We’re halfway through the second week of Advent. A time of preparing our hearts for a renewed focus on the reason Christ became man. In the midst of the busyness we call Christmas, our hearts get tangled up in where to put the focus. Is it on creating a warm and decorative atmosphere in our homes? Or is it on preparing a feast to welcome family both far and near? And if we’re people pleasers, are we caught up in … Continue reading →
Whether you looked at a newspaper, watched a television program, walked into a store or talked to a friend, the chances you heard about Black Friday and the anticipated sales are close to 100 Percent! No surprise here! It’s doubtful that the advertised, over-the-top sales caught you by surprise. Coupons were crammed in your mailbox so that no one had an excuse to miss out on what businesses labeled “the year’s biggest sales.” As the day approached, I felt my … Continue reading →
“But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.” Psalm 59:16 NIV The morning shaft of light penetrates the darkened sky. Hope and promise rise in the eastern sky. Peace marks the stillness of new day. If I could rise like the new day in quiet and stillness with joyful anticipation of God’s power holding what lay ahead, … Continue reading →
You will keep in perfect peace whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 16-3 NIV My friend gave me this Scripture tonight when I told her about my apprehension over tomorrow’s cataract surgery. This will be my second one. This time they will be replacing the lens in my right eye. Three weeks ago, they replaced the lens in my left eye. And, although the surgery went smoothly, I’ve had some annoying complications … Continue reading →
I clicked end on my cell phone after talking with a good friend. We had commiserated about the woes of everything from economic problems, unemployed college-educated sons, and difficult relationships to our long list of prayer requests. It seemed that not only were our lives riding the potholes of life but our friends’ lives as well were encountering rugged terrain that would overturn a four-wheel drive vehicle. It seems the problems are increasing in intensity, the prayer lists are … Continue reading →
The Rose Bush Donated and Planted in Our Garden in Honor of Mom Tubes hung from my mother’s limp body while monitors beeped and clicked the hidden conditions of her heart, lungs, respirations, blood pressure, and other bodily functions. I stared blankly out the window of her Intensive Care room and then looked lovingly back at her. It was not supposed to go this way. Although the surgery was complex, especially for an 84-year-old woman, the surgeon had … Continue reading →
Taking pen to paper helps me focus during my prayer time with the Lord. A leather bound journal cracked open or the squeaky sound of pages flipping over a spiral bound notebook invite me to reveal the depths of my heart to our God who listens. Most of the time, I begin with praises or thanksgiving to our Lord. And on the lines, I realize how He has blessed me from day to day. Sometimes, I cry … Continue reading →
This week, I will be reposting my series on Prayer. Our pastor addressed an eagerly sought after topic yesterday, yet one that does not have easy answers.Prayer–Asking and Receiving from God. I was alert, not drifting in and out. The congregation, unusually still, hanging on his every word. All hoping to find that magical formula that guarantees answered prayers. Prayers answered according to our heart’s desire. The foundation for prayer was established first by our pastor. “The Lord … Continue reading →
Google Images from cvsfkuantan.blogspot.com This is the second part of the series on Prayer. Prayer is the ultimate privilege of speaking to God as our Father, our Daddy. Jesus referred to this relationship with God as one that is as personal as the one we would have with our own Dad. When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He said to address God as “Father”, using a word that translated in English means “a nourisher, protector, upholder”* (Matthew … Continue reading →
Where our worries piled up The evening had a peaceful demeanor as the family huddled around the computers crammed into our box-sized loft. No plans. No deadlines. No must-dos. Just unwind and fall into dreamland. My cell phone chimed that a text message was coming through. Only the youngest was out of the house, so it was probably a note as to when he’d be home. I flipped open my pink phone nonchalantly, pressed the center … Continue reading →
