Refreshed

 

     Friday was a day to refresh my soul. My 70^th birthday party was filled with my favorite people in the world. A room filled with music, food, family, life-long friends and loved ones. It was an overwhelming blessing for me, a time to savor and treasure forever. Jesus refreshes our souls, wipes us clean, teaches us throughout our lives and gives us rest.

     Let today be a day to refresh your weariness, to think about the gifts we have been given, to savor the people in our lives and to glory in the creation surrounding us. If you have time, soak up some of God’s words today. They will fill you with just what you need.

Repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Acts 3:19

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. Psalm 19:7

I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. Jeremiah 31:25

Lord,

Refresh our souls with Your words. Refresh our hearts with Your love. Refresh our weary bodies with Your strength. You are everything.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Into Old Age

 

     Along with my husband, many of our friends have retired. What’s next? Do we put our feet up, sit on a beach and indulge ourselves for our remaining years? It’s a tricky question. Certainly, God has placed enjoyment and pleasure in His creation. The warm sunshine, good friends, refreshment and relaxation.

     On the other hand, He never tells us to retire from His service. He has purpose for our lives until He takes us home. What is He asking you to do? Moses did not lead his people out of Egypt until he was 80 years old. Abraham and Sarah had Isaac in their 90’s. Caleb was just as strong at 85 as he was when he began serving God as a young man. John was given the revelation of Christ when he was well over 90.

     No matter what we do, no matter where we land, He gives us the ability to encourage, to share, to teach, to serve, to show mercy, to gain knowledge, and to love. What an adventure! We have only just begun.

They will still bear fruit in old age; they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright. He is my Rock and there is no wickedness in Him.” Psalm 92:14-15

Father,

We want to bear fruit at every age. Give us purpose and opportunities until we walk through heaven’s door. Give us more and more love to share.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

 

Gilfted With Grace

 

     Just as the baby boomers of South Minneapolis are united in our shared memories of times and places, of friends and memories, so, too, are we united in prayer as followers of Jesus.

     Our prayers are powerful. Our prayers are heard. Our prayers rise to the throne room of heaven, as we pray for each other and our country. Our prayers are needed and they are heeded.

     You are gifted by God, for this time and for this season. Use your personality, your natural talents, your spiritual gifts to make a difference. There is only one you. And together, we are turning things around. God uses us for His purposes with His perfect timing.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. Ephesians 4:7

     Gifted with God’s grace for such a time as this, united in faith, each serving in our own unique way.

Lord,

Show us how and where to make a difference for You in the short time we have on this earth. Guide us to show Your love to others and to keep encouraging each other.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Happily Ever After

 

     I have been honored and blessed to have my husband in my life for 40 years. He has put up with my blindness, my weaknesses, my quirks and with the complete opposite parts of our personalities for a long time. He continues to be my safe and happy place in this crazy world, my earthly happily-ever-after.

     Together, we are moving into what, not that long ago, we considered, “old age.” The cremation plans have been made and paid for and we have given our daughters instructions. The joints are beginning to ache and we are appreciating the blessings of each and every day as we have said our earthly goodbyes to so many we love.   

     My husband loves the movie, “The Great Escape,” starring Steve McQueen. As the prisoners in this movie worked to escape the prison walls, they slowly dug a hole through the floor of their cell.  Little by little, they placed the dug-up dirt in their pants legs and slowly let it out in the prison yard. Since my husband knows Lake Nokomis continues to be a special place for me, he said he could do the same with my ashes if I am the first to go home to heaven. I’m down with that!

     After our earthly deaths, we will be in our ultimate happy places forever. In fact, Jesus tells us he is preparing a place just for us! Maybe my mansion will include a lake and, hopefully, a palm tree or two.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me. My Father’s house has many mansions. If it were not so, would I have told you I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me where I am." John 14:2-3

     Our earthly bodies will wear out, but our eternal bodies will be ours forever in a place meant just for us, our happy place, our eternal home.

