Identity

 I love the birds that come around.

I can often tell a bird either by the sound it makes or by sight.  The local birds, anyway.

I was excited to see the flicker at the edge of our lawn.  I hadn't seen it for awhile and was worried that the starlings had killed it.

Yesterday, I heard a certain bird call and I wanted to double-check the identity of that bird.  I have this app that will identify the bird when you record the call.  Wouldn't you know it.  When I got the app up and going, the bird quit the call.  I thought, I think I can imitate that call.  So I did.  But I didn't fool the app.

"Human - almost certain."  I laughed and laughed!  I'll have to try harder on my bird calls!  I seem to be able to "talk" back and forth with the cardinal.  Is he fooled or is he playing games with me?

This morning I was reading from Ezekial 28.  God said of the king of Tyre 

     "In the pride of your heart you say,

            'I am a god;

    I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas.'  

               But you are a man, not a god."

This king had an identity problem.  He was prideful!

I am memorizing Romans 12.  Well, I am attempting to do so.  The older I get, the harder it is.  Verse 3 says: 

"For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith."  

The Living translation puts it this way:

"Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning:  Don't think you are better than you really are.  Be honest in  your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us."

Many people think less of themselves perhaps.  

"You're no good"

    "Loser"

            "You're stupid"

        "You are just useless"

  "You are so boring"

                "You are fat"

Last week in our Bible study, we went over our identity in Christ.  If you love Him and are a Christ-follower, you can claim these as your identity!  Here are a few of them with some verses to go with them.  There are more, of course, and more Scriptures to say these things.

"I am a child of God"  (John 1:12)

"I am helped by God"  (Hebrews 4:16)

"I am not condemned by God  (Romans 8:1)

"I have Christ's righteousness"  (Romans 5:19; 2 Cor. 5:21)

"I am completely forgiven"  (Col. 1:14)

"I am tenderly loved by God"  (Jer. 31:3)

"I am the sweet fragrance of Christ to God"  (2 Cor. 2:15)

"I am a temple in which God dwells"  (1 Cor. 3:16)

"I am blameless and beyond reproach"  (Col. 1:22)

"I am a branch on Christ's vine"  (John 15:1,5)

"I am Christ's friend" (John 15:1,5)

"I am chosen by Christ to bear fruit" (John 15:16)

"I am a joint heir with Christ, sharing His inheritance with Him  (Rom. 8:17)

"I am chosen by God, holy and dearly loved"  (Col. 3:12)

"I am a member of Christ's body"  (1 Cor. 12:27)

"I am a saint"  (Ephesians 1:1)

"I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit" (Eph. 2:18)

"I am assured that all things are working together for good"  (Romans 8:28)

"I may approach God with boldness, freedom, and confidence" (Eph. 3:12)

"My needs are met by God"  (Phil 4:19)

"I have been bought with a price, and I belong to God"  (1 Cor. 6:19,20)

"I am God's workmanship - His masterpiece"  (Eph 2:10)

"I can do all things through Christ, who gives me the strength I need"  (Phil 4:13)

I don't know who first posted this so I don't know who to give credit to.  I saw it on Facebook several years ago.  I LOVE this!

Don't listen to Satan's lies.  Read Psalm 139.  He created you!  He loves you!  He died for you!  He desires to have you follow Him.  He is the Good Shepherd and will come and look for His lost sheep.   

"I once was lost, but now I am found."   

        Be the "found" one!  Your identity is not "lost" or "unworthy".  

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you (to Me) with unfailing kindness."  Jeremiah 31:3

Waiting

Wait - Webster's dictionary (yes, we still have the old fashioned dictionary in book form!) defines it "to stay in place in expectation".  Here are some synonyms:  lingering, dallying, slowness, postponement, tarrying.

We have had a lot of waiting going on.

Mindy had called to say that she would be coming for a visit.  We eagerly waited for her to come.  We had a wonderful time!  We talked and laughed and also took walks. 

I took her baby shopping.  Now we wait for baby's arrival!

