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“The LORD replied,” My Presence will go with you and I will give you rest.” Exodus 16:14 (NIV)

As a senior citizen, I find myself sometimes taking morning naps. Sometimes this happens out of necessity; other times, it just happens. Rest is important to us as human beings. We fortify our physical bodies when we have restorative sleep. It actually helps our bodies to heal itself.

When our children were very small, an afternoon nap gave them a chance to revitalize themselves and we were able to get somethings done…  ( Click for more )

Did anyone ever tell you that you had an ‘attitude’? I have. By this, I mean I have sometimes had what people consider a bad frame of mind. When I have less than a pleasant outlook, I look at things as being very dark—a lot like the glass is half-empty.

As a child of God, I do him dishonor when I complain and grumble about things, especially those I cannot change. While I read in our newspapers about many events that could cause me to become disheartened, God has taught me to look at those issues with His eyes.

…  ( Click for more )

A Promise Is A Promise

From time to time when I was in kindergarten, my teacher reminded our class, “A promise is a promise and should be kept.” The motive behind her saying this may have been to help us learn that our words carry weight. She also may have been trying to build our character.

Vows

When a man and woman go before a clergy person and get married, they repeat vows—promises to each other to remain by the other’s side through all kinds of circumstances.

Those circumstances cover…  ( Click for more )

Protects His Children

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

So we will not fear when earthquakes come and mountains tumble into the sea.

Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!”

(NLT) Psalm 46:1-3

Have you ever felt God’s protection as you worked through a difficult circumstance? I’m sure you have. Have you prayed for God’s protection over a friend or family member? We have done it when we ask His presence with another person as we intercede for him or…  ( Click for more )

In The Colson Way, a book I am reading for review, I find myself focusing on the statements: “The apostles of Jesus Christ were witnesses. This did not only mean they had physically seen Christ—as they had—but that they had been transformed by Christ through a personal encounter with him.” 1

Transformed Lives

In our 21Century world, do we see transformed lives or do we see people who think it is fashionable to go to church. If we see the latter types, we, as a church, will suffer whenever we present ourselves before Jesus Christ and he…  ( Click for more )

I find myself drawn to the Roman Road passages to lead another person to Christ. Let's examine the verses as we travel this road.

Romans 3:23 (NIV) “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Paul wrote these words; they are true. In all of history, except for One, no one has been sinless. In today’s world we have no one who has not sinned. When I was in high school, our church youth group would sit around and think about the question: “What is sin?”

When we think of sin in our world we think of murder…  ( Click for more )

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness

and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Matthew 6:33 (KJV)

Seek First

Seek. Look for, search diligently for. We don’t have to search for things in the same way as our pioneer forebears. We go to the grocery stores and purchase our food. We don’t have to hunt for our meat, unless we want to.

Seek first. We must make our search for God a priority in our lives. If I don’t read my Bible and devotional source just after I awaken, I might forget. The…  ( Click for more )

The women’s small group I participate in is reading and discussing the book, Wounded Women of the Bible. The book deals with different Biblical stories involving women who have faced unusual or difficult circumstances.

In reading our first selected chapter, we each, independently, were caught by a question posed by an NFL quarterback at a sports banquet. The question: If everything immediately changed and all was taken away, would Jesus be enough?”

Think about it. We see this question floating around cyberspace…  ( Click for more )

Confess His Name

“When your people Israel have been defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you and when they turn back and confess your name, praying and making supplication before you in this temple, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to them and their fathers.2 Chronicles 6:24-26 (NIV)

Solomon built the temple and prayed a dedication prayer over it. He stood on a platform in the center of the outer court and prayed. He commended God for keeping…  ( Click for more )

“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will fl their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)

I recently received a small devotional book from a blogging friend. As I read part of it one morning, I felt the need for God’s presence to be near the circumstance she described. As I thought about different issues affecting Christian people, I found myself asking God to “Come by Here.”

The…  ( Click for more )

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 (NIV)

As believers in Jesus Christ, what is on our hearts here in the middle of the year 2015? Are we concerned about those around us and where they are with the LORD? We should be.

“Pray continually” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV)

After the mass murder in Charleston South Carolina last week, I couldn’t get that city off my heart. I am thankful that they have united to face this tragedy as children of God.…  ( Click for more )

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 )