of a sudden I realized I had not yet showered and I had an eye appointment in thirty minutes.  Could I do the shower and make it to the appointment on time?  I opted to try, and was only a couple minutes late.

Next on the schedule was singing with the "Music Makers" at our nursing home.  This is always an enjoyable time, and the hour goes by quickly.  Taking a few minutes to visit with the residents afterwards, I was leaving the parking lot just in time to get to the hospital to pick up the food containers to deliver for our "Meals on Wheels" recipients.

After helping my husband prepare for a church board meeting, I dropped off a fruit basket at the home of a friend whose mother had passed away.  Then it was on to the home of a former co-worker for a visit.

Yes, it was a busy day.  And now it is past the midnight hour.  But I can go to sleep knowing, for now, the essential tasks have been checked off. . .until the new day begins.  Oops, I guess it already has! : )

"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps."  - Proverbs 16:9

The Crosby Connection

It was with a bit of apprehension I entered the world of Facebook.  Encouraged by my sister-in-law, my main purpose for joining was to keep tabs of our ever growing family.  It would be a good way to stay in touch, as well as giving me the opportunity to see pictures easily.  That was back in 2008.

Over the years I've acquired just over 300 "friends", although I made a deal with God not to go crazy sending out friend requests.  I simply asked Him to send my way the people He felt could benefit by being connected to me in this way.  It became a good way to share my weekly writings, and now is one of the links used to share my blogs.

As the "friend requests" came, I would sometimes wonder to myself, "Why in the world would this person want to be my friend on Facebook?"  Then I would remember my arrangement with God and accept, provided I knew who they were. 

Occasionally there would come a request from an unknown name, which I would cautiously explore using the "message" feature before deciding whether to accept.  In one such instance, I gained a new friend who has become a weekly prayer partner via the phone.

A very special addition to Facebook was made several years ago when a graduate of our local high school created a group called, "If you grew up in or near Crosby, ND, you remember. . .".  There are currently over 1,200 members of the group, and there have been over 1,700 pictures shared.  The age span of those posting is varied, and it is interesting to see a common thread in all of our lives because of our connection to Crosby.

Once a part of this group, new friends were added to my personal friend list as old friendships were rekindled, and new friendships were made with those outside of my age category.  What a blessing it has been to enjoy this very special "Crosby Connection".

To give you an idea of how small town roots affect a person, I will use the example of one of my Facebook friends who recently received a dire diagnosis from a CAT scan.  The post began with the words, "I don't think I've ever felt as alone and scared as I do tonight".  With no family living close by, they decided to share the specifics by way of a Facebook status. 

Immediately, the comments started pouring in, and within the first day there were over 50 comments from people with ties to our community.  There were many encouraging words, but among the most common were, "I'm praying for you" and "We're here for you".  Today, in an update, the person extended thanks for all the posts adding, "I am blessed.  And, I am most definitely not alone".

What is it that makes a small town connection so special?  Perhaps it comes from growing up in a place where "everybody knows your name".  Just last week someone shared a great article with our group entitled, "10 Ways Growing Up in A Small Town Prepared You For Life".  Check it out if you want to further learn what we are about!

http://news.distractify.com/people/10-ways-growing-up-in-a-small-town-prepared-you-for-life/?v=1

Sunday Song - "God Will Guide Us"

Our morning song service was a bit livelier than usual today, as we shared some of the songs featured during our week of Vacation Bible School.  One of my favorites was the theme song for the "Wilderness Escape" material we used from Group Publishing.

Since the lessons provided were all taken from the life of Moses and involved the Israelite people, many of the songs had a Jewish flare to them.  They were easy to teach to the children, since a DVD is provided showing young people demonstrating actions to go with the song.

As I think about the Israelite people Moses contended with, I can certainly see a parallel to who we are as Christians today.  God is attempting to guide us, and too often all we want to do is grumble and complain.  But ultimately, He is with us through it all! 

Enjoy a step back into the wilderness by following this link!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ktulkmmq7JY

Thoughts, Fruit and Seeking

Our week has been a busy one, due to the fact we had a nightly appointment with a group of children for Vacation Bible School at our church.  We did lots of singing, had nightly visits with Moses [a/k/a Pastor Dennis], played fun games and took time to learn Bible verses.

