Understanding Currency: Thirty Pieces of Silver

 

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 106: Today, I am grateful for understanding the currency of "thirty pieces of silver."

Traveling outside of the United States can mean investigating a different currency. The conversion charts can be confusing. It is important to understand the value when doing the translation. 

Today is Wednesday of Holy Week. It is the day Judas cut a deal. For 30 pieces of silver he betrayed Jesus. 

"Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him." -Matthew 26:14-16

I found this quote from "The Woman By The Well." It is a powerful perspective, clarification, and confrontation of our very real struggles with sin. 

"For Judas it was greed, for many it is lust, for some it's laziness and for others it is jealousy, anger, and pride. But the sin you refuse to depart from is your thirty pieces of silver. The more you're entertaining that sin, the more you're trading them for Jesus."

It is easy to look down with condemnation for Judas.  He is the worst of "bad guys." He betrayed a friend. He betrayed the Son of God all for thirty pieces of silver. Personal wealth was more important than Jesus.  

When we look in the mirror, what currency are we willing to trade for Jesus? Before we condemn Judas, a little self-reflection is good.  

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight." -Ephesians 1:7-8

Today, I am grateful for understanding the currency of "thirty pieces of silver."

Holy Week

 

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 105: Today, I am grateful for Holy Week.

Holy Week is a time of remembering the gift, the purpose, the sacrifice, the forgiveness, and the resurrection of Jesus. So much can happen in one week. What was meant to be an end to Jesus's teaching and the disruption to "the norm" was really a new beginning. 

In Matthew 26:1, Jesus tells the disciples exactly what is about to happen.

"When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, "You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”

After Sunday's entrance into Jerusalem with palms waving and loud "Hosannas" filling the air, Friday seemed so far away. The disciples did not understand what He was telling them. The disciples had witnessed so many miracles. They had been a part of them. They knew Jesus, but somehow could not see the prophecies unfolding before their eyes. 

How many times are we like that? Do we miss prophecy being fulfilled? Do we not recognize what is unfolding before us?

Holy Week takes us back to the heartbeat of the gospel. It was the unfolding of the many prophecies. Psalm 22 always makes me say, "Wow!" Did anyone recite as they watched Jesus submit to the will of the Father on the cross for our reconciliation? 

May your Holy Week reminders fill your heart with wonder, love, and gratitude. What was meant for harm and destruction brought new life. 

Today, I am grateful for Holy Week.

Clean, Running Water

 

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 104: Today, I am grateful for clean, running water. 

For us, what seems so ordinary is a luxury in other places. Clean, running water is a blessing we take for granted everyday. 

Water is essential to life. Many across the world suffer from a lack of water. Some have water, but it is not clean. We take it for granted every day. 

Imagine needing to boil water to make it safe or having to go to a well or a spring to draw water for ordinary chores. It is one thing to do something for a week or in an emergency, but for some it is a daily chore. 

I cannot help but think of Moses during the forty years in the desert. God provided what needed in every way, including water from a rock. 

"Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” - Exodus 17:6

In the beginning, they recognized the miracle. How long was it before they took the running water for granted.

Enjoy your clean, hot water for showering today and your clean, cool water for drinking. 

Today, I am grateful for clean, running water. 

"God Provided the Lamb"

 

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 103: Today, I am grateful God provided the lamb. 

It is Palm Sunday. Today, we remember Jesus entering Jerusalem on an unridden donkey as the people shouted, "Hosanna!" while waving Palm Branches.  Let "Holy Week" begin.

A recent devotional pointed out the many parallels in Genesis 22 to the birth, redemption/sacrifice, and sparring/resurrection of Isaac/Jesus. From the donkey, the son carrying the wood for the sacrifice, and God providing "the lamb", there are powerful parallels. At least 30 of them that I have seen noted. 

Did you know that they both happened on Mt. Moriah? What are the odds statistically? So many years from a promise... a covenant... to fulfillment. 

Abraham believed in the power of God to resurrect the dead. God has the power to resurrect the dead. His faith was big, bold, and God provided a way. 

