Star-fish

      The author of Hebrews, possibly Paul but there is no consensus on that point, gave the Jews a list of faithful forefathers and mothers, who believed in God’s sovereignty and provision. The list of the faithful is extensive, but here are a few below: Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. By faith… (3) we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command… (4) Abel brought God a better offering… (5) Enoch was taken from this life… (7) Noah…built an ark to save his family… (8) Abraham…obeyed and went… (11) Sarah…was enabled to bear children… (17) Abraham…offered Isaac as a sacrifice… (20) Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau… (21) Jacob…blessed each of Joseph’s sons… (22) Joseph…spoke about the exodus of the Israelites… (27) Moses…left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger…             Imitating the faithfulness of these great i...

     Walking in our community the other day, I saw a woodpecker that had drilled a perfectly round hole at the top of a large Saguaro cactus. Passing by, I could hear little chirping sounds, from more than one chick, that must have been sequestered in the nest. The temperature was warm and would be over 100 later in the day, but inside the moist cactus the birds would be kept safe. I thought about how we pray for God to put a "hedge of thorns" around us for protection. This bird had instinctively done the same for her fledglings. I walked on feeling blessed and protected by the scene, knowing God was even helping the mother bird and her babies.      Today though, as I sat reading in my bedroom, I viewed a dove crash into our large pane glass window, drop like a rock, and not revive. I sat in shock at how a bird can be flying free one moment and dead in the next. I understand the reality of death, but it made me think about the reason for it. Why would the ...

           Watching the news tonight, they reported on how many Americans do not know why we celebrate the 4 th of July, so here’s an excerpt from Tulsa Channel 8 website article that sums it up in a nutshell. May we remember God’s blessing on our country tomorrow and those that have sacrificed to keep us free. May we repent of our sins and ask God to forgive us.              It’s America’s 239th birthday and Americans coast-to-coast are celebrating the fourth of July in many ways.  People from the world-over make a pilgrimage to the nation’s capital to pay a visit to a precious document that gave birth to a new nation.             Roughly one million people come through the halls of the National Archives each year to gaze upon Thomas Jefferson’s masterpiece the Declaration of Independence dated July 4th 1776.  Jefferson was the...