So much of the time we just see what we see and go on. We hear what we hear and move on. How are you? Fine, thank you, how are you? Fine. That’s nice. But that’s not really what’s going on. Or, that’s not all that’s going on. It never is. A friend of ours had been battling the ravages of cancer for many months and was ushered into glory a few days ago. I learned so much from him… the way he lived and the way he died was so instructive. He’s now seen the glorious morning beyond the…
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Though I use it most every day, it’s only every now and then that I take note of the verse imprinted on the cover of the notebook I’m currently using: “May the Lord bless you and keep you, and give you peace.” from Numbers 6.24-26 I have dozens of such books since I began note-taking & journaling many years ago. I’ve made a concerted effort to revisit the books from time to time — not only to see where I’ve been compared to where I am today, but to see what the Lord was showing me in Scripture, sermons, notes,…
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Over the years, standing at the sink many times each day, I’ve seen the most remarkable sights… all the changes each season brings. Through the years, I’ve become aware of what changes will come about in each of the different months. I look for what each new season brings–eagerly anticipating the blooms that will soon appear all over the yard… the tiny new, elegant leaves of the giant old weeping willow tree, the daffodils that will soon dance around the base of that old tree. Today was no different, the familiar sights were there… the earth pounding with the shoots…
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Just recently I was sharing with my church family the many times the Lord has given me a song for a season — songs playing in the theater of my mind in different seasons. Through the years, here in this blog, I’ve shared clips of songs or meaningful words that have carried me through difficult days or trials. Interestingly (and thankfully!), the Lord has often used music to direct or focus my thoughts. When my mind would tend to wander in caves of worry or despair, songs have been my pillar of fire in darkness; songs have been my anchor…
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Someday an Heirloom Marriage by pamela spurling written year-2000 I pray as we sit here at the kitchen table, that what I share with you today will be a blessing to you and a blessing in your home—I pray it will maybe even change the way you look at your marriage and perhaps it will never be the same again. So… Your Marriage is an Heirloom. An heirloom that, depending on its value, will be passed down for generations… I think most times, women don’t have any idea the value of what they have in their hand and that it…
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I’m thankful to have woken early this morning… long before my alarm was to ring (and more thankful now, that I didn’t disregard the purpose and attempt to go back to sleep). I’ve come to see that, in these sorts of times, the Lord has work to do in me — though, sadly, I often don’t see it or acknowledge it at the time. In such times, I know it’s sort of a wrestling match when I awake, instantly aware of the presence of the Lord — and then, almost simultaneously, I’m conflicted and reason (or attempt to negotiate…
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Earlier this morning I was viewing a movie trailer (August: Osage County) and just before I closed the window, near the end of that clip, I heard the line: Thank God we can’t tell the future; we’d never get out of bed.” I’ve heard that line (or other similar lines) so many times through the years… and, sadly, I think I always heard and internalized its unspoken ending. “Thank God we can’t tell the future; we’d never get out of bed [because it’s only going to be bad or because it’s not going to end up good].” Strange how sayings…
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Many years ago, I had the great privilege of meeting, and then getting to know, the dear Florence Turnidge. That meeting and subsequent friendship would become for me a living example and enduring encouragement. Florence had such a love for the Word of God and a zeal for the truth. My only regret was not meeting her sooner — well, that, and not keeping the habit of regularly memorizing scripture. To this day I find, stashed throughout our home, evidences of her ministry: Bible memory cards — key verses printed on cards for memorization. After I began memorizing Scriptures, I…
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Do you ever stop and wonder what the Lord has spared you from facing or what things He prevented or protected you from? Have you ever wondered about ‘near misses’ or things that would have happened had God not intervened on your behalf? I’ve been thinking about these sorts of things again today as I reflect on an incident that happened yesterday. I’d changed the sheets and bedding and was just finishing tucking in the quilt when something caught on my shoe. Looking down to see what it was, I could find nothing and so I got down to smooth…
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It’s sure a beautiful Springtime day here in the Snohomish Valley — it’s the kind of day that puts thoughts of rains and flooding to a very distant memory — though such a great possibility only a few short months ago. It’s funny how quickly a current reality can totally erase or totally eclipse another, isn’t it? As I walked around outside for the first time in a week, I stopped at each of the different garden beds and then on out to the vegetable garden where my initial delight was slightly dimmed by the vision of all the weeds……