Day one taught us about Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt and even gave a visual of the parting of the Red Sea.  The focus was on the fact God is with us.  The second day taught about God giving us what we need and allowed the children to experience the provision of manna and quail.

Next came a look back at what happened at the first Passover, leading to a discussion of God sending His own perfect "Lamb" in the form of Jesus to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.  Yes, God saves us!  The final day featured the giving of the Ten Commandments, and taught these rules were given to guide us.  For all four reasons, God with us, providing for us, saving us and guiding us, we can trust Him.

By the time Thursday arrived and we were doing the last of the activities planned, I was ready to be done.  I was tired.  Thankfully, I was able to sleep in on Friday morning.  Then our busy week got even busier with a trip to Williston to pick up the four grandchildren for a final overnight stay before school starts next week.

We shared supper with the extended family, enjoyed the new playground equipment nearby, and then brought out the books, Barbies, Legos and GIJoes.  By the time their parents arrived today to retrieve them, it was safe to say a good time was had by all.

Looking back, Thursday I had some thoughts to share, but was too tired to take the time to do so.  Friday, as I was putting the grandkids to bed, I thought about which fruit of the Spirit would fit for the day.  My conclusion was all nine came into play at one point or another.  When Grandpa got the last little one to sleep, all I could think of doing was the same.

Now here we are at the end of the day on Saturday.  As I thought about "Saturday Seeking", I was also reminded of a daily activity we shared with the kids at Vacation Bible School called "God Sightings".  We were to encourage them to keep their eyes open for things in our everyday world which remind us of God and His great love for us.  Back in the day, we used to call it "counting our blessings".

Today I didn't have to look far.  Four beautiful children who call me "Grandma" were reason enough to remind me how blessed I am.  Yes, they make me tired at the end of the day, but it is a good kind of tired.

As I look back on our final memory verse from earlier in the week, Psalm 16:7 comes as a reminder:

"I will bless the Lord who guides me."

 

Another version puts it this way:

 

"I will praise the Lord who counsels me."

 

Reading the entire chapter to take in the context of the verse, I find in verses 6 and 9 a good summary of my week:

 

"The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

Surely I have a delightful inheritance."

 

"Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

My body will also rest secure."

 

Feeling thankful, but also grateful God included a day of rest each week!

 



"Read the Word - And Stick To It!"

Starting in 2006, it became a discipline of mine to read through the Bible in a year.  This continued for the next six years, until in 2012 I no longer kept up the routine of using the Prayer Point reading guide published by an organization called Samaritan's Purse.  [To sign up for this guide, see http://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/prayer-network/ ]

What I appreciated about their format was the fact you didn't have to start in Genesis at the beginning of the year and end in Revelations.  Each day of the week started at a different point of the Bible.  Sunday was always from the Psalms.  Monday readings began in Genesis, while on Tuesdays they started in Joshua.  Job was the beginning point for Wednesday and Isaiah for Thursday.  On Friday and Saturday the readings were from the New Testament, starting in Matthew and Romans respectively.

The daily readings were usually between two to four chapters in length, with the exception of Thursdays, which averaged five or six chapters.  To keep track, I would use a highlighter to mark off the days as I finished them.  Sometimes I would fall behind, but eventually would get caught up.  Another good feature was a special prayer focus for each week, featuring needs from all over the world.

The first year, upon completion, I found myself saying, "Yes!  I did it!!"  The following year, to my amazement, I discovered new and fresh revelations from God's Word.  Eventually, I found myself telling God I would commit to doing the reading plan, but asked Him to teach me in a fresh and new perspective.  With my roots in the Lutheran faith, and later years spent in the Assembly of God denomination, there were different ways of interpreting various passages.  What I desired was for God to speak direct to my heart, without taking into consideration what I had been told in the past. 

The amazing part of reading the Bible is it never gets old.  It is a "living Word" which speaks in new ways as we continue to explore it.  Personally, I like to underline and jot notes in my Bible, so it's use is now quite evident.  There are times I reference a variety of Bible translations, but I enjoy sticking with one Bible, as it becomes familiar over time and I can even remember where on the page certain favorite passages can be found.

One would think in retirement it would be easy to keep up my discipline.  Instead, I found myself neglecting my Bible reading.  No longer did I have a strict schedule, and it was easy to get lax in the routine. 

