Star-fish

     Today I went to a conference in Tucson, Arizona and a woman named Sandra Tesch spoke. I've included her bio below. It was strange to hear a Christian speak at a state government conference. Her message was essentially about forgiveness. After all the awful events of her life, she was able to finally release her bitterness and pain, through a relationship with Jesus Christ.      The biography leaves out the painful, disfiguring procedures she had to endure to "fix" her heavily scarred face, being spit on and stared at by people in public, and the unexplained sudden death of her daughter. How does someone survive a life so full of misery? Only by giving her life back to her Maker and asking to have a chance to be born again, to start fresh, and become a new woman in Christ.  2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if anyone is  in Christ,  he is   a new creature;  the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Sandr...

      Just read an email from someone who knows a  missionary living in Egypt. He is concerned that things are spiraling out of control and may come to a head this Sunday. He is calling for us to pray for peace in Egypt and pray for the protection of Christians living there. Satan would desire us to become angry, hateful, and fight one another, but we need to not take on his character.      We need to take on the character of Christ in all our words, actions, and deeds. If we were all loving, kind, and patient in our circle of influence each day, I believe much of the strife in the world would dissipate. Does that sound too simplistic? Then ask yourself what you did today to help your enemy? What did you do to make life better for an orphan or a widow today? What did you do to make a friend's day better? What did you do to make an unhappy loved one's life better? How many times did you do something to make yourself happy today? Yeah, me too.   ...

     Happiness is fueled by feelings; joy is as deep as your relationship with God.      As I examined my feelings lately, my joy was fleeting. The more I looked inward, the less joy I found. When I read the Word of God, the source of my emptiness became apparent. It was me. There is no good thing found in me without the Holy Spirit of God dwelling in me.       So, when I'm self-focused, everything is out of focus, especially my emotions. When I'm Christ-centered, everything comes back to center. My lost joy is found in Him.      Happiness is temporary; joy is eternal. Flowers in Israel-a precious pink gift from God:) Philippians 2:2  Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,  if any tenderness and compassion,   2  then make my joy complete  by being like-minded,  having the same love, bein...

      I would like to see news that is inspiring, positive, and up lifting. TV shows that are funny, entertaining, and encouraging without sex, drugs, cussing, and cruelty. If this is what is on television now, what will be showing ten years from now? It seems like the more evil, ugly, and crude characters act, the more attention they get from viewers and the media.       How do we turn this cycle of negative and destructive entertainment around? The Bible tells us, " Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)      I can only change my own behavior and touch the lives of others in my sphere of influence. My focus must change so that I'm talking about and thinking of things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely admirable, excellent, and praisewort...

     My husband relayed a message of a crazy driver who endangered many others by his careless actions. On my commute to and from work each day, I experience the same kind of behaviors. As I drive to work each morning, I pray that God will protect me from others and He will keep me from accidentally harming anyone else.      I can only watch my own actions and react to the actions of others. God watches both! To trust God, means laying down your life, your will, your desires, and picking up the cross of Christ Jesus. Sometimes it takes daily, moment by moment, giving up of selfish thoughts and desires to the Lord to even stay on the same road with God.      I don't want to be a crazy Christian driving my own careless way through the pathways of life. A head on collision with God can cause damage to myself and others. Yielding to God, leaves me free to cruise through my days, even the bumpy ones, knowing Who is really at the wheel.

     The creator God has given us all life and thus is The Father of us all. But He also gave us earthly fathers to protect and care for us. Some fathers have lived up to their calling and others have sorely missed the target.      Regardless of the greatness or misguidance of your earthly dad, he can in no way compete with God, The Father. God is love. He wants nothing but the best for us and has no ulterior motives. He wants to care for us unconditionally and will come in and take over for us when we have finally figured out we aren't really in control.      I love my earthly dad and am so glad he recently accepted Christ Jesus into his life. I look forward to one day being in heaven with him and with our Father, God. I'll have the best of both worlds then:) Happy Father's Day Dad!  Ephesians 1: 17  I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,  may give you the Spirit  of wisdom ...

