blame it on the rain

I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit.

- Leviticus 26:4

 

I can remember growing up in the midwest, this time of year the rain was coming less often and it was getting hotter and drier.

My mother, having grown up on a farm, referred to it as the “dog days of summer”.

I used to think that meant that we would have a bunch of dogs running loose in the neighborhood, but instead it was referring to extreme hot and humid days coming in July and August. 

If you are into astronomy, you also recognize that the dog days of summer generally coincides with the early rising of Sirius the Dog Star, when the star is visible in the eastern sky prior to the sunrise. 

In ancient Egypt, the Nile River flooded each year, bringing with the waters the rich soil that was needed to grow crops in the desert.

Read today’s verse again, God said in that He would send rain in its season and the ground would yield its crops.

I feel like this is just further proof that God does take care of us, seeing to our every single need.

If God can send rain to grow crops in a desert, why is it hard for us to believe that He will move mountains for us?

 

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don’t lie to me

An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.

- Proverbs 14:5

 

“Liar, liar, pants on fire!”

We all heard that growing up, right?

As children we are taught not to lie because even a little tiny lie can grow out of control.

Even Veggie Tales had an episode about lying: Larry-Boy and the Fib from Outer Space!  (oh my gosh, I miss Veggie Tales!)

Lies hurt, lies can destroy lives and no one likes to be lied to or about.

Often when we are faced with a difficult encounter, we find it easier to lie that to tell the truth because “we don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings” or “it’s easier than trying to explain the truth” or my favorite “I don’t know, it was just easier to lie”. 

When we start with a lie, more lies join in and pretty soon it is hard to discern the truth.

When we lie to others and they find out we lied (and they will find out, believe me) their trust in us is broken and soon they will not trust us at all.

Honesty, even when painful really is the best policy, and we can learn to be truthful without being hurtful.

Even little lies will come back to bite us, so it’s better to stick to the truth.

 

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I can Google that

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

- James 1:5

 

Sometimes we have questions, sometimes other people have answers and sometimes we have to google the answers.

When I was growing up and asked a question I was often told to look it up, which meant going to the Encyclopedia if we had one or the library.

Kids today have things so much easier with “the googles” but they still need to be careful because not everything on the internet is true.

Wisdom can be found through many sources, but the best wisdom will come from God.

When we have something on our mind that we just can’t figure out, we can find answers by turning to God.

We can trust the wisdom received from the Father way more than the internet.

 

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Vulcan mind meld

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

- Isaiah 55:9

 

I am a little bit of a nerd . . .  my brother raised me on Star Trek and Star Wars, my husband further encouraged my love for fantasy/sci-fi by exposing me to Battlestar Galactica and the Marvel superheroes so forgive me if when I hear this verse, my mind wanders to the Vulcan mind meld “my mind to your mind, my thoughts to your thoughts”.

Sometimes I feel like it would be nice to know what God is thinking, but in reality, there is no way our tiny human minds could possibly comprehend the vast expanse of knowledge that God has. 

Honestly, I don’t think that we would want to either.

Our hearts could not take the pain and suffering that God sees, we see the suffering of our friends, family, neighborhoods, even cities, states and countries, but God sees it ALL. 

If it hurts us to see our friends and family in pain and we are not able to do anything, imagine how God feels when He sees His children hurting, and not turning to Him.

God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours, but He wants us to lean on Him, call out to Him, and rely on Him, and when we trust Him in all things, it is far better than a Vulcan mind meld.  

 

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disaster

Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth.

- Daniel 9:13

 

There are a lot of people that believe that we are in the end times, that soon we will see the second coming of Christ.

I can see why some believe that, with all of the horrible things going on in the world.

In the last few years the earth has seen devastating fires, floods, snow, earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis in addition to the pandemic that essentially shut down many countries.

But is it really end times or is it instead a wake up call for us to come back to God?

In the story of Noah (Genesis 6) God saw the wickedness of the human race and chose to destroy the earth, except Noah and his family.

In the story of Abraham (Genesis 18) God saw the evil that was in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and planned to destroy them, but gave Abraham a chance to find righteous people there and let them leave before raining fire on the towns. 

