No Need for Worry

Sunday Scripture

and a

Song

"Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 

And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you." 

Luke 12:27-28 (NLT)

 We really have no need for worry. 

God is always watching over us. 

We need to believe this truth and hold it in our hearts.

And trust that we can take all of our troubles to God in prayer, and He will hear us. 

Enjoy this splendid rendition of

His Eye is on the Sparrow

sung a cappella and in glorious harmony 

by Eclipse

Subscribers please click on Hope to find to enjoy this video on my blog site.

Mobile users please click here to watch the video on youtube.

Thank you!

Even the Winter Won't Last Forever

Sunday Scripture

and a

Song

It seems as if the winter is endless this year. Spring is so very slow to arrive here in the upper Midwest. My crocuses -- that's a picture of them above, on one of our rare sunny days -- are one of the few signs of new life I've seen. It can be hard to feel hopeful when the rains keep coming and the cold winds continue to blow.

Have you ever been in a winter of your life; a time when new life or growth feels so far from the depths of sorrow or darkness that you are living? These are times when hope is so hard to find. 

But nothing stays the same forever. Everything always changes. We see this clearly in Nature, whose cycle of life continues and repeats season after season. Though this season seems endless, we know from experience that soon it will change and new life will begin.

We can count on that -- bank on it. Change is coming, and if we watch for signs of its progress, we will see them. Even the smallest new growth will give us hope that tomorrow may be different. 

God provides -- Everything we need. When hope seems futile, rest in the truth that God is with you and you are not walking this path alone. Believe in the possibilities for change that exist in every circumstance. And put your Hope in the One that never falters or disappoints. 

You can believe in the promise that spring will come, and the sun will shine on your face again. Rest in the assurance that change is a constant in our lives. It is a promise that new life and hope will again brighten your outlook. A surely as the seasons change.

You make springs pour water into the ravines,

    so streams gush down from the mountains.

 They provide water for all the animals,

    and the wild donkeys quench their thirst.

 The birds nest beside the streams

    and sing among the branches of the trees.

 You send rain on the mountains from your heavenly home,

    and you fill the earth with the fruit of your labor.

 You cause grass to grow for the livestock

and plants for people to use.

You allow them to produce food from the earth --

Psalm 104:10-14 (NLT)

Today I'm sharing Audrey Assad's song "Even the Winter"

A song of hope and persistence 

And belief that change will come

Subscribers please click on Hope to find to view this video on my blog.

Mobile users can click here to link to watch on youtube.

Thanks!

Perception Changes Perspective

Many years have passed since my eyes were opened to the possibility that long-held beliefs should indeed be let go. And this has to do with people as well as places.

Growing up as a northern girl, I spent all of my formative years living in the upper Midwest. Our values here are based on hard work and love of family, with an ancestry of a hearty people who loved good food and drink and fellowship.

This simple life, believing that one could better one’s situation by simply working hard to make it happen, is still the backbone of everyone I know here. 

There came a time during one endless winter when temperatures stayed in subzero degrees for weeks, that I packed my bags and moved to a warmer clime.

I began to learn more about people living in different places and circumstances than my own experience. Several moves over different states exposed me to the similarities and differences amongst the people in these places.

But none was so life-changing as our move into the Bible belt of the United States.

I’d never even heard of the Bible belt, but soon upon entering the great state of Texas, we were invited to come visit people’s churches, THIS Sunday. Southern hospitality was alive and well, and extended to reserving a pew for us on Sunday morning.

It’s hard for me to admit this, but my sheltered upbringing had led me to have a certain stereotype of southern folks. It was such that I felt I would never fit in. I wasn’t genteel enough. I was a little rough around the edges and I liked myself that way.

Photo Courtesy Best Light Photography

God used this time to teach me about Himself, and myself, and my place in this world. Those of you who read my blog regularly know that during this time in Texas, I was “Born Again in the Spirit”. This isn’t necessarily a term that is often used in the north. 

What it means to me, is that as an adult, I gave my life over to Christ. I grew to understand that there was so much more to this life than just me. The unconditional Love that I finally understood was mine forever has guided me onto the path that I am walking today.

It all started with the people I was afraid wouldn’t accept me, because I was different. I had a Yankee accent and Slavic thighs (you northern girls will understand what I mean!) and I certainly wasn’t all coiffed and perfect every time I went out the door – not with three young boys in tow!

But I was accepted, and when I found a church of my own, I dove into volunteering there with everything that I could do: Sunday school, VBS, children’s choir – I even put on the Christmas pageant, including writing the text and teaching all the songs.

It was a joyous time, and looking back I can see how God was directing my steps into the work He would lead me to do now. It’s always easier to take a look back and see the path we’ve trod, and see how God gave us direction along the way. We can never know where the unknown ahead of us might lead.

It all started with learning to trust, though I was just beginning to know God personally enough to trust Him. It all began with a people who were willing to show me the unconditional love that my Savior gives me every day.

The place that I was afraid to move to, fearful that I would never fit in, helped to mold me into the woman I am today.

Though I moved back to Wisconsin many years ago, I will cherish my time spent in Texas for the life lessons God gave me, and for opening my heart to love all of His people, everywhere, with the unconditional love with which He first loved me.

Linking up today with Kristen @ Chasing Blue Skies

Nothing is Wasted

Fox River Park

Sunday Scripture

and a

Song

Okay, I'm sure you're wondering why I have an autumnal picture posted when spring is just around the corner (it is, isn't it?) There is a reason. 

