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Romans 6:21– What benefit did you reap at the time from the things you are now ashamed of? For some reason this verse is really sticking with me today, Lord. I think about college, and when I was about as far from You as I’ve ever been in my life. I knew my Shepherd, but […]

defiant: full of or showing a disposition to challenge or fight; boldly resisting “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” –Matthew 11:28 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope

Why are cell phones so great at connecting us when we’re apart, yet so effective at disconnecting us when we’re together? –journal entry, September 2022 …let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our

“According to 1 Corinthians 13, believers are to love the unlovable. We are to love people who do not appreciate our love, do not reciprocate in kind, are demanding, and think of themselves as entitled.” –David L. Goetsch May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. –Proverbs 16:9 “It’s a new dawn, It’s a new day, It’s a new life…for me… And I’m feeling…good.” –“Feeling Good” by Nina Simone In the morning, Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait

“the real deal” (def.): genuine, authentic, worthy of serious regard Walt Kowalski (to Father Janovich): “Well, I think you’re an overeducated 27-year-old virgin who likes to hold the hands of old ladies who are superstitious and promises them eternity.” –from the movie “Gran Torino” He reached down from on high and took hold of me;

…”Woe to me! The Lord has added sorrow to my pain; I am worn out with groaning and find no rest…” –Jeremiah 45:3 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as

“I’m definitely a people pleaser. I like people to be happy around me and be comfortable. I go out of my way, sometimes to a fault, to make sure everyone is okay.” –Ken Jeong Shelbo, be still, shut up, and know that I am God. –from my journal And without faith it is impossible to

derecho: a large fast-moving complex of thunderstorms with powerful straight-line winds that cause widespread destruction “Oh, hear my prayer tonight, I’m singing to the sky, give me strength to raise my voice, let me testify. Oh, hear my prayer tonight, ’cause this is do or die, The time has come to make a choice… And

“For I hold you by your right hand–I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.’” –Isaiah 41:13 In falling, in failing, we rise. –journal entry, 2018 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ

bully (noun): a person who habitually seeks to harm or intimidate those whom they perceive as vulnerable “…Whenever I see black and blue, I feel the past, I share the bruise With everyone who’s come and gone My head is clear, my voice is strong, now I’m right here to right the wrong…” –“Bully” by

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” –Joshua 1:9 I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me. –Philippians 4:13 For over all, His glory will be shelter and protection: shade from

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” –Matthew 7: 1-2 Learn to relate to others through My Love rather than yours…Let My Love envelop your outreach to other people.

“Is that all you got? I’ll take your best shot…” –“Boom” by POD “Success on any field starts with faith. Faith in yourself. Faith in teammates. Faith in coaches. And in my case, faith in God.” –Kurt Warner Through You we will push back our adversaries; through Your name we will trample down those who

There ain’t no grave can hold my body down When I hear that trumpet sound I’m gonna rise right out of the ground –“Ain’t No Grave” by Johnny Cash “Don’t worry about the numbers. Just preach.” –from a sermon by Pastor W. Jesus replied, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with

“And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” –Matthew 6:12 “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” –Matthew 5:44 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. –Romans 12:21 One of my sisters-in-Christ is in a bad situation right now,

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.” –Luke 2:10-11 inflate (synonyms): fill up, billow, expand, amplify, magnify… May all

I choose joy! –me I choose joy…GRRR!!!! –me in traffic Joy is a focus, before it’s a feeling. –Pastor Steven Furtick Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. –Psalm 51:10 In the last episode of “Decluttering My Heart” we left Shelbo giving the “Curtis box” the ol’

We are human beings, not human doings. –attributed to the Dalai Lama, Kurt Vonnegut, and others “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill can not be hidden…let your light shine before others…” –Matthew 5:14-16 (excerpts) Love one another. Share the Good News. I love having a deep, getting-deeper-every-day relationship

Don’t withhold good from someone who deserves it, when it is in your power to do so. –Proverbs 3:27 “Lord, give me the ability to see the needs of others, and if I have the ability to meet that need, let me boldly step forward, with You by my side, to meet it. –my daily

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. –2 Corinthians 10: 3-4 When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, “You are now

We tap, swipe, and click on our phones on average 2,617 times a day, extreme users more than 5,400. –study by research firm Dscout Instead of going to the phone, we should go to the Throne. –Sheri E. All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone. –Blaise Pascal,

miracle: a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency God’s Math is different.–Mel W. Luke 6:38–Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into

*I wrote this almost forty years ago for a freshman writing class. Today He nudged me to post it to this blog, and I thank Him for that. It is a part of my journey worth remembering, celebrating…and sharing (that’s the scary part). I present it unedited (also scary), an offering of obedience and faith.

“on a wing and a prayer”–idiom stemming from WWII; returning from a bombing run over Germany in a crippled plane, Ashcraft told his crew, “Those who want to, please pray.” The term describes doing something difficult or dangerous while relying on divine help. Isaiah 41:10–Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. –Psalm 139: 23-24 I’m a “little passionate” about decluttering…yes, the whole “spark joy, closet purge, minimalism” thing. I’ve only seen a couple episodes of “Hoarders,”

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is

“…adrift without a rubric…” –from the book Meet the Frugalwoods “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future…” –Jeremiah 29:11 Far away in a land called France there is a kingdom. In that kingdom

The world can be a nasty place, you know it, I know it, yeah, See, we don’t have to fall from grace, Put down the weapons you fight with And kill ’em with kindness. —Selena Gomez, Kill ‘Em with Kindness “Don’t mistake my kindness for weakness.” —Kathleen B. In 1992 I was a North Dakota

The events described happened in August 2020. When I got home that day, I immediately pulled out my journal and this entry pretty much wrote itself. I wrestled with its place in this blog, but ultimately decided it was a story that needed to be told. THE PINK DOOR “Oh, my God, you’re so crabby

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 …I was given a thorn in my flesh…I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Old joke: A fellow goes to New York to attend a concert, but gets lost. He spots another fellow who’s carrying a violin case. “Sir, can you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?” The musician smiles and says, “Practice, practice, practice.” -Source unknown Prayer is a lot like yoga. Some days you are

–journal entry, October 2019… “I give all the glory to God, for any cool moments or triumphs. It’s all Him. I’m just a kid stumbling around in the darkness over unfamiliar terrain most of the time. But He, and His hand, are always there.” –journal entry, April 2020… I think Brenda H. summed it up

FIELD NOTES: qualitative notes recorded by scientists/researchers in the course of field research, during and after their observation of a specific phenomenon they are studying. The notes are intended to be read as evidence that gives meaning and aids in understanding the phenomenon. **They should be descriptive and reflective. DESCRIPTIVE: what the inquirer sees, hears,

I thank the Lord for hugs. The way I see it, we’re all just a mess of broken pieces held together with the glue of God’s love, and in every hug we squeeze those pieces and that Love into an even tighter bond. In those moments we keep each other whole and even more connected

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks under all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 12/1/2020 Lord, help me find my voice. Help me find the voice that is ME. Let it be exuberant and full of love and laughter. I want to offer perspective that can inspire