tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86944317834208030332012-02-16T10:29:50.100-05:00More or less the randomness that is UBCDavidnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1931100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-39870625449610291092009-05-29T19:28:00.000-04:002009-05-29T19:30:03.451-04:00

Deuteronomy 6:5 – Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that’s in you, love him with all you’ve got! (MSG)Moses was telling Israel to listen obediently and do what they were told by God – his God, their God, the only God. But the biggest thing they had to do was to love God with everything they had.God didn’t want the people of Israel to love him as a friend, He wanted

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-83077201528153025752009-05-21T15:55:00.000-04:002009-05-21T15:56:51.464-04:00

I went to button my pants the other morning and discovered that wasn’t going to happen. Clearly an indication I need to start dieting and exercising. Of course the easy solution is to simply buy a new pair of pants that will fit. How many times does God give us a clear indication of what He wants us to do, but because it doesn’t fit us, we look to the easy solution, the easy way out.Blessings,

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-46511058496713612472009-05-09T08:19:00.001-04:002009-05-09T08:19:58.701-04:00

Now that winter is gone and spring is here, I've been out walking as part of my daily exercise. This evening I decided to go out just before dark to get some fresh air and relieve some stress. As I was walking down my street, I was thinking and brooding about an issue going on in my life. It never seems to end and I dont want to deal with it anymore. I think we all know that feeling.I got to the

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-37902395836730244152009-05-01T08:29:00.000-04:002009-05-01T08:30:21.079-04:00

View from the PorchBrothers and sisters, God wants us to be the best that we can be. The best Christian; the best servant; the best spouse; the best parent; the best brother or sister; the best employee; the best neighbor; the best church member, etc. You get the picture. How do we become the best at who we are and what we do? Seems to me, training and practice. Athletes, emergency service

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-20535980582299573592009-01-29T07:56:00.000-05:002009-01-29T07:57:11.052-05:00

I have a brush pile in the field behind our house. I tried to burn it last Saturday, but the wood was too wet because of the snow and I had left the pile uncovered. Last night, I put a tarp over the pile since several inches of snow are expected today. After the tarp was in place, I looked up at the stars. The sky was clear. You know, one of those cold, crisp, dark Winter nights. The stars were

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-34005721970705478652009-01-27T13:44:00.000-05:002009-01-27T13:46:10.022-05:00

Steady my steps with your Word of promise so nothing malign gets the better of me (MSG)When I read this Scripture, my thought immediately went to "Footprints in the Sand" by Mary Stevenson 1922-1999Footprints in the Sand One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-20209680492384060072009-01-24T19:59:00.004-05:002009-01-24T20:43:14.972-05:00

Sermon notes for 2 Corinthians 1:12 through 2:4As I’m putting the final touches on the sermon, I realize that I won't be dealing with a primary issue of the passage. That issue is Paul explanation to the Corinthians why he changed his mind about the visit to them, and why this change of mind is not vacillation.Paul and the Corinthians aren’t getting along at this point. He doesn’t fit their model

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-457919114475272832009-01-11T08:14:00.001-05:002009-01-11T08:15:52.599-05:00

Verse 9 "the sentence of death"There are a number of commentators who feel that Paul is not at all using an analogy here but he is under an actual sentence of death. They believe that somehow, in the Roman court system, Paul had been linked to some of the problems in Ephesus and that he had been convicted under what they see in Roman law as a “known associates” law and had been given a death

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-46589271528890351292009-01-09T10:54:00.001-05:002009-01-09T10:54:36.677-05:00

I enjoy going in to the Straw Cellar in Wolfeboro. It’s one of those quaint lakeside gift shops. Debbie doesn’t like me to go in because I usually buy something each time I do go in and their items tend to be expensive. Case in point, I recently purchased a wooden plaque (for $25) which is inscribed as follows: “God didn’t promise days without rain, laughter without sorrow, nor sun without rain,

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-28129559101194497652009-01-03T16:05:00.001-05:002009-01-03T16:05:33.447-05:00

Corinth is a city in a culture very much like our own. It was filled with sensuality, it catered to pleasure and was actually very spiritual (don’t mistake that for “very moral” though).Rome had leveled the city many years before (because of rebellion) and had rebuilt it and settled it with discharged army veterans and people who Rome wanted to reward with land grants. If you look at a map you

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-5703948558749282602009-01-01T21:56:00.001-05:002009-01-01T21:57:44.926-05:00

Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? To be out of your sight? (MSG)The answer is no...Margaret Wise Brown wrote a book in 1942 called 'The Runaway Bunny'. One day the bunny got angry with his mother and decided to run away. His mother said to him, 'If you run away, I will run after you. For you are my little bunny.'Well, the little bunny came up with all sorts of scenarios of where

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-39064907961873759032008-12-01T14:20:00.001-05:002008-12-01T14:21:30.520-05:00

Matthew 18:20 ‘For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them’ NIVIt’s been a long time since I have written any devotions, but I hadn’t realized how long until I looked it up on the blog – Oct 4th to be exact. Way too long to stay away and I miss writing.Since Labor Day weekend, I have acquired a household of 5 more people, bringing the total living here to eight – ages 5

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-57630740460521800222008-10-07T08:30:00.000-04:002008-10-07T08:31:57.366-04:00

Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich; restrain yourself! Riches disappear in the blink of an eye; wealth sprouts wings and flies off into the wild blue yonder. (MSG)When I read this, I immediately thought of a young man I know who just got out of experiencing this type of thing with his business. He went too big too soon, he put too much money on his credit card and he over estimated the

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-40920623474299347512008-09-12T19:12:00.000-04:002008-09-12T19:13:16.711-04:00

The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry (MSG)I read on line a small list of the most powerful words in the English language and wanted to share them with you.1. Alone - the bitterest word2. Death - the most feared word3. No - the coldest word4. Friend - the warmest word5. ? - the most powerful word?For the author, Jesus was his most powerful word and he

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-52053135218530255392008-09-02T09:39:00.000-04:002008-09-02T09:40:40.790-04:00

What stuck out to me in these verses were - God said to Gideon and Gideon listened. (vs 2, 4, 5 & 7)Earlier in the story, the Israelites were crushed by nomadic raiders called the Midianites. So God calls on Gideon to set up an army. Which he did, but it was too large and God said he just couldn't turn Midian over to them, the army would say they did it themselves and and forget about him. God

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-24952988513570448682008-08-18T16:36:00.001-04:002008-08-18T16:39:37.078-04:00

`Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith. (MSG)In Galatians 6, God is telling us that we have a responsibility for each other and if our resources (financial or personal) are low, our first concern should be to others who belong to the family of believers. (NIV)Do you wonder why on

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-59913481083734501792008-08-12T08:24:00.002-04:002008-08-12T08:25:46.723-04:00

And Jesus matured, growing up in both body and spirit, blessed by both God and people. (MSG)This is the story of a twelve year old and his parents making their annual trip to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. When it came time to go back home, Jesus' parents started off to Nazareth and thought their son was walking with relatives or neighbors. However, Jesus never told his parents that he had

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-39651655227281491192008-08-04T16:29:00.000-04:002008-08-04T16:30:56.465-04:00

Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? (MSG)Do we grow by standing in front of a mirror? (MSG) Do we add a single hour to our lives by worrying? (NIV) God says no...My grandson, Nicholas, starts first grade in a couple of weeks and is a anxious. He knows he will be in the same school and have the same kids from kindergarten, but he will have a new

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-89386595077132160012008-07-29T13:17:00.000-04:002008-07-29T13:19:24.375-04:00

True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. (MSG)Which way to go? That is a question that's often hard to answer and it shouldn't be. But for some people, it is.Do you ever wonder which road to take during the course of a day, whether it be your personal road or a physical road? You are running around doing things, having to get things done yesterday or

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-61270549209573915892008-07-29T02:51:00.001-04:002008-07-29T02:51:58.926-04:00

This past Spring, a bear came down off the mountain behind our house to feed from two of our bird feeders. One feeder was broken open. The other, was no where to be found. Apparently, the bear took that feeder. I actually went looking for it. I walked along the stone wall that borders one side of our two acre property. I found no bird feeder. I then walked along the old logging trail that leads

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-5904402528403007722008-07-24T14:16:00.000-04:002008-07-24T14:17:34.210-04:00

Be ready with a meal or a bed when it's needed. Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it!..(MSG)I read in the newspaper this morning about Mr. Crete, a dairy farmer from Boscawen, NH, who was diagnosed with liver cancer two years ago and was given 6-18 months to live. Last year, praise God, he was able to come back and work his farm. This man, for more than 20 years,

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-64725642202080561822008-07-18T10:13:00.001-04:002008-07-18T10:15:16.689-04:00

At abut four o'clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They (the disciples) were scared out of their wits. "A ghost!" they said, crying out in terror. But Jesus was quick to comfort them. "Courage, it's me. Don't be afraid." Peter, suddenly bold, said, "Master, if it's really you, call me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come ahead." Jumping out of the boat,

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-451476824052531132008-07-17T15:52:00.000-04:002008-07-17T15:53:35.201-04:00

Hello friends and family! It's been awhile since I've written, I know. Life has a funny way of speeding up when one begins a full-time job.I finished the last six weeks of school (as a para-professional) alongside the full-time job ( as an RN) so that period is still pretty foggy. I came through relatively unscathed. The scathing part I have no time or energy allotted for right now. What I

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-33336653288356088602008-07-15T08:45:00.000-04:002008-07-15T08:46:50.539-04:00

I'm praying not only for them (disciples), but also for those who will believe in me. (MSG)Jesus never gave up praying for his disciples and he never gave up praying for those who believed in him. Giving up was not in his vocabulary and no matter how difficult things were or frustrated Jesus got, he stuck to the task God wanted him to do.I really like frogs for the most part, but I have this

