The Afternoon of Life

 A precious young friend and former student made a request on Facebook today asking folks to post verses about "faith".  Her request sent me immediately to Hebrews 11...the "Hall of Fame of Faith".  But as I read it for the umpteenth time, I found I wanted to really look at something.  There's a wonderful list of things that we gain through faith...and I wanted to see that actual list.  No wonder we are empowered as Christians!  Look at the incredible gifts that God pours out on us through His Holy Spirit because we step out in faith and believe in Jesus Christ and his death for payment of our sins...and His new life that gives us hope.  Here is the list of "gains" that come our way through faith...at least this one chapter of the Bible.  Here is the bulleted list I excavated from this chapter: Gives hope Gives assurance Gives understanding about creation Allows us to give better offerings Gives righteousness Lets us live on through testimony ...

"TOP TEN THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR NOSE WHEN YOU’RE BORED” #10  Look down it at somebody (Pride) #9    Poke it in someone else’s business (Strife/Dissension) #8    Snoop around with it (Nosey / Gossip) #7    Get it out of joint (Anger) #6    Cut it off to spite your face (Bitterness) #5    Pay through it (Materialism) #4    Find something right under it (Love / Salvation) #3    See past it (Eternity / Hope) #2    Keep it clean (Humility / Obedience) AND THE NUMBER ONE THING TO DO WITH YOUR NOSE #1    Get it stuck in a book (The Bible!) This morning my friend RaChelle Brookens posted this list on Facebook and it really gave me reason to pause.   It’s such a great black and white list of all that God would have us do and not do.   It’s would almost make a great modern day Ten Commandments list…because if we did these things it would make it easier to actually follow th...

 I’ve watched many posting this month a list of things for which they are thankful.   I wish I was dedicated enough to stick with the one-a-day plan, but since I know I’m not likely to do that, I thought I’d blog my top 30 things for which I’m grateful (knowing, of course, that I cannot possibly list all of the blessings God’s poured my way for which I am most appreciative). #1         I am grateful for a God who is big enough to create a universe, creative enough to fill it with an incredible variety of animals and changing leaf colors and individualized snowflakes…and still personal enough to want to have a relationship with me. #2         I am grateful for a Christian heritage…parents who made sure I had the opportunity to know God personally…who modeled Jesus-like behavior in many ways…and who I will have the opportunity to see again and spend eternity with because we all share in the gift of God’s salvati...

This is God's Message: "If your sins are blood-red, they'll be snow -white. If they're red like crimson, they'll be like wool. If you'll willingly obey, you'll feast like kings. But if you're willful and stubborn, you'll die like dogs." That's right. God says so.”   ( Isaiah 1:18) The Message This morning as I watch the snow dramatically change the world I lived in just yesterday, I found myself thinking that this is the dramatic change that God makes in our hearts when we obey Him and accept His salvation gift.   Yesterday my world was not particularly pretty in any way.   Exposed branches dark against a ground covered in clutter.   Stark.   Unappealing.   Sad.   Dark.   There were a few leaves left clinging to the trees trying to add something nice to the vista…but for the most part it’s not a world that makes me want to go for a ride to enjoy the sights. That’s how are lives are without Christ.   Our ugliness is exposed.   There’s...

 "But blessed is the man who trusts me, God… the woman who sticks with God.   They're like trees replanted in Eden,  putting down roots near the rivers— Never a worry through the hottest of summers,  never dropping a leaf, serene and calm through droughts,  bearing fresh fruit every season.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8 Msg) This morning as I searched the Word for God’s message to my heart for this day I found these lovely verses.   Am I a woman who “sticks with God”?   Are my roots so deep in the soil of His love and faithfulness that the changing seasons do not stir up fret and worry?   In each and every season, am I bearing fruit? There are a couple of apple trees in our yard.   The apples don’t appear to be good for anything except to make the trees pretty in the summer and heavy in the fall.   The fruit seems to be wasted.   But then I wake early one fall morning to find deer in the yard making a sweet breakfast of the apples that have fall...

Lord, I’ve been still and listening to your voice and learning to know that You ARE God.   I’ve been quiet and trying to focus on You instead of my circumstances and all that the earth screams to keep me from drawing close to You.   This morning I come into Your Presence wondering about awe…wondering about that moment when I’ll be in Your Presence for eternity and trying to grasp how glorious it will be.   I’ve always pictured heaven as something You prepared for me, when in reality You ARE Heaven.   Living in Your Presence – questions answered, peace surrounding, creativity abounding, no more pain – there really is no way to comprehend such a thing.   I tend to look at Heaven as MY reward, but the truth is that it is Your reward.   It is the fulfillment of Your plan for true fellowship with us.   And sometimes the thoughts of it overwhelm me.   I know that here on earth I’m overwhelmed with the love and friendship of my family and friends…how do...

 Today I feel compelled to just free write…to let the thoughts bubble over.   Maybe I feel this way because I didn’t sleep more than an hour last night and I’m sitting home this morning feeling dysfunctional and in a stupor.   I’m going to let the thoughts that are blowing around in my mind slip out and pop in the wind like a bubble…and hope that they move on and let me focus on better things (smile). I just watched “Face the Nation”, a show I rarely see (as in I don’t know that I’ve ever seen it before).   My blood is stirred about the debacle that Herman Cain has faced in the media this week.   Am I the only one in America who sees the media spinning this story?   Does the media really think it’s okay to “make” news instead of “report” news?   Facts:   anonymous women have spoken through an unimportant lawyer enjoying his 15 seconds of fame to discredit a man who’s been running for president for several months.   They waited till he became a...