Al needed a hair cut.  He had gone to the barber shop and they were full.  So he waited for Mindy to come so she could give him a hair cut.

We have been waiting for baby to begin to pooch out.  She is beginning to show more as she heads into the last trimester.  She sent this picture from Hawaii.  They took a little vacation before the baby's arrival.  I guess the term is babymoon.  

My friend had her house on the market for a long time.  She knew God had the right time for it all to fall into place.  She waited and waited on Him.  And that time came.

Then, since she moved away, I eagerly waited for the time when she would come visit and that time came this week!  It was so fun to catch up!

With school on-line, our granddaughter Hannah had been waiting for the time the school could have choir once again.  She loves to sing!  And finally, they were able to do choir once more, with limited seating.  We could watch it though!

(Can I say I can't wait for the masks to go away??)

I saw a purple martin scout one morning so I told Allen we needed to put up the martin house!

We waited several days before 3 martins showed up and then it took another 2 weeks for the remainder of the martins to arrive and fill up the house.

Now I'm waiting for the orioles and hummingbirds to arrive!  Should be soon!  I've put out the feeders!

I love a good Spring thunder storm.  I saw the "boomer" clouds.  And we didn't have to wait long for the rain.

So grateful for fine Spring days!  I often heard people say "I can't wait for Spring!"  Well, Spring is here!

I couldn't wait to plant flowers and for my perennials to pop up.  My trees have begun blooming!

Now I'm waiting on my irises!

Our town started a cruisin' night each Saturday evening during Covid lock down days.  It quit for the winter and we waited for it to start up again, which it did this past Saturday evening.

I'd been trying to find someone to fix our window that was stuck.  Our home is now 16 years old and things are starting to fall apart.  The people who put in our windows no longer use this brand.  We have waited trying to find someone who could repair it.  Then I had a bright idea to try You Tubing the solution, and low and behold, we found a couple of videos of repairmen who showed you how to fix  it!  Yay!!  The window is fixed!!

Our grandkids have been waiting to get a puppy.  They had to wear down their daddy and get him to change his mind.  They waited and waited forever, and finally, Josh caved in.  Now they are waiting for Sir Reginald Bartholomew Longbottom the 3rd (Reggie) to be weaned and then they can bring him home!

I don't know the last time all of us siblings have been together.   Maybe over a year?  I think it was Christmas before Covid!  This past week we finally were able to be together once again!  

A bonus was that a couple of our 1st cousins were able to come too!!

Lastly, as I look at things going on in the world today, as this world is more and more in turmoil,

    as we see Bible prophecy taking place before our eyes, 

      what I    really wait     for, 

           what I long for, 

                                        is the trumpet call!

"Wait for the Lord;

   be strong and take heart

   and wait for the Lord."   Psalm 27:14

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we WAIT for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good."  Titus 2:11-14

Weariness

Our time in Wisconsin was too short.  But Al has work.  On the way home, if we take the normal route and don't detour for sightseeing, we usually pass this barn.  It is weary and falling apart.  I can understand.

Reminds me of a hymn -

"Are you weary, are you heavy hearted, tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus." 

I sure am weary - weary of masks, divisions over the vaccination, weary of the incessant talk of the virus, weary of the cancel culture, weary of the threat against our liberties in this country.  Sometimes I'd just like to stick my head in the sand and just forget about it all!

Matthew 11:28-30 in the Amplified version (I love that version!) says, 

"Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy-laden and over burdened, and I will cause you to rest - I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls. 

(What a caring Saviour we have!-my words) 

Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest - relief, ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet - for your souls.  For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good) - not harsh, hard, sharp or pressing, but comfortable, gracious and pleasant; and My burden is light and easy to be borne."

The Message puts it this way.  "Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to Me.  Get away with Me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with Me and work with Me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  Keep company with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."  The Jews in Jesus' day were weary of the Romans and weary of the "yoke" of all the laws put on them by the religious Pharisees.   This morning I was reminded to take our worries - and our weariness over these things do become worries, don't they? - to Him.  In fact, it is a command.  "Do not worry."  Turn worries into prayer.

