Live in Harmony With One Another

Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited. — Romans 12:16 

God calls us to live in harmony with others.

Even when we disagree with them.

Even when our opinions differ.

He commands us not to be haughty.

And to associate with the lowly.

And not to be conceited.

We can't do that without His help.

So grateful that He is our guide.

Be Enthusiastic

Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer. — Romans 12:11 

On this memorial day, we remember those who have served our country and gave their lives for our freedom.

God calls us to be enthusiastic in spirit as we serve Him.

To endure in suffering and rejoice in hope.

When we go through tough times, God helps us to endure in suffering.

And to persist in prayer.

So that we can continue in zeal for the Lord.

Be Devoted to One Another

Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another. — Romans 12:10 

God calls us to be devoted to one another.

To love each other mutually.

And to honor each other.

Showing eagerness in honoring others.

This weekend we honor those who have given their lives for our country.

Remembering their sacrifice.

Thanking God for their service.

Showing our appreciation by honoring one another.

Rejoice!

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. — Romans 12:15

This month we rejoiced with our relatives and friends who had babies.

And with those who discovered they are expecting their first baby!

What a grand celebration.

We wept with those friends who are having to care for elderly parents in hospice.

And for those friends who lost relatives suddenly.

We wept with those whose children were struggling with illnesses.

And with friends suffering from COVID.

We rejoiced with those who found new jobs and graduated from college.

God calls us to rejoice with those who rejoice.

And to weep with those who weep.

He has planned a time for everything - both rejoicing and weeping.

Thank You, Lord!

So That I May Finish My Task and Ministry

But I do not consider my life worth anything to myself, so that I may finish my task and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace. — Acts 20:24

Daily I ask God to help me finish my task and serve Him in ministry.

And to guide me in the ministry I've received from Jesus.

To share the good news of God's grace with others.

To encourage those around me.

To love others.

And to consider my life as a sacrifice to God.

To follow Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

This week I spoke with my surgeon who removed the melanoma on my knee.

She is very pleased with the way it is healing.

There was no cancer left - the margins were clear.

I can swim again, so I'll go after work tonight.

Praise the Lord!

Understand This!

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. — James 1:19

It's sometimes hard to listen to the people around us.

Even when we care about them.

They can sound like so much noise and it can be easy to tune them out.

I may want to speak over them or interrupt them.

But God calls me to listen first.

He commands me to bite my tongue and stifle my anger rather than letting emotions get the best of me.

My mom used to say, "I just bite my tongue until it's bloody" so I don't speak too quickly or at all.

Very good advice.

You Were Called to Freedom

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another. — Galatians 5:13

God calls us to freedom.

And that freedom gives us the opportunity to love each other.

And to serve one another in love.
 

Not for selfish reasons, but because God loved us.

While were still unlovable.

Before we ever knew Him.

God adopted us into His family.

And now calls us His son and daughter.

Amazing grace!
 

I Thank God for You

I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus. — 1 Corinthians 1:4

I thank God for those friends and family members who have been my mentors over the years.

They taught me how to follow God's path.

They showed me how to read God's Word regularly.

And they prayed over me when I needed wisdom or support.

I'm also thankful for those who have been mentors to Abby and to Kirk.

We have a strong family relationship thanks to them.

And thanks to God's grace that was given to us in Christ Jesus.

Agree Together to End Your Divisions

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree together, to end your divisions, and to be united by the same mind and purpose. — 1 Corinthians 1:10

Our Lord Jesus urges us to agree together.

On some days agreement seems extremely unlikely.

But our God does the impossible!

We can agree to end our divisions.

We can unite behind the same mind and purpose.

Especially when we focus on the mind of Christ.

In the name of our Lord Jesus.

Peacemakers Sow in Peace

Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. — James 13:18

Peacemakers are often few and far between.

People tend to get angry and lose their tempers very quickly at times.

Road rage has exploded into the supermarkets and onto the streets.

We often don't take time to listen to others before we write them off as too different from us.

