Monday evening the moon was a huge orange ball hanging just above the trees on the east side of the house.  Tuesday  morning it was a huge orange ball hanging just above the trees on the west side of the house.  It is absolutely beautiful with the wispy clouds stretched out across the sky and over the bright orange ball.   My husband noticed it last night and called me to the window.  I did the same to him this morning, dragged him by the arm to show him the ball before it slipped behind the trees and houses. (For the sake of full disclosure, this is a sample of what was in the sky on Monday.) One comment that he makes anytime he sees the moon, especially when it looks like it did last night, he thinks of Jesus looking at the same moon.  that when Jesus was human walking around the Holy Land he looked at the very same moon that we are looking at now.  This thought has been with him since he first heard the Neil Diamond song, Done Too Soon ....

Today, I will tell you my thoughts about the Lord's Prayer.  The following is the way that I presented it, just as it is written (except where I have changed my thoughts or enhanced them.  But the format is the same.  You'll get the idea.  I gotta warn ya,  this is long. " Our Father ".....To me, these two words are very powerful. Father.   It's personal.  Not some abstract concept.  We have a father, one father, one father for all of us besides the one earthly father each of us has. We know the actions of a good father when we see it.  A father is kind, compassionate, generous, strict and gentle at the same time.  He forgives the broken lamp, the wrecked car, the bad grades.  He helps with decisions and discussions.  He is steady and sure of himself and reassuring to us.  Our ideas about what it takes to be a good father help make this prayer to Our Father very personal.  "Dad, listen and help me." The other half ...

I cleaned out a desk yesterday. We are getting rid of it so I needed to take everything out and decide what to keep and what to throw away. This is not always an easy task.  Some things I'll probably never use, need or even remember I have but parting with them seems, i don't know wasteful.  Like old Bible Study notes for leading some senior high students.  These studies are old, meaning that the reference materials (like names of "current" people and situations) are not longer current. But getting rid of it seems, like I said, wasteful.  I found a cabinet to store it in. :) I also found a couple of papers I'd written for a Wednesday night worship service that we used to have at out church where lay people presented a message.  One that I found is one that I'd often thought of and even looked for - in electronic version.  I thought I'd saved it and transferred to new computers along the way, but I guess I hadn't.  Anyway, I found it neatly typed ou...

Have you read the Book of Judges, you know, Old Testament, right after Joshua?  I read it a couple of years ago when I was reading through the Bible in a year.  For some reason I didn’t notice some of what is there, or I didn’t pay much attention or something.  Because today when I’m reading it, I notice that it is a hard book to read, meaning I don’t get it.  Why is it in the Bible?  Some of it seems so …….. so non-God-like.  At least it is a far cry from the New Testament and Jesus. The story I read today is in Judges 19 .  The story is about a man, a Levite, who had a concubine wife who didn’t like it with him or was adulterous and feared him so she went to her father’s home.  The Levite goes to visit his father-in-law’s house, stays several days and finally leaves with his concubine wife.  On the long trip home, he stays with someone who tries to defend him from men who want to have sex with him.  The owner of the home ...

Psalm 17:8 (NIV)- Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings Psalm 36:7 - (NIV) How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings . Psalm 57:1 (NIV) - Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. Psalm 63:7 (NIV) - Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings . I read one of these passages this week but I wrote the verse down wrong so I'm not sure which one.  So I did the thing I normally do and did a search on BibleGateway.com . I searched the phrase that I'd written down.  Come to find out that phrase appears four times, all in the Psalms (no where else). When I wrote this passage down, I also wrote:  How big is God? We, or at least I have a tendency to think in terms I can (almost) comprehend.  I make His just a little larger than ...

I was asked to rate three things by how important they are to me and why I ranked them in the order I did.  He prefaced the list with "this is hard".  The three items were: 1) loyalty to customers and business  2) respect for others and 3) personal integrity.  I told him that was easy.  I didn't need to think on it at all.  See if you agree with me.  (I'm not sure there is a right or wrong answer.) To me, personal integrity is number 1 (of the three listed), followed by respect for others, then loyalty to customers and business. I am only as good as my word.  I consider that to be personal integrity.  I stand firm in my beliefs and a person should be able to count on that from me every time.  I am not saying that my opinion rules the day.  But honesty does, honesty that rises from by belief in God and His truth. Respect for others is a result of personal integrity.  You get what you see from me. I will respect you enough t...

