A Weekly Walk in the Word

Psalm 66:1-2 Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious!

I had the privilege to attend St. Olaf’s Conference on Worship, Theology and the Arts earlier this week. The event began with worship on campus in Boe Chapel. I sat towards the front with a friend from my congregation and our pastor. When the organist began playing and attendees began singing, I couldn’t believe my ears. “How many people came in behind us?” I asked. The acoustics in the chapel are like nothing I had heard before. I am not a signer, but as I belted out the words to every song, I felt like I was part of a heavenly choir. If you ever get to St. Olaf College, make sure you participate in worship. Boe Chapel is truly a little piece of heaven on earth. It is glorious!

John 10:7-10 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.”

On Wednesday I had a new gate installed on the south side of the sheep’s pasture. The gate allows the sheep to safely move from their original pasture to the temporary fenced pasture with long grass where they graze safely all day long. When evening comes, I am able to call them back through the gate into their original pasture to keep them safe from predictors at night. It is a perfect set up. But, the sheep need to be willing to listen and trust me. When the ewes follow my direction, they graze peacefully during the day and sleep safely at night. The same happens when I listen and follow Jesus. He is the gate. He feeds me daily. He keeps me safe. I am content. I pray that you are listening and willing to walk through the gate to find pasture. Stay safe in Jesus’ flock!

Genesis 9:12-17 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”

God is good. He is faithful, loving and caring. He isn’t a judge sitting on a throne in the clouds. He is our loving Father who is alive and active in the world today. God sends us signs everyday…. in the rainbow over our barn after a storm, in sunrises every morning and sunsets every evening. But where I see God most is in the special people he brings into my life just when I need them most. Have you had a God sighting this week? Where do you see signs of God moving in your life?

Mark 11:22-24 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

What mountain are you trying to move in your life? You can’t do it alone. Have faith. Take your mountain to God and watch him change your world. Nothing is too big for our God, so Pray Big.

Genesis 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

I had the privilege of spending the 4th of July weekend with my dad, sisters and their families. We were all together at my sister’s lake house. She has talked for years how the lake is her happy place. After our time together on the lake, I have to agree with her. Spending time in nature with family is just the best. I saw what God has made, and it is very good!

1 Peter 1:24-25 “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.”

I usually steer clear of politics in my blog posts. But, was anyone else frustrated with this week’s presidential debate? It was hard to watch no matter which side of the aisle you find yourself. My only hope comes from God’s Word. Leaders will come and go, but God and His Word will stand forever. Take comfort in His promise as you celebrate Independence Day this week.

Genesis 1:1-10 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day” and the darkness he called “night”. And there was evening, and there was morning – the first day. And God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water.” So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. God called the expanse “sky”. And there was evening, and there was morning – the second day. And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear”. And it was so, God called the dry ground “land”, and the gathered waters he called “seas”. And God saw that it was good.

We just returned home from Maui where we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. God was definitely showing off when he created Hawaiian islands. We biked down a volcano, zip lined over a rain forest, discovered waterfalls, walked along the beach and watched the colorful sun rises and sun sets every morning over the ocean. And to think that God created all of it for our enjoyment. I urge you to get outside to explore this great big beautiful world. Where will you see God this week?

Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads and men who influence the lives of young people. You are changing the world through your love and care for others. And a special shout out to my dad and my husband who have both blessed their children with Christian training. Thank you for creating a solid foundation for our family.

1 Peter 4:10-11 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

This week I received a call from a woman requesting a haircut for her husband who resides in a local care facility. When I arrived, I learned that he was bedridden and on hospice. The CNA and I worked together to keep him comfortable while trimming his hair and beard. She gently held his head in her hands while I cut the wispy long hairs around his ears. It was an honor and holy experience to play a small role in preparing my friend to see Jesus. Cutting hair is a small way to serve, but what a privilege to make a difference in the life of this man and his family as they said their last goodbyes. Today he is running around heaven with a fresh haircut!

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.”

This verse of comfort in Jeremiah gives not only the captives in Babylon hope, but gives us hope for our future as well. This spring my friend Margie showed up on a day I was feeling lonely and sad with a beautiful pink geranium. She placed the blooming flower in a planter on my patio where I see it every morning as the sun comes up. The geranium is a reminder to me of how God sends just the right people into our lives when we need them most. No matter how dismal your circumstances seem today, God has big plans for your future which include the promise of a future with God who will walk beside you the entire way. Find comfort in God’s perfect timing as you rest in His promise of hope and a future.