tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83408439216512089382024-03-09T21:46:58.615-05:00InspirationsGod inspires meE. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.comBlogger419125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340843921651208938.post-36983840888085741582023-12-31T21:56:00.006-05:002023-12-31T21:56:55.056-05:00New year<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldhyGPHujsYn_QBBbURWEly2_TCldUF_QSzyPk4fXaav756zCEH4bd018ylwUv9m3JwZp_Ew2hIxMpZUd4xV_NhQch1SJZfmI1vy906_hIxFiCPbsnG9HpvWwuaqnhUWccT-MUemYgzfxM7kCh1knime9SBRZs5uteyoBHSC9P93RiZDOceX_8I5OhdfM/s5152/IMG_0008%20(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5152" data-original-width="3864" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldhyGPHujsYn_QBBbURWEly2_TCldUF_QSzyPk4fXaav756zCEH4bd018ylwUv9m3JwZp_Ew2hIxMpZUd4xV_NhQch1SJZfmI1vy906_hIxFiCPbsnG9HpvWwuaqnhUWccT-MUemYgzfxM7kCh1knime9SBRZs5uteyoBHSC9P93RiZDOceX_8I5OhdfM/w414-h552/IMG_0008%20(1).JPG" width="414" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span> </span>Thinking back upon this year, it has been a year of ups and
downs. Most years are that way. There were tears shed, and many laughs. While
I couldn’t have predicted some of the things that happened this year, none of
us can. One thing I do know is that God
was good and faithful, he always is. As we
look forward to the beginning of a new year, we can face it with confidence, joy,
and peace because we know that whatever happens this year God is already there,
and nothing that will happen this year can surprise him. We can be sure that the year will bring both
blessings and trials. In fact, we can be
sure that the year will bring both. So,
as we waltz into the new year, lets let God lead. He knows the year ahead and the curves it
will take, and he loves us more than anyone else. We can trust him with each new year and each
new day.</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thank you for taking the time to read these posts. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
</div>E. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340843921651208938.post-19204865595746868072023-11-16T20:32:00.004-05:002023-11-16T20:32:42.254-05:00What's In the Mug<p><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiLight",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiLight",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiLight",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiLight",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiLight",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiLight",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiLight",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiLight",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiLight",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiLight",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiLight",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiLight",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiLight",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguU_fVukX2peygY5Q-g_scgPTjetyBOl3HKndjk7wbyiPk-J8a7vec6lU2a-RMWDC5LoYRFv9y2KJXtsxsS8JgdQwBBMzX3Bfz11MyXEQIH3ptt2LFIov5XJhl-aaLtO75l_SxRihwoI_gmmb2Rw7MClOLjneehB7Un1OYHJDcCvWkz_5Vtp4z24EDNq-U/s4000/20220504_143642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguU_fVukX2peygY5Q-g_scgPTjetyBOl3HKndjk7wbyiPk-J8a7vec6lU2a-RMWDC5LoYRFv9y2KJXtsxsS8JgdQwBBMzX3Bfz11MyXEQIH3ptt2LFIov5XJhl-aaLtO75l_SxRihwoI_gmmb2Rw7MClOLjneehB7Un1OYHJDcCvWkz_5Vtp4z24EDNq-U/w319-h516/20220504_143642.jpg" width="319" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiLight",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiLight",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift SemiLight",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p>As I was washing my coffee mug, I thought of the
quote, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.”
If you want to help others, you need to take time to recharge. As I was thinking, I was reminded that you
get out of the mug exactly what you put into the mug. If I put coffee in the mug, guess what I will
get out of the mug. That’s right,
coffee. If I put dirt in the mug, I
shouldn’t expect to find water. It struck
a chord with me that I need to be careful what I allow in my mug (life). I will certainly get out of my life exactly
what I put into it. I can’t fill my life
with negative thoughts, improper, sexually explicit movies, course jokes,
anger, and the like and expect to get patience, love, joy, and peace. It just won’t happen. If I
fill my life with the things of the world, my life will look like the
world. If I want my life to look like
Christ, I need to let Christ fill my life, and fill my life the things of
Christ.<br /><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thank you for taking the time to read these posts. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
</div>E. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340843921651208938.post-91385344246606038932023-10-30T19:16:00.000-04:002023-11-14T19:51:31.206-05:00O You of Little Faith<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6S-RgCRB11_sJeoXQIkt2tJaciHDVk7auO5E2cesTmbmiCMFdU7mdbu7yizB_lKXXp80x98454Nkc0XD49qW1RlIMCFqX5vbQkwwtG_DfWMNKdfI63deUybJb9Ne7PyGt7yVtWy3HMYoCeMo3amYafOGoxnD_N8ny8KcBejbNOOL-CFQp_zj0QxX3GAa/s4000/20220902_185020.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6S-RgCRB11_sJeoXQIkt2tJaciHDVk7auO5E2cesTmbmiCMFdU7mdbu7yizB_lKXXp80x98454Nkc0XD49qW1RlIMCFqX5vbQkwwtG_DfWMNKdfI63deUybJb9Ne7PyGt7yVtWy3HMYoCeMo3amYafOGoxnD_N8ny8KcBejbNOOL-CFQp_zj0QxX3GAa/w312-h386/20220902_185020.heic" width="312" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We all
know the story; Jesus has just fed more than five thousand people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sends the disciples ahead of him across
the lake while he talked to his father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While the disciples are in a boat in the middle of the lake, a wind
violent comes up and the boat is taking a beating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The disciples are fighting the wind and waves
and suddenly, there is Jesus walking to them on the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus speaks to the terrified disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Impulsive Peter gets out of the boat and
starts walking on the water to Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
on the water, Peter suddenly has a reality check and remembers that people
can’t walk on water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking around at
the wind and waves, he starts to sink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus reaches out and lifts him out of the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Jesus, says, “<span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">You of
little faith,”</span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">,<span class="woj"> “why did you doubt?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
love this narrative, but I have often wondered at Jesus response to Peter. You
of little faith,”</span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">,<span class="woj"> “why did you doubt? </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not the only time that Jesus says
this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus uses this phrase five
different times in the book of Matthew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
know that Jesus would not belittle or discourage the disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, possibly, I need to rethink what Jesus
intended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know that Jesus is a good
father who would encourage his child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Perhaps this phrase was intended to encourage in the same way a father
would encourage a child learning to walk or stand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe He was saying, “You have a little
faith.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember, the same God who
said, “<span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">You of little faith,”</span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">, <span class="woj">“why did you doubt? Also said, “</span>if you have <b>faith as small
as a mustard</b> <b>seed</b>,”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mustard seeds are very small.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So,
while he was saying, </span>“<span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;">You of little faith,” he was also saying you have
faith.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That
is encouraging!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I, like Peter, sometimes
have only have a little faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
that happens, I can take heart, I only need a little faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you feel like you have little faith, it’s
ok. You only need a little faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God
knows that sometimes our faith is small, We don’t have to have truckloads of
faith, sometimes we only need a little faith and that little seed of faith if
planted will grow and move mountains.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thank you for taking the time to read these posts. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
</div>E. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340843921651208938.post-63113039898046941692023-08-15T19:43:00.000-04:002023-08-15T19:43:42.566-04:00 The Course Marked Out for Us.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrJvnaxvU_bw4OMUqkJJtzVUpsAd72hWsW5GsHG-18CPcOAFibZUfTu8w-oeM2pbikdxTCZsnbIUSKJI6YThP-fM9vd36uhgPLGYa8EmWzcFGHXgIvU6hiWXFE4nHN4otY3zFpyvzlWiDWUJ8ttYvioHGed94HE4UjHxso1NFxVHLIeLFdMw2sV_k68mw/s5152/IMG_0042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrJvnaxvU_bw4OMUqkJJtzVUpsAd72hWsW5GsHG-18CPcOAFibZUfTu8w-oeM2pbikdxTCZsnbIUSKJI6YThP-fM9vd36uhgPLGYa8EmWzcFGHXgIvU6hiWXFE4nHN4otY3zFpyvzlWiDWUJ8ttYvioHGed94HE4UjHxso1NFxVHLIeLFdMw2sV_k68mw/w446-h334/IMG_0042.JPG" width="446" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And
let us <b>run</b> with perseverance the race marked out for us,
Hebrews 12:1<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When I read this
verse, I am always reminded of a track and how each person is to </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“stay in their
lane”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have always thought of it as individual
and personal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each of us </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">is responsible
to do what God has set before us to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, the other day I was </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">walking on a trail that was new to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This trail was longer, and there was paint