Just this week I decided to try get back into the Prayer Point plan, and easily finished the Sunday and Monday assignments.  Then , with Vacation Bible School taking up our evenings, I fell behind.  Today I was going to catch up, but couldn't find my reading guide anywhere.  It was then I decided to pull the old trick of closing my Bible, and saying, "I'm going to start reading. . . .HERE!"  Isaiah 40 was the page I opened to, which had the familiar words of Handel's Messiah.  I found myself even singing a few of the passages.

The interesting thing about my Bible reading today was God brought me to two passages which I later was able to share with someone over Facebook.  The first was from Isaiah 40:31.

 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 faint.

 

Continuing into chapter 41, I found verse 10 to share with someone facing a challenging medical diagnosis:

 

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.

 

Perhaps the best advice I ever received on Bible reading came from my maternal grandmother at the age of 100.  When asked what her best advice would be, she said, "Read the Word, and stick to it!"  As far as a reading plan, follow one if you like, but don't feel afraid of breaking routine if the Holy Spirit prompts you.  You never know when God might want to offer precisely what you need for the day.



Someone Else's Home

This morning I was able to accomplish something which has been on my mind for some time.  I visited the house which was my home for the first ten years of my life.  Now abandoned, it has been years since anyone has lived in it.  Walking through the various rooms, a ton of memories flooded my brain.  Although sad to see it in such disrepair, I found comfort in knowing it was once a happy home, filled with love.

Being in this house brought to mind a passage which came to my attention at a time my daughter and her husband were contemplating a move to a new location.  It happened to be a portion of Scripture assigned to read as part of a "read the Bible through in a year" plan.  I'm not sure how God does it, but so often readings fall on the exact day I need them!

The verses are found in Acts 17, and are part of a speech given by Paul to the men of Athens.  He had noted how religious the people were, and how they even had an altar with the inscription "TO AN UNKNOWN GOD".  He proceeded to tell them the God who made the world and everything in it was actually the Lord of heaven and earth , and He did not require a temple to live in.

Verses 26-28 of this chapter read as follows:

 

"From one man He [God] made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.  For in Him we live and move and have our being.  As some of your own poets have said, 'We are His offspring.' " (NIV)

 

If you look at these verses in various Bible translations, you get a better feel for what is meant by "exact places".  Older versions, such as the King James Version, refer to "bounds of habitation".  So not only did God establish I would live in Crosby, ND, but also in a green house on Main Street.  Also brought to memory today was a time His plan included living in a farmhouse southwest of Crosby.

 

At the time my parents built a new home, a woman from California was looking for older homes to move into the small neighboring town of Ambrose.  The original plans for the home were abandoned, and eventually the property was inherited by her niece.  For a time I thought it was one of several houses which were burned, but my brother assured me it was still there.  The niece then sold the property to a woman who now attends our church, who graciously offered to let me take my walk down memory lane.  To her I say, "Thank you!" and find contentment in knowing those now making it their home are of the nest building variety.   



 



Monday Moments - "Message Through a Bird"

He was a cute little guy, a bird not long out of the nest.  Gingerly he made attempts at flying, but mostly hopped along on the sidewalk.  He came across my path as I was out walking this morning, and I couldn't help but stop for a few minutes and observe him.

It is not uncommon for me to talk to the birds, or any other critter God sends my way.  And so I found myself striking up a conversation with my little friend.  "How are you doing today?  Are you testing your wings and learning to fly?"  The closer I got, however, he nervously hopped away and made another short attempt at flying.  "It's okay, my friend.  I'm not here to hurt you.  I just wanted to get close enough to cheer you on!"

He never did get far away, but flew into the grass, then ventured off into a corner by a building.  It was as if he wanted to hide from me.  I wished him well, and went on my way, only to have a picture of his weary efforts linger in my mind.

Suddenly, it was as if God spoke a word into my inner being.  "The little bird you saw acts an awful lot like you do sometimes!"  What?  Who, me?  Why would God ever think such a thing?  It was then He seemed to elaborate on the thought.  "You see, My child, there are times when I see you hopping around from one thing to the next, never taking the time to allow me to get close enough to offer the encouragement you need to move on to the next phase of  your life"

Hmmm. . .He might have a point.  There are times I test my wings a bit, but never venture very far.  It is nice to be reminded He is watching, and even cheering me on as I go.  Where my "wings" will one day take me is still a mystery to me, but not to Him.  He knows each mile of my journey and stays close beside me along the way.

