Welcome to My Blog
Do We Bring God Happiness?
I know the verses about God delighting in us but since God doesn't need us or anything/anyone, somehow it seems different that we could make God happy. Almost as if in order for someone to derive happiness from someone, they need them. And since God doesn't need us,...
“There’s Probably No God”
I thought this post from Michael Miller's blog was interesting so I'm including it here. Find some insightful comments from others at his site: http://michaeldmiller.wordpress.com/Michael is Executive Publisher of NavPress ( www.navpress.com ).(P.S. Michael is not...
Be a Watchman on the Wall
I was asked recently, "What is the purpose of prayer since God knows what He's going to do anyway?" That's always an important question and I don't have all the answers, but I studied the following today: "On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; All day...
God’s Heart for the Oppressed
Larry and I recently donated to www.love146.org, which is an organization primarily dedicated to stopping sex trafficking. Let me tell you why...Reading Isaiah for the last few months has not been good for my lack of compassion about world wide oppression. God's heart...
Did You Know This About the Passover Lamb?
Our pastor's sermon this morning included the fact that when God told the Israelites to sacrifice the lamb and put it's blood on the doorposts (Exodus 12), the Israelites knew that the Egyptians's main god was represented by a lamb. Every god of the Egyptians was...
Let God Get You!
When our 18-month-old grandson Raphael visited a few weeks ago, I loved playing the game of "chase." But Raphael made a new kind of game, "Chase and Catch." As I crawled on my hands and knees toward him, chasing him, every once in a while amidst much giggling, instead...
Quilt of Holes
This is not original with me. I tried to find the author but all I found were websites who had posted it. But it's a very powerful metaphor and story. I hope your quilt is full of holes! Quilt of HolesAs I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord...
Free Gift Requiring All
As Christians we often say salvation is a free gift. But as that phrase came to my mind this morning, I thought, "It's a free gift that requires everything." I realized how oxy-moronic that is. It's free but it requires everything. With salvation, I signed up to give...
Recommended Lipstick
Wow, I'm either getting bold or stupid but I'm going to recommend a lipstick. I didn't think it was possible but I've found the perfect lipstick. It actually stays on all day. REALLY! all day! I really didn't think it was possible. It stays on solidly without portions...
Blocked Vision and Spiritual Formation
I picked up Audrey from her day care yesterday and driving home, I was in the left hand lane waiting, when it appeared there weren't any cars coming--except for the huge truck that was turning left from the opposite way. Audrey spoke up, saying, "You can go now!"But...
Someday I’ll Speak in Full Sentences
As I look at photos of Raphael when he was younger, I think, “wow, he's really changed. That doesn't even seem like him anymore. He was such a baby (and it seemed great at the time) but now he's being like a little boy. We were so pleased with him as a baby—and...
New Perspective of Isaiah 53:5-6
Isaiah 53:5-6 tells us, "He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed. All of us had wandered off like sheep; each of us had strayed off on his own path,...
A Big Bundle of Joy
I returned recently from a visit with our daughter and our 17 month old grandson, Raphael. He's our one and only and I think I'm in love! He is a little bundle of joy and energy and is our miracle story--since he was born 2 months early at 2 lbs. 12 oz. We thank God...
“Make It Easy on Yourself”
You may not remember a song from the 60's titled, "Make It Easy on Yourself" but I thought of that song as I read some of Gary Thomas's comments in his latest book The Beautiful Fight (which I highly recommend). After quoting 2 Peter 1:4 (we "may participate in the...
How to Beautify the Lord
We read in Scriptures a lot about glorifying God. My reading today of Isaiah 49:3 gives us a new angle on what that means: "And He saith to me, `My servant Thou art, O Israel, In whom I beautify Myself." ('Young's Literal Translation).In other translations, “beautify”...
Know Him
As I've been studying Isaiah for a while now, it's been fun to see some recurring themes. One of them is when God says that He is going to act so that someone/a nation will know Him. I love the idea that everything God does is motivated with His desire for us and...
Entitlement: God Knows His Purposes for His Gifts
It's been interesting to recognize an example of entitlement in Audrey. (For a few postings, I've been writing about entitlement--check those first). I started giving her a bottle of water to put in her purse when she goes to the senior center each day (Mon-Thursday)....
Being Saved From Myself
I was driving down Cook St. and the guy in front of me was going so SLOW!!!!!!!!!! Ack! I was impatient. What is he doing? I was really frustrated.Then I saw the police car on a side street. And I came alert and realized, "I'm driving by a school; the kids just got...