May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. — 1 Thessalonians
Have a safe weekend.
May God strengthen your heart and mine.
So we will be blameless and holy in God's sight.
God our Father, who cares for us.
We look for Jesus to come, our Lord and Savior.
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else. — 1 Thessalonians 3:12
Our prayer is that God will make our love increase.
That he will help our love overflow to others.
Not just to our friends, but also to our enemies.
May God help our love overflow for everyone.
And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. – 1 Thessalonians 2:13
He is a 20-something and has only mild symptoms, but it's still scary.
Our prayers are with them and with him during this tough time.
We thank God continually for these Christian friends who are willing to share their faith.
We enjoy reading the Word of God together.
We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. — I Thessalonians 2:7
I am really pleased when they tell me what a great job I'm doing.
Even though God asks us not to look for praise, I can't resist.
Paul truly was not looking for praise from people.
As an apostle of Christ, he certainly could have asked for praise.
But when people praised him, he gave the glory to God.
Lord, please help me to do the same.
We speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. — 1 Thessalonians 2:4
We made pumpkin succulent centerpieces.
They turned out great.
We are studying the trickery that Jacob pulled on his brother.
And how God wants us to put others first.
God has entrusted us with the gospel.
We are not trying to please people, but God.
God tests our hearts and asks us to speak His Word.
Here she is three years ago celebrating her 90th.
How amazing is that.
My brother Tim called last night just to check in.
Last night some friends stopped by after our church service just to hang out and share some excellent.
We are blessed to have family and friends who care about us.
They tell us show they turned to God to serve Him with their lives.
You became imitators of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. — 1 Thessalonians 1:6
We are blessed that we have not.
Even in the midst of suffering, these friends live out the Gospel with joy.
They live out joy given by the Holy Spirit.
They are imitators of the Lord.
For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. — 1 Thessalonians 1:4
Today we celebrate Dave's and Susan's.
They came over Wednesday night so we celebrated with brownies and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.
Friday was Alex's last day with our company as she moves on to a start-up.
Lots of transitions this week.
God has chosen each person.
The Gospel came to Liz, Susan, and Dave not simply with words, but also wtih power.
The Holy Spirit is working within each of them.
Thank you, Lord.
We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. — 1 Thessalonians 1:2
Today it was about 76 in the afternoon.
It got down to about 70 tonight.
We sat outside with friends, enjoying the evening.
God has blessed us with good friends, good food, and great weather!
We remember your work and your faith.
Your love and your endurance.
And we are thankful for you.
Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. — 1 Thessalonians 2:8
As Christians, we want to share the gospel with others.
And we want to share our lives, too.
In this time of anxiety and loneliness, we have a source of comfort and love.
We have faith in God, which gives us hope.
Hope helps us get through our struggles and tough times.
And hope in God leads us to want to share our relationship with Jesus with those we meet.
God has blessed us.
A servant of Christ Jesus sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. — Colossians 4:12
Someone wrestling in prayer for us.
What a comfort and source of strength to know that someone is praying for me to stand firm.
And not only praying, but wrestling with that prayer.
To help me stay in the will of God.
To help me become mature and complete in the Lord.
I would like to be a prayer warrior like this, too.
To help someone else stand firm in the will of God through my prayers for them.
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. — Colossians 4:6
It will take a couple of weeks to get her onboarded and ready to start with us.
What a relief!
After months of searching, God has provided us with just the right person.
His timing is always best, even though it is not on my schedule.
My prayer is that my conversation with all of my coworkers, family members and friends will be seasoned so as to add flavor rather than divisiveness.
Hopefully my words will be seasoned with salt and God will close my mouth to any unkind words.
My conversation is not always full of grace but that is what I aspire to.
Dear Lord, help know how to answer everyone.
In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. — Colossians 4:5
God reminds me to act wisely toward everyone.
He commands me to make the most of every opportunity.
Yesterday I interviewed a candidate for our writer position.
We have been looking for someone to fill this opening since June.
It is hard to have the patience to wait for the person God has in mind for this position.
Even so, I know He will guide us to the right person.
I will make the most of every opportunity, with His guidance.
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. — Psalm 27:14
But God's timing is not mine.
That's actually a good thing.
God's timing is the best; mine usually is not.
Over the years, He has helped me to develop patience.
When I start to worry or get anxious, He reminds me that He is in control, not me.
Our marketing manager at work is leaving us after this week.
She is moving on to work at a start-up, and it sounds like a great opportunity for her.
She will be missed.
As part of the reorganization, my boss will supervise more people.
And as a result, I will supervise one more writer than I do now.
She is wonderful, so I am glad to do it, but it will be a lot more work.
Still, God is in control and His timing is best.
So I will take heart and wait for the Lord.
Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life. — Psalm 139:23 (The Message)
Today I went for a 2.5 mile walk with friends around our neighborhood.
When I got home I did 30 minutes of yoga on YouTube.
Then Abby and I went for a 45 minute swim at the local YMCA.
Later, I had some middle and high school girls over for crafts and Bible study.
We sit outside with masks and socially distance.
As we were putting away the chairs afterward, we saw a bunny up on the steps near our bank.
They love to come out at dusk.
Search me, O God.
Get a clear picture of what I'm about.
Then guide me on the road to eternal life.
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. — Colossians 4:5
It was held outside in our church courtyard.
The weather was perfect and the acoustics were great.
The orchestra played beautifully.
Tzytle and her mom led the singing.
There was a good crowd of people - we were socially distanced and wearing masks.
And they took our temperatures before we entered.
God asks us to be wise in the way we act.
Especially toward outsiders.
He calls us to make the most of every opportunity.
And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ. — Colossians 4:3
Someday we will live with Him in heaven, but for now we "see through a glass darkly."
We need our friends and family members to pray for us.
