Category: Inspiration

THE WIND

The sun was shining, accompanied by a gentle breeze, this one particular day when I arrived at my prayer garden.  As time went on, a few darker clouds settled in and it became very windy.  A few leaves could be seen falling from the tree branches due to the forcefulness of the wind.  I would even venture to say the wind was howling loudly.

 

Can you see the effect of the wind on the tree and paper?

 

Prior to the wind picking up, I enjoyed the warmth of the sun beating down on my back reminding me of the Son shining on me.  When the wind was at full force I was reminded of the Holy Spirit and the first Pentecost.

 

The calm before the storm.

Continue reading “THE WIND”

LIVING LIKE THE END

If you knew with certainty that you had one week left on this earth, would you be living life any differently? 
Would that knowledge have any impact on what you were doing?

Truthfully, it is a thought that recently occurred to me after learning of a high school classmate of mine passing, as well as a friend’s brother. He was given a few months to live.  My friend was able to spend quality time, the last six weeks of her brother’s life with him and his family, being with them when he passed.

 

It made me ponder Jesus’ life. 

Continue reading “LIVING LIKE THE END”

WORSHIP

Our worship should not be a distraction from our circumstances.

Worship no matter the circumstances.

 

That was a concept from a sermon my youngest son heard and shared with me this past week; one that he put into practice particularly with an event in his life.

I had just arrived at my prayer garden one day when my phone rang.  It was not a number I knew, but was in my area code so I decided to answer it.  It was my son using his buddy’s phone.  This son is quite skilled at prefacing things appropriately to make sure you know the most important details first.  The first words I heard were, “I am okay.  Everyone is okay.  Everything is okay.”

He was longboarding (similar to a skateboard but longer) with a friend of his, ended up falling off, which resulted in the left side of his body being pretty scraped up.  They had already assessed the situation with another friend, and he was seeking more medical treatment when he finally contacted me.

The worst of everything was needing three stitches in his chin but the fat lip, blue eye, scrapped up shoulder, left side and hip (the worst looking) made him look like he was in quite the battle!

 

 

 

The thoughts from the sermon came to his mind as soon as the accident happened. As they were driving to get assessed, they turned on Christian worship music to accompany their ride. He just kept worshipping the Lord despite the circumstances.

When the physician assistant went to stitch up his chin, she said it would sting.  My son focused on praying and said he did not even feel anything.  He really did not want stitches.  I think he probably remembers when he was five-years-old, he had 13 stitches in his scalp because of falling while walking through bleachers at the end of swim lessons one day.  At this time, our area was also dealing with a flood that closed one of our two hospitals.  Even then, though, he was a trooper!

When my son returned home, he was giving praise and a big shout-out to the Lord for sparing him from a much worse outcome.  He knows how fortunate he was to only need three stitches, with no bones being broken!  God has more work for him to do here on this earth he concluded.

 

 

 

A pastor friend’s sermon that I recently heard reminded me of a good way to worship and pray. It is using the letters in the word “ACTS.”

Adoration–Let the Lord know the deep love and respect you have for Him.  Praise God.

Confession–Admit that you are a sinner and that you need God’s forgiveness.

Thanksgiving–Thank the Lord for His goodness in your life.

Supplication–Bring your needs to the Lord, the prayers that are weighing heavy on your heart.

 

In my daily prayer time, I have been keeping that “ACTS” in mind.  It is a great way to worship the Lord.

I encourage you this week to focus on worshipping the Lord in all circumstances and pray with “ACTS” in mind.

 

Keep in mind~~

Our worship should not be a distraction from our circumstances.
Worship no matter the circumstances.
Worship is what we should be doing continually in all things.

 

 

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise–the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.  –Hebrews 13:15  (NIV)

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.  –Hebrews 12:28  (ESV)

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.  –1 Thessalonians 5:18  (NLT)

DIVINE ENCOUNTERS

God is so amazing with how He works events out in our lives. This week I experienced some divine encounters while at my newest holy place that I shared in my thoughts last week. Continue reading “DIVINE ENCOUNTERS”

LAY IT DOWN

My life has been enriched by spending time at a new “holy ground” place in nature, thanks to the nice weather we have been experiencing the last few months here in the northeastern part of the United States.  Making time almost every day to commune with God during this quarantine time has been beneficial for me.

I often think about the many Bible stories of times when Jesus went away from the crowds to spend time alone with God, His Father.  I imagine that Jesus even did that daily to continually be seeking and carrying out God’s will in His life.  Continue reading “LAY IT DOWN”

I CHOSE YOU

You might recall, I mentioned last week in my “Remain in Me” thoughts, I would continue sharing more of the richness of Jesus’ words in subsequent verses from John 15:9-17.

I encourage you to go grab your Bible and read those verses or click here  as I will only highlight a few verses to share with you.

 

 

Continue reading “I CHOSE YOU”

REMAIN IN ME

Truth be told,  I find John’s Gospel the most beautiful of the four gospels as he shares so much about Jesus’ farewell discourses which I find so rich in content.  I appreciate how John is the only gospel writer that shares about Jesus washing the feet of His disciples despite not sharing other specific details about the Last Supper.

Lately, I have read and heard much from John’s Gospel which has helped me reflect more and want to share some meaningful passages that have touched me.

A few thoughts struck me about the story of “The Vine and the Branches” in John 15:1-8. (Next week we’ll look at the rest of the story.)  I invite you to go grab your Bible and read that section or click here.  Continue reading “REMAIN IN ME”

GLORIFYING THE LORD BY YOUR LIFE

“Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.” 

 

Words that are said by our Pastor at the end of every church service; a powerful reminder of how our lives should be lived daily until we are called home to eternity in heaven with God, our Father.

 

GLORIFYING THE LORD BY YOUR LIFE- The privilege we are extended everyday on this earth to engage in, my dear reader! Continue reading “GLORIFYING THE LORD BY YOUR LIFE”

CONTENTMENT – 2020

If you are a faithful, weekly reader you might recall that last year I confessed that I do a “Word of the Year” rather than New Year’s resolutions starting in January.  In case you wanted to go read that post first, click here  but be sure to come back and read about this year’s word!

I bet you have already made an educated guess as to my word for 2020!  You are correct….


Continue reading “CONTENTMENT – 2020”

LESSONS FROM THE BIRDS OF THE AIR

Ever since mid-February this year, on the days when the weather permits here in the Northeast, I try to get out and go for a walk outside to get some fresh air.  I believe it was towards the end of February when I noticed what appeared to me to be a huge population of robins this year!  There were lots of robins gathered in yards not just a single one or two.

The first thought I was reminded of with seeing these birds so early in the season was about “the birds of the air.”

 

More recently what I have noticed on my walks is when I look up in the sky there are so many, what I am assuming are some kind of hawk, in one area just soaring around the sky.

The thought that always comes to my mind when I observe this scene, especially with seeing their wings outstretched soaring, is about “under the shadow of His wings.” Continue reading “LESSONS FROM THE BIRDS OF THE AIR”