All of the disasters that we are facing, are they a call for humankind to return to God?

I can’t answer that – no human can – but what I can say is why do we need a reason to turn to God? 

We should praise Him always, in good times as well as when we are hurting.

There are a bunch of feel good quotes out there about living a good life:

Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. - Steve Jobs

Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less. - Marie Curie

Open your eyes, look within. Are you satisfied with the life you're living? - Bob Marley

And a personal favorite:

I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn't, than live as if there isn't and to die to find out that there is. - Albert Camus

Maybe instead of dwelling on the disasters and evil in the world, we should focus on our relationship with God.

 

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we will overcome

And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.

- Revelation 12:11 (NLT)

 

Today’s comments come from my dear friend Leon in response to last Tuesday’s Daily Bread “how did we get here”:

Sharing your testimony with others is a must for all Christians. When giving your testimony you tell how you came to trust in Christ alone as your Lord and Savior. You tell how God opened your eyes on how you were in need of a Savior.

Testimony is a form of praise and honor to Christ. It is sharing with others the events that led up to our salvation and how God has worked in our lives to bring us to our faith.

We also use it as a way to encourage others. Know that every time when you’re going through trials and sufferings in life, that’s an opportunity to share a testimony of how God worked in your life and made you stronger.

Remember, testimony is not only the things that we say. The way we live our life is a testimony to unbelievers as well.

Your story is the key that can unlock someone else’s prison.

I have a song reference too (of course I do!)

Seated above, enthroned in the Father's love

Destined to die, poured out for all mankind

God's only Son, perfect and spotless one

He never sinned but suffered as if He did

All authority

Every victory is Yours

All authority

Every victory is Yours

Savior, worthy of honor and glory

Worthy of all our praise, You overcame

Jesus, awesome in power forever

Awesome and great is Your name, You overcame

Power in hand speaking the Father's plan

You're sending us out, light in this broken land

All authority

Every victory is Yours

Savior, worthy of honor and glory

Worthy of all our praise, You overcame, You overcame

Jesus, awesome in power forever

Awesome and great is Your name, You overcame, yeah

We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb

And the word of our testimony, everyone overcome

Being a Christ follower is not about comfort, and it’s not easy, though it can be comforting and it lightens our burdens.

We don’t overcome by being afraid, we are called to go forward, even when the road is hard and we may feel all alone.

Over the years I have found myself becoming more vocal about my faith and over the past few months, I have found myself facing my fears head on.

I would hope that hearing my testimony will lead someone toward a path with the Father, after all, it is up to us.

How can you help someone today?

 

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thirty years

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

 

Today marks the thirtieth anniversary of the death of my brother.

It still makes me sad because he was too young to die, and I was not ready to lose him.

As the years have passed, the sting has faded but I still hurt, we had a lot of unfinished business.

Song reference to a secular song that reminds me a of my brother, since he was 9 years older than me, and stepped in to raise me after our dad passed away: 
Goodbye to you, my trusted friend

We've known each other since we were nine or ten

Together we've climbed hills and trees

Learned of love and ABC's

Skinned our hearts and skinned our knees

Goodbye my friend, it's hard to die

When all the birds are singing in the sky

Now that the spring is in the air

Pretty girls are everywhere

Think of me and I'll be there

We had joy, we had fun

We had seasons in the sun

But the hills that we climbed

Were just seasons out of time

Goodbye Papa, please pray for me

I was the black sheep of the family

You tried to teach me right from wrong

Too much wine and too much song

Wonder how I got along

Goodbye Papa it's hard to die

When all the birds are singing in the sky

Now that the spring is in the air

Little children everywhere

When you see them, I'll be there

We had joy, we had fun

We had seasons in the sun

But the wine and the song

Like the seasons have all gone

We had joy, we had fun

We had seasons in the sun

But the wine and the song

Like the seasons have all gone

This last year has brought a lot of death to our families, and that loss can be overwhelming.

We had our seasons with our loved ones, and it is important to remember that they are with the Father, we need not grieve forever (I know it is easier said than done) because we will meet again in the Father’s house. 

 

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with us

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

- 1 Corinthians 3:16 (NKJV)

 

We are not alone! 

This is reiterated to us over and over in the Bible, and you know what I say about that – if it is repeated to us multiple times, it must be something that God wants us to hear, know and understand. 

I ran across a really cool Celtic prayer I’d like to share:

God with me lying down,

God with me rising up,

God with me in each ray of light

nor I a ray of joy without Him,

nor one ray without Him.

Christ with me sleeping,

Christ with me waking,

Christ with me watching,

every day and night,

each day and night.

God with me protecting,

The Lord with me directing,

The Spirit with me strengthening,

forever and for evermore,

ever and evermore,

Amen.

This poem says a lot, God is with us, every moment, from the time we wake up until we fall asleep and even while we are sleeping, we are loved, protected, guided, strengthened.

Who could ask for more?

 

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translations

Cause my heart to bow before your words of wisdom and not to the wealth of this world.

- Psalm 119:36 (TPT)

 

When I was in high school, part of the requirements for graduation was two years of a foreign language, and being the overachiever that I am, I took four years of German!

My German teacher is an amazing woman, full of stories and fun information and she told us that we have to be careful with dialects and slang,  because what we think we are saying may not be what we want to convey.

She told us of a fellow teacher that was in a country that spoke the language that she taught, after a wonderful meal, she leaned back, patted her tummy and said in that language “I’m so full”, but in the dialect she used, her hosts heard “I’m so pregnant”! 

What on earth does this story have to do with a Bible verse?

The verse I chose today is from The Passion Translation, but I want you to see it is several other translations: 
Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. (KJV)

Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. (NIV)

Turn my heart toward Your Law, so I will not earn money in a wrong way. (NLV)

Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money! (NLT)

And the long one:

God, teach me lessons for living so I can stay the course.

Give me insight so I can do what you tell me— my whole life one long, obedient response.

Guide me down the road of your commandments; I love traveling this freeway!

Give me an appetite for your words of wisdom, and not for piling up loot.

Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets, invigorate me on the pilgrim way.

Affirm your promises to me— promises made to all who fear you.

Deflect the harsh words of my critics— but what you say is always so good.

See how hungry I am for your counsel; preserve my life through your righteous ways! (MSG)

The way we say things sometimes changes the meaning. I think that David’s intent in this verse was a pleading with God, after all, David had coveted and taken another man’s wife, but here he is in the original King James Version of the text, a king, asking God to guard his thoughts against wanting things that are not his.

And in later translations the “coveting” turns to want or love of money.

Kind of tells you where our mindset is, huh?

We need to think carefully before we speak, before we fan the flames of jealously in our hearts and minds, we need to turn to God so we are not bogged down with discontent for our own lives because we spend time looking into the lives of others. 

 

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how did we get here?

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them — yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

- 1 Corinthians 15:10

 

I believe that we have all been through some crazy things in our lives.

I think about my story, some of the things that I experienced, the damage that was done to me physically, emotionally and spiritually, and I am happy to say that I made it through because I was strong. 

Then I hear someone else’s story, everyone has a story, and I think “wow, that would have broken me, and look at this person, still standing strong”.

We compare stories with our friends and sometimes even strangers, we do it so that people know where we are coming from and how we can relate to one another, and we all feel that we have come through the fires because we are strong. 

We have come through the fires because of God’s grace.

He is the one that holds us, uplifts us, carries us.

OH! Poem reference!!! 

One night I dreamed a dream.

As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.

Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.

For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,

One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,

I looked back at the footprints in the sand.

I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,

especially at the very lowest and saddest times,

there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.

"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,

You'd walk with me all the way.

But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,

there was only one set of footprints.

I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you

Never, ever, during your trials and testings.

When you saw only one set of footprints,

It was then that I carried you."

We don’t travel through our lives alone, God is with us always, His grace carries us through every low point and celebrates the high points with us.

The grace of God in us is what makes us strong.

 

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we’re lucky

The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him

- Daniel 9:9

 

I wasn’t the best kid growing up, I haven’t been the best wife or mother over the years, and I think if anyone reading this thinks that they were or are still perfect, you’re not facing the truth about yourself or your world. 

I have often wondered how my parents, kids or husband still loved me after I was being especially naughty, mean or rude.

How does our Father still love us because we have not been the children He wants us to be,

We are so lucky.

Our God forgives us, has mercy on us.

Song reference! 
God, I'm on my knees again

God, I'm begging please again

I need you

Oh, I need you

Walking down these desert roads

Water for my thirsty soul

I need you

Oh, I need you

Your forgiveness

Is like sweet, sweet honey on my lips

Like the sound of a symphony to my ears

Like Holy water on my skin

Dead man walking, slave to sin

I wanna know about being born again

I need you

Oh, God, I need you

So, take me to the riverside

Take me under, baptize

I need you

Oh, God I need you

Your forgiveness

Is like sweet, sweet honey on my lips

Like the sound of a symphony to my ears

Like holy water on my skin

(On my skin)

I don't wanna abuse your grace

God, I need it every day

It's the only thing that ever really makes me wanna change

Your forgiveness

Is like sweet, sweet honey on my lips (yes, it is)

Like the sound of a symphony to my ears

It's like holy water

We are lucky, and we need to extend the love, mercy and forgiveness that God gives us to those around us too.

The next time your parents, spouse or kids make you angry, remember that you should have mercy on them just like God has mercy on us.

 

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lamp light

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

- Psalm 119:105

 

When I was a teenager, my friends and I used to go walking at night in the summer.

Iowa can get pretty hot and humid and sometimes after the sun went down was the best time to walk to the park and meet our friends.

We never got scared except for this one section that had no street lights and that section was so dark you could not see your hand in front of your face.

We did not normally walk that way but it was a short cut and a storm was rolling in so we were in a hurry to get home, and that night, we were afraid.

We thought we heard noises, we thought we were being followed, we tripped a few times, we prayed out loud that God would protect us and when we looked, could see a single light in the distance. 

Song reference!

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path

When I feel afraid

Think I've lost my way

Still you're there right beside me

And nothing will I fear

As long as you are near

Please be near me to the end

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path

I will not forget

Your love for me and yet

My heart forever is wandering

Jesus be my guide

And hold me to your side

I will love you to the end

Nothing will I fear as long as you are near

Please be near me to the end

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path

And a light unto my path

You're the light unto my path
We never walked that way at night again, and in fact I hadn’t thought about that night in a long time, but looking back, I truly believe that God heard the cries of two scared girls and powered that light on to guide us home.

You see, God works that way for real, when our world is dark and we are scared and alone, all we have to do is call on God to guide us.

He will always put us on the right path.

 

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story time

Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you.

- Deuteronomy 32:7

 

I love to sit with older people and hear stories of their past, what things were like when they were growing up, how people handled different situations, and especially reactions to new things. 

One of my favorite memories with my in-laws is sitting on the front porch on a beautiful Iowa evening, my sister-in-law had a book with questions in it that were geared toward a younger generation asking an older family member, so we were talking to Grandma Marie.

Each question she would think for a moment and answer with wisdom and knowledge that she had gained throughout her years, it was inspiring, amazing, tear-jerking and sometimes her answers provoked laughter. 

I may not remember every word that she shared that evening but I will never forget her face lighting up as she shared some of her happiest memories with us.

The Bible has many stories in it, some of the greatest stories ever told, and this is knowledge that we should have and share.

The knowledge that our elders have also needs to be passed down, it might surprise you how much they actually know, and how much of their life lessons are still very relevant today.   

 

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do overs

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool."

- Isaiah 1:18

 

“Do overs!” I really doubt that any of us did not say that (usually scream) or hear that (again screamed) at some point in our childhood (or even as adults!).

When we were playing games with our friends and the dice didn’t fall the way we wanted, we’d say “do overs” and buddy, that was the law! 

If you said “do overs” you got “do overs” unless it was set in the rules before the game started.

Even today as adults functioning in a grown up world, quite often we find ourselves wishing we could do it over.

Sometimes it is because we regret what we said or did, or what we didn’t say or do.

We may not get to have do overs as adults, but we have a God who is willing to help us make things right.

We just have to ask for His forgiveness, and guidance to redeem ourselves for the future.

I may not be perfect, but God says that we can talk this through.  

 

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