A Writers Block

John 18:9 "I have not lost one of those you gave me." Jesus was speaking of the disciples he had been given by God to train and go on to spread his word. They were regular men just like you and me, and actually the flunkies of seminary school, if you will. Jesus took them, taught them, challenged them, scolded them, and laughed with them. They grew to be hated, hunted, and generally disliked by all important society of the time. They encountered many trials and hardships because of Who they tried to bring glory to. But Jesus never allowed them to be lost. He covered them, counseled and protected them. He didn't keep them from the trials but their actions were testaments to God's glory. Even their deaths brought glory to God. Think about it... we may go through great trials but, if God wants us alive for his purpose, nothing will conquer us. Regardless of what I may face in speaking or acting upon God's truth, my life or death is in His hands and EITHER can be used...

Thanksgiving is on its way. Don’t you cry. Then they will say Thanksgiving is here. Do not worry. Don’t be sad. This is the time of giving and also being glad! We are all here on Thanksgiving day. We are all here and there. Thanksgiving is on its way! by: Kayla K. Easter, Easter is the day he died. He’s the one who saves us all. He’s on every wall. He saved us. He saved us. He was little just like us. We will grow just like him. We will! We will! Yes, we will! by: Kayla K.

My family, prompted by one of the sisters, has been trying to come up with hubby-proof arguments on why we wives should hire "molly maid" to come clean rather than having to do it ourselves. It was pretty funny so I'd thought I'd post the weigh-ins. Only the names have been omitted to save face. Enjoy the laughs. Reason Reply #1: Let's see... To keep your kid from getting sick more often, to keep your allergies in better shape, to keep company from coming over and being aghast at the condition of your bathroom, to KEEP YOU SANE and therefore prevent you from driving your hubby mad and having your child end up in juvi, it will save your marriage (a last resort), or, you can always pull a fast one and tell him, "It's in the contract. Don't you remember how amazing and sweet you were in telling me when we got married that you wanted to make things easier on me and take care of me? I loved that you were so considerate and thoughtful." "Wow! I ne...

I've been reading John and when I hit chapter 10 it was like I slowed to a crawl. There was so much to pull from it that I had to slow down! The section I just finished was the one where Jesus talks about being the good shepherd. Many of us have heard the part, "The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy...." but I wonder if anyone has bothered to read past that. I never had until today. Jesus says that he is the good shepherd who will lay down his life for his sheep but a hired hand will flee at the coming of a wolf. The hired hand does not care for the flock as Jesus does and therefore will run away to save himself. Then the wolf attacks and scatters the flock. I got to wondering if the "hired hands" Jesus talks about are those who are in ministry for the wrong reasons. Many who minister for the right reasons work daily to remain in tune with God's desires and are extensions of the Shepherd's staff, ready for any attack. But some lose their way, ...

Have you ever moved a tree or bush? Have you ever watched what it does? I'm thinking about moving some of the pine trees in our front garden and when I thought of that today God showed me that it will take a lot of work for those trees. I’ll dig them up and put them in different soil... different nutrients, water content, depth, light... different life. Usually, they will "shrink back" trying to adjust to the shock of the move. They may lose a few leaves/needles, they may even just sit there for a year, but they will take a while to get their roots back into the ground firmly. So they have to wait patiently, gathering all the nutrients they can so that in the next season of growth they can do what God created them to do - grow and blossom. Our spirits are like that sometimes. God may have to move us to a different plain with different surroundings so that we can grow stronger and do what he needs us to do. We’ll have to wait, deepen our roots, soak it up and regain our st...

John 5:1-15 “Do you want to get well?” Sometimes it is easier to remain as you are, to stick with what you know, instead of getting what you have always dreamed of. Change brings something new and unknown. The man at the pool sat there for 38 years waiting for help to get into the pool of healing. The rest of this passage goes on to show the Jews’ reaction to this man. He’d been at the pool 38 years so you know they knew who he was and yet all they could do when they saw him was tell him he should not be carrying his mat on the Sabbath. He had been healed and not one congratulated him or found joy in what had happened to him. They were so intent on the law that they missed the miracle in front of them. Am I content with that? Am I waiting for someone to come along and help me when all I need is to hear God say, “Get up and walk” and then DO IT!? Am I so stuck in my routines and boundaries that they keep me from great joy? I pray I never get so comfortable with what I know, with my mise...

Psalm 37:23-24 “If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.” I learned something new today. God wanted/wants to touch me, to uphold me. He spoke everything but man and woman into being. Them alone did he create with his own hands. He breathed life into those that would echo his image. He took special care in their creation and, I believe, delighted in his art. And he continues to delight in me, and touch me gently, and uphold me when I am close to him. By studying his word I can grow closer to him so that I can know what way makes him happy. I will have my ups and downs but he won’t let me fall on my face (thank goodness!). He will always be there to hold me up, dust off the dirt, and make sure I’m okay. I wish sometimes that my soul had “spirit-eyes” so that I could look and see him holding me. I know he does!