Do Not Seek Revenge

“‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.'" — Leviticus 19:18 

Today is our bluegrass Sunday at church.

And afterward, we have a courtyard fellowship with more bluegrass music plus pies!

So I spent the morning baking pies for the fellowship time and for our friends who share their fresh fish with us.

Blueberry and cherry. Yum!

This verse hit home with me last week as I was struggling with a colleague who has not been treating people well.

Even so, God really convicted me about not holding a grudge.

And not excluding them when we invite others to join us to celebrate our anniversary in October.

It's so easy to hold a grudge.

But God commands us to love our neighbor as ourself. Even when they don't treat us well.

Help me, Lord, to obey.

Whoever Loses Their Life for Me Will Find It

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. — Matthew 16:25

Our neighbor returned from vacation today and brought these gorgeous tomatoes to us. 

They are delicious as well as beautiful.

And they are part of God's marvelous creation.

So am I.

God lets us know that if we give up our lives for Him, we will find true life.

Lord, help me to lose my life to You.

Instead of trying to save my life for the world.

The Lord Is Patient With You

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. — 2 Peter 3:9

The Lord always keeps His promises.

His timing is not mine.

Rather, he is patient with me.

Taking His time so everyone can come to repentance.

Having mercy on all of us.

And we are thankful.

The Lord Is Faithful

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. — 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Yesterday we kicked off our Vacation Bible School. 

Our theme this year is Hometown Nazareth: Where Jesus was a kid.

We have several children from other countries participating.

Some who don't speak much English.

Our preschool group included one three-year-old who had just arrived in the country.

He told his mom afterward that Americans really love their cheeses.

He wasn't talking about the string cheese they served but rather the songs they sang.

When she asked him to tell her more, he said, "Today we sang about how much we love cheeses."

Then he sang, "Oh, how I love cheeses, Oh, how I love cheeses."

I couldn't stop laughing when I heard that story.

His mom shared it with the preschool teacher.

The Lord is faithful.

He will strengthen us.

And God will protect us from the evil one.

Oh, how I love Jesus!

Sing to God, Sing in Praise of His Name

Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. — Psalm 68:4-5 

I love to sing praises to God.

Rejoicing before Him.

He rides on the clouds.

His name is God the Lord.

He is a father to those who have no father.

And a defender of widows.

He adopts the orphans into His family.

And He reigns over us in His holy dwelling.

Alive and well in heaven.

Extol Him!

Sing in praise of His name.

Those Who Hope In the Lord Will Renew Their Strength

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. — Isaiah 40:31 

Today we woke to the news that Spencer, Iowa was flooded.

The Little Sioux River overflowed its banks and sections of the town and cemetery are under water.

Our prayers go out to the people of that town and others that were affected.

Here's the Dairy Queen Kirk and Ernie stopped by on their way to Akron a couple of years ago.

We are shocked and saddened.

We hope in the Lord even when the world sends us disasters and floods.

In Christ, we will walk and not be faint.

The Lord Will Keep You From All Harm

The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. — Psalm 121:7-8

God watches over our going out and our coming in.

The Lord keeps me from all harm.

He watches over my life.

And my travels both now and forevermore.

Years ago Abby and I went to the fair together.

We got our picture taken in front of this tower.

So this year we did the same.

Such a beautiful day.