Country Church Music - From the Heart

Greetings dear friends and family,

Earlier this morning I watched my favorite music video. I have seen it many times and yet it was not until today that I noticed the conductor. My focus had always been on those who were on stage singing and the beautiful sounds of the orchestra to which they sang, not on the one who was leading them. They on the other hand, were focused on the conductor and by doing so were able to work together in harmony.

As I am typing this a new day is dawning. There is a chorus of birds singing as a gentle breeze stirs the leaves on the trees. The sun is beginning to shine as it peeks over the top of the clouds. All the wonders of this glorious new day are being led by the greatest Conductor of all. May we remember to always focus on him, so that we too can work together in harmony.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever: may his glory fill the whole earth. Amen and Amen. Psalm 72:18-19

Let us pray: Loving God, each new day is a gift from you. Help us to see that you and you alone are the giver of all things; that we are to focus on you and when we do we are able to work in harmony with one another, bringing glory and praise to your name. Amen.

With love from the heart,

Diane

Greetings dear friends and family,

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED OR PURCHASE PRICE REFUNDED. Those words are on the label of the bottle of water sitting here next to me. They are words we see and hear often. Companies want us to be satisfied, to be pleased. They are willing to guarantee things, but often those guarantees run out or come with conditions.

There is one purchase price though that can never be refunded, the one that Christ paid. He paid the ultimate price for our sins out of love. His love for us is not dependant on whether he is satisfied with us or not. His love for us is 100% guaranteed. Thanks be to God!

since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Romans 3:23-24

Let us pray: Gracious God, we have received the priceless gift of your grace through the death and resurrection of your dear Son. Walk with us each day, and remind our hearts, minds, and souls to live your love, that being a child of God is about living for you, serving you and sharing the good news of your mercy, grace and peace. In your glorious and everlasting name we pray. Amen

With love from the heart,

Diane

Greetings dear friends and family,

As some of you know, Kenny and I are here in Wisconsin to see Lorie following her surgery. She is doing well. Her recovery continues and she asked me to thank you for all your prayers.

Sunday morning before we went to her house Kenny and I took a drive. We crossed back over into Iowa. We saw a sign for Pike’s Peak State Park and decided to go there.

We followed the winding, climbing, road that led to Pike’s Peak. We parked the car and began walking towards the overlook. As we walked onto the overlook, fear set in. I had looked down and my fear of heights kicked in. I was afraid to go the edge where Kenny was standing. Even though we were on a huge concrete landing and the railing was strong, I was afraid to trust it. Finally I looked straight ahead and moved up by Kenny and was able to take in the breathtaking view.

Sometimes we have a hard time trusting God. We are afraid to move forward, to trust that he walks with us. How often in life do we miss out on a breathtaking view or experience, simply because we forget to trust the One who is always trustworthy?

The Lord is my strength and shield; my heart trusts in him and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. Psalm 28:7

Let us pray: Good and gracious God, each day we are surrounded by breathtaking views and experiences, but yet out of fear we often miss them. Help us to trust in you, and to boldly step forward to witness the wonders and mysteries of life. In your everlasting name we pray. Amen.

With hugs and love from the heart,

Diane

Greetings dear friends and family,

I was drawn to our bathroom window early the other morning by the song of a cardinal. I leaned against the window ledge and peered through the screen, trying to get a glimpse of it. Try as I might, I could not locate it. As I took a half step back and was turning to walk away I looked up higher. There in the top of the neighbor’s tree sat the male cardinal. The red of his feathers stood out against the blue, cloudless sky.

Looking up, it’s easy to do, but I had been so focused on looking right in front of me at our trees that I forgot to look higher.

Sometimes in life we do the same thing. We forget to look higher, to seek out the One who created us. When we lift our eyes and hearts heavenward, we can find the mercy, comfort, and peace of God.

To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! Psalm 123:1

Let us pray: Dear God, You are there in the heavens and you are here among us. Help us to remember to look up, to focus on you. Help us to see where we are needed, use us to show others of the hope and promise we have in you. In your heavenly name we pray. Amen.

Hugs from the heart,

Diane