A Weekly Walk in the Word

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.

Luke 2:1-20  In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told to them about this child., and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Blessings and Peace to you and your family this Christmas!

Matthew 2:8-11  He (King Herod) sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

Do you feel as if you have been following the star for the past month? Our pilgrimage to the manger is almost complete. It is a busy time of preparation in which many spend more time in a mall than in a church. How will you spend your week preparing for the celebration of Christ’s birth? Just like I told Hannah during her college finals last week – stay focused and finish strong. You’ve got this!

Don’t loose focus of the star leading you to Christ. Enjoy your journey to the manger!

Matthew 15:3-9  Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ he is not to  ‘honor his father’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of god for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.” 

Over the years, in our home we have created several Christmas traditions – from specific cookies to a new ornament on the tree to matching handmade pajamas to open as the first gift on Christmas Eve. They started out as fun Christmastime activities, but a few have turned into monsters. Now that our children are in college or living on their own, I have decided to eliminate the monsters and focus on the meaningful.

One of the traditions that has been altered in our home is that Santa no longer brings underwear, socks and trinkets for the stockings. Instead he gives books and uniforms to children in India, he gives mosquito nets, he gives chicks, sheep and pigs to provide families living in poverty a better future. Our kids love it! This is a tradition we will continue for many years.

As our children grow and our parents age it is important to take a step back to look at the traditions we have created to evaluate if our traditions draw us to Jesus or distract us from celebrating His birth.

I would love to hear feedback from you on your favorite Christmas traditions.

Have a blessed, peaceful Christmas season!

Psalm 84:1-5  How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home and the swallow a nest for herself where she may have her young – a place near your altar. O Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

This week our oldest son along with his lovely new bride and rambunctious hunting dog relocated for his job, moving from North Carolina to Iowa. It is an exciting but anxious time in their lives.

Our family has relocated twice for my husbands job. I was filled with anticipation for the thrill of adventure each time we moved to another state. The first weeks, even months flew by as I settled into a new home, community and acclimated the kids to a new school. Shortly after everyone settled into their new routine I became lonely. I missed the familiar area where I grew up. It was the first time I had lived away from family and struggled with the new connections I was supposed to be making. As I prayed, God came along side me. He walked with me through those hard days directing me toward a church where I met people with a strong faith that would change my life forever.

God has been with his people, relocating them to where he needs them since Adam and Eve lived in the garden and Moses traveled in the wilderness. God is with us!

Psalm 46:10-11: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

As we enter the advent season, it seems like this time of year we are bombarded with noise everywhere we turn. This weekend overshadowing Thanksgiving, we have had Black Friday (which begins in many stores on Thursday), Small Shop Saturday and Cyber Monday. We are encouraged to bake delicious cookies, buy the perfect gift for every person we know, and beautifully decorate our homes with the latest and greatest lights, ornaments and greenery. Oh, and don’t forget the concerts and Christmas parties we are expected to attend in our new, perfectly matching holiday clothes.

Don’t get me wrong. I love this time of year! But, in all the excitement of the Christmas season remember to take time to be still. Take time to celebrate the true reason for the season – Jesus Christ, the Lord Almighty, the God of Jacob.

How will you celebrate His birth this year?