If you are struggling right now, spend time telling Him about it.  Talk to God about your pain.  He will hear you!  He will refresh you!  One day that barn will fall down, but we don't have to.  Jesus promises to care for us.  Live in contentment and peace.  He is in charge.  Each day is in His hand.  Trust Him.  "Do not worry about tomorrow."

The Mississippi was half frozen over.  This was 3 weeks ago, so I'm sure by now the ice is all melted.  In Kansas, we are hitting the 70's today.

Dubuque, Iowa - This morning, I was reading the story of Clara H. Scott, author of the hymn "Open My Eyes That I May See" from the book "Then Sings My Soul" Book 2 by Robert J. Morgan.  

The verse from Psalm 119:18 inspired her to write that song.  

            "Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law."

She was the first woman to publish a volume of choir anthems, the Royal Anthem Book, in 1882.  She taught music at the Ladies' Seminary in Lyons, Iowa.  One hymn listed that I do not know and could not find on-line was titled "Oh When Shall My Weary Soul Find Rest in Thee."

In 1897, she was visiting the town of Dubuque.  "As she was climbing into a horse-drawn carriage, something spooked the horse, sending it careening down the street at breakneck speed.  Clara was thrown from the runaway buggy and killed.  She was fifty-five."  How very sad.  None of us knows the number of our days.

We stopped in Lawrence to have dinner with Al's sister, Julie.

Such a sweet time.  We sure do miss having her closer to us.  Her work schedule doesn't allow us to get together real often, although we are planning next week for all the siblings to be together!   It is always a time of laughter!  A time when we "solve" all the nations' problems. (Ha! If only they'd listen to us, huh?)  It is a time when our wearied souls are refreshed!

A couple of days in Wisconsin

Getting behind here...back to my trip to Wisconsin.  On Saturday, I attended the Awaken conference at Jill's church.  Laura Sandreti, author and blogger was the keynote speaker.  

The title of the weekend was "Fearless" based on Philippians 4:6-7.  She spoke about finding her identity in Christ, and not in labels people give you.  About believing in God's Word to the core, not just mental assent.  She shared about having struggled with panic attacks for years.  It is not something that holds her down now, however.   She was so funny; a delightful speaker!

Claire enjoyed breakfast with me before having the day with her daddy.

It was fun to meet Laura and find our connection with Japan.  Her mother is Japanese.  She knew just a few words.

The day was wonderful and I enjoyed going to 2 workshops also.   Next year's keynote speaker - my beautiful daughter!  I will have to be sure to go back to Wisconsin for that!

Al made record time driving all day from Kansas.  God answered prayer in giving him safe travels and not falling asleep at the wheel!  And he brought the new mattress for Hannah!  And Kobi.

Hannah's twin mattress went to Sophie and Sophie's old mattress was one we were taking back to Kansas for us (for when the kids come to visit).

On Sunday morning, we went to church.  We are enjoying Adam's sermons on Revelations.  Satan's desire is to destroy.  He is like a rabid animal that wants to kill as many as he can before he dies.  He is a dragon who has been slayed but not dead yet.  He has been defanged, but his power is in his accusation.  As believers, we have a target on our back.    We need not fear.  Jesus is always interceding for us.  We are not alone; He is with us!

For dinner, we went to Schmitty's.  So good and such big helpings!  We were able to take lots of leftovers home!

Monday, the children went to school, Adam had work, Jill had on-line classes.  

Allen and I did studying of our own.  I also did some reading and talked with my friend Grace from back home.  She told me her mother grew up here and she just happens to have cousins who live around here!

Allen and I picked Claire up from school and took her to gymnastics class.  She was so excited that we would be able to watch her perform!

We enjoyed playing games in the evening.  (Hannah was at choir practice)  After the family went to bed, we packed up what we could.  We would be leaving for home in the morning.  Such a short time with the family.