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-392569207142145062008-06-27T10:26:00.001-04:002008-06-27T10:27:33.103-04:00

So listen! And be kind! Help me out of this! (MSG)David was at the point of shattered strength and it had swept away all his self-reliance and he started crying for God.I participated in a short Bible study of Psalm 30 using photography. We could photograph family, pets, mountains, oceans, scenic areas, anything we wanted for either each verse or as an overall picture of the Psalm and that

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-83255064510819569282008-06-18T09:05:00.001-04:002008-06-18T09:06:07.635-04:00

Every time I'm in trouble I call on you, confident that you'll answer. (MSG)I was driving to Lectio this morning and, as always, look at the town pond to see our transient Canadian goose pair and their goslings. Each spring, the pair show up from away and we watch watch them swim and do their goose things. However, it's not long before there is only one goose on the water at a time as the other

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-26500046029277612122008-06-09T16:53:00.000-04:002008-06-09T16:54:21.508-04:00

Ecclesiastes 3:11 True, God made everything beautiful in itself and in its time--but he's left us in the dark, so we can never know what God is up to, whether he is coming or going. (MSG)My daughter, Rebecca, gave birth to her third son on Sunday, June 8, 2008 (Children's Day at our church). His name is Matthew Paul and he weighs 6 lb 8 oz and is 20 inches long.My other two grandsons share their

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-5697561369865054032008-06-03T11:41:00.000-04:002008-06-03T11:42:44.767-04:00

But don't turn me out to pasture when I'm old or put me on the shelf when I can't pull my weight. (MSG)The NIV says that Psalm 71 is a prayer for God's help in old age when enemies threaten because they see that the king's strength is waning. And in verses 9-13, David is praying to God for his continuing help in the waning years of his life.I've been working for an independent living retirement

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-55293506577716821102008-05-22T21:56:00.000-04:002008-05-22T21:57:23.599-04:00

When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock solid guarantee--God can't break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable. (The Message)This Scripture is talking about God's promise to Abraham. God put his reputation on the line and promised to bless Abraham with everything he had. And because Abraham stuck it out, he got everything he

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-67331940684297404792008-05-21T08:08:00.002-04:002008-12-10T00:27:34.455-05:00

Hannah, our artist Deacon, thinks in pictures

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-43339119134684199332008-05-21T07:50:00.002-04:002008-05-21T07:53:32.716-04:00

In a discussion about spiritual growth in an individual, the subject came up about how to gauge our growth, and how we are reaching out to others and being a witness to unsaved people we come into contact with. Most everyone agreed that they are afraid to share their experiences with others in the congregation for fear it might be misconstrued as bragging. When Mike Crews shared with us one

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-58025189899045360622008-05-14T15:10:00.001-04:002008-05-14T15:10:24.822-04:00

1 Peter 5:8 (NLT) “Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaming lion, looking for some victim to devour.”We all know that Satan will do anything, absolutely anything to draw our focus away from God, to separate us from God. Sometimes, he will use the in-your-face approach, but more often than not, he’s subtle, sly, and conniving in his

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-43424075426016539862008-05-12T17:19:00.002-04:002008-05-12T17:21:07.909-04:00

Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it--because it does. Give yourselves to the gifts God gives you. (The Message)God gives us many gifts and says that when we use our gifts, we must do them with love. I know in this book, God is talking about gifts like spiritual gifts and not the type of gift that came to my mind. But this a story of a gift I couldn't forget. My friend, Jane,

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-41945271924746040242008-05-06T05:54:00.000-04:002008-05-06T05:55:28.332-04:00

The Tree of Life was planted on each side of the River, producing twelve kinds of fruit, a ripe fruit each month. The leaves of the Tree are for healing the nations. Never again will anything be cursed. (The Message)Yesterday, David was cutting down some small trees in the backyard, just clearing out a few dead ones so we could put our trampoline up in a new place, when one tree decided to be

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-25775508448171857472008-05-01T13:44:00.001-04:002008-05-01T13:44:28.525-04:00

Anger can give Satan a foothold.Ephesians 4: 26-27I was angry the other day. I mean, really angry. Heart pounding, red-faced angry. And I carried that anger around for most of the day, which obviously didn’t make for a pleasant day for me. Even though I put on a “smiley” face, I still let the anger consume me. Then, something happened. Must have been the Holy Spirit giving me a whack on the back

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-75324378188096931062008-04-29T13:14:00.000-04:002008-04-29T13:15:18.130-04:00

Create in me a pure heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.The prophet Nathan confronted David about an affair David had with Bathsheba and in this Psalm David cries out to God for forgiveness and cleansing.Have you ever seen a diseased heart? It could be larger than normal or different in color or pitted or spongy. Those of us who took biology likely saw both healthy and diseased

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-6081219407404698162008-04-17T13:27:00.000-04:002008-04-17T13:28:47.539-04:00

Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me, let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. (NIV)This makes me think of lighthouses at the ocean. There are more than 60 lighthouses along the Maine coast and they start in Kittery and end in Machias. Many (28) were transferred from the Coast Guard to local preservation groups and some (8) are owned privately

