Get the Crimps Out

Proverbs 4: 23 Amplified " Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance for out of it flows the springs of life."  There is nothing like Springtime, it's such a great time of newness of life.  The birds are singing, the leaves on the trees are turning green, flowers are blooming.  I enjoy this time of year so much.  Well, all almost everything about this time of year...

Read More

A Place Called "There"

1 Kings 17:4“You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there."  A few weeks ago on a Saturday night, I was carrying some items to our van for our church service the following day.  Each trip I would cut across the front lawn, and in the process I had somehow dropped my car keys. The next morning...

Read More

To Obey is Better Than ________

1 Samuel 15:22 - "And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." Have you ever had something in your heart that you know you were supposed to do, but you tried to substitute anything and everything else instead of doing what the Lord has told you to do?...

Read More

A Bug's Life - Living Abund-ANT"


Proverbs 6:6 "Go to the ant...consider her ways and be wise”.  In the classic 1998 Disney film, A Bug’s Life, a story is told of an incredible journey with one little ANT as he searches for a brave band of warriors to help him battle against the grasshoppers who threaten his home.  I enjoyed this story because...
 

Read More

Grace Recliner

John 6:10-11 “Jesus said, Make all the people recline (sit down). Now the ground (a pasture) was covered with thick grass at the spot, so the men threw themselves down, about 5,000 in number.  Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks, He distributed to the disciples and the disciples to the reclining people; so also [He did] with the fish, as much as they wanted.”  “In our home the recliner in our family room is a special place...

Read More

I Slept In and Saved Thousands

Proverbs 10: 22 (Amplified Bible) “The blessing of the Lord it makes {truly} rich, and He adds no sorrow with it {neither does toiling increase it}”  We’re in the height of the Christmas shopping season!  People are running all over town, or sitting for hours in front of their computer screen shopping for that got-to-have-it gift.  Personally, I don’t have a problem with

Read More

Bright Future Ahead

Proverbs 4:18 - But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.  I just heard someone say, "In God, your future is so bright, you have to squint to see it".  Don’t you love it!?  I instantly thought of today's verse, which has blessed me countless times. That’s why I never have issues with...

Read More

Exhale

Genesis 12:2 (Amplified Bible) - “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you {with an abundant increase of favors} and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing {dispensing good to others}”. There's a really great song that says it all for me about grace, it's called Exhale by Plumb.  Listen to these powerful lyrics...

Read More

The Perfect Resort

Psalm 71:3 (Amplified Bible) "Be to me a rock of refuge in which to dwell, {and} a sheltering stronghold to which I may continually resort, which You have appointed to save me, for You are my Rock and my Fortress."  Whether you made your summer vacation plans many months ago or several days ago, the anticipation of getting away is like no other.  The countdown starts…

Read More

Error Message

Romans 2:4 – “…the goodness of God leads you to repentance”.  For so long, Satan has trapped people into a sin consciousness, always thinking about what’s “wrong”, a performance based system of measuring our worth, accusing us of every little thing.  That’s a lousy way to live, but so clever on his part.  Why?  He knows if he can...

Read More

No If's, And's or But's

Romans 8:4 – “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”  You’ve probably heard the phrase “No if’s, and’s or but’s”, most likely from your…parents!  It means “No excuses!  If you don’t mow the lawn, you can’t go to the movies, no if’s, and’s or but’s!”  Sound familiar?  Maybe so, however, the way I’m thinking about this phrase is entirely different. 

Read More

Adding Fuel to the Fire

1 Corinthians 15:56 – “The strength of sin is the law”.  Recently in the news was a story of a man that accidentally set fire to three cars while trying to get rid of bed bugs!  The New Yorker was hospitalized after dousing the interior of his rental car with...

Read More

Sweatless Grace

Ezekiel 44:17-18 – “And it shall be, when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with bleached linen clothing. And no wool shall come on them while they serve in the gates of the inner court, and inside. Turbans of bleached linen shall be on their heads, and shall have bleached linen undergarments on their loins. They shall not clothe themselves with anything that causes sweat.”  Did you ever buy a deodorant that didn’t…do what it was supposed to do, stop the sweat?  I have...

 

 

Read More

Bobo's Back!

Matthew 6:9 “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed by thy name”.  Some of you may remember me talking about Bobo in recent years, a dog in my neighborhood where I grew up.  He was chained up in the yard at his house, all day long, rain or shine, near the softball field where we played.  Bobo was a huge black dog with matted fur and very large teeth, and barked nonstop.  Unfortunately... 

Read More

Stickability

Ephesians 6:18 - “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”  Stickability.  Stick with it.  Persevere.  Press through until the end.  Keep praying until you pray through.  So many times, if something doesn’t happen as quickly as we think...

Read More

Absalomic Vinegar

2 Samuel 15:2 – “And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so , that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.”  I really enjoy a nice salad with my dinner…and my dressing of choice – balsamic vinaigrette!  Did you know that the name balsamic comes from...

Read More

"Thanks-given"

2 Peter 1:3 "According as his divine power has "given" unto us all things..."  My favorite holiday to celebrate has always been Thanksgiving.  As a child, I have great memories of our family going to the big rivalry football game on Thanksgiving morning and then...

Read More