Category: Purpose

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Leaving on a Jet Plane

Well, this wonderful trip has come to an end.

We pack up this morning, drive back to Jacksonville, turn in the rental car and board a plane, headed for home. One stop over in Dallas and arrive in Phoenix later today. It’s been fun and exciting – but home is sweet.

That’s my day. What’s yours got in store? Whatever it is the Lord has designed a path and is waiting for us to follow Him.

“Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.” Proverbs 16:3 AMPC

“You, Lord, are my shepherd. I will never be in need. 2 You let me rest in fields of green grass.
You lead me to streams of peaceful water, 3 and you refresh my life. You are true to your name, and you lead me along the right paths.” Psalm 23:1-3 CEV

“ If you will obey the Lord your God, all these blessings will come to you and be yours:

3 “He will bless you in the city and in the field…6 He will bless you at all times in everything you do.” Deuteronomy 28:2-6 ERV

I am praying for your day to be filled with the blessings of the Lord. That’s the kind of day He has designed for us.

I’ll be with you tomorrow from my living room in Queen Valley.

Enjoy the blessings of the day!

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Love the Race

This has been a wonderful week with our daughter and son-in-love in Daytona Beach. We came as a 50th birthday celebration for our oldest daughter and we had a great time.

The main event of the trip culminated yesterday with the 67th running of the Daytona 500, a race we have watched for years on television, dreamed of someday attending and now it was here!

The biggest joy was we got to experience it together! Wonderful family memories we will share for the rest of our days.

I’ve been sitting here for the better part of an hour reliving some of yesterday’s events. We arrived at the track at 8:30 a.m. Found our seats, which we absolutely amazing – we could see the whole 2+ miles of the track. Then for the pre-race activities, just us and 100,000+ of our closest unknown friends. So many people, all here to cheer on 41 drivers, hoping their favorite would win. Even between the 4 of us, we all had different favorites but there was no contention in that.

A concert, a university band, exhibits and displays. Food – lots of food. Race swag to buy and excitement filled the air. The sun was warm and it seemed to be a perfect race day. The race started without a hitch, until lap 9, when it started to rain and the track had to be cleared. We stood/sat for the next 3 1/2 hours – people mingling, eating, laughing – conversations as to how long this delay might take but no one was going home. We were there to see the race.

There was a prize on the line, a goal to reach!

Now, don’t worry I’m not going to give you a play by play – just a comparison.

We were the crowd, but we were also the competitors. We loved watching every car but we were also competing against the elements. Would we become discouraged, would we give up before the ended, would we quit?

“Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us! So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won’t let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us. 2  We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right side of God’s throne!” Hebrews 12:1-2 CEV

In our walk with Christ, our spiritual race, we are surrounded by a crowd of witnesses, those who have already completed the race. They cheer for us to keep going, don’t stop, don’t give up. There are also those who hope we fail. Don’t listen to them.

We make the pit stops and get the repairs and tune-ups needed to improve our endurance. When crashes come, we regroup and follow our lead pace car (Jesus). We might brush the wall or hit someone else’s bumper but we maintain control and we finish the race.

There will be rain delays, flat tires, adjustments and even crashes but this is a true saying, we win!

” Athletes work hard to win a crown that cannot last, but we do it for a crown that will last forever.” I Corinthians 9:25 CEV

“ I am grateful that God always makes it possible for Christ to lead us to victory. God also helps us spread the knowledge about Christ everywhere, and this knowledge is like the smell of perfume.” II Corinthians 2:14 CEV

You’re in a race today – enjoy it! Spread the news of the One who makes you a winner!

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How Great Is God’s Love?

From that moment in the garden when Adam sinned, God the Father put His plan in place to restore us.

“But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:15-17 NLT

God’s love for us is so great that He gave His Only Son as the way for us to have eternal life with Him.

We look back to Christ’s crucifixion on the cross and we thank God for what He did to restore us in our relationship with Him. Those in the Old Testament looked forward to the promise that there would be a Savior to come.

David’s writings in the Psalms were filled with praise for God’s faithfulness and love. He was writing about that same hard-to-understand, incomparable love of God that the Apostle Paul wrote about in Ephesians.

“The Lord’s Wonderful Love

1 With all my heart I praise the Lord, and with all that I am I praise his holy name!
2 With all my heart I praise the Lord! I will never forget how kind he has been. 3 The Lord forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick, 4  and protects us from death.
His kindness and love are a crown on our heads. 5 Each day that we live, he provides for our needs and gives us the strength of a young eagle.