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-5539343291165791992008-04-11T10:04:00.002-04:002008-04-11T10:05:54.672-04:00

Reassure me; let me hear you say, "I'll save you." The MessagePsalm 35 is an appeal by David to God. David had enemies who attacked him for no reason and he wants God to rescue him.My dog, Samantha, was a Doberman/Shepard mix. Kind of a funny looking 70 lb dog with a tail that curled up over her back, a barrel chest and a boney little head. She had a loud ferocious bark which could be a little

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-30461656308699779352008-04-07T17:41:00.001-04:002008-04-07T17:43:49.452-04:00

How exquisite your love, O God; How eager we are to run under your wings. (The Message) Earlier in the Scripture it says that God's love is meteoric, his loyalty astronomic, his purpose titanic, his verdicts oceanic. Yet in his largeness, nothing gets lost. Not a man, not a mouse, slips through the cracks. My online dictionary gives these definitions: Meteoric - characterized by

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-9808133630820640912008-03-29T20:48:00.000-04:002008-03-29T20:49:24.283-04:00

Psalm 33:3 Play his praise on a grand piano! Invent your own new song to him; give him a trumpet fanfare. (The Message)Psalm 33 is a praise song. It talks about making music with harps, trumpets ten-stringed lyres and choirs. Even the last verse in Psalm 32 says to Celebrate God. Sing together-everyone!All I can think of is my youngest grandchildren, Natalee and Jacob. They love music of all

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-44447185572942280622008-03-24T22:16:00.000-04:002008-03-24T22:18:15.297-04:00

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. (NIV)I was looking at some pictures of my grandchildren earlier this week and thought how quickly they are growing up. I have one in kindergarten all ready and that is hard to believe.When Rebecca was somewhere between the ages 7-10,

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-58861361996967809362008-03-21T21:41:00.001-04:002008-03-22T08:36:43.640-04:00

The Prayer LabyrinthI had never heard of the prayer labyrinth, until I read in the church bulletin that we were invited to come to ubc to walk the prayer labyrinth on Maundy Thursday.Maundy Thursday being a special day, I was very curious as to why this was a special event.What the whole experience does is to help you relax, get centered and concentrate on God. Everything in the atmosphere said

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-14479583623484281012008-03-21T10:12:00.000-04:002008-03-21T10:13:41.046-04:00

Mark 16:15 Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God's good news to one and all. (The Message)I've learned a couple of things this morning when I read this Scripture. First I learned that Mark 16:9-20 are only in later manuscripts and not the earlier Greek ones. I learned that when Jesus was speaking to his disciples in chapter 16:14-18, he was only speaking to 11 of them

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-83433682227492955422008-03-13T16:39:00.002-04:002008-03-13T16:42:59.178-04:00

Nancy sent me this email following her devotion yesterday. I thought it was really important and asked for her permission to share it with you all. She agreed. So, if you haven't read her devotion of March 12, 2008 "John 15:12-13" scroll down to read that first.David,I've been thinking a lot about what I wrote for my devotion this morning and I think I've come to an understanding of what God

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-81934306446673254232008-03-12T06:22:00.000-04:002008-03-12T06:24:01.458-04:00

John 15: 12-13 This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. (The Message)Jesus was teaching this message to his disciples on his last night. Chapter 15 goes from a believers relationship with Jesus to the relationship with other believers and then to the relationship with nonbelievers in the world.I

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-2260824341132103822008-03-07T09:06:00.001-05:002008-03-07T09:08:21.367-05:00

Matthew 17:6-8 When the disciples heard it (God's voice), they fell flat on their faces, scared to death. But Jesus came over and touched them. "Don't be afraid." When they opened their eyes and looked around all the saw was Jesus, only Jesus. (The Message)In this story, Jesus led Peter and brothers, John and James up on a high mountain. Jesus wanted to show them who he was and was transfigured.

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-29297145967308036242008-03-04T20:00:00.002-05:002008-03-04T20:05:17.220-05:00

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (NIV)On the 28th of February, all I heard was Nicholas saying, 'Come on Grammie, it will be fun.' Well, Grammie didn't think riding an aerial tramway up over 6,000 feet of jagged, jagged rocks and 5 towers while the tram was going in

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-60804572764094711402008-02-24T15:57:00.000-05:002008-02-24T15:58:54.328-05:00

Deuteronomy 5:22 These are the words that God spoke to the whole congregation at the mountain. He spoke in a tremendous voice from the fire and cloud and dark mist. And that was it. No more words. Then he wrote them on two slabs of stone and gave them to me. (The Message)God first spoke the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 and in Deuteronomy 5, Moses restated them to Israel and God wrote them down

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-50034982293142074582008-02-22T14:07:00.001-05:002008-02-23T09:49:29.307-05:00

This letter is from Hannah Joy, a best loved child of God chosen to receive his grace and share with you the Good News. To the community of believers in Concord who associate themselves not only with United Baptist Church and each other, but also with Jesus Christ, our savior and Son of God; to all of you my dear friends, Greetings. I have not been able to be with you these past few years, but

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-51356180727291569852008-02-19T08:26:00.001-05:002008-12-10T00:27:34.731-05:00

Two or three weeks ago, at a Sunday morning book discussion, Dave mentioned that he admires Polycarp. I wondered why. Because I find church history interesting, curiosity got the best of me and I did some reading about Polycarp on Wikipedia and a website called Polycarp.This is A Glimpse of Polycarp....St. Polycarp of Smyrna (69 AD-156 AD) was a Christian bishop of Smyrna, in present day Turkey.