"So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” -Genesis 22:14

For the father, Abraham, who did not withhold his son, God provided the lamb. For the Heavenly Father, who provided the lamb, he did not spare his son. Abraham became the father of many nations, and Jesus made a way for all nations to come to the Father as his children... joint heirs with Jesus. 

Today, I am grateful God provided the lamb. 

A Dog's Perspective

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 102: Today, I am grateful for a dog's perspective. 

Our dogs can teach us so much about faithfulness, love, and devotion. They love to be with us. Being close enough to touch is enough. 

This cartoon cracked me up. 

Then I thought about it a little more. Do we seek the presence of our Lord the way our dogs long to be with us? 

"And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." -Matthew 22:37

What does that look like? With all of our hearts, soul, and mind means all in and holding nothing back. Is our deepest desire to be near Him? Do we rest in His presence?

When He said, "I am with you always." he meant it. When he said, "I am coming back.", he meant that, too. 

Today, I am grateful for a dog's perspective. 

In His Time

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 101: Today, I am grateful for "In His Time."

I have an old song running through my head that is taken directly from Ecclesiastes 3:11. 

"In His time. In His time. He makes all things beautiful in His time." I think it is an early contemporary praise song, but I honestly cannot remember. It is slow and worshipful. My "Earworm" is singing it this morning. 

The passage reads a little differently in the New Living Translation. It reminds us that we cannot see the big picture. He can. 

"Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end." - Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT) 

We cannot see the future. We cannot see how the pain, darkness, or sorrow we face today is a part of a bigger picture. The coal under pressure has no vision of becoming a beautiful diamond. The grain of sand that irritates the oyster cannot see it will one day become a pearl and a treasure handed down. 

Eternity is planted in our hearts, but will we be able to find the path with so many distractions? 

Turn off the television. Put down the phone or other device. Step out into nature and look. What is beautiful? Did the flower bloom overnight? Was the baby bird beautiful on the day it hatched? Our friend Robin says, "Look for something beautiful every day." It is a great recommendation. You only need to look out the window and into your backyard. 

True beauty takes time. Some require pressure, pain, and even brokenness. Patience, prayer, and seeking out the positive in even the biggest struggles. 

Today, I am grateful for "In His Time."

Today, I am grateful for "In His Time."

Signs of Spring: Bunnies, Birds, and Squirrels

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 100: Today, I am grateful for lessons from the bunnies, birds, and squirrels. 

One morning this past week, I looked out the window to see a bunny, cardinal, and squirrel within a few feet of each other. They were taking in the change in the seasons. 

The bunny probably has a nest, as we see her returning frequently. The cardinal sang his best song bravely from the top of a fallen branch. The squirrel played as squirrels do. Nature cannot help but sing when there are signs of spring. 

Humans, on the other hand, find reasons to be anxious in every season. The struggle is real. 

"You are afraid of surrender because you don't want to lose control, but you never had control. All you had was anxiety." -Toby Mac, Speak Life

What a great quote. I needed this one today. I have been learning much about surrender, but I certainly have not mastered it, so He continues to reassign the lesson. 

I need the constant reminder that we do not have to have it all figured out. We do not need a perfect plan. We do need to surrender  and make ourselves available to His purpose and His will. He can do much with little, but we have to let go. 

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?  Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?" -Matthew 6:25-26

The birds, bunnies, and squirrels know it. We can know it, too. Trust means surrender. Surrender is the antidote to anxiety. Do our best, but leave God to take care of the rest. 

 Today, I am grateful for lessons from the bunnies, birds, and squirrels. 

Signs of Spring: Asparagus

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 99: Today, I am grateful for asparagus.

Asparagus is a sign of spring. It sweeps me back to my childhood. Grandpa Lindgren loved asparagus. He would send us out to the ditches to look for some. He acted as if we had discovered gold when we found some and brought it home. Dad liked it, too, enough to eat it from a can. Trust me, they are not the same. 

There is something about the hunt and the find that makes it extra special. You have to find quite a bit to make a meal worthy. We savored every stalk. 

For my adult life, fresh asparagus has been easily accessible at the grocery store. Frozen is okay, too. It is packed full of vitamins and other health benefits. It is low in calories and simply delicious. 

