Month: September 2026

Posted on

Our Time With Jesus

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in the newness of life. Romans 5:4

In the brief period of time that the sum of our years spans, the moments we spend with Jesus will be treasured above all others

No other thought or reflection will be as filled with the meaning, or endowed with value, as those times when we draw close to the Lord

When we speak to Him in the quiet times of prayer, we are actually talking to the creator of all the universe

No other companion is as high. Nor, does any dwell beyond the boundary of the created. Yet with love, He comes to us and dwells richly with those who trust in Him

There is no other like our God. None that acts on behalf of those who believe in Him. Or any that can save us and carry us upon His salvation to life eternal

How great is our God! And what joy there is in knowing His Son. He is God’s personality manifested unto us

He is our savior. The one who knew us long before we were born and who cares for us even to this day

How blessed it is to know our Lord, Jesus Christ, and to walk with Him each day

How strengthening is His Spirit within us. What health it gives to our heart and perfect wisdom it provides for the foundation of our minds

We only walk upon this earth for so many years. Each of our days is numbered. How great then is the gift of His life to us

Our lives are of great value. But this value is only made real by the power of Christ in us

Only as we live before Him in faith and humble ourselves in His presence, do we begin to release that treasure that He has place within us

No other experience or sentimental moment; No pinnicle of earthly acheivement, or reward of great success apart from God, is as filled with such richness, truth, and life; As those times spent in the holy presence of Jesus 

For He alone is preparing us for that day. That glorious day when He returns again and brings us into His presence within the Kingdom of God. Amen.  11/8/2006

Posted on

Bareroots

Many plants have an amazing ability to survive and regenerate even after extremely traumatic events. They can get uprooted, torn into pieces, or have every part broken off and carried away. Even through all of this, they can sprout anew, sometimes stronger than before. Plants that grow along rivers and streams which frequently flood, are especially adapted to regenerate. When high waters come through and tear and break up everything in its path, the pieces of plants that come to rest in the mud and debris sprout roots and grow in their new home. Gardeners have learned to take advantage of this trait to propagate almost every plant under the sun. 

Sometimes in our our own live’s we may experience our own uprooting. We may experience a quick change that pulls us clean out of where we’ve been that places into an entirely new situation. We can get torn loose from a job, experience a sudden loss; or, are stunned by a new medical diagnosis. It might be something completely unexpected and it leaves us struggling to adapt into a whole new situation.

Or maybe God has strongly showed you His will, and He is encouraging you to make a big change in your life. It may be that He is encouraging you to give up something that is at odds with living a Christian life. God’s leading, through His Spirit will do that sometimes and it is up to us to take a deep breath and follow His lead. After all, who knows better than our God at what’s best for us.

Remember those examples you have read in the Bible. When Paul had plans to go and continue to spread the gospel in familiar parts of Greece. He was instead, led by the Spirit to go into Macedonia. It was there that he was given the opportunity to minister to the people in Eastern Europe for the first time. Or when Esther, found herself in an extremely difficult situation that threatened her life and the lives of millions of her people. She decided to take a risk, plant herself in front of the king and plead her cause. It saved her people, and exposed an evil and racist plot. The Bible is full of such historic stories, and I know that similar things are happening all the time, at every scale, even today.

Life is full of surprises, and many times they can be difficult to overcome. But take heart, who can predict what God may do in our lives after they have been disrupted. I know that it could seem like a disaster, but God always intends things for our good. We might become more stressed than we thought we could endure. But be confident, God is continually watching out for us. He will be with you in every situation. God will see you through this time and care for you as your roots become established again. 

Can I give you some encouragement? Go where God leads you. It is human nature to resist change and cling with all our might to the past and what we have. But our God looks with eyes that view far beyond what our dim sight can see. They see the future and the ripples that grow outward from our lives. He sees how we can affect many different people for good. People we may never have heard of, or perhaps never know. So try to let go of your tight grip on things that aren’t really ours to begin with. Be strong, and know that He has a purpose and plan for every change that comes into our life.

It may be hard, but try to keep a positve attitude towards the new things God is doing in your life. Be patient and in time your own roots will sink down around you and secure you. Stay close to God throughout these times. Pray and read His Word each day. Immerse your life in God’s way and He will show you the best path forward. Learn to be thankful in all things, for God can make any situation like a gift for our lives. Remember, God is working out some sublime and marvelous plan that will eventually take root and bear fruit. In time may you rejoice in the changes that God has brought. May it open up a whole new range of possibilities for your life.

Posted on

Follow The Way of The Lord

The way of life winds upward for the wise, that they may turn away from hell below. Proverbs 15:24

Be obedient unto the Lord, Jesus Christ, even if the way ahead is unclear

Follow His way, and you will not fall, or be confused through deceit or lies

For our God upholds His children. He casts a fence of protection around His own

Learn to follow the lead of our Lord. Listen to His Words and be attentive to His Spirit

Do not discount the voice of God, or, you will be weighed down with many troubles

Look not at the sparkle cast off from this world. Or, be decieved by the allures of sin. For it will only lead towards the destruction of your relationship with God. Which will weigh you down with ills, pain, and disharmony

Turn then, towards the Lord, our God. Look intently upon Him. Cast yourself on His path, and set all your ways upon Him

For He is good and full of mercy. He will not lead you astray, or disown you. But, will surely watch over you with might, to protect and guide you

Be strong, don’t give up because of small difficulties

Be brave, never give in to sin, or, allow yourself to be decieved. For you know the way to go

You have followed His Word and obeyed His Spirit. You have tasted and know that the Lord is good. So never turn back. Don’t even allow yourself a glance to the left or right

Look steadfast upon the Lord, Jesus Christ. For He is our hope

He is the savior of all mankind

Rest upon His Word. Meditate upon all His goodness and love for us. Sing praises unto Him and rely on Him. For our God is incredibly great far beyond our understanding

Obey Him and never give in to the temptation of lesser things. Take the high road.

