Christine's Blog (2,586)

Good Morning~

At sundown of that same day, thirteen men met to celebrate the Passover in a great gray hall, an upper room in a house on Mount Zion, the northeast corner of the height of Jerusalem. In the tall-roofed chamber with heavy beams holding up the ceiling, the only furnishings were rattan divans and a long oaken table, on which tall candles were burning. The flickering flames played upon the sturdy figures of the Apostles, and repeated them in distorted shadows against the…

Let us shift our focus from Rome back to Jerusalem and cast our gaze toward the Upper Room.  It is Passover time, so the city is teeming with people.  All Jewish males over the age of 12 were required to go there for the festival, which was followed by a seven-day celebration called the Festival of Unleavened Bread. For these festivals, Jews from all over the Roman Empire would converge on Jerusalem to celebrate the most important events in their history. You will remember that the Passover…

I asked you the other day whether or not you believe that you are chosen by God.  God chose you and me to love him and enjoy his love forever.

I hope that the word “chosen” speaks to you.  As children of God, we are God’s chosen ones.  Chosen means you are wanted, your company is sought after—I like that.  When I know that I am chosen, I know that I have been seen as a special person.  Someone has noticed me in my uniqueness and has expressed a desire to know me, to come closer to me,…

Do you believe that you were chosen by God?  I mean, chosen out from all the rest, which would follow then, that some were not chosen?  Hmmm.

We have looked at Romans 8, verse 28, from a couple different angles—today, please consider how it leads into the thoughts which come after it:  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  And now, today’s text:  “For those God foreknew he also predestined…

She is an amazing lady—now more amazing than any of us knew before!  Her calling in life has been to advocate for schoolchildren who are unable to maintain in the convention classroom setting, who have special challenges . . .  and without her, honestly, would be lost.  She is an angel to hundreds—both students and forever-devoted grateful parents.  Let’s call her ‘Cherie’.

Cherie had not been feeling well for a while, and in the final analysis, scans, a scope, blood work, etc.…

What Do You See?  What Do They See?

The Duke leaned against my car, and it felt kinda’ like an out of body experience for me, because he was talking about me to my two friends I had brought along to the Long Beach prayer meeting.  “I saw her come in, this blonde white woman and I basically thought she was a fraud.  I sat back and listened to her and looked to poke holes in what she said . . .”  Well, that explained the serious expression and dark eyes that I had viewed from my…

“Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers

Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs

That just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care

Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers…”  Can’t you just hear Garth’s sweet croon?

‘Not really sure why it makes it more ‘country’ to use bad grammar—‘hmmm . . . can’t imagine why some folks think country singers are just a bunch of hicks… but what about the theology of the lyrics—is it…

Three things struck me about the following story—

-Sometimes God creates by making something beautiful of our lives

-It is in the ‘canyon’ times that we see growth

-If in the ‘canyon’, we ought be looking around for the beauty that

       has a unique opportunity to grow …

A friend read this story to me on the phone, and I hope it speaks to you as it did to me:

Gwen was an undisciplined and strong-willed girl, always accustomed to having her own…

Purpose in pain … three things to remember.  Romans 8.17 ff

Yes, my mom always told me that things came in threes.  A backward glance at our Romans 8 study reveals three things that groan—three things that keep us hopeful—Creation, believers, and the Holy Spirit, who prays for us. 

I am incredibly inspired by Romans 8!  Paul has so much to say to believers that we could honestly camp right here for several more weeks.  One of the areas that Paul speaks toward is suffering in…

Mama always told me that things come in threes.   Yesterday, today, tomorrow … tic-tac-toe … Father, Son, Holy Spirit … in baseball—three strikes, three bases, three outfielders … as we look a little more closely at the middle of Romans chapter eight, we see Paul’s observation that in life, there are three things that groan.  Take a look at Paul’s thoughts:

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.  For…

Look where we are going . . . here in Romans chapter eight.

Scripture is meant to be read in its context.  So as we consider creation, we must remember that we have a hope and a future ourselves—an eternal one.  I have emboldened and underlined certain points, because my dear friends, these verses are critical to right thinking!  (perhaps you should consider reading this out loud, because this is one amazing passage, and I pray that it sends…

Anthropomorphism - attributing human characteristics to an animal or nature.  Did you know that the apostle Paul used anthropomorphism in his letters? 

“For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.”  Romans 8.19

“Poppycock!” you say, “As though creation understands that it is awaiting anything in the future—God-moved or otherwise!  Was Paul daft, Man?”  Permit me to take you where I’ve been in considering the answer…

Some words associated with Christianity really turn people off.  These words have the power to alienate, confuse, and create hostility—so strong are the reactions at times.  I’ve seen the expressions on faces time and again when the words are used in a religiously-integrated or even denominationally-mixed group.  (Hey, I like that, “religiously-integrated”)

Born again.  The first time that I remember the term ‘born again’…

“Father”  . . . what does the word bring to mind for you?  Do you think of your dad—responsible, nurturing and loving?  ‘Or your dad—angry, critical, or not present.  Do you think of yourself—“Dad” being one of the hats you wear—one of your roles?  And if so,

       what adjectives would you attach to yourself as a dad?

Do you transfer any of these qualities to your image of God the Father?  Hmmm . . . perhaps some thinking is in order.  ‘Like—if your dad was…

Picture in your mind’s eye the scenes of young cadets, spiffy and shiny, called to attention, ready for inspection, and then to “maa-rch . . . right, left, forward, halt!”  Sound off . . . and march again.  Why do the cadets respond as they do?  Because their cadence has been called. 

Who calls your cadence?  I mean . . . there must be some reason you do what you do.  Do you allow your cadence to be called by your sinful human nature—whose goal it is to fulfill your desires for…

 The grandson sat, thinking, then asked: “Which wolf wins, Grandfather?”
  His grandfather replied, “The one you feed.”1

 Paul identifies those…

Good Day!

Mystery, wonder, confusion, and controversy … Why, about what?  The third person of the Trinity – the Holy Spirit.  As we move forward in Romans, Paul is going to reference and discuss the actions of the Spirit, so let’s step back a moment, and refresh our understanding.

One of the last things Jesus said to his followers before he ascended into Heaven was, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit…