Truth and Deception
God’s presence is fresh and lively; it’s creative and filled with truth, light and peace. The enemy’s activity, though often disguised as light, eventually turns into deception, weariness, darkness and unrest. This rather obvious observation was evoked by a CD message from a preacher who once taught Jesus’ love. The Holy Spirit once used him to heal the sick and give sight to the blind. He is still speaking and preaching, but . . .
Essays in Ephesians #5
Paul’s deeply felt gratitude for the faith and love of believers bubbles over. When the Holy Spirit brings life to his words, I bubble up with thanksgiving too. You can read my praise and prayer below and join your gratitude to mine, but better than that, why not reflect on Paul’s words in Ephesian and take a moment or two to thank the Lord for His faith and love in you and yours.
Knowing God through His Word — Part 19
I grew up in churches where the congregation repeatedly sang the haunting hymn, Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, . . . I loved the melody and the friendly thought of Jesus calling me to come, but I didn’t understand it. In the depths of my spirit, I always sensed that He was calling us into His arms of love. But on more practical, concrete levels. . .
Essays in Ephesians #4
Life on earth is tragic. Yet God’s plan, set forth in Christ, continues to unfold through times when we feel deaf, gagged, horrified by violence and blinded by grief and the throbbing distractions of injustice . . .
Essays in Ephesians #3
Thank you, Father that when we look upon the mystery of the cross, we can be confident in Your love. You always know exactly what’s going on. You have wise solutions; You see eternal outcomes. When crosses come our way, when situations look dark, we don’t have to know it all.
Nature is Wild
The phrase, the wildness of nature, brings memories of waking up in the night to the crash of winter ice breaking up on Lake Geneva . . .
Stewardship
My husband’s gift is helps. He loves to help people. When he was young and strong, he worked tirelessly with the Salvation Army—serving in soup kitchens, working in thrift stores, pouring coffee for emergency workers, . . .
Knowing God through His Word — Part 18
When prayers go unanswered, asking “Why?” may bring insight, but more often it erodes peace and disrupts abiding in God’s love. Most believers already know all the pat religious reasons why God doesn’t give us what we pray for. Usually, the first is doubt . . .
Unfinished Business
January 24, 2019 — I published a book yesterday. I’d been looking forward to it with eager joy. But when I saw it for sale on amazon.com, I froze. My brain jammed. My stomach constricted. When I began to thaw, I was confronted by my fear to publish the following story.
A Living Witness to Love
An agnostic friend recently asked me, “Why do you want me to change? Why do you care what I believe?”
Humility or Pride
When the hard walls of opinions, judgments and unrighteous anger rise up in me against pain, violations, injustice, foolishness and selfish immaturity, I might be able to spout off in ways that persuade others of the righteousness of my position. I might be able to suggest solutions. I might be very articulate and convince my self and others— and I might lose God’s presence and purpose in the process. That’s because pride is the mortar cementing those hard walls within my heart and soul.
Water
Reverie from a February Day, 2018: It’s warming up today; as earth begins to thaw, thick clouds of fog settle over the ground and icicles drip steadily from the eves. Bits and chunks are drop to the deck outside my window; giant water drops are splatter and slide down windowpanes wet with condensation
