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Top verse search

I started wondering last night about which verse in the Bible is highest in web searches. I suspected John 3:16 would top the list. This morning I decided to do some searching of my own and see.

This year presented a few changes. The top spot was taken by Isaiah 41:10 pushing the perennial favourite John 3:16 into second place. Third was taken by Jeremiah 29:11.

Seems wonderful choices to me. There is speculation that people are fearful, whether it is the pandemic or the response to the pandemic, or the economic failures, or any number of reasons. As a result, Isaiah 41:10 has risen to the top for 2020.

I will not speculate too much; I’ll just share the top three verse and you can see what people all over the world are finding online.

  1. Isaiah 41: 10   So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
  2. John 3:16  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
  3. Jeremiah 29:11    For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Who among us


My oldest daughter is reading a book about a World War II spy. So naturally this dominates her conversation. At supper last night she asked, “Which of us in our family would make the best spy?”

I suggested that Dad before his stroke would have made a good spy; quiet, reflective, incredibly observant, and strong. But I said, “But not since his stroke.” Wes stuck his tongue out at me. He does that now since his stroke. “Because of that,” I added.

“He’d tell someone now,” said my oldest. We all laughed, and Dad stuck his tongue out at the kids too.

There was much discussion among the kids. All their spy like qualities and their fatal flaws. Finally, they began to discuss what kind of a spy their Mother would be.

“Mom would make a terrible spy!” said my oldest. “They would send her somewhere and she would forget why she was there.” Yes, my boy. That would be the likely scenario. I had to agree.

It was great fun, and we all had a laugh at our own expense, mostly at Mom’s expense (which is fine with me). I later thought about that type of hypothetical question. The kind of child like comparison we make all the time. “Which among us is the best at this, or that?” Even Jesus had to deal with this kind of question from his disciples.

Mark 10: 35-37   Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him.
“Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

It always caused me to wonder why this was in the Bible text. It seems such a strange interlude. But really it is very human. We want to be important. We want to be good at something. We feel special if we are recognized. Like children we compare ourselves to others. We want to be set apart.

The reality is we are set apart. We are chosen. All we need to do is welcome His grace and we have a gift better than all the recognition, skill, and riches in the world.

A question of value

“We believe in being moral, but that is evolving,” said my friend. “We just don’t see how an ancient, out of date book, written in a different time can be relevant to us in today’s world. I don’t see value in going to ancient texts for my morals. How does that make sense?”

This isn’t an unusual statement for me to hear. Most of my neighborhood friends are atheists. My beliefs are often being put up to a modern ruler stick. Most of the folks around me think Christianity isn’t meeting up to today’s moral standards. They tolerate me and my weird beliefs.

I ponder this statement. Does this hold water? Is this true?

Then I go to the Bible and I read. I find so much guidance, so much knowledge of human nature, so much wisdom. I conclude that my friend isn’t right. She just doesn’t know the Bible. She hasn’t read it, she has just decided that it doesn’t work for her.

Again, this makes me ponder. Why would someone write off a book without even reading it? I’m not sure I have an answer for that.

But I read the Bible. I see passages that are simple and yet wise. It is hard for me to comprehend how anyone could just dismiss this text.

Micah 6: 8  He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

The joy of parenting

I was not a “baby” mom. I didn’t really enjoy the baby stage. But when my kids hit the age of eighteen months or so, I started to hit my stride. I would say, “I enjoyed my kids before, but I really love the stage we are in now.” After a while I noticed the pattern. Each “stage” seemed better than the last.

I kept waiting for the hard years to hit. Not that there weren’t hard times. Six years of forcing my son to go to school wasn’t easy, but on the scale of problems that was not tragic. Of course we had lots of medical issues, but as that was not under my control I didn’t see it as a parenting issue.

Parenting is hard, specially if you are trying your best to do it well. We will all have difficult problems and hard days. But for the most part we were able to find joy in the moments. We have always laughed a lot as a family, and I think that helps.

