Inspirations

Some people love to plan. I know crazy. It balances out with all of us random people that  never know what we are doing from one moment to the next. God needs the planners. We need planners. As we enter the Christmas season, I am always amazed at the amount of planning that goes into Christmas plays, concerts and other Christmas activities. Just as God made a plan,  some people begin making plans for Christmas in July and August.  They are meticulously setting dates and times for the festivities. Even though Christmas was still a long way off, the plans were made. While, to the rest of us, it seems as though nothing was happening, the musicians and others were carefully setting a plan in motion  that we will not see until sometime in December when we sit in an auditorium or participate in the Christmas activity that was planned. So if you're the planner, we appreciate you, your dedication, and the skills wi...

he will crush [ b ]  your head,      and you will strike his heel.”  Genesis 3:15 As we begin the Christmas season,   I think it's appropriate to look at the beginning  of a plan.   Way back when Eve introduced sin into the world, God had a plan. A plan to correct the sin problem that we all have. We see it in this verse verse H e will crush   your head,   and you will strike his heel.” I love that, God, knowing we would sin, set a plan in motion. But the plan, though set in motion, took time. It was accurate and detailed. His plan was simple a sinless man taking on the sins of the world. A simple plan, but many years passed. Adam and Eve had long since died and there was no sign of a plan. nothing to even hint that God even remembered the plan. Don't get me wrong, things were happening but was it related to the plan? To the peo...

But while he was still a long way off,  Luke 11:20 "But while he was still a long way off,"   this phrase has been running through my head today. It's in the parable of the prodigal son. When the son decides to go home,  The father who has been longing for the day his son would return home, sees him coming down the road. He was dirty, hungry, and worn out from the life, he had been living. In the midst of this, is the phrase "But while he was still a long way off," It paints a picture of love, of forgiveness, of mercy. The son had not arrived home. I get the picture of each of us when we start seeking Christ. Unworthy, stripped bare, showing the scars that this world has left on us. Limping dejectedly home knowing we deserve nothing. But I also see the Father not waiting till we are home and cleaned up relaxing in a chair to come to us. instead, he is so excited to see us  that he drop...

Thanksgiving is over         the turkey is gone. Families have likely gone home           By now, there is barely any indication that Thanksgiving even occurred except for the turkey leftovers that you'll be eating till Christmas. As we transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas, my prayer is that Thanksgiving will invade our hearts giving us peace,                     Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,                since as members of one body you were called to peace.                And be  thankful .  Colossians 3:15 and makes us glad,                      Let us come before him with  thanksgiving and                          ex...

Thank you, God, for children!    I love watching them.   Children know how to have fun.   Uninhibited by the cares of the world, they fully engage in play.   They do funny things with caring what anyone else will think.    Children are fearless.   They are authentic.    Children do not come with a censure.   You just never know what they will say.   They just say what they think.    Children have an innocence about them.   They do not see in shades of grey as often as adults do.   Things are right or wrong, good or bad.   They love as God loves, without conditions.    Thank God for children,  for their faith, love, honesty,  and genuineness, and their love of life.   I am learning to be more like a child and not take things too seriously.    Children are a blessing fr...

Today I'm thankful for blessings. Little gestures that brighten my day It may be a kind word or a smile. I'm thankful for the blessings that I didn't anticipate like coaching a quiz team, or having four children. Homeschooling. These are things that as I look back, I would never change them, unless I could have them last longer. Thank you for the treasures they have become. Thank you, God, that I did not miss these blessings

Thank you, God, for creating in each of us,    from the beginning of time, a desire to be free. Free from tyrants and bullies, free to come and go as we please,  to worship as we want; to make our own choices. Thank you for the desire to be free spiritually. yet,  I often live in slavery and fear. Thank you, God, for paying the price for our spiritual freedom, freedom from fear and its power. I long to be free of this world, Thank you, God, that the day will come when I will be unshackled from all of the trappings of this world. and I will be as free as a butterfly.