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Showing posts from February, 2019

Longing

"As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?"  Psalm 42:1-2 As the sun continued to bear down on us, the bales of hay began to feel heavier and heavier. The end of the field seemed to drift further out of view with the stacking of each row on the wagon. Sweat poured out of us as if an internal pipe had broke. We were all way beyond thirsty. Once the last few bales landed in place, we all turned our attention to the red spigot near the barn. Connected to a deep well, this spigot brought forth what to us seemed like the purest, coldest, and most refreshing water in the world. It was healing to both body and soul.  The author of our psalm for the day was desperately thirsty as well. Not for water. He was thirsty for God. Circumstances within and without had left him in a place of longing. It wasn't the way it was before. His people were not only tragically turning from G

A House Divided

"One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn't even find time to eat. When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. 'He's out of his mind,' they said. But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said,'He's possessed by satan, the prince of demons.' Jesus called them over and responded with an illustration. 'How can satan cast out satan?' he asked. 'A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. Similarly, a family splintered by feuding  will fall apart.'" Mark 3:20-25 By all measurements, this pro football team was poised to be a force few could match in its march to the championship. A two-time world champion quarterback and coach. A tough as nails defense with an equally spirited fan base behind them. Preseason expectations skyrocketed as their running back and one of their receivers rose to the league's best convers

One More Request

  "And the Lord replied to Moses,'I will indeed do what you have asked, for you have found favor with me, and you are my friend.' Then Moses had one more request. 'Please let me see your glorious presence,' he said. The Lord replied,'I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my own name, 'the Lord' to you..." Exodus 33:17-19 After nearly thirty one years of marriage, I like to think I know my sweetheart pretty well by now and vice-versa. We've traveled some rough terrain as well as smooth waters seeing each other at our best and our worst. And yet, I find myself marveling on a regular basis at something new I discover about her that causes me to pause in wonder. It may be a depth of thought, an emotional nuance, a strength of will, a physical capability or a spiritual awareness that provides me with a more complete picture of, as well as appreciation for, who she is. Incredibly, Moses and God were friends. That&

Growing Cold

"...Will there be any sign ahead of time to signal your return and the end of the world? ... Many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. Many false prophets will appear and will lead many people astray. Sin will be rampant everywhere and the love of many will grow cold. But those who endure to the end will be saved." Matthew 24:3-13 Every year in our house around September/October, our family gathers around for the annual launch of the gas burning fireplace. With just a few clicks of the starter, the pilot light ignites followed by a quick turning of the knob. The orange flames spring into action. For the next six months, that fireplace provides a magnetic warmth and glow that almost always has someone nearby held fast in its grip.    As Jesus was painting a rather grim picture of life as it nears the apocalypse, he spoke of a dissipating warmth. It wasn't a decrease in the temperature as the sun went down. It was a description of people's he