My blog

Category: Life

  • Our country today…

    And he said:

    “The Lord roars from Zion,
    And utters His voice from Jerusalem;
    The pastures of the shepherds mourn,
    And the top of Carmel withers.”

    Amos 1:2

    Let’s look at some background information. Amos is a lesser known book of the Bible and the man, Amos, is one of the minor prophets of the Bible. His name means “burden” or “burden bearer” and he was a man of burden as he delivered prophecies of judgment on the nations surrounding Israel and Israel itself. He lived about ten miles from Jerusalem and Bible scholars have dated his ministry between 750 and 760 BC, at the time of King Uzziah, when the nation of Israel had been divided into two nations for 150 years

    Let’s look at the context of this verse. The first part of this passage deals with God’s judgment. The roar deals with God’s judgment toward the Gentile nations and then toward Judah and Israel. The people of Israel and Judah set up places of worship in other cities. This was a reminder that the true center of worship was Jerusalem. Amos described himself as a sheep raiser which meant he was a shepherd, not in the spiritual sense as Jesus was the great shepherd and he knew if God withheld rain, sent plagues or allowed foreign armies to invade, the land would suffer and the people of the land would suffer. Carmel was a mountain where Isaiah defeated the prophets of Baal. Amos is reminding the people of the Lord’s victory over idolatry.

    So how does this verse correlate to today’s society?

    The U.S. is experiencing a climate of protests and violence in our nation’s cities. The land is mourning with the destruction of buildings and businesses. The U.S. has had to overcome many obstacles from the beginning of the nation until now, but it has overcome those things through the prayers of the people. We live in hope that God will heal our land if we call out to Him.

    What is your prayer for our country today?

     

  • July 4th

    Are we celebrating the birth of a nation or the death of society? It’s hard to tell the difference this year. 

    America celebrates its 244th birthday today.  The fourth of July.  The day the Declaration of Independence was signed by America’s forefathers.  Thinking back on my childhood, Independence Day meant picnics and barbecues, fun and fireworks, and spending time with friends and family.  Articles and television broadcasts covered the valiant struggle to achieve Independence.  But as a child, I focused on the fun aspect of the day and not on the battles or the loss of life. Most, if not all, of those childhood memories, have been shattered by a deadly virus that has claimed the lives of more than 132 thousand people. On the heels of this deadly plague, we have the destruction of property and monuments through protests and violence.

    Focusing on the good times of the past and trying to enjoy the day is a dream when I can’t visit my community’s gorgeous outdoor pool because I need to make an appointment and have a limited time frame for that visit. Do I even want to attempt to schedule a time (if there are any available) or do I just stay home and possibly go see fireworks to have a celebration?

    Most, if not all the firework displays have been canceled.  So that’s out.  But maybe there will be displays on television that I could watch, but it’s not the same. Parks and beaches are closed.  Boat ramps are closed. Many restaurants are closed or are open to half capacity. We’re destined to stay home just as authorities dictated. Nothing is as it was.

    Over fifty years ago, I spent a summer in Europe.  I remember thinking how grateful I was to live in America and couldn’t wait to come home because there were so many conveniences that were lacking. Amenities I missed.  Now I’m wondering if that gratitude was misplaced.

    What happened to the country I love?  Could it be that we’re entering the final phases of an industrial societal collapse?  Based on the 10-year-old, 8,000-word essay by Peter Goodchild, there are 14 parts of the demise of a society. They are interrelated and cascade into one another.

    So what are they? The shortage of fossil fuels, metals, and electricity.  The scarcity of basic life needs such as food and fresh water. The transportation and communication infrastructure crumbles.  Societal relationships in government, education, and labor deteriorate.  Finally, true anarchy forces its way into our lives with crime, cults, craziness, chaos.

    Based on this list, I’d say the United States is well on its way to complete destruction.  But, wait.  Do we want to give up our way of life because research has shown this happened in the Hittite Empire, the Western Roman Empire, the Gupta Empires in India, the Han and Tang dynasties in China, and the Mayans?  Or do we fight like the ancestors this nation fought for a well-earned liberation?

