I believe that God created us, not to live in isolation, but in community. This means that the best version of myself is when I contribute to the whole, not just to my own needs. Community support is true on so many levels that our obligation to do our duty and to make our contribution demands that we return something of value back to the whole.
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus Conversations Within ts 8/22/
New mercies rise with the sun. New grace greets me as I get out of bed. Today is a new adventure in discovery, to explore and experience all God desires to be for us this day.
His mercies are new every morning.
Lord, let my life, my thoughts, words and actions be the redolence of Your presence in me to those around me. Let my every interaction spread your sweet fragrance to the world.
“For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing…” 2Cor.2.15 Conversations Within ts 8/21/2023
I find that God is constant in His commitment to my highest good, and tenacious in bringing it about. Goodness greets me everyday. He asks for my active participation in it by simply taking Him at His word. To trust Him is to step into the embrace of His goodness.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” Lk.15.20 Conversations Within ts 8/21/
The obits of Moses sound good to me. What a way to go! I am sure he would credit his health and longevity not just to God, but to abiding in His presence. It makes perfect sense that life, health and peace surround and emanate from Him. To stay close to Him is to abide in life itself.
“I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Jesus Conversations Within ts 8/19/
It is wise to consider the approach, not just our goal. A parent may want their children to make good choices, but how we decide to encourage this can affect if they will want to listen. Wisdom instructs its own counsel before it is offered.
“The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips.” Prov.16.23 Conversations Within ts
I wake and look out the window of our van parked in the woods, and realize what a magical life has been granted me. God allows us so many wonderful choices. I thank Him for the freedom to choose, but I also thank Him for tweaking them for my own good.
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.” Prov.
Some things are best handled with a long term attitude and approach. Just because it cannot be completed today, does not mean it cannot be completed. Stay with it. You’ll get
“Let endurance have its perfect work.” James Conversations Within ts 8/15/2023
There are a number of occasions where the energy of courage has served me. I realize that courage is a complement to God, because its confidence comes from knowing that He is faithful, and helps those who hope in Him.
“Yes, my soul, find rest in
How can we say that God is good in the face of so much that is bad about our world. What gives? Well, God gives freedom of choice to humans and with it the consequences of loving Him or not. Love can only exist in freedom. Everything bad in our world comes from the abuse of this freedom.
“I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” Deut.30.19 Conversations Within ts 8/12/
The praise of life is the experience that causes it. Don’t just take in life experiences, take in the One who grants and dwells in them. God dwells in our experiences of Him. You are His to enjoy. He is yours also to enjoy! YAHTEHEYATE!
“I will praise the LORD all my life…” Ps.146. Conversations Within ts 8/11/
I am at the age where I can easily overdo it, and injure myself. A good friend, who happens to be a doctor, advised me that when I do something, I should use slow, purposeful movements. Live with ease, live with grace, live with deliberate purpose.
“Desire without knowledge is not good-- how much more will hasty feet miss the way!” Prov.19.2 Conversations Within ts 8/10/
People cannot read our mind, and sometimes they fail to understand our words. A part of the problem is that we are communicating all the time. Our attitudes, actions and words make up our life’s message. It is not simply a matter of what we want to say at the moment, but what we have been saying all along that is often heard.
“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” 1Jo.3.18 Conversations Within ts 8/10/2023
I am sort of a barefoot state of mind person. My best dress is no dress. Still, we are encouraged to dress in our party clothes, and break out the best of everything with the singular purpose of enjoying life. I am not surprised that enjoyment is one of the chief designs of our Creator. Do not forget how to play in the fields of the Lord.
“Always be clothed in your celebration clothes.”
If the life of the Christian is anything, it is a celebration. Let the celebrations begin! Let the celebrations continue. Christ is the first of many gifts that God gives to the world. We celebrate Him every day when we wrap ourselves as a present of kindness to those around us.
“This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord--a lasting ordinance.” Conversations Within ts 8/7/
The word “nice” used to mean “ignorant.” Over time the word came to mean “pleasant.” Funny how words can change meaning in a society. I found myself avoiding the word “Christian” because of all the negatives associated with it in our day, none of which are “Christian” at all. It dawns on me that the original use of the word Christian is something I do want to be associated with. It means Christlike!
“He saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts…good…full of the Holy Spirit and faith… The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”Conversations Within ts 8/6/2023
We were created as stewards, to care for and nurture the world. It is our fundamental purpose to make the world a better place. We were born for this. Choose something today and make it better.
“The LORD God took the
There is so much sight in the insight of this woman, who at this moment in her life could only hope to see what I see every day. Now, my hope is her reality, and I walk the path of faith that is now her sight. Physical sight is wonderful, but spiritual sight is what gives everything meaning. How sad that so many can see with the eyes of the body but remain blind to the realities of the spirit.
“God is light.” 1Jo.1.5 Conversations Within ts 8/3/
Let me be grateful, especially in the midst of suffering. Gratitude works a powerful energy in us to resist ever feeling sorry for ourselves, and rise up and overcome.
“In everything give thanks…” Conversations Within ts 8/2/
Who doesn’t like the easy path? But the truth is that God, in His wisdom, has decided that many joys are found only at the top of the difficult hike. Often God’s strength comes to us in the form of grit and determination- the inner encouragement to dig in and start climbing. I can do this becomes I am doing this.
“I can do all things through the One who gives me strength.” Conversations Within ts 8/1/
My cup is always running over. I would drink daily from the goodness in my life. You have been so very kind and gracious to me. When I remember our adventures together, there are too many to number. I thank You from the bottom of my heart. I thank you for the confidence that there is so much more to come.
“My
Everywhere I go, I experience the presence of the Holy Spirit. I have never felt alone a single day in my life. He is with me in nature, haunting the morning light as it dances on the leaves. He stirs my soul when I hear music, or listen to a stream running over rocks. I sense His presence every time I witness an act of kindness. He is, of course, a friendly Ghost, and I am grateful for His companionship.
“I am with you always.” Jesus Ps.16 Conversations
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Make your home, not in some external structure, but in the very depths of your soul. Set your deepest affections, not on what is passing and temporal, but the eternal, and abide there. Diligently teach yourself the skill of dwelling; of knowing where your home is and how to remain there.
“Abide in me and I in
Lord forgive my hypocrisy. I silently judge some action or attitude in another but fail to condemn and deny my own, even when I know you disapprove. I know that I will never arrive in this place, but there is no excuse when I fail to deal with my own sins and then question someone else's. Help me silence my judgments and cooperate with a good pruning.
“You have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” Jesus
Humans are notorious in our corruption of what is sacred. I fear that many modern notions about “love,” simply evidence another corruption. Love isn't love if it leads us away from spiritual, emotional and physical health rather than to God’s purposes. God is love in all its goodness, not some temporary consoling of human passions?
“God is love. Whoever abides in love abides in God and God in them.” Conversations Within ts 7/25/
I can honestly say that the Spirit of Jesus excites life in me. He has become the beat and rhythm of every song, and moves me to turn up the volume and dance with delight. Every day He wakes me with an invitation to enjoy sharing the day together.
“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill
