December 31, 2010

These are great days, Dad got stuck in the yard and  shoveled and then did use the tractor and blower to get the yard open.  Later in the day he did get the mail, otherwise it was a day here at home.  I like to clean out during this week between the holidays and to get rid of "stuff".  That is what I am doing.

This devotion so says what I feel, and I may ahve written this to you before but I want to share it again. About the year that I wrote goals(and I often do) but these goals were very specific, God had really laid something on my heart.  I put them away and then later I looked back and would you believe it the goal had been accomplished.  So I challenge you................

Take Inventory


"Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always."

--Psalm 105:4

Where did this year fly to? Just when I get into the groove of writing the correct
year, I've got to learn a new one. It's hard to keep track anymore.

That's why right now is a great time to take inventory. Go back over the year and
ask yourself: Did I meet all of my goals, or at least some of them? Did I keep all
my promises, at least those I remember? Have my relationships strengthened with
family and friends? Did my life in the Lord Jesus deepen and grow? If I were to
ask a close friend, would he say that I've changed for the better over the last
year?

I'm not asking you these things to make you feel guilty. It's just good to close
 out the old, to tie up all the loose ends, and to bring closure to one year before
you begin a new one.

Did I commit myself to do something yet fail to do it? Lord, give me the courage
 to make amends with those I failed. Help me to be a promise-keeper and make good
on my word.

Did I testify as a Christian in my place of work? Lord, help me to stand up for
the faith where I work, because I want to be salt and light to the people around
 me.

Did I show appreciation to family and friends? Lord, forgive me for unresolved conflicts
and arguments left hanging. Help me to deepen my friendship with each family member
and each person You've placed in my life.

Did I enjoy being alone with the Lord this past year? Lord, keep reminding me that
quiet time with You is the source of my strength. As I commit myself to a special
time of prayer and the study of Your Word, hold me to my vows. May I glorify You
 in the year to come!

December 30, 2010

Yesterday was a day at home, all day.  Jack got the mail and that was about it.  I focused on cleaning, sorting, deciding what to send to Dakota Boys Ranch, and some to throw in the garbage.  It was a good day.    When we are here like this we can just relax.  but evening, we could see the wind pick up and drifts across the yard.  So being here in the comfort of our home is a good feeling.  I am thankful that Julie went back on Tuesday, I just talked to Janet she was on her way to work, but thinks she may not be there all the time as they are to get snow.

It was hard to make a decision on which devotion to use so this will be long because I am including both.

December 30, 2010


VERSE:
  [Jesus said,] "I have told you these things, so that in me you
may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take
heart! I have overcome the world.
   -- John 16:33
THOUGHT:
  This world is a place of struggle. Yes, we can live above the
struggle for awhile. We can find a way to simply ignore or re-label
the struggle for a time. But in the end, the struggle will find us.
But in the midst of struggle, we can remind ourselves that our
victory is secure. Jesus has won! We will share in his great
triumph. In case you didn't know, the final outcome is already
determined and Christians "win big" through Jesus. And this victory
is a forever win!

PRAYER:
  Thank you, God, for giving me the victory through Jesus Christ
my Lord. I greet the future with anticipation because I know each
day brings me closer to you and the glorious future you have
planned for all of your children. Until then, I pray that I may
never lose sight of that victory and yearn for the day of its
arrival! In the name of Jesus, the triumphant Rider on the white
horse, I pray. Amen.

When we are walking through a challenge it is so difficult to understand why, but when we look back we can see God's hand.  Maybe you are walking through a challenge, and can't seem to focus on what God is doing for the difficulty that you are facing, but when you have come through this challenge, you will see that God was with you all the time.

Joni's thoughts:

In God's Eyes

"You are the God who sees me."

--Genesis 16:13

When I was a teenager, rushing out of the house to meet my friends, I would invariably
be stopped at the door by my father who'd say, "Joni, I want you to act as though
someone were always watching. Don't forget that you're an Eareckson."

That irked me. I didn't want someone peeking into my life, observing everything
I was doing. There were private, teenage things I wanted to keep hidden. What an
 embarrassment to have some friend of my father's encroach on my Saturday night
turf to say, "Hi there, how's your dad doing?"

But now, many years later, I'm comforted by the idea that I ought to live as though
someone were always looking. It's an incentive to live an honest, responsible life.
Besides, someone is watching. Your life and mine are an open book before the Lord.

If you love the world of darkness, that idea will embarrass you. If you love the
 light, the idea that God never takes His eyes off of you will be a comfort. For
 those who are obedient, the watchful eye of God will seem tender and protecting.
For those who disobey, the open book of your life incites resentment and embarrassment.

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and
 laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:13).

Fear must never be an incentive to obey, for it will only breed burdensome rule-keeping
behavior. Please don't fear the watchful eye of God but draw comfort from His scrutiny
into your life. Let Him protect you, let Him guard you with His eye.

See me, Lord, and know my every thought and action. I invite You to look into everything
I do today, everything I decide or say. Watch me, please, and may Your steady and
loving gaze be my incentive to love You steadily in return.

December 29, 2010

yesterday, Julie left for Bismarck and at noon we ate in town.  After lunch I drove to Cando and spent the afternoon cleaning at the church.  The little storeroom under the stairway, is now ready to return the Christmas tree box and decoration boxes.  I have chosen this devotion from Joni this morning, it helps me to understand why God doesn't allow me to be a part of a lot of activities.

The Desert of Solitude


"But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased
to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not
 consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before
I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus."
                  --Galatians 1:15-17

"Others may, but you cannot." That was not only a cross-stitched proverb I once
saw hanging in someone's hallway, but it was the direct and personal word of the
 Holy Spirit to me. I saw many of my Christian friends enjoying all sorts of wonderful
activities, but if I ventured into the same, I felt out of place and a little uncomfortable.
Not wanting to trouble my friends, I kept these feelings to myself and quietly retreated,
not from my loved ones, but from the activities. My spirit felt better for it, but
I was also lonely.

Those became marvelous times of fellowship with the Lord Jesus. Having forfeited
 activities that were, for the most part, morally neutral, I was more free to pursue
a pure-hearted devotion to God. My loneliness became that which drove me deeper
into the heart of my Savior.

Distancing yourself from something that once held your heart can be a kind of withdrawing
into the desert of solitude where desires can be purified. It's a way of detaching
your desire from the magnetic pulls of this world in order to attach it more firmly
to Christ.

The love of God constrains us all, but it more tightly constrains some than others,
making the soul restless until it finds its desires fulfilled in the Lord and in
 the Lord only.

Make me sensitive to Your constraining love, Lord, and if You are calling me into
a desert of solitude, please give me the courage to follow.

Jesus bless your day.  

December 28, 2010

It was a good day, we went to Devils lake and did several errands, Julie helped with the selection of a different cell phone for me so I have a different number, I think she gave it to all of you.  topped off the drive with a coffee treat and spent the evening at home.  Julie is making herself a cap on the round loom, and finished it so she is trying something new on the loom,  and is making stripes.

VERSE:
  [Jesus said,] "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest."
   -- Matthew 11:28
THOUGHT:
  At the end of the year, it sure is nice to be invited to rest in
Jesus. So before we begin a new year, let's pause and place our
hopes, our future, our dreams, and especially our burdens down at
his feet and let him give us rest.

PRAYER:
  Teach me, O God, to learn to rest in your grace and providence
more and worry less. I want to surrender my burdens to Jesus and
let him teach me his way and how to find his rest. Sometimes I am
so tired and weary I don't think I can continue; so please, dear
Father, let me find rest in Jesus. In his holy name I offer this

I felt like these thoughts were just what we need to focus on at the end of the year.  As we reflect on this past year, how do we feel about it?  Have we seen the hand of God in what has happened?  Do we feel closer to God now at the end of the year than we did at the beginning?  Are we carrying burdens that keep us from having God's peace?

Father I pray that you would be with us this day, help us to put closer on events that have happened, help us to forgive ourselves, Father be with us this day and help us reflect and the focus on what you would say to us for the coming year.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

December 27, 2010

Yesterday we had church together, there were a few visitor sand some who were absent, it was a good service. Julie was at the piano and the usuals were the worship team.  Michael is a good speaker, his message was about keeping Christ of Christmas all year.  We visited for a while after the service and then got our usual pizza and came home. we each enjoyed a nap and then time here at home.  Julie went to see Charlie and Erica briefly.

Having More Than the Angels


"Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the
 heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ."

--Ephesians 1:3

An odd thing happened after I passed the twenty-five-year mark of life in a wheelchair.
I realized that if I should suddenly fall into bad health, I would not be able to
complain. "Lord," I reasoned, "You've blessed me for forty years with a body that,
although paralyzed, has been virtually free of disease and infections. I will praise
Your mercies for the good things I have had, and I will praise Your justice for
the difficult things to come."

Frankly, I've been inspired by some of my disabled friends who, for years, have
remained patient through intractable pain. Some are also blind and paralyzed. A
few have been abandoned by their families. These loved ones may not possess many
 earthly blessings, but they are as rich through abundant spiritual blessings in
 Christ Jesus. To them, God has given so much through the greatness of His mercies,
and He has denied them so little. That's a perspective straight from the heavenly
realms!

What are our spiritual blessings? Peace that is profound. A soul that is settled.
Assurance of joy. Grace to let go and give. Life eternal, rich and free. A home
in heaven. A best friend in God. Truly, we have more than the angels.

"Luther says: 'The sea of God's mercies should swallow up all our particular afflictions.'
If you pour a pail full of water on the floor, it makes a great show, but if you
 throw it into the sea, there is no sign of it. Afflictions considered in themselves
are great. But let them be considered in the sea of God's mercies and then they
are not so much. They are nothing in comparison." - Jeremiah Burroughs*

I am content, Lord, with every spiritual blessing You have given me in Christ.

I am wondering if we are content?  Are we satisfied with our life the way it is?  Do we appreciate what Jesus has done for us?  Has it become common place?  Sometime I think about how many years Jesus has been a part of my life and reflect on the night at a Bible camp service I stepped up to the alter and asked for prayer.  It was the beginning of a life that God has been a part of a life that I can take no credit for, that whatever happens for me is in his hands.....

I rejoice in the joy of the Lord

Luke 1:46b-47

My soul glorifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior..

Father, I pray that you would put a rejoicing in our hearts and a tenderness toward you and what you have done and who you are.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

December 26, 2010

Yesterday, we drove to Jerry and Julie's at Crary and ate  dinner with them.  Then we shared gifts and watched a movie together.  By that time it was almost dark so we started for home.  Night comes quickly and there was some fog.  Jack and Julie watched tv and I wrote some letters, I enjoy my little office and it is close to where everyone else is at.  Problem was I had some problems with the battery on computer and had to bother them.  Sorry to have interrupted your tv viewing.

The Day After


"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the
joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right
hand of the throne of God."

--Hebrews 12:2

One of my favorite days of the holiday season is the twenty-sixth of December. The
rushed conversations and frantic last-minute purchasing are over. Between Christmas
Day and New Year's Eve I take a day or two off, sleep in, get up to a relaxed breakfast,
and breathe a sigh of relief.

Later in the morning, we collapse on the couch in front of the fire, play board
games, or reopen gifts to take a longer, closer look. We read books and flip through
photos. We nibble leftover Christmas pudding and keep a warm pot of coffee for anyone
who may happen to drop by. For supper that evening, the menu is more leftovers,
perhaps sandwiches of turkey and stuffing. It's casual, homey, and relaxed. But
most important, it's simple.

