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

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

Basking in the Light of Reflected Glory

  And the glory which thou hast given me I have given unto them; that they may be one, even as we are one;  John 17:22 Floyd L. Scott was my grandfather on my mother’s side.  He was a brilliant scientist and a shamelessly romantic man.  I was in awe of him.  I seldom understood anything he said and yet I loved hearing him talk.  He always wore a button up shirt (always buttoned up) with a bolo tie and slacks and walked very upright.  He had impeccable manners and was one of the most humble persons I have ever … Continue reading Basking in the Light of Reflected Glory

Oops! My Bad!

  Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit of life [a]in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.  Romans 8:1-2 The ball went sailing over the fence, crossed the street and rolled through the back lot of Target before it came to a rest.  The kids had been playing soccer, the fence was the goal and someone just scored a point and everyone should have been excited, but they weren’t.  They thought they were in trouble because of the ball being across the street now and began looking … Continue reading Oops! My Bad!

Repeating Decimals? Could You Please Repeat That?

Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. Matthew 22:29 Our son was homeschooled, which means we were his teachers.  Some days that was great and others, well, let’s say less than great.  Our last less than great day was one where he encountered converting repeating decimals into fractions.  I can honestly say that in my multiple decades here on earth that I have never had to use that.  And if I ever needed it, I could google the answer way faster than trying to figure it out. So much … Continue reading Repeating Decimals? Could You Please Repeat That?

Last Pick

  But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people to be his very own and to proclaim the wonderful deeds of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. I Peter 2:9 When I work with kids in a gym trying to organize a group game, they beg to pick captains and let those captains pick the team. I probably don’t have to tell you how that goes over. Some sweet kid is standing there, inwardly pleading, please, please pick me but their inward pleas go unheeded. Some resign themselves … Continue reading Last Pick

Zentangle Quilt

In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears. Psalm 18:6 Our Creative Arts Life group made this Zentangle “quilt.”  Each tile represents an answered prayer. Our list of answered prayers was longer than the 18 tiles here, but we ran out of time to make them. This was a very rewarding project for me personally. I am believing for my healing, I’ve mentioned that before and I am not healed, not yet. I’ll admit, sometimes, that effects … Continue reading Zentangle Quilt

Really Jesus?! Children?!

The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: “Don’t push these children away. Don’t ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them. Mark 10:14-15 Jesus was constantly surprising people by His word and His actions, even His disciples who had … Continue reading Really Jesus?! Children?!

Payment Accepted

So, friends, we can now—without hesitation— walk right up to God, into “the Holy Place.” Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The “curtain” into God’s presence is his body.  So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Hebrews 10:19-22 Message Bible Need healing? Need restoration? Need peace? Need something you can’t even put into words? Feel like you can’t even approach God? You’ve been too distant – feel too unworthy – it’s been far too long since you even considered Him as a viable … Continue reading Payment Accepted