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Sands of Promise
One of my favorite things about getting away is the extra time in the day to just be still and reconnect with God. I like to get up early and go for walks on the beach and then find a secluded place to sit and have my quiet time with Him. As I sat and listened to the rhythm of the waves I noticed that I was slowly drifting into a beautiful place of peace and reflection. I watched as the sun rose above the horizon and listened as seagulls squawked each time the waves touched their feet. While sitting in the beach I buried my feet in the sand…
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A Late Lunch
Who knew that leaving late for my lunch break was really a Divine Encounter in the making. On Friday I arrived home for lunch about 45 minutes later than I usually do. The doorbell rang and two young LDS Missionaries were waiting for a response. As soon as I saw them I prayed that God would give me the words to say and then I invited them inside. Introductions were made and they said they were going through the neighborhood wanting to get to know about the residents. That was the open door to share about what I believe and what it’s like to have a relationship with Christ for…
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Christmas Trees and Cactus
I just returned from a weekend get-a-way to Cabo San Lucas. While driving through the desert terrain I was taking in the sights of the many different businesses, homes and people in the area. One site that surprised me was a Christmas tree lot. They had several different sizes of trees and even white Christmas trees. In the center courtyard of the resort was a very large Christmas tree and other decorations like snowmen and presents. At the entry way was a beautifully landscaped cactus garden with a nativity scene in the center. Throughout the weekend I kept thinking of how it didn’t feel quite like Christmas without the snow…
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Opposite the Intended Effect
Have you ever done something, intending it to turn out one way only to have it turn out completely different? This happens often to me with Pinterest projects and holiday baking. You see a picture of what you would like to create and the end result looks nothing like it. This happened to Paul in a different way in the book of Philippians. He had been imprisoned by his persecutors with the intent of quieting him from sharing the saving message of Jesus Christ. The end result was opposite of what they intended. “Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered. All the soldiers here and everyone else too,…
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Every Time You Cross My Mind
………..I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Doesn’t that just make you feel loved and valued! Those are the words in the first chapter of Philippians and are followed by, each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. That just makes me smile and think of those who cross my mind each day. Those thoughts are opportunities to send up a prayer for each person. Prayers of thanks, prayers of protection, prayers of comfort, prayers for salvation and many more. Paul, the writer of Philippians, said that he prayed with joy and confidence because he knew that the good work that God started in each one would be carried…
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Spilling Out
I began reading the book of Philippians this weekend and I really enjoyed the introduction that the Message translation provided. It began by saying that this was the apostle Paul’s happiest letter and that happiness is infectious. It continues, “But happiness is not a word we can understand by looking it up in the dictionary. In fact, non of the qualities of the Christian life can be learned out of a book. Something more like an apprenticeship is required, being around someone who out of years of devoted discipline shows us, by his or her entire behavior, what it is. Moments of verbal instruction will certainly occur, but mostly an…
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‘Tis the Season
Oh December! A season to be jolly. ’tis comes from ‘it is’, and is a form of very old English. In the song, ’tis the season to be jolly’ means ‘everyone should be happy at Christmas time’. Other holiday songs mention that it is the most wonderful time of the year. I was reading the book of Ephesians today and thought how similar it was to the holiday season. Many people look forward to the holidays with anticipation of family gatherings, gift giving and the promise of what the first Christmas gave us, a Savior. The book of Ephesians reminds us of the Love that God has for us and His…
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Seeking the Calm
On Tuesday evenings I attend a prayer group at church. It has become a part of my week that I look forward to with excitement and anticipation. One of the women that attends is named Gwen. I met her the first day that went to The Rock Church and have since found her to be a beautiful gift and mentor from God. As God would have it, on Tuesday it was just Gwen and I at the meeting. That gave us time to talk with each other on a personal level and share in a way that we wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. When she began to pray she…
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A Thanksgiving Prayer
Happy Thanksgiving! There is much to be thankful for today and everyday. No doubt you’ve been making plans for family gatherings, been preparing everything that will be needed and waited in anticipation for your family and guests to arrive. It’s a celebration of Thankfulness for the many blessings that we have. I read a passage in Ephesians 1 from the Message translation that is a fitting reminder of the planning and preparing that God our Father has done for us and gives us a reason to celebrate and be thankful. The passage reminds us that “long before God laid the foundations of the earth He had us in mind and…
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I Am A Believer
Yesterday my doorbell rang and I opened the door to find two nice ladies who said they were Jehovah Witnesses and would like to share an encouraging word. I invited them in and they asked how I felt about the current world events, the school shootings and the natural tragedies that are taking place. They wanted to know if those events made me fearful and in need of encouragement. I told them that I am a believer in Jesus Christ and shared how He told His disciples that these things would happen and that they were signs of the end times. But….He also said fear not, for I have overcome…