It's a deliberate kind of simplicity. Demands and distractions may have sidetracked
us before, but December 26 is reserved for peace and quiet. There's plenty of time
to meditate on what the Good News of our Savior's birth really means. There's time
to ponder the future and pray. There are more than enough quiet moments to relax
 in the love of the Lord.

This week, aim for simplicity. The last few weeks may have been filled with baking,
shopping, concerts, gift wrapping, and dinner parties, but today, celebrate simplicity
as you fix your eyes on Jesus.

Lord Jesus, this week people around the world heralded your birth and celebrated
 Your gift of love. May the wonder of Your birth remain with me all through this
 day as I fix my eyes on You. I quiet my heart, I relax my mind, I slow my pace
so that I may meditate on your love, so pure and simple.

Those were thoughts from Joni and I feel that are good and appropriate.  Trusting that each of us can feel what she is expressing.

December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas to each of you.  Yesterday morning I cleaned out my e-mail and in the process sent a lot of greetings to people and then deleted e-mails that needed to go.  Most came back with positive comments and times of blessing that they were experiencing, but one came back sad and I have been thinking of her, and what I would do if I was in her circumstances.....

We drove to Grand Forks and enjoyed a service at the little country church and then an evening of food and fun with Gregg and Alicia and their family.

I choose Joni's devotion this morning because of the depth she has brought to the story.  How she makes it come alive.  Where would we have been that night, would we have been with those celebrating that night in the Inn, oblivious to what God was doing.....So now bring the story to today,  Are we listening for god's voice and his presence in our lives and in the live of those about us?..............

Step Outside

"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength."
--Isaiah 30:15

It was a chilly night in Bethlehem. People escaped the cold, damp air and crowded
into the little inn at the end of the street. They had left their donkeys and camels
in the back stable, had shut the door, and were now laughing and chattering with
 distant relatives they had not seen in years.

Family ties were renewed over bowls of hot soup and goblets of wine. People broke
bread together, swapping stories about their long journey. A teenager boy strummed
his lyre, and several fathers clapped their hands in time to the music.

While balancing a tray of meats and breads, the innkeeper answered a knock at the
door. A man calling himself Joseph stood outside with his cloak pulled tightly around
his head. It was late, cold, and he and his young wife who was heavy with child
needed a room. The innkeeper could barely hear Joseph speak with so much background
noise, but he managed to explain that there was no room-only an empty stall or two
in the back stable.

The innkeeper quickly apologized and slammed the door shut against Joseph. Outside,
Joseph stood and listened to the laughter behind the door. He sighed deeply, turned,
and quietly led Mary to the stable. While a celebration of music and feasting continued
behind the warm walls of the inn, yards away, the Son of God quietly entered history.

Sometimes the most special moments of Christmas happen not during a crowded party
but in cool, quiet silence. In the midst of bustling activity, God seeks out the
 quiet heart.

What a contrast between the serene stable and the busy inn. If only someone had
taken the time to peer out a back window, or leave the party to check on his donkey,
just think what he would have discovered! Perhaps he would have seen the angels,
 the shepherds, and yes, even the Son of God.

Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, there's room in my heart for You.

December 24, 2010

Yesterday was a day at home.  I did a bit of cleaning, and then focused on writing letters, I try to keep up with the cards that we receive and add a greeting that is personal to them.  Dad went and blowed the snow in Damschens yard, when he got home we ate, and then I went and mailed letters.  From there I went to see Frank and Dorothy.  They had their house all ready for Erica and Charlie to come over.  After we visited I drove by Damschen's and saw Charlie, Erica and family and then came home.  Julie arrived by the time it was time to eat.  I really am in the mood to clean so I have been doing more cleaning in the 'office'  time for paper reduction.

Today is the day when we remember that special event,  we don't know what day it really was but it is a time to remember...

VERSE:
  [The shepherds] hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the
baby [Jesus], who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him,
they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this
child, and all who heard it were amazed ... But Mary treasured up
all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds
returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had
heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
   -- Luke 2:16-20

THOUGHT:
  The shepherds' reaction to baby Jesus is exactly what our
reaction will be when we see the returning Jesus: we will glorify
and praise God for all the things we see and hear and will find
that they are just as God has promised them to us. Since God kept
his word in the first coming of Jesus, we can be assured that he
will do it with the Second Coming of Jesus!

PRAYER:
  Faithful and all powerful Lord, thank you for being trustworthy
and true. Help me to be faithful to you in what I do and say and
think during this stressful, yet marvelous time of the year. May I
never lose faith in the coming of Jesus and may my faith in him
ever shape my life to be more pleasing to you. In the name of your
holy Son I pray. Amen.

Where do we fit in? are we 'tellers' or ponderers?  Do we want to tell what God is doing in our lives?  Or do we like to keep things to ourselves?

Do we ponder and think about what is happening or do we make quick decisions?

Father, give me a heart to seek you and a desire to listen to what you speak to me.  Help me this day to be focused on you and the majesty and wonder of your coming to save my life from sin.  In Jesus Name. Amen

December 22, 2010

School is officially out til 2011, so I have a few days at home.  I stopped to visit Laverne and Stella, and then came home and made supper, I was really tired so went to be early.  Today should be better.

I like what Joni had to say:

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of
the entire Roman world. And everyone went to his own town to register."

--Luke 2:1,3

Unpleasant circumstances often have a way of being the best part of God's most magnificent
design. Performing their civic duty under the census posed a great inconvenience
 to Mary and Joseph.

The distance between Nazareth and Bethlehem was no short hike over sixty miles of
rugged terrain. Despite Joseph's attempts to make the trip comfortable, it must
have been extremely difficult for Mary, into her ninth month of pregnancy, to make
the three-day journey. But God decreed to have His Son born in the City of David,
and He used an external circumstance-the census-to get the Holy Family from point
A to point B. Despite the headache and hardship, God's sovereign timetable was ticking
off right on schedule.

Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking that only the right things, the comfortable
things, are a part of God's design. A good job, an adequate home, and money in the
bank give us the impression that we must be doing something right. Then when inconvenience or hardship hits, we wonder what went wrong.

Maybe nothing has gone wrong. Maybe we just need to realize that our most unpleasant
circumstances, much like Mary and Joseph's, often have a way of being the best part
of God's most magnificent design. God's sovereign timetable is working in the life
of your family, too.

O, help me to see, Lord, that every unpleasant circumstance in my life is, indeed,
part of Your wonderful design for my life. I thank You for the example of Joseph
 and Mary, who did not complain over the inconvenience of a census, a rough road,
a cold night, or a crowded inn.

I went to the scriptures to find the verse that said Jesus would be born there.

Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem, Ephrathah, 

though you are small among the clans of Judah,

out of you will come for me 

one who will be ruler over Israel,

whose origins are from of old,

from ancient times.

To think of what God's word predicted and the circumstances that were used to make it all happen.  How much other scripture has predictions/prophecy of what is to happen?  Will we be surprised in how it is accomplished?  What about the circumstances in our lives that we don't understand?  How is God using them to accomplish his purposes?

Sometimes I see people upset about what is happening around us, but should I be? Is God allowing things to happen to bring his purposes about?  Is he getting tired of the mess here on the earth?  When I pray and I see the negatives happening, should I feel that my prayers are to no avail?  Really I don't think so, because I can't begin to have a comprehension of what is God's will....

Father help me to wait upon you and allow you to do the work you need to bring me to the place you want me to be?  Father, it isn't about my will, it is about your will for me and my family.   In Jesus Name.  amen

December 22,2010

I didn't get to send a blog yesterday, I couldn't get online with the computer.  We started school late yesterday, the roads were bad, and I also took Ed Werner's children to school.  It was a good day and I left early because there wasn't anything for me to do.  I went to Cando to do errands there.  I was tired when i got home so supper and went to bed early. here are thoughs from Greg Laurie, I am wondering if we are true seekers?

True Seekers

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."
— Matthew 2:1–2


The story of Christ's birth is one of the Bible's most famous and loved stories, probably one that most people who are not even familiar with Scripture have heard at one time or another. And certainly a story we hear repeated every Christmas is the account of the wise men being led by the star to the place where the King was to be born.

Matthew's Gospel tells us these wise men came from the East (see Matthew 2:1). Skilled in astronomy and astrology, these men were highly revered and respected in their culture and were especially noted for their ability to interpret dreams.

Because of their knowledge of science, mathematics, history, and the occult, their religious and political influence grew until they became the most prominent and powerful group of advisors in the Medo-Persian and Babylonian empires. More than just soothsayers and magicians, they were dignitaries. And though they weren't kings, they were men of tremendous importance.

But even with all their knowledge, these wise men still had not found the answers they had been looking for in life. You might say they were seekers. We know they were true seekers, because God revealed himself to them in a special way when the star led them to the place where they could find Jesus: "When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy" (Matthew 2:10). Then they offered Him their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

God tells us in Jeremiah 29:13, "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." If you are also a true seeker, if you want to know the true God, then He will reveal himself to you too.

Father I pray that you would search our hearts and draw us to you.  Help us to have a new understanding of our relationship with you.  In Jesus name. Amen

December 20, 2010

yesterday we had Sunday School and church, I had planned for a Birthday Party for Jesus, but instead of 5 students I had 1,  but that happens often, we still did some activities together.  It was a good worship service and we came home and rested.  About 3 I drove over to the North Prairie Lutheran Church where we had a Sunday School Program, except it was mostly adults doing it.  There is one family with children in that church.  Afterwards a time of fellowship and then I drove to Cando.  I stopped to see Matt and Mavis for a bit and Steve and Judy Heisler came there.  then I saw Gladys and came on home.

I have chosen this devotion because I feel it speaks to me,  it is so easy to miss the real meaning, to be bothered by the inconveniences in our life and not allow God to use them to help us.  I highlighted one part of the prayer because I feel it is soo important......

VERSE:
  In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census
should be taken of the entire Roman world. ... So Joseph also went
up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the
town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married
to him and was expecting a child.
   -- Luke 2:1 and 4-5
THOUGHT:
  Isn't it amazing at how many inconveniences in our lives the
Lord uses to accomplish his will in us. Can you think of a worse
time to have to go on a cross-country trip with their modes of
travel than Joseph and Mary faced. Yet God turned it into the
moment in which the angels found their tune and Satan met his
match.

PRAYER:
  Father, I thank you that behind history, and especially behind
the part of history where I live, your hand is always working for
my redemption and your glory. Give me faith to ride out the
difficult times, knowing that you will use those difficulties to be
the incubator of your next great work in me. In the name of Jesus,
the Joy of angels, I pray. Amen.

December 19, 2010a

These are some thoughts that I wrote:

My Mom told me she had her first Christmas tree when she was eleven years old. Her family went to her friends home and her older brother stayed home and set up the tree. He had lit the candles on the tree. She was so thrilled to see their tree and she and her friend Clara each got a doll. The moms had sewed clothes for the dolls.

The first year I was married, and I was a believer at the time. I remember feeling that we needed to tell the Christmas story.  It wasn't something that had happened in my home.  So I used a tract from Lutheran Bible Institute that had come in the mail and before we opened gifts I asked if I could read it to my family.  That year my grandma was there and she commented on how much that meant to her  Every year we have shared the Christmas story of Jesus birth with who ever is with us for the evening.

When our oldest children were young, they were in a Good News Club and we had a birthday part for Jesus one year.  From then on we always had a Birthday cake for Jesus in our home.

We made many Birthday Cakes for Jesus, not just one for our family,  I shared them with employees and we shared them with people in church, one year we came home and had one extra cake left.  We took it to Earl and Nora Anderson at Hampden and I know they were touched.

The only other memory is one year when Jack and I and our children were alone, we got out the costume box and found appropriate costumes and acted out the Christmas story.  God's presence was very real that evening, and I felt like it was the best memory I ever had.