    Our first independence was fraught with the sound of cannons and guns, but I would hope today’s fight would be fought on our knees. I’m but one of the millions who have been praying for our nation, our leaders, and our people. All people.

    I often pray this verse:

    If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  2 Chron 14:7 KJV

    Won’t you join me today and pray for the healing of our land?  It’s the only way.

     

  • Mother’s Day 2020

    Today is Mother’s Day 2020.  It’s a happy, yet sad day.  Many of us cannot give our mothers a hug and a kiss and a pot of flowers or a box of candy because she is in a heavenly place or lives across the country. But those whose mothers live nearby may not have the ability to visit their mother because of COVID-19.  It’s a poignant reminder of what we have lost. While this pandemic has taken its toll on society, we, as a people, can use alternate methods to honor our mothers.

    When I checked Facebook this morning, an array of mother’s photos were posted.  Along with the tribute, the photos tell the stories of each woman. And such lovely women they are!  What an honor to them that their children took the time to scan and post their photos to bless them. I love this aspect of Facebook because we wouldn’t be able to see those lovely photos otherwise, particularly photos of classmates, colleagues’ and other family members mother’s photos. From the 1940s through today, those photos tell the story of each woman’s life.

    My own mother lives ten hours away.  She is housebound now and will be alone all day.  While we will call her and wish her a Happy Mother’s Day, it’s not the same as being in the same room to be able to give her a hug and flowers…in my case, I’d give her a box of candy since she’s not a big fan of fresh flowers because of allergies. This is a photo of her (with the corsage) on the day of her engagement to my father.

    Some years ago, we moved to Germany and missed a U. S. Mother’s Day that year.  But my children planned a surprise 80th birthday for my mother, so I hopped a plane and surprised her for her 80th surprise birthday party.  She thought I was the surprise.  Little did she know that a party had been planned for her with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren along with her sibling.  This is a photo of her upon my arrival and a photo of her at the surprise party. 

    As she ages, she has moments of confusion and forgetfulness and it’s difficult to watch but I’m hoping today will be a good day.

    For all those who are feeling the pain of not being able to hug your mother, I pray for comfort and peace this day.  May your memories of your mother give you a warmth that will keep you for the entire year.

    Those of us fortunate enough to have children and grandchildren. The day is a reminder of the cycle of life and a testimony of the love of family.  My children also live many hours away and this has been the case for many years. I have already heard from one of my children and the smiles and love felt over the phone will never replace the hugs and kisses of being in the same room.  But I know that one day we will be together in heaven and never far away again.

    For all the mothers reading this, I wish you a very blessed Mother’s Day filled with love, happiness, and laughter.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Nostalgic Look at the Past…

    In a little over a week, My husband and I will travel to my hometown for Christmas with my extended family.  This post is not about Christmas, it’s about childhood memories. But not memories of Christmas, memories of summers spent on the grassy banks of Yellow Creek.

    Our little village had a population of about 3,000 people in the 1960s and 1970s and we had no permanent library. From my recollection, the temporary library was housed on the second floor of the Fire Station. Then it moved to the second floor of the village government offices.  That stately building was a civil war era building that was a stop on the underground railroad.  Its history was awe-inspiring. Then the temporary library moved back to the Fire Station until a utilitarian building was built specifically for the library.

    The village library was built on the banks of Yellow Creek across the street from the civil war era building. During the summer, I loved to ride my bike to the new library. I’d check out my favorite books and sat on those grassy banks and listened to the soft sounds of summer while reading Nancy Drew or some other mystery that caught my attention.

    The village and surrounding township that used the library grew exponentially that the original 1960s building was torn down to make way for a new and beautiful library that was more fitting for the architecture of the area.  The original 4.600 square foot building was transformed into a whopping 35,000 plus square foot building that sits in the same location as the original building.

    Because of its size and location, the banks of Yellow Creek overflowed several times and flooded the basement of the new building.  They built a retaining wall to minimize future flooding. Anyone wishing to sit on the banks of Yellow Creek to read, no longer can sit where I sat as a child but there is another area further downstream that the library has for people to read.  There are even benches which is an added bonus.

    The new building is gorgeous and I love to go there when I visit.

    Today, I read books on my mini-Ipad with the lighted back screen. The battery runs out and it has to be charged, but I can download as many books as I want to read without the bulkiness of actual books.  And, there’s no dogeared pages or fun bookmarks, but it works for me today.

    Everything is different but I’ll always have my childhood memories.
    What childhood memories of books and reading flood your mind?

    Front Poland Library
    Front elevation of Poland Library today
    Poland Library Back
    Rear elevation of Poland Library today

    Photos courtesy of Poland Historical Society

     

  • Kings & Kingdoms

    Who is there among you of all his people?  His God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD, God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. Ezra 1:3 NKJV

    Let’s look at the context of this verse. After Israel had three waves of their people exiled to Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Persia held the Jews in captivity for seventy years. In the first two verses of Ezra chapter one, God gave the King of Persia, Cyrus, who followed Nebuchadnezzar, a sense of urgency to put out a proclamation in writing to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.

    Verses 2019 07 08Cyrus was an ancient, cruel and pagan king. It’s interesting to me that this mighty king would proclaim the Jewish God, THE God and then give the Jews the green light to return to Jerusalem and build the temple to their God. This king ultimately allowed the exiled people to return to their homeland. 

    Based on Daniel, Ezra and many other major and minor prophets of the Bible, I believe God puts men and kingdoms in place to bring about His plan. Ezra chapter one verses one and two, tells us this. I believe it has been this way since the beginning of time.

     

  • Wisdom

    11 Then God said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king— 12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.” NKJV

    Let’s talk about the context of these two verses.  From verse 1 to verse 6 of 2 Chronicles chapter 1 God blessed Solomon, and he took the people to the high place (where the people could meet with God) and made special sacrifices to Him. In verse 7, God appears to Solomon and tells him to ask whatever he will.  In verses 8 through 10, Solomon asks for wisdom and knowledge to lead God’s people.

    Solomon asked God not for wealth, health or abundance of any sort but he asked for wisdom.  How wise it was of him to ask God for a trait that he could use to push the nation of Israel to heights no one had ever seen before.  God was exceedingly pleased with the request and not only gave Solomon great wisdom, the likes of which this earth hadn’t seen before him or since but great wealth and favor among the nations.

    Solomon was by no means a perfect man.  There’s only one perfect man, Jesus.  But he wrote practical advice for the ages in the Book of Proverbs.  Even today we quote from that Book.

    My husband and I pray daily, both individually and corporately.  One of our prayers is that God gives us wisdom and favor in all things and with all people like work issues, family, finances, health.  All of it.   And He has been faithful to provide the wisdom and favor we need for the day.

    One day last year my husband called me on the phone from work and said he was having a tough time dealing with a case he had (he’s a network engineer and many times those cases have a complexity that sometimes can be way over not on his head but also his colleagues.)  We had prayed that morning, but this was a special prayer for the specifics of the case.  We took about five minutes to ask the Lord to intervene and give my husband the “eyes” to see the problem to fix it or have His ministering angels intervene and fix it for him.  The wind up was when he got off the phone and went back to work on it, he figured it out, fixed it and the client was happy.  We have scores of stories like that.  Where God answered the prayer for wisdom.  God gives us our needs, not our greeds.  We were specific in the wisdom he needed for the moment and God answered that prayer.

    He truly is a mighty and awesome God.

    How are you gaining wisdom? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

  • Motherhood.

    One hundred and ten years ago, Anne Jarvis held a memorial for her mother at St. Andrew’s Methodist church in Grafton, Virginia. She abhorred the commercialization of the holiday and attempted to have it removed from the calendar in her later years.

    Then in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson, designated the second Sunday in May as a national holiday to honor mothers.
    That proclamation has endured for over a century.