For only in God are we made whole and complete, and only through Him can we be saved

12/17/2007

Posted on

The Miracle of Our Life

Those who heeds the Word wisely, will find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy are they.  Proverbs 16:20

Lord, You have blessed me all the days of my life. Even when I was at my lowest, You came beside me and lifted me up

I thank you Lord, for You have been good to me. My soul is lifted up, When I think about how your love saved and guided me throughout my life

On this day, when my life has been challenged by illness, I remember the beautiful things You have shown me

There are memories of my mother and father,  who’s love and care helped me each day

God, You blessed me, You created me with eyes that could look intently upon this world, and see deeply into its wonder and beauty

You bore me into a world of Your own creation. A place made for me and all the life that resides here

I can almost feel those cool refreshing breezes, as I recall a view up into the sky when I was a child. When I was in awe of the sight of puffy white clouds, like popcorn, floating by on a fresh spring day

And the wonder I felt when I saw a large butterfly land on a nearby flower. Its bright yellow wings glowing bright in our garden on an April day

I remember the first time I saw granite cliffs towering above me in the valley of Yosemite. And on another day many years later, the view I saw from one of its highest peaks

In this place of wonder I learned about You. From my early days I knew that You were God. I came to know that You were just and good in all of Your ways, and that You had made all that is

My life took a lot of twists and turns over my years. But, the knowledge that You were God stayed with me. Sometimes it was faint, almost absent; sometimes powerful and filling me 

My faith has been a journey. I learned the hard lessons of sin many times over, yet, I always returned to You, for what else could I do?

You were always just to forgive me, though sometimes it took a long time for me to accept the gift of Your incredible mercy

Truly God, You have blessed my life

Even now, and especially now, because of my weakness, I have run back to You. Yet, this illness has become my renewed strength in You

My condition has cleared my eyes and sharpened my mind as to what really matters in life. Things that had occupied my time and attention don’t seem to mean as much now

My life, in relation to You, has come into a sharper focus. It is a source of strength and assurance to me in these days

Your Words are true, Lord; They have spoken to me throughout my life. I cherish all of Your Words, and the revelations You bring through Your Spirit

How amazing is this life You have given us; How incalcuably magnificant is our life

They are gifts from Your loving hands to each of us

Yet, how weak and small are we; For a great part of our lives we think we are in control, that we know best, but God has the final answer

God’s way is always good. His Word directs us towards strength of life and wisdom. They protect us from every kind of danger

Learn to appreciate this life you have been given; It is a miracle…

Learn to appreciate how amazing each and every gift of life is. Be thankful for all that you have and all that you are. 7/5/2026

Posted on

An Evening Service

Thus says the Lord, our God, “Who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread forth the Earth and that which comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it?”  Isaiah 42:5

One recent evening, I took a twilight walk out through my garden. The stars were just beginning to shine and there was a new cresent moon hanging low in the western sky. It was one of those balmy late summer evenings and the scent of herbs and rich soil graced the soft night breeze. I thought, what a tremendous blessing we have been given in this natural world. Each day we come in contact with so many treasures, wonders from this creation, that we can see, smell, and taste. Things that enrich all of our senses. I am continually in awe at what our God has done through His creative work. Evenings such as these humble me, but at the same time lift my spirits. For I know that even within this vast and complex universe, He knows my name. He cares about my life.

As I looked at the rows of flowers and vegetables, I could almost imagine them at a worship service giving praise to God. Each was standing up tall and straight with their leaves uplifted towards the heavens above. At this time of year they appeared so strong, filled with flower and fruit. There was such abundance being produced here, and I could not possibly use it all. I would need to give much away. What joy was being produced here. I felt just like a guest of this congregation that night, so I raised my arms in praise, too.

As the last twilight dimmed, the sky became inky black. Many distant stars shined brilliantly from horizon to horizon. There, above me was the Milky Way, our galaxy, with its hundreds of billions of stars tracing itself from north to south across the heavens. How profound all this starlight is. Each point another sun, a new and unique place created by our Father in heaven. What wonders lie in these other worlds? Will God allow us to venture out from here and visit them someday? In times like these I can hear the voice of God speak, not audibly, but perceptually, and it echoes throughout all of creation. They are His quiet words that speak of the glory of His power and creative ability.

As I walked down towards the far end of the garden, I could hear the sounds of a hundred Crickets playing their unique song in the Fruit trees. It seemed they had been enjoying this beautiful evening as much as I had. Perhaps, in their own way, they were giving glory to God, too. I could not help, but join them in giving thanks to our great and glorious God. For He has given me an entire lifetime to glorify Him amidst this great congregation of amazing things.