Details, Details!

Two weeks ago, our church once again packed shoebox gifts for Operation Christmas Child.  It has become a passion in my life to keep an eye out for bargains, and tuck them away for the next year's boxes.  Just this week, as my husband was hauling the boxes to the collection point in Minot, ND, I was shopping for groceries and happened to spy a variety of headband and hair elastic sets for only $1, with 8 & 12 pieces in each set.  Into my cart they went.  An extra $3 added to my grocery bill for the week is a small price, and the "items needed" list for packing next fall will be shorter.

Although many in our church help with supplying the necessary items each year, it has become my task to keep the project organized.  I have a document stored in my computer which keeps track of what is needed each year, and the assembly line setup comes second nature to me.  The joy I receive watching the kids carefully pack the items overcomes any amount of stress related to getting things ready.

The Sunday after our packing day, our pastor commended me for once again taking on the task.  He indicated it was the perfect assignment for me, because, having worked in a bank for 32+ years, I knew all about giving attention to details.  In banking, every penny needs to be accounted for, and in packing boxes, I want to make sure each box has the right combination of items before sending them off.

Hearing him say this helped me understand a lot about myself, and why it is I often find myself "organizing things".  It is part of the way God crafted my brain, and is one of the gifts He has given me to use as I journey through life.  It also reminded me of the fact we are all given a unique set of abilities which God wants us to use for His Kingdom work.

Over the last couple of weeks, my brother-in-law and nephew have been installing a new sound system at our church.  This certainly would NOT be in my list of capabilities, but I am so thankful they have been here when needed.  Some, like my husband, have a gift of leadership which transforms well into the role of church board member, while others work better behind the scenes praying or providing the finances to undertake projects.

In 1 Corinthians 12 we find a summarization of how God has handed out gifts to those who are a part of the "body of Christ".  I find myself drawn to verse 4-6:

There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.

There are different ministries, but the same Lord.

There are different ways of working,

but the same God works all things in all men.

 

Yes, God is working by His Spirit throughout all the earth.  What is your part?  The only way to find out is establishing a personal relationship with God through His son, Jesus Christ. He is revealed to us through the Words of the Bible, and through time spent in prayer.  Prayer is not always about talking to God, but also taking time to listen for His still, small voice as it guides you. 

 

The more you seek of God, the more you will understand which "part" of the body you are.  Once you discover your special gifts, put them to use for God's Kingdom work.  Just as a physical body with paralyzed parts is handicapped, so is the church if everyone isn't doing their part.  We long for Christ's return to earth, but sometimes I wonder if He isn't waiting for all the "body parts" to get into working order!  Time to shake off the apathy and get to work!!  

Dreams in the Night

Over the years, there have been many different views on why we dream, and scientists are still exploring new theories.  One thing we do know, people have been dreaming for a long time, as evidenced by the multiple times we see people in the Bible discussing their dreams.  In the Old Testament, one of the best known interpreter of dreams is Joseph, whose ability to do so helped him get out of prison.  A dream by a different Joseph in the New Testament assured him the unexpected pregnancy of his fiancee came about by the Holy Spirit, and this child would be Jesus.

Lately my nighttime dreaming has been falling into one of two categories.  Either I am back in my school days, or on the job banking.  Last night it happened to be my school days.  I had been eating my lunch, then had to hurry to get to the classroom for a test.  Everyone else was already there, and I seemed to be running late.

Often times, after a vivid dream, I find myself asking God, "What was that all about?"  Such was the case this morning as I pondered not only the current dream, but others I had experienced in recent days where I found myself working on a teller line with former co-workers.

The "inner voice" of my heart seemed to sum up God's answer as two things.  There are lessons to be learned (which come with testing), and there is work to be done for the furtherance of God's Kingdom.  Pondering this brought about more questions, including, "What lesson is God attempting to teach me?" and "What work does He have for me to do?"

Perhaps these are questions you can ask yourself as you face the days ahead.  For sure, none of us is without purpose in God's great scheme of things, so seeking more of Him will always help to sort out the answers.  Who knows?  The answers just might come to you in a dream!

 

Doing What You Should

Not long ago, a video I had seen before came across my newsfeed on FaceBook.  It is of a darling little girl telling the Bible story of Jonah.  After the first time I watched the video, I remember thinking there was no one who has ever brought this story to life like she did!  If you have never come across it before, here is a link to access it.  Believe me, you will NOT be disappointed!

Mary Margaret Douglas Tells the Story of Jonah

Today my Bible reading assignment for the day was to read the book of Jonah.  The first thing I heard in my head was her precious little voice reciting the story, so I had to find the video and watch it again.  At some point in my schooling, we had to do what was called "Interpretive Reading."  This young gal probably didn't even have to "read" the story.  You can tell she knew it in her heart, and wanted above all else to share it with her world.  And her interpretations were "spot on"!