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-21222134109071056972008-02-19T08:25:00.000-05:002008-02-19T08:26:28.681-05:00

Psalm 18:36 You cleared the ground under me so my footing was firm. (The Message)We've had a lot of snow this year and as beautiful and awesome as snow can be, it can also be icy and slippery. The ice, all that ice, makes sure footing passé. And it's not just driving on the icy roads or shoveling frozen driveways or rooftops, it's walking in the woods as well. What about maneuvering through

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-35967221396102106002008-02-17T15:34:00.000-05:002008-02-17T15:36:16.456-05:00

Proverbs 18:21 Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit--you choose. (The Message)Over my life, I've learned that words can heal or hurt and it's not only 'what', but 'how' we say the words as well.I've noticed people often say, 'I can't control what I say, it just comes out.' But then I think, who controls what they say? What about the gossip thing, who controls those

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-56703743454123802132008-02-02T10:58:00.000-05:002008-02-02T10:59:39.226-05:00

Revelation 2:7 "Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches. Christ-conquerors are safe from Devil-death." (The Message)Are your ears awake? When Jacob and Natalee are overly active and loud and need to stop and calm down, I like to play the game of game of Shhhh, let's see what we can hear. If the TV or radio is on,they're turned off, then we

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-52578435450013790832008-01-29T12:47:00.001-05:002008-01-29T12:49:32.829-05:00

Proverbs 1:1-2 (A Manual for Living) These are the wise sayings of Solomon. David's son, Israel's king--Written down so we'll know how to live well and right, to understand what life means and where it is going; (The Message)Someone gave me a cookbook today called, 'Be Healthier, Feel Stronger- A Vegetarian Cookbook'. On page 15 it lists 6 different kinds of vegetarians -1. Almost-vegetarians

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-88649133856791668542008-01-25T09:37:00.000-05:002008-01-27T16:52:14.736-05:00

I've read the story about the tomb and resurrection many times, but recently I heard the words 'the stone was rolled away for the disciples to see, not for Christ to get out.Jesus kept telling people that after three days he would be raised. The Pharisees told Pilate that the tomb should be sealed until that third day because the disciples might come and steal Jesus so to prove that he had risen.

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-11230943956957554872008-01-21T15:21:00.000-05:002008-01-21T15:20:47.920-05:00

James 1:1-4 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-88933999847627238922008-01-16T14:19:00.000-05:002008-01-16T14:20:12.875-05:00

Galatians 5:1 Christ has set us free to live a free life. (The Message)Donna has a young active dog named Kesia who loves to run. At home she is confined to a fenced in yard to play in, but when Donna takes her to the river, she is free to run and play with all her dog friends with no leash, no fences, no nothing... Picture her ears flapping, the excitement on her face, the big smile - ahhhhh,

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-69924896112765553052008-01-14T19:15:00.000-05:002008-01-14T19:16:41.100-05:00

Luke 6:27-28 To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. (The Message)The Bible is filled with many reasons to pray and when I saw this today, I thought, 'ok, this is a reason why I need to pray, big time and all the time'.It's telling

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-85378005816189496602008-01-11T10:00:00.000-05:002008-01-11T10:01:53.312-05:00

Psalm 5:3 Every morning you'll hear me at it again. Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend. (The Message)This made me think about going to Lectio on Tuesdays starting at 6:45 in the morning. On some mornings the sky is pitch black, but this past Tuesday, pink and grey stripes were dispersed through out the sky. Several of the women were noticing

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-38805942773925989632008-01-10T17:05:00.000-05:002008-01-10T17:07:46.876-05:00

Hebrews 11:1-31 is a story entitled, 'Faith in What We Don't See'. Hebrews 1-2 (The Message) says that the fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.'These are some people listed who

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-47266820146712379242008-01-04T06:56:00.000-05:002008-01-04T06:58:35.121-05:00

Ezekiel 47:6-9 He said, "Son of man, have you had a good look?" Then he took me to the riverbank. While sitting on the bank, I noticed a lot of trees on both sides of the river. He told me, "This water flows east, descends to the Arabah and then in the sea, the sea of stagnant waters. When it empties into those waters, the sea will become fresh. Wherever the river flows, life will flourish--

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-71503397726871659612007-12-29T13:23:00.000-05:002007-12-29T13:24:19.833-05:00