on </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">some of the trees indicating the path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Other paths intersected and they were different </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">colors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I was walking, I enjoyed looking for the
color on the trees to let me know I </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">was still on the right path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mind came again to this verse and settled
on the </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">words </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">marked out for us.</span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I was reminded
that God is the one that marks out the way </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">that we should go.</span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">As I journey through life, I can know I am on
the right path.</span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">God </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">has gone ahead of me
and marked the path that I should be on.</span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">As Christians we find </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">the markings in the Bible and the principles it
teaches, we also see the markings by </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">listening to the Holy Spirit.</span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">He will help us see the markings.</span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Other times our help in </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">seeing the marks
comes in the form of other Christians who encourage us. </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I never </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">have to worry about getting off track
as long as I keep looking for the marks that let </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">me know</span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> I am on course. </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmR0MNAF0KcDqGxsyUIIUxPPw_9WtLErrlbJQYE5gxxYDiG2Iv272zL_nufl6QjUawvS2yy4kD48cajhd28-IhHDsrXnyjT3tHk4HGGatQL895siDHlNSPk5WoBr7MIH7R4TrBM7eu_w_CSoh4oLx14nYsr8krsTPIZbP6Gb7UkIwn5-ub02ieagBcr-b/s5152/IMG_0001%20-%20Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmR0MNAF0KcDqGxsyUIIUxPPw_9WtLErrlbJQYE5gxxYDiG2Iv272zL_nufl6QjUawvS2yy4kD48cajhd28-IhHDsrXnyjT3tHk4HGGatQL895siDHlNSPk5WoBr7MIH7R4TrBM7eu_w_CSoh4oLx14nYsr8krsTPIZbP6Gb7UkIwn5-ub02ieagBcr-b/s320/IMG_0001%20-%20Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thank you for taking the time to read these posts. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
</div>E. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340843921651208938.post-53135412503148733152023-07-31T19:51:00.001-04:002023-07-31T19:53:02.358-04:00Real Faith<p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit96WgT71bydm5znp41jUAfowFx78_--IfnoJ3dQA1Fynlw7Zup_kwGWNYZt8TjjDEQNtC4SQunWEhFJ4Sc5ZoGbfXnv79G22amWV-nGMjw8dOgqctfBsxX0jObdEAhq7QxnwNmWp1LRxmCFY6t-4U89ddsz7D0HlVbv9l6LF6curWqWczYvWX7IYXMOW0/s2048/230400782_10227370599720874_2852122120730549882_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit96WgT71bydm5znp41jUAfowFx78_--IfnoJ3dQA1Fynlw7Zup_kwGWNYZt8TjjDEQNtC4SQunWEhFJ4Sc5ZoGbfXnv79G22amWV-nGMjw8dOgqctfBsxX0jObdEAhq7QxnwNmWp1LRxmCFY6t-4U89ddsz7D0HlVbv9l6LF6curWqWczYvWX7IYXMOW0/w455-h341/230400782_10227370599720874_2852122120730549882_n.jpg" width="455" /></a></div></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lately, I’ve been praying that
God would open doors for me to share my faith.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Sometimes this is hard for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
often feel inadequate, and I am afraid of </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">saying</span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> the wrong thing.</span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Often, I miss opportunities to share my faith
because I </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">am not ready to share my faith when the opportunity arises.</span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Last week I was </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">working in receiving when a
vendor showed up. </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">I asked how he was doing,
and </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">he said, “I’ve been better.”</span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">I asked what was wrong and he replied, “Every </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">store I’ve been to, has had a problem checking in using the bar codes.</span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">My first </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">thought was, well honey I don’t have
time for that.”</span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Then, I bowed my head
and </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">said a quick prayer asking God to let the bar code work.</span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">He looked at me like I </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">had slipped a cog or
something.</span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">He handed me the invoice
with the barcode </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">on </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">it. At this point, I was thinking, “I am going to look like
a jerk if the bar code </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">doesn’t work.</span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
scanned the bar code, half afraid to look at the scanner to see </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">what happened.</span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">I looked, and to my delight, the invoice was
there and there </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">was not even so much as an audit.</span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">He looked at me and said, “I don’t know </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">what
happened.”</span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">I smiled and reminded him
that I had prayed.</span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">He was </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">practically jumping
out of his skin with excitement.</span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">He
looked at me and said, </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">“That was real faith right there!”</span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Praise God!</span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">I am not sure where he is in his </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">relationship with God, but I can be
sure that a seed was planted and maybe, if </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bahnschrift Light SemiCondensed", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">he already knows Christ, his faith
will grow.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thank you for taking the time to read these posts. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
</div>E. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340843921651208938.post-56463389987616240462023-07-12T19:13:00.008-04:002023-07-12T19:25:31.970-04:00<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBJ-FOApVYvWyyBGEtnqAr5R_3qFY6dnapV6wJptMP08dj-2oiPnKanDh1bTlBynB-eWOObNjk9hdH5strJJsLn4FubOp0Kq9o4RvFIw_1fM1QupegNaiuDrysA-BZRK7mZGJ8q2l5D8zhgjAE129EJ3rnoUvdAulGO5DzMqdXeTAO5q3fYL_pwR4hrbJ/s5152/IMG_0087.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBJ-FOApVYvWyyBGEtnqAr5R_3qFY6dnapV6wJptMP08dj-2oiPnKanDh1bTlBynB-eWOObNjk9hdH5strJJsLn4FubOp0Kq9o4RvFIw_1fM1QupegNaiuDrysA-BZRK7mZGJ8q2l5D8zhgjAE129EJ3rnoUvdAulGO5DzMqdXeTAO5q3fYL_pwR4hrbJ/w538-h404/IMG_0087.JPG" width="538" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Love<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I have been
thinking about the phrase “God is love.”
It’s a phrase that almost anyone
Christian or non-Christian is familiar.
Anyone and everyone can quote it.
We all understand that God is love.
I think that most of us would believe it to be true as well. Right now, most of you are probably thinking,
“Of course God is love”, that’s what he is and does and you would not be wrong.
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Then my
thoughts went in another direction. Is it
enough that God is love? Initially, it must
be enough. God is always enough. Yet, love is nothing if it is not reciprocal. For the love of God to be effective, we must
love him as well. We need to return his
love. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> So, I guess
my question to you is, do you love God?
Are you going to return his love?</span></p></blockquote><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p></blockquote>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thank you for taking the time to read these posts. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
</div>E. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340843921651208938.post-25640275273113269042023-06-19T20:25:00.001-04:002023-06-19T20:25:05.309-04:00The God of Order<p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJnGonQ8V-0kouNuZIvO1pnjsEiX25ZdszpQj_Z13gUEe0zpSnITZm48JxjbycKknfGIbkeZlpGjXD2hsRQFjzg66V2NY7jf5-pXijDbq442-d1nukMoyAvJfXq8wRvDRl2kK9SY_trQQhjopEx_OIGfDCp2VfhNOcGZuiOJvDWar3XwmhZSnPLW42Gpms/s4000/jakes%20rocks%20(2).heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJnGonQ8V-0kouNuZIvO1pnjsEiX25ZdszpQj_Z13gUEe0zpSnITZm48JxjbycKknfGIbkeZlpGjXD2hsRQFjzg66V2NY7jf5-pXijDbq442-d1nukMoyAvJfXq8wRvDRl2kK9SY_trQQhjopEx_OIGfDCp2VfhNOcGZuiOJvDWar3XwmhZSnPLW42Gpms/w350-h365/jakes%20rocks%20(2).heic" width="350" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Candara",sans-serif;">Yesterday, my
children and I went walking on a bike trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The weather was perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sunny, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Candara",sans-serif;">warm but not
hot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we were walking, we started to talk
about creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Creation itself always <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Candara",sans-serif;">amazes me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you imagine watching creation unfold at
the word of the Almighty?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Candara",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the most glorious and lovely thing to see. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif;">As we were
talking, I asked, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif;">“What do you think would have happed if </span><span style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif;">God had
