The Invitation of Faith ... COME!

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The Invitation of Faith ... COME!

Come, what a beautiful word.

Children love it. Faces light up and bodies move. The aged long for it, sadly often waiting vain. All of us anticipate it – will we hear it or not?

What is it about this four-letter word that is so attractive? Come means there’s an invitation. And who doesn’t want to be invited? Come means we are not alone. There is companionship and conversation available. . . and possibly other marvelous things.

When this wonderful word is spoken from the mouth of God, our Creator and Savior and the Lover of our Souls, we certainly want to listen and respond. And I’m glad to say, God invites us, “Come to Me” time after time.

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Not Just Halloween : Reformation Day for Today!

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Not Just Halloween : Reformation Day for Today!

October 31, 1517… the day that changed the world of Christendom forever. German monk Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses on the door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg. His action launched what came to be known as the Protestant Reformation (Or Protestant Revolt, depending on which side you are on).

Luther never intended to leave the Catholic church, but rather to reform it. But in God’s will, reform and a Biblical revolution began and continues to this day.

Luther didn’t get everything right, but he did get it right that “the just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:16-17) and so much more.

And Luther got something else right that helps us today. He got it right about how to live in the midst of a pandemic (the Black Plague) with God’s balanced, grace-filled perspective.

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Loving and Being Loved in this Pandemic . . . Masks or No Masks

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Loving and Being Loved in this Pandemic . . . Masks or No Masks

I recently read somewhere on social media that we shouldn’t wear face masks during this pandemic because we are made in the image of God and His image is reflected in our faces.

Really?

True, it is hard to recognize someone if the bottom half of their face is covered. But I’ve been thinking about this lately . . .

“The eyes are the window of the soul,. . .

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There's a Ghost Inside of Me

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There's a Ghost Inside of Me

This fall we are again with our dear Eli, getting ready to celebrate his “Halloween time” birthday. And again this year we see ghosts and goblins, scarecrows and pumpkins punctuating the yards all around.

So again I’m thinking about a Ghost — the Holy Ghost, the Giver of Life and my indwelling Source. And again I’m sharing about the Holy Spirit with my precious grandsons. What better way than with this fun but deeply true song.

Thank you, Mercy Me, for giving me a way to speak truth into young lives and hearts

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Two Truths to Count on in Trials

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Two Truths to Count on in Trials

Surely goodness and steadfast love shall follow me all the days of my life... Psalm 23:8

PAIN!

Bloody! Cutting! Unrelenting! and Soul-numbing...or is it?

For me, pain has a way of sifting through the non-essentials of life!

And I find my soul awakened abruptly from its numbing slumber to longing, loss, grief, confusion, perspective...

...but most importantly, the presence of GOD.

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Running my Unique Lap in the Race of Faith -- Part 2

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Running my Unique Lap in the Race of Faith -- Part 2

4. My success in running depends on my focus.

...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.” Heb 12: 2-3


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Running my Unique Lap in the Race of Faith -- Part 1

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Running my Unique Lap in the Race of Faith -- Part 1

...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus Hebrews 12: 1-2

God calls us to own our lives...to hug them to our breasts and to live them with all our hearts! No place do we see this truth more clearly than in the letter to the Hebrews, chapter 12.

Using the imagery of running, God says that now it's...

...our turn to run our lap in the race of faith!

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The Pilgrim Spirit of Faith

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The Pilgrim Spirit of Faith

We are so tied to the here and now, aren't we? But at the heart of the life of faith is belief in the unseen God and trust in His promises that this world is not all there is. People of faith are pilgrims, aliens.

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth...Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13,16

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We are Part of Something Bigger than Us!

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We are Part of Something Bigger than Us!

John Eldridge in his book The Sacred Romance says that deep inside of us is a longing for intimacy and adventure. Here in Hebrews 11, we definitely see both! The intimacy is with a God who spoke us into existence and now can be trusted to care for us every step of the way (we will see this again in Heb 12). And the adventure...oh my! We are part of something bigger than ourselves...and that's exciting! We are in the "race of faith" with a long line of "runners"...some famous, like Abraham and Moses; some infamous and unlikely, like Rahab and Samson; and some unknown, like those who were sawn in two (among other horrors)...people "of whom the world is not worthy," the writer to the Hebrews says (Hebrews 11:38).

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Running your Lap in God's Race of Faith during the Time of COVID

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I have told you all this so that you may have peace IN ME.
Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.
But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33 NLT

God wants us to live in peace, no matter what is going on around us. But during this unsettling time, I have observed so many children of God walking through their days fighting their own lives. As a result, I think many have no peace in their souls.

In contrast, those who have come to a measure of acceptance despite the confusion do have peace because they have embraced Him who is their Peace. And they have embraced their real “today” life.

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"Never more than I can bear"-- Oh, really?

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"Never more than I can bear"-- Oh, really?

"God never gives us more than we can bear!" For some reason, I've been hearing that a lot lately, have you?

