Be Still and Know...Then and Now

  We started the book of James in Sunday school yesterday. One of the things that continually amazes me about God’s word is it’s ability to transform and come alive. No matter how many times you have read a particular passage it is always faithful to meet you in a new and different way. Just listen… James 1: 22-25 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. not forgetting what he has heard…. The verse from Hebrews 4:12 is never more crystal clear when it describes Gods word as “living and active.” In those moments when you are delving into the word and you hav...

Mocha with Linda shared this "I've had our bloggy friend Lidna on my heart as she is grieving the loss of a dear friend. And while I don't want this to be a gloomy or painful Flashback Friday, I thought it would be interesting to reflect on how we experienced grief in our early years." I think we all share in Linda's grief over the loss of a dear friend. As we all reflect on how we approach the grieving process let us all take a moment to pray for Diane's family and friend as the remember the person that they loved who has gone on before them. I have to share with all of you that when I think of this week's prompt I look upon it with a different point of view. One of the things I learned from my Stephen Ministry training was that the majority of people shy away from talking about the grieving process or the topic of death. The other thing I learned is that those who are going through the process although they may not ask for it actually want to talk a...

The other day during my bible study our facilitator opened up our study time with a prayer. Now this in itself is not unusual, we always open with a word of prayer. What I noticed were three words she spoke at the end of her prayer. After the prayer was over I leaned over and whispered to a friend that these words brought back a memory of my grandmother. I do not recall a prayer from her mouth that did not include these three words. It is one of those regrets in life that I learned the hard way, I wish now I had paid more attention to those precious moments and possible written some of them down, but sadly I did not. The ignorance of youth and the illusion that we have all the time in the world is such a fantasy. I have such a clear picture of my grandmother sitting at the head of our table and bowing her beautiful silver haired head to bless our meal. Her hands were so gnarled from arthritis that it was painful to look at them but none the less she would lift them and attempt to place...

No warm fuzzes tonight. I have my house to myself finally. Everyone is asleep and I have a moment to myself. My accountability sisters and I have spoken about this many times. When you experience an extended period of emotional turmoil it becomes very similar to having a chronic illness. As I again digest this latest episode of turmoil and pain with my rebellious son I have to wonder what will come next. I m not looking forward to the next ten days (get a job or get another place to live, after five plus weeks of sleeping until 11:30 and little progress in the employment front we have as per usual had to hold his feet to the fire and actually hold him accountable for his actions) It would not matter if was the next thirty days for the result would not be any different. My conflict comes in wanting the tension, animosity, deceit and disrespect out of my home and wanting peace. My heartbreak at the grieving I am experiencing at the prospect of the life and the potential he is spitting on...