created people first?”</span><span style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif;">They stopped</span><span style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif;"> gave me a questioning look then my daughter said, “I</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Candara",sans-serif;">suppose that we
would have starved because there was no food.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Candara",sans-serif;">And we all had a laugh creating </span><span style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif;">other scenarios
for what might </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif;">have happened if creation had happened in any other way.</span><span style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif;">Yet,
the</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Candara",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>fact is that creation itself demonstrates that
God is a God of order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each day of
creation built on<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Candara",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>what had been done the day before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Candara",sans-serif;">It also reminds me that God wants our lives
to be as orderly as possible.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif;">God planned creation before one word was spoken.</span><span style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Candara",sans-serif;">But he also planned each of us and he has </span><span style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif;">plans for
each of us.</span><span style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif;">Maybe when our lives feels chaotic, we need to remember and look for </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Candara",sans-serif;">the God of
order and peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Candara",sans-serif;">Sometimes, it may feel
chaotic because we are on day three and God is <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Candara",sans-serif;">not finished
working in us yet.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thank you for taking the time to read these posts. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
</div>E. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340843921651208938.post-17174490150287851512023-02-03T20:00:00.000-05:002023-02-03T20:00:07.384-05:00Live Fearlessly <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"> </div></blockquote><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8iGs2eDXo1ZmuHty-LyTzx8EqrXO2etMhpmZ6ci0s6nFEiMCjFZQU0u_Qer2Wp0iuHir-QLNL0dl0u2LHF1k9pCfqdGb10tB3-l3WHtjgwQZJ_WoCb-WDAl6fwCcFiB41dKO12OUL7nHtAZRtk29HDrY8TnJ0zCj6OpeWooLNMluS-l27LMZgMkljoQ/s5152/Erie%20Zoo%20(78).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8iGs2eDXo1ZmuHty-LyTzx8EqrXO2etMhpmZ6ci0s6nFEiMCjFZQU0u_Qer2Wp0iuHir-QLNL0dl0u2LHF1k9pCfqdGb10tB3-l3WHtjgwQZJ_WoCb-WDAl6fwCcFiB41dKO12OUL7nHtAZRtk29HDrY8TnJ0zCj6OpeWooLNMluS-l27LMZgMkljoQ/w427-h377/Erie%20Zoo%20(78).JPG" width="427" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><br /><p><br /></p><p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: medium;">As I was driving home today, I passed a person walking on the side of the</span> </div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">road. Since it was cold, and snowy, I thought I should stop and offer the person a ride. As I drove on by, I was irritated with myself for not stopping. I could have and should have but I didn't. Why? I was scared! Maybe that wouldn't bother you, but I'm willing to bet there are things that make you afraid. It may be snakes or spiders that send the ticker into </span><span style="font-size: medium;">overdrive. Or maybe it's your job and finances that keep you up at night when you should be resting. Then again perhaps it's relationships that consume your thoughts and energy. As followers of God, we know that we are told not to be afraid. Yet we often are afraid despite everything we know. As I was driving away from a missed opportunity, I began thinking about what it is that makes us afraid. I honestly am not sure what it is that causes us to be afraid when we should be bold, but I do know who it is. It is the deceiver. I realized that fear is one of the first emotions that we read about in the Bible. When Adam and Eve are in the garden right after they ate the forbidden fruit, they made clothes of fig leaves. Not because they just really liked them and thought the clothes would make things better but because they were ashamed and afraid. Is that not crazy? Yet, how many times do we do things out of fear? Because of sin, fear is our default condition. We have to choose not to live in fear. It is not easy by any means, but I do know that God wants us to live fearlessly. </span></div></blockquote><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thank you for taking the time to read these posts. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
</div>E. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340843921651208938.post-32725407098388006282022-08-03T20:31:00.001-04:002022-08-03T20:31:24.952-04:00Ask, Seek, and Knock. part 2<p style="text-align: center;"><i><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">“</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bolder;">Ask</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> and it will be given to you; </span></i><i><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bolder;">seek</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> and you will find; </span></i><i><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bolder;">knock</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> and the door will be opened to you. </span></i><i><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> Matthew 7:7</span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kemreES3llfQrsz6-s6mzlF0kWFuqcXa06CvtpwVyC7rzahKZCEa35Myrmw9dtMG-3Mnmv-omA-yVP6w3lh5seVUFl-uATUuIzV4raTLQ45I1mgFs8J98EXTP8FCvIBWpq9_GNkgsyME1eZFp-7UqYtOqkuChLrHEi3GWoJUfy0Ff8OZD0HAMkbcgw/s5152/chapman's%20Dam%20(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kemreES3llfQrsz6-s6mzlF0kWFuqcXa06CvtpwVyC7rzahKZCEa35Myrmw9dtMG-3Mnmv-omA-yVP6w3lh5seVUFl-uATUuIzV4raTLQ45I1mgFs8J98EXTP8FCvIBWpq9_GNkgsyME1eZFp-7UqYtOqkuChLrHEi3GWoJUfy0Ff8OZD0HAMkbcgw/w411-h308/chapman's%20Dam%20(4).JPG" width="411" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"> The second command after asking is to seek, what we hope to find. It sounds funny, but we usually only search for what we hope to locate. In my life, I have looked for many things. I have looked for combs, socks, or shoes. For most of these kinds of things, I half-heartedly look for them. I look but not well because, honestly, they aren't that important. Other things keys, a phone, or a debit card, I will diligently hunt for it until I am sure they either cannot be found or I have them in my possession again. If I lose a sock I may look for a short time, but I will not spend hours trying to find it. It's just not that important. If, on the other hand, I can't locate my wallet, I assure you, I will leave no stone unturned in my search. I will make calls, retrace steps, or do whatever else I have to do to retrieve it. We tend to hunt carefully for what is important to us. Too many times, we search for power, money, or fame and we work diligently for them only to be disappointed when we get them because they didn't make us happy or content. God says to seek and we will find. We will get what we set our hearts and mind on finding whether it is good or bad depends on us. We can choose to look for love, peace, kindness, and things like this and reap eternal benefits or search for the things that this world says are important and be left wanting once we get them. Set your mind to seek God and be blessed. </p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thank you for taking the time to read these posts. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
</div>E. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340843921651208938.post-13392814943886810662022-07-27T18:35:00.000-04:002022-07-27T18:36:51.039-04:00Ask, Seek and Knock<p style="text-align: center;"><i> </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">“</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bolder;">Ask</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"> and it will be given to you; </span></i><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bolder;">seek</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"> and you will find; </span></i><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bolder;">knock</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"> and the door will be opened to you. </span></i><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"> Matthew 7:7</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span> </span><span> </span>This is a familiar verse, one that I've heard many times. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">It seems pretty straightforward. We are given three commands. The first command is to ask. It does not say "tell", or "demand" but ask. I (personal opinion here) doubt we can or should use a demanding tone with the God of the universe. We should never presume to tell God what to do. We can, however, ask. I believe (again personal opinion) that God likes us to ask even though he knows what we want. As a parent, I loved having my children ask for things they wanted. It made me happy to know that they felt secure enough to be vulnerable and ask for what they wanted. The opposite is also true. There were times when my children were younger that they did not ask for things they needed and I was sad. Sad that they did not feel that they could, or should come to me with their need. In the book of James, it says "You do not have because you do not ask." How many times have we not had what we needed because we never asked God for it? It wasn't that God was withholding it from us but instead that we never conveyed to God that we had a need. Does God already know our needs? Certainly! but I think he still wants us to ask. I am not suggesting or implying that we will get everything we want because we ask. As a wise parent, he always knows best. We can and should, however always, with childlike faith, "ask" trusting that God loves us so much that he will only give the good gifts he already knows we need and want. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdJlVc-iewGN_HsnR4YCW2iB5g4zDGB_izHyIpO7KSbDyU48aTy-hreMucvZntfEngNFI25VW5DPL58_8bfZU1LxqBfD7TLzdF4z4a-8TTuxtgRdZxQLK70QahLoIW5VeC6AX1wTJ2AJChs93qUh0LeZ5uvlFGhF_7MUcwjq8OSQ-wNKjc9N_jjj0mQ/s4000/20220321_130750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="461" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdJlVc-iewGN_HsnR4YCW2iB5g4zDGB_izHyIpO7KSbDyU48aTy-hreMucvZntfEngNFI25VW5DPL58_8bfZU1LxqBfD7TLzdF4z4a-8TTuxtgRdZxQLK70QahLoIW5VeC6AX1wTJ2AJChs93qUh0LeZ5uvlFGhF_7MUcwjq8OSQ-wNKjc9N_jjj0mQ/w285-h461/20220321_130750.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thank you for taking the time to read these posts. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
