Meat for the Hungry

  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...

  DAY FIVE   Father God, in the Almighty name of Jesus Christ, we pray today. You are our life, and it is in You we live and breathe and have our being. We ask that Your hand continues to move in our nation’s capitol to expose the lies. Yesterday was a fiasco. Evil people perpetrated egregious crimes. Deliver us from evil and comfort the Ashli Babbit family in their grief, as only Your Spirit can. Help, strengthen, and uphold them with Your righteous right hand. [1]   Lord, do not let her tragic death be in vain. Give Your great wisdom and emotional restraint to those fighting to keep this country free. Surround Your servants with Your hedge of protection and bless the work of their hands. [2] As they look to You and trust in You with all their hearts, please direct their paths. [3] Send Your angel before them that they may prosper in their way. [4]   Oh Lord our God, You are our Creator, the only true God who made the world and everything in it. You a...

     The bright sun of Babylon streamed through Daniel’s window as the aging prophet unrolled the scroll. Jeremiah, Jerusalem’s man of God, had sent it to Babylon years earlier. And when it first arrived, Daniel practically devoured this Word from the LORD.      Captured by King Nebuchadnezzar as a teenager, Daniel had lived in this pagan culture for about 67 years. Kings came and went during his lifetime, and recently the Empire had changed hands.      Yet Daniel’s God was in control. And this, God made evident sometime earlier when coworkers had plotted against Daniel.      Supposedly he had broken the king’s bogus law by praying to Almighty God instead of the king. As a result, they threw Daniel into the lion’s den. But this Most High God, proving to all that He is God and there is no other, [1] shut the lion’s mouths. [2]      Reminded of something in Jere...

Pennsboro, West Virginia When I was young and still, as I am old, I am amazed by God’s creation, not only flora and fauna i.e. trees, flowers, and animals, but the sky above and the earth beneath.  And I’ve always loved different and unique stones. Some stones I’d find on my hikes were the white or “lucky” stones and others furrowed with colors of tan , brown , and orange , peppered with golden sparkles. Out the back door, through the pastures greeting curious cows as I walked, finally arriving in the small wooded area perfectly framed by our upstairs window. This was my special place. It was shaded, cool, and quiet. Yet, in spots, the sun broke through beaming its rays like lasers. There, some stones I found were green and almost appeared to be alive. But no, it was only moss. And rinsing them with pond water sometimes yielded treasures. Northeast Ohio sky It tickles me now when my grandchildren find stones and say, “Look, Grammy, isn’t is pretty?” For a momen...