All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others

Christine's Blog (2,611)

Sharing the Bounty

Sharing the Bounty.

English roses are different than the ones we typically grow in the US, different from those that can be plucked from the big black vases in the grocery store. They are densely-petaled and a little bit lacey looking. Pictured below are my favorites: Abraham Darby, Shakespeare ~ And, English roses are hearty.

So in my last backyard, I had a bounty of them – in all colors and shades. Often, I made bouquets and gave them…

Continue

Added by Christine on March 17, 2017 at 6:00am — No Comments

"But, but I'm not a gardener!"

'I'm just not a gardener, so we have to make it simple,' I said to my new neighbors who came to help us design and plant a (large) front yard in Northern California. See, we had bought an old home in foreclosure and the yard was nothing but rocks and weeds, and there was much work to be done. Though I think it was about 22 years ago, I remember like yesterday thinking, 'Now I will be happy to water occasionally, but I can't imagine much more than that; I don't like getting dirt under my…

Continue

Added by Christine on March 15, 2017 at 7:21am — No Comments

Look up.

Look up.

How often do you look up? At the clouds, the varying hues of reds, pinks, and oranges at sunset, the night sky, trees and stars ... if it is not a regular practice for you, I hope you might consider looking up. I personally think that God shows off at what we behold when we look up!

A week ago I was in my backyard1 and I looked up at my apricot tree, wondering when it might start budding. I kid you not, …

Continue

Added by Christine on March 13, 2017 at 7:24am — No Comments

You and your sheet.

You and your sheet. Acts 10.9-17

I boarded the bus with sleepy eyes and a heart filled with expectation at what I was going to see and learn on our first day in Israel. As we drove north from the Tel Aviv area, we passed many businesses that were familiar - from high tech…

Continue

Added by Christine on March 10, 2017 at 6:00am — No Comments

This changes everything.

This changes everything. Acts 10

'I don't read the Bible because it is much too difficult to understand.'

'It is out of date, has nothing to do with my life right now...'know what I mean?'

I've heard it a myriad of times. I get it. There are times I read through a passage and am left with a question mark hanging over my head-

'What is this about, and what could it possibly have…

Continue

Added by Christine on March 8, 2017 at 6:00am — No Comments

You are Here.

You are Here. Acts 9. You want to find the Dumbo ride in Fantasy Land at Disneyland, so you consult a park map, but first in order to get to Dumbo, you must find the “you are here” marker. You are looking for the nearest exit on a New York City subway station map, but first … you must locate the “you are here” sign. Whether you are reading this or listening to a podcast, “You are here” – in the study of the book of Acts, written by the gospel writer Luke, for the historical record of the…

Continue

Added by Christine on March 6, 2017 at 6:00am — No Comments

Don't say "God" around here.

Don't say "God" around here....and by all means, keep Jesus out of it! Acts 9.23-42

Juan was affixing a mailing label to my box when I commented on the vivid rose tattoo on his fore arm. Like my friends who love being complimented on their body artistry, he lit up and talked about what he was going to have done next. "You know, FedEx just recently changed their policy on tattoos; it used to be that shirt sleeves had to cover tattoos. Not any more - so long as…

Continue

Added by Christine on March 3, 2017 at 6:00am — No Comments

Spiritual, are you?

Spiritual, are you? 1 Timothy 1.12-17

Good Day.

So I got somewhat turned around on New York City's labyrinth of subway rails and wound up in a Brooklyn neighborhood I enjoyed some years ago, Crown Heights. Okay, truth be told, it was the last stop-I had to get off the train! After taking in the uniqueness of the predominantly Orthodox community, jumped in a taxi with Roman to cross a couple miles to Williamsburg. Prominently…

Continue

Added by Christine on March 1, 2017 at 7:09am — No Comments

Saul ... Jewish or Christian, Spiritual or Religious?

It was Saturday night and I took my laptop to a little café adjacent to the old motel where I was staying. Minding my own business, I was reviewing some needed updates for www.Pastorwoman.com, when a young couple came in and sat across from me. The guy said, 'Hey, are you really working-on Saturday night?' His question sparked an evening of back and forth conversation…

Continue

Added by Christine on February 24, 2017 at 6:00am — No Comments

Loving a Terrorist.

