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A Code of Grace
Last night at a bible study, I was blessed with an incredible nugget of truth and awe in God’s word. The instructor shared the genealogy of Adam to Noah and then gave the meaning of each name. Chuck Missler wrote about macra codes in the bible and here is what it looks like all together: Adam……………..man Seth………………….appointed Enosh………………mortal Kenan……………..sorrow Mahalalel……….the blessed God Jared……………….shall come down Enoch……………..teaching Methuselah………his death shall bring Lamech…………..the despairing Noah……………….rest or comfort Isn’t that the message of Easter? Man appointed mortal sorrow. The blessed God shall come down teaching; his death shall bring the despairing rest or comfort. That is fascinating to me! As I was thinking…
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Ash Wednesday – Lent Begins
Lent is the period of 40 days which comes before Easter in the Christian calendar. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter. By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days. I was speaking with my co-worker today about Lent and I am so blessed that she is as excited about this season as I am. What a gift from God to work with a believer and be able to share this season as we are preparing to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. We shared our favorite parts…
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Spring Cleaning Our Lives
Today is the last day of Mardi Gras which is French for “Fat Tuesday,” the last day of a season called “Carnival.” The Carnival season is characterized by merrymaking, feasting, and dancing. Mardi Gras is the culmination of festivities and features parades, masquerades, and, unfortunately, often drunkenness and shameless debauchery. It is the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Christian Lent season leading up to Easter. During Lent, many Christians fast, and the name Fat Tuesday refers to the last day of eating richer foods before the leaner days of Lent begin. The excess of Carnival may not seem to have much in common with Lent but the…
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Expecting Good
Today we leave on a long awaited vacation. For the last several months there has been quite a bit of overtime worked and I’m ready to have a week of rest and relaxation. My mind has been whirling with all the preparations and the clock is ticking down to departure. I find myself getting anxious and worrying if the weather will cooperate. Will all the pieces come together and will we arrive at our destination safe and on time? I was reminded today “not to be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will…
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Time
I read a devotional this morning about time. It mentioned that sometimes people say they are just killing time or that was a waste of time. How many times have I thought those same things? On Sunday I was speaking to a gentleman that I met at the mid-week bible study and he was sharing his background with me. He had some very strong opinions on specific teachings and then he said, “Jesus is returning this year.” Immediately my mind went to Matthew 24:36, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” The truth is that each day brings us that much closer to our Lord’s return.…
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Twinkle Lights
It’s that time of year when the days start to get longer and there is hope of spring in the air. Throughout the winter months it’s dark by the time I leave work and it feels like the day is over much quicker. Then it begins to be light longer and longer until it doesn’t get dark until almost ten o’clock at night. It’s almost like you having and extra four hours to each day. Last summer I purchase some solar lights for the deck. Throughout the day they charge and then they shine for the evening. During the darker days of winter they rarely shine at night. But in…
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Finish the Race
Well today is the day! Goal date for my Fit at 50 personal challenge. It was seven months ago that I knew I needed to make some lifestyle and health goals and dedicate myself to completing them. I prayed about what those goals should be and how to accomplish them. The first two months turned out to being more of the same. Excited for the start and then fizzle out when the results didn’t come quickly. Then I realized I was doing the same things I always had but was expecting different results. I do believe that is the definition of insanity. I have a plaque on my wall that…
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Assurance – Trusting God
As I continued reading through last year’s travel journal I came across the day that my husband and the other men traveling with us went deep sea fishing. I had just finished my morning run on the beach and was watching the waves get bigger and bigger. The guys were out there in those waves and I hoped that they were doing alright. I find the ocean to be very unnerving at times and I feel much better when I’m on solid ground. I sat down on one of the beach chairs and began my bible study and as only God can do it was called, “Be Still.” The story…
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President’s Day
I was researching the significance of President’s Day and came across this in the Old Farmer’s Almanac: “Washington’s birthday was celebrated on February 22 until well into the 20th Century. In 1968, Congress passed the Monday Holiday Law to “provide uniform annual observances of certain legal public holidays on Mondays.” By creating more 3-day weekends, Congress hoped to “bring substantial benefits to both the spiritual and economic life of the Nation.” “Today, George Washington’s Birthday is one of only eleven permanent holidays established by Congress. One of the great traditions followed for decades has been the reading of George Washington’s Farewell Address—which remains an annual event for the Senate to this day.” “In…
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Chef Tony
There is a man that is a partner in a restaurant nearby where I work, his name is Tony. Every day he has the best attitude no matter how his day is going. Some days when the customers are few and far between you will find him busily working on new recipes and bringing them by the office for taste testers. On busy days as he is rushing to serve all the hungry patrons, he does it with a smile and an “isn’t this great,” mentality. In the morning he is jamming to music while he preps food for the day and never misses an opportunity to say, “Good morning…