Star-fish

      Today was in the high 80's in Oregon and for April that is unusual. Coming from Arizona the past 20 years, I am loving the heat and so are the plants and flowers. The trees, in front of our house, burst out of buds into leaves within a day. The pollen from the trees was so thick it looked like a mist of water floating past our windows.      Song of Songs 2:12 explains spring like this, "Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land." I have talked to others who have expressed their depression has lifted a bit with the sunshine and warm weather. As I walk the dog, I breathe deeper when we pass brightly colored tulips swaying in the breeze and clusters of delicate white blossoms on the fruits trees.      Spring feels like God is lifting the heavy veil of wintery grey and cold so we can see the glory of His creations anew. As much as I'm enjoying the blossoms and sunny skies, the Bibl...

      I heard a joke that I could relate to, "Women aren't supposed to make coffee. The Bible says, 'He brews.'" I am a fan of coffee and even have coffee decor all over my kitchen. My husband, in fact, brews the coffee in our house, so that saying is appropriate in our household. I don't ask him to, he just does it because he likes to do nice things for me. I am blessed!     As a wife, I too try to encourage and support my husband, especially now as he is struggling again with serious pain. Hebrews 3:13-14 reminds Christians when the best time is to encourage one another, "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today,' so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end."      We are to encourage each other "daily, as long as it is called 'Today.'" Why? Because otherwise we "may be hardened b...

      A friend texted me to say her husband felt blame over a recent car accident he had and couldn't shake it. It began thinking about "blame" and as I researched the word and synonyms for the word "blame," the word "guilt" came up over and over. So I went to the BibleGateway.com website and searched the word "guilt" and scripture after scripture came up.      As I read through various scriptures, the trail of guilt led to one person, the only One who could take away the sin (guilt) of the world, Lord Jesus Christ. The devil wants you and I to remain in the guilt of our past, so we can be of no future use to the Lord. If we wallow in self-pity or even self-righteousness, we can't claim the victory that is ours as Children of the Most High God.      Read through the scriptures below and I think you will come to the same conclusion that I did. We are not alone in our sins (guilt), but together we all caused God to send His Son Jesus as a l...

      The Covid-19 vaccine is supposedly just around the corner for those in my age group. I have tried several times to sign up, but no spots are available. Around the world, the equity to availability to the vaccines is broad and in some countries due to their leaders not supporting a need to be vaccinated, the people don't get enough vaccines.      Some days, after listening to all the news about deaths due to COVID, I just don't want to leave my home. I am a very social person and I've become a bit of a recluse. I know I'm not alone, but it seems as though people don't really talk about their feelings about COVID. Fear can cause people to isolate and hunker down to self-protect.      But what does Psalm 150:6 remind us to do, "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD." Praising God can help us breath when we feel as though we can't expand our lungs anymore. Praising God reminds us that He is still in control. P...

      Sometimes, it feels like I just need a one-on-one with God, like Moses had in Exodus 3. Moses was drawn to a burning bush which would not burn up! So curious, he drew closer, and "God called to Moses from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" (Exodus 3:4)     That's a beautiful thing in and of itself, God calling him by name! Picture your name on the very lips of God. Now that is truly awesome. In Isaiah 43:1, God speaks to the people, Israel, "O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.'" God was Israel's Savior, the One who watched over them, protected them, and fought for them.      Easter is a reminder to Christians of how God loved us (Gentiles) too and thus sent His Son, Jesus Christ, as a living sacrifice to die and be resurrected over death, so we could have a one-on-one relationship with God. Without Christ, our sins keep us from our loving, but perfect God. But ...

      We all need to pray for ourselves, even Jesus prayed for himself. It seems a bit selfish at times, but prayer is our lifeline to God. If we don't pray, how do we pour out our hearts to the One who created us? He's the only One that understands our woes.       First, Jesus reassured the disciples that even during their inevitable persecution they can have peace in Him, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33 NIV).       Then, here's how Jesus prayed for Himself in John 17:1-5 (NIV): "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by comp...