A comforting thought triggered by a little bird.  What crossed your path today?  Did God have a message for you through it?

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;  I will counsel you and watch over you."  ~Psalm 32:8     

Sunday Song - "Wedding Invitation"

Our week-end was spent mostly on the road, traveling across the state of North Dakota to a small town by the name of Kulm.  The purpose of our trip was to attend the wedding of a dear friend and the love of his life.  The service was very Christ-centered, which wasn't surprising, knowing the focus of their hearts.  It was a joy to see them making this lifetime commitment to each other.

On the ride back to our hotel after the wedding reception, we had the radio set to a station playing gospel quartet music.  Very appropriately, a song called "Wedding Invitation" came across the airwaves.  Looking it up later, I found the song was by Kyla Rowland.  Tonight I would ask you to consider the invitation, given freely to all.  God is patiently awaiting your RSVP. . . the sooner the better!

You're invited to a wedding that will be held soon

We are the bride, Christ is the groom.

With a crown to wear and a long white robe

We'll walk down the aisle made of pure gold.

 

What is your answer, how will you respond?

The groom is asking the bride to come.

And the supper will be in heaven, our new home above

Here's a wedding invitation He's sending with love.

Wednesday Wisdom - "Pay Attention!"

Anyone who knew my mother would vouch for the fact she was a great cook and excellent baker.  Not only did her kitchen creations taste good, they were also a treat to look at.  She had a level of perfection in all she did which would shine through as she turned out meal after meal for family and guests alike.

My earliest memories of "helping" in the kitchen are of sitting on a stool at the end of the counter while Mom baked cookies.  A tradition I carry on to this day is smelling the vanilla as it's added.  (And yes, I did try tasting it once only to learn she was right about it not tasting as good as it smelled!)

Another memory is of her wanting me to help count the cups of flour.  Unfortunately, I would start counting the scoops of flour as she added them to the measuring cup instead of the actual cups added to the recipe, and likely threw her off a few times!

Through the years she taught me many things relating to cooking and baking.  I only wish I would have paid closer attention to the details and asked more questions.  Now, after she has left this life, it would be nice to have a hotline to heaven while I'm working on something's special to share.

Take, for example, the peach pies I made this evening for a family gathering tomorrow night.  How did she get her pie crust edging to look so pretty?  I try to follow the tutorial I have buried deep in the recesses of my brain, but somehow it never ends up looking like hers.  What I wouldn't give to have her standing next to me now, coaching me and pointing out what I could do to make it better.

What's that voice in my head I hear?  "They look just fine, Diane!  And everyone will love them just as much as they used to love mine!"

"The memory of the righteous will be a blessing. . ."
                                                                        (Proverbs 10:7a)

LOVE YOU, MOM!!

 

Mission (Partially) Accomplished

The Elberta peaches are in.  Every year around the end of July or early August they arrive in crates and are stacked just inside the door of the grocery store.  They are the best, and we generally polish off at least one box.

During this season I try to make a peach pie with my mother's recipe.  It is so simple, and yet so good.  A little sour cream, brown sugar and vanilla baked over the peaches in one of her "never fail" pie crusts.

It was my intent to get one baked last night, however I neglected to buy the sour cream.  Instead I decided to make chocolate chip cookies.  Alas, no chocolate chips!  So it was I made a trip to the grocery store today, stocking up on the supplies needed.

The plan, when the evening began, was to mix up the cookies, get them started baking and then move on to the pie project.  As I said, this was my intent.  What actually happened is the cookies are now in the jar, and making a peach pie is on the list for tomorrow.

Although my good intentions are not always accomplished, there is comfort in knowing God will help me achieve them in His time.  For tonight, a fun visit with relatives was a good alternative to my planned course of action.  And the pie will wait!

"In his [or her!] heart a man [or woman!] plans his [or her] course;
but The Lord determines his[or her!] steps."  -Proverbs 16:9

Garden Moments

One of the joys in my retirement has been having the time to tend a small garden.  Last year was my first attempt and I grew to love the time devoted to planting, watering and even weeding.  The reward was enjoying fresh lettuce, cucumbers, sugar snap peas, beans, carrots and even a few small watermelon.  There were also some corn stalks, which unfortunately didn't develop before the cold hit.