December 19, 2010

Yesterday was a day at home and I focused on sending Christmas greetings.  I wanted to get what I could mailed so I took them to town, Linda had brought goodies and everyone was sitting around and visiting while she got the mail out.  Then after dinner I went to town for coffee and then over to see Frank and Dorothy.  I needed to get things ready for Sunday School so did that in the evening.

"The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever-do
 not abandon the works of your hands."

--Psalm 138:8

God always finishes what He starts. He never begins a project only to leave it half-done.
He never writes a run-on sentence. He never walks away from a messy workbench. Unlike
us, God never carries over items on His "To Do" list from one eternity to the next.
He always completes what He begins. That includes you.

He started working on you years ago, long before you became a Christian. Take heart
today that the blueprint for your life is still spread before Him. He won't stop
 working on you until He reaches His goal. By the way, His goal is summed up in
Romans 8:29 and His purpose is that you might "be conformed to the likeness of His
Son."

Read Psalm 138 to see how God accomplishes His work in your life. He fulfills His
purpose in you with love and faithfulness (v. 2). Part of His goal is to make you
fearless and stouthearted (v.3), humble (v.6), and confident in His ability to preserve
and protect you (v.7).

For more evidence of God's "finishing what He starts," be encouraged by Philippians
1:6. He will never abandon or forsake you. His goal is to make you more like Jesus,
and He won't stop working on His goal for you until you are complete.

I am grateful, Lord, that You promise You will fulfill Your purpose for me. Thank
You for not abandoning Your work in my life when I am stubborn or disobedient. Today,
I want to be willing to cooperate with You. I want to agree with Your purpose in
 my life. I want to desire the same goals You have for my life. I praise You that
You always finish what You start.

I was encouraged by Joni's thoughts and then when I read Philippians 1:6....  being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  It is so encouraging to realize that God is working in us to make us into the kind of vessel he wants us to be.  There are no two people alike we are all God's vessels made to be what he wants us to be.

December 18, 2010

Yesterday, was a usual day of school I can't think of any thing special.  After school i went to Cando and cleaned the church and then stopped to see a couple of older people and came home fixed supper.  i actually watched 20-20 on tv and it was interesting about people(one from Nd) going to other countries to help those who are unable to help themselves.

VERSE:
  [Zechariah said,] "Praise be to the Lord, God of Israel, because
he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of
salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he said
through his holy prophets long ago."
   -- Luke 1:68-70
THOUGHT:
  What God does in Jesus is not a surprise. Yes, it was
unexpected, but the "hints" and prophecies of his coming are found
all over the Old Testament. The holy prophets had spoken about it
"long ago." But more than the prophets, Jesus' coming is God
keeping his word. Jesus' coming is God's answer to his promises.
That's why Paul can say that all God's promises find their yes in
Jesus and it is through Jesus that the "amen" is spoken (2 Cor. 1).
In Jesus, God comes, God ministers, God cares, God saves, God
redeems, and God keeps his promises.

PRAYER:
  I thank you, Holy Father, that you keep your promises. I know I
don't have to worry that you will keep your word to me; your love,
character, and kindness guarantee that you will. So please help me
be more faithful to you as I seek to honor my commitments and
pledges to you. I know this is important to you not only because I
need to learn obedience, but I also need to develop a character
more consistent with your own. Thank you for hearing my heart, in
Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

As I am reading the scripture that tells about Zechariah, and the angel appearing and how he trusted and believed and God honored that.  I am thinking of a couple of things.  Yesterday when I visited with Illa Mae Brandt, she told about someone in her family who just had this happen.  Illa Mae said she had raised a large family and life hadn't been easy, but her children were living for God.  She was visiting in Springfield and was in a shopping Mall, when someone came to her and put an envelop in her hand and when she opened it there was $100 but when she wanted to thank the person she couldn't find them.  Then I read about a group of ladies in Minnesota who saved their change in jars, and then found projects where they could bless someone,  They blessed a foreign student at Moorhead State and another girl who worked very hard to go to school, and were going to give a space heater to a family. One of the ladies worked at MS and was able to observe so they knew how to make a decision. Now that is what excites a person when we see examples of random acts of kindness.  People listening to the voice of God in themselves and then acting on it. It is like the program I listened to on tv last night. I am wondering what God might like me to do?

Father, we commit this day into your hands and pray that you will make it a day when we are conscious of you in all that we do.  In Jesus name. Amen.

December 17, 2010

Yesterday school was two hours late, and when I did go I was breaking a track through snow that was atleast two feet deep in places.  On the way to town the light came on to change oil, so after school I went back to Hampden and had oil changed.  Then after supper went back to school for Choir/band concert.  It was a good day.

VERSE:
  An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your
wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She
will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins."
   -- Matthew 1:20-21
     

THOUGHT:
  Jesus first had to become the sins of the people before he could
save them (us) from those sins (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 John 4:10). His own
people rejected him before his forgiveness could be received.
Jesus' gift of salvation was incredibly costly to him. It is a
reminder of two great truths: God loves us incredibly and salvation
is a precious gift. In Jesus we know and experience both truths!

PRAYER:
  Almighty God and Savior, thank you for bearing the cost of my
sin in Jesus. Thank you, precious Lord, for taking on human flesh
and bearing its difficulties and facing rejection so I could be
saved. My salvation makes all other names pale in comparison to
Jesus, in whom I offer all thanks and praise. Amen.

Heartlight is sharing devotions about the birth of Christ, we get so caught up in what is around us that we miss  who reason for our existence, 

Father, draw us nearer nearer to you even this day, help us to be tender to your voice and her you speak even in a small quiet voice, help us to listen to you and honor you in all that we do.  Be our strength and help a very present help in time of need.  In Jesus Name. amen

Lord help us to get back on focus.

December 16, 2010

This morning school is 2 hours late.   Dad is out blowing snow.  We just kept getting snow, but it didn't blow, so it still has a lot of potential.  They sent us home early from school, it was really difficult to see the roads, and to get the snow off the windshield.  I saw where one student from DL said it took they 1 1/2 hours to get home.  I enjoyed the evening, made a good meal and did some sewing, etc.  I thought these thoughts were appropriate:

Post-Blizzard Promise


"He is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness
after rain that brings the grass from the earth."

--2 Samuel 23:4

Roaring winds, the spray of sleet and snow, dangerous and slippery ice. Remember
 those storms when you were a child? I sure do. I'd shiver under my quilt, listening
to the creaking branches outside my bedroom window. Would the house survive? Would
I?

Moaning winds made me feel lonesome. I hoped sleep would let me escape the night,
but every time I'd nod off, rattling windows would shake me awake. I watched the
 twisted shadows of branches jerk madly across the bedroom wall. Would morning ever
come?

Yes, but with it, a different picture. I awoke to soft rays of sun warming my bed
covers. The howling had ceased and only an occasional gust would swirl powdery snow
off the sill. Quiet called me out of bed and to the window where I gasped at the
 dazzling white landscape. It was... beautiful.

There are days when my soul feels windblown, raw, and exposed-times when I'm tossed
in a blustery tempest and with everything breaking loose. But the God who brings
 beauty out of blizzards promises to bring peace after the storm. And when the beauty
dawns, I hardly remember the fright of that stormy trial.

If you sense storm warnings, hold on to a couple of "winter watch" verses from Scripture.
Recall how near and present the Lord really is. Cling to His promise of peace. Remember
that joy comes in the morning. Let Him cover your fear with His love, like a blanket
of snow, soft and gentle.

You are the Lord who calmed the storms and brought peace to fearful hearts. Praise
You for being the light of morning at sunrise. Thank You for being the brightness
after rain.

What ever storm we are facing in life God is waiting there to help us, to bring us to a calm and trusting place.

Father, help us to seek you in our lives and to rest in your presence as we go through this day.  

December 15, 2010

Yesterday was a busy day back at school, I was after school for about an hour helping a student get caught up with her work, then home briefly before I took another student to DL to a party.  I ate with Edna while she was there and we visited.  Dad was at Jarrets with Michael and they were doing the shell loading thing.

VERSE:
  The angel said to [Mary], "Do not be afraid, you have found
favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and
you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be
called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the
throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of
Jacob forever."
   -- Luke 1:30-33
      http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Luke+1:30-33

THOUGHT:
  Jesus is identified by many names stated or implied in the four
Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). Notice how Jesus is identified
in just this one passage: child, son, Jesus, great, Son of the Most
High, King, son of David, and leader of Israel (Jacob). Jesus
exhausts all descriptions, and yet chose to be limited to imperfect
descriptions by becoming human. But this flood of names and
descriptions helps us find Jesus as our Savior in every trial and
blessing of life. Jesus is Savior for all seasons.

PRAYER:
  Holy and Almighty Father, I thank you for all the ways Jesus is
described and all the names he is given. They help me see the
breadth of his nature and the depth of his character. Please bless
me that I may always find a dimension of Jesus' ministry or a name
or description of Jesus to help sustain me, when I walk through the
shadows of doubt caused by the evil one. Help me, O Father, to see
Jesus and not my preoccupations and biases so that when he comes
again, I will know him, and he me. Through the glorious name of the
Savior I pray. Amen.

I wonder if we really are thinking about the meaning of Christmas, or are we caught up in activities.  I wonder why the celebrations really came to happen, whether they are really God orientated.  That may sound strange, but I do wonder.    What are your thoughts?

are we focused on our relationship with God.  Child Evangelism has been having Birthday Parties for Jesus and the ministry has been quite effective with Children responding to the gospel and asking Jesus into their hearts.  That is what it is really about. 

Jesus help us to focus on you and our relationship with you and we pray for guidance in choices that we make.  In Jesus Name. Amen.

December 14, 2010

Yesterday I wasn't at school.  Dad took me to Devils lake and I needed to be there by 6:30 for tests.  By about 9:30 we left there and I had blood work at the clinic and then uptown to have some breakfast.  We spent the rest of our time doing errands.  It was a cold day but we had dressed warm.  These are thoughts by Greg Laurie:

Correcting Storms

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn't discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.
— Hebrews 12:7–8


When storms come into our lives, some of them can be considered correcting storms. After Jonah disobeyed God and tried to run the other way, a great storm arose, and God took hold of the reluctant prophet and put him back on course. That storm was the result of Jonah's own disobedience to God and the call on his life.

Many times we bring storms on ourselves when we do the wrong things and then experience the repercussions. And sometimes God will allow us to reap what we have sown so that we ultimately will change our ways.

But when we go astray and then face God's discipline, it is a reminder that we are His children. Hebrews 12:7–8 tells us, "As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn't discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all."

David wrote, "Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me" (Psalm 23:4). The staff is that long, crooked instrument the shepherd used to pull a wayward sheep back into line. But the rod is a club. And sometimes the shepherd would use the rod to break a sheep's legs, if necessary. That may seem drastic, but it is better to have a broken leg than to become a leg of lamb. If that sheep wandered away from the others, he was easy prey. So the shepherd protected that wayward sheep and the others that may have followed it.

In the same way, when we are going the wrong direction, God will discipline us. This is the purpose of correcting storms in our lives.

I am wondering if we can identify with this.  Are there storms in our lives, do we identify with them?  Do we see God in the storms we are experiencing?  Do we recognize that God is wanting to use those storms to draw us to him?

Father, we give  you this day, and we ask you to guide our steps and direct our path.  Father, for the storms we are experiencing help us to look to you in our lives and listen to your voice and remember that you have promised you would never leave us or forsake us.  In Jesus name.  Amen

December 13, 2010

yesterday we had Sunday School and church.  My little class has grown and a new family is making our church its home, so I have 3 new children and they are a rel delight.  I told them we were going to have a one room Sunday School with several ages and we would help each other.  One of our pastors in the congregation and his wife told about their missions trip to Kenya and he acted out the Christmas story from Joseph's view, It was a good service.  We were home the rest of the day as I am fasting for a test at the hospital this morning, we will be leaving at 5:30 for Devils lake.

I like Joni's thoughts trust that you will too.

"When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."
 --Ephesians 4:8

Some gifts you give because it's expected. Other gifts are spur-of-the-moment surprises.
Such are the gifts Ken enjoys presenting to me. He calls them omiages. In Japanese,
it means "a little gift that you are not required to give, as for a special occasion."

When I'm on a trip, I have fun picking out omiages for my husband. Once it was a
 tie from Ohio, another time it was a T-shirt from New York City. When I came home
from Texas, I presented him with a jar of chili sauce. Little, unexpected gifts.
 Ken is always so pleased because he knows that an omiage doesn't have to be given.
That makes it all the more special.

That's the way Jesus is with us. He's not obligated to give us gifts. He's not required
to shower us with blessings. He owes this utterly rebellious planet absolutely nothing,
and that's why His gifts are all the more special.

"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also,
along with him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32).

Thank God for His omiages the next time you are blessed by the sound of pattering
rain on the window. Or a ray of sunshine on your kitchen floor. The smell of pine
on a cold December day. The clattering of horses' hooves on cobblestones. The cooing
of pigeons in the park.

God gives gifts simply because He wants to. To top it off, they are generous gifts,
not little omiages but big ones. What gift has God given you today? Praise Him for
His blessings, small and great.

Lord and Giver of Life, thank You for being so generous. Today I will count my blessings
and be mindful to turn to You often and say, "Thank You!"

December 12, 2010

Yesterday we were at home, I mostly have been cleaning and sorting and putting away and throwing.  After dinner we went down to the O'Brien house and got it ready for winter.  We had lunch with the seniors but I didn't go see Frank and Dorothy, I feel like I might have a cold or something and didn't want to take that to Frank.

Last night Dad asked me if I had bought any cards from Joni, which I thought was interesting.  So I ordered some.  She draws and paints with hr mouth.  This is her devotion for this day:

"He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all
his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his
voice."
--John 10:3-4

Ever get the feeling you're somewhere out in front of God as you move through your
week? You bump up against a trial, and you know from Scripture that God is going
 to work all things together for good, but somehow you have the idea he's behind
 you, armed with a dustpan and broom, ready to do a cleanup job on you and your
problem.

Or perhaps you imagine God standing a few paces back with a bottle of glue, ready
to pick up the broken pieces of your life and paste them back together. Or do you
imagine Him with hammer and nails ready to follow after you and do a patch-up job
should things fall apart?

If you feel as though God's principal activity in your life is to follow behind
you and throw a rope after you've fallen headlong into a trial, then you need to
 memorize our verse for today. A shepherd never follows his flock, he leads them.
Jesus Himself says that he goes on ahead. He blazes a straight path and charts the
way.

Never is God surprised by your trials. Never does he push you out ahead and back
 you up with a dustpan and broom. God is out in front. In fact, God totally encompasses
you, front, side, and rear guard. As it says in Psalm 139:5-6, "You hem me in-behind
and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for
 me, too lofty for me to attain."

Thank You for leading me, Lord. Thank You for charting all of my days, planning
every event so that it fits miraculously into a pattern of good for my life.

Trusting that it is a blessing for you.

December 11, 2010

Yesterday was Friday, and I had been praying before I went to school, because I needed to talk to a staff person about something, and God is good, the person came to me right away and we could talk about the situation.  It was a good day.  I went to Cando after school because a young fellow from church had invited me to a party that his girl friend was giving..  It was an enjoyable time and I got to see into someone else life. 

 I have chosen to use a devotion by Joni, and I wonder if you can identify with what she is saying

"'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call
 him Immanuel'-which means, 'God with us.'"

--Matthew 1:23

I hated school when other kids created trouble. Do you remember the feeling? You'd
be falsely accused of calling someone a name. Or other kids wrote nasty notes about
your hair or clothes. Or the bully towered over you, ready to punch your lights
out. For those moments, the world might as well have ended. You couldn't imagine
 how life could go on.

I imagine that Joseph felt like that when he heard of Mary's pregnancy. His engagement
was not going according to classroom rules. People started talking. Whispering,
giggling. Sneering. And who knows, perhaps Mary had an older brother who would have
beaten the life out of Joseph.

But notice what the angel tells Joseph: "'The virgin will be with child and will
 give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel'-which means, 'God with us'"
(Matthew 1:23).

God with us. What wonderful words Joseph heard. It made all the difference.

Remember those tough days at school? What a relief it was when the teacher showed
up at just the right moment to make things right. To stop the talking. To halt the
fight. The teacher was in the room and all was well. Whew! So, too, God would be
 with Joseph and Mary.

But that's not all, I imagine. God was not only going to be there, He would be on
their side. Just like the teacher who says, "I'm with you,son. The rest of you,
run along."

God's promise must have emboldened Joseph because the next day he took the less-traveled
road and married Mary. Such was his confidence in God's presence and God's defense.

Lord, life has not presented itself in a pretty package each day. But I know that
You are with me. And I know that you are on my side. How can I fail? Give me courage
to take roads less traveled, because You are mine and You are there.

Father when we feel that we are in a world that doesn't care, that only wants their way or only cars about themselves, we are reminded that you do care and you are with us.  Father we give you this day, In Jesus Name. Amen

December 10, 2010

Yesterday school and after school dad and I went to Langdon for our last estate planning session.  We went early enough so I could do some shopping at Alco.  The sessions have been very helpful and we are talking about it.  It will take some time before we make any decisions.  I really liked this decision and felt it was so true and also encouraging.  So when you are experiencing trials that you don't like, God hasn't left you, he is there and he cares about you.

