Spiritual Fulfillment

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.  John 6:35 

Cathy’s grandfather Coulthurst was a typical British man born in Manchester, England in 1868. He came over to this country in his late teens and settled in San Diego. He was very punctual and very proper. For example, he would be offended if after a very bountiful dinner someone would say, “I am stuffed!” Rather, he would say, “I have had a sufficiency! Any more would be a superfluity!” I laugh at that remark, but there is something very fulfilling about it as well. 

I would have us consider the next time we have the Sacrament of Communion, that we consider the comment Grandpa Coulthurst made. Spiritual fulfillment from Him who is the Bread of Life would satiate everyone’s spiritual appetite. Also in John 6, Jesus fed 5000 and satisfied their physical hunger. Jesus was hoping they would find a deeper hunger satisfaction in the Bread of Life. So may we find sufficiency in the Bread of Life! There would be no superfluity, either! 

Prayer: Eternal Bread of Life, feed us this day with our daily bread needs, but satisfy us with the Bread that does not spoil but has eternal sufficiency for our lives every day.  Amen. 

Rev. Dr. John J. Duling

Weeds

How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7

I am busy pulling my weeds out of my flower beds. Sprayed the darn things and they still pop up in the middle of my struggling flowers. I put down mulch to discourage the weeds but even in those areas they seem to find a way to grow. The weeds in the grass don’t seem too discouraged. I have fertilized my flowers and grass but I think the weeds like it better than my flowers. 

It occurred to me that it is the same in life. We spend so much time angry at the bad things in life. We repeat our disgust in the things we find unacceptable. We tell everyone the unfortunate incidents and events of our life and we forget to share the good. It’s so much easier to see when someone is doing something bad but seldom do we see or tell of the good. Why is it so hard to say thank you and please? 

Maybe next time I will talk to the flowers and thank them for their beauty and encourage them to flourish.  

Prayer: Jesus we pray that we can be more humble and less critical of our daily encounters. We thank you for the beauty, the goodness and caring in the world.  Help us spend more time encouraging, rewarding and inspiring the true accomplishments of others. Remind us to show our appreciation in all that we do.  In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Lori Hood

Great News

The Lord says in Isaiah: I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. Isaiah 13:11

Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Matthew 24:40

There is so much evil in the news today it hard to take it all in. I have heard so many say they cannot listen to the news anymore. It was helpful to know from the words in Isaiah that punishment is the Lord’s work. We only need to be in control of what we do. We can pray and ask God to bring peace to the world and know He is in charge.

The Matthew verse tells us we can be the one taken to heaven as The Henry Morris Study Bible says in its notes about this verse, “His coming—that is, the sudden rapture of believers—is the theme here. The one taken is caught up to be with the Lord, while his fellow worker, and unbeliever, is to endure the tribulation.”

Prayer: Dear Father in Heaven, please help those in Afghanistan who are afraid and hurting. Please be with those in Haiti that have lost family and homes. Help us to be thankful for the homes and country we have. Help us to continue to make it better and stay away from what is evil: wickedness, arrogance, haughtiness, and pride. Give us wisdom to be humble. Help us to believe your truths in the Bible. Amen   

Sandra Hilsabeck

Submit Yourselves to God

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:7-10

Hope and Prayer

I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. Psalm 17:6.

When we are late, often all the lights ahead are red. If you have planned a fun event after a medical appointment, the waiting time will be long but if you have hours to kill the appointment will speed by. Sometimes planning for a long wait, you fortify yourself with a book, crosswords, or a phone. You sit down and they call you in for the appointment.

You cannot expect the unexpected so when it looms on your horizon, you may not be prepared. When the storm rose on the sea, the disciples were not prepared.  Jesus calmed the waters. But still they didn't know who he really was. They expected the sea to be rough but didn't expect that Jesus could solve the problem.  We really don't know what tomorrow brings. Of course we have plans and we always have hope. William Sloane Coffin, Jr writes "For like nothing else in the world, hope arouses passion for the possible".

But along with hope, we also have prayer. Prayer gives us a foundation on which to build our hopes for today and tomorrow. Prayer often builds our faith so when hope dies and the unexpected happens we are sort of prepared.

Prayer: Hope comes hard for me and maybe for others. So dear God, help us to be more open to others and learn from their hopes and prayers. Amen

Carolyn Olsen

A Heart to Volunteer

"Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

My spirit is always wanting to volunteer and help! Whether it be at my kids’ schools, cheerleading, booster parent, or making a friend a meal. God has blessed me with the personality to put myself out there for others without being shy or embarrassed. Most days I do this with a joyful heart! However there are other days when I say out loud "Why did I sign up for this?" or grumble that I don't have the time to help. 