As my husband predicted, this year I expanded my garden space just a bit and added beets and sweet potatoes to the mix.  Although I planted on the exact same date as last year, the weather has been cooler, resulting in a slower reward for my efforts. 

The lettuce was the first to reach maturity, and I've been enjoying daily salads.  Soon there were a few cucumbers to add to the mix, followed by the sugar snap peas.  Unfortunately, I wasn't the only one wanting to enjoy the peas.  At first I wasn't sure what was getting into them, but then caught the birds feasting away.  A dear friend suggested putting up some kind of scarecrow, so I improvised by covering a step ladder with a shirt and jeans, adding a straw hat to complete the ensemble.  Thankfully, it appears I've managed to preserve the remaining peas.

It was exciting to discover four baby watermelons starting to develop, and thinning out the carrots resulted in some fairly good sized treats to munch on.  I've treated myself to one small beet, and a handful of beans will soon be ready for picking. 

This evening as I was trimming up the lettuce and pulling a few of the pesky weeds (which unfortunately keep reappearing), I was reminded of the parable of the sower.  Matthew 13, Mark 4 and Luke 8 each record Jesus comparing the planting of crops to the planting of God's Word into our lives. 

The first example He used was of the seeds scattered along the path, which was trampled on and eaten by the birds.  This relates to those who hear God's Word, but then the devil comes and takes the it from their hearts, so they cannot believe and be saved.

Next were the seeds which fell on rock, resulting in withered plants due to the lack of moisture.  This was to represent those who received God's Word with joy, but didn't allow it to take root in their lives.  In times of testing, they fell away.

Seeds falling among the thorns were those which ended up being choked.  In the same way, some receive God's Word, but then allow life's worries, riches and pleasure to prevent reaching full maturity in the Lord.

Finally, there were the seeds which fell on good soil, yielding crops a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was planted.  These seeds represented those with a noble and good heart who hear God's Word, retain it, and bring forth more believers as a result.

Looking out at my garden, it appears most of the seed fell on good soil.  Keeping the weeds at bay has been my responsibility, and the scarecrow stands guard to shoo the birds away.  To me this has been a picture of the Holy Spirit at work in my life, always standing guard over the precious crop made possible by the planting of God's Word.  It has not yet been determined what my yield will be, but am thankful for the daily forecast of "Sonshine" and "God reigns" to move things on toward the harvest. 

Meanwhile, how does YOUR garden grow?

Blessed Be His Name

It has been a couple of days since I last posted.  Although it has been my goal to write a bit each day, there are days I simply don't feel like doing it.  Even with my daily themes to inspire me, sometimes I lack inspiration. 

This was the point I found myself on Friday of this week.  The theme on Friday is to find evidence of the Fruit of the Spirit at work in my life.  Well, Friday came and went and I did NOT feel very fruitful.

On to Saturday, when I am to be seeking a "God message" in my everyday world.  Once again, I wasn't finding a thing.  Nor could I manage to get motivated to share from my vast supply of previous writings. 

This morning, as we began our worship service, it was as if God had a personal message for me.  The song was one entitled "Blessed Be Your Name", which basically says God's name is to be blessed regardless of your situation in life.  Whether the day is at its best or worst, we are to acknowledge how blessed His name is.  Written by Matt Redman, the words are as follows:

Blessed Be Your Name In the land that is plentiful Where Your streams of abundance flow Blessed be Your name Blessed Be Your name When I'm found in the desert place Though I walk through the wilderness Blessed Be Your name Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise When the darkness closes in, Lord Still I will say Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your name Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your glorious name Blessed be Your name When the sun's shining down on me When the world's 'all as it should be' Blessed be Your name Blessed be Your name On the road marked with suffering Though there's pain in the offering Blessed be Your name Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise When the darkness closes in, Lord Still I will say Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your name Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your glorious name You give and take away You give and take away My heart will choose to say Lord, blessed be Your name And so I was reminded of the fact there will be times when my writing will flow like an abundant stream, but there will also be times when all inspiration will be dried up like a desert.  Some days will be filled with sunshine, with lots to share, and others will seem dark and gloomy, with seemingly nothing to share.  Regardless, I must keep saying with the songwriter. . ."Blessed be the Name of the Lord" To listen to the song, follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnWKehsOXu8