February 18, 2019
 
              Happy Presidents’ Day! If you are my age or older, you probably remember when we celebrated both George Washington’s and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays without holidays when banks, post offices, and government entities were closed. They also weren’t “sales events.”
              Instead of all these trappings, those birthdays were occasions to think about two of the great men who established and preserved our nation despite horrible odds. I hope that you know a lot about Washington and Lincoln and honor them along with other Presidents who made the right choices and did the right things in relation to our country.
              You cannot study Washington and Lincoln without understanding that they were both Christian men who knew that our country needed to truly be “one nation under God” and to remember those roots. The whole concept of a democracy within a republic as conceived by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson (two more Presidents whose faith and dedication is part of our heritage) was based on Christian concepts of the dignity of the individual.
              Every one of these men believed in freedom of religion and would never allow people to be persecuted or denied freedom because they did not agree with every Christian concept. However, they also knew that everyone, no matter what their faith, needed to respect the Christian ideals underlying the country.
              We are living in a very volatile time. Disagreement and non-cooperation seem to be rampant and unbeatable. What can Christian people -- who have enough worries and challenges in their own lives -- do to honestly be of help in such a society?
              Again, it is time to “walk at the speed of light,” to turn to our Savior and take a good look at what He would do and say in reaction to our people’s troubles? If you were in church yesterday, you probably heard the Beatitudes, whether as the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew or the sermon on the “level ground” in Luke.
              There is the answer – straight from the Lord’s mouth – that if Christian people are meek, merciful, righteous, pure in heart and peacemakers, they can not only be saved but can follow Him in a way that changes the world. What a thought for today – that power and riches are not the answer but instead all of Jesus’ concept of love is what we need, both as individuals and citizens.

February 11, 2019
 
              Happy Valentine’s Day this week to all of the very special people who view this blog and who care enough about others to experience love, joy, and also grief at times. This holiday may seem fun but superficial in some ways, but it can be more than that.
              The subject of Valentine’s Day gives me a chance to talk about my husband of nearly 45 years. If you have read my book, you know that he is a cowboy and that hands-on experiences helped him to heal from the death of our son.
              My valentine, my husband, is a rock. He has always been someone I can lean on, depend on, and know without doubt that he is solidly in my corner. We have been through so many experiences together, some of them devastating, and he has never waivered in being a good husband – in fact strong in all his relationships.
              Many years ago, he had to walk away from the family farm/ranch where he thought we would be for the rest of our lives. When Josh was two years old, my husband had to move us away from the small ranch we had bought and let it be sold before we lost it. A few years later he would again have to move us away from a place and job where we thought we would be permanently.
              Every time disaster at one level or another has struck, my husband has been strong, able to cope, and always there for his family. He has strong faith coupled with a strong work ethic and love of his role in the rural area where we live, and he shares and nurtures those things not only in himself but in everyone around him.
              In this era when so many men are divorced, estranged from family, abandoning children, etc., we need to admire and encourage the men like my husband. Do they have faults and shortcomings? Of course. Can we see the true gem and its shine even if we have to scrape through some surface distractions like a geode? We had better.
              God gives us the people in our lives, and as I have said so many times, when we commit to love we also sign on for all of the joy and all of the possible grief. Thank God for those special people who make it all worthwhile.

February 4, 2019
 
              February has begun in Montana in a very cold, snowy way, and we are undoubtedly in for a month of genuine winter. As country people, we are used to the severe weather and ready for it in a number of ways including plenty of firewood, a pantry full of provisions, and warm clothing and bedding.
              However, for many people this month carries more threat than just cold weather. The lack of sunshine and dismal weather can bring on depression, particularly for those who are isolated or dealing with personal problems beyond their ability to cope.
              If you or anyone in your life is facing the dismal grayness of February with worries, fears or depression, the need for light and the Light of the World are greater than normal. This time of year when we are inside more than usual can be a time to study the Scriptures, pray, and encourage in ourselves and others a stronger faith and spiritual life.
              Faith can be fed by a number of things if we set our minds on walking with Jesus. First among those things is hope. February may be dismal and gray in many parts of the northern hemisphere, but it also is a month when every day gets longer. Light is growing stronger in February, light which will someday soon bring springtime.
              If you are an early riser, you may be seeing sunrises first rather than a period of darkness. Sunrises can bring color and promise to the beginning of our days, literal enlightenment at a time when we need it badly. When you see the beauty of sunrise, consider a time for prayer and contemplation of God’s promises and blessings.
              During the day, we can look for more reasons for hope, more evidence that God has given us purpose and many gifts and Jesus has given us the example of a perfect life of service as well as His salvation. Winters will always come, both the seasonal weather kind and the figurative life-disturbing kind which comes with troubles and loss.
              Just as we store up supplies “against the winter,” as my Grandma used to say, we can store up spiritual strength along with faith, hope and love, against the winters of our lives and thoughts. May you always be surrounded with warmth and goodness in February and always.