My God My Everything

The last few weeks have given us quite a visual about what practical ministry is all about. It’s using the gifts you’ve been given to help others. With the earthquake in Haiti, Hurricane Ida hitting Louisiana, fires across the country, covid and all the local needs of friends and family, there is no lack of opportunities to serve. I was listening to KLOVE the other day and they were talking about Convoy of Hope, a ministry that serves people in disaster stricken areas. The announcer commented that while you might not be able to fill an entire semi truck with needed supplies, you might be able to donate $20 which…

Our names are an incredibly important part of our identity. They carry deep personal, cultural, familial, and historical connections. They also give us a sense of who we are, the communities in which we belong, and our place in the world. In the bible when a person was given a name it carried huge significance. A biblical name could record some aspects of a person’s birth. Biblical names sometimes expressed the parents’ reaction to the birth of their child. Biblical names were sometimes used to secure the solidarity of family ties. Biblical names could be used to communicate God’s message. Biblical names were also used to establish an affiliation with God.…

Dorcas, also know by the name Tabitha, was a biblical character in the New Testament. Her story is a beautiful example of heart felt service and devotion. She was blessed to be one of five people, not counting the Lord Jesus, who was raised from the dead in the New Testament. Her life was lived behind the scenes in practical ways for those in need. She made robes and other clothing for widows. The fact that she was known by both her Greek and Aramaic name suggests that she lived in a mixed culture and was willing to reach out to everyone around her. She touched lives not only in…

For the month of September we will discover some the many lessons that can be learned from studying the life of Dorcas. Overview – A Life of Service Dorcas, also known as Tabitha, was a woman who lived out her faith behind the scenes in practical ways that deeply touched the lives of other believers.  She practiced showing mercy  to anyone in need.  She became sick and died.  Upon her death the disciples sent for Peter who was in a nearby town and urged him to come at once.  When he arrived all the widows stood around him crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had…

Lately I have been facinated with pathways whether they be on a running trail, in the hills or on the edge of a field. Each step takes you in a direction that will have its own unique views, experiences, challenges and outcomes. Some paths are longer than others and have sections of shade and sunshine. Others have hills and valleys that while challenging, are worth the effort when you reach the summit. Still some will have sections that you walk with others and at times alone with God. Lydia had her own life path and was where she needed to be at the exact moment she needed to be there.…

When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods.  After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.  When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. (Acts 16: 19, 22-24) We’ve all experienced days that we feel we’ve been put through the wringer. Perhaps you’ve been betrayed, lied about, received a bad diagnosis, lost…

Once when Paul and Silas were going to the place of prayer they were met by a female slave who had a an evil spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling.  She followed Paul and Silas, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” Acts 16:16-17 This visit to the river was much different than Paul’s first when he met Lydia. Instead of finding a woman whos heart was open to the Lord, he found a girl who was possessed with pythian spirit. (Greek translation) The word python came to…

This morning as I was writing in my journal, my mind was filled with the list of all the new Covid travel updates. They seem to change daily and each change requires reconfirming every reservation and reassuring each client. In my frustration, I called out to God, “Oh Lord, I’m so tired of all the covid propaganda. It’s so hard to know what to believe because of all the lies and cover ups. Our government is corrupt, deceitful and ungodly. Social media is like a wild fire of words spreading quickly and destroying hope, joy and peace. It’s become a platform to debate, mock and force your own opinions.” As…

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? Do you remember the time or the place when you accepted Christ and invited Him into your life? Some people are coverted suddenly, others come gradually; some come publicly and others privately; some come with great emotion and other without much. Regardless of how, when and where it took place, the important thing is that you are able to say that you know without a doubt that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior of your life and that you have…