Why would God have us do such strange things? Have you read the story of Joshua and the Israelites walking around the city walls of Jericho one time each day for six (6) straight days, then on the 7th day walking around 7 times and shouting?  ( Joshua 6: 1-21 ) What could be the reason for this? In Judges, God told Gideon that he had TOO many men to go into battle ( Judges 7:2-8 ) so he told Gideon how to reduce the number (to 300!).  Then when they went into battle a few verses later, He had them break jars as part of the battle plan. (See Judges 15-19   Break Jars!  What could be the reason for breaking jars as part of war?    God told the prophet Hosea to take an adulterous wife to illustrate Israel's adultery against God.  I have a friend who roped off several of the back pews in the sanctuary one Sunday because she felt strongly that God wanted her to. These are such strange things for God to ask.  I'm sure He has a reason. But what co...

I am looking back over my previous posts and see that there is really no rhyme or reason to what is posted when.  That is the beauty of reading a diverse batch of devotionals, Bibles and prayer material each day.   I wonder if it would be helpful for me to try to categorize my thoughts and meditations.   I'll have to think on that some.  I do need to say that I am getting so much from writing this blog.  I am thinking, really thinking about some of the scripture and experiences I have to come up with something to write.  Seems strange to me that I need to "post" a blog in order for me to spend the time and energy to think on a passage of scripture.  Sometimes I do research and sometimes I meditate on a passage to try to figure out what it means to me on a given day.  I wouldn't do that if I didn't "need" to post it to my blog. I guess in some way, this blog is an accountability tool.  We all need something to hold us accountable in ...

2 Peter 2:23 When he [Jesus] was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. When Jesus was taken before the various authorities during his trial, he reacted with calmness.  First when he was arrested, he healed the ear that had been sliced off by one of his well-meaning disciples.  When the authorities chided him, demanding that he defend himself (in order that he might prove their case against him) he stayed silent.   When he was on the cross and being mocked and laughed at and challenged to come down from there, he endured quietly and with great dignity.  Indeed, He even forgave others while hanging on the cross. This is really amazing to me.  I have such a hard time just allowing a minor misstatement against me to go unanswered.  Jesus was in a position to defend himself with the truth, the absolute truth, not just what might be the truth based on his recolle...

We have been notified that we will be losing our current pastor and a new one will be coming. This makes the topic of first impressions foremost in my thoughts.  So when I read my morning readings which included the book of Ruth, first impressions made an impression on me. :-) When I read about Naomi, I do not get the impression that she is a kind, loving, lovable person. If you look at the Book of Ruth , you find that Naomi lost her husband, then her sons. She decides to return to where her family is from and tells her daughters-in-law to go home.  To this point, we really don't know much about Naomi, except that her husband and sons didn't live long and that she felt some need to rid herself of the burden of two daughters-in-law (See 1:11-13)  (Ok, there is my first hint at my impression of Naomi!) Then later when she arrives to her home town, she wants her name changed to Mara because mara means bitter and she feels so bitter.  This helps seal my unfavorable im...

See Joshua's warnings in chapter 23, specifically versus 12,13 and 15. "But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them and associate with them, then you may be sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes , until you perish from this good land, .... You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. But just as every good promise of the LORD your God has come true, so the LORD will bring on you all the evil he has threatened , until he has destroyed you from this good land he has given you." We like to warm comfy feel of Jesus in the New Testament.  We like the strength, power and warmth of God in the Old Testament.  But we really don't l...

Judges 3:8 is a really strange verse, at least in NIV.  The anger of the LORD burned against Israel so that he sold them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim, to whom the Israelites were subject for eight years. "   I am troubled by the phrase "he sold them..."  "NLT says " turned them over ...".  CEV says " he let Israel be defeated...".  NCV says "allowed ....to rule over Israel."  Another says "he gave them over."  The other 13 versions (plus NIV) say sold or selleth, or the like. Now when I sell something, I get rid of the item AND get something in return. What did God get for selling them into the hands of their enemies?  I looked this in my Bible dictionary, some commentaries, and other places.  Finally, I found something in the VINE's dictionary.  Well, actually I'm not completely satisfied but at least I know a little more than I did. According to this resource, the word is often used...

Zephaniah 3:17   (ESV) The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Isn't that just a wonderful verse?! How could it get any better than God is in your midst?  I looked for a picture for that but couldn't find anything that came close to illustrating "God in your midst".  I could find pictures of nature.  Sure God is there.  I could find pictures of churches.  We know God is there (or wants to be invited to be there).  I found photos of families and groups of people.  God is there too but I couldn't find anything that adequately illustrates God is in your midst .   It is just too much to fathom, too big to understand, too awesome to fully appreciate.  But I wanted something so I used a photo taken by a friend. Then the passage goes on: a mighty one who will save.  God is mighty AND He will save ...

