For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. — Ephesians 2:8-9
Nothing we could do ourselves.
It is the gift of God, not from ourselves.
Not by works or anything we can do.
We have nothing to boast in except God and His Son Jesus.
Happy Halloween!
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. — Romans 12:1
In view of His great sacrifice, He calls me to offer myself to Him.
As a living sacrifice, pleasing to God.
Only He can make me holy.
Through Jesus I can come into His presence.
This is my true and proper worship.
Yesterday our church hosted a graduation ceremony for the Rescue Mission, nearby.
It was a joyful time of celebration.
For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you. — 1 Peter 1:24-25
Just like the flowers of the field, the grass withers and the flowers fall.
But the Word of the Lord endures forever.
And this is the Word contained in the Scriptures.
God's Word to direct our lives.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. — Hebrews 4:12
It speaks to me differently that it did a year or two ago.
Each time I read a passage of Scripture, God has a new insight for me.
He is continually teaching me through His Word.
It is alive and active.
Sharper than any two-edged sword.
It penetrates to my soul.
It judges the thoughts and attitudes of my heart.
And then helps to steer me back to the path God intended.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. — 2 Timothy 3:16
It is God-breathed and true.
All Scripture is useful for teaching.
I love His Word.
It gives me light and shines in the darkness.
It is useful for rebuking and correcting me.
His Word guides my life.
God uses His Word to train me in righteousness.
I love His Word.
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. — Ephesians 5:19-20
Sometimes I just want to call people idiots.
But God commands me to speak with psalms, hymn, and spiritual songs from the Spirit.
He asks me to sing and make music from my heart to the Lord.
And He commands me to always give thanks to God for everything.
And to thank God in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. — Proverbs 9:10
And knowledge of Jesus, the Holy One is understanding.
I'm on the beginning path.
Just continuing to learn about God and His Word.
And getting to know His Son Jesus better each day.
This is the view we had from the walking bridge at the zoo on Saturday.
A beautiful evening with the Old Globe theater in the background.
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. — Galatians 6:2
To pray for each other.
To encourage each other.
And to build each other up.
In this way we fulfill God's will for our lives.
And we fulfill the law of Christ Jesus.
And we show our obedience to God's commands.
These are the flowers that were a centerpiece at the wedding we attended yesterday.
How thoughtful that we got to bring them home.
A reminder of God's beautiful promises to us.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. — 1 Peter 1:3
He loves and cares for me and my family.
Just 20 days ago I was in the hospital with pneumonia.
Today I feel almost back to normal - my breath support isn't completely back.
And I'm getting stronger each day.
In God's great mercy He has given me new birth into a living hope.
Through the resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ from the dead.
Praise God!
It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. — Deuteronomy 13:4
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| Barker Way Trail to Cowles Mountain |
I love His Word, it gives me light and comfort and wisdom.
I have many plans in my heart, but they are not all of the Lord.
I must follow the Lord's purpose in my life.
And I must revere and honor God.
He commands me to obey Him.
To serve Him.
To hold fast to the Lord.
To follow Him and revere Him.
To keep His commands
And He watches over me and helps me stay on the right path.
I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart. — Psalm 40:8
He sometimes gives me a shove in the right direction when I start to head off the wrong way.
His Holy Spirit lives within me to guide and direct me along the right path.
And His law lives within in my heart.
I desire to do God's will,
Even when I miss the mark.
He patiently guides me back into His way.
Tomorrow we head over to the zoo for Maddie's wedding.
Here she is with her sisters and aunt, second from the left.
Very exciting weekend!
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. — Psalm 51:12
Even when my car was totaled yesterday — fortunately no one was hurt.
Praise God.
God grants me a willing spirit to follow Him.
He sustains me throughout the ups and downs of life.
His love surrounds me.
And His grace covers me.
The Lord watches over our entire family.
And gives us His deep peace that passes all understanding.
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. — Psalm 27:14
I was able to swim much more quickly and strongly than I could swim last week.
But I kept it to just 30 minutes of side strokes.
And after my swim, I ran into Judy Palm, one of my church friends.
I was in the chilly competition pool, and Judy was in the rec pool.
Great way to start the day.
God calls us to wait for Him.
To be strong and take heart.
And wait for the Lord.
I tend to be impatient.
It's not always easy to wait patiently.
Help me, Lord, to wait on You.
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. — Psalm 19:14
It felt wonderful.
It was an orchestra Sunday and the Pt. Loma Strings joined our orchestra for some of the songs.
I wasn't sure if I would have enough breath support to sing all of the hymns and praise songs as well as the anthem, but God kept me going.
May the words of the mouth and the meditation or my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord.
You are my Rock and my Redeemer.
My Savior and my Lord.
"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
Even thought I don't know the plan, He does.
