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“Shout for Joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God, It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him [...]

Out of Control

Sunday, October 26, 2008

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. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25 Today [...]

When All Else Fails, Hang Up

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Self-control took on new meaning today. For anyone who’s ever spent a good chunk of their day on the phone with the phone company, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Perhaps I should be grateful they are affording me opportunity to hone my self-control skills. However, it was all I could do not to [...]

A Gentle Answer

Sunday, September 14, 2008

My favorite flowers lay dying. Wilted and lifeless, the record heat and absence of rain were taking their toll. If I didn’t do something quickly, I’d lose them for good. Caught in the midst of work responsibilities which would not wait, I called up to my youngest son: "Would you please go water my [...]

The Rescue of Faithfulness

Sunday, August 24, 2008

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I was lost. Stuck between the idealistic, unmarred faith of my childhood and the painful reality of life’s disappointments. I believed God had failed me. Abandoned me. All the prayers of my youth seemed to have been ignored or rejected before the throne of heaven. And, so, in the grip of deep heartache, I decided [...]

Safe and Sound

Sunday, August 3, 2008

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:4 (NOTE: I wrote this short devo in 2007 sometime, and find its subject matter apropos with the theme of August’s ongoing "Fruit of the Spirit" devotionals–FAITHFULNESS. Thus I am posting it [...]

Kindness of the Worst Kind

Sunday, June 22, 2008

I’m feeling rather cantankerous today. (Don’t you just LOVE that word? Even when in the middle of it, simply saying "cantankerous" makes me feel better.) Ok. Back to my cantankerous-ness. I looked it up using my handy "synonym finder" and this is what it says: irritable, cranky, argumentative, difficult, and unreasonable. Yep. That just about [...]

The Riches of Kindness

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? Romans 2:4 At the most unexpected moment, familiar words exploded in epiphany. Until then, my relational finesse could have been described as a careful meting out of kindness in proportion to merit. A history [...]

Out-of-the-Way Destination

Sunday, May 11, 2008

pa•tient \ pa-shunt\ adj: bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint; manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain; not hasty or impetuous; steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity; able or willing to bear (Merriam-Webster, Inc: Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. Eleventh ed. Springfield, Mass. : Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003). I hate traveling. Okay, so hate is a strong (slightly [...]

A Harbor of Peace

Sunday, April 20, 2008

"I have only one ambition left, to be completely at peace with myself. I doubt if I shall ever manage it. I do not think it is possible for anyone… I do not know any man, however successful, who is completely happy." (Tan, P.L. Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations. Garland, TX: Bible Communications. 1996, c1979.) Georges Simenon, [...]

Overtaken

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Warning: Deep waters ahead. I’m bypassing the shallow end of the pool today and heading straight for the diving board. We might end up over our heads, but I believe it will be worth it. This "joy" theme has left me in a quandary. Though I want a life built on steadfast joy, I’m pretty certain [...]

A Joyful Offense

Sunday, March 9, 2008

It was only a matter of time before they were overtaken. A vast army, composed of the biggest and baddest from from three different countries, traveled a great distance with a lust for conquest. Having joined forces, they made a formidable foe against the people of the Lord. Thousands of marching feet kicked up an enormous [...]

Love is a Physical Thing

Sunday, February 17, 2008

"That was the best birthday ever…" You’ve got to be kidding me. After the week we’d had, those were the last words I expected to hear out of the mouth of my young son. Though the week had a benign beginning, by Tuesday we were rushing him to Children’s Hospital with a case of acute [...]

A Good Word

Sunday, January 27, 2008

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:19 It was the beginning of a perfect Colorado day. Sun shining full in the clear blue sky, and a brisk breeze just cool enough to keep a runner from overheating. My jogging buddy, a black lab [...]

A Place to Rest

Sunday, January 6, 2008