</div>E. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340843921651208938.post-29269959838626883462022-01-26T15:33:00.001-05:002022-01-26T15:35:38.620-05:00The Lights of a City<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">In the same way, let your </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bolder;">light</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"> shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYysFwg9DiLplavSE25E2jxszB0uLwuQaG9wmNOWYDBXVi6X6q4amdDQls4JXzvTd4ih8QyyWsAp_aezuOR4tBv_558-GzpjSIpi06ObtWts5dAMPxCAii_vRolLrAW-hR2R4s8eqQ8cYJ5ak2A8m1ZCqSXqEdmkZtn6b7QOs3mpruHu-VTqy2ark5tA=s1440" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1072" height="415" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYysFwg9DiLplavSE25E2jxszB0uLwuQaG9wmNOWYDBXVi6X6q4amdDQls4JXzvTd4ih8QyyWsAp_aezuOR4tBv_558-GzpjSIpi06ObtWts5dAMPxCAii_vRolLrAW-hR2R4s8eqQ8cYJ5ak2A8m1ZCqSXqEdmkZtn6b7QOs3mpruHu-VTqy2ark5tA=w372-h415" width="372" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />When I was growing up, we lived some distance from town. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">At that time, most people did not have outside lights, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">so at night, the drive to town was almost total darkness. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Since the area where I grew up had lots of hills, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">there was nothing more enjoyable than cresting a hill </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">and seeing little spots of light spread out in the inky blackness before us. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It was comforting to look out the car window and see all those lights. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Today, I still enjoy coming over the top of a hill at night </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">and seeing the lights of a city in the distance.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">God says that we are lights in a dark world. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We are to shine so that the world can see. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We are to bring comfort and joy as people pass through this life.</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thank you for taking the time to read these posts. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
</div>E. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340843921651208938.post-5763098466617501172021-12-19T17:19:00.000-05:002021-12-19T17:19:58.556-05:00Love Like That<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMgJK1kcRzQAWIpoJtPfBwaFNa_1h-C5ib9PA7QLwBdwk03tPT-ZFjNVUy16ZlifZc1EoxBycXHQIP__lbKT2lZ8kIvpc1Eyd8cD8yV3HRZ8L4a4Sw7metvCyIr_myT22Jl3qE900Ye-j/s1600/wedding+047.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMgJK1kcRzQAWIpoJtPfBwaFNa_1h-C5ib9PA7QLwBdwk03tPT-ZFjNVUy16ZlifZc1EoxBycXHQIP__lbKT2lZ8kIvpc1Eyd8cD8yV3HRZ8L4a4Sw7metvCyIr_myT22Jl3qE900Ye-j/s640/wedding+047.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span face=""verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">For God so loved</span><span class="crossreference" face=""verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26137A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> the world that he gave</span><span class="crossreference" face=""verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26137B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> his one and only Son,</span><span class="crossreference" face=""verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26137C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> that whoever believes</span><span class="crossreference" face=""verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26137D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></span><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16</span><br />
<br />
Love is perhaps one of the most commonly misunderstood words in the English language. <br />
<br />
We think we know what love means, but, to be honest, we seldom understand it completely. <br />
<br />
Ask people to define love, and you're likely to get different answers from each one. <br />
<br />
To many, love is a warm fuzzy feeling that comes and goes. <br />
<br />
So we love as long as we feel like it, or as long there is something in it for us. <br />
<br />
People say I "fell" in love as though it was a hole to fall in;<br />
<br />
something that we have no control over. <br />
<br />
Truth is this definition makes lovely romantic stories and movies,<br />
<br />
but if we use that definition of love,<br />
<br />
we find a very changeable, unstable love. <br />
<br />
However, when God defined love,<br />
<br />
He left the divine, heaven, to become human.<br />
<br />
He was God with human limitations.<br />
<br />
He chose to live among people who hated him. <br />
<br />
God chose to come to our world and live among us because his love for us consumed him. <br />
<br />
What love! <br />
<br />
We can not imagine a love like that. <br />
<br />
Imagine the love that Mary and Joseph must have felt as they looked at the baby Jesus;<br />
<br />
held him.<br />
<br />
Even the love that Joseph demonstrated to Mary in deciding not to divorce her publicly,<br />
<br />
and later deciding to marry her was only a shadow of the love God has for us. <br />
<br />
The greatest act of love began with a baby in a manger.<br />
<br />
It ended with a man on a cross. <br />
<br />
Jesus.<br />
<br />
This Christmas, let's give others a glimpse of the kind of love the Father has for them. <br />
<br />
It may only be a shadow, but it will be at least a shadow. <br />
<br />
Perhaps, in that shadow, they will find what they need,<br />
<br />
a savior offering peace and hope.<br />
<br />
So when things don't go like we want or hope this Christmas season,<br />
<br />
let's remember how God showed his love in sending his son and acting in that same love.<br />
<br />
Let's look for ways that we can show love.<br />
<br />
Not the world's kind of unstable love, but the kind of love the Father has for them.<br />
<br />
<b style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">Give This Christmas Away"</b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BVGkb5bxRY" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BVGkb5bxRY</span></a><br />
<span class="feat" style="border: 0px none; font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">(with Amy Grant)</span><br />
<br />
<div style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
What if I told you?<br />
You have the power<br />
To give someone hope<br />
Far beyond their wildest dreams<br />
<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
What if I told you it’s right there in your hands?<br />
In your hands<br />
<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
It's hard to imagine<br />
How something so small<br />
Can make all the difference<br />
Tear down the tallest wall<br />
<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
What if December looked different this year?<br />
What if we all just<br />
<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
Give this Christmas away<br />
If there’s love in your heart<br />
Don’t let it stay there<br />
Give this Christmas away<br />
And your life will be changed<br />
By the gift you receive<br />
When you give this Christmas away<br />
<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
It’s feeding the hungry<br />
It’s serving the poor<br />
It’s telling the orphan<br />
You’re not forgotten anymore<br />
<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
It’s doing what love does<br />
Even when no one’s watching you<br />
<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
Give this Christmas away<br />
If there’s love in your heart<br />
Don’t let it stay there<br />
Give this Christmas away<br />
And your life will be changed<br />
By the gift you receive<br />
When you give this Christmas away<br />
<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
For God so loved the world, He gave His only son<br />
So we could be His hands, His feet, His love<br />
His love<br />
<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
What if I told you?<br />
You have the power<br />
To give someone hope<br />
Far beyond their wildest dreams<br />
<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
What if December looked different this year?<br />
What if we all just<br />
<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
Give this Christmas away<br />
If there’s love in your heart<br />
Don’t let it stay there<br />
Give this Christmas away<br />
And your life will be changed<br />
By the gift you receive<br />
When you give this Christmas away<br />
Give this Christmas away<br />
You have the power<br />
Just give it away<br />
Give it away, give it away<br />
Give it away, give it away<br />
(Give it away)<br />
(Give Christmas away)<br />
Give it away</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thank you for taking the time to read these posts. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
</div>E. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340843921651208938.post-9053247074509504992021-12-15T15:04:00.000-05:002021-12-15T15:06:25.299-05:00Joy In Waiting For Christmas<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I love Christmas!!! Let me say it again, “I love Christmas.” Sometimes, even now as an adult, it’s hard for me to wait until Christmas. There is so much excitement in the air. It’s almost impossible to wait to give those we love that one-of-a-kind gift. We can’t wait to see the joy in their eyes and on their face when they open the gift and see what you picked up for them. In fact, for some waiting is so difficult that they give the gift early because the anticipation is so great that they do not have the self-discipline to wait. It’s also challenging to wait for those gifts that you know others chose for you with love. Little Children awaken at the crack of dawn in anticipation of those treasures that they know are waiting for them under the tree. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Way back in Genesis, God promised to send a savior who would bridge the gap between Him and man that sin had created. God, however, didn’t send the savior right away. They had to wait for just the right time. All through the Old Testament, He reminds Israel that he hasn’t forgotten them and they will receive his gift but just not yet; so they had to wait. By the time God sent his Son into the world, many had stopped waiting for the messiah, and others dismissed him as an impossibility. So only a handful of shepherds and the wise men were there to witness the miracle of Christmas and they had no idea that he was the long-awaited gift of God. The day heaven comes to earth. Yet, there were two who were waiting Simeon and Anna. When they saw this little six to eight-pound bundle of life that Mary carried in her arms they knew and praised God for the gift that he had sent. They were waiting for the gift of God. I wonder if they awoke each morning with the thought, "Maybe today will be the day we've been waiting for", "Maybe today God will send his gift." They were rewarded for waiting because they saw what others missed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqb07lepGtT1HzmfXRh-4JDXPem6KEnc_TFobNJafAsYvIVV6GZdPDLqWmsribTRNx2H4TMh75jde9rYHvS_K-ybezxmNVZQqmIBhYugM5hRCKp-GLbkW93YULNRE_-EI0APtW1riQSuO/s1600/DSCN1415.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqb07lepGtT1HzmfXRh-4JDXPem6KEnc_TFobNJafAsYvIVV6GZdPDLqWmsribTRNx2H4TMh75jde9rYHvS_K-ybezxmNVZQqmIBhYugM5hRCKp-GLbkW93YULNRE_-EI0APtW1riQSuO/s1600/DSCN1415.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">This Christmas, let’s look forward with joy to the coming of the day when we can celebrate the reunion of God and man. Christmas is a time to celebrate the gift of God becoming man and living in our neighborhood.</span></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thank you for taking the time to read these posts. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