As our kids age, I often feel overwhelmed by the joy they bring to our lives. To see them flex into the world, develop, and become the people God designed them to be is my great privilege. I think of parenting like gardening. You plant the seeds, you work the soil, you wait, you water, you try clear the weeds, you guide them as they grow, but for the most part you leave it up to God.

I am extremely grateful to God that he has spared us the pain of that comes with a rebellious child. I have witnessed this pain and I am keenly aware of the blessing we have been given. These three children, I mean growing teens, are our richest blessing and we are very thankful for them.

3 John 1: 4  I have no greater joy than to hear
that my children are walking in the truth.

Faith in His plan

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is confidence in what we hope
for and assurance about what we do not see.

The eleventh chapter of Hebrews starts with this striking statement. A definition of faith. We talk about faith, we try to increase our faith, but how often do we contemplate what faith is?

What is faith? Faith is confidence! Confidence in our hope. Confidence in our assurance. Confidence in what we cannot see.

Does this sound like a wish? Often the term faith is used to mean our wishes. We have faith that everything will work out in some sort of general way. “Just have faith and it will all work out,” type of sentiment.

When Bronwyn was a baby, almost exactly six months old, we took her back to Edmonton to have her second of three open-heart surgeries. We had grown attached to our sweet baby, and we returned to the hospital with dread. We waited anxiously for the surgery, jiggling our sweet girl, who was hungry and thirsty. The anesthesiologist came to speak to us. This was the moment where I had to hand over my precious baby to a total stranger. It seemed an impossible thing to do. Later I described this feeling like walking off a cliff and hoping God would catch us.

Did I wish for a successful surgery? Yes. Did I wish that the doctors would do their best? No. I didn’t wish this, I was confident in it. We had enough experience at this hospital to be confident in their work and their efforts. I was confident that we were in good hands. I was confident that God would watch over them, even if I wasn’t sure of the result.

That to me is a good explanation of Faith. My faith isn’t confidence in the outcome. My faith is confidence in that which I hope for, and that which I cannot see. I had the assurance that the doctors would do everything in their power to see a positive outcome. I had faith in the people not the outcome.

In the same way I have faith in God not in the results. I have faith in His plan. I have hope in Him.

Our daily bread

There are times when I seriously contemplate becoming a “prepper.” You know, one of those people who is ready for any outcome including the total collapse of society. If I listen to the news, or read articles about the state of our world, I start thinking about it. There is some wisdom in being prepared, like the old boy scout motto said.

There are serious obstacles to my desire to do this. The first is my super small house. We are already pretty crammed in here, so having excess stuff would be hard. I’d have to get rid of even more things. Who needs that old quilt Grandma made? Or that old wedding dress? Or those favourite books? Or that third child? (Was that too far? OK! I’d never get rid of a child. I hope they will grow up and move out any how. I just need to wait them out).

We’ve had our share of challenges over the last couple years, as I know many people have, but God has provided. I am amazed sometimes that we are here in our house and that we still have food on our table. It goes against the laws of economics!

But then I read, “Give us today our daily bread.” (Matthew 6: 11) God will provide.

And further down, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6: 19 – 21) God will provide.

God can see us through the worst situations. God can violate the laws of nature and economics. He is the law-maker.

God will provide.

Chariots of fire

Elisha was in Dothan and the King of Aram sent his army down and surrounded the city during the night. Elisha’s servant went outside and saw the city surrounded and he was afraid. “And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:17) 

It’s ok to feel up against the wall.

It’s ok to question God.

It’s ok to be swept away by fear.

This happens to everyone. All of us have been dismayed. All of us have been afraid.

Lately I pray, “God help me see. Help me see your hand. Hold a lamp on my path so I can see you leading me.” I pray like this now because I must. It is what stands between me and hopelessness.

I used to think that praying for a sign was wrong. Jesus said, “A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” (Matthew 16: 4) I always assumed this passage meant that it was wrong to ask God for a sign. Maybe it is. Maybe I’m not understanding. But perhaps there is a difference in demanding a sign and asking for God to open your eyes.

