A Weekly Walk in the Word

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8  There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Have you ever experienced those times when life seems to be whirling at a fast pace and everything seems to be changing? Our family is in one of those season right now. We have children moving in and out of our home. Friends moving to new states and family moving across the country. It all feels a little overwhelming.

I find comfort in Ecclesiastes knowing that God has a time for everything in our lives. Life is crazy right now, but there will be a time when things slow down enough to catch our breath.

Today I will enjoy the time I am given as I live out my faith. I pray that you are able to enjoy your time this summer doing what you love, with those you love.

Luke 15:20  “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”

My dad has always been an incredible man. When I was younger I failed to realize the sacrifices my dad made for our family. He could fix anything (and when you have four little girls, money is tight and lots of things break). He was at every school and sporting event I participated in. He was always in the stands cheering me on. He is still cheering me on today! My dad is my rock. He has always loved me unconditionally with his whole heart. I may be bias, but he is the perfect example of a Christian father, grandfather and husband.

I love you dad!

Happy Father’s Day!

Psalm 4:5  I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell is safety.

Last week Tuesday I decided to run to Faribault after work because I needed a few more flowers to finish my flower gardens and the local greenhouse had just started their end of the season sale. . While I was making my final planting decisions, a warning was issued for a severe thunderstorm in the area. I purchased my flowers and headed to my car.

As I drove to Northfield, the wind started whipping and the rain was falling in sheets. I continued driving as I swerved around downed branches. I reached our driveway to find a yard globe shattered in the driveway. When I walked into the house our dog was nowhere to be found. I found her hiding in the basement (where I have to coax her down most days).

I began closing our four open windows. As I tried to turn the crank to close the front window in the den, I realized there was no window! It was laying shattered on the ground as wind and rain blew into our house. I ran to the neighbors,  who helped me install a temporary plastic to protect our interior.

As I stood back to survey the damage, I saw the beautiful cross covering our broken window. We were safe. Jesus is forever protecting me and my home and my family. I am able to safely sleep in peace because our God is bigger than the storm!

Psalm 119:103  How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 

While driving through Amish country in southern Indiana, we came across this not so subtle sign. Do you know where your Bible is?

If you are looking for summer reading material…. I highly recommend this book. The Bible is the greatest love story you will ever read! Enjoy

James 1:19-21  My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 

This weekend we celebrate Memorial Day, remembering the fallen soldiers who gave everything for our freedom to live in the United States of America. This weekend we celebrate Christ Jesus, remembering he gave everything for our freedom to live in heaven forever. This weekend we celebrate the official beginning of summer.

How will you spend your summer? I pray that this summer, you will slow down. Slow down to spend time with family and friends. Take a walk, read a book or enjoy a ballgame. Slow down to spend time with Jesus as you learn from his example to be slow to speak and slow to become angry.

May God be with you as you enjoy the beauty and blessings of  a slow summer!

1 John: 16-21  And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. 

The Almanzo gravel bike ride came to Northfield yesterday. 1700 riders registered to bike one of the four routes. The first group took off Thursday night at midnight to begin their 380 mile ride. The three remaining groups left Saturday morning to bike either 162 miles, 100 miles or 50 miles of gravel roads.

The winner of the 380 ride came from Oklahoma. Northfield was full of bikes and riders from all over the midwest. My favorite bike was the one with a “JESUS LOVES ME” license plate. What a great way for this young man to share Jesus’ love with the bike world. How do you share God’s love with the world? Proudly declare Jesus’ love for you and those around you.

Proverbs 1:8-9  Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. 

Thank heaven for mothers who sacrifice everything as they unconditionally love their children beyond measure. Where would I be today without my mother’s love? I thank God for blessing me with a mother who gave her all as she raised her girls.

And now I am a mother who finds the greatest joy in life is spending time with my children. Friday night all three of our kids were home for dinner. We talked. We laughed. We slept under one roof. It was simply the best mother’s day gift…. to watch my adult children interact as they become best friends. (and a llama plant!)

God bless mothers as they teach their children God’s love through the love they pour out onto their children. May your heart overflow with love this Mother’s Day!

1 Corinthians 13:4-8  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

35 years ago, I married the man I love. He is the greatest blessing God has given me. He is my encourager, my enabler, my best friend.

35 years ago, Mike took my hand from my father at the alter in our church. He has held it through good days and bad, but he never let go. He is my rock.

35 years ago, 1 Corinthians 13 was read at our wedding. Love has been at the center of our marriage. Love for each other, love for our children, and of course love for Jesus!

35 years ago, I said “I do” but had no idea of my capacity to love a man as fiercely as I love my husband. Thank you Jesus for blessing me with my husband of 35 years!

Deuteronomy 1:6-7  The Lord our God said to us at Horeb, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites; go to all the neighboring peoples in the foothills, in the Negev and along the coast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon as far as the great river, the Euphrates.”

Sixteen years ago, we packed up our family and moved from the comfort of our childhood hometown to a new town in a new state. Because of that move, I have grown in ways I never would have grown had we stayed in the familiar surroundings of Wisconsin. My faith was stretched to become bigger than my fears. The church became my home and the members became family.

God has been urging people to move for centuries, even as far back as the Old Testament. It seems that just when life becomes comfortable, we are pushed in a new direction.

May you find strength to move with God into the next new land in your life. Living for God is an adventure with new opportunities around every corner. Enjoy the life you have been given!

Philippians 2:5-11  Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus loves you so much, he was willing to go to the cross to die for YOU. As we celebrate the miracle of His resurrection, we also celebrate the joy of Jesus’ abiding presence in our lives.

He is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

May you have a blessed Easter filled with Jesus’ wonderful love.