I have learned through the years to only say yes or volunteer when I can be a blessing to others and humble myself to do the tasks with a happy heart. This only comes from asking God to help me serve others with a true joy in my heart! 

Prayer: Dear Lord, please help us to realize our strengths that you have bestowed upon us and use them wisely to be more Christ like. Help us to reflect, recharge, and reconnect where you need us. We want to glorify you and spread your word through our actions. In Your Name - Amen!  

 

Becky Rankin (reprinted from September 2017)

 

Slow Dance

…He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, He leadeth me beside the still waters, He restoreth my soul. Psalm 23

In cleaning out a kitchen drawer last spring, I found this poem.  It really spoke to me, as I have filled my time with many activities and need to heed these words.

                                                SLOW DANCE  

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round

or listened to the rain slapping the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight

or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

 

You better slow down, don’t dance so fast. 

Time is short, the music won’t last.

 

Do you run through each day on the fly

When you ask, “How are you?” do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed

With the next hundred chores running through your head?

 

You’d better slow down, don’t dance so fast.

Time is short, the music won’t last.

 

Ever told your child, “we’ll do it tomorrow”

And in your haste, not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die

“Cause you never had time to call and say “Hi”?

You’d better slow down, don’t dance so fast.

Time is short, the music won’t last.

 

When you run so fast to get somewhere

You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,

It’s like an unopened gift ….thrown away.

Life’s not a race.  Do take it slower. 

Hear the music before the song is over.

Prayer:  Dear Lord, help us to take the time to slow down and enjoy the many blessings you have given us. Help us to spend more time walking, loving and caring, and less time running and hurrying without noticing those around us. Let us spend more time talking with you and less time talking on our “devices”. We pray that all of us may have quiet time “by the still waters”. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Carolyn Brandle (reprinted from September 2017)

 

Jesus Loves Me, This I Know

Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. Daniel 12:2-3

What we do when we don't realize we are doing it will come back to us as we reap what we sow. I had two instances this week of sowing the good news about Jesus without even knowing it.

1. My little sister told me I was the first person to tell her Jesus will come back. I said, "What, I didn't know that." She said, "We were west of the corral, west of the tree patch and just east of the little ditch that ran through our pasture. We were riding on our horse 'Queenie' and bringing the cattle home. I was riding behind you and holding onto you as we gathered up the cattle. We saw the most beautiful sunset. You pointed it out to me and said to me that must be how it will look when Jesus comes back."

2.  I went to see our two-year-old twin great grandsons last fall and opened the piano to find the music to "Jesus Loves Me." I immediately sat down, put the twins up beside me and started playing and singing this favorite song of mine. Now, in April, my daughter sent me a Facetime video of them playing the keys and singing "Jesus Loves Me." I asked my daughter where they learned that song. She said they learned it from me! How could they remember that from six months ago? Then Colton came onto the Facetime screen and asked if I could come to Kansas City tomorrow and play and sing it with them again. I won't be able to drive there because of a snow storm and Covid 19; but I sure would have if I could have. Their singing warmed my heart and I am sure Jesus heard it too.

Prayer: Dear Lord, please continue to remind us that we are being listened to even when we do not know it. Thank you for showing me that I had spread some of your light and righteousness. Thank you for the sunsets and for the beautiful songs that you have given me to pass along. Amen.

Sandra Hilsabeck (reprinted from May 2020)

Words from Isaiah

 The desert and the parched land will be glad;

    the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.

Like the crocus,  it will burst into bloom;

    it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.

The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,

    the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;

they will see the glory of the Lord,

    the splendor of our God.

 

 Strengthen the feeble hands,

    steady the knees that give way;

 say to those with fearful hearts,

    “Be strong, do not fear;

your God will come,

    he will come with vengeance;

with divine retribution

    he will come to save you.”

 

 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened

    and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

 Then will the lame leap like a deer,

    and the mute tongue shout for joy.

Water will gush forth in the wilderness

    and streams in the desert.

 The burning sand will become a pool,

    the thirsty ground bubbling springs.

In the haunts where jackals once lay,

    grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

 

 And a highway will be there;

    it will be called the Way of Holiness;

    it will be for those who walk on that Way.

The unclean will not journey on it;

    wicked fools will not go about on it.

 No lion will be there,

    nor any ravenous beast;

    they will not be found there.

But only the redeemed will walk there,

     and those the Lord has rescued will return.

They will enter Zion with singing;

    everlasting joy will crown their heads.