After listening, I took time to read the actual Biblical account of the book of Jonah.  I found myself asking the question, "What does this story have to say to us today?"  The answer, of course, is it is there to teach us about listening for God's voice, and obeying what He asks us to do.  It is also a classic example of God's great and unconditional love for His people.

So, what is God asking of you?  It could be He is wanting to send you to another city to preach, as He did Jonah.  But chances are, He has another assignment in mind.  It is a very unique and special assignment designed with all of your personality traits and gifts in mind.  For me, it seems God often asks me to share through the avenue of writing.  He reveals to me a lesson, and then says, "Pass it on!"

Thus is the reason for today's blog.  It is a reminder to, first, listen for God's voice in your world.  Then, "do what you can with what you've got" to accomplish the assignment He asks of you.  How will you know if it is truly God's voice talking to you in your head?  For one thing, He will never contradict His Word, recorded for us in the Bible.  This is a good reason to read it often, and with an open mind.

The other thing that seems to affirm in my mind I am answering God's call on my life is feeling a real and genuine sense of joy, both in the midst of doing His assignment, and when looking back on it.  Take this morning, for example.  Earlier this week I saw a friend, and was prompted to invite her to my house for a visit.  It has been a busy season, and I could come up with lots of excuses not to follow through. . .I'd rather sleep in, the house is not clean enough, our remodel project is not yet finished.  But I just knew having her over would be a blessing for both of us. . .and it was! 

Jesus once told a parable which teaches us about putting to use the talents given us.  Matthew records it for us in chapter 25, verses 14-30.  The moral of the story is, when you use your talent, the opportunities to use it will multiply and grow.  Conversely, if you don't use them, you get left in the dark!  

Take time to refresh yourself on both of these Bible stories.  Then take a look at what God has given to you and put it to use!

Old Testament Lessons

In the Christian world, it is often stressed how important it is to read your Bible.  There are many options available to help in staying consistent in your reading, but one of my favorites over the years has been a format promoted by Samaritan's Purse.  Founded by Franklin Graham, this organization is also the one which is behind Operation Christmas Child, a ministry which encourages packing shoebox gifts to be distributed to needy children around the world.

The Bible reading guide is published four times a year, and features not only a listing of passages to read each day, but also articles about the various ministries Samaritan's Purse offers.  There are even suggestions on where you can focus your prayers for the week.
 

If you would be interested in receiving these booklets, you can sign up here:

Prayer Point Sign-up

One thing I enjoy about their daily readings is the fact they are taken from various parts of the Bible throughout the week.  For some people, this is a challenge, as they prefer reading a book start to finish.  For me, however, it gives a glimpse into all parts of the Bible throughout the week.  At the beginning of the year, you start at seven different points in the Bible, and continue from those points on a weekly basis.

Today's reading was from the book of 2 Chronicles, chapters 11-15.  Along with being a history lesson on some of the kings who served in Judah and Israel, it gives us a lesson we can apply to our current country's situation.  As you read through these chapters, you see examples of those who sought the Lord for guidance, and those who didn't.  It is no surprise those who were seeking had a better outcome in the end.

Many verses in this passage have been underlined in my Bible as emphasis of their importance.  Take time to read these chapters from your own Bible, or at the least ponder these verses:

" Since they have humbled themselves, 

I will not destroy them, but will soon give them deliverance."

2 Chronicles 12:7b

"The land is still ours, because we have sought 

the Lord God; we sought Him and He has given us

rest on every side."

2 Chronicles 14:7b

"The Lord is with you when you are with Him.

If you seek Him, He will be found by you,

but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you."

2 Chronicles 15:2

"They sought God eagerly, and He was found by them.  

So the Lord gave them rest on every side."

2 Chronicles 15:15b

It seems with every news broadcast there are discouraging reports of bad things happening in our nation.  Perhaps a bit of following these examples will help turn us back on the right path!

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PS  In Facebook I maintain a group called "Read the Bible in a Year" in which I post the daily readings for those not getting the publication.  If you would like to be included in this group, simply send me a message and I will add you.

In the News!

Living on the edge of nowhere, our community gets their daily newspaper from a city located two hours away.  They used to have local people hired to deliver the paper, but ran out of those willing to get up early to do so.  Now, if you want a paper, your choices are to pick one up at one of our local stores, or pay for a subscription to have it mailed to you.  Many have gone to the online option, too.   It has always been a 7 day a week paper, but recently went to only one paper on the weekend.

In addition, Crosby, ND has its own weekly paper called The Journal.  If you subscribe online, you can access the local news on Tuesday night.  Otherwise, it is available in paper form come Wednesday morning.  It always has good coverage of what has been happening during the past week, and is the “go to” source for information on upcoming events.