No Trials, No Triumphs

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
— Psalm 23:4


Maybe you are in one of life's storm right now and have cried out for it to stop, and it hasn't. In fact, it has gotten worse. You're asking why—why has God allowed this? There are no easy answers to that. But know this: where there are no trials in life, there will be no triumphs. It has been said, "The hammer shatters glass, but it forges steel." And often in the hardships of life, great things will come as a result.

The apostle Paul died and went to heaven, and he wrote a few lines about it. But then he was imprisoned under house arrest and wrote the epistles of 1 and 2 Timothy. Through his glorious triumph in heaven, he said very little. But through his difficulties and hardships, he said a lot.

Many times when you go through difficulties in life, there are things you will learn and discover that you could not learn anywhere else.

Psalm 23 is a well-loved passage of Scripture that many have committed to memory. It is a pleasant scene of sheep grazing on grass and drinking from cool mountain springs. We love that. We love the green pastures and still waters. But then David continues on: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4).

Yes, there will be those times when God will take us to the green pastures and still waters. But He will be with us in the valleys as well. And it is through those valleys we learn important lessons, because fruit does not grow on mountaintops; it grows in valleys.

God has His purposes in the storms of life. And He is with you in your storm.

Father, I pray for each one in our family today, that they would be more sensitive of your presence in their lives, that you would draw them to you and that they would see victory in their walk with you.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

December 9, 2010

Another day of school.  and students out early and teacher inservice for the rest of the afternoon.  Evening at home together.  

VERSE:
  [Jesus said,] "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man
remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me
you can do nothing. ... This is to my Father's glory, that you bear
much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."
   -- John 15:5,8
THOUGHT:
  We take on Jesus' character (bear fruit) by remaining intimately
connected to him. The distance between heaven and earth is not so
great when heaven lives within us. In John 14, Jesus reminded us
that if we will obey him, he will come and live in us and will
reveal himself to us. So as we obey him, we know him better. His
life becomes real in us.

PRAYER:
  Precious Lord, I want to obey your word, your will, and your
example. I want to obey you to honor you, to love you, and to know
you. So please, help me better come to know you as I more closely
walk in your steps. Help me to know what it means to live your life
in my world. Because of Jesus' mighty name I pray and thank him as
my Lord. Amen.

Father all that I am is based on my relationship with you.  Help me Father to be a willing vessel and willing to listen to what you are speaking in my heart.  Father I pray for my family that you would minister to them and guide their steps this day.  In Jesus Name.  Amen

December 8, 2010

Yesterday school and afterwards we went to Langdon for the sessions on estate planning.  They have been very good.

VERSE:
  Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through me."
   -- John 14:6
THOUGHT:
  I don't want to be any more exclusive than Jesus. But I do want
to hear his voice. He calls me to find the way to the Father
through him. I must also know that others must know him to find
their way to the Father, too. How can we not be more passionate
about those around us who do not really know Jesus as their Savior,
Redeemer, Brother, and Lord? How can the first four books of our
New Testament lie unread?

PRAYER:
  Holy God and Righteous Father, give me a passion for Jesus and a
heart that knows him in word, deed, and concern. In the name of
Jesus, your mighty Word, I pray. Amen.

These were some additional suggested verses, I always read all the verses because sometimes the last verse is the one that God wants to use to speak to me.

Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.

4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

6:4 Rather as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; ...

Revelations 3:21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.

12:11 They overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony;  They did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

John 11:41  So they took away the stone.  Then Jesus looked up and said, Father.  I thank you that you have heard me.

John 7:39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.

13:31 When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him.

3:35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands...

Do we know and love the Father with the potential that is there?  

Father, open our hearts up to know you in a new way even this day.  In Jesus Name.  amen.

December 7, 2010

This is an important day in history, we have been asked to fly our flags at half mast, to remind us of the part this even had in our lives.  Pearl Harbor was bombed this day, many sacrificed so that we might live and have freedom

Yesterday was a normal day, I help in a variety of places, where ever I feel I am needed, helping individual students and helping in other areas.  After school I went to Cando and cleaned the church because there isn't Bible study this week.  I was so tired I went to bed early and was asleep when I got a call that I need to take some students to school this morning.  I have chosen to share Greg Laurie's devotion this morning because I feel it is applicable to our lives this day.

Facing the Storms

For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.
— Matthew 5:45


Have you ever been caught an unexpected storm? When a big storm is approaching, the meteorologists usually will tell us about it. And if it is really building, if it is at hurricane strength, it might even be given a name because of its significance.

There are times when we know storms are brewing and building. And there are other times when they come out of nowhere. But one thing we need to know about life is that we will have storms—storms of hardship, tragedy, difficulty, and worst-case scenarios. Some of these storms can be life-altering: the death of someone you love, an illness, a disability, a conflict at home or work, being laid off, or even a rebellious child.

At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talked about two men who built their homes, and the storms came. And the storms always will come. In fact, there are really two kinds of people in the world: those who are going through a crisis and those who will go through a crisis. You either are in a storm or you are ultimately headed into one. The rain will fall, according to the Bible, on the righteous and the unrighteous. So we cannot control whether or not the storms come. All we can control is how we react to them.

I don't have any words of assurance for those who go through storms in life without God. But for the Christian, I do have some: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). For those who have put their faith in Christ, ultimately all things will work together for good. Where are you putting your faith today?

Today I think of the storms each of us is facing, they are all different but they are there, and God wants to use them in our lives, he is with us through every experience we are experiencing and  He wants us to yield to him and allow him to take over in our situations, you might say that isn't possible, but it is possible, we have to do the yielding. 

 Father, I pray that you would do in our lives what it takes for us to be yielded to you.  You are loving and caring and you desire your best for us,  I don't always understand what that means but I want your will  for my life.  In Jesus Name. Amen.