Gladness and joy will overtake them,

    and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 35

Sing for Joy

 

  But now listen, Jacob, my servant,

    Israel, whom I have chosen.

This is what the Lord says—

    he who made you, who formed you in the womb,

    and who will help you:

Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant,

    Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.

For I will pour water on the thirsty land,

    and streams on the dry ground;

I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,

    and my blessing on your descendants.

They will spring up like grass in a meadow,

    like poplar trees by flowing streams.

Some will say, ‘I belong to the Lord’;

    others will call themselves by the name of Jacob;

still others will write on their hand, ‘The Lord’s,’

    and will take the name Israel.

Remember these things, Jacob,

    for you, Israel, are my servant.

I have made you, you are my servant;

    Israel, I will not forget you.

I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,

    your sins like the morning mist.

Return to me,

    for I have redeemed you.”

 

Sing for joy, you heavens, for the Lord has done this;

    shout aloud, you earth beneath.

Burst into song, you mountains,

    you forests and all your trees,

for the Lord has redeemed Jacob,

    he displays his glory in Israel. Isaiah 44: 1-5; 21-23

Psalm 146

 

Praise the Lord, my soul.

 I will praise the Lord all my life;

    I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

Do not put your trust in princes,

    in human beings, who cannot save.

When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;

    on that very day their plans come to nothing.

Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,

    whose hope is in the Lord their God.

 

He is the Maker of heaven and earth,

    the sea, and everything in them—

    he remains faithful forever.

He upholds the cause of the oppressed

    and gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets prisoners free,

     the Lord gives sight to the blind,

the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,

    the Lord loves the righteous.

The Lord watches over the foreigner

    and sustains the fatherless and the widow,

    but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

 

The Lord reigns forever,

    your God, O Zion, for all generations. 

Praise the Lord. Psalm 146

The Cedars of Lebanon

And so I purpose to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord said to David my father, ‘your son, whom I will set upon your throne in your place, shall build the house of my name.’ Now therefore command that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. I Kings 5: 5-6

I enjoy visiting old cemeteries, especially old prairie cemeteries. They frequently have remnants of prairie grasses and flowers (like pussy toes in the spring) and the old fragrant varieties of garden flowers like peonies, lilacs, and bridal wreath that were planted long ago. They often tell a story of the early settlers in the area and travelers along the trails headed west. One thing they almost all have in common is that there are cedars trees planted there. The pioneers planted their own “cedars of Lebanon” like in the Bible in memory of their loved ones.

Pastor Melodie last week mentioned the cedars that were used to build Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem. These were very different from the scrappy cedar trees that invade and try to take over our rancher’s pastures. The cedars of Lebanon were the most famous trees in all antiquity. Their wood was prized and sought after by Pharaohs, kings, and rulers. These cedars defined the economy of Lebanon and were cut from the dense forests of the snowcapped peaks of the mountains. They were then transported to western coastal cities and loaded on Phoenician ships and shipped throughout the world. Sometimes they were tied together in rafts and floated along in the sea. One reference in the Bible states that God planted these trees and they were carefully protected from being totally harvested. A remnant of this forest remains in the mountains of Lebanon.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the beauty of trees. Like the cedars of Lebanon, help us to appreciate all that trees provide —the shade, the fruit, the lumber, the nuts, the homes to numerous animals, and the glory of the changing colors of the leaves through the seasons. Help us be good stewards to the earth—recognizing the glory that you have given us in trees. Amen

Nancy Hall

Words from Colossians

 

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:1-4; 12-17

The Tongue

But no one can tame the tongue-a restless evil, full of deadly poison. James 3:8

Someone recently said the following in a conversation. The tongue has no bones, but is strong enough to break a heart. So be careful with your words.

Harsh words said by one human to another stirs up anger and hurt. It can cause a real rift.  The dictionary says that a rift is a breach in friendly relations between people or in the unity of a group.

Think back and remember a time when someone did not control their tongue when talking to you or you observed this happening.  Remember your hurt or watched someone being hurt.  Can you remember a time when you did not control your tongue in a situation and you hurt someone?  Think about controlling your tongue and the words that break a heart.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Help me remember not to use harsh words aimed at others- tame my tongue and not hurt others.  Amen

Susan Taylor (reprinted from November 2017)

Clearing Out the Closets

To humans belong the plans of the heart,  but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue. All a person’s ways seem pure to them,  but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do,  and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16

Normally in spring time people began to clear out their closets and do their spring cleaning. Garage sales of all different sizes begin to pop up. It is always said that someone else’s junk is someone else’s treasure. Who doesn’t like a bargain? Many have grown up with hand-me-down clothes; one child outgrows it and if it’s still in good condition the younger child gets a new wardrobe.  

