Delectable Thought

"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." Hebrews 11:6 Seven years ago on a hot August day, I faced my first crisis of belief. I did not doubt the existence of God, the sacrifice, burial and resurrection of His Son on my behalf, His creation of the world and His constant sustaining of life, but I doubted Him . The Him that I'd read about, heard about, taught about, sung about, written about. Was He  who He said He was? Would He do what He promised to do? Seven years ago, I'd received confirmation that the little girl I was carrying was not going to live. The length of her life in the womb and outside of it was unknown, but what was sure was that she would not live very long. In the weeks that passed after the diagnoses, my faith in God was not rocked. I did not doubt HIs existence or even HIs power. My belief in His nature was rocked like nothing befor...

"Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel." Proverbs 27:9 HCSB I once heard a very wise and godly friend of mine talk about being a life-giving person. She explained the significance and importance of giving life to others with words of encouragement, challenge, and kindness and NOT draining life through whining, complaining, a critical spirit and bitterness. This lesson has stuck with me and I've hoped to be a life -giver not a life drainer, yet it is a struggle. I've even thought of how this applies within my own home with my husband and children. May I be a life-giver and not a life-drainer! This past week I was blessed with a visit from three dear friends who are life-givers. They are undramatic, yet fun and adventurous. They are faithful and true, always ready with a kind, encouraging and challenging word. They are the type of friends with whom words are not necessary always. Their short visit was...

Many things are happening in FoCo. The weather has changed here. Gone are the days of bright sun and warm temperatures. Now the mornings are cold, the afternoons are warm and the evenings are cool. The leaves are changing colors rapidly and the sun is setting sooner. The prairie is still one of my favorite places to run. You just can't beat the sunrises and the sunsets. It is one of the more peaceful places here in FoCo. Recently, James asked to buy a birthday gift for a classmate and we picked out Hatch-a-mals. They are the neatest toys and always a surprise. They are all the rage at my house now. Bible Study Fellowship started and already I feel the conviction of studying Romans. I was struck by Paul's opening lines to the Romans, people whom he's never met at the time he's writing them a letter. He says that he does not cease to mention them in his prayers or to ask God that he might get to visit them.  It took Paul several years to get to Rome...