I can demand that my husband bring me flowers and show his love for me. Or I can open my eyes to the way he already shows his love. I can choose to appreciate that he makes my coffee in the morning. I can notice that he will be the one to pump the gas in the cold of winter. I can tune my heart to read all the tiny ways he shows his love. Or I can make demands and ask him to prove his love by more overt signs.

In praying this way to God I’m asking him to help me see his hand. Asking that he remove the scales come from my eyes. Maybe I’m opening myself to him? I am asking him to change me.

He is everlasting. He is good. He is the I AM. I am the one that needs to change and see.

Thoughts on grief

The other day I was walking the dog. As I walked along all bundled up against the cold; I realized that my sock was falling off inside my boot. You know this feeling. I’m sure you have had this happen to you.

It’s such an uncomfortable feeling. It can impact how you walk and it becomes the upper most thing on your mind. It was all I could think about. I was almost home, so it was at least a short-lived experience.

It struck me that this is what grief is like. Grief of a lost relationship, or a death of a loved one, or of a life you used to have. Grief is a hidden problem you carry around. You are keenly and always aware of the hurt. It is not visible to others. You limp along keeping it foremost in your mind. Yet on the surface it seems all is well.

Grief is like the sock coming off in your boot.

When I got home, I took the socks off. Actually, they came off as I took my feet out of my boots. Relieved to have the inconvenience removed.

In the same way I can pray for God to help lessen my burden. I can pray for him to light a lamp on my path. I can lean on Him.

Psalm 147: 3      He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Covid coping tips

It doesn’t matter what side of the Covid issue you are on; we are all suffering. Maybe in different ways and maybe for different reasons, many of us are feeling a sense of dismay.

People seem to be coping in different ways. Who knew that making bread and getting a dog would be the manifestations of collective stress?

How can we boost our spirits?

There are the obvious ways, call a friend. CALL them, don’t text or email. Hearing the voice of someone you love is therapeutic. Call a friend and laugh a bit. Laughter is food for the soul.

Use social media ruthlessly. I unfollow anything that clouds my horizon. That CBC article that pops up, I don’t just scroll past it, I unfollow them. Try to keep the images and ideas coming before your eyes positive. I’m not saying live in denial. Just try reduce the access that the world has to you. We have so many entry points into our thoughts. The radio (if you are old school), the tv, the computer, the phone, the tablet, the neighbour… the list goes on. Try to clean up your life a bit and reduce the negative inputs.

Use these sites for positive inputs. I love to find hymns on YouTube and let them play in the background while I work. I also listen to theological podcasts.

I follow sites that bring lovely images to my eyes. I’m a very visual person. Instagram is full of these kinds of sites. I follow a Russian handicraft site – oh my goodness, such lovely creations. It inspires me! On Facebook I’m in a birders of Zimbabwe group (it’s a long story). Find a birder group. Birds in the wild are the most amazing creatures. Not in the house, birds in houses are creepy!

Based on the popular response, have a dog. Dogs are amazing! They help you live in the moment. They are completely unaware of anything but right now. I refer to my dog as my “menopause therapy” dog. Right now, he’s whining with delight because he got a new toy. Really! If only we could be like that. Helps put it all in perspective somehow.

The other night I took a virtual tour of St. Petersburg by going to google maps and using the street view. I scrolled up and down the beautiful streets of this old city. I even found a church that I could go into and scroll around. It was like virtual travel!

Finally, find ways to have fun at home. Locked up with the same people for such a long period of time, it could make a person go crazy! We are just not accustomed to this in our day. Find ways to have fun. Think about our forbearers on the prairies. They would have had long days, particularly in the winter where they would be stuck in the same house with the same crowd. They found ways to entertain each other and make each other laugh. Do more of that.

These are a few of my ideas. What are yours? Leave a comment and tell me how you’ve been coping.