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I have been journaling the month of June about the names of God and Jesus. In my reading for another project, I read Isaiah 43:2-3a I have always received a lot out of verse two but when I read it this time, my eyes fell on the words in beginning of the third verse.

“When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;

And when you pass through the rivers,

They will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

You will not be burned;

…  ( Click for more )

What do we know about grief?

It’s Personal

Our grief reflects our love for the person we have lost. Yet, each person grieves in a different way. I once heard a panel discussion on grief. One lady told us that it takes one year, bare minimum, to get through what we call the grief process. She explained that those who are left without a spouse or someone close have to go through each holiday, each birthday, their anniversary and filing their income taxes.

It comes in Waves

A person may go for quite some time and not be bothered by their loss. But something…  ( Click for more )

“God grant me the serenity to change the things I can; courage to accept the things I can’t and the wisdom to know the difference.” Reinhold Niebuhr

God

God: the first word of this prayer, our Creator, the giver of life, the giver of all good things.

God: the maker of stars, the One who keeps them in balance.

God: the one responsible for all our growing plants.

“God is great; God is good.” We learned this table grace as children. Yes, God is great…  ( Click for more )

God, What Does He Want From Us?

“And what does the LORD require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Micah 6:8 (NIV)

We read certain passages of scripture and we tend to overlook the meaning of the words and phrases. In our culture in the USA, we tend to read something, say ‘That’s nice,’ and hurry onto the next adventure, the next business deal, or fun thing to do.

As young people, we sat around campfires singing “Kumbaya” possibly thinking we…  ( Click for more )

Looking at World Events

As we read our local newspapers, catch the evening news on television, or get our news online, we discover the goings on of the world. Most of it speaks of hardship and tragedy for people. They are at the very least affected, if not injured, by the events.

Our Reaction

Our first reaction is denial—this can’t be happening in our world, our nation, our state, or our town. Then we are shocked to realize that yes, this incident did transpire. Next, our minds try to rationalize the problem—“If there wasn’t…  ( Click for more )

“Life itself is Grace”

My title is from a quote by Frederick Buechner from his book, Now and Then. It was quoted by Bob Benson, Sr. and Michael W. Benson in their devotional book, disciplines for the inner life.

I recently injured myself in a nasty fall in our basement. In trying to wait until I could see my doctor or her staff, I was maintaining my practice of devotions in my mornings. On some mornings this was not exactly easy but I did make the time to do them. My devotional book for this year is the book by the Bensons. I found it through…  ( Click for more )

PETER

(John 21:15-17)

During one of our pastor’s sermons, he spoke of the personal encounter Peter had with Jesus. This took place after Christ had been resurrected. The master drew Peter aside and asked him three times if he loved Him. Each time, Peter answered in the affirmative, “Yes, Lord, I do.”

Peter, like most of the disciples-except for John, fell away from the Master. We have written evidence of his three denials of belonging to Jesus’ followers.

…  ( Click for more )

Waiting in General

People have to learn to wait. As children we had to learn to bide our time until our birthdays and Christmas. When we got into trouble, our mothers might have told us, “Wait until your father gets home!”

As children, we found it hard to wait we wanted what we wanted right then. But we had to do it. In retrospect, we were in training for the ‘grown up’ world.

Presently we find ourselves waiting for warm weather. As I make initial input on this article, it is the fourth week…  ( Click for more )

“On the seventh day, God finished the work he had been doing;

so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.”

Genesis 2:2 (NIV)

God instituted the action of honoring the Sabbath as he finished creating the earth. At the end of each day and each phase of creation, He said his work was good.

(Genesis 1:10,12, 18,21, 25,31)

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall

labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the

Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you,

nor…  ( Click for more )

As believers, we have a privilege to approach God with our needs and concerns and those of others. It is a special treat to pray for another person.

What is prayer?

Prayer is the way we present ourselves to God. We spend time in adoration of Who He is. We confess our sin and our needs to Him. Then, we spend a time of thanksgiving for all the deeds He has done for His people. Also, we include a time of supplication, a time of asking God to protect people, heal their hearts or bodies, or intervene in their need.

What does God give…  ( Click for more )

A Litmus Test of Our Faith

Grace and Peace

“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and our Lord Jesus Christ” 2Peter1:2 (NIV)

Grace, God’s unmerited love-or receiving something we don’t deserve. It comes to us as a gift when we ask Jesus into our hearts.

Peace, the presence and experience of a right relationship, a desire, a goal, and a gift from God. True peace belongs to those who turn away from their sin and ask the Father’s forgiveness.

Peter tells us we can have these gifts in abundance…  ( Click for more )

God and Kindness

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness. . .”