Jesus,

Thank You for preparing the perfect spot for each of us. There are days we can’t wait to be with You. In the meantime, keep us focused on what is important to You.

Amen

Our Happy Place

 

     It’s been a heartbreaking time in our country and world lately.  I wrote these blogs several years ago. Join me in remembering your own happy places and the people you love and have loved this week.

     Do you have a happy place or two? Our home is one for me, any place with family and friends and Lake Nokomis. Lake Nokomis is a happy place for many of us from South Minneapolis, a place filled with sweet moments, with shared memories, over the decades. The husband of my best friend died several years ago and she and her family spent the weekend at his happy place, a cabin in the woods to celebrate his birthday. All of our happy places fill our hearts with memories.

     That same best friend came to my door the day after my dad died at age 14. We walked around Lake Nokomis together, neither of us saying a word.  Such a great friend, who knew just what I needed.

     Think about the places that have and continue to bring smiles and comfort, that inspire your heart. The best place to find true happiness is anywhere spent with Jesus. His joy, His presence, run deeper than any place or circumstance experienced throughout our lives.

     His joy is available no matter our mood, no matter the time, no matter the suffering, no matter the place.  His love penetrates beyond “happenstance.”  Happiness often depends on our feelings and on what is happening around us, rather than our spirit-deep truth.

     Let Jesus remain as your go-to happy place. Recognize what He offers in your life. Give Him your thoughts and your feelings and your hopes and dreams, your sadness, your blessings, let it all out. This happy place, surrounded by His love, will become as real as the best memories in your past, the happiest moments in your present, and the dreams for the future.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

But may the righteous rejoice and be glad and rejoice before God. May they be happy and joyful. Psalm 68:3

Lord,

Your joy is our strength. Thank You for the happy places, the happy times, the happy memories You have given us. You remain our true joy.

In Jesus name,

Amen

God's Word

 

     Here is a quote I came across about the Bible: “The Scriptures are shallow enough for a babe to come and drink without fear of drowning and  deep enough for theologians to swim in without ever touching the bottom.”  Have you been swimming in God’s word lately? I love the ways God teaches us. A Scripture read hundreds of times will suddenly jump off the page with new meaning. A Scripture meant just for you and me will keep coming up at a time we need it most.

     The word of God is powerful. It represents Jesus from cover to cover. The longest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 119 and it is all about the word of God. This Psalm reminds us to keep the word in our hearts, to delight in it, to draw wisdom from it, to know God through it.

 You are my refuge and my shield. I have put my hope in your word. Psalm 119:114

Turn to me and have mercy on me as You always do to those who love Your name. Psalm 119:132

     God has changed me through the Bible. He has confronted me, loved me, given me peace and filled me with deep joy. Sink yourself into its depths. There is no end to the glory and grace it will bestow.

 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joint and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Lord,

Today we thank You for the Bible. Keep us on Your path as the world goes astray. Keep us focused as we continue to dive into Your word and its depths.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Eternal Joy

 

     Did you grow up in church? I did. Every Sunday we would use part of Psalm 51 as a doxology, as a blessing. Maybe you recognize the words. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized these words came straight from the Bible.

Create in me a clean heart O’ God and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy or Your salvation and uphold me with Your free spirit. Psalm 51:10-12

     I did not comprehend the depth of these words or the joy of my salvation until I was well into my 30’s. Knowing Jesus, knowing we need not fear death, understanding His presence, gives us the ability to let our souls and spirits be truly free. That freedom gives us confidence in the choices we make. It gives us the ability to abide in His peace and joy. Listen to these words from another Psalm and do not be shaken.

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore, my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices. My body will also rest secure because You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will You let Your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life. You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand. Psalm 16:8-11

     Eternity awaits. In the meantime, rest in His presence. Soar free in His Spirit.

Lord,

Thank you for the life of Charlie Kirk. He served you well in his short life.  Comfort his beautiful family and all who loved him with Your eternal hope. We thank You for the words that guide us, for the depth of what it means to follow Jesus. Keep our focus on Jesus forever.

Amen