Ten days of Joy Challenge

A family member challenged me to post ten pictures on Facebook that give me joy. The challenge requests a picture a day. I posted that I’d only be sharing flower pictures because I couldn’t think of anything else. But, I did think of pictures to share.

On day one, I posted a picture of my Petunia growing in my window on a very cold day. The window was totally frosted up. I was thankful for the warmth of my tiny apartment.

On day two, I posted a picture of food. I had just had a colonoscopy and was allowed to eat regular meals again.

My cat was the picture that I posted to Facebook on day three. Some of my family members are doing the challenge too. Two of them shared cat pictures on their posts too.

Sunday was day four. I took a picture of my pastor giving a children’s sermon. While I know that church is boring for children, I think it helps them to see how much we care about worshipping God. I also enjoy watching children sing or play at church. I hope they can create plenty of happy memories.

My love of rock painting was posted for day five. I painted a collection of rocks and put them out before our Christmas parade. I was hoping that it would encourage some of the parade goers.

I had no idea what I was going to post for today. Then, I thought of something else that I enjoy. I enjoy collecting rocks and foreign coins.

For day seven, I posted a picture of my books. I love to read.

I shared my love of nature for day eight. I posted a flower picture on Facebook but this is a better picture.

Day nine was a picture of a warm and sunny February day. Wisconsin has had mild winters for the past few years.

My last post is a picture of two birthday cards and a valentine card.

Watch “Listening hearts.online” on YouTube

I have a play list on YouTube that contains videos that I think you might find interesting.

East Idaho news gives always Christmas gifts to deserving recipients. They post collections of the gift giving and individual videos if you prefer. They share parts of why the nominator notified the news station of why they are a worthy recipient.

Others will have advice on living life with a mental health issue.

Quotes from hymns and songs

I love to use the words of songs as prayers and worship.

1. “Open your heart! Show mercy to all those in fear. We are called to be hope for the hopeless so hatred and blindness will be no more.” We are called (hymn 720 in Evangelical Lutheran Worship.) The refrain says, “We are called to act with justice, we are called to love tenderly; we are called to serve one another, to walk humbly with God.”

God, please guide me as I look for opportunities to love others, stand up for justice and serve my fellow man as this songs says that You have called me to do.

This song reminds me of a Bible verse.

2. “Lord, use our voices, Lord, use our hands, Lord, use our lives, …All that we have, all that we are, all that we hope to be, we give to you…” We are an offering (692 in ELW)

I posted these words on the wall near my bed for years. I try to offer all of this to God but I fall short repeatedly.

3. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.” Create in Me a Clean Heart (185 in ELW)

This song is based on one of the Psalms.

4. “I am weak, and I need Thy strength and power to help me over my weakest hour…

Help me tread in the paths of righteousness; be my aid when Satan and sin oppress. I am putting all my trust in Thee..

I am lost, if you take your hand from me; I am blind, without Thy Light to see.”

The refrain says, “Lead me, guide me along the way; for if You lead me, I cannot stray; Lord, let me walk each day with Thee. Lord me, O Lord lead me.” Lead Me, Guide Me (ELW pg. 768)

5. Will you love the you you hide, if I but call your name? Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same? Will you use the faith you’ve found to reshape the world around, through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?

Will You Come and Follow Me (ELW 798)

6. When we are tested and wrestle alone, famished for bread when the world offers stone, nourish us, God, by your word and your way, food that sustains us by night and by day.

When in the desert we cry for relief, pleading for paths marked by certain belief, lift us to love you beyond sign and test, trusting your presence, our only true rest.

When we are tempted to barter our souls, reading the truth for the pow’r to control, teach us to worship and praise only you, seeking your will in the work that we do.

When we have struggled and searched through the night, sorting and sifting the wrong from the right, Savior, surround us with circles of care, angels of healing of hope, and of prayer.

When We Are Tested in the ACS page 922.

Sow a thought

Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an action and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny. William James (1842-1910)

Sow a thought, an action, habit, character…

Hands planting seeds

Working hard can produce these great rewards. I like the above quote because it reminds me to keep working on building good habits. It also reminds me that good habits and character takes time just like growing crops.

I have been failing to build good habits in 2022. Yet, every month and day is a new chance to try again.

What new habit are you working on building into your days and months? How have you been doing on them?

Leave the past behind and walk with God

“Leave the broken, irreversible past in God’s hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.” Oswald Chambers

We can heal from our past with time, therapy, close friends and God’s help. Then, we can walk with God into our future. While we can’t see the future like in the path, we know God is at our side.

Courage is fear that has said its prayers

Courage is fear that has said its prayers.

Karle Wilson Baker (1878-1960) was an American poet. This quote is from one of her poems.

Jesus prayed before His crucifixion and before selecting His disciples. God wants us to pray to Him when we fear or feel anxious. He promises to walk by our sides.

While I have many questions why He allows evil things to happen in our world such as the Holocaust, 9/11 or our Waukesha parade tragedy, I know that God loves me and is with me.

Do what you can

Petunias blooming under cement planter

While this quote is from a book by Theodore Roosevelt, it is more accurately attributed to Squire Bill Widener. Roosevelt referenced this statement as a quote from Widener in his autobiography.

I picked Petunias because I am fascinated by how they can grow anywhere. I grew up in Ohio and grew Petunias for 4H. I never saw a petunia that grew in a random place until I moved to Waukesha, Wisconsin. Now, I have seen them growing in cracks in the sidewalk, at the foot of city trash cans and as shown above under a city planter.

May God help us to bloom wherever we are. Guide us on how to use what we have right now to serve You and our fellow men and women. Amen.

A second thought that came to my mind is that Widener was remembered for what he said. Giving wise counsel when appropriate can be a way to help others.

Who might need wise counsel in your life? Will this person be open to that advice?

Feel Good Friday

I suspect that you, like me, sometimes feel like a nobody. You see a long list of negative traits with little to no positive traits. Here is a rather ugly rock. Is this what you feel like?

Yet, God says that He made us in His image. You and I are unique.

Inside that ugly rock are crystals. Like this rock, God made you with His image inside you.