 |
| Randolph-Macon Woman's College |
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. — Colossians 3:15
His peace overflows and overwhelms me when I start to worry.
Making the troubles of life bearable because God is in control rather than me.
As a member of the body of Christ, I am called to peace.
My heart is comforted with Christ's love.
Even when life happens and things don't go my way.
And I am thankful.
I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge. — 1 Corinthians 1:4-5
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength. — Deuteronomy 6:5
The first is to love the Lord our God with our entire being.
To love the Lord with everything we have.
With our heart, soul, and with all our strength.
So every fiber of our being sings His praise and glory.
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. — John 17:17
Pilate asked Jesus in reply, "What is truth?"
Jesus had already answered that question.
He is the Word.
And that Word is truth.
Help me to follow Your Word, Lord.
You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Thank You for the sacrifice You made for me.
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. — Psalm 119:105
Shining His radiance on my way so my feet can see where to go.
Scripture lights my path so I don't have to stumble in the darkness.
When I'm not sure which direction to head, God's Word helps illumine the right way.
Guiding me in the direction He would have me go.
Shining the light and love of Jesus into my life.
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. — Psalm 119:18
When I read His Word, the Bible, He also opens my eyes to His statues.
The Holy Spirit helps me understand the words.
And shows me the wonderful things in His law.
Then He guides me to obey God's will each day.
Often I miss the mark.
Those times, He guides me back to get me on the right path.
Without Him, I am lost.
With Him, I am secure and grateful.
I am loved.
Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight. — Psalm 119:143
He holds my life in His hands.
And He cares for me as a loving Father.
The commands of His Word are a joy.
And they give me delight.
They also challenge me each day.
Trouble and distress have come upon me.
Even so, God's commands give me comfort and delight.
For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. — 1 Peter 2:15-16
He calls us to live as free people.
But He cautions us not to use our freedom for evil.
Rather, we are to live as God's slaves, following His lead and obeying Him.
That our actions and good deeds would help silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
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
Our glory is like the flowers, which fall from their stems as they grow old.
The grass withers and the flowers fall.
But the God's Word endures forever.
And this is the Word that has been preached to us.
Not to store up for ourselves treasures on earth,
Since they wither and fade away.
But God's Word lasts forever.
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, — 1 Corinthians 1:9
As we approach Thanksgiving, we are especially thankful for all the blessings God gives us.
For family and friends, health and our beautiful world.
We continually ask God to fill our family and friends with the knowledge of His will.
We ask the same for our elected leaders.
That God will fill them with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.
We are grateful.
A person finds joy in giving an apt reply — and how good is a timely word! — Proverbs 15:23
We haven't been in touch in several months, but it seems like we haven't missed a beat.
Her dog enjoys greeting the other dogs on our way and playing with them all.
We both enjoy starting our morning walking and talking together.
We find joy in giving an apt reply.
And in sharing a timely word.
God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ — Job 37:5-6
God's voice thunders in marvelous ways.
He does great things beyond anything we can comprehend.
God tells the snow when to fall.
He commands the rain when to shower.
And He watches over you and me.
Wonderful!
He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. — Ephesians 1:9-10
At just the right time, He will put His plans into effect.
According to God's good pleasure and purpose.
He will one day bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth.
At that time, He will defeat the ruler of this world and all things will be under Christ.
Jesus will reign forever.
“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. — Isaiah 1:18
There's no question.
Though my sins are like scarlet, Jesus has washed them clean.
Even though I mess us, He continues to love and guide me.
In a world of uncertainty, chaos, and war, I can rely on Jesus.
He has settled it once and for all.
Praise God!
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. — 1 Timothy 2:1-2
We are so blessed to live in a country where we have the opportunity to vote for our elected officials.
What a contrast to the Soviet Union and other countries where dialog and differences are stifled and people are jailed or killed for their beliefs.
Even though our family mailed our ballots in several weeks ago, we'll find out the results this evening.
Most of them, anyway.
Despite the results, God calls us to pray for all those in authority, even when we don't agree with them.
We can still intercede on their behalf so that God's will might be done in their lives and in our country.
God calls us to give thanks for them and their service.
I especially pray for the poll workers, that He will surround them with His protection and peace.
That He will keep them safe and help us thank them for their service.
That we may live peaceful lives in godliness and holiness.
So that everything I do may glorify Him.
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
And Monday we'll go to lunch to celebrate.
I am blessed!
I pray that God will enlighten my heart.
So that I may know the hope to which he's called me.
The riches of his glorious inheritance.
So I may join the company of His holy people.
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. — Romans 13:1
Our family mailed in our ballots a few weeks ago.
This verse reminds me that God has established our governing authorities.
And He calls us to be subject to them, even when we disagree with them.
He also calls us to cast our vote to elect the people we pray will do a good job.
God is in control, not us.
And I am very thankful for the opportunities He gives us in this country.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. — 1 Peter 2:9
We are His people, a royal priesthood.
And a holy nation, God's special possession.
Today we helped Abby move into her new apartment.
It's up near UTC, right across from a park.
With two other really nice girls.
She got things organized and moved in to her new home.
We declare God's praises.
He has called us out of darkness and into His wonderful light.
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
That I may know the hope to which God has called me.
He has called us to the riches of His glorious inheritance.
This inheritance is available to his holy people.
Here are the new floors we put in our kitchen.
So nice to have floorboards that are not warped.
And the companies and people we worked with were great.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. — 1 Peter 1:8-9
That was the most we've ever had.
We think we may have had more than usual just because everyone is ready to get out of the house and start hanging out together.
Kirk lit our firepit and turned on the patio lights.
He put plastic pumpkins in our wall and our welcome Autumn Scarecrow in front of our gate.
The first group included twenty children from about two years old to ten.
Here's how the sky looked just as the sun was setting.
A fun evening.
Today we welcome November.
And we are reminded that our enemy the devil prowls around looking for someone to devour.
God calls us to stand firm in the faith and to resist temptation.
We know that the family of believers around the world is undergoing trials much greater than ours.
And we pray for God's protection over them.