I don't know about you, but in my experience, it has been the opposite! God regularly gives me more than I can bear...and I'll tell you what I think is the reason.

As I now like to say, "I'm a tough nut to crack." I'm a pretty strong personality! So for a lot of my Christian life, I've believed that it's my strength and know-how and abilities and wisdom, coupled with the blessing and help from Above, that will get the job done...successfully...even in the spiritual realm. I've eaten over and over again from the "Tree of knowledge of Good & Evil" thinking that was God's will and way!

But now I know differently. His way is His strength in my weakness! Not His help in my weakness! HIM doing it and being it!

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Sorrow's Refining Influence: His Peace-filled Presence

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Sorrow's Refining Influence: His Peace-filled Presence

This is scary. This is hard. But I have Jesus!

I was on my way to the hospital to pick up a CD and written report on my CT scan done several days ago.  Something suspicious had showed up in a previous test. I wanted to find out, but I didn't want to know.

Walking from the parking lot, I sensed the Holy Spirit give me my "Jesus Prayer."

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Two Truths to Count on in Trials

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Two Truths to Count on in Trials

Surely goodness and steadfast love shall follow me all the days of my life... Psalm 23:8

PAIN!

Bloody! Cutting! Unrelenting! and Soul-numbing...or is it?

For me, pain has a way of sifting through the non-essentials of life!

And I find my soul awakened abruptly from its numbing slumber to longing, loss, grief, confusion, perspective...

...but most importantly, the presence of GOD.

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Kindness . . . Paying It "Backwards"

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Kindness . . . Paying It "Backwards"

Yesterday was amazing!

Who knew that a trip to Dunkin’ Donuts would feed more than my body. It would feed my soul!

We were on our way to do a “Backyard DD Brunch” with our son and family. So of course we pulled into the drive thru of my favorite coffee place, Dunkin Donuts in Kettering.

The line circled around the entire building and then some, but not to worry. Those people know what they are doing — efficient service, good food, yummy donuts and muffins, and great coffee … and speedy.

So prepared with my drive through order, I spoke it loud and clear:


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Where We Need to Live Today. . .Under His Wings

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Where We Need to Live Today. . .Under His Wings

I posted this back in March. I need this again. Do you? Read these Scriptures aloud. Let them wash over your soul. Listen to the song … the words … the imagery … the truth.

And be still and know HE is GOD, and HE is what we need in the midst of the upheaval and discord and confusion and ungodly attitudes all around us. And may the mind of Christ have sway in us His sons and daughters! Amen….

…When in the deepest of troubles...when there is no consolation or comfort...go to the sacred place where you and the Lord live together and nothing can touch...the place of union with our God through Jesus Christ by faith (Colossians 2:9-10 ESV)...and rest in Him who rests in you (John 17:20-23 ESV)!

Hide me in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 17:8b

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Touch Jesus . . . Touch Life TODAY!

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Touch Jesus . . . Touch Life TODAY!

In the midst of this pandemic … and all the controversy it has spawned. Yes, among Christians too. Now more than ever, we need HIM!!!!!!

… my indwelling Lord Jesus Christ is my All in All! He is the Father's Ultimate Gift to me...no-thing else, no-thing more!

Jesus + Nothing = Everything

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Read My Mail: Clues to Getting Free of Legalistic Living

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Read My Mail: Clues to Getting Free of Legalistic Living

For the last six months or so, I have been leading a small group of maturing sisters in the Lord. We call ourselves “Branches,” from the metaphor Jesus uses of Himself and His people in the gospel of John, chapter 15 — “I am the Vine; you are the branches.”

Our unifying theme is “living from our union with Christ.” We all long to understand and experience the freedom and fullness of our indwelling Lord Jesus through His Holy Spirit living in us and through us as us. And so we study and share and pray with and for each other.

In the course of our meetings and discussions, I was moved to write the following email. Maybe you would like to “eavesdrop” and read our mail. Feel free to jump in and respond. We can learn from each other.

Also be sure to check out our reading list and related blogs.

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Sunrise Serendipities -- a trip into Yesteryear

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Sunrise Serendipities -- a trip into Yesteryear

Sunrises are always serendipities -- not that we don't expect them and not that they don't always come, but we never know what we will get. Each one is different, and each one is a gift from the hand of our Creator! Maybe the gift part is more true than we realize, because each sunrise signals a new day. And really, none of us is promised that day ahead of time...pure grace when it comes!

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Fresh Mercies Every Day

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Fresh Mercies Every Day

I'm at my "Happy Place," the Jersey Shore. It took the whole summer to get here this year, but it was so worth the wait.

I am never disappointed at the beach.  I see and hear and feel and smell and even taste God here in a unique way. The vastness of the ocean and the littleness of me on the shore help to correct my perspective about God and my life. And the sunrise over the ocean speaks with new messages every day.

These mornings here at sunrise in Belmar, I have been arrested by an awesome observation.

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