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Showing posts from 2016

Guilt & Grace

So, this just happened.   Got hit broadside with a life lesson, and right in the midst of it I knew it wasn’t just for me, but also for someone dear to me who’s grappling with grace, and for you.   You too, if you’re reading this, it’s for you. The past few years of life have been, well, difficult.   But all through the tribulation God has given such good, good gifts.   Some tangible, others more precious than can be held in one’s hand.   Why then, would I ever not go to Him for what is needed?   Why, why, would I step out on my own? Or even worse, let the words of one far from Him seep into my life? (Oh, oh, if we truly understood the power of our words… but that’s for another time)   Dave just said “We should know better” and oh, yes, yes, we should! So, earlier this year, an opinion was spoken over a situation in our lives and though we did consider the source, we didn’t ask God if there was any validity to it or if He was even concerned about it.   Instead, we pondere

God with us

I’ve been reading the Message Bible recently for a fresh taste of God’s Word.  And, is God’s way and timing, today I started the book of Mark, as we prepare for Advent – the eager awaiting of Christ, Mark too was eager to share about His coming. The good news of Jesus Christ—the Message!—begins here, following to the letter the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. The notes introducing the Book of Mark include a powerful statement that strikes a tone in my heart today. “ The bare announcement that God exists doesn't particularly qualify as news.   Most people in most centuries have believed in the existence of God or gods. It may well be, in fact, that human beings in aggregate and through the centuries have given more attention and concern to divinity than to all their other concerns put together - food, housing, clothing, pleasure, work, family, whatever.” Oh, this is so evident, especially in these days.   We ebb and flow through life worried over trivial things al

Thanks In Giving

If we are truly thankful, we give.  Generosity is the evidence of a grateful heart.  True generosity of self is birthed in our rebirth in Christ.  God, who loved us so much - - - gave.    Gave His One and Only Son, Jesus, for our salvation, our redemption unto Himself.  If we are truly thankful for that most Magnificent Gift, the first evidence is in the giving of ourselves to Him in return.  (Though we can hardly claim any generosity here, it is purely for our whole good.)  Thus begins a life transformed by thanks-in-giving.  And generosity, not only of the tangible blessings bestowed upon us as children of God, but of our very selves , becomes the way of life.   Our giving can only be temporal, fading at best, until we, ourselves, have received the eternal... Thanks-In-Giving Blessing Loved one, may this day hold for you the most precious of moments.   If you have received the gift of eternal life & salvation, then may you have the opportunity to generously share it.

The Word

The Word of The LORD dwells among us.   It reaches deep into places unknown, It seeks out the darkness and obliterates it with incredible light.   It soars to the heavens accomplished in Its ways.   It levels mountains and raises valleys.   It pierces the heart of man so that life is ignited.   It binds the wounds on the brokenhearted.   It heals. It saves.                It    is    Truth.    The Word of The LORD, which is His very breath, is life to us.   In fact, it is His breath alone that has power to fill us with eternal breath so that we may live forever.   We must be willing to breathe in His Truth to the inmost place, exchange the ineffectual air of the world, for the eternal Breath of God. The Word of God, the Breath of God - Jesus, His Word made flesh, dwells among us…   And in us.

He Paints

The whole of human creativity cannot begin to touch the Glory of His design. One moment pressed, no seared into my memory, my heart, is revelation of this truth.   We were at my favorite place, The Getty Museum in Los Angeles.   We’d spent the whole day there taking in some of the greatest giftings of mankind.   Mediums of all kinds; canvas, paper, clay, stone, wood, metal, books (among my favorite!) and more…   All manner of style represented; from the Masters in oils, to water colors, to interactive pieces, to light playing on pages, photography, smooth polished stone, intricately carved woods…   Something to speak to everyone.   So, what was the piece de resistance that captured my fullest attention? It was later afternoon and we were in the photography gallery and I suddenly realized the time.   We left quickly to head upstairs and out to the outcropping I’d scoped out earlier in the day.   The place I intended to be to celebrate the perfect ending to a lovely day.   If