A Weekly Walk in the Word

2 Timothy 1:7 – For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Those 2 little words “Fear Not” can be found in every book of the Bible. Yes, all 66 books! It is the most repeated command we are given as Christians, and the most used tool of Satan. We become paralyzed by fear, keeping us from living out God’s plan for our lives.

So, what are you afraid of? You have been given a spirit of power. Make the phone call, visit your cranky neighbor, apply for the job, write the blog, reach out to your friend, attend the bible study, sign up for that mission trip. Our God is great!  There is nothing we can not do through Him…  Fear Not.

Proverbs 16:31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.

This weekend my husband and I attended his 35 year high school class reunion. Where does the time go? It was an incredibly fun weekend catching up with classmates and their spouses. It has been interesting to watch how the conversation has changed from the 5 year reunion, to the 20 year reunion and now the 35 year reunion.  At the 5 year reunion, we all compared college stories and were excited about what the future held. At the 20 year reunion everyone compared jobs, houses, and what vehicles they drove trying to out-do the next classmate. By the time we attended the 35 year reunion, none of those things really mattered. The conversation revolved mostly around our children and grandchildren and the blessings we have received over the years.

I am not sure why it takes us so long to settle into our lives to realize what is really important? I heard from one wise classmate last night, that he never dreamed he would be involved in the vocation he is, but the hand of God leads you in ways you never imagine! Amen to that!

Psalm 127:1  Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labors in vain.

Last week our oldest son was married. This week we sent time with the newlyweds looking for a new house in Iowa. We were shown older houses with lots of character, new cookie cutter style houses, quirky houses, and houses in the country on a few acres for livestock. Any of the houses we looked at would work for a newly married couple, but this was the first major decision they would have to make together in their marriage. I enjoyed listening to the two of them debate the pros and cons of each house, slowly eliminating the houses they didn’t care for. Soon they were down to only two options, and continued to discuss those as they boarded their plane……

I am thrilled, because either of the two final houses will be perfect for our son and his new wife as long as Christ is the center of their home. A home built around the Lord will stand forever. Think about the house you live in. What is your house built around? Is it time for a home makeover? A home built by the Lord will stand the test of time!

Matthew 19:4-6  the Creator made them male and female, and said, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become on flesh so they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.

This is wedding weekend for our family!  The weekend we travel to North Carolina to celebrate the wedding of our oldest son to his beautiful bride, Galina. We are over the moon excited to welcome her into our family.

God’s timing is perfect. Many prayers have been said to get us to this point. My husband and I prayed and prayed for two years before God blessed us with the titles of Mom and Dad when he entrusted us with Seth. Those were anxious days, wondering if we would ever become parents. And from that day, we began praying for an additional 28 years before God blessed us with our daughter, Galina! There were anxious moments during those years as well, wondering if Seth would be blessed with the title of husband. Through it all we have learned to trust God in this world of instant gratification because his timing is perfect.

My prayer for the newly married couple going forward is for contentment. Don’t be so driven to get to the next level that you miss out on the blessings God sends you every day. A bigger house, or gym, a faster truck, more guns, a higher paying job won’t always make you happier. Instead, be content with what you have been given. You have already been given much. Just look at all the friends and family attending your wedding. Look into each others eyes. Not everyone is blessed with the kind of love that you two share. You are blessed and we have been blessed to share in your special day! Congratulations!  I love you both so much!

John 11:33-35  When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.  “Where have you laid him?” he asked.  “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.  Jesus wept.

Thursday night I held a grieving mom who had only hours before received news that her 25 year old son had taken his life. We cried together that night, because there were no words. The entire ordeal, just didn’t make sense.  In times like this, my comfort comes from Jesus.  He understands.  Jesus experienced grief when his friend Lazarus died.  He struggled with the pain Mary and Martha were feeling.  So this week as obituaries are written, pictures and songs are chosen along with all the additional arrangements, I will lean on Jesus to walk with me through the upcoming difficult days that just don’t make sense.

One more thing for any of you out there feeling desperate…..  It is never that bad.  Things will get better.  And, YOU ARE LOVED!

(this weeks photo was taken by my daughter, Hannah)

Mark 10:13-16  People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

Last week when visiting my parents, my mom jumped up from her recliner to announce “I have something to give you”. She went to their entry closet and pulled out the wool overcoat my Grandpa wore to church every Sunday! All of my childhood memories from the farm in South Dakota flooded back into my mind…. Riding the horses Maisie & Daisy, helping with chores, Sandy their St. Bernard, large meals together around the kitchen table, going into town on Sunday morning for church, and time spent on Grandpa’s lap. Those are my most fond memories of my childhood. When we were at Grandpa & Grandma’s house, they gave me their undivided attention. They were interested in my life and listened to what I had to say. They loved me unconditionally. They were always there for me.

Grandpa’s coat is so much more than a wool overcoat. It is a reminder to me of the security I felt when the arm in that coat wrapped me in love. Jesus longs to do the same for his children. Bring the children to Jesus to be wrapped in his love. He will give his undivided attention, is interested in our lives, will listen to what we have to say and will love us unconditionally.

Allow the loving arms of Jesus wrap you in his love this week!

John 15:1-6 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much faith; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”

Our Minnesota town had a nasty storm roll through a week ago. City employees spent over a week cleaning up downed branches and debris from the streets. There is no way that much pruning and removing of weak branches could have happened without God’s help. No one was injured in the storm and the trees are actually healthier without the weight of the excess branches. Today the city boulevards look more beautiful than they did the beginning of July!

What branches in your life need pruning? Allow the gardener to prune the areas that are weighing you down. How do you react when a storm rolls through your life? Remain close to the vine, who will provide the strength, nourishment and stability you need to ride out any storm. You will make it through the eye of the storm stronger and more beautiful than when it began!

Romans 12:21  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

This past week our world has been filled with evil. So many senseless acts of violence that are impossible to understand.  Jesus instructs us to overcome evil with good.  Good is not defined by the color of our skin or the vocation we choose.  Good is in the way we treat others.  How can you be the good in the world this week?

Believe there is good in the world.

Galatians 5:13 – You, my sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Freedom is a gift.

Freedom to live in the United States of America.

Freedom from the old testament law’s authority.

Freedom to participate in the work of the Spirit.

Freedom to worship in the church of your choice.

Freedom to witness to others.

Freedom to serve in love.

Freedom to love one another.

John 7:33  Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I go to the one who sent me.”

I just returned from a trip to Colorado where I visited our daughter at Colorado State University. I flew into Denver on an early morning flight, where I caught a shuttle to CSU in Fort Collins. The shuttle consisted of one other passenger who was only going half the distance, myself and the shuttle bus driver, Scott. I began visiting with Scott to find out he was celebrating his 39th wedding anniversary in August! He had moved to the Denver area from California  where he retired from the police force ten years earlier to start up a new church. He had spent the night before doing prison ministry until 1:00am, went home where he napped until 3:00am so that he could make a couple round trips from Denver to Fort Collins with the shuttle bus before he went home to pack for a men’s Bible retreat in the mountains for the next 3 days. After hearing Scott’s story I was feeling guilty about wanting a few days away to write and relax.  I asked Scott, how he found the energy to keep going. He told me there was a lot of work to do before he leaves this earth.

In today’s verse Jesus told the crowd, “I am with you for only a short time”. Our time here on earth is short. Only a blink in eternity. How will you spend your short time here on earth? Sort out the important and focus on that. Be diligent, like my shuttle driver Scott, to the work God has called you to do.