Perfect Peace

You keep everyone in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because they place their trust in You. Isaiah 26:3 Perfect peace when all is well is easy, right? But what about when all isn’t well? What about when the doctor’s report is bad, or your prodigal hasn’t come home, or the job ends. This list could go on and on. We have all received at some point some sad, bad news that stole our peace. But we don’t have to lose our peace. This verse (not the reality of my current experience) leads me to believe that it … Continue reading Perfect Peace

Hurricane Ike Band

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. Mark 4:39 Some years ago, my son and I flew to Houston for a weekend in September.  My daughter flew down from Montana and we stayed at my sister’s house.  We made these reservations long before we knew Hurricane Ike was headed right towards the coast of Texas.  Having grown up in Houston and being very familiar with hurricanes, we began the work of preparing for possible disaster even before the news of the hurricane’s impending … Continue reading Hurricane Ike Band

Renew Your Mind

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.  3 John 1:2 Years ago, I had to revisit algebra in an attempt to help our son with his school work.  One thing I learned is that equations need to be balanced.  For example 2 +5 = 10-3 is a balanced equation.  You probably remember from school that what you do to one side of that equation, you have to do to the other side to keep it balanced. An equation can be unbalanced otherwise. When I looked at this … Continue reading Renew Your Mind

The Power of God’s Word

As the rain and the snow    come down from heaven,and do not return to it    without watering the earthand making it bud and flourish,    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,so is my word that goes out from my mouth:    It will not return to me empty,but will accomplish what I desire    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11 I promised a kid at work we would make Christmas ornaments out of Rice Krispies in time for Christmas. ‘Tis the season and guess who forgot that promise! She looked at me shocked and horrified when … Continue reading The Power of God’s Word

God’s Economy

Years ago, when I lived in Montana, I had a wonderful gelding named Apache. The whole family loved that horse. Anyone could ride him; he was totally trustworthy. I especially liked taking him out on short jaunts in the woods. Fearless, smart and oh, how he loved to run, but there was one thing he would not do. He would not jump over anything. No, not ever, which most of the time was fine. But sometimes, in the woods, when a tree had fallen across the trail our ride would have been much nicer if he would have just jumped … Continue reading God’s Economy

Ask, Believe, Receive

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it,and it will be yours. Mark 11:24 If I had a dollar for every time I read this verse or heard teaching on it, I could take every one of you who reads this to Starbuck’s for a coffee! Don’t head out just yet … I said IF! But the other day, I got it. Call it revelation or an AH HA! moment, but I realized how my thinking had been wrong in this area. Oh, I believe that I am healed; that it is a done deal. … Continue reading Ask, Believe, Receive

Casting Your Cares

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. 1 Peter 5:7, AMP Nothing takes God by surprise. Nothing. Life takes me by surprise often. I make my plans, set my goals and wham—a diagnosis, a new pain, an unexpected expense, a relationship turns sour—and I am surprised. At my age, I should no longer get surprised. Life happens and, sometimes, it is more of a kick in the gut than a stroll on the beach. Even so, none of … Continue reading Casting Your Cares

All Inclusive

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation. Hebrews 2:3 I grew up in Houston, Texas and for one year of high school, I attended a rather elite private school.  This is the same school George Bush attended a few years ahead of me.  If asked, people who promoted the school would no doubt say it was all inclusive.  My experience told me differently.  Oh, it was inclusive if you dressed the correct way, made the top grades and fit the pattern created by others ahead of me.  Unfortunately, I didn’t fit the pattern and I had … Continue reading All Inclusive

Especially Then

Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. I John 3:1   I will never forget his smile. At least, I hope I never forget his smile. Or the words he spoke or the way he spoke them. Simple words, all he said was “especially then.”  He was ringing up my purchase at the hydroponic store and we got to talking about our kids. He has three. I have four. We talked about annoying behavior as well as not so annoying behavior. I made a … Continue reading Especially Then

All Things Good?  

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 I’m not real wild about artichokes. At least, I didn’t think I was. But that was before our son, John made a gluten free, fully loaded Mediterranean pizza for us. It had marinated artichoke hearts and olives and spinach and feta cheese and was incredible. So now, I think, I do like artichokes. It’s possible that my opinion on artichokes came from a time when my husband surprised me with dinner. … Continue reading All Things Good?