How many times have you cleared out your junk occupying your mind and time?  Have you let so many projects consume your time and efforts that you are not available for praying, meditation, or reflection?

Maybe something that you no longer enjoy doing, but you just don’t know who would be available to take over the project. Maybe someone else doesn’t know that you would be willing to let them take charge of the project. Maybe it’s something that is outdated and needs to be discontinued. 

It might just be a time to prioritize your goals. Have you felt a calling to help with Sunday school, clean up the church, or participate in a church service?  

Prayer: Father, forgive us for not allowing the changes that you place before us.  Forgive us for occupying our minds with goals and tasks that lead us astray from your plan. Forgive us for not realizing everything will be okay if we just trust and obey in your words. Guide us back to living a life in your love. In Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

Lori Hood

God Made the Heavens

Bless the LORD, O my soul, O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain. Psalm 104:1-2

Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot, who walketh upon the wings of the wind. Psalm 104:3

He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. Psalm 104:19

It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers, that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in. Isaiah 40:22

Not only do we need to look at Psalms 104:1-9 to see that God made the world, He went even higher as he made the heavens, the sun for light, the moon, the clouds, and the wind. He gave us those as a place to dwell in.

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, thank you for the space you created for us to live in. You even gave us clouds to give us rain to water our crops and sun to make them grow so we can have food. Thank you for the farmers that work with the sun, the land, the wind, and the rain to provide food for us. Amen.

Sandra Hilsabeck

Friends

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

Once I had a friend who could play Scrabble while she stitched.  She could also answer questions while doing the two of these things. I had another friend who insisted that I join her in water aerobics. In order to make sure I went, she was at my house each morning at 10 minutes of 8. I made a lot of friends and continue to go 21 years later. I also had a friend who would call and give me all the news of our other friends, never mentioning that her feet and legs were so swollen that she could hardly walk. She suffered from congestive heart failure.

Another friend lived to be 101. At 87, when she told me she was having her shoulder replaced, I questioned the wisdom of that surgery. She replied, if I don't have it replaced, I won't be able to work in my roses, and besides my mother lived to be 103. End of discussion.

I had a mother who "loved" the one she was near, but tried to be fair in her treatment of all of us. I have many friends who mourn the loss of a spouse or child but still manage to live full lives giving to many around them. 

All of these friends and family have one thing in common. They love the Lord with all their heart and certainly give of that love to all and each of their friends. Who are your friends? Are they near to you or far away? Do you speak or interact with them each day or only once in a while? Have you made a new friend? How and when did you do that?  Do you even want to?  Are you needed by someone or do you need someone?

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to think of others, to reach out to ones around us.  Remember there is no greater love than this!  Amen

Carolyn Olsen

God Made the World

God saw all that he had made and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. Genesis 1:31

For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it. Exodus 20:11

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. Genesis 2:3

We have seen a lot of changes in our world. The computers, the microwave ovens and many more items were not available when the seniors of today were children. Even television was invented during my lifetime. Cell phones became popular long after television.

Yet I am amazed that God made the world and man in such a way that we could continue to discover what he put before us. There will be more new items each year. Have you thought about the fact that God made the week which the world still uses in the year 2021? And Sunday is a holy day when Christians worship. When I was a child, most stores were closed on Sunday.

It is also interesting to me that the world counted downwards before Jesus, the Son of God, was birthed by Mary. Since that time the world counts upwards from 1 to 2021. Jesus only lived for about 30 years but changed the world.

I can see God’s part in creation when I see a seed I plant turn into an exquisite flower. Look at and admire the leaves, the petals and the stamen. Then think how he makes humans with unbelievable brains.

Prayer: Dear father in heaven, thank you that we can discover new things about the world you created. Thank you for keeping the days and the nights the same. Thank you for keeping the seasons the same. Thank you for giving us the same number of hours in each day. We can trust you. Amen  

Sandra Hilsabeck                              

 

A New Perspective

And God said, “Behold I have given you every plant yielding seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.”  And it was so. Genesis 1:29-30  

For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease. Though its root grows old in the earth, and its stump dies in the ground, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth branches like a young plant. Job 14:7

Each year our family looks forward to gathering for a week in Minnesota in the Canadian Boundary Waters. The historical camp where we stay features log and stone cabins, a big clear lake, fishing, boating, beautiful sunsets, and all the glory of the Superior National Forest. There are no outside world distractions. But this summer was different. The area was in severe drought. It had been a dry winter with little snowfall, the huge lake was down at least 2 feet, and a cloudy haze fell over the waters. There were 143 forest fires burning in Minnesota and Canada. Several were close to our camp. While in town, we passed numerous firefighting groups from the US Forest Service and neighboring states. We watched as helicopters and pontoon planes flew over our lake on fire scouting missions as well as hauling water to dump on the fires. There were no pretty sunsets, no evening campfires, the air left an acid taste in your mouth, and those with allergies suffered. A normal deep and cold lake felt warm, and the fishing was poor. I could not help but think that global warming was striking this beautiful place and that it would continue to dominate it for the future unless things changed.

