A Weekly Walk in the Word

James 1:17-18 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

A true friend is a gift from God.

Last week a group of us met for lunch to celebrating a dear friend’s 95th birthday. I had the privilege of meeting her when we first attended our church in Lonsdale. She was the first person to welcome us into our new congregation. Because of her welcoming spirit, we continued to attend Sunday worship. We sit with her every week and have become close friends. God knew she was the friend I needed for this season of my life. She is a prayer warrior. She inspires me to be a better Christian. She is wise. She is a true gift from God!

Luke 15:8-10 Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.” In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

There are many types of loss. You can lose money, your reading glasses, car keys, or an important piece of mail. You can also lose your way, your hope, or your soul. What have you lost recently that needs to be found. Prayerfully ask God to reveal to you what can be found within the loss that will enable you to rejoice, not because of the loss, but because God takes things that have strayed away from us and marvelously restores them to us in ways we might not immediately recognize or appreciate. As I take baby steps to move forward in my life, God continues to show up. I thank God for the blessings and people he has surrounded me with, and I find great peace in that.

John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

I am doing the final proofread for my new book “Women Walking in the Word”. Below is the devotion for day 121. Seth keeps showing up when I least expect it.

Verse 29: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” Jesus is the sacrificial Lamb, sent into the world by God to take away our sins. My children grew up showing sheep at our 4-H fair. Every spring we lambed between ten and twenty ewes. So I am especially drawn to the symbolism of Christ the Lamb of God. My oldest son was the shepherd on our farm. The lambs knew his voice. They even knew the sound of his truck when he drove onto the yard after school. The sheep’s ears would perk up, they would run to the gate and wait for my son to walk into the barn because they knew they would be fed. Do we seek our shepherd in the same way? Do we drop everything to run to the gate to be fed when we hear him calling? Strive to be more “sheepish” in your daily life.

Psalm 118:14 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.

Music has a way of changing my heart. What do you listen to? I listen to Christian radio when I am in the car. I listen to Instrumental Worship music on Spotify when I am working around the house. Music fills my soul and uplifts my mood.

Baseball players have a walk on song that plays when they are up to bat and walk from the dugout to the batting box. What will your walk on song be when you walk from this world into heaven?

Acts 20:35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive”.

On the day of Seth’s service, I gifted our pastor and church administrative assistant each three skeins of yarn from my sheep. One white skein from Elsie, one natural color from Irene and one moorit from Toots. Both ladies are skilled knitters and loved the gift. After Bible study this week, they gifted me a cowl knit in the yarn I had given them. They incorporated the three colors of yarn from the three sheep to design a cowl with Seth’s brand in the center. They prayed over every stitch as they each knit one cowl for themselves and one for me. You can never out give a giver, and you can NEVER out give God.

Matthew 9:36 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (CEB)

The past month has left me feeling troubled and helpless most days. I am so thankful for my shepherd who has had compassion on me. Jesus has wrapped me in his love through the hugs and prayers of friends, family and strangers who are becoming fast friends. He has sent angels when I have needed them most. They have held me up when I could not stand. I am able to move forward, because during the darkest days, my shepherd is faithful and has never left my side.

In early November I took a watercolor class at Nash Lake Farm. Seth’s comment when he saw the sheep card I painted was “My made gift for Christmas this year? Please and Thank you” Last week I painted over 100 sheep Thank You cards. I wasn’t able to give Seth watercolor sheep, but I am able to give the painted cards to those who loved him.

Luke 2:8-20 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 on 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 them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. it 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.

A good friend gifted me a hand cut wooden cardinal ornament with this poem attached….. HELLO FROM HEAVEN

Seeing a cardinal can feel like getting a little hello from heaven, especially when you’re missing someone who’s passed away. It’s like they’re popping in to say, “I’m here, and I’m okay.” They show up just for a bit, usually when you’re feeling down, as if they’re sent to lift up your spirits. It’s a comforting thought that they’re not really gone, their spirit is still around keeping you company. So next time a cardinal crosses your path, pay attention to its sign. It may have a message for you or a blessing to align.

On Thursday morning with my cup of coffee in hand, I paused from Christmas baking to look out over the freshly fallen snow. Two cardinals flew by. They were easy to spot with the glistening snow covering our yard. And then there were more. I am not sure what you call a group of cardinals, but this flock of red birds began landing in a small scrub tree right outside my window. FOURTEEN cardinals! They lingered most of the morning, flying in and out of the tree. It felt like they were looking in the window as I watched with a smile on my face. God is good. Even in the hardest times. Where have you seen God this week?

Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff – they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

God has given me words to write for almost ten years on this blog. Today there are no words, just tears.

http://www.hofmeisterjones.com/obituary/seth-playter