Healing Prayer
So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” John 6:67-69 I love reading about the miracles of Jesus in the Gospels. Most involve healing, and usually people in a hopeless situation. As I get older, I feel like I am surrounded by friends, relatives and acquaintances that need healing. These include cancer, heart disease, diabetes, mental health, and more. As a Christian, I’ve been...
Read MoreChurch and the Forgotten Factor
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,And sustain me with a willing spirit.Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,And sinners will be converted to You. Psalm 51:12-13 NASB Since I settled down and started a family some 50 years ago, I have either been a church attender or member. I did this not because it’s what you should do as a Christian, but because I wanted to. I needed the infusion of the Holy Spirit every Sunday in order to stay spiritually fit. However, there came a time about 20 years ago when this commitment waned. I was going to a small Lutheran Church in Idaho and watched...
Read MoreDon’t Swim in a Green Pool
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. (1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV) Do you remember the green pool? During the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the normally clear water in the diving pool turned a brilliant grass green. Theories range from rain and lack of wind to the addition of hydrogen peroxide, but either way the color means there’s not enough chlorine to kill the bad stuff in the water. You don’t have to be a chemist or pool expert to know you don’t want to swim in that. When we moved to Florida, our boys were ecstatic that our new house has its own...
Read MoreCelebrate Women
She is strong and respected and not afraid of the future. Proverbs 31: 25 Good News As I write this, it is International Women’s Day, March 8th. Why do we need a day to recognize women? It is honorable to give prominence to people whose stories are untold or appear insignificant by prevailing measuring sticks. In many cultures, women are viewed as inferior, and we see that with women in politics, education, science, medicine, business, you name it. We don’t find non-profit agencies trying to raise funds to send just the boys/men to school and get them proper healthcare. But there...
Read MoreThe Lone Daffodil
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth. Isaiah 55:10-11 NASB After doing the morning “big boy” drop offs, Andrew and I arrived back home and noticed there was still some snow on the ground. We had been in California just the day before and were still adjusting to the much cooler temperatures. My focus was on getting us both in the door, turning up the heat a bit, and pouring a second cup of hot...
Read MoreWhere Do We Put Our Hope?
A king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. . . Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love . . Psalm 33:16, 18 RSV Where do we put our hope? I love America! I am proud to be an American. I am grateful to have won the lottery and been born here. I am grateful for the freedoms I enjoy – religious, economic, political, social. I vote. I have political leanings. I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had because I live here. I appreciate the service of our men and women in uniform. I...
Read MoreDon’t Wait
If possible, so far as it depends upon you, be at peace with all men. Romans 12:18 NASB I’ve been pondering regrets about words I didn’t say – words of encouragement or apology or gratitude or forgiveness that I failed to communicate in a timely manner. When my Daddy died, he was all there until the end. He understood everything I wanted to tell him. Even so, I had regrets. I wished I could ask him more questions about his life and thought and dreams and values. Why hadn’t I done more of that when he was able to think and speak well? In his last months, he no...
Read MoreSmall Faith
Jesus replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20-21 (NIV) What’s the difference between “little faith” and “small faith”?? One is a problem; one is powerful?? I’ve been pondering this the last week as first I celebrated the Lunar New Year, and then discussed this verse in my Bible study. With the new year comes plans—both big and small. I’ve found myself struggling with making goals and have been...
Read MoreHopeless in Seattle
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NASB I play a sport called pickleball, which, by the way, for the few of you who don’t play it, is the fastest growing sport in the U.S. It originated on Bainbridge Island in the late 1930s. When I came home from playing today my wife said, “Well, how’d you do?” I answered, “Oh, I could have done better.” “Why are you always so negative?” she responded, “After all you haven’t played for over a month.” I had to agree as I’ve heard her...
Read MoreTwo Are Better Than One
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor . . . A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9, 12b NIV For better or worse, I am hardwired to do things by myself. Asking for help is a sign of weakness. You never saw John Wayne asking for help. I grew up resonating with Henry Clay’s “the self-made man.” I connected with sayings like “pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps.” (Of course, I never really thought that through. It would be embarrassing if I really tried it. Especially at my age.) There are other sayings: “the...
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