6 For all who are mistreated, the Lord brings justice. 7 He taught his Law to Moses
and showed all Israel what he could do.

8 The Lord is merciful! He is kind and patient, and his love never fails. 9 The Lord won’t always be angry and point out our sins; 10 he doesn’t punish us as our sins deserve. 11 How great is God’s love for all who worship him? Greater than the distance between heaven and earth! 12 How far has the Lord taken our sins from us? Farther than the distance from east to west!

13 Just as parents are kind to their children, the Lord is kind to all who worship him, 14 because he knows we are made of dust. 15 We humans are like grass or wild flowers that quickly bloom. 16 But a scorching wind blows, and they quickly wither to be forever forgotten.

17 The Lord is always kind to those who worship him, and he keeps his promises to their descendants 18 who faithfully obey him.” Psalm 103:1-18 CEV

If you grew up thinking that God was writing down all your faults and frailties so that He could condemn you this Psalm should be a daily read. Yes, He knows our faults and our failings, but He has chosen to forgive them and forget them.

This Psalm answers the question in today’s title. How Great is God’s Love? Greater than the distance between heaven and earth!

Let His love embrace you!

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Keep Life Spicy

Yesterday I was making homemade pizza for our dinner. I really enjoy cooking with fresh vegetables. As I was slicing and dicing, my mind began to wander. How many kinds of peppers are there?

I had just chopped jalapenos, green bell peppers, used diced green chili peppers and sprinkled on some fresh ground black pepper. When the pizza was done, we would sprinkle on some red pepper flakes. There are ghost peppers, habanero, poblano, serrano, and those are just the ones that I am familiar with. How many other kinds of peppers are there around the world?

Why didn’t God just stop after he had created three or four varieties? Wouldn’t that have been enough to add spice to our lives?

As I was pondering that I began humming a children’s chorus from Sunday School days: Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white they are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.

God did with people what He had done with peppers. He created variety.

“The Scriptures say no one who has faith will be disappointed, 12 no matter if that person is a Jew or a Gentile. There is only one Lord, and he is generous to everyone who asks for his help. 13  All who call out to the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:11-13 CEV

Jew or Gentile (all of us who aren’t Jews), the Lord is generous to us ALL. ALL who call on Him will have salvation. No one is excluded from God’s plan of reconciliation. No one has been set outside of His grace. No one will be rejected. All people have infinite value to our God and heavenly Father.

The family of God is an all-inclusive melting pot from the nations. Jesus told the disciples to go into ALL the world and preach the gospel.

John wrote this in the book of Revelation.

“After this, I saw a large crowd with more people than could be counted. They were from every race, tribe, nation, and language, and they stood before the throne and before the Lamb. They wore white robes and held palm branches in their hands, 10 as they shouted

‘Our God, who sits upon the throne, has the power to save his people, and so does the Lamb.’” Revelation 7:9-10 CEV

Heaven will be filled with those from every tribe and nation. The message of God’s love reaches to the whole of humanity. If it could be bought, it would only be available to the wealthy. We receive salvation by grace so that no one would be excluded.

We have so much we can learn from all who are in the body of Christ.

My meals would be bland and boring without the use of peppers. I’m glad God saw fit to make so many varieties to spice things up. But I am even more thankful that He has included ALL who come to Him with sincere hearts into the family of God.

Together we have a way of spicing things up for His glory!

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The Purpose of Praise

It’s Monday morning and that’s reason enough to start the day with praise. Praise brings us peace and praise also accentuates God’s power.

There is a Psalm that I often use in my blogs but mostly I only use the last half of it, verses 13-21. This morning as I was reading it was the first verses that really spoke to me.

“ I will tell of your greatness, my God and King.
    I will praise your name forever and ever.
2 I will praise you every day.
    I will praise your name forever and ever.
3 The Lord is great and deserves all our praise!
    No one can fully understand his greatness!
4 Each generation will praise you
    and tell the next generation about the great things you do.
5 Your majesty and glory are wonderful.
    I will tell about your miracles.
6 People will tell about the amazing things you do,
    and I will tell everyone how great you are.
7 They will talk about your goodness
    and sing about your justice.