I am so grateful for the food from the land. If you want to grow it in your backyard, it takes time. Newly planted asparagus plants may take 2 to 3 years to start producing, so patience is truly needed! Once established, however, asparagus can be productive for decades. It is worth the wait if you have the room to plant it. 

Scripture speaks of patience during trials, but the promise of better things ahead. 

"You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever." -Hebrews 10:34

Some things are worth the wait. 

Today, I am grateful for asparagus.

"Sonrise" at Sunrise

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 98: Today, I am grateful for the 'Son"-rise at sunrise.

There is something holy about sunrise. It is the gift of a fresh new day. The colors are magnificent. The earth wakes up gently. 

You cannot and should not hurry a sunrise. We can move our clocks back in the fall and forward in the spring, but we have no power over the moment the sun comes up to warm another day. 

"His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise. Rays of light flash from his hands, where his awesome power is hidden." -Habakkuk 3:2

Each day is wonderous. When on vacation with Matt and Jennifer, Matt and I love to watch the sunrise together. Randy likes to walk the beach (Jennifer needs a little more sleep.) It is a holy, shared moment. On ordinary days, it is easy to focus on the morning destination and the work planned for the day. 

I cannot help but think of the Sunday morning at the tomb when the women who loved Jesus went to properly prepare His body for death. It was at sunrise, and they found the stone rolled away and the body gone. At first, they believed it to be stolen... until they came face to face with their risen Lord. 

The risen Son at sunrise. He broke the power of death and darkness like the sunrise breaks the death of night. One "Son"-rise changed everything. 

Today, I am grateful for the 'Son"-rise at sunrise.

 

God Sends the Rains

 

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 97: Today, I am grateful God sends the rains.

I grew up on Paul Harvey. I loved his voice and "The Rest of the Story." He would dig into the lives of famous people. Some were heroes, others world changers, and a few were criminals. Every time he took to the airwaves, I learned something. Paul Harvey had deep respect for farmers. He observed this about the rain and the soil"

"Despite all our accomplishments, we owe our existence to a six inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains." -Paul Harvey

His letter about the American Farmer ended up on a truck commercial. He said it was from an anonymous listener. It sweeps me back to my childhood. Grandpa, Dad, Uncle Mel, and the good people who worked and cared for the farms around us. 

Paul Harvey made this speech to the FFA in November of 1978 in Kansas City, MO.

And on the 8th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, "I need a caretaker"

-- so God made a Farmer.

God said, "I need somebody willing to get up before dawn, milk cows, work all day in the fields, milk cows again, eat supper, then go to town and stay past midnight at a meeting of the school board"

-- so God made a Farmer.

"I need somebody with arms strong enough to rustle a calf and yet gentle enough to deliver his own grandchild; somebody to call hogs, tame cantankerous machinery, come home hungry, have to wait lunch until his wife’s done feeding visiting ladies, then tell the ladies to be sure and come back real soon -- and mean it"

-- so God made a Farmer.

God said, "I need somebody willing to sit up all night with a newborn colt,  and watch it die, then dry his eyes and say, 'Maybe next year.' I need somebody who can shape an ax handle from a persimmon sprout, shoe a horse with a hunk of car tire, who can make harness out of haywire, feed sacks and shoe scraps; who, planting time and harvest season, will finish his forty-hour week by Tuesday noon, and then pain’n from tractor back, put in another seventy-two hours"

-- so God made a Farmer.

God had to have somebody willing to ride the ruts at double speed to get the hay in ahead of the rain clouds, and yet stop in mid-field and race to help when he sees the first smoke from a neighbor’s place

-- so God made a Farmer.

God said, "I need somebody strong enough to clear trees and heave bails, yet gentle enough to tame lambs and wean pigs and tend the pink-combed pullets, who will stop his mower for an hour to splint the broken leg of a meadowlark."

It had to be somebody who’d plow deep and straight and not cut corners; somebody to seed, weed, feed, breed and rake and disc and plow and plant and tie the fleece and strain the milk and replenish the self-feeder and finish a hard week’s work with a five-mile drive to church; somebody who would bale a family together with the soft strong bonds of sharing, who would laugh, and then sigh, and then reply, with smiling eyes, when his son says that he wants to spend his life "doing what dad does"

-- so God made a Farmer.