In Genesis, God gives us all of nature. It is up to us to preserve it. Think about the trees, the birds, the lakes, the wildlife, the wildflowers and the beauty of the earth. Pray for those brave firefighters who willingly work to save the forests and the towns. Check the internet for “Ten ways you can fight global warming”. Consider the ways you can change to help save our planet.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you have given us more than we can ever thank you for. Help us as we try to turn things around and return the glory of nature before it is too late. Give us the strength to change, to challenge our ways of thinking about our resources, and to glorify you in everything we do. Amen

Nancy Hall

God Poured It

Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment; who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire; Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed forever. Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou has founded for them. Psalm 104:1-9

In this age of fear, I take comfort in knowing God controls where the water goes, and He promised to never flood the earth again after the great flood of Noah’s time.

This is condensed of a story in the new June/July 2021 copy of Guideposts called Childlike Wonder. The mother is busy running errands by Lake Michigan. Something made her glance in the rearview mirror; she heard her younger daughter who was pointing at the lake say, “Who poured that?” The water went as far as one could see. The mother said, “God did.” They didn’t ask any more questions. The story says, “I felt a wave of satisfaction and assurance, and, yes, even pride. Somehow in all the messiness of everyday life, I had instilled in my girls enough faith to understand the simple response, ‘God did,’. I silently gave thanks for the reminder to slow down and take in the wonders all around me—from the Great Lake to my growing girls.”

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, please remind us every day that you made the earth for us to live on and that you are in control. You keep the sun shining and the night coming. You keep the seasons on schedule. You keep the temperature at the level we need it to live and are listening to our prayers. If we need to be more protective of Your world, please guide us to do our part in conjunction with Your mighty hand. Amen.

Sandra Hilsabeck

Words from Matthew 8

 

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? Matthew 8:34-37

A God Who Watches Over Us

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. Psalm 20:4

Vacation. With family. And extended family. And friends we only see once a year.  Our annual trek to the Northwoods with our boat has had its share of bad luck; a great uncle diagnosed with terminal cancer, a dog bite, a broken elbow, a broken foot, a great uncle diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gering’s disease), a terrible storm, a broken windshield, a damaged boat, a torn hamstring, another broken foot.  Even though we experience these misadventures we always go back for time with family and to disconnect from all the electronic interference in our lives. 

This year we had a rash of bad luck with tires. We had a low tire on the car on the way up, which developed into an unrepairable flat that had to be replaced in a different town 2 hours away. Some of the people that we were with felt bad that we had to experience these things.  But I felt lucky. Our car tire didn’t have to be replaced until after we arrived. We drove through several storms on the way up and we didn’t blow a tire or end up stranded on the side of the road. Even though we were inconvenienced we were safe and we made it to the lake. Waiting for AAA in a safe place with a book and nice cup of coffee beats being stranded among semi’s barreling down the road at 80 miles an hour every day of the week. 

On the way home we stopped for lunch and noticed that one of our boat trailer tires looked funny, on further examination we had lost at least 6 of the 10 layers of tread on the tire. We called AAA again. Even though we were frustrated (and, ok, annoyed) that it took them 3 times as long as they estimated to arrive, again, we were safe. We noticed the issue when we stopped at a safe place. We had access to air conditioning, bathrooms and an ice cream cone (if we needed one).  We weren’t stuck along the road, we didn’t blow a tire, our vehicle and boat were not damaged and we were not injured in anyway.

As we experienced these inconveniences I had to thank God for watching over and blessing us.  Even though this wasn’t ideal the other scenarios were so much worse.  We needed a break and we love where we go. These problems along the way didn’t destroy our vacation. Didn’t harm our family. Didn’t irreparably damage material possessions.  We were able to get what we needed, with a few unexpected delays along the way. 

Prayer: God who watches over and protects us, thank you for recognizing my hearts desires, thank you for protecting us on our journey. Amen   

Christi Moock