And His plan is to prosper me.
Not to harm me.
Plans to give me hope.
Plans to give me a future.
So I can serve God and worship Him with my whole being.
How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. — 2 Samuel 8:22
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| La Jolla Shores Beach |
He is Sovereign.
There is no one like Him.
And there is no God but the Lord.
How great you are, Sovereign Lord!
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. — Romans 12:1
But God wants something better for me.
He wants to transform me into His image and renew my mind.
He wants me to be able to test, discern, and approve what God's will is.
We already know that His will is good, pleasing and perfect.
God knows what's best for me.
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. — Proverbs 1:8-9
She would stay up late when I was in high school so I could ask her all kinds of life questions.
And as I grew older, she would give me sage advice on everything from starting a retirement account when I got my first job, to choosing our first home, to raising our daughter.
She was not overbearing or opinionated, but she let me know her views on politics - don't vote for anything that will raise our taxes - to faith, to relationships.
Her teaching was a garland to grace my head and a chain to adorn my neck.
I miss her wisdom and her delicious cooking.
But at the same time, I'm grateful that she was such a large part of my life and that of my family.
Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. — Psalm 62:1
And my soul has found rest in God and His Word.
Starting on Monday, I began swimming for 25-30 minutes each morning.
And my body found rest swimming laps gently at a snail's pace just doing the sidestroke.
My salvation comes from God alone.
And my soul has found rest and a deep peace in His comfort and care.
I grow stronger each day, thanks to His healing touch.
Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. — Proverbs 19:20-21
I don't always read my Bible every day, but I try to.
And God wants me to accept His discipline.
That's much harder for me.
He reminds me that I have many plans in my heart.
But not all of them are the Lord's.
And it's the Lord's purpose that prevails.
Whether I'm part of that purpose or not.
I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God. — Isaiah 43:12
He has saved me from sin.
And He has proclaimed His salvation from day to day.
No foreign god among us can stand up to the One true God.
I am a witness to His might and power.
And to His love.
The great I Am is our God.
When we stayed in Dana Point a couple of weeks ago, they brought us an early anniversary dessert. Delicious!
I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. — Isaiah 43:11
Apart from Him there is no savior.
He is healing me each day from my weakness.
And I'm able to walk around the block for 20 minutes, even though I move like a snail.
Kirk is very patient.
And God is the great Healer.
He knows just what I need.
Friday night I slept about 10 hours.
This morning I feel even stronger than the day before.
These beautiful roses are from our friends Peggy & Brad.
They're just starting to open up.
God is great.
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. — Isaiah 55:6
Call upon Him while He is near.
He is a great God,
High above the heavens.
His faithfulness reaches to the highest heavens.
Today Kirk planted this plumeria in a corner near our geraniums.
We are hoping it will continue to grow and thrive.
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. — Psalm 63:1
He watches over me and heals me when I'm sick.
I thirst for Him.
My whole being longs for Him.
In a dry and parched land where there is no water, He provides for me.
Saturday I was admitted to the hospital for pneumonia.
Apparently it was bad. The x-rays showed both lungs were affected.
But by Monday, they let me go home without an IV.
And since then I've continued to improve.
It's called "community pneumonia," meaning I caught it from someone in the community.
But no telling where or when - they could have been asymptomatic.
So for 10 days I'm on two kinds of antibiotics plus additional meds.
The prayers that have covered me have helped me progress a bit each day.
Our friends Mike and Laurie brought these flowers along with a delicious dinner that I continued eating for three days.
Praise God for His goodness.
Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. — Isaiah 26:4
Since I've been sick, we got to spend our morning at Kaiser having my blood drawn.
We also went for a walk around the block, and I walked for about 20 minutes.
Since I'm recovering from pneumonia, my doctor was very impressed.
These beautiful flowers are from our friends Mary and Gary.
She picked the roses because they have a gorgeous scent.
We are blessed.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, — 1 Peter 1:3
Thank You for being our Lord.
And our Savior.
For giving us new birth into our Lord Jesus.
And into a new hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Some beautiful lilacs from Akron.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. — Proverbs 27:1
And to boast about how wonderful they sound.
But God reminds us never to boast.
We don't know what lies ahead or what the new day will bring.
But we know God prepares a plan for us.
He has a purpose for each life.
And His plan is great.
My purpose is to praise and glorify Him.
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. — Proverbs 29:25
But if we trust in the Lord, He offers to keep us safe.
To trust Him in all things is what's hard at times.
I can trust Him in some things.
Select things that I chooses to turn over.
But there are other things I don't want to let go of.
That's where I've started to create a snare.
But if can trust the Lord completely, I will be kept safe.
What a blessing!
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. — 1 Corinthians 2:14
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come form the Spirit of God.
Instead, the person without the Spirit considers them foolishness.
