Subscription Lists

Prince of Peace

“For unto us a child is born, a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders and he will be called . . . the Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

The prophet Isaiah spoke of a coming prince, One whose name itself exudes peace. We know Him by the name Jesus. We utilize this part of His persona when we have fears and misgivings about our lives. We seek Him after receiving disheartening news.

As children of God, we are ambassadors of His peace. In this 21Century world, we have innumerable times…  ( Click for more )

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 (NIV)

Each day in our newspapers and our television news broadcasts we read and hear about war, terrorism, and unrest affecting innocent people.

Because of this, some of us don’t enjoy the news media. But can we ignore the reports? If we look away from these events we will be ‘sticking our heads in the sand’. The truth of this matter is we have to be informed about these atrocities…  ( Click for more )

“I consider our present sufferings are not worth

comparing to the glory that will be revealed to us.”

Romans 8:18 (NIV)

As children we dreamed of how our grown up lives would be. We might have even pretended what we wanted to have. Even when I was 17, I dreamed the boy I thought I would marry and I would have a big family-five children. I even selected names for them.

Then life unfolded and reality showed a different picture. I didn’t envision raising an only child with multiple medical needs. I didn’t plan on…  ( Click for more )

Two families I know personally are in need of God’s comfort at this time. One family suddenly lost a father/grandfather this past weekend. The gentleman went to sleep and woke up in the arms of Jesus. Another family lost a daughter/a wife/and mother when a lady from our church received her call to go to heaven.

Both of these families are caught in the grieving process. The Bible tells us we are not to grieve as those without hope. As Christians, I know we should be relieved that these people’s struggles are behind them but we do miss…  ( Click for more )

As we enter into Advent, we find ourselves reflecting on Jesus and what He means to us. Yet, we hear of people who are faced with major, life threatening, health issues. We read of people inflicting terror on innocent neighbors by ignoring decisions of law.

Each day in the news, we hear reminders of the fallen state of our world. We pray for all these great needs. One often wonders what those needs actually are.

A Vital Relationship with Christ

Once we invite Jesus into our hearts, we have a need to build on that act.…  ( Click for more )

We don’t hear very much about it these days. However, as we mature, we learn we have to have commitment in order to be successful in life. Long term projects require concentration and commitment. My husband and I had friends who were married 65, almost 66, years before the man passed away. Our local newspaper recently had a story of a couple, each 100 years old, who had been married for 76 years.

We see commitment in Christians who live in nations where their beliefs cause then to be targets of persecution. We see this demonstrated in…  ( Click for more )

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all the things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33, NIV)

In my present reading, I ran across a statement that causes me to step back and think. The book, “When Your Children Hurt,” by Charles Stanley said He (God) uses adversity to get our attention. In my lifetime,I discovered something else; those adverse circumstances cause us to focus on what is important in our lives. In several instances, our priorities change. At other times, those things we hold dear become…  ( Click for more )

I write a list of God’s gifts to me throughout the year. Salvation is the best gift God gives his children.

As we enter the season of Thanksgiving, we spend time reflecting on what God has done in our lives, what he has given us, and we express our gratitude. Where would I be if Jesus hadn’t saved me? All I know is I would not be where I am nor who I am today.

Jesus spoke to an insecure teenager and said, “I can take care of those worries and fears you have.” But she really didn’t understand.

The LORD spoke…  ( Click for more )

Job 42:1-6

A study of the book of Job teaches us Job had been put through the mill; he lost his land, his animals and all his children. He questioned God but didn’t curse Him. His “best” friends try to reason why God allowed these events to happen. God finally spoke but He didn’t answer the questions Job and his friends asked.

In the last chapter (chapter 42), Job says, “My ears have heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore, I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” (:5-6) Job gained something by having been put…  ( Click for more )

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant doesn’t know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known.” John 15:15 (NIV)

This scripture humbles me. It speaks of a new relationship between Jesus and His followers, of which I am one.

In Earthly Lives

In our earthly lives we are people with relationships. We may have siblings. We might have grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Sometimes people living in certain areas develop special camaraderie among…  ( Click for more )

We hear that we are to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. We wonder how this happens. We go to the altar and pray. We sit in the hospital and await surgery for a loved one. We waken to hear thunder rolling across the darkened horizon. We face difficult issues of life. We react to a deep hurt.