8 The Lord is kind and merciful,
    patient and full of love.
9 The Lord is good to everyone.
    He shows his mercy to everything he made.
10 Lord, all you have made will give thanks to you.
    Your loyal followers will praise you.
11 They will tell how great your kingdom is.
    They will tell how great you are.
12 So others will learn about the mighty things you do,
    about the glory of your kingdom—how marvelous it is!
13 Your kingdom will never end,
    and you will rule forever.” Psalm 145:1-13 ERV

Things around us seem to change constantly but not God! He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is always kind, always good. He is love and His love endures forever. He shows mercy and gives grace. He is just and mighty, He is patient. He forgives sin and makes all things new.

“17 Never stop praying. 18 In everything give thanks. This is what God wants you to do because of Christ Jesus. ” I Thessalonians 5:17-18 NLV

Never stop praying and never stop praising. Our God never abandons us, and He has a definite plan for our peace and our good.

“ Do not worry. Learn to pray about everything. Give thanks to God as you ask Him for what you need. 7 The peace of God is much greater than the human mind can understand. This peace will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NLV

The Word of God is our solid foundation. It keeps us stable in the storm. The purpose of praise is to focus on God’s power and that brings peace always, even in the midst of the storm!

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His Goodness

Last year we focused on the love of God during the month of January, this year the Lord has put it on my heart to center our thoughts on the goodness of God.

There is so much around us that isn’t good. There are those who choose to call good evil and evil good.

We who know and follow Christ are called to be ambassadors for Christ, pointing to God’s goodness and grace.

“For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” II Corinthians 5:19-21 NLT

An ambassador is someone who is a representative for a country or government, living in a foreign land. They present the thoughts and intents of their ruler or monarch to those in the land where they reside temporarily. They are backed and supported, in the foreign land, by their king or ruler.

We are Christ’s ambassadors on this earth. Our message is one of reconciliation. We are to bring God’s love, goodness and peace to this land we live in.

“Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?” Romans 2:4 NLT

Other translations say that God’s goodness is what will cause people to turn to Him.

Here’s the big question. How will they know about God’s goodness unless we tell them?

” All who call out to the Lord will be saved. 14 How can people have faith in the Lord and ask him to save them, if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear, unless someone tells them?…17 No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ.” Romans 10:13-17 CEV

We have received a commission – an assignment. We have a purpose.

“Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20 and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.” Matthew 28:19-20 CEV

Join me as an ambassador; let’s take the message of the goodness of God to the people in our world.

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A New Start

In the beginning…a New Year, a blank slate, a clean page, a new horizon, a fresh start. How many more clichés can I come up with? You get the point.

Will this year start any differently that those in the past? High expectations are easily replaced by disappointment unless the beginning has a solid foundation.

Going to take you to two verses this morning.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 KJV

“In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God.” John 1:1 CEV

The best was to start this new year is to have God in your beginning!

God the Father and His creative power is here to fill your beginning. And God the Son, Jesus, the Word, is here as our example of what life is like when we depend upon the Father.

Oh and one more verse.

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:26-27 KJV

God the Holy Spirit has come to remind us of what the Word says about our relationship with the Father and this will bring us peace! What a great way to begin this year and it’s a great way to walk through each day!

May your New Year be filled to overflowing the love and peace of God!

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Looking Forward

This year my January blog focused on God’s love for us. I hope you remember some of those blogs and that refer back to them from time to time, especially when you are feeling overwhelmed and underappreciated.

God’s love never fails.

I feel a good way to end the year is the way we started. Love and gratitude are the best way to start each day.

I like recording my thoughts and prayers in a journal. Physically writing down my first thoughts of the day. 99% of the time those writings start with “Thank You Father for loving me. I love you.”

As we look forward to 2025, I almost typed 2026, let’s not rush it. As we look forward to 2025 I’m sure we are beginning to make plans and set goals. A special vacation destination, something new for the home, start a new business or hobby, a visit with those we love, a new job, or maybe even losing a few pounds will all make it to the list.

I hope the resolve that tops the list is to be more loving.

“My friends, we should all love each other. It is God who makes us able to love other people. Everyone who loves other people has become a child of God. That person knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love other people does not know God. We know this because God’s own nature is love. 9 This is how God showed that he loves us: He sent his only Son to come and live in the world. He did that so that we could have true life with God because of his Son. 10 This shows what love is: It is not that we have loved God, but that he loved us. He loved us so much that he sent his Son to save us from sin. He sent Jesus to die as a sacrifice, to take the punishment for our sins.