A farmer can do all of these things right, but God must send the rain. The soil, the seed, and the rain are a necessary combination to feed the world.  

"...then he will send the rains in their proper seasons—the early and late rains—so you can bring in your harvests of grain, new wine, and olive oil."  -Deuteronomy 11:14 

Farmers are itching to break the top soil and plant the seeds. It will happen very soon. Then they will pray for rain and sunshine at just the right time. 

Today, I am grateful God sends the rains.

 

Who Do You Live For?

 

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 96: Today, I am grateful we can answer, "Who do you live for?"

This scripture struck me in a different way than it has before. This question came to mind, "Who do I live for?"

"Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them." 2 Corinthians 5:14-15     

For many years I did not regularly wear a cross as jewelry. I know some might think that is strange. I know many who wear it every day as a statement of what they believe and who they believe in. 

For me, I was fearful of bringing shame to the cross he carried and died on for my sins. I did not want my sin and imperfections to bring him shame when people saw a cross around my neck. I did not want to be the one who failed to be a good example of His love, mercy and grace in a moment of a quick tongue or short patience. I did not want to be a failed testimony. 

 Then I had a friend who wisely said, "Valerie, that cross is your price tag."  Wow! It was such a fresh and different way of looking at it. I wear it often now. I worry less about bringing shame to the one who purchased my sin debt and focus on the gift that came in the ugliest and most brutal sacrifice of the One who did not deserve it. 

We proudly wear the names of our sports teams, designer labels, and favorite musicians. Our t-shirts bear the names of our favorite games and beverages. We show who we live for by how we spend our time. 

If we attend a worship service every Sunday that is 52 hours a year. We give our jobs 40 or more hours a week. Add in Sunday School and it is only doubled. Going to church is not evidence of who we live for, but it is a sign. 

What we wear on our clothes is a sign. Do we "enter in His gates with thanksgiving in our hearts? Do we enter his courts with praise?" Do we wear a cross as a lucky charm or as a reminder of the price he paid?

I am still very serious about not misrepresenting His choice that gave us a pardon and a way, but I wear the cross anyway, with understanding and humility. I did not deserve his gift, but somehow... He thought I was worth it. He thinks you are worth it, too. 

He lived in uncomfortable human skin and endured the cross for you.

Today, I am grateful we can answer, "Who do you live for?"             

Everything Will Be Fine

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 95: Today, I am grateful everything will be fine. 

 "The LORD replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.” -Exodus 33:14 (NLT)

I need to memorize this verse. If you have followed "Daily Gratitude" very long, you know I love Moses. 

Jill and I took our Wednesday night kids at church through the Old Testament. We both learned so much, even though we were both raised in the scriptures. Somehow, I think she and I learned as much as the kids that year. God is always good. God is always faithful. In the hardest seasons we can know that He goes with us. We can trust in His rest, even when struggles come. 

Always. Everyday. Through every trial. Everything will be fine with you. Everything. That phrase is unique to the NLT translation, but it is simply another way of restating that he will bring us to a place of rest, restoration, and for the Israelites, the Promised Land. 

As the blood on the door protected the firstborn sons from death, the blood of Jesus protects those who believe and call him Lord. Another echo from the Old Testament into the new. We can learn to rest in him, because he keeps His promises. 

Through the Blood of the Lamb, death is merely a door. It is why Paul and Silas had no fear. Nearly all of the disciples died for sharing the Good News. The world prefers negativity, hate, and self-serving goals. 

Jesus offers restoration and life, but that does not mean there are never hard times. But He goes before us and with us. He is not bound by time and space. 

Today, I am grateful everything will be fine. 

Vision

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 94: Today, I am grateful for vision.

"Be Thou My Vision" is one of my favorite hymns. The words perfectly focus on a heart that focuses to see God. It is excellent. 

As we get older, we often require help with our vision. My readers are always nearby. I have many pairs. I can see far away, but I cannot read or see well up close without them. 

How many times is life like that?  When trials, struggles, and hard times are up-close and personal, we do not understand. Our vision is blurred by what is happening in the present moment. 