Galatians 5:22 (NIV)

Our lives have been hectic lately. We got our living room painted and new carpet installed. In the middle of all this our son called. The moving van was going to be there to gather his belongings and furniture on Friday—not inside a four-day window that began on Saturday. We were in a dither. Our son’s inspection of the apartment he was vacating was scheduled for Wednesday; we had motel reservations…  ( Click for more )

Have you ever wondered if God was actually with us? Or did you think he created the world and then sat back to watch what we do with it? In Psalm 139:13,15-16, we read David’s words of belief. “You knit me together in my mother’s womb.” “My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. . . . You saw my unformed body.”

God guides us through difficult times. When we receive the news of tough medical decisions, He is ready to comfort and to assist us through those times, especially when…  ( Click for more )

Patience: Where did it go?

We know what the Bible says about patience; it is a Fruit of the Spirit. (Gal5:22.) It is a quality possessed by God “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as we think of slowness; He is patient with you not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.”(2 Peter 3:9 NIV)

Job demonstrated patience as his three friends tried to help him understand what had happened to him and why. The patience Job exercised was due to the fact that none of these three friends’ explanation…  ( Click for more )

“Then if my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray, seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT

These are words spoken by God. He lays out a plan for those present at the dedication of His Temple, His children, (us), when their (our) land becomes evil. God directs His children to humble themselves—come clean about sins and recognize their place as compared to God.

God’s people are…  ( Click for more )

Obedience and Trust: Old Testament Style

“The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service. But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.” Daniel 1:5,8 (NIV)

17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[a] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if…  ( Click for more )

“Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Colossians 1:27

Christ in you

Paul writes to the believers at Colosse in order to encourage them to stand firm against the false teachers in their midst.

When a person comes to Christ, he or she asks Jesus to live in his or her heart. He inhabits the person’s thoughts, mind, speech, actions, and interactions. The result of Christ’s presence in a person’s heart is the anticipation of His working in and through people.

God…  ( Click for more )

Obedience’s Reward

“Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant,

then out of all the nations you will be my treasured possession.

Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

Exodus 19:5-6a (NIV)

Moses has let the Israelite people out of Egypt. He goes to meet God on Mount Sinai. The Lord gives Moses a promise. My study Bible has a footnote about the section that goes from chapter 19-24.

“This section follows the form of ancient Hittite suzerainty…  ( Click for more )

God gives images to help us through times of trial, or doubt. The following verses are some of my favorites because of the metal image I receive when I remember them.

“Give and it will be given to you,. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38 (NIV)

Whenever I read this passage, I think of brown sugar. When we use brown sugar in a recipe, we are told to pack it tightly into the measuring cup. When…  ( Click for more )

From time to time, I have times where I don’t know what I am supposed to do. As a believer in Christ, I have learned simply to seek His will for my life about that circumstance. Certain scriptures guide God’s children as they navigate through their days:

Proverbs 1:5-6 “let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.”

King Solomon penned these words as part of the purpose and reason…  ( Click for more )

“Sow for yourselves righteousness,

Reap the fruit of unfailing love,

and break up your unplowed ground,

for it is time to seek the LORD,

until he comes and,

showers righteousness on you.

Hosea 10:12 (NIV)

I felt the need to learn to better manage my time. I could waste a day just by sitting and ‘wool gathering’-just daydreaming about different things.

One of the blogs I follow pointed out that people need to start the day with the LORD. I had tried to do that. I chose to be more consistent with it.

I received an e-mail giving…  ( Click for more )

“What does the LORD require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humble with your God.”

Micah 6:8b

Micah outlines a plan here, one that all followers of Christ should adopt as their way of life.

“To Act justly. . .” We are to act without showing favoritism. When a person faces a trial in court, a jury hears the evidence and then delivers a verdict. What amazes me is the process of selecting those twelve people.

The courts send out questionnaires to a certain group of candidates. The questions are on the order of:…  ( Click for more )

Confessing Faith

“Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him.

But because of the Pharisees they would not confess

their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue,

for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

John 12:42-43 (NIV)

John writes of leaders who secretly believed in the Master’s teachings. These men feared being cast out of the Hebrew house of worship. He makes a bold statement about the reason these men were quiet about their thoughts “for they loved praise from men more than from…  ( Click for more )

I am reading a book entitled, The Skeletons in God’s Closet by Joshua Ryan Butler. Mr. Butler defines these skeletons as ‘those deep dark issues we’d rather avoid.

In the second section, Mr. Butler sees ‘the surprise of judgment’. One chapter in particular stands out to me. Its title—The Servant at The Center—speaks of our relationship with Jesus. Matthew 25:31-46 comes alive as Mr. Butler speaks of how this passage relates to us. The point that stands out to me is that whenever we minister, we are ministering to Jesus. Sending…  ( Click for more )