Meat for the Hungry

timothy-eberly-wnrxQGBhbh8-unsplash YOU ARE NOT ALONE March 16 th will be week four of our all-church study on the Book of Job. It’s been great so far. Still, I can’t wait until we arrive at the final five chapters. In them, we will see the LORD’s resplendent and reassuring omnipotence. Nevertheless, the beginning chapters of Job are not comforting. They’re ominous, sort of how some think of March 15 th .  So, let’s take a short detour.   Did you know the 15 th day of March is also known as the Ides of March? Maybe “you’ve…heard the soothsayer’s warning to Julius Caesar in William Shakespeare’s play of the same name: ‘ Beware the Ides of March …’” [1] immortalizing the assassination of Julius Caesar on March 15, 44 BC. However, originally, “…Ides simply referred to the first full moon of a given month. Since the Roman calendar was based on lunar cycles, a full moon usually fell between the 13th and 15 th . In fact, the Ides of March once signified the new year…” [2] ...

https://elements.envato.com/female-driver-with-blooded-face-sitting-in-the-car-ZKTPLM2 In the wee hours of the morning, a tan Ford Focus drove left of center. Tires screeched. Metal clashed and crumpled. Whimpers and cries escaped the victim’s vehicle, but the other remained silent. Amidst sirens and flashing lights, rescue vehicles arrived. As paramedics filled the gurneys, a flash came from beneath the Ford. “It’s gonna blow,” a Fireman shouted, rushing to save the driver. “Just let me die,” Kathryn screamed. “I want to die. I don’t want to live.” “I can’t do that, Ma’am,” he yelled, yanking the door. It wouldn’t budge. “Bring the Jaws,” he hollered while other firefighters dashed to douse the car with chemical extinguishers. “No,” Kathryn shrieked, sobbing hysterically as the Jaws of Life opened her car like a tin can. Prying Kathryn from the wreckage, paramedics strapped her onto the last available gurney, checked her vitals, and slid her into the remaining ambulance. W...

      www.sewingdivine.com Jealousy, like poison, ruled their hearts. Although these chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things He did and heard the joyful squeals of children crying out, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” the blackness in their souls kept them from believing. Envy mixed with rage hurled words like daggers. “We must kill this heretic,” they said.   Satan stood in their midst, snickering. His plan to destroy the Son of God was nearing consummation. Slaying the Son would expel the Almighty, and Satan would be freed from his temporary prison to fully rule earth, its inhabitants, and soon, heaven.   Passover was at hand, and Satan saw his chance when Judas pocketed donated coins. Entering this disciple, he compelled him to strike a deal with the chief priests. For thirty pieces of silver, Judas would betray his Messiah.   Madness tormented as he led the soldiers to Jesus and identified the Holy One with a kiss. Throughout ...

  How quickly things change.   Tuesday, we buried my friend, my sister in Christ, my worship ministry partner, a person I greatly loved and admired. And the thing is, everybody felt the same way I did about her. She loved everyone, and everyone loved her. When Kim left this earth, she left a hole in our hearts and a vacancy in our church that only God can fill.   But this morning, as I was reminiscing, praying, and thinking about how to begin August’s newsletter, the LORD gave me a word – PILLAR – and the phrase, “…a pillar in the temple of My God….” [1]   I felt Jesus say to my heart, “Kim is one of My pillars. She shall go out no more. I have written My new name on her and the name of My city – the New Jerusalem.”   Tears escaped and wet my cheeks—tears of happiness for her—and tears of sadness for me and for those who miss her. Kim is seeing our God face to face, something she had longed to do since she met Him. He is keeping her close to His h...

Have you ever heard of the poem and book, Children Learn What They Live by Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.?   I think I’ve been aware of it all my adult life because my mother would quote it from time to time or at least quote the title. But just to refresh your memory, here’s a short excerpt:  If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn. If children live with hostility, they learn to fight. If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive…If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence…If children live with acceptance, they learn to love…If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness… [1]   Even though this comes from a secular point of view to me, it has always made sense. However, where true believers are concerned, the poem stops short, and we could add more. If children live with LOVE, they learn to trust. If children live with GRACE, they learn to forgive. If children live with RIGHTEOUSNESS , they learn uprightness of hear...