God sees both. Let Him be our vision. In the distance, there will be some clarity. Some things may never be entirely clear to us, but when we ask Him to "be our eyes," the world looks different. 

"My vision is blurred by grief; my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies." Psalm 6:7

In the trials and the celebrations we can pray "Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art; Thou my best Thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Time to take on the day! 

Today, I am grateful for vision.

Be Excited

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 93: Today, I am grateful for the choice to "be excited."

It is the simple joys that make life good. My dear friend, Jim Sedgwick, was one of a kind. He often said, "Make every day a holiday and every meal a feast." It always made me smile, but it stuck. 

My first year at Peoria Alternative High School, they didn't really have space for me to have an office. I met with students everywhere and often joined the classes to connect. Our work coordinators were Cleve Klopfenstein and Jim. They were both over a decade older than me and I learned so much watching both of them. They shared their space with me when I was homeless. 

Cleve... well I still refer to as one of the great loves in my life...  he adored his wife and raised his family with faith, integrity, and intention.  I've written about Cleve before. I will again.

Jim was the guy who proudly wore his White Sox fan gear in a place that was split between the Cubs and the Cardinals. He lived his life with excitement and enthusiasm. He would be excited for church choir, although he went every week. He was excited every time he helped a student get a job, even if he knew it would be a challenge to help them keep it. He would fret and get frustrated at the battles of keeping 100 students employed or volunteering... but then he would celebrate the little things... like something he and lovely wife Linda would do together. Jim was as rare as his White Sox jersey in Central Illinois. 

I do not know if Jim intentionally chose excitement or if it was in his nature. He was a one-of-a-kind. He has been in Heaven's choir for many years now. He is not forgotten. I often say, "Make every day a holiday and every meal a feast. Be it a PBJ or a steak dinner. Simple life choices are sometimes the biggest game changers. 

"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."-1 Thessalonians 5:18

Choose joy. Be excited for that next cup of coffee and rain that stops just before you have to go out. All things. 

Today, I am grateful for the choice to "be excited."

New Things

 

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 92: Today, I am grateful for the chance to do new things.

Technology changes so fast. It can be amazing, exhausting, and frustrating. Still, it is the gift of "new things" that gives us a chance to stretch, learn, and grow. 

New things can be uncomfortable at first, but like new shoes, it takes time to break them in. Some will be new favorites over time. 

"Look at you doing that thing you once thought you couldn't do." -Eliza Todd

When our hearts need encouragement, we can remember we are all works in progress. We are still being molded by the Master Potter's hand. 

Time, relationships, practice, instruction and prayer all are part of the journey. Be patient. Be kind to yourself and others. Do not forget to enjoy the journey. 

This is one of my life scriptures:

"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." -Isaiah 43:19

I am not particularly brave by nature. I like the safe route. I pack extras, "just in case." When I risk a step outside of my comfort zone, there is often exhilaration and delight. I am reminded that the author of fear and lies is the enemy of our souls and the father of the "I can'ts." 

Try something new this week. It is good for the soul. 

 Today, I am grateful for the chance to do new things.

The Art of Pottery

 

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 91: Today, I am grateful for the art of pottery.

Our school mascot is the "Morton Potters." I thought it odd when we came nearly 40 years ago, but I have come to love it. Shaping lives is what schools and communities do. (The name came from the "Morton Pottery", a local business that was important to the community.) 

The Love of my Life has been watching a series, "The Great Pottery Throw Down." The competition is fun to watch. Each artist has a unique style and vision. The comradery between the artists is special. Clay can be finicky and the best plans can go awry. Still, they keep trying. 

There is an element of understanding that whatever they envision and intend, the kiln makes the magic and breaks hearts. Some pieces do not survive the heat. Some things come out better than expected. I can see why those who are called to the kiln find it rewarding. 

My dear friend and artist, Brittany Du Pont, always reminds me that until the clay has been fired... it can be reworked and saved. Some clay is harder to work with than others, but with patience and determination, it can bring beautiful outcomes, much like her work with Jr. High students discovering their art. 

