A Weekly Walk in the Word

Ecclesiastes 3:20  All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.

DUST – worthless particles of matter into which something disintegrates.

On Ash Wednesday, I was reminded once again that we are made from dust, and when we die, we become dust again…..

God took worthless matter and created me and you and all of his children. There is nothing our God can not do. His miracles are unfathomable. During this season of Lent, between Ash Wednesday and Easter, Jesus is on his journey to the cross. His body will return to dust in just six short weeks. Through Jesus’ dust, God’s greatest miracle is seen!

During this season of Lent, how will you draw near to Jesus as he journeys to the cross? How will you incorporate the disciplines of Lent – repentance, fasting, prayer and works of love – into your life? Whatever you choose, choose to take the 40 day journey with Jesus.

Luke 10:27 – 29  He answered: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and Love your neighbor as yourself.”  “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But, he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Who is your neighbor?

Is she the person living next door to you? Is he the person living in your town? Are they the people in your church, work or school?

Yes, they are. But, they are so much more….

My neighbor is the lady moving into town who knows no one. My neighbor is the boy in the classroom being bullied. My neighbor is the elderly man in the nursing home unable to make decisions for himself. My neighbor is the woman with darker skin than mine struggling to make ends meet.

Celebrate your neighbor! How can you show love to your neighbor this week?

Isaiah 6:3  And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

My husband and I took a road trip this weekend. It was a great opportunity for the two of us to reconnect. We didn’t go far, but I was amazed at the beauty we discover down every new road.

We drove up and down 2 lane roads along the Mississippi River. We saw cattle grazing in pastures and eagles soaring above the cliffs. The small towns we drove through were full of bustling citizens. It has been an incredible weekend!

Around every corner was another beauty to behold. The whole earth is full of God’s glory!

What is the best road trip you have taken? Where in the world do you see God’s glory?

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

It is Valentines Day this week. Are you hoping to open your mailbox to receive  love letters from someone special this year? If you do, great! If you do not, that is OK too. Because, the greatest love letter ever written is right in front of you waiting to be read…..

Did you realize that the word “love” appears in the NIV Bible 551 times! God longs for an intimate relationship with you. A relationship that will last forever and will satisfy your deepest needs. Allow yourself to fall into God’s loving embrace. Take time this Valentines Day to read a portion of God’s love letter to you – his someone special.

Happy Love Day

Ephesians 2:10 – For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.

What makes your heart dance? God created you specially. Each one of us has been given unique talents. My children grew up spending hours with their livestock, while other children spend hours on a sports field. I enjoy writing while others become frustrated by the process. Some can sing like angels, while I can not carry a tune to save my life.

We all know our strengths and the areas we devote our time. The key to a meaningful life is where  God’s will for the world and our passion meet. So, how can you use the skill you enjoy to help others? You will find great joy in that place!

Isaiah 40:29-31  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 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 be faint.

Here we are, one month into 2017. How are you doing with those New Year’s resolutions you made just a few weeks ago?

For me personally, I am not doing as well as I had hoped. On paper it looked like the perfect plan. But, in reality I overestimated my ability to add new tasks into my daily and weekly schedule. So, I am revisiting those resolutions and praying over the importance of each new task. I am setting priorities to complete the important and deleting a few of the resolutions that were not as aligned with my priorities. How about you? Have your new resolutions fallen seamlessly into your schedule, or after a month are you feeling like I was – overwhelmed with the obligation to complete everything on my 2017 “to do” list? Talk to Jesus about your priorities and realistic tasks for the next 11 months.

With God’s help, we can soar on the wings of eagles in 2017! He will give us the strength to finish the race.

Titus 3:9  But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.

On January 20, 2017 the 45th president of the United States was inaugurated. Donald J. Trump became the leader of this great nation where we are blessed to live. This change in leadership made many people proud to be an American, but on the flip side made many people angry and lash out in their speech and actions. Instead of spending our efforts in foolish controversies, let us come together in respect and prayer for our new president. The prayer below is one shared by a godly may I respect, Pastor Roger Dykstra.

“My Lord. My God. My King. My Savior. My All. I pray for President Donald J. Trump. I pray that you lead his leadership, that you guide his decision-making, that you shape his character, his words, and his actions. In every single way in which his desires and actions are of you, I pray that you bless him. In every single way in which his desires and actions are contrary to yours, I pray that you reform him. In every single way in which he would make America great with greatness as defined by you, I pray that you embolden him. In every single way in which he would make America something less than great according to your desires, I pray that you hinder him. I pray that same prayer, O Lord, for all of our elected leaders. And I pray that same prayer, O Lord, for myself, and for your church. Amen.”

How will you pray for our new president and country as we move forward through this transition?

Psalms 108:3-5  I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth.

Winter in Minnesota can be brutal. From the sub-zero temperatures to the snow-covered ground that requires daily shoveling to the ice packed roads making travel difficult at best. But, when I spend my days complaining about this frigid season, I miss the beauty of God’s creation. Take time this week to put on an extra layer of clothing and get outside to view God’s amazing handiwork. Be inspired by the glistening snow.Clear your mind as you walk down a cleared trail. God’s glory is over all the earth in every season!

Philippians 3:14   I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Have you ever had an “Alleluia” moment? I had one Friday night!

I arrived on the struggle bus Thursday morning when our daughter Hannah flew back to college in Colorado. It was hard to see her go. At lunch I ran to the bank to find a service charge on an account and not very friendly customer service. Then to top off my day, I was reprimanded at work for of all things, proofreading! (which ended up being a big misunderstanding)

I began to question God’s calling for me to write. Was I where He wanted me to be? Had I misunderstood? Does He have another path I am supposed to be on? Isn’t it funny how Satan can get in our head and send us in a downward spiral so quickly? And that is when God comes along side me for my Alleluia moment.

I hadn’t been to the Mall of America since last summer, but I needed to go to the Fossil Store to have a new battery put in a watch I had received. Well, there just happens to be a Barnes & Noble directly across from the Fossil Store. I went in the store to look for a book to help get me back on the right path of my spiritual walk. In the Christian Life section there were many books sorted by the authors last name. I dreamed, wouldn’t it be amazing to someday have my book sorted by my last name? And, that is when I saw them! Two copies of my book at Barnes & Noble on the same shelf as Max Lucado and Beth Moore. I was blown away!

Right there in the middle of MOA, God humbled me with an Alleluia moment that I will never forget! God is good and has blessed me far beyond anything I could have imagined when we began this writing journey together!

Jeremiah 29:11  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Happy 2017! A new year full of hope and promise is here.

I have to admit that I am a list girl, and I may be a word geek. So, for the past few years on the New Year, I choose a word as my theme for that year and from there I make my lists of goals. The last two years we have had weddings in our family, so my words were love and gratitude. I remember as a young mom choosing joy one year and family another.

Now here I sit on January 1st trying to organize my year with my lists of goals in front of me, as well as my theme word for 2017 – PRAYER! I am excited to see where God leads me and the lessons He will teach me regarding prayer.

I would love to hear how you stay focused and any of your New Year traditions. God bless you in your journey through 2017.