Have you ever noticed the depth of organic debris on the forest floor? Nothing is wasted in nature. Everything that falls to the ground is either eaten by something larger (and then left as waste) or simply begins the process of decay. Slowly, everything becomes food for the microbes in the soil; and as they are further broken down, the elements become food for the plants themselves. It's a very efficient system.

God's purpose for our lives makes certain nothing is wasted in us, either. Every opportunity to make a mistake is an opportunity to learn. Every gift that we have is a chance to share who we are. God can use all that we encounter in life as a learning experience, an opportunity for us to grow in spirit, and to grow closer to Him.

We need to be tuned into these opportunities for growth. If we are beaten down by life, and have no hope, it may be hard to see the promise in a missed opportunity or a broken dream. This is where trust plays a great part in our relationship with our Redeemer. The truth is, we can turn to God at any time, in gratefulness or sorrow. He is waiting for us to come to Him.

Keeping our heart open to the possibilities is extremely difficult when life looks hopeless, but it is the only way to see our way forward. Trust in God that He has a plan, and that He will use everything we endure to lead us into a closer relationship with Him. 

Taken this morning outside my back door

In God, there is always hope. Nothing is wasted, in the hands of our Redeemer. 

Trust Him, and believe that He will make all things new.   

"After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.”

John 6:12 (NLT)

Enjoy Jason Gray's beautiful and truth filled song "Nothing is Wasted".

Subscribers please click on Hope to find to view this video on my blog 

and mobile viewers click here to view this video on youtube. Thank you! :)

Without Seeing, We Believe

Photo Courtesy Best Light Photography

Sunday Scripture

and a

Song

Even in the dead of winter, we trust that there will come a season of springtime. It is this belief in things that we cannot know for certain, but trust to be true, that helps us to understand a God we cannot see, feel or touch.

But truthfully, we can see God in all His great works of beauty on this Earth; 
We can feel His love for us by taking the time to draw close to Him; 

And we can touch His heart by desiring to have a relationship with Him.

"Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy."

1 Peter 1:8 (NRSV)

Here is a favorite hymn that affirms that even though we cannot see God, we know He is present in our lives;

Because we believe.

Without Seeing You ... by David Haas

Subscribers please click on Hope to find to listen to this song

Milestones of Our Lives

Today we are celebrating a birthday in our family. The big guy’s - the old man (I can say that cuz he’s older than me!) It got me thinking about the milestones of our lives.

Thirty-one years ago when we celebrated hubby’s birthday, we were living in a small apartment in Sacramento. We had recently left the Midwestern winter behind and moved to California. 

I baked a cake and tried to give him the attention he would have received from his large, extended family had we been celebrating in Wisconsin. This was our first milestone away from family. We were on our own, just the two of us --  along with my cat, Mittsy.

We had packed up and moved in March of 1982, giving away whatever wouldn't fit into our rented 4’x8’ trailer. What I remember most are the final good-byes. I've found that when strong emotions are tied to a memory, they remain forever.

When the packing was completed, and friends helped clean my little flat, we celebrated our bon voyage by toasting with champagne in paper cups. Later we added some of hubby's things to the trailer (the rest were left in his parent's basement), and when we were finally ready to leave on our great adventure, it was near dusk.

Our final farewell with extended family is burned into my memory. As we pulled away from the curb, they stood along the sidewalk in the falling darkness, all in a line, waving goodbye. The moment was so filled with emotion – our great adventure just beginning, and leaving friends and family and everything familiar behind.

In all the time that has passed, we’ve made four major moves to three different states. We’ve grown our family with the addition of four sons born in two different states. All of their milestones have been joyously celebrated along the way.

One part of my life journey that I remember clearly was when I was ‘born again’ in my faith, as a young mother living under the broad expanse of Texas skies. I had long talks with God on my walks under that great blue sky. 

I remember when I tearfully gave Him back my sons, one at a time, knowing fully well that they were really His. For a mom who believed I was their protector, this was difficult to do, but my relationship with God began to grow as I learned to trust Him with my precious children, and indeed with my own life as well. There have been many milestones in my faith journey, and I hope they keep coming! 

We celebrate the passing years with birthday parties and anniversary celebrations. Holidays come and go, with all their preparations and fun and family closeness. And when they are past and I am left with a mild melancholy. But I cherish the memories.

Children grow past their years of needing us for everything, and too soon we are celebrating graduations from high school and then from college. If you haven’t gotten to that place in your life yet, believe me when I say the time passes so very quickly, way too quickly.

We celebrate our children’s growth as they become the people God intends for them to be. The joy of watching them grow and develop maturity is perhaps the most rewarding stage of parenthood.

I hope in my future there will be the celebration of grand babies and their birthdays. The years continue to march forward in infantry-like precision. There is no stopping the passage of time. And with this crazy world we live in now, even those who have time on their hands say that time seems to be passing more quickly these days.

Photo Courtesy Best Light Photography

So we must celebrate the milestones, as well as the every day gifts of life and love and beauty. Every day is a new beginning for us. We are made new each day by God's grace and are given the opportunity to be grateful for the very breath that brings us life.

We can celebrate the passing of the seasons and the special milestones of our lives, knowing we can give thanks to the One who walks beside us through each and every day. In fact, the only constant through all of this change is knowing God is always with us. He is walking with each of us, as we navigate this journey of life.