Deep Trust

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 80: Today, I am grateful for deep trust. 

When planting a field or a garden, too much water or rain can prevent the crop from growing deep roots. When the roots are deep, they can tolerate more drought when it comes. There are wet seasons and dry ones. Most plants learn to adapt to survive and thrive. 

This verse reminds us of our spiritual walk. It is a journey with seasons of abundance and seasons of struggling. How deep are our roots when things get tough? 

Lent Day 32 verse: 

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” -Jeremiah 17:7-8

We can trust God with a bold sense of security, knowing he works all things out. He is our confident, the one with whom we can share our deepest thoughts... in trust. From that trust springs the kind of roots that can get us through the times of struggle and uncertainty. We may not understand, but we can withstand through His strength... sheltered in His care. 

Like the little one who reaches up for a parent or a grandparent when the world gets scary, our Father in heaven never fails us. The waiting places are not my favorites, but they are part of the journey. I am so grateful we are never abandoned. We are never forgotten or alone. 

Today, I am grateful for deep trust. 

Spiritual Cravings

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 79: Today, I am grateful for spiritual cravings. 

There is a song out right now that has a line that speaks to my heart. It says, 'We got dust on our Bibles, brand new iPhones. No wonder why we feel this way." He sings about longing for the way things were in 2017. 

Has our human disconnect grown that much wider in just under a decade? Do we talk to Siri and Alexa more than we do each other? Imagine how it has decreased our time in The Word, too. Thanks Josiah Queen for a great song! "Dusty Bibles" is a wake up call. 

In the beginning, we used technology. Now, I have to wonder... is technology using us? I love the ease of answers and help at my fingertips. I love learning but books get heavy. Technology gives us a library at our fingertips twenty four hours a day. It even gives me deeper access to Bible study tools. Technology is not all bad, but it can become an addiction. We can begin to believe it is all-knowing and always right.

 "Deception, deception, deceptions!" is a memorable line from Tennessee Williams's play "The Glass Menagerie." Thomas Sowell said, "Deception is one of the quickest ways to gain little things and lose big things." 

There is so much deception around us every day. Could that be why when humans truly need to recharge we seek the beach, the garden, the mountains, or a farm. They are places where we can breathe fresh air. What do we crave? 

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. -1 Peter 2:2-3

What do we crave today? Where do we find nourishment? Do these things reflect our relationship with our Lord?

(Note: Saturday is the IL Mennonite Relief Sale at the Interstate Center in Bloomington. The pancake and sausage breakfast is worth the lines. The quilts are incredible works of art and heart.  It supports those in need locally and around the world.)

Today, I am grateful for spiritual cravings. 

Great Instructions

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 78: Today, I am grateful for great instructions. 

Have you ever received an item that was "some assembly required?" Has it ever come without instructions or in a language you cannot understand? Have you ever sought out clear instructions online or on YouTube? Great instructions make all the difference. 

My scripture for Lent today is one of my favorites. I remember it was colorfully highlighted in the Bible I used from childhood through college. I've always loved plenty of color in my favorite book. It has always helped me locate the verses that speak to my heart in meaningful ways. This is good instructions:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." -Galatians 5:22-23

We are encouraged to behave like Jesus. Be loving, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled citizens of wherever you live. Be an ambassador for the cross and the crown of Christ. If we follow these guidelines we will naturally live better with others. It is a big bonus that it helps us live better with ourselves. 

The fruits of the Spirit are a reflection of a relationship with Him. They pour from His heart, into ours. He fills us up and it spills out. The more He fills our thoughts and days, the easier it gets. Still, we all have areas where self control is a daily battle. 

Not every day is easy. Some are really hard. It is the Spirit who lives in us that comforts, guides, and whispers "you've got this" when we think we are completely done... too tired to take another step. 

I am grateful that the scriptures provide something for every trial or situation. I love reading the examples of those with great faith. They provide us with encouragement and great instructions for daily living. 

Today, I am grateful for great instructions. 

Hope Floats

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 77: Today, I am grateful hope floats.

In order to float, something must "fill our cups." You cannot float in an empty pool. A dried up lake is a hole in the ground. We can purchase moments of happiness with things, but happiness is fleeting. Joy and peace are both God-sourced. They are from Him. 

Joy and peace can be endlessly sought but never found when we look in the wrong places. I wonder how many times in our lives we get "so close" to fully experiencing the power and joy of the Holy Spirit because we see something shiny. Oh, I do love things that are shiny and sparkle. 

