An Open Door

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 22: Today, I am grateful for an open door. 

The Congregational Church in Clifton, IL, is where my grandparents raised my Dad and Uncle Mel. It was the only church I remember being associated with the Lindgren family. It is the church where they came to know Jesus as Lord and Savior in adulthood. I was very young, but I remember the change.

This stained glass was a focal point of the sanctuary decor. We sat on that side of the church. Grandpa taught us to twirl our thumbs and offered us hard candy when we were wiggly. 

My Dad loved this window. It spoke to his soul when he realized that the door had no knob. Someone had to open it from the inside. For him, a light went on in his head and he finally understood the window he had stared at from a childhood. 

Jesus knocks on the door of our hearts. We can recognize him when we see him. He can call us by name. He knows who we are, but we have to open the door to invite him into our hearts. 

If we let him in, he sees our mess. He sees what is broken or simply worn out by the wear and tear of daily life. Perhaps, he will want us to change something. We fail to see that He only improves what he touches. His companionship makes every day better. Loneliness becomes quiet communion with the one who died so that we might live life with a wild abandon. 

Paul once said from a jail cell letter ... and I paraphrase... "If they kill me this time, I will have Heaven with my Lord. If they don't kill me this time, I will have more days to share the good news of the Gospel." 

Saul was a religious nut... and then he encountered Jesus and was changed. Saul became Paul. Ananias had to seek out Saul... who was responsible for the death of so many of his brothers and sisters in Christ... to lay hands on him so that he might see again as the Lord had instructed. In a vision, he was told where Saul/Paul would be. He knocked on the door and it was opened. He did as the Lord had instructed, and one of the greatest missionaries of all time was healed. (Acts 9)

As I look at this image I am reminded that we have to open the door and let him in... from the inside. (Thanks Dad for repeating that illustration so many times.)

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." -Matthew 7:7-8

He never refuses the invitation to come in. Don't worry about the mess and the brokenness. He has seen worse. He will only make your days better. As a child once told me, "Jesus doesn't ask you to clean your room. He wants you to clean your heart." Open the door. He is only here to help. 

Today, I am grateful for an open door. 

Remote Start

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 21: Today, I am grateful for remote start. 

This week, all of the creature comforts that help us bear the winter's deepest chill. A remote start is one of them. 

My current vehicle is my first car with that feature (yes, we drive cars a long time) and it is a game changer. It helps the car get warmed up and the windows ready to clear before the drive home. Honestly, it takes longer to warm the car than it does to make my commute home, but I am grateful to have a warm vehicle and clear windows for the drive.  

A side-benefit is that I am much less crabby about the cold. I can focus on some of the beauty in winter's landscape. January is the remote start season. 

We cannot control the weather, but we can control our attitudes about the weather and toward each other. 

"When we arrived, the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem welcomed us warmly." -Acts 21:17

I hope the remote start (or attached garage) starts your day in a way that warms those you meet and greet. 

Today, I am grateful for remote start. 

The Heater's Hum

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 20: Today, I am grateful for the heater's hum.    

In the past 24 hours, I have been hearing the hum of the heater as it kicks on. What a blessing it is to have heat at the touch of a dial or button. A working heater gives us comfort, and it is lifesaving in these near zero temperatures. 

It is a good day to say a prayer for the protection and discernment of the HVAC technicians and electricians who go out on calls to problem solve in these bitter conditions. 

It is a great day to bless those who shelter the homeless in our communities. They rely on our gifts to keep the doors open. 

Waking up to heat is not just a blessing, it truly is the greatest of luxuries. The hum of the heater was like a lullaby last night and a reason to sing this morning. 

"And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." -Ephesians 5:20

Today, I am grateful for the heater's hum.   

The Spoken Hope

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 19: Today, I am grateful for the spoken hope.  

"But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me." -Micah 7:7 (NIV)

Can you hear the confidence and expectation? Not knowing the time, but confident of the outcome. Help is on the way. 

There is something powerful in speaking our faith out load. Not just thoughts, but speaking what we believe. He delights in the confidence and praise of those who call him Savior, Lord, and King. 

"Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see." -Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)

The Book of Hebrews defines its intended audience in the name, but those who are grafted in by the blood of Jesus can learn from it, too. He does not abandon His children. The timing may be unexpected. The answer can be "no" or "not yet." 

One thing is sure, He hears our prayers and delights in our seeking His face with humble hearts. His hand is mighty to protect, save, restore, and comfort. How can we be silent? 

Today, I am grateful for the spoken hope.

His Mercy

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 18: Today, I am grateful for His mercy.

Mercy is a beautiful thing. 

"But—When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit." Titus 3:4-5

It is that fountain that flows deep and wide. We didn't earn it, yet He pours it out generously. It is His kindness and love that covers us, not anything we can do or accomplish. 

Do we live differently in light of His mercy? Do we choose kindness and love more easily in light of his grace? Every day offers new opportunities. 

Today, I am grateful for His mercy.

The Arts

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 17: Today, I am grateful for the arts.

"Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks." -Plutarch

I love the arts! I have observed over the centuries that humans recognize that art is special. Not everyone has the same gifts and abilities. There is an intrinsic value to art that is hard to define. 

The skill of the artist is only part of the story. When nations fall, the art, the gold, and the jewels are often gathered as the spoils of war. It is not unusual for some of the valuables to go missing in chaos of the transfer of the valuables. Decades later, there are times an item resurfaces. (Yes, I love the show "Antiques Roadshow.") Art is important to a nation's story and the story of a people or a culture. 

To think we can still see the things Michelangelo painted and sculpted after centuries fills me with a sense of respect and awe. My sister, April, was an artist. She often lost track of time when she started a piece. The artist pours themselves into a painting, a drawing, a sculpture, a piece of pottery, a clothing design, a vocal performance, a piece of writing, a musical composition, a piece of blown glass, a tapestry, a poem, or a jewelry design, not knowing how it will be received. Most artists carry a sense of vulnerability about the art they create, but passion keeps them creating. 

Some art requires steps. Others must be finished quickly. Some art springs from joy. Some flows from a wounded soul or a broken heart. What would the world be without art? 

God called upon the best craftsmen to create for His house and to His glory: 

"The Lord has given them special skills as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet thread on fine linen cloth, and weavers. They excel as craftsmen and as designers." -Exodus 35:35

Do not take for granted the creative side of your design. You were created in His image. Find your art and let it pour from your heart. Some create spreadsheets, organize closets, build homes, gardens, and even clean houses in a way that is more of an art than a task. 

Find your art and embrace it. Let it flow from your heart. 

Today, I am grateful for the arts. 

Live Well

 Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 16: Today, I am grateful for reminders to live well.

"How ironic that our highest calling is humility. 
To give quietly. 
To pray behind closed doors. 
To live small.
To be like the lilies of the field and the birds of the air. To carry our crosses daily. To choose the road less traveled. To cherish the ordinary day. The only thing we need to do with wild extravagance is love."  -ullie-kaye

I loved this quote. It is a simple reminder of how to live our best lives. 

Not one item on the list requires power, influence, or wealth. Each one is a reflection of our relationship with a God who promised he would never leave us or forsake us. 

"So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves." -Galatians 5:16

What do we crave? How do we live? Do we cherish the ordinary in each day?

Today, I am grateful for reminders to live well.

"The Next Thing"

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 15: Today, I am grateful for "the next thing." 

"Sometimes life is so hard you can only do the next thing. Whatever that it, just do the next thing. God will meet you there." -Elisabeth Elliot

I love Elisabeth Elliot's gentle wisdom. She knew sweet love. great loss, big adventures, and God's faithfulness. 

Some seasons in life are celebrations and others are filled with trial after trial. Typically, life is a mixed bag. On the hardest days, her advice is just do the next thing. 

When her husband died on the mission field, their daughter, Valerie, was 10 months old. Babies need to be fed and diapered. I imagine there were days and weeks when she only had energy for "the next thing." 

She made the decision to stay in Ecuador on the mission field with Valerie after Jim's death. She worked with the Quichua tribe and later lived with the Auca (Waodani) people, who had killed her husband, and fellow missionaries Nate, Ed, Pete, and Roger. In time, she would live with the very same people who speared her husband to death and her children would call one of them "Grandfather."  

She did "the next thing" that eventually led to hope and healing. God met her there. In her tears, exhaustion, and questions... God met her there. When she regrouped and made bold decisions to continue the work... God met her there. But first, in the moments of deepest sorrow and unknowns, she did not have to look for God. She did the next thing, and God met her there. 

Today, I am grateful for "the next thing." 

Proverbs 22:4

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 14: Today, I am grateful for Proverbs 22:4. 