I love this scripture:

"And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand." Isaiah 64:8

Sometimes, we are a mess. There are times we seem impossible to shape, mold, and save. Sometimes, great patience is required of the Master Potter. I keep going back to this thought, "The opposite of impatience is surrender." 

I am so grateful for the Master Potter who uses every experience to help shape us. He sees our potential and longs for us to discover it, too. 

Today, I am grateful for the art of pottery.

Prophecy

 Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 90: Today, I am grateful for prophecy. 

The word "prediction" tells us something might happen. Prophecy tells us that something will happen. People are quick to point to prophecies that "did not come true" in the Bible. The difference is the response of the people of God. 

"But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all." -Isaiah 53:5-6

What a powerful prediction from approximately 700 years before Jesus was crucified! Can it be a coincidence that it was as if a poet stood at the cross trying to take it all in 700 years before the actual suffering of Christ. 

God predicted judgment on Nineveh, but... much to Jonah's dismay, the people recognized God meant business and they repented. Jonah did not have to work that hard, and truth, he was disappointed in the outcome. He did not like the Ninevites, but God's mercy is real when hearts change. Perhaps the bigger footnote should be the power of God's word to change hearts and lives. For Nineveh, it meant hope, life, renewal, and making a change. 

About 5 years ago, while excavating the sight of Sodom and Gomorrah, curious archeological evidence was discovered. There are videos all over YouTube from the first discovery to when they began to dig deeper. The people did not heed God's warning and He did what he said he would do. 

The Bible describes burning sulfur and fire raining down from the sky which permanently destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24). Predictions may or may not come true. Prophecy is so much more. There are false prophets too. 

Isaiah 53:5-6 gave us the "what to watch for" when determining if Jesus was the Messiah the people longed to see. They were so busy with their own political scene, building wealth and affluence, and grasping for power, they miss it! 

Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 are easy to read prophecy. Those passages powerfully point to the truth of God's Word.

I am grateful for prophecy and Biblical Archeology. Some people need "the science."  Jesus said, "The rocks will cry out" in Luke 19:40. The evidence is in the archeology... and the stone that rolled away.

I find it fascinating. The response of the people still is in play. 

Today, I am grateful for prophecy. 

Reminders "To Be"

 

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 89: Today, I am grateful for reminders "to be."

It is easy to get caught up in chaos. Romans 12:12 is like a balm to my soul. 

"Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying."

It is good guidance for daily living in good times and in hard times. The spring flowers in this pot made me smile. I love the Gerbera daisy! The sister my brother chose for me loves them, too. They are so happy and encouraging. 

I think loving daisies is one of the reasons I have become obsessed with my zinnias. It all began with shared seeds from my life-long friend, Roxanne. Flowers are not instant. Seeds require hope and patience. 

When we are faithful to tend the seed with the most basic needs... the miracle happens. How a seed that is hard and lifeless becomes a beautiful flower, tree, or food will always be a mystery to me. 

To be a seed is  simply "to be." To be planted, growing, and strengthened by the struggle to survive, which in gardening terms is called pruning. Even in the painful places, were are reminded "to be." Especially in the trials. 

Today, I am grateful for reminders "to be."

Books Can Take Us Everywhere

 

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 86: Today, I am grateful books can take us everywhere.

This is true for boys, too. Those who love books, have access to books, and actually read them can travel to far-away places... including space. I love books.   

Our little Clifton Library next to the Grocery store was one of my favorite places during my childhood. I can still recall the smell. Some of the books were old and probably donated. Small towns are resourceful. 

Mama Ina Mae would let me check out the maximum number of books. I would ready them as fast as I could and check out another stack. Reading time was a special time. I would sneak-read late into the night when the book was good.

Aunt Judy Hanson is my Godmother. She shared her books with me in my teen years. It is a special memory I have from growing up with her. The first time I heard the name Chase was in a book she gave me. 

My dear friend, Susie, introduces me to JD Robb's "In Death" mystery series that is set in the future. They travel "off planet" and have an "auto chef" in the house that cooks any time of day. I never thought I would like it but I do. Strong characters that you feel like you "know" are my favorite. Susie has kept me reading, and I truly appreciate the many places she has taken me, simply by sharing her books.    