Knowing that we are the purchased then adopted children of God is powerful. Yes, Jesus paid our sin debt when we were slaves to our sins and the  influence of the enemy. He chose the cross over aborting the mission when it got hard. His love is relentless; He fills our cups to overflowing, even in the presence of our enemies. How can we not celebrate the Good News? 

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." -Romans 15:13

No matter what the day may bring, we can float in the hope of His joy and peace. 

Today, I am grateful hope floats.

Taste of Goodness

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 76: Today, I am grateful for the taste of goodness. 

We were programmed to recognize goodness. I love that at the end of each day of creation God looked over the work and proclaimed it "good." 

We can taste the goodness of God in all of our seasons. In the good days and in the hard ones, there is goodness in the shelter and hope found in His arms. It is strong, real, and freeing... even for those who find him behind prison bars. 

Our free will allows us to seek Him out or to run in the opposite direction. Some will stay on the edge of commitment. They can see the goodness of God, but are not ready to call him Lord. He waits, like the parent waits for the teen driver to come home. He waits like a military spouse at home. The love is so deep, it aches. 

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!" -Psalm 34:8 

His goodness is real. It is sweet like the raspberries in the image. Raspberries are one of my favorite berries. The season is short, they are fragile, and the birds and animals are likely to get them first if we wait too long. Sometimes we wait too long and miss them completely. 

Seize the day. Taste the goodness. He is a good, good Father! 

Today, I am grateful for the taste of goodness. 

The Gift of Grace

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 75: Today, I am grateful for the gift of grace.

Here is my scripture for Lent Day 26:

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God."  Ephesians 2:8

It is simple and wonderful... and hard to fathom. It is the act that makes the ground level at the foot of the cross. No one is more important. No one is less important. All are welcome. All must choose. 

Can it really be that easy? 

"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." -Romans 10:8-10

Confess our sins. Believe in His gift. Receive His grace. 

When we believe something deeply, it changes us. Some changes truly happen in an instant; others are a part of the journey to know Him deeper and love Him more. We mess up and His grace is deep and wide, when we confess, believe, and receive. 

When we believe in something... like gravity... we behave differently. We know there are consequences. Gravity is not bad. In fact, our life here requires it, but we must also respect it. We trust that there are consequences and we make our decisions. What do we truly believe in? 

Is there evidence of our belief in how we seek His face and His grace? Do we attempt to use it as a get out of jail free card or a back up plan? Or do we live our lives as an offering because of His sacrifice, great mercy, and love. 

His grace is the most precious, curious, and mysterious gift. We choose it or lose it. 

Today, I am grateful for the gift of grace.

Servant King

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 74: Today, I am grateful for a servant King. 

This scripture for today reminded me of the many years we sang it with the littles at church. It was standard Pre-K to 2nd grade singing and we were blessed by the many times the 1st-6th graders joined in. It is very Jewish sounding in its rhythm and tone. "We Have a King" is one "Earworm" loves to sing over and over. 

I think my favorite verse is:

"We have a King with a bowl and towel. We have a King with a bowl and towel We have a King with a bowl and towel... Servant King is Jesus." (It is actually the same tune as "What do do you do with a drunken sailor... early in the morning)

Our church has held on to foot washing as a tradition. It seemed so strange to me in the beginning. But then, after sharing it with the children, it has become dear to my heart. My dear friend Julie and I have practiced it on Palm Sunday for many years, with only a few missed years. We play the roles of Mary and Martha. It helps us explain that Jesus is our Servant King. 

Children teach us far more than we teach them. The first time, it was as strange to the children as it was to me. But we discovered together the delight in humbly serving another "family" member.

There was no pressure. Any one could pass, but most didn't. One year, they asked if they could wash each other's feet, too. It is a forever memory. Their enthusiasm and hearts to serve are beautiful. 

I have been delighted to see foot washing show up at weddings in recent years. Marriage is a commitment to washing another's feet symbolically... and occasionally literally. It was what Jesus did for the disciples at that final dinner before the garden prayers, the betrayal, the beatings, and then the cross. He endured it all so that we could be ransomed and free. 

"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” -Mark 10:45

It is a love like no other. 

Today, I am grateful for a servant King. 

Stand Strong

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 73: Today, I am grateful for those who stand strong. 

The lives of the martyrs capture our attention. It is humbling to read of their courage until their last breath. I remember wondering as a child if I would be strong enough to face persecution. It all sounded pretty scary. 

This is the scripture for day twenty of Lent:

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."-Matthew 5:10

If you are being persecuted for your faith, then someone noticed it. We are called to walk in faith with sincerity. We are to walk in the light of His word and His way. 

We are called to be strong in the faith, whatever the days may bring. The promise is woven for them. "For theirs is the kingdom of heaven." 

Today, I am grateful for those who stand strong. 

Modern Translations

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 72: Today, I am grateful for "modern translations."

Imagine reading and learning from the Torah as a "modern person" in 33 A.D.? Think about how English has changed from the 1600's to 2026. Perhaps with the mass availability of the written word, it changes even faster. There are precious ancient texts that can be lost if we do not learn how to read them and preserve them. As our country turns 250, our founding documents are not as easy to read as they once were, but they are no less important.

Jewish children still prepare for their bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah with Hebrew lessons. They read from the Torah in their service and celebration. It is pretty special to see. Imagine reading it as their ancestors did a thousand years ago. In the USA, we are big on memorization through VBS or Wednesday night programs. When I led teens at church, we would choose a life verse at the beginning of the new school year. Some of those are still so dear to my heart and hearing what the teens chose each year.

I started my life learning from the Kings James Version of the Bible, but the New International Version changed my ability to read and understand God's word. Today, the NLT and ESV compete as my favorites, but my childhood memory verses are still in my head the way I learned them. One, in particular, I never truly understood until a modern translation (Romans 12:1 in KJV). As an adult is one that I treasure having written on my heart.

This was my lent verse for today:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. -Proverbs 3:5-6

It made me think of a more "modern" interpretation from King David to Paul. His letters to the Roman church often brought Old Testament passages to life and into clarity. Read Psalm 22 and 23. With the crucifixion and resurrection in the rearview mirror, how different they read. This passage has the same heartbeat as Proverbs 3:5-6.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.-Romans 8:28

I know some translations are better than others. I encourage looking at many when a passage is confusing then seeking out the original Hebrew and Greek (blueletterbible.org). It is like a treasure hunt for word lovers.

Have an amazing day.

Today, I am grateful for "modern translations."

Protection

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 71: Today, I am grateful for protection.

So many checked in yesterday to see if my family was fine. This video was shared by my niece from a storm chaser, filmed 11 miles from their home. It is where we go to shop when we "run to the store" or if we head into Kankakee for any purpose. I am posting this partially to remember it in years to come. Wow! Nature's fury!

Our family is all safe. Many on the Lindgren and Bess sides had hail damage, but all are safe.

My Lent 23 scripture is:

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. -1 John 4:9

The things of this earth are subject to the elements in nature and man's careless ways. I am truly grateful for the his hand of protection in the storms of life. So far, the Kankakee area has reported no deaths which has been shocking due to the storm's intensity. 

Today, I am grateful for protection.

Straight Paths

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 70: Today, I am grateful for straight paths.

A dear friend once pointed out that when scripture talks about the "straight path" we often think of it being limiting and restricting... or "no fun." The author of lies loves this one (he gets no capitals in his name). We buy into it. The straight path is not boring, it is the shortest distance between two places, unless the road has other dangers. The straight path cuts time off of the journey. 

The straight path is often more traveled. Company on the journey means we can encourage each other. We are stronger together. 

Lent Day 22: "So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. " -Hebrews 12:12-13 NLT

This scripture is one I need to let "brew" a little more. He"brews" is good for that. 

Today, I am grateful for straight paths.

The Daily Things

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 69: Today, I am grateful for the daily things. 

There is a comfort and a familiarity in the ordinary, daily things that surround us. Life has extraordinary moments, but most of our days are filled with daily things. It is the daily things that make up and take up much of our time. It is where much of our life is lived. 

The Lent passage for Day 21 targets the importance of submission and obedience in the "not my will, but Thy will be done." Whatever the day may bring, there is a clear reminder to walk the walk daily. 

 "Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me." -Luke 9:23

For those devoted to exercise, it is not a once a week thing. It is 5-6 days a week with a couple days of rest. It is in the daily practice of something that it becomes familiar and an almost natural response. It becomes a way of living.

For those devoted to sports, reading, art, music, or anything else that sparks our passion, it is a daily pursuit that is done with joy. We find ways to fit it into our days. Jesus reminded us that it is our daily things that reflect if he is someone we like or love, or if he is truly Lord. 

Someone once said, "If he isn't Lord of everything, he isn't Lord at all." 

Today, I am grateful for the daily things.

 

Walk by Faith

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 68: Today, I am grateful we can walk by faith.  

We cannot see gravity, but we know it is real. We cannot see all of the germs on our hands that could make us sick, but we know that soap and water can help us avoid illness. We cannot see love, but we live in it every day. We cannot see the wind, but we know its power. 

We cannot see in the dark, but we can wander through familiar spaces without a light at night... until someone leaves an unknown obstacle in our path. That can be an unfriendly surprise. 

This is my scripture for day 20 of Lent:

"For we live by believing and not by seeing." -2 Corinthians 5:7

Our Heavenly Father delights in our trust. Jesus is "The Way"; he made a way for us to be redeemed, reconciled, and ready to for eternity. He is our hope and the Holy Spirit our comforter as we walk in faith. 

The world thinks faith is foolish, as the enemy puts up blinders. The enemy thrives on confusion. We can walk by faith, not by sight. He will lead us through the darkest days. We can walk in peace when our hope is certain of the things we do not see. 

Today, I am grateful we can walk by faith.  

Commitment

 Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 67: Today, I am grateful for commitment. 

The phrase "Commit your way to the Lord." is familiar, but what does that mean? We live in a world where commitments are often fractured and broken. Is commitment still valuable? Does it matter?

There are times it helps me to grab another translation for the sake of different eyes on a familiar piece of scripture. "The Message" has a way of bringing the scriptures to life in modern day language. I don't use it for deep study, but it is perfect for taking hard, timeless, or unclear language and wrapping it up in a ribbon for easy understanding and sharing. That happened today. 

Many of us know this passage in multiple translations. But what does "commit your way" look like in everyday living?

"Put God in charge of your work, then what you’ve planned will take place." -Proverbs 16:3 (MSG)

We are not to just simply ask him to bless our path and our journey. We are to invite him to be our tour guide from start to finish. Let him set the itinerary, the stopping points, the rest stops, and arrival time. It is okay to have ideas and make plans, but we must present them as an offering for daily living to find the depth of the joy He longs to bring to our ordinary days.

He is committed. Are we? 

Today, I am grateful for commitment. 

The Joy Response

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 66: Today, I am grateful for the joy response.

Joy is a response; joy is a choice.

Joy can be a surprise. There are unexpected moments in life when joy is instant or so deep it is hard to put into words. Holding your newborn baby is one of them. The miracle of it all is indescribable.  

There are other times, when joy arrives by invitation...by choice. When life gets hard, we can choose joy. When a situation feels hard and unrelentless, we can still choose joy. 

I spent some time praying on today's scripture. 

Lent Day 18 Scripture: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field." -Matthew 13:44 (NLT)

Once he found the treasure, it was his "one thing." He would do anything to obtain it. His other belongings became meaningless. He sold everything to obtain the one thing that was most precious. He held nothing back with no regrets. He understood the cost, but it was worth the price. He came face to face with the God who clearly commands, "You shall have no other gods before me." None... just One. 

The man did not miss the burden of the things he gave up for the one perfect prize. He had discovered one that was better than the rest. 

The parable attempts to explain the reciprocal and paradoxical truth that giving up everything unlocks abundant life in Christ. It is humbling to realize that our wandering, wayward souls are the very thing that the God of the universe deemed worthy of His greatest sacrifice. Enough so that He took on human skin for the rescue mission and the sin sacrifice. 

How can we not be joyful?

Today, I am grateful for the joy response.

Great Teachers

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 65: Today, I am grateful for great teachers. 

Our parents are our first teachers. My Mama Ina Mae loved that role and embraced it in every way. She led by example.  I am forever grateful for her gentle ways of showing me the path that led to Jesus. She walked every day in mercy, grace, and love until her last breath.  She was one of a kind. 

Psalm 25 is from David's heart. It made me think of Mama. It is for Lent -Day 17.

"Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalm-25:4-5

When you hope is in something solid... something that will not fail... there is a unique peace. The world can be a crazy place, but our God does not fail. His forgiveness and grace are deep and wide. His desire for us to respond in love and not just obedience is like any loving parent. 

He is the best of teachers and gave us a best-selling book to read again and again when we need wisdom and guidance. He gave us His Spirit to walk with us... whatever the day brings. 

Today, I am grateful for great teachers. 

The Benefit of Obedience

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 64: Today, I am grateful for the benefits of obedience.

It is natural for parents to want the best for their children; children and parents might disagree on what is best. There is truth that wisdom comes with age, but it is hard to see when we have the energy and distractions of youth. 

