A Weekly Walk in the Word

Have you ever been on vacation or traveling for work and at the end of your trip, all you want is to be home? To sleep in your own bed?  Eat a home cooked meal?  To be with your family?

This week I will be launching my blog from an airport. Minnesota has been hit with yet another snow storm causing my flight home to be delayed twice. I long to be home.

I also long to be home with my Heavenly Father. This world seems to be spinning out of control. But I know that in my father’s house there is peace. There is comfort. There I will be home.  I will arrive in God’s perfect timing without any delays!

James 5:13  Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.

It is spring. The robins have arrived! I counted 18 of them in our backyard this morning. The sight of these red breasted plump birds roosting in the trees is really something to see. But, even better is the song they sing. Walking onto our deck at sunrise with my cup of coffee is like walking into a concert hall. Each of the robins and every other bird in the neighborhood is singing as they move freely from one tree to another. Who knew a creature this small could sing so loudly!

It is spring. The robins have arrived! But, the spring weather has not yet arrived. It is ten degrees outside, snow on the ground with a forecast of six inches of snow this afternoon. Not ideal weather for a bird who has just moved north to nest and lay her eggs. Still, she sings a song.

We can all learn a lot from the birds in my backyard. The next time your life is not ideal, instead of grumbling, sing a song of praise. God is with you, always!

Luke 24:1-8  On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead” He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words.

Where are you looking to find the living Lord Jesus?

He is risen.

He is risen indeed.

Alleluia!

1 Peter 5:8-9  Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the word are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Lions capture most of their prey through the element of surprise. A lion will patiently hide in a thicket until the expecting prey passes by….. then they pounce. If the prey senses the lion laying low ready to pounce….. then they flee and the lion will go away hungry. Most prey can out run a lion.

Peter warns of a lion waiting in the thicket to devour you. But, if you are alert and sense the lion lingering near, you can run. Run to the open arms of Jesus who will protect you from the devil’s tactics.

Ezekiel 34:26  I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing.

I have been showered with God’s blessings this past week!

I spent the week with my husband and three grown children, exploring the Pacific Northwest. If you have never experienced the Seattle and Vancouver area, I highly recommend the trip.

We spent our days sightseeing, hiking, eating and touring. Every evening we watched the sun set before relaxing, laughing and recapping our day in the hot tub at our condo.

One of those evenings we were joined in the hot tub by another group of vacationers. All of a sudden one gentleman’s phone alarm went off. He explained to the group that his alarm sounds at 9:00 every evening. When the alarm goes off, no matter where he is or who he is with, those people share a blessing from their life. How neat is that? So, we went around the hot tub where all 14 strangers shared their blessings. Mine was easy. I was in the company of my four favorite people!

Try it tonight……  How are you blessed?

1 Corinthians 13:12  Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

I upgraded my cell phone this week because my old phone was completely out of storage. I became so frustrated every time I went to take a picture, and the phone froze with a message of how to purchase more storage…..

So, now I am struggling to learn the new technology, improved over the last four years. The craziest new feature is that when I look at my phone, it turns on! It recognizes my face. At first, I thought it was too much. But, the more I play with the phone, the more I like the new technology. My phone knows me!

But does it really? My phone recognizes me. The neighbor up the block recognizes me and waves as I drive by. My co-workers recognize me and say “hi” as I walk into the office. But do they really know me?

My relationship with Jesus is different. He sees my face and knows me. Not just my outer being, but He knows my heart. And I see him in the beauty of nature, the smile of a child and the song of the choir. But one day I will see him face to face! Oh what a day that will be to see him and fully know him.

Psalm 42:1  As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God for I will yet praise him my Savior and my God.

Winters in Minnesota tend to drag on. As we roll into March, instead of looking for buds on bushes, we still have a good ten inches of snow on the ground with another round scheduled for tomorrow.

These winter winds sap my heavy heart. I feel bogged down, even trapped by the heaviness of winter.  My soul thirsts for God. The only way for me to get out of this winter rut, is to cry out to God. When I put my hope in Him, and spend time listening to His Word, I know Easter will be coming soon!

I pray that you are able to see the light of Jesus through the cold, dark days of life.

Isaiah 40:8  The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.

Surely most of you have heard by now that the Reverend Billy Graham died this past week at the age of 99. The radio station I listen to, has been honoring the late Dr. Graham with one tribute after another. He touched so many lives, and those people are sharing their incredible personal stories. My own mother told me about attending a Billy Graham conference in Colorado when her and my dad were first married.

Graham said “I’m convinced that heaven is far more glorious than anything we can possibly imagine right now, and I look forward not only to its wonder and peace, but also to the joy of being reunited with those who have gone there before me.” Do you have someone who has changed your faith life? Thank them today. Share their story. Don’t wait until they pass away. Give them a call, or send them a letter to thank them for the difference they have made in your life for eternity!

Proverbs 22:1  A good name is more desirable than great riches: to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

The evening routine at the Playter home has changed this past week. Every night after dinner, we come together to cheer and watch the Olympic athletes on TV. It seems as if the world has slowed down a little to come together to watch their team compete for the coveted gold medal.

The athlete’s sole purpose in life is to be at the top of their sport. The commitment to training they make to their body and mind is incredible. So, we cheer from our living rooms for a victory, and a gold medal.

What is your soul purpose in life? I am in training these days. Not for a gold medal, but to walk on streets of gold. Please join me in the race. I will be cheering you on!

1 Corinthians 13:4-7  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.

Do you have a favorite “love” Bible verse? My favorite is actually the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 13. I memorized those verses in catechism class as a teenager with Mr. Hiemstra. The same verses of love were read at our wedding. The word love can be found 319 times in the Old Testament and 232 times in the New Testament of the New International Version (NIV) Bible. Love, is not an accident. Love, is not a suggestion.  Love, is a command from God. Love, is important.

Wednesday is Valentines day. It is easy to say I love you, especially on Love Day. But how will you do love throughout the year? Let’s make love a priority in 2018!