"True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life." -Proverbs 22:4 NLT

This is one of those passages that it is fun to read in many translations. Biblegateway.com makes it easy. I like to squeeze every bit of sweetness and wisdom from the passage. I used blueletterbible.org if I want to explore the original Hebrew and Greek. 

Humility is not promoted much in this world, but when humble servants and leaders show up, the world does notice. 

This is a great quote from one of the deepest thinkers to ever pick up a pen.

"Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less. Humility is thinking more of others." -C.S. Lewis

Solomon asked God for wisdom, and that wisdom was passed on in Proverbs so that we might learn, too. Humility is a response to genuine respect and love for God. 

Fear of the Lord is not terror, although He is fierce. Perhaps it is more like the "fear" of gravity. We do not jump from high places without a parachute. Gravity is a law we cannot ignore. Gravity has helped inventors solve real world problems. 

God's laws when broken have consequences, too. In contrast, seeking His face and searching for truth has endless benefits. 

Today, I am grateful for Proverbs 22:4. 

All of the Pieces

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 13: Today, I am grateful for all of the pieces. 

I found this great quote:

"I am pieces of all the places I have been, and the people I have loved. I've been stitched together by song lyrics, book quotes, adventure, late night conversations, moonlight, and the smell of coffee. - Brooke Hampton 

Every word rings true. All of the pieces come together uniquely in each one of us. It really is quite grand, isn't it? Life is a tapestry of places, people, music, lyrics, connections, nature, and the flavors woven into experiences and memories that make our souls sing. 

My head is dancing with old songs and sweet memories. Earworm cannot decide on just one. Favorite trips, special moments, and special songs all blend together. 

“But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren." -Deuteronomy 4:9

Save all of the pieces to revisit on a rainy day. Snuggle up with them on a cold winter's night. Write them down for your children and your grandchildren. 

Today, I am grateful for all of the pieces. 

Reminder to Get Started

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 12: Today, I am grateful for a reminder to get started.    

"The secret to getting ahead is getting started."

It is a great quote for a Monday. I love Mark Twain's wit and wisdom. He was a bold observer of the world around him.

Twain said what other people were thinking. He connected the dots when common sense was missing. His quotes often remind me that there are deep truths from generation to generation.

Getting started is the first hurdle in any day, week, or project; perseverance gets the job done.  

"Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride." -Ecclesiastes 7:8 

Today, I am grateful for a reminder to get started.  

Like Home

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 11: Today, I am grateful for places that feel like home.  

"People aren't longing to be impressed, they are longing to feel like they're at home." -Shauna Niequist 

I think this statement holds some deep truths. There are times we arrive in new places, and feel out of place. There are other times, it quickly feels like home. To feel truly welcome makes us feel at home. 

Lazarus, Martha, and Mary were dear friends of Jesus. We are not told the back story, but there is something unique in his relationship with them. They recognized him as their Lord and Savior, but they opened their home with him as well. He shared time and meals with them. 

The relationship had an intimacy that meant when they called for Jesus to come and help their sick brother, they were devastated when he did not come instantly. Lazarus died and was buried before Jesus arrived in Bethany. Mary and Martha were devastated. 

In their joys and in their grief, Jesus was at home in their house.  He had sat with them for evening meals as dear friends. He came to share their grief and restore their joy. He wept with them, feeling their pain. Did he weep for their disappointment, too? 

"Then Jesus wept." -John 11:35

We do not know all of the details of the story. We know that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead in a show of power, healing,  and restoration. No one who had been a part of the mourning for Lazarus could deny his resurrection.  

There is a special joy that comes from feeling truly welcome at a table, in a home, and with a family. 

Today, I am grateful for places that feel like home. 

Presence is a Present

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 10: Today, I am grateful that presence can be a present.  

As we embark on a fresh new  year, I cannot help but observe the desperate need for human connection in the world. Social media is lovely for staying connected with old friends and far away family. It was never meant to replace and fill the space of human connection in our world. 

Can we bravely step away from cell phones and other screens for real connections and conversation? What does it feel like when we do? True connections are rich. 

There was a time when both men and women took time to write letters. There is nothing like knowing someone sat down and took the time to think about you or the risk to share their heart. I used to love writing letters to my church camp friends. Long distance calls were deemed too expensive. I still love a letter or other happy mail.

