“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.  For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18: 19,20) “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as … Read more

By the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread, until you return to the ground, from which you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return. (Genesis 3:19) How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land? (Psalm 137:4) He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.     And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy     and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)   This has been a hard week, eh!  (Please note that I’m using that ‘eh!’ in all of its … Read more

“28 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus[a] took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. 31 They appeared in glory and were speaking about his exodus, which he was about to fulfill in Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep, but as they awoke they saw his glory and the … Read more

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness  (2 Corinthians 12) “Little ones to Him belong.  They are weak but he is strong” (From ‘Jesus Loves Me” written by Anna Bartlett Warner). A couple of years ago I was watching an episode of ‘The Simpsons’.   Yes, I know that this cartoon can be outrageous, crude and irreverent, but I also find it at times a scathing and amusing statement on society.  I also am impressed with how they sensitively and progressively handle issues of faith and church most of the time.  Anyway…..in this episode, … Read more

Oh-oh, what’s love got to do, got to do with it?What’s love but a second-hand emotion?What’s love got to do, got to do with it?Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken? (From “What’s love got to do with it?” Written by Graham Lyle and Terry Britten and recorded by Tina Turner) There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1John 4:18) The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, … Read more

Where can I go from your spirit?     Or where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there;     if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning     and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me,     and your right hand shall hold me fast. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,     and night wraps itself around me,” 12 even the darkness is not dark to you;     the … Read more

But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from those who persecute me. (Psalm 31:15) I woke up this morning to an email notification that some groceries I had ordered were out for delivery.  I though this was a little weird, being a Friday an all.  This grocery delivery is an automatic one that happens every Saturday, typically.  I got up, made coffee, puddled around in my jammies and stopped and surfed social media for about 45 … Read more

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone”  (Isaiah 9:2) “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”  (Hebrews 1:1) Last Wednesday, I had to go to the hospital for one of those many many pre-op appointments that knee surgery people have.  This appointment was with anesthesia, and I knew it was just going to be a 5-minute conversation, but I also knew that it was a pretty important 5-minute conversation.  My appointment was … Read more

John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (Luke 3: 16,17) And the crowds asked him, “What, then, should we do? (Luke 3: 10) I was chatting with a friend of mine the other day about … Read more

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.  In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.  In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.” (Jeremiah 33: 14-16) Today is Black Friday.  Black Friday is a new phenomenon for me, and for … Read more