John 1:9-10 The Life-Light was the real thing: Every person entering Life he brings into the Light. He was in the world, the world was there through him and yet the world didn't even notice. (The Message)The Message starts by saying 'There once was a man, his name John, sent by God to point out the way to the Life-Light. He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in. John was not

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-36192560335748835902007-12-22T19:54:00.000-05:002007-12-22T19:56:10.688-05:00

The Gospel of Matthew tells the story of Jesus, his birth, his life, his death and his resurrection.I was just listening to the song, 'Still Her Little Child' sung by Ray Boltz and I mean really listening, not just hearing it. For me, it's a very, very moving and powerful song.It begins:She (Mary) laid him in a managerThe angels called him SaviorThe wise men gave him treasuresThe shepherds bowed

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-80268657108515770722007-12-19T15:38:00.000-05:002007-12-19T15:39:31.802-05:00

Psalm 147:16-17 He spreads snow like a white fleece, he scatters frost like ashes, He broadcasts hail like birdseed--who can survive winter? Then he gives the command and it all melts; he breathes on winter--suddenly it's spring. (The Message)Snow. It seems we've had a lot of snow within the past week, somewhere around 14 inches, and more on the way. Picture God standing in the clouds spreading

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-42438402875403899902007-12-17T15:57:00.000-05:002007-12-17T15:58:58.840-05:00

Years ago, I had a car called an Austin America. It was similar to the Morris and was manufactured by the British Leyland Company in England. I just found out that August 14, 2007 was the 45th anniversary of the 1100 line. What great fun I had with that car. It maneuvered easily into parking spaces (even fits sideways when picked up) and around town. One of the drawbacks was highway driving. It

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-17210688963820721272007-12-15T11:52:00.000-05:002007-12-15T11:54:15.095-05:00

Matthew 2:11 They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh. (The Message)The wise men came to Jerusalem in search of the newborn King of the Jews. They had seen a star in the eastern sky and wanted to worship him. King Herod was terrified to think

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-75259045550585906152007-12-09T19:06:00.000-05:002007-12-09T19:07:31.816-05:00

John 1:9-10 The Life-Light was the real thing: Every person entering Life he brings into the Light. He was in the world, the world was there through him and yet the world didn't even notice. (The Message)The Message starts by saying 'There once was a man, his name John, sent by God to point out the way to the Life-Light. He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in. John was not

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-82398312563096941562007-12-07T10:42:00.000-05:002007-12-07T10:43:35.148-05:00

John 6:35 Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever." (The Message)When we think of bread, we think of peanut butter and jelly between two pieces of bread. Be it white bread, rye bread, you name it bread, it isn't really a necessity in our lives, but bread was in the day of Jesus. No bread, no life.The Lord's Prayer says, 'Give

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-2005160576374359862007-12-03T13:20:00.000-05:002007-12-03T13:22:41.989-05:00

Proverbs 30:32-33 If you're dumb enough to call attention to yourself by offending people and making rude gestures, don't be surprised if someone bloodies your nose. Churned milk turns into butter; riled emotions turn into fist fights. (The Message)Well, this sounds like it could be an example of road rage. You are driving down the highway, exceeding the speed limit, you're running late and

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-14591980776608518032007-11-27T20:35:00.000-05:002007-11-27T20:36:57.066-05:00

1 John 1: 1-2 From the very first day, we were there, taking it all in--we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! (The Message)As I read this tonight, the words - 'saw it with our own eyes' and 'appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen' - shot out at me like I was the

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-72882518215701668822007-11-24T19:42:00.000-05:002007-11-24T19:43:02.786-05:00

2 Corinthians 1:4 He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. (The Message)The title of chapters 1 & 2 in The Message says it all in two words - THE RESCUE.As a parent, grandparent and former caregiver of children, I have

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-49825018583645956882007-11-20T20:30:00.000-05:002007-11-20T20:31:08.789-05:00

Psalm 19:9 God's reputation is twenty-four carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree. (The Message)What is a reputation? One dictionary says it's the generally accepted estimation of somebody as having particular qualities or attributes.What is Twenty-four carat gold? The best gold. 100% pure and fine.What is a lifetime guarantee? Something

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-82956261068742968532007-11-18T15:46:00.000-05:002007-11-18T15:47:53.057-05:00

Psalm 78:2-4 I'm chewing on the morsel of a proverb; I'll let you in on the sweet old truths. Stories we heard from our fathers, counsel we learned at our mother's knee..We're not keeping this to ourselves, we're passing it along to the next generation. (The Message)My grandmother had all kinds of sayings and used them frequently. Things like 'a watched pot never boils' - 'hot will cool if

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-87704168645301597892007-11-17T10:53:00.000-05:002007-11-17T10:56:09.782-05:00

Ephesians 2:1 It wasn't so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. (The Message)This verse made me think of the words - mired and stagnant. Mire can mean not only a thick slimy mud to get stuck in, but also can be an oppressive situation that is difficult to escape from. And stagnant means not flowing or moving, no making progress or not active.Think about a stagnant pond

