We have a very mild winter so far in the northwest. It seems all our snow and frigid weather has moved east. We have hardly had any snow at all in the month of January and that is quite rare. Some of our days this month have been spring-like, with only a bearable chill.
The leader at the Bible study I went to today was talking about some trees she noticed that were beginning to bud.
“Oh, no!” she said. “Don’t do that.” She got to talking about how this was the time the roots needed to grow deeper into the soil.
I got to thinking about how winter is a time for trees, shrubs, and most plants to recuperate from the hard work of bearing and growing fruit in the summer and fall months. Continue reading
Monthly Archives: January 2014
Things Haven’t Changed Much in 3000 Years
In Psalm 19: 13-14 David says,
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. NIV
Then, 1000 years later here’s what Jesus says about our words.
In Matthew 15: 10-20 Jesus responds to the Pharisees’ comments about his disciples not traditionally washing their hands before they ate.
10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. 11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” Continue reading
God Is Working, Please Be Patient
I saw this image on Facebook today and was quite touched by it. I decided to share it not because I want people to Type Amen, but because I am hoping anyone who sees it will be encouraged by what it represents, like I was when I saw it.
So often we feel like God is slumbering on a tropical island somewhere sipping Mai Tais, and has just left us to struggle on our own. But what we don’t see is that God is working in our lives, He’s constantly laboring behind the scenes to bring out the best in us.
Sometimes, if feels like we are prodded, squeezed, shoved, kicked, knocked around, and fired up till we are about to dissolve into nothingness. At least I do.
But we really must keep in mind that because God is not finished with us yet, the work must go on and on. Continue reading
When it Comes to Meds, Study Suggests You Feel What You Believe
Knowing I suffer from chronic migraines, my neighbor dropped off a newspaper article on a recent study titled,
“Study: Thinking positive helps migraine drug work,” by Lauran Neergaard AP, a medical writer.
The article is about a study that proposes that what a patient expects out of a migraine medication will make a huge difference in the results that patient gets from their meds.
Sixty-six migraine patients were recruited for the study, some were given placebos (dummy meds) in an effort to measure the amount of real med related pain relief vs. the amount of relief from patient’s confidence because of their doctor’s positive comments about the meds.
In the article, Ted Kaptchuk, a Harvard professor, suggests that each word the patient is told about their medication is just as important as the actual prescription.
After over 450 headaches were analyzed, researchers concluded how essential it was for doctors to prudently select their words to their patients when subscribing a powerful drug; as the doctor’s message could make or break the medicine’s benefits. Continue reading
A Time To Be Deliberate
Did you make any new year’s resolutions? If so, how’s that working for you?
If you are like most people, right about now you’ll start floundering. Mid-January begins to feel like a heavy lunch on a warm day. Sluggish.
- We begin to lose fervor for our resolution.
- We begin to see our goals as illusions.
- Our good intentions grow thinner with each day.
Does that sound like you at all?
New Year resolutions go unresolved because we often don’t take them seriously enough. We then give up. Many times we try too hard to fulfill them on our own, and don’t ask God for help, or family and friends for support.
In Ecclesiastes 3:1, Solomon the wisest man ever, says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:”
This year, the Lord has been writing this in my heart’s wall:
“There is a time to turn bad habits into growth, and this is your time. Be deliberate.” Continue reading
Filed under Hope, Inner Sruggles and Heartache, Life Lessons, Seeds of Inspirations
Unwelcome Doggy Surprise
Oliver (white) and his sister Sofi
Oliver has been one of the best dogs I have ever had. I knew immediately he was the right one when I saw him.
If only finding a human life companion was that uncomplicated.
It was a terrible time of my life then, and I was desperate for a buddy. I knew a puppy would help chase the blues away. I drove—one hour, one way— for the puppy I wanted at a semi-affordable price. I wanted a girl puppy, and planned on naming her Olivia.
When I got to the pet shop, there was a litter of five white, adorable, eight week old Peekapoos.
The only girl was too yappy. She yapped in her high-pitch bark anytime anyone got near the kennel, and would not shut up until they walked away. Continue reading
Let Us See Through Your Eyes, Lord
I came across this verse during my Bible study devotion today.
Mathew 6:22-23 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy,[ your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” NIV
I especially liked the wayThe Living Bible put it.
22 “Your eye is a lamp for your body. A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul. 23 But an evil eye shuts out the light and plunges you into darkness. If the light you think you have is really darkness, how deep that darkness will be!” Continue reading
Sometimes, We Just Need a Real Perspective
My friend Vern Westgate sent this email out just before Christmas. I found the pictures to be a fabulous glimpse of America’s not too distant past during the hardship of The Depression Era. Really worth seeing. It will open your eyes to how blessed we really are.
I thought Vern had a great idea in sharing this, and with his permission (thanks Vern), I am passing it on hoping you will get as much out of Vern’s perspective and the amazing pictures as I did.
America really does have an immense amount to be greatful for.
Thank You God!
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Hi, Here’s my perspective for you having a Merry Christmas in spite of the current state of our country…and the attacks against my Christian faith…(and your Christian faith too, I hope…)
These stark pictures are from the Depression. They were taken 72 years ago, when I was a 7 year old kid in a great Christian family…We moved from Minnesota to California a few months ahead of Pearl Harbor. So we went from the tough Depression life to rationing…(5 gallons of gas per week, sugar and meat were rationed as were other things), no new cars were built for 4, 5 years…millions of men went to war and most stayed until it was over. My dad built B-25s and P-51s… Continue reading
Welcome 2014
May The Lord bless you!
May He give you the strength to continue in your walk with Him.
May He bless your journey through 2014!
Filed under Everythingelse
HIS EYE IS ON THIS SPARROW TOO Still Learning to Lean on God 