Our church library has a wonderful collection of Christian fiction. Dee Henderson is my favorite.  

The book I love best is my Bible. It is timeless and a treasure. Family Bibles can take us back in time with the family history recorded in the front of the Bible. I love this verse from John:

"Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written." -John 21:25

Reading can take us anywhere. 

Today, I am grateful books can take us everywhere.

Clear Wording

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 86: Today, I am grateful for clear wording.

Have you ever read a passage or directions for a "simple" DIY assembly and realize that you have no clue what the directions are saying? It happens to most of us. "Some assembly required" can be terrifying. I like clear instructions and a clear path. 

This verse struck me for the many clear, commanding words.   

"And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength."-Deuteronomy 6:5 NLT

And you must...with all...all...and all. It is quite clear. There is no reason to question the instruction. Our God does not stutter. 

Today, I am grateful for  clear wording. 

Chihuly Glass

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 85: Today, I am grateful for Dale Chihuly glass.

It is no secret, I love glass. I think it goes back to Grandma Marge Lindgren's love of cut glass. It was gorgeous and looked rich, but it was no great loss if something was broken. Grandma was determined to teach us all manners and grace, but with kindness and love. 

Dad and Uncle Mel did not always appreciate her desire to set a beautiful table for the holidays or special guests. In their home, a special guest was anyone who came for a meal. Her love of glass was contagious. 

Stained glass, sea glass, and glass blown pumpkins all require sand taking on heat to create something new and beautiful. 

My first taste of Dale Chihuly glass was on the Disney Wonder ship. The chandeliers looked much like the one in this picture. Glass is tougher than it looks. It needs respect and care, and this particular piece is safer hung high in a grand foyer, but it is surprisingly strong.

I love the whimsy and wildness in his designs. They look like they belong under the sea or on another planet. They are out of this word! His use of color is stunning. I wonder if he is as surprised at the end of each sculpture as those who enjoy viewing it? There is planning and then there is the magic of sand and heat coming together. 

We are going to blow some glass with Glass Girl (a glass artist in Morton) soon with our family. It was a Christmas gift for Randy, but it will be an adventure for all of us.  She specializes in glass pumpkins, but has many other beautiful pieces. 

God created man in his image. His creativity is boundless. We all have a spark of art in us that can be buried and ignored or uncovered and celebrated. A natural gift that is practiced and honed results in beautiful art. 

"“Come, all of you who are gifted craftsmen. Construct everything that the Lord has commanded." -Exodus 35:10

Do not hide your talent. Do not neglect your spark. Celebrate the gift of art, glass, and glass artists. 

Today, I am grateful for Dale Chihuly glass.

Redefining Privilege

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 84: Today, I am grateful we can redefine privilege.

One of my favorite devotional books had a recent reading on Heaven's currency. It was an interesting way of reframing many scriptures I have read and heard hundreds of times. I found some notes in my Bible that brought it all together. Funny how that happens, right? 

Materialism is a disease of the rich and the poor. The rich spend all of their time managing their wealth. It sucks up time and energy. For the poor, chasing wealth demands time, energy, and the temptation to take shortcuts. The thing you love most will direct your life.

"God Our Provider" is one of my favorite names for God.  Jehovah Jireh rolls off the tongue almost musically. The God of the Universe longs for us to realize that He will provide all of our needs. Like manna, water, and quail in the forty years in the desert... he provided enough every single day. 

He wants us to be good and honest stewards with the wealth we have. Dad always said you cannot outgive God. I know he was right. God's blessings are often not monetary, although faithful stewardship is often blessed. 

My devotion reminded me that Heaven's currency is saved souls. Our families, friends, and strangers we encounter are the only thing we can take to Heaven. In this world full of advertising and AI directed advertisements, it is easy to be misguided. Privilege on earth is fleeting. Financial planning is not perfect. 

Jesus encouraged believers to go and share the Good News. He recommended traveling light. The early disciples were welcomed in the homes of strangers, but brothers and sisters in Christ. Others offered hope to non-believers and were offered food and lodging. Some exchanged the Gospel for a meal. Some risks landed them in jail... where they continued to share Christ's sacrifice and resurrection. 