Most parents want the best for their children. They fiercely defend them. They try to clear troubles from their path, and they offer to help carry the burdens. Now, sometimes parents overstep and their children miss out on small lessons that help them prepare to make better choices later in life, because no one except our Heavenly Father is perfect. We keep trying to love them well, even when they are grown. 

This is my Lent verse for today: 

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.-Ephesians 6:1-2 

For Jesus, obedience to the Father meant a cross. What a mission. What a price to pay so that we could become the children of God. What an example of obedience when the mission ahead was brutal. Jesus was "obedient, even unto death" so that we might be free. His obedience became our cancelled sin debt so that we might be truly free. 

Today, I am grateful for the benefits of obedience.

Transformations

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 63: Today, I am grateful for transformations.

There are so many patterns in nature. There is an order to many of the patterns and then, along the way, God throws in some crazy whimsy plants, sea creatures, and animals. His creativity includes creatures that start as worms and then become beautiful moths and butterflies. 

They go through life mostly silent. If they could speak, would they complain in the worm season? They certainly seem to know they are beautiful when they emerge with wings. Transformations are rarely easy, often uncomfortable, but they are worth it. 

This passage is a reminder to seek his face and not assimilation in a world we are only passing through. Enjoy the scenery. Delight in the wonder, but do not conform. There are better things ahead. 

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." -Romans 12:2

Today, I am grateful for transformations.

Plenty to Share

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 62: Today, I am grateful for the blessing of having plenty to share.  

Sharing comes almost naturally when you have plenty to share. There is definitely more joy in giving than receiving. A shared meal is a perfect example. Some people do not eat left-overs. We are NOT those people. I prefer the idea of "planned overs" that can quick start the next meal. Dropping off food to a widow, widower, or tired single parent is an easy way to show love at a manageable cost. Generosity does not have to be extravagant. 

My friend, Dana, shared the great idea of giving experiences as your kids get older. Last year, we took a glass blowing class together as a gift to Randy. It is such a fun memory for the six of us. (Thank you, Glass Girl.) It was so fun to share the experience with the kids. It was the gift that kept on giving... including the gift of time together. Time is our most limited and precious commodity in this season of life. 

I think about the time Jesus spent on earth. Did it seem like an eternity away from Heaven? He is about the age my sons are when he was in his ministry and then faced the cross. He had plenty to share but so little time before facing the cross. His spirit was typically calm, but there was an underlying urgency to teach all that he could before he returned to the Father. 

The Gospels are precious because they are packed full of the words Jesus spoke. They are truly a gift that was meant to be shared. 

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." -John 3:16

This Lent scripture is one of the first we memorize as children or when we come to know Jesus. It stresses the gift of the Messiah. God gave his only son. I cannot imagine God's pain. I would die for my children in a heartbeat without a second thought. We have a heavenly Father who did not write us off because of our sin, inability to obey, and shame. He sent his only son to fix it. That is the opposite of abundance. There was only one fix. 

The Gospel travels light. We have plenty to share. Any earthly blessings we can share are a bonus. 

Today, I am grateful for the blessing of having plenty to share.  

Worry We Don't Have to Carry

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 61: Today, I am grateful for the worry we do not have to carry. 

Today's Lent scripture reading is:

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you."-1 Peter 5:7

I am truly grateful that we can cast our worries not in the wind, but the Him. The One you who was there in the beginning, the One who embraced being human, the One who carried our sin to the cross to eliminate our debt, and the One who conquered death. He has offered to carry our worries and to be our advocate before the Father. 

We can give our anxiety to the One who numbers the stars, calms the seas, walks on water, and created the bees to make honey. It is a wonder... and wonderful. Why do we fight him for our troubles? We pray for Him to take them, but then we snatch them back. 

We can set our anxiety free and travel light. He is the Master of the Universe and the one who knows us by name. 

Today, I am grateful for the worry we do not have to carry. 

Keep Doing Good

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 60: Today, I am grateful for reminders to keep doing good. 

This is the scripture for Lent day 12:

"So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up." -Galatians 6:9

Everyone gets weary at times. I am grateful for the many reminders to do what is good, right, and with a moral compass that speaks louder than words. We mess up at times, but His grace is deep and wide when we seek His face. He is never surprised by our confessions. 

What good can we accomplish on this day? Can we make even a little difference? Can we pour a little hope and light into someone else's hard season? I love reminders. 

Today, I am grateful for reminders to keep doing good.