In all the above instances, God meets where we are. At the altar, He answers our invitation for Him to enter our hearts and lives. At the hospital, God is there with us. When, at the end of our wait, we are faced with dire issues, God through the Holy Spirit is there. Those late night…  ( Click for more )

“May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,

even as we put our hope in you.”

Psalm 33:22 (NIV)

This past Sunday was World Communion Sunday/Unity Sunday. The churches of my denomination in our town held a Unity Service at the High School auditorium.

This service came at the end of a weekend of being a part of a retreat experience with women from another church. As a result, I spent time reflecting on who I am, what I need to do to grow closer to the LORD, and how I can let the light of Jesus shine through to others.

Our bishop spoke…  ( Click for more )

Journal entry April 14,1997

Today’s scripture reading, Philippians 4:8-9, causes me to stop and think.

“Whatever is true:” I shared some information ‘as I saw it’ yesterday evening about two different situations that I was aware of. One concerned an elderly lady who kept violating confidences and reacting to her surroundings. The other lady only came to God on her terms and as long as it didn’t hurt her to worship God, if she felt she had to change then she {stayed away and} came back in times of crisis and only on her terms (looking…  ( Click for more )

“Catch for us the little foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards,

our vineyards that are in bloom.”

Song of Songs 2:15

A discussion we had in a prayer group one recent morning got me to thinking about the vexing things that seem to bring us down. Our pastoral assistant referred to a devotion she read that began with my focus scripture.

Our conversation set me to thinking. Those ‘little foxes’ create a lot of havoc in our lives, personal as well as spiritual.

My Sunday school teacher calls the process of allowing insignificant…  ( Click for more )

Have you ever felt weak as you face a huge task or a change in your life? When we face these things as believers, have we admitted to God we can’t do them by ourselves? We have scriptural evidence that God and the Holy Spirit will help us through.

The Apostle Paul spoke many times of weakness, his as well as other that of other people.

He shares with the believers in Corinth what the LORD said to Him. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

As human beings, we will face circumstances that…  ( Click for more )

“God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.

This is what you are to say to the Israelites:

‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

Exodus 3:14 (NIV)

Moses had some concerns about the task God lay before him. Moses first felt that he was not worthy of doing the job. If someone had asked him he would have said he wasn’t the person to do this gargantuan work. God told Moses that He would be with him as he performed his part in the work to rescue the Israelite people.

Moses used second excuse to try to get shed of this. “If they ask me…  ( Click for more )

“I say to myself, ‘The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the ones who seek him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” Lamentations 3:24-26

Jeremiah calls the Lord his portion. God is his inheritance. An inheritance is a gift or a legacy given to an heir. He further states he will wait for it.

He speaks here of the benefit of waiting on the Lord. When a believer waits for His guidance and direction, he or she learns of God and of His ways. They spend…  ( Click for more )

His Peacefulness

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.

I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27 (NIV)

As we advance in age, people seem to want less drama in their lives. We yearn for the serenity of the times we saw before we had the upheaval of the Vietnam Era.

Sometimes we ache to get away from the rut or from the grindstone we have in our lives. People take get-away trips just to relax and unwind. Sometimes we need a wake-up call from God.

After…  ( Click for more )

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such

a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off

everything that hinders and the sin that so easily

entangles, and let us run with perseverance

the race marked for us.” Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

Our Cloud of Witnesses, who is in it? The writer of Hebrews tells us the heroes of the faith from chapter 11 are there. We believe that people who walked with God and whom we have known when they lived are interspersed throughout.

Can we imagine being in that cloud of witnesses…  ( Click for more )

Love, Mercy, Grace

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

made us alive in Christ Even when we were dead in transgressions—

it is by grace you are saved.”

Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV)

“But because of his great love for us. . . ” We know God has a motivation for all He does. It is a simple one. He loves us.

“. . . God, who is rich in mercy. . . .” When we list the attributes of our heavenly Father one of the ones we mention is mercy-the quality of withholding just punishment for our…  ( Click for more )