     This photo of the city of Jerusalem has the Muslin Dome of the Rock temple in the center. Below that same plateau, where this shrine is built, is believed by Jewish scholars to be where King Solomon built the first temple for God. Some also believe that the Ark of the Covenant is buried under this shrine, but Muslin believers will not allow the Jewish architects to dig underneath the mosque.       None of us knows for certain where the Ark of the Covenant has been dwelling all these thousands of years, but what we do know is this: God does not need an ark, a temple, or church to dwell among His people. He sent His own Son to die and His Holy Spirit to dwell in the hearts of men and women who believe not in laws or rules, but in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Call on the Holy Spirit to fall upon you and indwell you, (once you've asked Christ into your life), and the Holy Spirit will give you a specially designed gift to use in ministry f...

     As we climbed the hillside to reach this lower waterfall (pictured below), my mind wandered to David running for his life from King Saul in these same mountains, stopping at this same pool to drink deeply, and splash his face with the cool water. But despite his fear of being speared by Saul, he chose to spare Saul's life out of a greater fear of God.       In Hebrew, "fear" can mean both "flowing" or "reverence." It was interesting to me that David's reverence for God flowed from him in the cave in En Gedi. He could have easily reach out and smote Saul, but he knew it was not his place to lay a hand on God's chosen king.       To fear God is to reverence Him and to show respect to those He puts into authority over us. To trust that even a boss that "throws spears" at us, can still be God's chosen one in our lives. Ask yourself what lesson God may be trying to teach you in this situation. I've learn a lot of humility...

     This picture is of the headwaters of the Jordan River. It is a refreshingly beautiful location. Fig trees line the shores and the water runs cool and clear. Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. But in the background you will see a rock structure that is actually the remains of a temple for the god Pan and goat sacrifices were done at that location.       That is a reminder to me that as long as I walk this earth, evil will be hovering around. Jesus calls me to simply stand in the river of life and He will clear a path for me.  Thank you Lord! 7  And the  Lord  said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you  in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses.   8  Tell the priests  who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”

      On our trip to Israel, we visited the ancient city of Shiloh in the Ephraim hill-country. This was the religious capital of Israel for 300 years before Jerusalem became capital. The story of Samuel begins in this city with his mother, Hannah, being distraught over being barren. She tells God she will give her son back to him if she can just become pregnant. 1 Samuel 1:9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the  Lord ’s house.   10  In her deep anguish  Hannah prayed to the  Lord , weeping bitterly.   11  And she made a vow,  saying, “ Lord  Almighty , if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember  me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the  Lord  for all the days of his life,  and no razor  will ever be used on his head.” I found it ironic ...

   We sang this song, In the Garden , a favorite of my grandmother's and mine, while in Israel. Its melody rang in my ear as I walked in the Garden of Gethsemane. One day we will walk in the garden with Him.  In the Garden I come to the garden alone While the dew is still on the roses And the voice I hear falling on my ear The song of God discloses And He walks with me And He talks with me And He tells me I am his own And the joy we share as we tarry there None other has ever known He speaks and the sound of His voice Is so sweet the birds hush their singing And the melody that He gave to me Within my heart is ringing And He walks with me And He talks with me And He tells me I am his own And the joy we share as we tarry there None other has ever known Songwriters: Leyton, Simon/Miles, C. Austin (Words & music by C.A. Miles)   Matthew 26:36   Then Jesus went with his disci...

      We just returned from two weeks in Israel and have many wonderful stories and photos to share. Tonight though, I'll talk about "coming home." My husband and I went to Israel last year, at this same time, with our Arizona church family. This year, we went with our Oregon church family. Both trips were similar as far as places that we visited, but quite different as far as the experiences, teachings, and the emotional impact I felt leaving this time.      There is something about Israel that feels like "home" to me. We have traveled to a lot of foreign countries and to many cities within the United States, but nothing feels quite like Jerusalem. It's as though God's presence is stronger there, deeper there, and the spirits of the apostles roam the streets.      The Jews say that when you come to Israel, you are "coming home." In fact, when we were leaving, our waiter said, "I hope you'll 'come home' again soon." This...