Psalm 84:12 (NIV) O LORD Almighty,        blessed is the man who trusts in you. Blessed is the person who trusts in You. How is the person who trusts in You blessed?  The first response is peace.  When I trust You, Lord, really trust You, I have peace that other people can't understand.  This seldom describes me.  I don't know that anyone has ever said that I seem to have peace.  So even if I feel it inwardly, it doesn't show on the outside. In one of my devotional readings today, this verse was used and with it, the term "one day at a time" was used. I have an interview today (I'm writing this on Thursday) and another schedule for over a week from now.  So what have I been doing?  Worrying about the interview. Worrying about getting the job. Fretting over the drive, learning the job itself, getting to know the people, missing out on my present state of free time and time to spend with God.  No, I am not spe...

Update: someone DID notice that I vacuumed the carpet.  WOW  Thanks, God for that. Now today's post: After I read the previous post, it occurred to me that someone could read something there that I did not intend.  I don't think that God makes bad things happen.  God is good All the time and God is goodness.  He cannot do bad things.  He can let bad things happen.  That's part of freewill. Let me back up.  The first post entitled Notice Anything was about thanking God for doing things for me that I rarely notice, like not falling and breaking my leg when I stub my toe, or when I don't see the deer on the side of the road until after I've passed it and didn't hit it.  We are to thank God for all things and those are examples of things I think I should thank God for but often do not because I don't notice them, or recognize them as gifts from God.   Now, just because I do hit the deer, or do break my leg, or everything does fall...

I vacuumed the floors today.  I dusted some of the house.  If you know me, you know I don't do a lot of this housekeeping stuff.  That was the worst part of losing my job last summer was the loss of people to come clean my house.  (Yes, I know how awful that is to say especially in a BLOG!) As I was vacuuming, I was also grumbling, as I do when I clean, "No one will even notice! The only time someone notices is when I DON'T clean!" grumble grumble growl grrr Then guess what occurred to me.  How many things does God do for me all the time that I don't notice.  I only notice when it ISN'T, like when it's gray and raining instead of the sun shining, or when we need rain but it won't.  What about the times when I missed the animal that runs in front of the car, or right after I've left.  I can't begin to imagine how many things God does for me that I am completely unaware of. And completely unappreciative of..... I've prayed to make me ...

Psalm 32: 1 - 5 (NLT) Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the L ord has cleared of guilt whose lives are lived in complete honesty! When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the L ord .” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.  OR Psalm 32: 1 - 5 (NCV) Happy is the person whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned. Happy is the person whom the Lord does not consider guilty and in whom there is nothing false.  When I kept things to myself, I felt weak deep inside me. I moaned all day long.   Day and night you punished me. My strength was gone as in the summer heat. Then I confessed my sins to you...

I sing in the church choir.  I don't sing because I have a good voice.  I don't believe I do.  I sing because it offers me more opportunities to praise and worship God (choir practice and a song during the worship service). Because I sing in the choir and because I am currently without a job, a member of our congregation asked me to start joining a group of people who show up at one of the local nursing homes each Friday afternoon for a Hymn Sing. Well, this was another opportunity to praise and worship God so I've participated a few times in the Hymn Sing. I want to tell you a few things about this activity.  Many of the people in the singing group could very easily be a resident at any time. I told my husband that I might be the youngest by 30 years.  Since I just had a big birthday, he gave me a you-are-exaggerating look to which I replied with the age of one of the people in the group.  Okay, I am probably not 30 years younger than all of them but I a...

Romans 9:15-18(NIV) For he says to Moses , "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden . Some of scripture bothers me.  Of course it isn't for me to question, at least not morally, or what's "fair".  But nevertheless, some of scripture bothers me. This is one passage that helps to clear some bothersome passages, sort of. According to scripture, there are times when God hardens people's hearts, i.e. Pharaoh's heart was hardened repeatedly after the plagues. The Lord also hardened the hearts of those living in the promised land. (Joshua 20 .... Fo...

I was reading today a passage in Matthew (Mt 16: 21-28).  The verse was not written as I'd remembered reading it earlier this week.   So I reviewed the other things I'd read this week to find out that the other passage was Luke 9:23. Here are the passages: Matthew 16:23: Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Luke 9:23: Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Do you see a difference? Before getting into that, let's look at what might be meant by the phrase "take up his cross" .  We discussed this at Bible Study this week.  I think we have a tendency to look at taking up a cross as a negative.  After all, Jesus carrying his cross and being crucified on his cross is a pretty vivid image in our heads. We see the negative, harsh picture of the cross and believe that we have a di...