</div>E. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340843921651208938.post-9193509545778037322021-12-13T20:38:00.003-05:002021-12-13T20:38:18.971-05:00JoyBabies are full of hope and there are few things more peaceful than a tiny innocent baby. It all seems so natural to them. They also bring so much joy to those around them. In fact, the joy they bring often cancels out the stress and weariness that comes with a newborn. The joy of this world is temporary. <div><br /></div><div>When we think of the joy that Jesus brought at Christmas, it is eternal. When God gave us joy, it came in the form of a baby in a manger. Jesus did not give joy like this world gives. It does not depend on the circumstances of this world. It is joy in the anticipation of what is to come when we believe God. </div><div><br /></div><div>At Christmas time and throughout the year, our joy does not depend on whether we get what we want at any given moment, or whether we do all the things we want. So this year if Christmas is different, people are missing, you can not afford all the gifts you would like, you can not do all the things you want, remember that the sweet little Jesus child brought A different kind of Joy.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1TQSwTC4utAsz_Mfai85xP5BCVa--crRXQUZ7Vukurpb6_ON6N5P9POw1HFo34OqNTWfsZTbJvuVCCgeSIduY6p_zuekuNvc5Dr3q8Z0OOzkz_gjUh194t9WzviTNIGDt5TI7mnXtrOV_kionE3--wFk_DE-mZmeFqqaEAd0rfDhQbUwiSyUkW0EA0Q=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="561" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1TQSwTC4utAsz_Mfai85xP5BCVa--crRXQUZ7Vukurpb6_ON6N5P9POw1HFo34OqNTWfsZTbJvuVCCgeSIduY6p_zuekuNvc5Dr3q8Z0OOzkz_gjUh194t9WzviTNIGDt5TI7mnXtrOV_kionE3--wFk_DE-mZmeFqqaEAd0rfDhQbUwiSyUkW0EA0Q=w421-h561" width="421" /></a></div><br /> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thank you for taking the time to read these posts. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
</div>E. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340843921651208938.post-57093904232669934942021-12-11T20:37:00.006-05:002021-12-11T20:37:57.326-05:00Peace<p> </p><p><br /></p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bolder;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bolder;">Peace</span> I leave with you; my <span style="font-weight: bolder;">peace</span> I give you. </div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">I do not give to you as the world gives. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOBqOuzy5igyH5F-lQ0fOgZUPDyOJB4ZDHGk2p3tAWFhqkqJdVWBACFcp4DecPB_RX4xQh10FYI3QzEKC0uyUTLdD0jhL923fr75ibSJFWLxwkSpUOWLC2rIZLQx9jIyEI2w54gRxy3HfsG5lRKxbihQTLCtXeB3KmVDUHLm6kTSm4fjljfwwBOi9wBQ=s5152" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5152" data-original-width="3864" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOBqOuzy5igyH5F-lQ0fOgZUPDyOJB4ZDHGk2p3tAWFhqkqJdVWBACFcp4DecPB_RX4xQh10FYI3QzEKC0uyUTLdD0jhL923fr75ibSJFWLxwkSpUOWLC2rIZLQx9jIyEI2w54gRxy3HfsG5lRKxbihQTLCtXeB3KmVDUHLm6kTSm4fjljfwwBOi9wBQ=w404-h440" width="404" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><span> Christmas is a time of love and joy and peace and hope. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span>Yet often this is when these things are most elusive. </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Peace is hard to find</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">the bills are mounting and we are expected to buy presents.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Peace hides when the holidays came and people are missing</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">they've gone on to their final home leaving an empty spot.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Peace is slippery when it is Christmas and relationships are strained</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">and there is baggage.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We can look at everyone's expectations and our own and as we try to please people</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">and create the perfect Christmas</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">or capture the illusions of Christmas past</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">and somewhere along the way, we lose our peace</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">and buy into everything that the world says about Christmas.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We forget that Jesus came to give us peace.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Jesus is our peace, all year, but especially at Christmas.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So as we enter into the Christmas season, let us remember that </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">trees, lights, parties or movies, and carols will never bring peace.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Only God can do that. In the form of Jesus, he gave lasting peace.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thank you for taking the time to read these posts. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
</div>E. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340843921651208938.post-25111423436918033632021-12-05T14:39:00.000-05:002021-12-05T14:39:11.991-05:00Peace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0Mxdn_ZBVdhWLEgrJouNmcNSpydj7z7few7CRQuVdDwS7rx9aZWhSE-rKhbkWNqGogT4uiFD1NI6xKyBVvpO3lXE5ww_wBdwOT1E9n6NUspk65JpfX6tLWN_GAZEwxGab7lUJ8pqDc7s/s1600/181874_10200210612538169_1602164464_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0Mxdn_ZBVdhWLEgrJouNmcNSpydj7z7few7CRQuVdDwS7rx9aZWhSE-rKhbkWNqGogT4uiFD1NI6xKyBVvpO3lXE5ww_wBdwOT1E9n6NUspk65JpfX6tLWN_GAZEwxGab7lUJ8pqDc7s/s400/181874_10200210612538169_1602164464_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span face=""verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Let the </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">peace</b><span face=""verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> of Christ rule in your hearts. Colossians 3:15</span><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
When we think of peace,<br />
<br />
the first thing that comes to mind is the absence of strife. <br />
<br />
It's hard to find peace in our world today. <br />
<br />
We talk of peace;<br />
<br />
nations want it;<br />
<br />
Everyone wants it. <br />
<br />
Most of us are looking for something that will bring just a little peace. <br />
<br />
There are so many things in our day that can cause us stress and worry. <br />
<br />
Our health,<br />
<br />
or finances.<br />
<br />
Relationships at work;<br />
<br />
with parents,<div><br /></div><div>with spouses<br />
<br />
with siblings.<br />
<br />
they all can rob us of our peace.<br />
<br />
This is true, particularly at Christmas. <br />
<br />
Just when we should be celebrating The Prince of Peace<br />
<br />
we find our own peace gone. <br />
<br />
As we travel back to that very first Christmas, we see a scene that could very easily steal peace.<br />
<br />
First, an angel appears to Mary,<br />
<br />
and informs her that she will have a baby.<br />
<br />
The problem is that she was not married.<br />
<br />
Yikes!!<br />
<br />
This was scandalous!<br />
<br />
However, Mary finds peace and says.<br />
<br />
"Ok, let's do this,"<br />
<br />
(my translation)<br />
<br />
Then, at a time when they should have been planning the arrival of a baby;<br />
<br />
Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem, and there was no free pass;<br />
<br />
No highway option, it was the King's orders.<br />
<br />
Wow! <br />
<br />
That situation would be sure to stress me out. <br />
<br />
I’m ready to have a baby, and you want me to make a trip on an animal? </div><div><br /></div><div>That was the transportation of the day.<br />
<br />
Unless they wanted to walk,<br />
<br />
that was the only other option.<br />
<br />
Oh yes, let’s add to the stress level;<br />
<br />
There were no "Comfort Inns" or "Motel 6's" to leave the light on for them.<br />
<br />
So they slept wherever they could find a place.<br />
<br />
Most likely, it was on the ground.<br />
<br />
Lovely!!<br />
<br />
Since they were not the only ones making the voyage<br />
<br />
when they got to Bethlehem, the only place for them to stay was a “cave” barn. <br />
<br />
That might send most of us “over the proverbial edge.”<br />
<br />
Yet they seemed to take it in stride. <br />
<br />
How could they handle it so well? <br />
<br />
I believe it was because they trusted God to know what he was doing,<br />
<br />
even though they didn't understand it. <br />
<br />
God gave them peace amid the storm. <br />
<br />
It was the same peace that allowed the shepherds to leave their livelihood,<br />
<br />
and go see a baby in a manger.<br />
<br />
There is another person in this story whose actions showed that he did not have God’s peace. <br />
<br />
Enter Herod! <br />
<br />
When the wise men came and ask him about a new “king” born in Israel;<br />
<br />
we are told “he was troubled”;<br />
<br />
“he had a meltdown, ”Elane’s" translation.<br />
<br />
Not only did he have a meltdown. <br />
<br />
but he shared that meltdown with all of Jerusalem;<br />
<br />
go figure! <br />
<br />
He did not have the peace of God,<br />
<br />
so he did what people who have strife do;<br />
<br />
he took it from others also.<br />
<br />
At Christmas in all the hustle and bustle of the season,<br />
<br />
it is easy to lose our focus;<br />
<br />
to forget that God has things in control,<br />
<br />
and we can trust him no matter what the world throws at us.<br />