"For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him." -Philippians 1:29

The world defines privilege as wealth and power. The weak, sick, and poor often know the rich miss. Trust in gold leads to anxiety. Trust in Jesus leads to peace. Many who go to the poorest places with the gospel as their currency find their hearts call them back to serve again. There is a richness that comes from pouring out our lives in acts of service and meeting needs when we see them. 

No one likes suffering. I love comfort, too, Yet, it is in times of suffering, sickness, loss, and uncertainty that we begin to understand that "you can't take it with you." Paul, Silas, Peter, and so many others in the early church until today have found prison a ripe mission field. 

Dad loved going to jail with Bibles as a Gideon. We joke that he had a captive audience. I think it was one of his greatest joys in life. One of those jail ministry encounters led to a relationship that lasted a life-time for our family. It eventually resulted in case law that helps abused and battered women. 

That is Heaven's currency. That is redefining privilege. How will we spend this one day we have today? 

"Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. -C.T. Studd

Today, I am grateful we can redefine privilege.

Confession

 

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 84: Today, I am grateful for confession.

Confession makes the heart grow lighter. The burden is removed. The funny thing is that God is omniscient. We do not have to confess our sins for him to know them. Confession unburdens our hearts. The price of our sin is already paid in full. 

Children can be a beautiful example of confession. When they do something they know they should not do, it grows bigger and bigger until they clean their hearts through the act of confession. 

For Adam and Eve, the result of disobedience cost them their garden home. They hid from God. Was shame or fear felt first? I suspect shame. He only gave them one restriction in the entire garden. Just one. 

The enemy of our souls deceived them. They were embarrassed for the first time when God called them by name. They tasted shame. Disobedience had a price. 

 “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” -Genesis 3:11

Adam and Eve delivered their excuses. Excuses did not change the reality of their sin. 

God felt the weight of their sin, too. He wanted them to choose Him and love Him, not by command... but  by choice. Freewill was His gift. With that gift,  they showed pride and arrogance. God is truth, mercy, and justice. He had warned them of the consequences. 

I am still in awe of a God who does not write us off when we fail. He gave us a way to reconcile. Reconciliation and forgiveness can be a foundation for stronger relationships. From hurt, to healing, and in hope, we have the opportunity to lighten our load when we confess our sins to Him. 

 "But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." 1 John 1:9

Do not neglect the gift of humble confession to a mighty God who desires a restored relationship with us. He made a way. He became the way. 

"Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." -John 14:6

Today, I am grateful for confession.

The Central Message

 

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 83: Today, I am grateful for the central message.     

I am not a math girl, but I am completely enthralled with hidden messages, mysteries, history, and  archeology. 

I have always been curious about numbers in the Bible. Biblical numerology is the study of numbers in the Bible as part of the mystery and the message. Seven, three, four, and forty seem to be significant. 

This "Did You Know That?" was intriguing to me. What message is in the middle of the Bible? 

"It is better to take refuge in the Lord  than to trust in people." -Psalm 118:8

Lies and deception are everywhere and easily spread. Some come disguised as truth. A reminder to take our refuge in God is key. Putting our faith in any human is a perfect recipe for disaster. A reminder to look to God is a flawless "central message." 

God really hates deception. He can see our thoughts and knows our hearts and loves us anyway. Humans, too often, have our own agendas. God is always truthful and trustworthy. Satan twists the truth and whispers for us to twist it, too. No lie is little. Each one makes our souls a little heavier. These are the burdens we were never meant to carry. 

A central message at the core of the Bible is a reminder to trust and take refuge in the Lord. He is our Creator, Sustainer, Shelter, Rescuer, Shepherd, Healer, Friend, Savior, and King. He is trustworthy. We humans are all sinful, but he still hears our cries for help when we seek His face. Keep seeking. Keep holding on the the message at the core of His Word:

One more time:

"It is better to take refuge in the Lord  than to trust in people." -Psalm 118:8

That verse is worth marking in your Bible! It is like that first coffee of the day. It is necessary, comforting, and wonderful. 

Today, I am grateful for the central message.