But peacemakers who exhibit a life of peace show consideration for others.

They reap a harvest of righteousness.

Help me, Lord, to be a peacemaker for You today.  

Wisdom That Comes from Heaven

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. — James 3:17

Wisdom that comes from heaven is pure.

I've been reading Song of Songs.

Although it may not have been written by Solomon, it is written in the style of his poetry.

And he was the wisest man on the earth.

Wisdom from God is peace-loving and considerate.

It is submissive, full of mercy and good fruit.

God's wisdom is impartial and sincere.

Give me wisdom, Lord, to follow you each day.

Here are the Rogers boys with Chase and Gary several years ago.

Seven days ago we remembered Gary's passing three years ago.

It's hard to believe he's been gone so long. 

We miss him. And Rita.

That You May Know the Hope to Which He Has Called You

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people. — Ephesians 1:18 

Lord, help my heart to enlightened.

So that I may know that hope to which You have called me,

The riches of your glorious inheritance.

That I might live with you in heaven someday.

Thanks to the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for me.

So that I, too, might be holy in God's sight.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit.

All glory to God!

The Depth of the Riches of God's Wisdom

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! — Romans 11:33

God's wisdom is too deep for my understanding.

His knowledge is higher than I can comprehend.

The Lord's judgments are unsearchable.

I can't begin to trace His paths.

Here's the lunar supermoon that appeared in the sky last night.

This picture is from our house.

Part of the lunar eclipse.

How majestic is Your name, O Lord!

We Cannot Understand the Work of God

As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. — Ecclesiastes 11:5

We do not know the path of the wind.

We cannot fathom how a baby's body is formed in its mother's womb.

How much less can we understand God's work.

Here's Kirk's cousin Rick's new grandbaby Chase Decker.

Jordan's latest little boy.

We love the way he's folding his hands.

And his fingers look like he could be a basketball player ...

Or a pianist!

We cannot understand the work of God.

He is the maker of all things.

And we marvel at His handiwork.

I Praise You, God

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. — Psalm 139:14

God's works are wonderful.

I'm very aware of His goodness as our Creator.

I praise You, Lord!

I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

As are all of His creatures and creations.

His works are wonderful.

  
This is the Legend rose in our backyard.

The scent is amazing.

And the petals shimmer like velvet.

God's works are wonderful!

You Created My Inmost Being

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. — Psalm 139:13

God knew me before I was born.

He created my inmost being.

He knit me together in my mother's womb.

And He counts the number of hairs on my head.

Yesterday was my fourth anniversary working at Axos Bank.

My coworkers decorated my desk with white balloons and crepe paper streamers.

What a fun surprise!

 

The Lord Will Watch Over You

The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. — Psalm 121:8

La Jolla YMCA Pool at Sunset

It's Friday the thirteenth!

A day for bad luck and superstitions.

But the Lord will watch over us.

As we come and go.

So we don't need to doubt or worry.

We can put superstitions behind us.

When we gaze up into the sunset,

We can be confident in His love for us.

 

The Lord Will Keep Us From Harm

The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life. — Psalm 121:7

The Lord God will keep us from all harm.

He is our guide and protector.

God watches over us throughout the day and night.

Just as He watched over the people of Israel as they traveled in the desert.

Providing them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

Guiding them each step of the way, even when they grumbled and complained.

He guides me each step of my way, even when I grumble and complain.

Even when I ignore Him and go my own way.

He still cares for me as a loving Father.

Adopting me into His family.

Thank you, Lord!

The Lord Watches Over Us

The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand. — Psalm 121:5

The Lord watches over me.

And He holds the whole world in His hands.

God is our shade and our protector.

He blesses us with family and friends.

Her's the bouquet of roses and carnations that Kirk and Abby picked out for me for Mother's Day.

I am blessed with a wonderful husband and a thoughtful daughter.

Very proud to be a mother and wife.

God watches over us.

He is great!

I Lift My Eye to the Mountains

I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. — Psalm 121:1-2

I lift up my eyes and look toward the mountains.