<br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #f8f8e8; color: #444433; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">"I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day" </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #444433; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Henry Wadsworth Longfellow </span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #444433; font-size: 14.4px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"> </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #f8f8e8; color: #444433; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #f8f8e8; color: #444433; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #f8f8e8; color: #444433; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">Their old familiar carols play,</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #f8f8e8; color: #444433; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">And wild and sweet the words </span><span class="IL_AD" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" id="IL_AD1" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: #f8f8e8; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(68, 68, 51); border-color: rgb(153 , 153 , 136) rgb(153 , 153 , 136) rgb(68 , 68 , 51); border-left-color: rgb(153, 153, 136); border-right-color: rgb(153, 153, 136); border-top-color: rgb(153, 153, 136); color: #444433; cursor: pointer; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1px; position: static; text-align: center;">repeat</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #f8f8e8; color: #444433; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">Of peace on earth, good will to men.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #f8f8e8; border-color: rgb(153, 153, 136); color: #444433; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" />
<span class="IL_AD" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" id="IL_AD2" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: #f8f8e8; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(68, 68, 51); border-color: rgb(153 , 153 , 136) rgb(153 , 153 , 136) rgb(68 , 68 , 51); border-left-color: rgb(153, 153, 136); border-right-color: rgb(153, 153, 136); border-top-color: rgb(153, 153, 136); color: #444433; cursor: pointer; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1px; position: static; text-align: center;">I thought</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #f8f8e8; color: #444433; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"> how, as the day had come,</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #f8f8e8; color: #444433; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">The belfries of all Christendom</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #f8f8e8; color: #444433; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">Had rolled along the unbroken song</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #f8f8e8; color: #444433; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">Of peace on earth, good will to men.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #f8f8e8; border-color: rgb(153, 153, 136); color: #444433; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #f8f8e8; color: #444433; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">And in despair I bowed my head:</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #f8f8e8; color: #444433; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">"There is no peace on earth," I said,</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #f8f8e8; color: #444433; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">"For hate is strong and mocks the song</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #f8f8e8; color: #444433; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">Of peace on earth, good will to men."</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #f8f8e8; border-color: rgb(153, 153, 136); color: #444433; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #f8f8e8; color: #444433; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #f8f8e8; color: #444433; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #f8f8e8; color: #444433; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #f8f8e8; color: #444433; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">With peace on earth, good will to men."</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #f8f8e8; border-color: rgb(153, 153, 136); color: #444433; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #f8f8e8; color: #444433; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">Till, ringing singing, on its way,</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #f8f8e8; color: #444433; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">The world revolved from night to day,</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #f8f8e8; color: #444433; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #f8f8e8; color: #444433; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">Of peace on earth, good will to men!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thank you for taking the time to read these posts. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
</div>E. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340843921651208938.post-10843249325293120652021-12-01T12:50:00.000-05:002021-12-01T12:50:35.270-05:00We Have Hope<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUAa2AduPhL77ASguzjRNhz96a4TWE1fIJpvl5k-Av4SHCfU5EW6AVGPSbrTDA0H3sHA6KYwxFK7QcFvz-ktYpSGVRbQBvFBU9LVLozrtdiayArDZT9tfbP5nRf0HlIPJ6LfVS3W4ovHD/s1600/IMG_1510.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUAa2AduPhL77ASguzjRNhz96a4TWE1fIJpvl5k-Av4SHCfU5EW6AVGPSbrTDA0H3sHA6KYwxFK7QcFvz-ktYpSGVRbQBvFBU9LVLozrtdiayArDZT9tfbP5nRf0HlIPJ6LfVS3W4ovHD/s400/IMG_1510.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">We wait in </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">hope</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> for the </span><span class="small-caps" style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">; Psalm 33:20</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
Christmas is always an exciting, joyous time. I love Christmas! Yet at the same time, I know that, at times, it can also be stressful and sometimes depressing. Sometimes, in the craziness, we need to regain our hope.<br />
<br />
Hope is certainty mixed with anticipation. The Jewish people at the time of Jesus' birth were anxiously awaiting the messiah. They were hoping he would come, yet when the angels heralded his arrival, only the shepherds came to worship. The rest? They saw the star and maybe even saw the angels. However, I suppose they were too busy to bother with a star shining brightly in the sky, the angels in all their glory, and a tiny baby in a manger. They were busy with work and the cares of this life pressed in around them. The could not concern themselves with an insignificant baby. For them, that day was like any other. They were looking for hope, but when hope arrived, they missed it. As we prepare to celebrate this Christmas, let's praise God for the faith we have of eternal life with God. This is the Hope that we have that is an anchor for our soul in a broken world. The baby, though small, was not insignificant. He was and still is the hope that we need.<br />
<br />
<b>Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel, </b><br />
Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,<br />
And ransom captive Israel,<br />
That mourns in lonely exile here<br />
Until the Son of God appears.<br />
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel<br />
Shall come to you, O Israel!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thank you for taking the time to read these posts. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
</div>E. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340843921651208938.post-14745082709262592012021-11-28T17:34:00.003-05:002021-11-28T17:34:21.748-05:00Hope<p><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial;">Now faith is confidence in what we hope for</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial;"> and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpeT8VytPVF7EqdPB3cdOXLTJAwEdGaJBFy5xi710EbtsCpBeQRntj1Dubs57f_9bfg3Kv_jP3S5bBgO2VqyYrX-lXQg5z_YDmwjj-fRpuEJKG1kIO8I1zLolgIZGKANoN6hOeNg2IMeM/s2048/20201129_153434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpeT8VytPVF7EqdPB3cdOXLTJAwEdGaJBFy5xi710EbtsCpBeQRntj1Dubs57f_9bfg3Kv_jP3S5bBgO2VqyYrX-lXQg5z_YDmwjj-fRpuEJKG1kIO8I1zLolgIZGKANoN6hOeNg2IMeM/w280-h373/20201129_153434.jpg" width="280" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Most people define hope as a desire, a wish. </span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I hope for a new car, </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">a better job, </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">peace, </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">a better relationship. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sometimes, we can make it happen </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">if we try hard enough </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">or if we're "lucky" enough. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For us, my friends, hope is something completely different. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For us, hope is a certainty. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At Christmas time we celebrate the hope that was born. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We were lost and separated from God and without hope. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There was no way for us to get to God. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We could never be "good enough" for a holy God. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yet, two thousand years ago hope was born. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It came in the form of the innocence of a baby. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It came with the certainty that we would have a relationship with the almighty. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jesus was the hope they had been waiting for and he is our hope as well. </span></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thank you for taking the time to read these posts. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
</div>E. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340843921651208938.post-48645627111132598542021-11-25T18:17:00.000-05:002021-11-25T18:17:38.039-05:00I am Thankful for his Blessings<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9YZpWlFBdRFX-X1BpFQ6vxVukeejwzJWGADj_yJ_EW7bDjQmPBRbwic8JNNF_HYzecNSab_c_FdrwCgeT11bLVK1K1PvyYCFOSNxbjpKdVtNzWPU8aHEw2RAnQ_DNMaqlMqmIm0ts0Rx/s2048/20190915_170826.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9YZpWlFBdRFX-X1BpFQ6vxVukeejwzJWGADj_yJ_EW7bDjQmPBRbwic8JNNF_HYzecNSab_c_FdrwCgeT11bLVK1K1PvyYCFOSNxbjpKdVtNzWPU8aHEw2RAnQ_DNMaqlMqmIm0ts0Rx/w288-h512/20190915_170826.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Even though it's cold and snowy, </p><p>I am sitting here in my comfy chair sipping a soda but sometimes it's coffee.</p><p>On tv, the weather channel is yammering something about another hurricane in Florida.</p><p>My daughter just ran into the room, tripped over the cat,</p><p>and fell in a heap on the floor.</p><p>I must get to bed soon because five O'clock will come early.</p><p>I'll be sleeping soundly in my warm fuzzy bed </p><p>when the alarm blares bringing my slumber to an end.</p><p>In the past few years, I have turned some corners and life has thrown me some curveballs.</p><p>I have faced things I never expected to face,</p><p>and I have seen the faithfulness of God in my life.</p><p>There have been times that I was sure I would not survive,</p><p>but every day God shows his love for me.</p><p>My life is far from perfect and some days are diamonds</p><p>while others present a challenge</p><p>but I am blessed and thankful for the life I have and </p><p>to God who gives us all things abundantly.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thank you for taking the time to read these posts. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
