Grace

I asked my 85 years young friend, Lila,

"How is it that you came to be born again?"

She said simply,

"Grace".
  

"Years ago," she said, "I went to the pastor in my misery

and he sent me to Grace"

For by grace you have been saved through faith;
and not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God.
(Ephesians 2:8 NASB)

"And Grace prayed with me.

That started years of praying and studying the Bible together."

Lila drove me out to the homestead 
for a visit with Grace, who will be 90 on her next birthday.

 She lives alone, mows her grass, rakes the clippings,
plants and tends her garden.
She takes no medication, not even a vitamin.
She says she cooks one good meal a day
 - meat, potatoes, gravy, and a vegetable.
Every morning she has her devotions,
a doughnut and the first of
 10-15 cups of coffee during the day.
Then she knits a little.


Over doughnuts and
  delicious cinnamon yeast rolls -
both homemade, butter,
 and a cup of her strong coffee,
 I asked:
"If you could tell the world anything, what would it be?"

She replied without hesitation,
"Tell the young women, to get involved in church,
 and Bible Studies, and women's groups.
It will help them."

Then scripture began flying between the two 
like easy conversation.

"Oh, and tell them:"

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything
by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known to God;
and the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding, 
will guard your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:6-7 KJV)

"How about:"

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;
and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He shall direct thy paths.
(Proverbs 3:4-5 KJV)

"And:"

 You will keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
(Isaiah 26:3 NKJV)

It was a perfect day here in North Dakota,
with temperatures in the seventies,
 a gentle breeze,

and grace and peace between friends-
just the way it should be.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
be with you all.
Amen.
(Romans 16:24)

All Creatures of Our God and King

Our Sunday afternoon drive was to 

Lostwood National Wildlife Preserve

where we followed the road signs and read the brochure

to look for the ruddy ducks, and red winged black birds, 

and endangered piping plovers

- through binoculars that didn't reach as far as we would have liked.

And the whole time, Sunday morning music was stuck in my head:

All Creatures of our God and King

As we took a different road back,

we spotted a century old church reaching to the heavens from the prairie.

Lift up your voice and let us sing.

We drove the one lane to our photo opportunity,

 with water lapping each side of the road

O Praise Him.

and saw more life there than we even tried to see at the refuge.

Alleluia

Let all things their Creator bless

and worship Him in humbleness

Praise, praise the Father

Praise the Son

Thou rushing winds that art so strong

Ye clouds that sail in heaven along

Oh, praise Him

Alleluia!

Alleluia.

Deja-Vu

Be not the first to whom the new are tried,

Nor the last to lay the old aside.

(Alexander Pope 1711)

 I needed glasses - 

Because I saw stars at night 

- NOT the big bright stars at night deep in the heart of Texas

- but headlights coming my way

and I saw furry critters in words up close

and I had to squint at the computer.

The prescription was for progressive lenses.

(Sort of TRI-Focals without the lines)

I have always been on the tail end of fashions, styles, and trends.

"Give me the newest, the latest, and the greatest",

I said to the gals fitting glasses.

They laughed.

And brought me the newest trend in eye-wear fashion 

and convinced me that they were perfect for me.

Back at home,

with clearer vision...

I began to see my parents in the mirror...

Deja - VIEW

I don't know whether my glasses are new or old
or the old new or the new old.

But I do know that 2 Corinthians 5:17 says:
"If anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation;
old things have passed away;
behold,
all things have become new."

And that, my friend, 
is
good news.