I need you to pray for me.
That God will use me.
That He will open a door for His message.
That I can proclaim the love and mystery of Jesus.
Not through my words or beliefs, but through my actions.
Lord, help my unbelief.
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. — Colossians 4:2
That's not always easy in the midst of hectic days and business.
We have been studying Philippians where God commands us not to grumble and complain.
That's easier said than done.
It's often the grumbling that slips off my tongue instead of the thankfulness.
But the gorgeous day God gives us is worth giving thanks.
He deserves all thanks and praise.
God asks us to be watchful and thankful.
He deserves all the honor and glory.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. — Jeremiah 29:11
God knows the plans He has for me.
He has declared that He has planned things out for me.
The Lord has plans to prosper me.
His plans are not to harm me, but to give me hope.
God's plans are to provide me with a future.
I don't always live according to His plans.
But when i do, He has already worked it all out for me in advance.
In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. — Colossians 1:6
Here is the group of friends I hiked with,
I'm second from left in the back. My friend Lorraine was taking the photo.
These are my Christian friends who pray for me when I need comfort and peace.
Some of them lead a women's Bible study I attend on Friday.
We celebrated Ann's (front holding the water bottle) birthday with cake pops at the top of Pyles Peak. Yum!
The Gospel is bearing fruit in each of their lives.
What a fun time we had reconnecting as we went up the mountains.
We have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people — the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. — Colossians 1:4-5
Who have shown love for all God's people.
They have humbled themselves and have become servant leaders.
They have passed on the true message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We have heard of their faith in Christ Jesus and have seen it in action.
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you. — Colossians 1:3
She was 89 and lots of her friends and family members were there to praise God for her life.
Her service was at the same cemetery where my mom is.
So we stopped by to visit her gravesite, too.
It's hard to believe that was 18 years ago.
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus.
When we pray for you, we give thanks to God and we give Him the glory.
Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. — Proverbs 19:20
And for me, it's even harder to accept discipline.
However, we will be counted among the wise when we accept discipline from God.
Today we hiked to the top of Cowles Mt.
Then we continued on to Pyles Peak.
It was quite the hike!
Fortunately, the air was cool.
It was a beautiful day.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:7
God will guard our hearts.
He will guide our minds.
Through Christ Jesus, we can have God's deep peace that passes all understanding.
With prayer, we can bring our requests and petitions before God.
We can pray for our friends and neighbors.
And we can thank God for giving us His peace.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. — Philippians 4:6
Of course, I don't want to be anxious, but the concerns of the day can be overwhelming.
Instead, I need to focus on God and His plan for my life.
Even when things seem uncertain and worrisome, He has it all in control.
I can't see the big picture, but He can.
When I put my trust in Him, I can sleep well at night.
I can relax and let His will be done in my life.
When I present my requests with Thanksgiving.
When I pray regularly and continually, I no longer need to worry.
In every situation, God asks me to talk to Him rather running various scenarios through my mind.
I am thankful.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. — Philippians 4:6
We have a very fun group of church friends, some of whom live close by.
Since we can't all worship together, it's awesome to have a time of fellowship and conversation each week.
After the appetizers, we take turns reading through the chapters of Philippians, which is what we are going through in our sermon series.
Our pastor suggested we take turns reading the passages and listening to them.
Since God's word is living and active, I hear something new each time it is read.
His Holy Spirit works in us to help us understand God's Word.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! — Philippians 4:4
It has flown by.
God has blessed us through the ups and downs — mostly ups.
He has surrounded us by family and friends for support and guidance.
And He gave us models of Christian parenting in our own parents.
Here we are at our 35th Anniversary party, put together by our wonderful daughter.
And celebrated with friends, neighbors, and family.
What a fun day.
Rejoice in the Lord!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. — Philippians 4:5
We were in the competition pool, so the water was a bit cooler.
(The photo is of the pool we swam in when we were in Palm Desert in August.)
The cool water was good, considering the air temperature was 90+, even in La Jolla.
And we had to wait about ten minutes before we could get in, since we arrived early.
The water was very refreshing and comfortable after we swam a lap.
God is near.
His love surrounds us.
And He reminds us to be gentle to all, even those we disagree with.
That is not always easy.
But it is possible, with His help.
Thank you, Lord.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! — Philippians 4:1
A couple of people had not seen my curly hair.
One didn't recognize me.
She wondered who that lady was sitting way too close to Kirk.
She expected one of our ushers to come let me know we needed to space out.
Then she realized it was me!
Another friend came up to me afterward and asked how I like the curls I have now.
Of course, I had to laugh.
Any hair is better than no hair! I replied.
But actually, the curls are nice, too.
In the 80s I briefly got a perm to add to curl to my hair.
Now it's natural.
I think God has a sense of humor.
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. — Philippians 3:20-21
And we eagerly await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
He will transform our lowly bodies.
When we die and come alive again, our bodies will be like His glorious body.
We rejoice in all that Jesus did for us in dying on the cross and coming alive again.
We give him all the glory and honor and praise.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. — Matthew 5:11-12
They are on the frontlines of the battle ground.
In other countries, freedom of religion is not a right.
We are blessed to live in a country where it is not only our right, but it is protected.
Thank you, Lord!
Please place a hedge of protection around the missionaries who in countries where they are persecuted for their religious beliefs.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.— Philippians 3:15
Another month is behind us.
A new month has begun.
Harvest, pumpkins, fall leaves, a beautiful time of year.
And the presidential debates were held last night.
This is also a season of discord, arguments, and trying to shout down the views of others.
All of us who are mature should take a different view of things.
Looking through God's eyes, we can agree to disagree.
We can share our opinions without arguing.
We can listen to our brothers and sisters even when we don't agree with them.
God calls us to listen to His voice.
To love others through Him.