</div>E. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340843921651208938.post-10249615000804560642021-11-24T18:23:00.000-05:002021-11-24T18:23:52.302-05:00I'm Thankful for Music<p> </p><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">I love music! </span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_Vdi0-5YQORrZyw3J1ZDd3L9kzppxUaDjHMDMmC4mPBewEQi16I1sJjSpBMMh3gKT_2ZE7osrVI3xLHeKcspXy5_txvj6DuUYYD-kbuAEHpvPqI1uWICqRIPzrl9zgUEx5P69cl5UgJo/s1600/DSC00456.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_Vdi0-5YQORrZyw3J1ZDd3L9kzppxUaDjHMDMmC4mPBewEQi16I1sJjSpBMMh3gKT_2ZE7osrVI3xLHeKcspXy5_txvj6DuUYYD-kbuAEHpvPqI1uWICqRIPzrl9zgUEx5P69cl5UgJo/s400/DSC00456.JPG" width="400" /></a><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Not just any music, </span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">but uplifting music. </span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Music holds the power </span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">of the spoken word of God. </span><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_Vdi0-5YQORrZyw3J1ZDd3L9kzppxUaDjHMDMmC4mPBewEQi16I1sJjSpBMMh3gKT_2ZE7osrVI3xLHeKcspXy5_txvj6DuUYYD-kbuAEHpvPqI1uWICqRIPzrl9zgUEx5P69cl5UgJo/s1600/DSC00456.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">I am grateful for music </span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">that connects me to God. </span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">For me, there is nothing better </span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">than a worship song to make my spirit soar. </span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">When I am completely stressed </span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">and overwhelmed by the cares of this world, </span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">I thank God that I can take my phone, </span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">put on the mp3 player </span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">and it seems only a few minutes </span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">before the stress is gone and </span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">I am praising God. </span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">How it happens, </span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">I have no clue, </span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">but I know that it does happen. </span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">I thank God that he gives us </span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">songs that can calm </span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">our troubled spirit and make us one with him. </span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">I am grateful that </span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">we do not have to have a great voice,</span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">he cares that we praise him; </span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">that our heart is in tune with him. </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thank you for taking the time to read these posts. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
</div>E. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340843921651208938.post-4825712701160788812021-11-23T20:08:00.002-05:002021-11-23T20:12:59.562-05:00 Thank you God for Leading usThank you God for how you lead us.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7xQDAtNw7X284YvBYEyR9IXuYmS070qJnb8Cmjiy_crBAO7ewfS3thiLq5NIrhXrQxLJdzVeE5DBZbUIkJL-Frd00B8tudOUi36qYCiGRPSwu8aYnlYk3RoeEGKhN5XoPnkstRz_qw1c/s1600/shepherd-sheep-10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7xQDAtNw7X284YvBYEyR9IXuYmS070qJnb8Cmjiy_crBAO7ewfS3thiLq5NIrhXrQxLJdzVeE5DBZbUIkJL-Frd00B8tudOUi36qYCiGRPSwu8aYnlYk3RoeEGKhN5XoPnkstRz_qw1c/s320/shepherd-sheep-10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Like a shepherd leading his sheep.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sometimes through the words you spoke in the Bible, your written word.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNy3YvzNLrxXF5cG3F1qztC1-c3S2YJ6hlQYDNAsPsdy0JGAyu0dKlvWVtZhmoEprlZ5NAxo4ol1yn6zRCcE4hP0fHJGSa3BT1WD3_Wk3gLfeX06Ag6DHlfKkmWL5uCB8orjGHLazXbnK/s1600/181938_1851717742846_8065674_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNy3YvzNLrxXF5cG3F1qztC1-c3S2YJ6hlQYDNAsPsdy0JGAyu0dKlvWVtZhmoEprlZ5NAxo4ol1yn6zRCcE4hP0fHJGSa3BT1WD3_Wk3gLfeX06Ag6DHlfKkmWL5uCB8orjGHLazXbnK/s320/181938_1851717742846_8065674_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">at other times, it was the wise words from friends, </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
coworkers,or neighbors spoken at just the right time.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBCTfLaC7kW3gJH9ZDAMg44U_XZwzU-v9VjqjzobjgRQnefZ2wB3w9nBZJ3O5CxtZTIxk_uLZp90WwOoNggRhsrxavyGZmP10mk-gK2VW0RHugw-X9Gq4LBxSKucPScWbi8R67KscJ1Jq/s1600/530169_4332750927125_1189110563_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBCTfLaC7kW3gJH9ZDAMg44U_XZwzU-v9VjqjzobjgRQnefZ2wB3w9nBZJ3O5CxtZTIxk_uLZp90WwOoNggRhsrxavyGZmP10mk-gK2VW0RHugw-X9Gq4LBxSKucPScWbi8R67KscJ1Jq/s320/530169_4332750927125_1189110563_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
Still other times it was a gentle tug, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">a whisper to our heart to move </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
in one direction or another; </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
intuition or a sixth sense that one</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">way or another was right or wrong</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yet, when I listened and obeyed</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I found the way was clear, distinct and easy to follow.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2S-BbD_iajAgMsirmk1wAko0dtdcBAUzd5OVS_dYKjdn6iG43kzUHZ41guYe-tmo-LLm12jUOeny5wVR54QTgY-PGgLBDgvobvc6NFI-q1iYmDWQ1O07XswQsogq6BVQrwuZnbkeFkCy/s1600/309305_4278494810756_787943341_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2S-BbD_iajAgMsirmk1wAko0dtdcBAUzd5OVS_dYKjdn6iG43kzUHZ41guYe-tmo-LLm12jUOeny5wVR54QTgY-PGgLBDgvobvc6NFI-q1iYmDWQ1O07XswQsogq6BVQrwuZnbkeFkCy/s320/309305_4278494810756_787943341_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">You never leave us to guess which way to go.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZcDdwoW3PgQRpKw8CSKz-BXed0I0O8L5urlDeI551knt7Jn7na33hiPOwALcX4WiK81FiajLip06ahnzSl_kircicBJ0QozQrAWtlhRdbSqTywqsTosieHJKLRPd7UrOxH1pV6dgdbQr/s1600/29494_1445903757750_1211802_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZcDdwoW3PgQRpKw8CSKz-BXed0I0O8L5urlDeI551knt7Jn7na33hiPOwALcX4WiK81FiajLip06ahnzSl_kircicBJ0QozQrAWtlhRdbSqTywqsTosieHJKLRPd7UrOxH1pV6dgdbQr/s640/29494_1445903757750_1211802_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thank you for taking the time to read these posts. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
</div>E. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340843921651208938.post-30916261591013328632021-11-22T20:34:00.000-05:002021-11-22T20:34:42.750-05:00Thank You God For Turning Our Ashes into BeautyThere are tragedy and sadness in everyone's life,<br />
<br />
No one is exempt.<br />
<br />
Yet, in the midst of the hurt and pain, God is there.<br />
<br />
He takes the things that hurt us and make us sad and turns them into things are beautiful.<br />
<br />
The death of my mother <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hb6kgv_vJ9VwEaLAG70Y8l0_gJo9A1m1tPN4XLT2E0xDJW6RTHUaVQ9qntnsiFdvIiV4FsDMOTV-2WYq87-_9vCuB__0lcM3mnxe2hPquNCB9HKzMd3lpHWJFviOJp_6qNqS3TtIgPHk/s1600/scan0001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hb6kgv_vJ9VwEaLAG70Y8l0_gJo9A1m1tPN4XLT2E0xDJW6RTHUaVQ9qntnsiFdvIiV4FsDMOTV-2WYq87-_9vCuB__0lcM3mnxe2hPquNCB9HKzMd3lpHWJFviOJp_6qNqS3TtIgPHk/s1600/scan0001.jpg" width="196" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
was a tragedy to my dad.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
However, because of that tragedy, my dad began to see his need for God.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAhpyd47x3I_RZpLfIpedOFzvTzvA26CjJJmeWXY-auEyMqiKsB_UIoefsCXAuDK6GXCLGoXL1Qx6HKHQPjG0V9Qqk_WY9xkVWqzmOZpTms5Xrwb1r2n5Gjxq6cC5zwj4yK1IV5Pe9XeG/s1600/img001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAhpyd47x3I_RZpLfIpedOFzvTzvA26CjJJmeWXY-auEyMqiKsB_UIoefsCXAuDK6GXCLGoXL1Qx6HKHQPjG0V9Qqk_WY9xkVWqzmOZpTms5Xrwb1r2n5Gjxq6cC5zwj4yK1IV5Pe9XeG/s1600/img001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In his brokenness, he found a God that could make him whole. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
God turned his ashes into beauty.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
My dad, in turn, taught me to love God. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I am blessed to know God as my savior because of my dad.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
God also blessed me with a lovely step-mom</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yVX29bMA_lgsU9Gj0sqwR_cneauURuM8tj1X3IhDtBEYYoG_el5X0t3LA0-yX1n6bsJwHJgXLRnSOA8ug3faRE7N1us_UmACUVHD9-kIKiMd9dP7VABTSBSCnDQjHMSvMNWXMwVTFZ9l/s1600/1359562431719.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yVX29bMA_lgsU9Gj0sqwR_cneauURuM8tj1X3IhDtBEYYoG_el5X0t3LA0-yX1n6bsJwHJgXLRnSOA8ug3faRE7N1us_UmACUVHD9-kIKiMd9dP7VABTSBSCnDQjHMSvMNWXMwVTFZ9l/s1600/1359562431719.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Life is harsh at times, and many things are sad, </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Yet, if we let him, he will take our ashes and make them into a work of art. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
He delights in making the ash heaps of our life beautiful. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
When we are broken, God is near, and where there is sorrow, he will turn it into dancing. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhI8fzKHT_rR1G5VGjZsortmXEBv0EMlk13AwCkl2Q7eVrUawuJ8244X9qeM-Q7uw3rc4PiIArG_VW5aaXNIZ8l1zQnORQk-8c3mujc9oMOCe0BI-eGP35FxlKHcgix1DcDc8KahTd0ig/s1600/DSC00044.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhI8fzKHT_rR1G5VGjZsortmXEBv0EMlk13AwCkl2Q7eVrUawuJ8244X9qeM-Q7uw3rc4PiIArG_VW5aaXNIZ8l1zQnORQk-8c3mujc9oMOCe0BI-eGP35FxlKHcgix1DcDc8KahTd0ig/s1600/DSC00044.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #a64d79; font-size: large;">Thank you, God,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #a64d79; font-size: large;">For taking our sorrow</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #a64d79; font-size: large;">and making it joy;</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #a64d79; font-size: large;">Our tragedy </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #a64d79; font-size: large;">and making it a blessing</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #a64d79; font-size: large;">Thank you for making beauty</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #a64d79; font-size: large;">where once there was only</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"> a heap of ashes</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thank you for taking the time to read these posts. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
