A Weekly Walk in the Word

John 10:3-5 The guard at the gate opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. Whenever he has gathered all of his sheep, he goes before them and they follow him, because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger but will run away because they don’t know the stranger’s voice.

The last time I was at Seth’s farm before he passed away, we moved sheep from the barn to a pasture on the opposite side of his property. The picture above are his sheep on that day. Seth filled a bucket with feed and opened the gate. His sheep never took their eyes off of Seth. They followed him out the gate, across the driveway and into their new pasture of tall grass. I closed the gate behind them as Seth quietly reassured them that they would be happy in their new temporary home.

My prayer for all of you is that you pursue the shepherd. Listen for his voice and follow the one who will lead you through the pasture to living water.

Psalm 68:6 God sets the lonely in families

My sisters always have my back. They show up when I need the the most. Last weekend we put on the Seth Playter Memorial Market Lamb Show. I was overwhelmed by the large amount of people who showed up at the Sioux Falls fairgrounds to show their sheep. I was even more overwhelmed by the large amount of people who showed because of their relationship with Seth. I was overcome by all the emotions once again. But, among all the people who attended, my sisters were there. They continue to carry me through the difficult days. I dedicated my latest book Women Walking in the Word to my sisters. In the introduction, I wrote…..

During the process of publishing this book, I lost my oldest son suddenly to cardiac arrhythmia. He was thirty-six. It is the greatest sadness I have ever experienced. When my world was the darkest, God’s light shone the brightest. I saw the hands and feet of Jesus in the sisterhood of women living out Jesus’s love through their hugs, tears, and meals when I wasn’t able to eat. They dropped everything to carry me. I am grateful for the circle of women in my life. Women need to be celebrated for the roles they play in everyday life.

These words were written for my biological sisters as well as my spiritual sisters. God has given us a great gift when he gave us sisters. They are more precious than silver or gold. Thank God for the sisters in your life.

John 18:11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

What would you do if you or your best friend were wrongly accused of a crime? Would you lash out like Peter and cut off someone’s ear? Or would you surrender peacefully like Jesus? As a mother, I struggle when I see anyone mistreat my children. My mean, mama-bear side comes out. But in today’s reading, I learn from Jesus that in all circumstances – even death – God is in control. Trust God’s perfect plan.

The paragraph above is the Day 149 devotion from my new book Women Walking in the Word. I wrote this entry years before I lost my son to an undiagnosed heart condition. I found it again during the editing process. God is good. He gave me the words I needed before I needed them the most. God is in control even when we struggle to see the light.

Colossians 3:16-17 Let the Word of Christ – the Message – have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives – words, actions, whatever – be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

Today I will sing, sing, sing because this week I picked up 1040 copies of my second published book from the printer. It was a huge leap of faith to spend 9 years writing and another year publishing a book. But, I felt called to share the Word of God with others. Reflecting on the process, I see God’s hand on every page, in every word. He was with me every step of the way. I am excited for you to write your story along with me when you journal your way through Women Walking in the Word.

Psalm 119:105 By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path. (The Message Version)

It is really happening! My second book Women Walking in the Word is at the printers. It has been a journey for sure. Only God knew the twists and turns my path in life would take as I worked through finishing this book. But we did it! God is good always!

Matthew 28:1-10 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the tomb. Look, there was a great earthquake, for an angel from the Lord came down from heaven. Coming to the stone, he rolled it away and sat on it. Now his face was like lightning and his clothes as white as snow. The guards were so terrified of him that they shook with fear and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He isn’t here, because he’s been raised from the dead, just as he said. Come, see the place where they laid him. Now hurry, go and tell his disciples, ‘He’s been raised from the dead. He’s going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.’ I’ve given the message to you.” With great fear and excitement, they hurried away from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples. But Jesus met them and greeted them. They came and grabbed his feet and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go and tell my brothers that I am going into Galilee. They will see me there.”

Death has been overcome. Our hope is in Jesus! Alleluia

Luke 22:54-62 After they arrested Jesus, they led him away and brought him to the high priest’s house. Peter followed from a distance. When they lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a servant woman saw him sitting in the firelight. She stared at him and said, “This man was with him too.” But Peter denied it, saying, “Woman, I don’t know him!” A little while later, someone else saw him and said, “You are one of them too.” But Peter said, “Man, I’m not!” An hour or so later, someone else insisted, “This man must have been with him, because he is a Galilean too.” Peter responded, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!” At that very moment, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter, and Peter remembered the Lord’s words: “before a rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And Peter went out and cried uncontrollably.

Peter, one of Jesus’ followers and closest friend denied even knowing Jesus. Peter is human. We are all broken and incapable of being perfect. Jesus is looking straight at you. He gives you grace. Give yourself grace this Easter season as we work together to live into who God is calling us to be.

John 10:1-10 “I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

The dispersal of our son’s flock of sheep has been a difficult task. Mike has spent countless hours working on spreadsheets and talking with potential buyers to find good homes for Seth’s mature ewes and lambs. The task has also been a rewarding one. We have connected with incredible families and young showmen through the dispersal. Seth will have lambs in Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado. We are proud of the lives Seth has impacted throughout the Midwest. And we can’t wait to see these young people show up at the gate of their fairs.

Galatians 5:6 The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

The cutest country church sits on a gravel backroad in Wisconsin. Above the door reads a sign “Let Me Always Stand By The Road And Be Your Friend’. I long to walk through those doors every week. I long for a friend who stands strong, but willing to open their door at anytime. I have been blessed with several friends who do just that. Do your friends and family know how much you love them? How do you express your love to each of them? Reach out today to let them know they are important and loved.

John 3:16-17 “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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

A friendly reminder….. You are loved! Jesus loves you, and so do I.