A wolf, a leopard, a lion, a bear, an asp, and an adder: all will live together with the lamb, the kid, the calf, the fatling, and the cow. They will lie down together with their children. They will eat together, and they will eat the same things. All of God’s creatures will be filled with the spirit of the Lord, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of courage and might, and the spirit of knowledge and fear…..
It’s Sunday, but our church services were cancelled due to the weather. I talk to God in the quiet of the house, and my cat and dog lay at my feet as though they want to talk to Him, too. All creatures are blessed by God, humans and pets. I open my Bible to some favorite verses; I praise the Lord for all He has done for my family, friends, and myself. Even in this time outside of the church,…..
The light from one candle can light up the heart of someone in need. The light from two candles can warm a couple’s hearts to adopt a child of color. The light from three candles can shine as the Holy Trinity into a cold and cruel world. The light from four candles can provide light for a family that lives in a car. The light from five candles can open the souls of prisoners being held in jails. The light…..
This world is being attacked by negativity and evil each and every day. We watch or listen to the news reports and wonder what has happened to our once peaceful planet. I firmly believe God is not allowing us to destroy each other. He gave us choice so that we can make the right decisions or wrong ones. We need to return to the cross where Jesus Christ took our sins and gave up His life so that we may…..
God said, “My people are struggling with wars. Who do I send?” The young man said, “Send me, Lord. I will do your bidding.” So he packed his belongings and his gun to journey to that far land. What he saw hurt his heart and soul but he continued on. He could not understand why people do not get along. Why did they stop speaking to one another? Why did they kill one another? He prayed, “O Lord, forgive them…..
It’s All Saint’s Day, and I’m remembering five very special people: mother, father, Uncle Tommy, Charlie, and Michael. They now rest from their labors; all confessed their faith in the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. God was their rock, fortress, and might, and He stood beside them in their well-fought battles. He was their light as their sunsets approached; they shine in His glory now. They were strong in their fights to the death, but their ears heard the triumphant…..
It’s hard to stay true to your values in today’s world and even more so for our teenagers. I dare say they are faced with more challenges than I ever was as a teenager. It takes having a mission, uniting the gifts given to us by God, planning and working together so that all will know Christ’s love, serving and witnessing in God’s name so that others will know God’s grace, and letting our united efforts bring God’s word to…..
Do you pray every day? I pray in the early dawn of morning and read passages from the Bible. Praying with reverence and fear, I ask the Lord for wisdom to do the right things and ask Him to walk with me on my path. I pray for humility and a sense of godly sorrow. Longing to hear His voice, I ask for confidence and strength in my life and actions. With faith the size of a mustard seed, I…..
It’s not often that I am so inspired that my breath is taken away, but that’s exactly what happened in Milan, Italy. I was visiting for a few days before I met my riverboat cruise in Venice. Milan is a beautiful city where fashion is at its height. I did not visit Milan because of that; instead, I wanted to see the magnificent painting by Leonardo da Vinci, The Last Supper, which was painted between 1494 and 1498. Despite many…..
God was there when I was born, and He’ll be there when I’m old. He was there in my baptism and waited to see my life unfold. He walked beside me as a child and gave me faith the size of a mustard seed. I wandered off in my youth to find the demons of the world. He was by my side as I heard the Word with gladness. Mom and dad taught me to praise the living Lord, the…..