Again today, I passed a very busy coffee shop. I love coffee... and many other warm beverages found in coffee shops in nearly every town. I prefer to support a small business, but the chains help us find the comforts of home everywhere we go.  Coffee shops are kind of a modern gathering place where people meet to connect. (Honestly, farmers have been meeting at grain elevators and gas stations for coffee all of my life, so maybe it isn't that modern.)  These are the places where we put down our devices and connect with friends and family. 

There is a passage in Hebrews that reminds of the importance of gathering together. 

"Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." -Hebrews 10:24-25

At home, at church, in coffee shops, and wherever we find our feet... be present and savor His presences, too. 

Today, I am grateful that presence can be a present.

 

The Strength to be Gentle and Kind

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 9: Today, I am grateful that kindness and gentleness are really strengths. 

I loved this quote:

"It is never a weak thing to be kind and gentle.
In fact it takes strength to carry this yoke and
also wisdom to have compassion for those
that do not." -April Peerless

I am grateful for the reminder that meekness is really controlled strength. The world is full of sadness, hardships, evil, and bad things happen to people who are doing their best to do the right things. We are not guaranteed an easy life. We are expected to greet each day with our best efforts. 

When life is hard, you still have choices. Kindness and gentleness are more of a super power than hatred and violence. Anyone can lash out in anger. A spirit controlled life can be a climate changer at home, at work, and in the community. 

"Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.  So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will." -Romans 8:5-7

Today, I am grateful that kindness and gentleness are really strengths. 

 

Lotions

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 8: Today, I am grateful for lotions.

When winter takes a toll on our skin. I am grateful for my favorite lotions. I like them to feel and smell clean. I do not want to feel greasy. 

The one pictured has become a forever favorite. I go back to it again and again. It smells as clean as it feels, and it helps fund animal rescue and recovery. 

Perhaps that is exactly what a good lotion does. It rescues our skin from the elements. There is nothing like being rescued to make us pause and think. When we are helpless, we need a savior for our skin and for our souls. 

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him." -Psalm 91:14-15

Today, I am grateful for lotions.

 

Keeping the Old Ways Alive

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 7: Today, I am grateful for things that keep the old ways alive. 

Our world of modern conveniences means we have lost some of the "old ways." Over the holidays I watched two videos that made me think about things we have lost to modern conveniences. 

One was shared "things our Grandmothers knew" that we have forgotten. Another was on Medieval gardens and what people ate in a time with no freezers or refrigeration. They relied on thing that grew nearly wild or in poor conditions. Both were fascinating. 

I knew some of the content because I spent much time in my grandmothers and mother's kitchens, but there were several herbs, vegetables, and root plants I was unfamiliar with that actually provide better nutrition than what we eat today.  

 "Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?" - Job 12:12

Keep a journal, write in the margins of your cookbooks or on your recipe cards, and make notes in your Bibles where the things you know about life and have learned about God can be passed on. 

Today, I am grateful for things that keep the old ways alive. 

Potato Soup

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 6: Today, I am grateful for potato soup.

Years ago, my friend Cindy shared a potato soup recipe from her mother. The recipe was from her German family. It is simple and inexpensive. Potato soup is a true comfort food. This recipe has some of the same elements. I think it came from Dolly Parton. I might have to try it. Our local "Great Harvest" makes delicious potato soup, too. 

Why potato soup? It can typically be made with ingredients on the shelf or in the pantry. This recipe is no exception. Nothing says comfort like a warm bowl of soup for lunch or dinner. 

"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." -1 Peter 4:9

It is easy to make and easy to share. 

Today, I am grateful for potato soup.

Normal Schedules

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 5: Today, I am grateful for normal schedules.

We do not live far from the town of Normal, IL. It is a unique name for a town. What is normal? I think for most of us, it is being on a regular schedule to help us keep our days in order. 

The holiday season is wonderful. It is full of family, faith, friends, and fun. I especially enjoy days that are unscheduled with wide margins of free time. It is good to have a break from our ordinary days. 

Once the calendar year changes, it is time to head back to a normal schedule. Embrace the goodness in the normal schedules, too. The rhythm of our normal schedules provide comfort in the continuity. Every day has gifts. 

"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." -Psalm 90:12

Be patient with yourself. Getting back to "normal" can take a little extra effort. 

Today, I am grateful for normal schedules.

Differences Make Life Better

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 4: Today, I am grateful for the differences that make us better. 

This cartoon made me giggle. If you have both cats and dogs in your family, you understand how this image captures how dogs and cats differ in nature. 

Dogs want to serve and please you. Cats do their best to train you for their service and are willing to let you try again when you get it wrong. They both add richness to our lives. They are our fur-babies, and we love them all.

Living together in harmony means growing in knowledge and understanding. Like humans, not all cats and dogs are the same. Each has a personality, quirks, and preferences. 

This was my verse for the day:

"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." -Micah 6:8

I love this verse for its clear direction as to how we should live. I cannot help but reflect on how acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God looks different for each one of us. Within our individual personalities, strengths, and weaknesses, it is likely that at least one of these instructions does not come easy or naturally. I am amazed at the people who make the things I struggle with look easy. 

Our pastor frequently says, "More mercy." Live it. Give it. Accept it with gratitude. 

Acting justly and walking humbly require being intentional at times. With time and practice, they can become more reflexive. I am grateful for those who are good examples in our lives. 

Today, I am grateful for the differences that make us better. 

Radaph

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 3: Today, I am grateful for "radaph."

There are times it is good to go back to the original Hebrew(OT) or Greek(NT) for a deeper understanding of a verse or passage. Psalm 23:6 is a good example: 

"Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever." -Psalm 23:6

I remember how excited Mama was to get her Strong's Concordance. It allowed her to do deeper study of God's word on her own and with Bible Study friends. 

We are so blessed and spoiled to have Hebrew and Greek resources at the click of a button. We can cross-reference and check for deeper meanings any time we want. blueletterbible.org is one of my favorite websites. 

"Radaph" has a bigger meaning than simply following someone. It is more indicative of a hot pursuit or a chasing down so someone or a group of people do not get away. It is a bold pursuit with serious intentions. 

In the case of God's goodness and mercy, we often get ahead of his timing or wander off after something shiny on our own path. We forget to seek His face, but do not fret... He's after us. 

I love that this quote suggests God's mercy and goodness chase us like celestial stallions. It is a powerful image in our minds and a more powerful reality. 

Today, I am grateful for "radaph."

Matches

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 2: Today, I am grateful for matches. 

Fire is essential to life. Anyone who ever watched the TV show "Survivor" and other survival shows knows that the ability to create fire is not just for comfort, it helps sustain life. Keeping a fire alive is serious business when you do not have matches readily available. 

In these cold winter months, a fire in the fireplace will always be one of my favorite things. With fire we can heat food, boil water, and even start controlled burns that are beneficial to the land for nourishment and pest control. Matches are an essential tool we take for granted, until we do not have one. 

We have fancy lighters to start fires, but they are unpredictable and must be replaced often. A book of matches is perfect for emergencies. A big box of matches is a treasure in emergency situations when candles become a main light source during power outages. 

A book of matches used to be a common wedding favor. It was something to take home at the end of the celebration. The name of the couple and their wedding date was on the front. It was a great idea. 

Have you ever been in a moment where you need more matches than you have in the book or box? You have to get creative at passing the fire along, while still maintaining safety. 

Imagine the wonder of the Israelites the first time God placed a fire in the cloud by night to guide them! What a sight it must have been. How long did it take... over the course of 40 years... for them to lose the wonder of it all? 

"So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels." -Exodus 40:38

Have I lost the wonder found in the instant fire that can come from a single match? Probably. So today we will pause to give thanks for the simple, portable, inexpensive match. 

Today, I am grateful for matches. 

A Fresh New Year

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 1: Today, I am grateful for a fresh new year.

Everyone loves a clean slate. A new year is a chance to refresh and restart. Hopefully, this post finds you safe and warm on this first day of 2026. 

One of our sons and his treasured bride are celebrating their 1st wedding anniversary today. Our other son and his beloved wife shared one of our NYE food traditions with their friends last night. Both are reasons to reflect and smile. I am so grateful for our boys and the daughters they chose for us. How do you put that feeling into words? To know they are happy at home brings Randy and I comfort and joy that is difficult to measure or describe.  

As the calendar turns over a new year, around the world friends gather and people pause to reflect, reminisce, laugh, share, and make new memories. It is a unique holiday that much of the world shares, although some do it on a different calendar day. Let the past be the past. It is a time for new beginnings. 

Whatever the date on the calendar, we still only get to open one day at a time. It is a present to be present. I am reminded that a new life in Christ can begin at any time, too. 

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" -2 Corinthians 5:17

Unwrap this day with care. Choose gratitude. Be an encourager in a world that desperately needs hope. Seek His face. Do not forget to laugh. 

Today, I am grateful for a fresh new year.