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-84467725076783061002007-11-15T17:17:00.000-05:002007-11-15T17:19:59.625-05:00

2 Peter 3:10-13 But when the Day of God's Judgment does come, it will be unannounced, like a thief. The sky will collapse with a thunderous bang, everything disintegrating in a huge conflagration, earth and all its works exposed to the scrutiny of Judgment.Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? Daily expect the Day of God,

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-15719771467041646652007-11-14T07:44:00.001-05:002007-11-14T07:44:45.474-05:00

I have a tendency to keep to myself and stay in my own little world. I learned early that it was safer and easier, or so I thought. If I didn't get to close to people, I couldn't get hurt and if I kept to myself I didn't have to deal with their problems. I was also taught things like "blood is thicker than water" (friends are not important), "charity starts at home" and "you worry about you"(

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-58221033070772771272007-11-13T16:26:00.000-05:002007-11-13T16:28:01.361-05:00

John 17:10 Everything mine is yours, and yours mine. (The Message)Jesus was praying for his followers when he said those words. The same concept goes for us - everything we have belongs to Christ and everything he has belongs to us. Sharing.Two year olds do not share willingly as a rule. I have noticed Jacob and Natalee using the word 'mine' a lot lately. No one taught them to say it or how to

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-75543320544025455192007-11-12T14:24:00.000-05:002007-11-12T14:25:44.840-05:00

2 Corinthians 6:3-10 People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly....in hard times, tough times, bad times;when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating;with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love;when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-61633549724123456472007-11-12T14:22:00.000-05:002007-11-12T14:23:40.670-05:00

Good morning friends,With the new job I've had to let the kids prove themselves a bit more. Bow's school calendar is different from Pembroke's so this past week found them home for two mornings without me. A few rules to adhere to and they did fine ( no cooking, no junk tv shows). Yesterday the boys stayed home from church to keep Rachel company (something viral's got her feeling under the

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-26431143248701261252007-11-11T18:34:00.000-05:002007-11-11T18:35:55.832-05:00

Isaiah 1:18 "Come, sit down. Let's argue this out." This is God's Message. "If your sins are blood red, they'll be snow-white. If they're red like crimson, they'll be like wool. (The Message)According to a resource, blood red (scarlet) and crimson are shades of red made from the crushed body of an insect. And at that time in history it was the most securely fixed dye known and no launderer

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-21068805638671777722007-11-08T21:27:00.000-05:002007-11-08T21:29:11.821-05:00

Job 39:1-2 "Do you know the month when mountain goats give birth? Have you ever watched a doe bear her fawn? Do you know how many months she is pregnant? Do you know the season of her delivery, when she crouches down and drops her offspring? (The Message)In Chapters 38 & 39 Job is confronted by God and used creation to show Job his sovereignty, his power and his loving care. He asked questions

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-33350719675064659422007-11-05T17:10:00.000-05:002007-11-05T17:13:07.732-05:00

1 Corinthians 10:13 No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it. (The Message)Oswald Chambers (1874-1917), a Scottish minister and teacher was converted to Christianity during his teen

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-52924486866947574612007-11-03T16:48:00.000-04:002007-11-03T16:51:00.531-04:00

Proverbs 19:4 Wealth attracts friends as honey draws flies, but poor people are avoided like a plague. (The Message)I remember a young friend of Laura's who struggled in keeping her friends and thought if she gave the kids little presents they would like her better. And for the most part they did, not because of who she was, but because of the presents she gave them. She didn't understand she

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-32407106812306607692007-11-02T16:12:00.000-04:002007-11-02T16:14:02.511-04:00

Isaiah 50:10 For anyone out there who doesn't know where you're going, anyone groping in the dark, Here's what: trust in God. Lean on your God! (The Message)When we are sick, we need to trust people to help us. We look to our doctors for help, look to our friends, look to our families, we often everywhere else before God. Yes, those people are important and yes, we need them in our lives

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-90398479042550255932007-10-29T16:39:00.000-04:002007-10-29T16:41:32.089-04:00

Psalm 129:6 Let them be like grass in shallow ground that withers before the harvest. (The Message)1 Peter 1:24-25 The old life is a grass life, its beauty as short-lived as wildflowers; Grass dries up, flowers droop, God's Word goes on and on forever. (The Message)Somewhere up in the 4 ft range over our garage doors, we have a small beam sticking out about 3 ft and for the last few years a

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-27174265639080159322007-10-27T17:50:00.000-04:002007-10-27T17:52:16.550-04:00

Hebrews 4:12-13 God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God's Word. We can't get away from it--no matter what. (The Message)My mother graduated from the Margaret Pillsbury School of Nursing in the late 40s and as

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-64721765631334215192007-10-23T16:48:00.001-04:002007-10-23T16:49:00.041-04:00

Rev 12: 7 & 9 & 12 War broke out in heaven. Michael and his Angels fought the Dragon. The great Dragon-ancient Serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, the one who led the whole earth astray--thrown out, and all his Angels thrown out with him, thrown down to earth. He's wild and raging with anger, he hasn't much time left and he knows it. (The Message) What I can envision here is old

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-83409973150046865112007-10-19T08:03:00.000-04:002007-10-19T08:04:42.460-04:00

Psalm 125:2 Mountains encircle Jerusalem, and God encircles his people--always has and always will. (The Message) I've been to a couple of walled cities over the years and found that each one has it's own unique history, each of them differ in age and invading enemies and location. But each one was built with the same purpose - to keep the enemy out and the people safe and protected.