Loving a Terrorist.

Regularly, I get Facebook 'Friend' requests from folks with strange names-strange to me, that is-and I am not sure of their intent. I weigh each one carefully, particularly noting if we have 'friends' in common who might have told the person about the Morning Briefings group on the social media site.

Never thought I could be drawn to a…

Continue

Added by Christine on February 22, 2017 at 7:00am — No Comments

Serendipity or God?

Serendipity or God? Yes! Acts 8.26-40

Read: …

Continue

Added by Christine on February 20, 2017 at 6:00am — No Comments

Sometimes you just can't never know.

Sometimes you just can't never know. Acts 8

Good Day.

How can you be so…

Continue

Added by Christine on February 17, 2017 at 6:00am — No Comments

Letter to Stephen's family.

Letter to Stephen's family. Acts 6-7

Just imagine~ this would be shocking to receive!

From the Jewish believers in Jesus Christ living in Jerusalem.

Shalom aleykhem. We are sorry to bear this news to you, but want you to know all we know about your son, Stephen. It is with deep regret that we want you to know that Stephen has been killed--stoned to death on false charges. We loved him and respected him so much that we had chosen him… Continue

Added by Christine on February 15, 2017 at 7:33am — No Comments

This impresses me.

This impresses me. Acts 1 -6.

It impresses God too.

It moved us to action, may it move you to action too.

Greetings and Salutations!

Every once in a while, you've gotta shake things up. Women of Passion1 is a varied group of women-spanning decades, various faiths,…

Continue

Added by Christine on February 13, 2017 at 9:45am — No Comments

Who is God to me?

Hello.

It was midday on a sunny Saturday in Flagstaff, and I positioned myself near a window to observe the snow piled outside on the old street corner. Laptop open, I was writing - referencing Scripture - thinking about proximity to God and humility when ... a youngish man took off his headphones and said, 'hey, what are you writing?' Guessing him to be about 30 years old, (taking in his long hair,…

Continue

Added by Christine on February 8, 2017 at 6:53am — No Comments

God Proximity.

God Proximity. Acts 6.1-10

Good Day, Friends!

Consider this: "Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people."

Remember he was one of the seven chosen to serve the people in order to free up the apostles to teach and seek God-to do what only they could do.1

"They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit."2Opposition…

Continue

Added by Christine on February 6, 2017 at 6:00am — 1 Comment

Growth and Empowerment!

Acts 6:1-7,

“Danger, Will Robinson, Danger!”1 A problem has arisen in the young Christian church, and the community is being threatened from within. Growth has been explosive! Luke has told us several times that 'the number of disciples is growing'--many more Jews are coming to believe the gospel message, and meeting together regularly. We’re talking many thousands by this time.

But, not…

Continue

Added by Christine on February 1, 2017 at 6:00am — No Comments

Maybe the Apostles were Insane…have you ever thought about that?

Maybe the Apostles were Insane…have you ever thought about that? Acts 5.38-42

Were they suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Had they endured one too many floggings?

What was wrong with them, that they narrowly escape death, and go right back to defying what the authorities had required—STOP TEACHING ABOUT JESUS!

Respected Gamaliel, leader of the Sanhedrin—cast of 71—had just rescued the apostles, saying: “Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave…

Continue

Added by Christine on January 30, 2017 at 6:00am — No Comments

Of Human Origin or Divine? Truth stands.

False teaching about God has been a factor since Adam and Eve had the garden gates locked behind them. False…

Continue

Added by Christine on January 27, 2017 at 7:34am — No Comments

The Takeaway

The Takeaway. Acts 5.17-39

When I taught fourth grade, the last thing I did after the students put their chairs atop their desks, was ask them what they learned that day. Those called-on hands in the air were rewarded with a flying Jolly Rancher1 - all so that when their mums asked them what they learned in school, they could name at least one thing ... a takeaway. A takeaway from the day of pencils and books and whiteboards.

Luke's renderings in the first few chapters of the book…

Continue

Added by Christine on January 25, 2017 at 6:00am — No Comments