Usually there is a similar pattern to what I read in the Journal.  Front page stories are read in full, followed by checking the obituaries on page 3 and any ads for what’s happening in the week ahead.  I will glance through the editorials to see if the subject matter interests me, and skim over the sports section.  “One Time It Was News” is always fun, as it features clips from 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and sometimes even 70 and 80 years ago.  You never know when your name might pop up!  Headlines throughout the paper get read, and on to the articles if they interest me and  I have time.

There are, however, two columns I always read.  One is written by our church’s pastor, called “Pastor’s Corner,” and the other is written by my husband’s cousin, and is called “Holly Would.”  The first features uplifting spiritual encouragement, and the second is always good for a smile and chuckle!

To give you a sample, here are this week’s columns for your reading pleasure.  If you like what you read, you could always get a subscription of your own to keep up on what happens in small town, USA! 😊

Days of the Harvest

Growing up as a farmer's daughter, I know well the importance of harvest time.  It takes extreme faith to be a farmer, diligently planting seed in the spring, and then watching as God provides the sunshine and rain needed to make the crops grow.  Then comes the harvest, a time when combines make their rounds in the field to reap the rewards of the harvest.  Here is a cute picture of my brothers and I in front of one of my father's fields "back in the day".

Some years harvest goes smoothly, and others, like this year, cause a few gray hairs for the farmers.  Instead of the sunshine needed, we are getting rain. . .and more rain. . .and even more rain.  Rain and harvest are not a good combination.  What can the farmers do?  They wait.  They wait, and pray for some warmer days of sunshine and drying winds to make harvesting possible. 

Meanwhile, those of us with smaller crops in our garden plots must also think about harvest.  It was a busy week of road trips for me, but there was one free morning, which I dedicated to harvesting the last of the carrots and beets, along with pulling out the plants no longer producing. . .cucumber, peas, and beans.

One final picture before tackling the project, and another of the "fruits of my labor!

















Along with the yummy carrots, and the few beets I started cooking up for lunch, there was also an abundance of dried up pea and bean pods.  I'm good at picking the first ones to show up, but in the busyness of the last month, there were quite a few which escaped my eye.  The bonus to this is I now have a supply of seed to save for next year!

 


As I worked throughout the day, God gave me a variety of "life lessons" to pass on related to my simple harvest.  First of all, He brought to my attention all the life bearing seeds tucked into the dirty, dried up pea and bean pods.  Looking at the outside, you would think they were good for nothing.  But a little bit of gentle handling, and the seeds were extracted, ready to be planted in a new garden. 

This made me think of a different kind of harvest. . .one which God is working on among the people of the earth.  There are those who may appear a bit "worse for wear" on the outside, but deep within each human life God has planted the potential for new growth.  It just sometimes takes a little "gentle handling" to help them recognize this potential.

Also hidden among the dying bean plants were a few beans still in their prime, and even some cute, little "babies" just starting to grow.  In this, I saw a picture of what it will be like when God announces His final harvest.  My bean plants were unaware of the fact it would be their final day, but the time had come.  I caught them in various stages of growth, and so it will be when Jesus returns.  Some people will be "baby Christians", others will have had time to grow in their walk with the Lord.  The ones He is most proud of are those who have given so much in passing on their "seeds of faith" to others.



As you ponder my "harvest thoughts," where do you see yourself?  Have you recognized God as the One who starts you on your season of growth as a Christian?  Do you consider yourself one of the "baby Christians" just learning about producing and passing on seed, or are you a seasoned believer who has shared many seeds with others in your lifetime?  Wherever you find yourself, be aware of the fact there is indeed a final harvest coming. 

With this harvest in mind, think back on the words of Jesus to His disciples:

The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.

Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers 

into His harvest field.

Luke 10:2

Where will God use you this week to harvest souls for Him?  

And while you are praying, pray for some drying weather so our farmers can get back into the field!

A Roadside Blessing

Last weekend my son and I traveled across North Dakota together.  Visiting of friends was on the agenda.  He would be staying in Fargo, and my friend who lives on a farm by Deer Creek, Minnesota drove an hour and a half to pick me up.  Along our way back to her farm, she wanted to stop at a roadside produce shop to pick up some ingredients for the salsa she planned to make later in the week.  

While she shopped, I walked around and found so many pretty fall colors. . .pumpkins, gourds, and squash were piled everywhere.  What great creativity God displayed when he created the vegetation on the third day! 

 






As I wandered around, soaking in the colors, something flew by and caught my eye. . .a beautiful monarch butterfly!  Following it through the air, I found the reason it was attracted to the area.  Just beside the roadside stand was a bed of zinnias and cosmos, and along with my friendly butterfly were dozens of others.  It was tricky to photograph them, as they folded up their wings while enjoying a snack from each flower.  A bit of patience scored me some beautiful memories of this quaint roadside blessing.

In Genesis 1, God made the assessment His creation was "very good."  After observing this little piece of it, I would have to agree!