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-79156713306196302192007-10-17T15:20:00.000-04:002007-10-17T15:21:45.991-04:00

Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV) Often times when I read Scripture, certain words stick in my mind and I end up focusing on them. In this verse, the words 'conform' and 'transform' stand out. One

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-25827601324984316792007-10-16T08:53:00.001-04:002007-10-16T08:53:59.396-04:00

Romans 15:1-2 Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?" (The Message) Two words stick out in this verse to me - strong and falter. There are a 25 or

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-15888966317862565332007-10-15T08:26:00.001-04:002007-10-15T08:28:08.532-04:00

2 Corinthians 3:16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. (The Message) When I think of a veil, I think of a cloth that covers a person's face as with Muslim woman or a bride. But in looking up the word veil in the dictionary, it also has the meaning of something that is hidden or disguised of obscuring something or separating one thing from another. I have been

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-78655968437532975162007-10-12T10:58:00.000-04:002007-10-12T10:59:30.836-04:00

James 1:22 Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! (The Message) The word listen means to concentrate on hearing somebody or something or to pay attention to something and take it into account. (Entourage Dictionary) As I look back over my life, I ask myself these

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-55852612410721118492007-10-11T13:20:00.000-04:002007-10-11T13:21:40.422-04:00

Psalm 27:11 Point me down your highway, God; direct me along a well-lighted street; show my enemies whose side you're on. (The Message)Point me down your highway - This is what people do with their Global Positioning Systems (GPS). They program in their destinations and the GPS provides them with a three-dimensional location (latitude, longitude and altitude). I read that a GPS is made up of

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-88980411218191171602007-10-10T11:47:00.000-04:002007-10-10T11:48:39.976-04:00

Psalm 119:176 And should I wander off like a lost sheep--seek me! I'll recognize the sound of your voice.When I was growing up, I had a friend who lived down the road from me. She grew up attending the Immanuel Community Church on Concord Heights and I grew up attending the United Baptist downtown. And like my father growing up at UBC, her parents grew up at the church she attended.When I got my

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-16222296976026436342007-10-05T11:29:00.000-04:002007-10-05T11:31:02.261-04:00

John 17:21 'that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.' (NIV) The NIV study notes say the unity of believers should have an effect on outsiders, to convince them of the mission of Christ. Jesus' prayer is a rebuke of the groundless and often bitter division among believers. I understand this to mean we should be a spiritual team player and not an

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-62172783518775104782007-10-04T14:52:00.000-04:002007-10-04T14:56:16.304-04:00

John 16:33 I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godly world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world. (The Message)I want to share on incident that happened to my daughter on a trip overseas to a country that has numerous problems with violence.In 1998, Laura traveled to Northern

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-67084027859378170462007-10-01T16:39:00.000-04:002007-10-01T16:41:01.755-04:00

Galatians 5:22-23 But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (NIV)Every time I read this verse in Galatians, I think of my friend, Jane, and what her immediate thoughts were when she read it. She pictured a train and each car had the individual name of a Fruit of the Spirit on it

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-76288448865295215652007-09-27T18:56:00.000-04:002007-09-27T18:58:34.400-04:00

This week at Lectio, we read the story of 'The Blinding of Saul' (The Message) and I saw that no matter which direction we are coming from, as long as we obey we can end up at the same table.The story went like this -Saul was out for the kill.He was suddenly dazed by a blinding light.Found out it was Jesus.Jesus said, 'get up, enter the city and you'll be told what to do'Saul was blind, but

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-64730614328159538272007-09-26T08:17:00.000-04:002007-09-26T08:18:11.337-04:00

Matthew 7:11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father, who is in heaven, give good things to those who ask him. (ESV)My friend, Carol, decided a hamster would be a good gift for her three children. They were delighted in this little guy and enjoyed many hours watching him run in his 'squeaky' wheel, filling up his cheeks with food

Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694431783420803033.post-67966272431192501502007-09-22T17:08:00.000-04:002007-09-22T17:09:12.383-04:00

Proverbs 18:10 God's name is a place of protection---good people can run there and be safe. (The Message)Do we ever wonder what our names mean and how we came to get them? Some of us were named for relatives or close friends, famous people, whatever was popular at the time or maybe because of what the names mean.My daughter, Laura Jane, was named for my grandmother, Laura Jane Withington. The

Davidnoreply@blogger.com