The Presence of Wonder

October is a wonderful time to watch in wonder for the beauty of the season.

In Ohio, the shades of autumn are painting the trees.

Cool breezes are awakening the mornings.

Dashes of orange are decorating porches and fields.

Seek the wonder of the season and enjoy God's gift of fall.

 

She Gets It

Joshua 1:7-8
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. -Corrie Ten Boom

Our youngest granddaughter had to have oral surgery. When you're nine years old and have nothing to compare the experience to, you have a bit of fear and anxiety. A beautiful thing happened to her. After school, one of her teachers and her principal prayed with her, on the day before the surgery. That evening, I ate dinner with her and her family and she prayed over the meal and asked God to make everything go well for her during surgery. My heart danced a happy dance. That little nine-year-old gets it. She placed her fear in God's hands.

Our ministers are preaching a series this month that focuses on Joshua called "Be Strong and Courageous." God told Joshua multiple times to be strong and courageous. In Joshua 7, He called him to be strong and very courageous." Take it up a notch Joshua and step out on faith.

Courage isn't the absence of fear, but the choice to trust God with the future. He calls all of us to step out and have faith in Him and in the future He's planned for us. He asked Joshua to keep the Book of the Law on His lips. For us, He wants us to have the word of God in our hearts. I'm no Bible scholar. There's so much I don't understand, but I cling to the verses that encourage and give me strength and courage.

Trust in God for the future, be strong and courageous.

Nature is a Witness

Autumn is a wonderful time of year. 

Cooler temperatures and changing colors

remind me to step outside and enjoy the beauty of God's creation.

Orange and teal pumpkins, purple and yellow blooms, reds, golds, and oranges

on the trees and in the sky trumpet the glorious hues of fall. 

Nature is a witness to the amazing miracles of God.

 

Stand Up And Cheer

Psalm 86:12
I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.

The standing ovation stopped the game.

On Sunday, Maggie and I attended the last home game of the Cincinnati Reds. Tim worked as an usher, and we met some of the regulars in his section. The Reds have had a good season and have been fun to watch. They've added new players to the roster and have one outstanding player who has hung with the Reds for seventeen years.

When Joey Votto appeared on the field for his first at bat, the crowd rose to their feet, clapped, cheered, and may have cried a little. This player has been with the Reds his entire major league career. At the end of this season, his contract is finished. As fans, we don't know if he will return, so our response was to show appreciation for all he has done for the team. When all the fans rose to their feet and applauded, the energy shook the atmosphere. It was fun to be a part of his recognition and to see the humbleness of this faithful player.

I wonder what it would have been like for Jesus if people had reacted to Him that way. If those closest to Him and those who met Him realized He was the Son of God, would they have loved Him more, or praised Him as one worthy of praise? From the scripture, it appears Jesus' humbleness would have stopped any outcry or ovation, but no one is more deserving.

The times I think about what Jesus has done for me, how He has carried my burdens and sin on His shoulders, I thank Him and praise Him. Do I do this often enough? Probably not. Praise doesn't have to wait for a Sunday church service.

 Praise the One who gave His life for yours—every day. He deserves the glory.

Historical Fiction: Against the Wind by Amanda Cabot

Doctor-in-training Louisa Vaughn has no intention of remaining in Sweetwater Crossing. She's just there for a few days to help a friend. But she can't abandon the injured man she finds at the side of the road. Until his broken leg heals, she'll serve as the town's doctor and midwife. She may not be fully qualified yet, but surely she's better than nothing.

Josh Porter's plans to win his grandfather's challenge and fulfill his father's final wish to gain full control of the family business hit a roadblock when he breaks his leg. But his enforced stay in Sweetwater Crossing gives him new ideas about the expansion of the company into new territory--ideas Louisa could help turn into reality.

If only the town were more accepting of Louisa's talents! Someone is determined to convince her to abandon her dream of healing others. Can Josh help her uncover the person behind the threats before it's too late? And is there any future for them together when neither of them plans to stay?

My Review:
I have enjoyed several Amanda Cabot books. This one included. In Against the Wind, the author returns to Sweetwater Crossing where book one left off. In book two, Louisa returns with no intention of staying until she finds a man by the road who needs help. Josh Porter finds himself in this small town, a thousand miles from home, unable to take care of himself. I love the tenacity of Louisa and her caring and determined heart. She wants so much to be accepted as a doctor in the small town, but fights against the opinions of others and some tragic events. Josh wants to please his grandfather, but he's not sure it's the best path for his life. With a strong faith thread, the two discover life is filled with surprises, struggles, and difficult decisions. I enjoyed the story and the characters. I received a free copy with no expectations, and opinions are my own.

A Heart that Listens

"To be kind is more important than to be right. 

Many times what people need is not a brilliant mind that speaks,

but a special heart that listens."

-F. Scott Fitzgerald.

This past week was a crazy, busy week for my granddaughter,

who is a senior this year. 

Dilly and her best friend, Emma, 

competed in and celebrated their fantastic tennis season.

Nominated for homecoming queen, Dilly 

got to ride in a cool Jeep Willy truck in the parade 

and be part of the half-time events at the football game.

As proud as I am of her accomplishments,

I love this beautiful young lady's kind heart even more.

She bought me a charm not long ago that said, 

"Kind people are my kind of people." 

That is true, and they're Dilly's people too. 

She's one of the kindest people I know.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other,

 just as in Christ God forgave you. -Ephesians 1:32

 

Worthy Words

 Jeremiah 15:19-20

Therefore this is what the Lord says:

“If you repent, I will restore you
    that you may serve me;
if you utter worthy, not worthless, words,
    you will be my spokesman.
Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.
I will make you a wall to this people,
    a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you
    but will not overcome you,
for I am with you
    to rescue and save you,”
declares the Lord.

As I live in this world and see more and more disregard for God, my heart breaks.

In my daughter, Sara's, first grade class, she spends a lot of time teaching her students how to read. The children learn the sounds the letters make and how they form words. If you know anything about the English language, you know there are many words that don’t follow the rules. Sara teaches those words as heart words, in other words they must be learned by heart.

I've been reading the book of Jeremiah. Much of what I've read shows God's anger toward Jerusalem and Judah. The people have turned from Him and are worshipping idols and turning their backs on God. Jeremiah begs God not to destroy the people of Israel, but to give them another chance.

In chapter 15, Jeremiah asks God to spare him. He is a prophet who is trying to turn the people around and help them get back to loving and worshipping God. In his distress and longing to be rescued, God tells him if he repents, He will restore him. The next part caught my attention. When God said, "if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman."

That verse hit me over the head. God gave me an amazing means to communicate. He not only created humans, but he gave us language so we can share our ideas, thoughts, and wisdom.

Words can be beautiful, helpful, uplifting, and filled with compassion. They can also be mean, detrimental, and hurtful.

God called Jeremiah to speak words worthy of God. As a follower and believer in the One who created life, I want to choose words that encourage and praise, words that instruct and uplift, and words that draw people to God.

As I think of the little ones learning new words, I'm reminded to speak to a child in a way that encourages and instructs, not with harshness and hurt.

Speak in a way other people know you love God.