A reminder of God's creation and His love for me.

Here's one of the beautiful trees blooming at Whitworth a few weeks ago.

We visited the campus while we were in Spokane for James and Katie's wedding.

Very fun to be back at the university.

Kirk gave a tour to some of our friends.

The beautiful scenery reminds me that my help comes from God.

God alone is the Maker of heaven and earth.

And of me!

Give Thanks in All Circumstances

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. — 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always.

Today we rejoice and thank God for our mothers.

Yesterday Abby and I went to the Westgate Hotel for high tea.

Very fun afternoon of tea, laughing, and talking. 

And way too much food.

Instead of the harpist, they had a pianist this year.

He attended SDSU and then served in the military.

Some of the little girls who attended played the piano with him.

He improvised around whatever they played, and they had the best time.

So did we.

Giving thanks in all circumstances.

And thanking God for His Son, Jesus.

Great Is the Lord and Worthy of Praise

Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain. — Psalm 48:1

God is great.

He is our Lord and Savior.

And He is most worthy of our praise.

This afternoon Abby and I will head over to the Westgate Hotel.

We'll celebrate Mother's Day with their high tea.

A chance to dress up and spend time together.

Last year we had a such a fun and delicious time enjoying tea, sandwiches, desserts, and macroons.

We enjoyed watching the other mothers and daughters.

And listening to the harpist.

And laughing and talking together.

We are looking forward to another fun afternoon together.

God is worthy of our praise!

God Is Greatly Exalted

The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted. — Psalm 47:9 

God is greatly exalted.

The nobles of the nations and even us little peons are people of the God of Abraham.

God has adopted us into His family.

He loves and cares for us.

We belong to Him.

Here are the rings we were asked to pray over for James and Katie's wedding.

It was called a Ring Warming.

I hadn't heard of that before, but it was a thoughtful part of the pre-ceremony.

God is greatly exalted.

God Reigns

God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. — Psalm 47:8

Today is Cinco de Mayo!

God reigns over the nations.

God is seated on His holy throne.

He is glorified.

We worship His name.

Last night our cousin Rick and his son Chase joined us for dinner with Chase's fiancee Tory.

We had a fun time catching up over lasagna and caesar salad.

Kel joined us too.

God reigns.

Let the earth rejoice!

 

Sing Praises to God

Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. — Psalm 47:6-7 

Today is Star Wars Day.

May the fourth be with you!

We're celebrating at work with a Star-Wars themed taco lunch in honor of Cinco de Mayo tomorrow.

Since praises to God.

Since praises to our King.

God is the King of all the earth.

Sing to Him a psalm of praise!

Shouts of Joy

God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets. — Psalm 47:5 

Happy Birthday, Becky!

Yesterday was my sister's birthday.

She celebrated over the weekend with her kids.

Since she's in Austria, we didn't get a chance to celebrate together.

Today is my friend Sheri's birthday!

God has ascended with shouts of joy.

The Lord has risen amid the sounding of trumpets.

Let us rejoice and be glad!

The Lord Is Awesome

For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth. — Psalm 47:2

This was the venue for the wedding we went to on Saturday.

Located in the Beacon Hill Events area of Spokane.

While there we also toured Abby's alma mater, Whitworth University.

And we flew home yesterday on a flight with 7 other guests from the wedding.

The beautiful scenery was a reminder that the Lord is awesome.

God Most High is our creator.

He is the great King over all the earth.

And He created my sister, Becky, whose birthday we celebrate today!

Shout to God With Songs of Joy

Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. — Psalm 47:1

Here's James singing to Katie at their wedding yesterday.

We traveled to Spokane, Washington, for the weekend and had a fun time with friends.

It was raining in the morning, but it cleared up in time for the ceremony.

And James wrote a beautiful song to his bride.

Very moving, and a sweet testimony to their faith as well as to each other.

The day before during the rain, we saw a rainbow as we were having dinner.

A reminder of God's promises to us.

Happy May Day.

Shout to God with cries of joy!