    Today it is celebrated worldwide. Perhaps not on the same day as the United States but celebrated nonetheless. Australia and Canada share the same Mother’s Day as the United State. In the United Kingdom, it’s celebrated three Sundays before Easter.

    It hasn’t just been celebrated in the past hundred years, though. While not a holiday, the ancient Greeks and Romans held festivals in their honor.  These pagan events were the precursor to the early Christian festival known as the “Mothering Sunday”

    Children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren celebrate with their mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers with cards, flowers, chocolates, and gifts. Some give simple handmade cards while others give the more elaborate Hallmark cards. Some give hand-picked bouquets while others give FTD floral arrangements. It doesn’t matter what is given, it’s the idea that mother is remembered and loved.

    Even husbands get into the act by gifting their wives with Mother’s Day cards and flowers for gifting them with beautiful children.
    Each person’s situation is different. You might have lost your mother…whether recently or long ago. Time tempers the loss but the heart still grieves.

    Or you may never have or never will have a close relationship with your mother. It doesn’t matter. There’s a woman in your life who influenced you. Perhaps your grandmother or an aunt. Honor that woman today.

    Mothers, like all humans, are imperfect but they gave us the gift of life. Without them, where would we be? They are a gift from God who can never be replaced regardless of circumstance.

    Honor your mother. Pray for her, near or far. It’s the least…and the most we can do for them. The very best gift of all.

  • Answered Prayer

     

    When I first learned how to pray effectively, I was (and still am) in awe of how God answered prayer.  Sometimes it happened immediately and sometimes He was still working out the answer.  Many times God answered the prayer in an unexpected way.  Not bad, just different from what I had expected.

    I learned early on that there are only three answers to prayer: Yes, No and Wait.  While we rejoice in the yes answers, the no answers don’t keep me down because it only means He has something better for me and those I love.  And the wait…well, that’s the hardest answer to bear, particularly if it’s a crucial need like a physical, financial or emotional need.  And our family has had them over the years.  Big time.

    What’s exciting about it is that I’m in an expectant mood to see how He will answer it.

    Some people think prayer is private and often it should be.  Each person should sit with their creator and work out the details of their lives with Him.  God loves us and He wants to hear from us.  Whether it’s just a few words telling Him about your day or if it’s a more in-depth conversation about life events or personal issues. He wants to hear every detail of our lives, no matter how small.  Remember He has the hairs on your head counted so if that isn’t detailed enough, I don’t know what is.

    Over the years, my husband and I have prayed hundreds of thousands of prayers.  Some corporately and some individually.  But we try to make it a priority every day.  It doesn’t always work out that way but we try.

    Most of the time my prayers start out by giving Him glory. I move on to asking for forgiveness because I know I need it every day.   I then pray for my family and friends’ needs, then my own needs and finally for global issues.  God has been faithful over the years to answer my prayers so I will continue to pray to Him for the needs of my family & friends, church members and worldwide.  Sometimes it’s daunting but I know God has called me to be a prayer warrior so that is what I will do.

    Just this past Sunday we prayed for an individual who had severed a tendon and needed surgery. My husband and I prayed, and we were specific in our prayer: the surgeon would be a believer in Christ, that the surgery would be scheduled quickly and that the recuperation period would be minimal.  The next day, I received an excited call. The surgeon who would do the surgery is, in fact, a believer along with his physician’s assistant and the surgery would happen today.  Specific answers to specific prayers. This morning we prayed for God’s own hands to guide the doctor’s hands and that the surgery would go well without issue.

    I could fill thousands of pages talking about how God answered prayer, sometimes, unbelievable answers!  I try to remind myself on occasions of all the times He was faithful even when I was not.

    These answers to prayer are what I call God Stories.  I pray you have an abundance of your own God Stories.

    Would you share one of your God stories with us and bless someone today?

