April 2013 Blog Posts (119)

Thoughts of Beauty … and ugliness.

Lots of thoughts this day … my head and heart are full. Honestly, I have to ask—what is wrong with people? Seriously. On a long drive, I found myself channel surfing, when I heard a familiar name, and stopped to listen … ‘Pastor Rick Warren’ … wait, what? What could this be about? I knew that Pastor…

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your favor in my life. I do not ever want to take it for granted. You have provided abundantly and I am thankful for all of my blessings. Lord, I desire to keep a "child-like" attitude so that I can learn more about You and Your kingdom. Thank You for love and strength for each new day. I know that You will make a way for me to walk in victory this day. I do appreciate Your goodness and grace toward me and those that I am praying for. Bless my…

In describing the mode of dress appropriate for women in church, the apostle Paul exhorts them to dress “modestly” with “decency and propriety” then goes on tocontrastimmodest dress with the good deeds which are appropriate for those who profess to be true worshipers of God (…

 It took Sawyer several days to recoup from his surgery. He even had to be put back on oxygen because he became so weak. At 37 weeks gestation he now weighed 5lbs and 8 ounces. We are now only 3 weeks from his due date. They now are starting to give him full rein of what he wants to eat where before everything was monitored.

 Sawyer was now eating everything in site. As his date to come home was closing in we were told that we needed to take a cpr class. Yes, pretty scary stuff, but…

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your love and patience with all of us as Your children. Father, we ask You to deliver us from pride and foolishness and give us Your wisdom. Give us the strength to do all that is before us each day. May we do our work as unto You and not unto men. May our labors count for something. Let us lead good and pure lives before those whom we live and work with. Lord, deliver us from the temptation to lie. May truthfulness always be found upon our…

You have been named in a will.  Ephesians 1.4-14  

hi.   Have you ever been named in a will?  It seems like in these days of living trusts and other options, we hear less of folks meeting together in austere…

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your love and grace that empowers me to overcome the fear and pride that comes against me. Lord, I do humble myself before You, asking You to be merciful to me and all of my family. We need Your love so that we can overcome evil with good. Lord, help us each, in our families and our offices, to become more like You. Give us patience and forbearance with one another. Let us be gentle and kind to all, and especially may we be so in our own homes.…

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your promise of daily provision. You have always been so faithful to supply all of our needs. Lord, help me to be sensitive to the needs of others, and share with them the things that You have blessed me with. Lord, help me not to forget the poor and the hungry, just because I have plenty of food. I pray for the people in the countries of the world who are suffering in famine and war. Lord, send the food and help needed to keep them alive, so…

Faith that stands … quite remarkable! Ephesians 1.4-14

To read: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%201.4-14&version=NKJV&interface=print…

“The power that has conquered the world is this faith of ours.” 1Jn.5:4

Reflection:

   Faith has a conquering power over the world. It joins us to the Conqueror of the world, risen from the grave.

   The more solid my faith is in Christ Jesus, our Lord, the better I will triumph over the world with its sorrows and its joys.

Prayer:

   “Heavenly Father, grant me a living faith that I may discover eternal things behind those that are merely…

“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” Ps.118:22

Reflection:

   Rejected by human beings on Good Friday, acknowledged by God on Easter Sunday and made the chief cornerstone - Christ takes His place in the center of history.

   Those who place their foundations in Him and His Church will never be lost. However, those who reject Him will themselves be rejected.

Prayer:

   “Christ, my King, I promise to be…

Dear Heavenly Father, I am thankful for Your love and the opportunity to serve You. I truly want to leave my children and grandchildren a godly inheritance. I pray that they each will be guided by You and that they remain in the will of God. May they all serve and follow You. Protect them each, and keep them from evil. Lord, filter out the humanism of this world so it does not enter into their thinking patterns; may they be influenced by godly thinking instead. Lord, may Your Words…

An answer to the oft-asked question of if masturbation is a sin for believers in Christ Jesus, and what the scriptures teach concerning it.

1Cor 4:6 (Wey) .. in order to teach you by our example what those words mean, which say, "Nothing beyond what is written!"...

The Scripture is strangely silent about this universal issue, while not shy about all sorts of other sexual situations and perversions... in great detail concerning sex with…