11 My friends, this shows how much God has loved us. So we should also love one another.” I John 4:7-11 EASY

None of us deserved the sacrifice that Christ made on the cross. It was a complete act of His love. He provided forgiveness for all and with that forgiveness we can receive a right relationship with the Father.

“Jesus died as a sacrifice to take the punishment for our sin. Then God could forgive us. Jesus did that not only for us. He did it for all people in the world, so that God could forgive them for their sins.” I John 2:2 EASY

Our love for others should be an outward display of our love for God.

There is not one person born who God has not loved and offered forgiveness too. If God has deemed them worthy of love, then “we should also love one another”.

Looking forward my prayer will be “Father, I desire to show more of Your love to those I meet. I want to be like Jesus and follow His command to love one another.”

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Keep Going

The year is almost over and maybe you are feeling disappointed or discouraged that you didn’t get more done.

You had goals and hopes that have not yet been accomplished, keep going!

Just because the calendar date is about to change it doesn’t mean that you have failed. As long as you are making progress you are succeeding. There are baby steps and giant leaps, both are forward progress.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:9-10

God has a plan for each of us, something that is designed for our personality and is for our benefit. Don’t give up.

If you are weary stop and rest but don’t quit.

“Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 ERV

“The Lord is my shepherd. I will always have everything I need. 2 He gives me green pastures to lie in. He leads me by calm pools of water. 3 He restores my strength. He leads me on right paths to show that he is good.” Psalm 23:1-3 ERV

Let the Lord restore you. His strength is sufficient in every situation. He knew how to rest in the midst of a storm.

A number of years ago we were hosts at a campground in the mountains. One day I saw an eagle across the valley, it was circling in the sky. There was a stiff wind. As the eagle circled it was soaring, without effort, on the air’s current. I must have watched for almost 30 minutes. The eagle continued to soar higher and higher until it was covered by the clouds.

“Even young people get tired, then stumble and fall. 31 But those who trust the Lord will find new strength. They will be strong like eagles soaring upward on wings; they will walk and run without getting tired.” Isaiah 40:30-31 CEV

Someone needs to be reminded to keep going. I just got reminded by the Holy Spirit and these verses.

It’s time to soar!

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The Best Gifts

This morning my heart is filled with gratitude and joy.

God has graciously blessed every one of us with so many wonderful gifts.

“ He gives us everything we need for life and for holy living. He gives it through His great power. As we come to know Him better, we learn that He called us to share His own shining-greatness and perfect life. 4 Through His shining-greatness and perfect life, He has given us promises. These promises are of great worth and no amount of money can buy them. Through these promises you can have God’s own life in you now that you have gotten away from the sinful things of the world which came from wrong desires of the flesh.” II Peter 1:3-4 NLV

My heart is filled with gratitude this morning; God’s amazing love is overwhelming; His peace passes all understanding (that means I can’t figure out how I can have so much peace when things seem anything but peaceful) and His grace (giving me what I don’t deserve) is so marvelous!

Each day I have the opportunity to receive these gifts anew; each day I have the opportunity to share these gifts with others; each day I have the joy of saying thank you to my wonderful Father who has given these gifts to me!

“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” Ephesians 4:7 KJV

The gifts we have been given are not for our benefit alone. We have the opportunity to share them with others. The Holy Spirit is the giver of these gifts. He empowers us so that we become a blessing to others.

Just as our hands help our feet by putting on our shoes and socks or our sense of smell helps to keep us from eating something that is spoiled, our Spirit-given gifts help others in the body of Christ to grow and mature in the things of God.

“The Holy Spirit works in each person in one way or another for the good of all. 8 One person is given the gift of teaching words of wisdom. Another person is given the gift of teaching what he has learned and knows. These gifts are by the same Holy Spirit. 9 One person receives the gift of faith. Another person receives the gifts of healing. These gifts are given by the same Holy Spirit. 10 One person is given the gift of doing powerful works. Another person is given the gift of speaking God’s Word. Another person is given the gift of telling the difference between the Holy Spirit and false spirits. Another person is given the gift of speaking in special sounds. Another person is given the gift of telling what these special sounds mean. 11 But it is the same Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, Who does all these things. He gives to each person as He wants to give.” I Corinthians 12:7-11 NLV

We receive our gifts from God and then we use them for His glory.

No one is left out. Everyone receives. Share what you’ve been given. It will be a wonderful blessing to those around you!

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