Trust

When I cannot read,

when I cannot think.

when I cannot even pray,

I can trust.

Hudson Taylor

I am the Lord your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you,
"Do not fear.
I will help you."
Isaiah 41:13

One Thing

The one thing I want from God, the thing I seek most of all, is the privilege of meditating in his Temple, living in his presence every day of my life, delighting in his incomparable perfections and glory. There I’ll be when troubles come. He will hide me. He will set me on a high rock out of reach of all my enemies.  

My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me, O my people.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”
Ps 27: 4-6, 8 Living Bible

My son Cameron started the long drive back to New Jersey this morning. It was good to hear about his ministry opportunities in the greater NYC area, and his experiences in Israel. I got to see many beautiful photos of the Holy Land.

Lord, I Offer My Life to You

What can we give that You have not given?

And what do we have that is not already Yours?

All we possess are these lives we're living

And that's what we give to You, Lord.

Don Moen

Good Times

My kids and grandkids like to eat! I made a cake and brownies. They left me one teeny bite of brownie in the corner of the pan. (I think they just didn't want to have to wash the pan. LOL) Everybody seemed to have a good time here  playing games and singing carols. Cameron is here from New Jersey and I had a nice chat on the phone with my oldest son Carl in Virginia.

Light of the World

Jesus spoke to them saying, 

"I am the light of the world. 

Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, 

but will have the light of life." 

John 8:12

Gift of God

The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23

Glorious Gift

“I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!"
John 17:22-24

Ohio River Walking Bridge

My granddaughter on the Big 4 walking bridge last summer
with Louisville, Kentucky, in the distance.

The bridge illuminated  at night.
credit

We took this photo last year on Christmas night
from Jeffersonville, Indiana..

The lights continually change colors.

Early In the Morning

 

Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness 

in the morning, for in You do I trust;

Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,

for I lift up my soul to You.

Psalm 143:8

Holy, holy, holy!
Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning
Our song shall rise to Thee

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

For lo, the days are hastening on,

By prophet bards foretold,

When with the ever circling years

Comes round the age of gold;

When peace shall over all the earth

Its ancient splendors fling,

And the whole world give back the song

Which now the angels sing.

Jesus is our Peace.

Jesus Prayed

Leonard Ravenhill was a man of prayer. He would often spend entire days in his study in prayer. The man was a giant in prayer, yet at the end of his mortal life, with eternity in view, his regret was, if only I had prayed more and preached and planned less.

Rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, 

Jesus departed and went out to a desolate place, 

and there he prayed.

Mark 1:35

My son Cameron took this photo in Israel.

RUBY

Panning for gems in Franklin, North Carolina, in 1969, a group of us college students were hoping to strike it rich. One of the girls began to shout, "I found a ruby!" She later took it to a jeweler and when it was cut and polished, the large ruby made a stunning ring.

The ruby is one of the most valuable gemstones. It has everything a precious stone should have: color, hardness and brilliance. However, without chiseling, shaping, and polishing, the ruby would never shine.

As we go through the trials of everyday life, we can know that God allows the refining because He sees us as precious, and, in His eyes, we shine!

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:2-3

Holdin' On

Once, in my quiet time, God reminded me of living in Atlanta when my children were small. I learned the hard way NOT to depend on young children to keep their eyes on me in a busy parking lot or shopping mall. I started holding onto their forearms instead of letting them hold my hands.


The very next day, I was asked to pray with a person, and the Holy Spirit urged me to share that story...that God is like that with His children. He doesn't depend on us to always keep our eyes on Him or to hold onto Him. Instead, He holds onto us. The person told me that her main fear was that God would take His hand off her life if she made mistakes.

I am the Lord your God 

 who takes hold of your right hand 

and says to you,

 Do not fear;  

I will help you.

Isaiah 41:13 NIV

Penguins

My granddaughter Kaedyn and I are learning about Penguins this week. 

Here are some of our favorite penguin puns.

Why did the penguins cross the road?

They wanted to go with the floe.

******

What do you call a cold penguin?

A Brrr-d.
*******
How does a penguin build its house?

Igloos it together!
*****