Do you get weary of talk about the terrible day in which we live? We complain about everything from politics to pharmaceutical companies, from the price of beef to gasoline and from the weather to how we have been treated. We talk about the president, church goers, the neighbor, and crime, and worry about the... Continue Reading →
Unworthy I Am
You, Oh God, are beyond my imagination. When I consider your greatness, your holiness, your perfections, and yet here I am. I am none of those attributes. Yet despite your majesty and all-seeing eye, you can look upon my efforts, which are not great, at serving you and can approve of me. It is a... Continue Reading →
The Gift of Peace
It was not with pretty ribbons or covered in beautiful wrapping. No wreaths or garlands or beams with holly entwined, no drummer boys, and likely no angry innkeeper. No reindeer and sleighs, or cedar boughs, and no bells to herald his arrival. But there was Joseph and Mary, and a baby in a manger. There... Continue Reading →
Heart Shades
Throw open the shades of your heart and let the sunshine of God's love shine in; you will not regret it. Inside, it is cold and dark without His love. I sleepily rose from my chair and opened the window shades. The sun was still below the horizon, but the light was chasing the shadows... Continue Reading →
He Knows My Name
He knows my name! I knelt to pray, and quietly as soft snow, these words slipped into my mind and filled me with wonder. I continued kneeling there in silence and reverent awe. To think that He, Jesus, the mighty One, and His Father, God Himself, know my name brings quietness. Is there anything more... Continue Reading →
The Common People
And the common people heard him gladly. Mark 12:37 The common people heard him, Jesus, gladly. The teaching of Jesus carried an attractive, down to earth quality, which reached the hearts of the common people. Religious leaders of the day tended to be hypocritical and oppressed the poor. Into this setting comes Jesus, showing love... Continue Reading →
Calling Home
A quick internet search says that currently twenty-seven percent of the homes in the United States of America have a landline. Twenty years ago, that number was ninety percent. If you are under the age of twenty, you may not be familiar with collect calling. When calling collect, you dial the operator, they make the... Continue Reading →
Grace
Grace We talk about being the recipients of the Grace of God, so what is this Grace we are talking about? God's Riches At Christ's Expense Today is the day of Grace, which means that we are now living in a time where the extension of God’s goodness is still available to anyone who reaches... Continue Reading →
Alignment
I was on the road the other day. My destination was quite a few hours away, so I had plenty of time to think and meditate. The road was open with mostly just the dotted line to keep me company. The little car I rented was similar in color to the apple I ate while... Continue Reading →
Fragrance of God
Have you ever wondered how God can be everywhere all the time? Sometimes I think about how God reaches out to men and women, boys, and girls, all over the world at the same time, calling, comforting, and saving them, and my mind almost stops; I cannot comprehend it. He is one being, yet his... Continue Reading →
Riches of Christ
I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich)… Revelation 2:9 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ: Ephesians 3:8 Rich, rich in the kingdom of God... * The richest people may... Continue Reading →
The Descent and Answered Prayer
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. (Isaiah 65:24) Perhaps if we prayed with simple faith more like children, we would experience more answered prayer. I have told this story many times since it happened, because of its uniqueness and... Continue Reading →
Cry
Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! Job 23:3 KJV To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?... Continue Reading →
Kingdom of Peace
It was not God’s original plan for people to fight one another and have war. In the beginning He placed them in the beautiful garden where all was peaceful, and they lived in sweet communion with God. However it was not long until the tempter slipped in and presented the choice which caused man to... Continue Reading →
The Thief on the Cross
There were three crosses, and there were three men. Two were of the baser sort and the other of heavenly origin. The first two were dying for the sins they had committed, while the latter for the sins of others. One carried a grudge, another a troubled conscience, and the last the sins of the... Continue Reading →
Kits, Cats, Little Girls, and Angels
I am not particularly an animal lover. Sure, I like having dogs and cats around, but I appreciate them from a distance; generally, that is the distance from my hands to the ground. The same cannot be said for our 9-year-old girl. Perhaps when God created kittens, He thought of the need that little girls... Continue Reading →
Church Through Change
Our fathers kept the Faith, will we also keep it? Following are a few thoughts which have come to me about God’s Church. I often find myself looking back at history, wondering how we arrived at the place we are. This leads me on rabbit trails of thoughts which may not always have clear outcomes... Continue Reading →
Why Suffering
"Why suffering? If God is indeed good, why does he allow innocent people and children to suffer? " I have asked this question, and I am sure that you have as well. Loved ones suffer from debilitating disease and sickness; innocent children are born with deformities, while hunger, poverty, disease, and abuse make our hearts... Continue Reading →
The Good News!