     

  • Rothenburg ob der Tauber

    It was a glorious spring day despite the chill in the air. The sky was bright blue with no clouds in sight. We traveled to Rothenburg because we had heard of Germany’s “Romantic Road”. The Romantic Road runs north to south for approximately 220 miles and passes through a multitude of gorgeous old towns and cities. Rothenburg is one of the many towns which is more well known and is a very romantic city that dates back to 950 AD. From where we lived this city was about an hour and a half away but there was traffic so it took us longer than we expected to the point and we were stuck in a tunnel, no less!

    There are very few cars in the city because the roads are so small and visitors have to park outside the city walls and walk through one of the many arched gateways. My husband has trouble walking so when we arrived at the Marketplatz (the main market plaza) we took a bicycle tour of the city. It was amazing.

    What impressed me the most were the city walls. I imagined guards walking on top of those walls and keeping watch for those who would attack. While it probably was a dangerous and often bloody time, there’s something about armed guards standing as sentries to protect the weak.

    We wanted to tour the 2,000-meter criminal museum but by the time the bicycle tour was over, we missed the opportunity to see it.

    Visiting unusual cities and then tasting the city’s special food offerings is fun too.  For dinner in a small local restaurant, my husband had a Bavarian specialty called Maultaschen which is sliced rolled pasta with spinach or meat filling and then fried with scrambled eggs.  It doesn’t sound too appetizing, but it was fantastic. I had ham and cheese in a rolled pancake. Unfortunately, I don’t know the name of that dish. Also, very good.

    We then bought some souvenirs: a dish towel for me and a few puzzles for my two-year-old grandson. Spotting a bakery, we purchased two Schneeballen which is a Rothenberg specialty desert.  They are deep-fried balls covered with different toppings. What is amazing about this dish is that they have been producing it for over four hundred years!

    When we left, we took a short ride on the actual Romantic Road which has brown road signs.  The ride took over an hour, and we finally found the freeway to go back home to Stuttgart.

    I would love to go back to Rothenburg ob der Tauber and spend more time in this enchanting city.

    Have you ever been to Rothenburg?  If so, what was your experience?  If not, would you like to go?  What would you like to see?

     

     

  • Locust Destruction!

    For a nation has come up against My land,
    Strong, and without number;
    His teeth are the teeth of a lion,
    And he has the fangs of a fierce lion.  Joel 1:6 NKJV

     

    Let’s look at the context for the book of Joel and today’s verse.  Joel was one of the twelve minor prophets in the Bible.  The Bible doesn’t tell us anything more about him other than his father’s name, Pethuel.  Sometimes the Bible gives the reader enormous detail about certain things and other times, it does not.  If the Bible repeats something many times, it’s important and the reader should note it.

    The first five verses of chapter one of Joel was describing a time in the southern kingdom of Juda where there were locusts devastating the land. He wasn’t announcing the coming judgment of the land but was describing their present state with locusts swarming, then crawling, then consuming.  It was so destructive and massive Joel tells the people to tell their children and their children’s children.

    Today’s verse is also about how this pestilence came across the nation and devoured everything in its path.

    This wasn’t the only instance in Israel’s history where there were swarms of locusts.  In the book of Exodus, we see swarms of locusts when Pharoah would not let the people of Israel leave Egypt.  In 1915 a devastating plague of locusts covered what is modern-day Israel and Syria. The first swarms came in March, in clouds so thick they blocked out the sun. The female locusts immediately began to lay eggs, 100 at a time. Witnesses say that in one square yard, there were 65,000 to 75,000 eggs. In a few weeks, they hatched, and the young locusts resembled large ants. They couldn’t fly yet and got along by hopping. They marched along 400 to 600 feet a day, devouring every speck of vegetation along the way. After two more stages of molting, they became adults who could fly—and the devastation continued.  And we will see, this same devastation in the time of tribulation in the book of Revelation which mirrors the time of Exodus.

    The middle east is not the only place where locust devastation has occurred.  The U.S. had its own devastation back in the 1870s.  Here is a link to a great article on U.S. devastation:  1870s Great Plains Locust Devastation.  Just this year, we see this same devastation in Sardinia and in Africa.

     

    Have you ever seen the devastation from locusts?  If so, can you share your impressions?