</div>E. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340843921651208938.post-13693826833958356192021-11-21T20:06:00.000-05:002021-11-21T20:25:23.646-05:00Thank you God for peacemakers<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNij3BOXApw2aLQsNcrbkiL3Qmv5dYmEa-em7zNb2uRRa41yjO6YhhyphenhyphenPLcsmNfukYrc0aMYuFGDcCK-n3FyXOIdzyvi021oPSREg7xhysCYSvRfv6PLSwNGuM9QgpLC40KbR7ES8BKDW_K/s400/HARMONY-LOGO-e1442080191229.jpg" /><br />
<br />
We live in a world of discord. <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are disputes between governments,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
groups of people; conservative, and liberals, </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
and church denominations.<br />
<br />
<div>
<div>
There are skirmishes between neighbors over a foot of property</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
or animals in their yard.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are arguments at work;</div>
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
often over time off, or job assignments.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div>
Moms and dads square off over many things in a day.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Parents and children are often at odds with each other.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, disagreements are necessary<br />
<br />
while at other times the disagreements are over trivial things,<br />
<br />
things that will not matter in the long run.<br />
<br />
Often the discord is so great, we forget the harmony <br />
<br />
and all we hear is clashing, crashing notes.<br />
<br />
We have to work to restore the harmony,<br />
<br />
the peace.</div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
Today I am thankful for the people </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
who provide harmony, the peacemakers. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
They have different views and ways of handling things</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
and yet they can work together</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
in a marriage</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
in a family </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
in a church</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
at work<br />
<br />
or wherever they are.<br />
<br />
<div>
I am blessed to have family and friends who</div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnsNoEXcrAM102QZejFA8S4Nab7Q5jrIFFUaK9b7-2L2YhIv2qhLvrQzePhhAiApeRNoXR8R0YGonTHElqnPgX7tQWs0uSlYnvsyvEdFlZLH947CtajpIvEMaWbkPxG5i27oIFTbtS1Zp/s1600/download.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnsNoEXcrAM102QZejFA8S4Nab7Q5jrIFFUaK9b7-2L2YhIv2qhLvrQzePhhAiApeRNoXR8R0YGonTHElqnPgX7tQWs0uSlYnvsyvEdFlZLH947CtajpIvEMaWbkPxG5i27oIFTbtS1Zp/s1600/download.png" /></a></div>
<div>
understand harmony and sometimes,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
we agree to disagree.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We find that being right is not as important</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
as loving and being loved.</div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thank you for taking the time to read these posts. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
</div>E. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340843921651208938.post-48539853461847571052021-11-20T20:41:00.000-05:002021-11-20T20:41:53.031-05:00Thank you God for Your Promises<br />
<br />
In a world,<br />
<br />
and in a time when people<br />
<br />
carelessly throw their words around,<br />
<br />
I am thankful that my Lord and God<br />
<br />
does not throw his word around.<br />
<br />
When he makes a promise, he keeps it.<br />
<br />
so when I read:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6LrVdNl7eiOquAkOX7PLMqzuZdkp3UPHBVK4kwqnxkp0sFY632Kowl9EHQt8dA6U55oKCAJ4kTYPdgYsHawO8pXKd-AcHBAY2glOmbGtZfS2UU-3ZTLtvTQxDpQXth6BlfSl-BCpFy-X/s1600/323-19NovP323BA2000x1500.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6LrVdNl7eiOquAkOX7PLMqzuZdkp3UPHBVK4kwqnxkp0sFY632Kowl9EHQt8dA6U55oKCAJ4kTYPdgYsHawO8pXKd-AcHBAY2glOmbGtZfS2UU-3ZTLtvTQxDpQXth6BlfSl-BCpFy-X/s400/323-19NovP323BA2000x1500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
or</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-D3N9Z7hui1bN-g8wLFDE7ZmfzvDVdO63FnVJeJwaAWWEbGk8JqhLLZO2uyBYKlIE3sspfVSm04e6OBPdWx0ubLdbER7iYHGbcLO_vvRKxn38mYuAgcuovrsHzSjwbxAqsRBjFfiwCKeP/s1600/320-16NovP320BA2000x1500.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-D3N9Z7hui1bN-g8wLFDE7ZmfzvDVdO63FnVJeJwaAWWEbGk8JqhLLZO2uyBYKlIE3sspfVSm04e6OBPdWx0ubLdbER7iYHGbcLO_vvRKxn38mYuAgcuovrsHzSjwbxAqsRBjFfiwCKeP/s320/320-16NovP320BA2000x1500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
and </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="text John-14-2" face=""Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" id="en-NIV-26671" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26671D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26671D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> to prepare a place for you?</span></span><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"></span><span class="text John-14-3" face=""Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" id="en-NIV-26672" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">3 </span>And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26672E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26672E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:2</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span class="text John-14-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text John-14-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">These are just a few of the promises God has given us.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text John-14-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text John-14-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">We can delight in the fact that God can and will keep his promises.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text John-14-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text John-14-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">He is not slow in Keeping his promises as some consider slowness.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text John-14-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;">When we are in a storm of doubt or discouragement, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;">when all around us everything is shifting,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;">we can hold on to the promises of God and find strength and comfort for our souls.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">No word from God will ever fail.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="text John-14-3" face=""Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="text John-14-3" face=""Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thank you for taking the time to read these posts. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
</div>E. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340843921651208938.post-65489324672406401722021-11-19T20:01:00.000-05:002021-11-19T20:01:00.205-05:00I'm Thankful for a God Who is in Control<p> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9xbApt-Vdp-3CyMnFVADlRD96KaChJZ0K6MrmCIjh67gNRbDjlu80zyr2OlIykbs8OP34eSPcGgC-HaVRx9BnzU6aS11nHs0zQP8ZAb8XF1frd-PR8DrHlg1_v6UnvpguqPyPXdiQe6w/s400/god-is-in-control_t_nv.jpg" /></p><br /><br /><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">The world we live in is crazy! </span><br /><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">There are shootings every day.</span><br /><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">We love new experiences and learning about our world, </span><br /><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">but we don't know our neighbor.</span><br /><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">We preach tolerance but refuse to tolerate those who </span><br /><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">think differently than we do. </span><div><br /></div><div>Disease is rampant in our world.<br /><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">People bit and devour each other</span><br /><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">in their efforts to get a better place.</span><br /><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">We marry expecting our spouse to be there,</span><br /><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">but the first storm hits they run often using kids</span><br /><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">as pawns to hurt each other.</span><br /><br /><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> Yes, this world is a crazy place, </span><br /><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">but amidst all the twists and turns</span><br /><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">and craziness of this world, </span><br /><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">I have found a solid rock.</span><br /><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">One that does not shift or move no matter what happens.</span><br /><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">God.</span><br /><div><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"></span><br /><div><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">I lie down at night and sleep in peace.</span></div><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><div><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">and I can rise in the morning with hope because</span></div><div><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">God is in control.</span></div><div><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">I am thankful that the God I serve is in control, </span></div><div><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">and he is strong enough to face the fiercest battle and win.</span></div><div><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Crazy does not bother God.</span></div><div><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">He already knows how messed up this world is,</span></div><div><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">That's</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> why we need him</span></div></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thank you for taking the time to read these posts. If you find them helpful, feel free to share.
</div>E. Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010572172364904948noreply@blogger.com0