Continuation of Friday's post. Breaking News! “The man called Jesus, who was put to death last Friday, has come back to life, according to certain witnesses!” Apparently, it was discovered early Sunday morning, by this man’s close friends. About sunrise, several holy women who were close friends to Him, found the tomb empty. They were... Continue Reading →
Heaven
"Which planet is heaven on?" The question from my nine-year-old caught me a little off guard. I had never thought of heaven as being on a planet. "Heaven is not on a planet," I explained. "We can't see it. Remember the vision grandpa had before he died where he met grandma?" I asked. "It's kinda... Continue Reading →
Echoes – God’s Healing Stream
There are times of difficulty, and we do not always know the reason why. Feelings of confusion, wishing things were different, yet not understanding what is happening deep inside. Perhaps we have made mistakes in life, regrets; misfortune has left us wondering where God is in the mix. Satan comes, bringing doubts and fears, voices... Continue Reading →
Intellect & Deception
By in large man lives by his intellect. God gave him the ability to think and reason. He gave man the power of choice, so he is capable of making both wise and unwise choices, to believe in God or not believe in Him. It also means he can become misled and deceived, mistaking untruth... Continue Reading →
Requisite For Answered Prayer
As I was praying the other night, I began to think about all the prayers God has answered for me. I am very thankful. It also is amazing how prayer changes things. Then the thought came to me, “What if we could figure out a formula to get our prayers answered?” I know that’s not... Continue Reading →
Default Settings
Most electronic devices have what they call “default settings.” This is set in the factory and should there be a malfunction in their internal software, you have the option of resetting them, which will in many cases fix most of the problems. Humans do not have a simple reset capability, but they do have default... Continue Reading →
The Broken Vessel
(An Allegory) The broken vessel lay at the Master’s feet, dirty, discarded by life. Too far gone, too many years it had been used and misused, and now lay alone and broken. The Master bent, concern on His face, to see how this beautiful vessel had become so broken. He noticed the chips and cracks,... Continue Reading →
Emotional Scars
The song says, “The scars remain to remind me.”* As a boy it seemed I was prone to all manner of cuts and scrapes. From my pocket knives, to other cuts and gashes that a boy collects growing up on a farm. Today, I see them, now faded with a few years of wear, and... Continue Reading →
Sure Foundation
2 Timothy 2:19 KJV Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? Psa 11:3 KJV The Bible often uses the example of a... Continue Reading →
A Drop of Faith, a Bucket of Courage.
How many times like me, have you asked the Lord to give you more faith? We seem to think that faith is the main ingredient of power. With more faith, we tend to think it should be easier to believe, easier to overcome temptations, easier to make big decisions in life, as well as a... Continue Reading →
Happy 2023
We pause upon the threshold of this New Year, contemplating what it will hold. It stretches out before us as an open road, a blank sheet of paper, a story untold. We cannot stay here, soon we will be traveling along its corridors experiencing the newness of each passing moment, each new day. Not that... Continue Reading →
Boys, Rope, Tractors
As an adult who grew up on a farm, it is not difficult to understand why farming has such a high accident rate. The experience I relate here, proves to me, thirty some years later the providence of God. As boys, my brother and I would build ramps for our bikes and ramp them. It... Continue Reading →
The Flight
Everyone has incidents in life that leave lasting impressions; as we reflect, we know that it was obviously the hand of God who protected us from inevitable harm or death. We do things every day that with just one mishap could mean injury or the end of our life. Every time we drive on the... Continue Reading →
The Gospel
As the sailor turns his ship to the sea, the harbor and coastline slip from view. The gentle swell of the water rises and falls peacefully against the sides of his vessel, as the prow cuts through the waves. His heart and mind are on those he left behind and the lands he will see... Continue Reading →
Rest & Peace
The day wains and the evening shadows lengthen, the day’s work and play are done. Father puts his tools away and mother calls the children in from their play. The setting sun paints the sky with red, blue, and violet, while the shadows in the forest sink to deeper shades of inky darkness. The breeze... Continue Reading →
And so the Writer Writes
And so, I write. Not with beautiful pen and prose, but in frank honesty the truth of the scripture and narrow way. Some may be called to write large volumes expounding on subjects of great value, while others may write whimsical quotes, tidbits of encouragement. Yet I write on to express the inspiration of my... Continue Reading →
The Narrow Way
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:13-14 How narrow is... Continue Reading →
Messenger & Light
The words, "Messenger" and "Light," may seem sort of random, but there is a similarity in the realm of faith. The Word of God is the truth; the Bible is the Word of God and a standard of truth. Anything we do that takes away or adds to, diminishes or distorts it. The same thing... Continue Reading →
At Evening Time, it Shall be Light
We live in unprecedented times, times like never before. Today we live with war, the threat of nuclear war, food shortages and hunger, as well as escalating fuel prices and living expenses. Political unrest fills the news headlines, while crime and immorality have become common. Depression, mental illness, and suicide are common, even in children.... Continue Reading →
Chasing Shadows
Lessons from a farm dog. We have heard the term, “life happens.” Unfortunately, there no exceptions to the rule, sooner or later it happens to all of us. So if you are living and breathing, here’s a lesson from a farm dog. Earlier this year I had the misfortune of accidentally running over our aging,... Continue Reading →
Chosen
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. John 15:16 Chosen, chosen by Him, how amazing is that. It should... Continue Reading →
God Is Good
Just a quick thought for the day, one that I know in my heart, and have to remind myself. In mornings when I wake up and the outlook seems gray, I will strive to remember, even when the world seems otherwise, and yes, you may need to remind me as well, "God is good!" Yes,... Continue Reading →
Hero’s of Faith
Great men of old were great because of what God was able to accomplish with their lack of greatness. Men of faith who God used to work his will. At times we think we are not good enough, wise enough, lacking ability to live for God. And yet, throughout time God has used ordinary people... Continue Reading →
