Music in your Life

It seems like a very long time ago that a little child raced through my house shouting rhyming words. Many of her and later her sister’s books were in rhyme and their daddy read in many voices for each character of the books. Mama would often say, “Use your inside voice please”. This would be followed by a groan from a small child. 

But then one day, daddy began to tell the little girls about how you could put rhyming words to music and sing them in a voice that even mom would like. So began singing aloud, loud and soft. Little ditties at first and then harder ones. 

At age three, a lady started a choir for the oldest girl to join with friends from the church. She brought the music home and practiced every day. Songs began to follow the family everywhere. Moving to a new home stopped the choir but brought piano lessons and more music sounded in the small house.  

Another move brought the little girl home to say, “There is a church very near here that has a children’s choir”.  And so, every Wednesday, away she would go on her bike to sing in this new choir and her family followed her to Eastridge Presbyterian Church. Both daughters sang and sang and the family sang and music followed us wherever we went. 

So worshipping as a child this summer also means singing new and old songs. All the Sunday School songs were not new but old favorites and the hymns are lovely memories of younger days. 

The song that the three-year-old sang in choir is imprinted on her mother’s brain.  It is as follows:

I don’t want to wait until I grow up to be what Jesus wants me to be.

I can read the Bible and pray, do a loving kindness today.

I don’t want to wait until I grow up to be what Jesus wants me to be. 

Prayer: Lord Be with Us in Song and Joy Each Day of Our Lives. Amen 

Carolyn Olsen

Summer Days

These summer days, Shepherd Lord, you lead us amid green grasses and peaceful waters to restore our souls. 

Thank you for your goodness and mercy!

This Too Shall Pass

When times are good, be happy;

    but when times are bad, consider this:

God has made the one

    as well as the other.

Therefore, no one can discover

    anything about their future. Ecclesiastes 7:14

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

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. Jeremiah 29:11

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

In a short video on YouTube, shared from an interview, Tom Hanks has this bit of wisdom: “this too shall pass”. You feel great, you have all the answers: this too shall pass. You feel bad, you feel angry: this too shall pass. "Time is your ally", Tom says: just wait it out.

I thought of this when I cut peonies to display in vases in the house. They are so lovely and the scent is as well, but soon they’re shedding petals on the sill, they’re browning on the hedge. “This too shall pass” ensures that we don’t take some things for granted.

“This too shall pass” when times are hard: take heart, it won’t last forever, God is with you.

“This too shall pass” when times are easy and things are going well: don’t take it for granted, thank God for his provision.

“This too shall pass” when we’re feeling like we know it all, a reminder that humility might benefit us.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to remember that you are with us during the difficult times, and help us to remember to be thankful when things are going well and we feel your blessing. Amen.

Donna Gustafson

Bing Videos

Happy 4th of July!

 

Pass on Great Truths

We are not keeping this to ourselves, we’re passing it on to the next generation—God’s fame and fortune, the marvelous things he has done. Psalm 78:3

That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born who should arise and declare them to their children. Psalm 78:6

Our children and their children will get in on this as the word is passed along from parent to child. Babies not yet conceived will hear the good news. Psalm 22:30-31

The great account of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection, especially, is to be taught forever. Jesus died to save us and give us life forever in heaven.

My grandmother, Bessie Johnson, lived ¼ of a mile away from the farm I grew up on. We saw her often and even lived in her house while our farmhouse was being remodeled. She loved the Lord and worked on many committees and served the Methodist Church of Holdrege, Nebraska faithfully. She even had me prepare a speech one time for a group she belonged to at the church. She hosted our Christmas family gatherings, and all her children and grandchildren came to her house. I was going there even after I was married and had children. Christmas was always honored by scripture and stories on these occasions. And she never was angry at me. She taught me a lot by her manner of life.

My parents, LaVern and Pauline Johnson, were strong advocates of going to church every Sunday, which is what people did on that day. They wanted to worship our Lord and taught me to revere our Lord. Things have changed, especially after the Covid time. Not as many go to church every Sunday in today’s world with sports, work, and other activities, but there are still many ways to pass on the greatness and love of our Lord Jesus Christ to the new generations. Bryce and I choose to go to church, worshipping with others, participating in giving food to the community, and socializing with members. You can choose your own way.

The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:4-5: I thank God for you, Timothy, for your honest faith, handed down from your grandmother Lois to your mother Eunice, and now to you.

God chose you from the beginning to be saved. 2 Thessalonians 2:13

You are a dearly beloved child of God.

Sandra Hilsabeck 

Run to the Lord and be Comforted

Scripture about comfort: 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4

This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. Psalm 119:50

Words from Proverbs

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6