A Weekly Walk in the Word

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!

1 Corinthians 15:57  But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Just in case you haven’t heard, there is a football game today! The super bowl hype has been in full swing for several weeks now with the game being played just up the road from where I live. Pray that God would be honored throughout the super bowl.

The super bowl is not only the perfect time for snacks and cheering, but also the perfect time for outreach, prayer or maybe even an opportunity to share your faith. Who will be with you during your game day party? Is it someone with whom you can share your faith story?

No matter who wins and who looses, remember that the most amazing victory of all times was not by a sports team. The most amazing victory came through the eternally victorious Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 40:3-5  A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

We had 18 inches of snow dumped on our town last week. That is a lot of snow, even for Minnesota!

My day job is working in the streets and parks department for our city. I am the voice on the other end of the phone when people call to complain regarding snow issues. “The plow is getting too close to my curb and clogging my driveway.” The plow isn’t getting close enough to my curb so I won’t be able to get my mail.” When will the plow be in my neighborhood to clear streets?” Everyone believes their street should be plowed first! Everyone views their reason for getting down the street to be the most important.

The City crews worked long hours, coming into work at 2:00am to plow streets. Contractors began clearing snow from the downtown area at midnight for two nights. Neighbors worked together clearing driveways and sidewalks. Today the streets are clear for citizens to move freely from one place to another.

Do we work with the same urgency to clear the way for the Lord to move freely in our lives? Friend, if you have an obstacle blocking the path of Jesus to work in your life, I pray that the glory of the Lord may be revealed for you to see. Walk the path with Jesus moving freely in your life.

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Faith is believing in something we cannot see or prove, but which we trust to be true.

Hebrews 11 is filled with an all-star list of faith heroes. Men and women who demonstrated confidence in God’s plan for their lives. They knew God would give them everything they needed to complete the tasks asked of them. All of these faith heroes had an expectation that God would fulfill everything he had promised.

Take the time to read the entire 11th chapter of Hebrews this week. Who is your faith hero? What can you learn from them as you continue on your faith walk?

The most important thing we can pass along to our children is our faith in God’s promises.

1 Timothy 2:8  I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.

Tomorrow we celebrate the life and achievements of the influential American civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr. He shared his dream of equality and peace in America.

What is your dream?

Begin your Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on your knees in prayer. Lifting up your dreams for your life, your country and your world.

My dream is for peace and love.

Matthew 25:14-27  Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.” His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” The man with the two talents also came, “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.” His master replied, “Well, done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” Then the man who had received the one talent came. “Master,” he said, ” I know that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See here is what belongs to you.” His master replied, “You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Our oldest son travels quite a bit for work, which allows him several hours of windshield time. He fills many of those hours listening to financial experts on talk radio. So, a year ago for Christmas he gifted each family member Dave Ramsey’s book The Total Money Makeover, a fifty dollar bill tucked in the cover, and a hand written challenge to invest the money wisely.

I failed. One year later, I found the crisp fifty dollar bill, untouched, tucked in the cover of my unread book. How could I have let such a thoughtful, generous gift go unused?

God has blessed us all with gifts and talents to be used. Don’t be like me or the third servant who tucked our blessings away for safe keeping. Use the gifts and talents God has given you. Don’t let another day pass without opening the book he has given you to learn how to wisely invest the gifts you have been given.

How will you answer when the master returns to settle accounts?

Luke 19:3-6  He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

Happy New Years Eve! What are your plans for the new year? Many of us will spend today reflecting on the past year as we welcome and plan for the new year, 2018.

Zacchaeus was in a tough spot. Because he was short and in a large crowd, he knew he would not be able to see Jesus when he came into town. Instead of sulking and complaining, Zacchaeus climbed high into a tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus. And, because of Zacchaeus’ efforts, Jesus not only recognized the tax collector in the tree, they had dinner together at Zacchaeus’ house! What an incredible day for Zacchaeus.

As we begin a new year, how will you climb to new heights to catch a glimpse of Jesus? Step out of your comfort zone and remove all obsticals that stand in your way. I pray that your 2018 be filled with God sightings!