Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. — John 1:12-13
Hard to believe that another year is more than half over!
Just as hard to believe that God calls us his children.
To all who believe in His name, we are born of God!
He is risen indeed!
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 3:14
God calls each of us to His goal.
And Oswald Chambers reminded me today that God wants us to grow closer to Him through the process.
Not to receive any benefit except to grow holy.
Not even to accomplish the end goal.
Rather, to do God's will throughout the journey.
God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus.
And He will accomplish His purpose.
Whether He accomplishes it through us, He leaves to us to decide.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. — Hebrews 12:1
Today Kirk's cousin Cindy lost her mom.
It was a blessing that she's now with her husband but still hard, especially to lose your mother.
Kirk stopped by to visit them in 2021 on his way to Ohio.
And we are so thankful to God for that time together.
Within the year Uncle Bob had passed away.
Over the next year, Aunt Doris began her decline.
This has been a week of loss and a year of friends losing their parents.
We are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses.
It is encouraging to know that we're not alone on our journey.
They encourage us to run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Thank You, Lord.
If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. — John 15:10
But when we turn to Him and keep His commands, we remain in His love.
Just as Jesus has kept His Father's commands.
And He remains in God's love.
A love that never ends.
That surrounds us and comforts us in our times of need.
O taste and see that the Lord is good!
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. — Hebrews 11:1
Without faith we are just clanging cymbals.
Not anything worthwhile.
Just a bunch of noisemakers.
Faith is assurance about what we do not see.
It is belief in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
And in God His Father.
Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice. — Psalm 112:5
To lend freely,
To conduct our affairs with justice.
And this comes with a promise - that good will come to those who do this.
But sorrow will also come our way.
This weekend Kirk had two friends who lost their elderly parents.
We both know how hard that can be.
Kirk took the opportunity to share some favorite Scriptures.
And he sent a link to The Chosen.
God will come to those who turn to Him.
I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws. — Psalm 119:30
Nevertheless, Joshua chose it and asked his countrymen to decide whether or not to follow it.
The psalmist says he has chosen the way of faithfulness.
Help me, Lord, to choose the same.
And to set my heart on your laws.
Thank You, Lord!
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” — Matthew 19:14
After all, they were getting in the way.
And they were disrupting the adult conversations.
But Jesus welcomed them into the midst of the gathering.
He must have surprised the disciples when he commanded them to send the children His way.
And especially when He told them not to hinder them or prevent them from coming.
The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.
God asks us to bring our imagination and enthusiasm.
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” — Matthew 16:15-16
The answers were all over the board.
But then Jesus asked Peter directly.
Who do you say I am?
And Peter knew immediately.
Lord, help me to know you as Messiah.
And as the Son of the living God.
My Savior and Lord.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. — 1 John 1:7
If we walk in the light of His Son Jesus, we have fellowship with one another.
And the blood of Jesus becomes the way for our salvation.
It purifies us from all sin.
What a huge blessing.
And what a mighty, merciful God and Savior.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. — Isaiah 41:10
Therefore, I will not fear.
When I begin to worry, I remember that He's in control.
At times when I get dismayed, I remember that He's my strong rock.
He will strengthen me.
And the Lord will help me.
When I feel weak, He will uphold me with His righteous right hand.
He surrounds me with the beauty of His creation.
There is no reason for me to fear.
God is with me.
I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. — Psalm 119:7
His laws are righteous.
I will praise Him.
I will learn of His laws. He will write them upon my heart.
And I will praise God.
My friend moved to Texas and gave us her plumeria.
Kirk planted it and it is thriving.
It was our first one to bloom this year.
I will praise God!
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. — Romans 1:16
It brings salvation to everyone who believes.
Therefore, I am not ashamed of the gospel.
The gospel is given first to the Jew and then to the Gentile.
God's creation is given to everyone.
And it shows us His glory.
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. — James 1:21
And to get rid of the evil that is so prevalent.
Instead, He commands us to humbly accept the Word.
His Word is planted in our hearts.
And it is the only thing that can save us.
God's Word, holy Scripture.
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. — Colossians 2:9-10
All the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form through Him.
And in Christ, I have been brought to fullness.
He is the head over every power.
And He is over every authority.
If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. — John 15:10
If we remain in his love, it means we have obediantly followed Him.
This is a photo of the Lisbon zoo.
What a beautiful day.
If we remain in God's love and keep His commands, we will remain in His love.
Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. — Jeremiah 32:17
He is our Creator.
By His great power, He has made the heavens.
With His outstretched arm, He has made the earth.
Nothing is too hard for Him.
He is Sovereign!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. — Philippians 2:9-11
And gave him the name above every name.
At the name of Jesus every knee should bow.
In heaven and on earth and under the earth.
Every tongue will proclaim Him Lord to the glory of God the father.
And every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. — Philippians 1:6
He has begun a good work in us.
And He will carry it on to completion.
The Lord will continue the good work until the day of Christ Jesus.
And we are grateful.
This is the beautiful Salamanca Cathedral in Spain.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. — Ephesians 3:21-22
To the Lord be the glory in the church.
And through Christ Jesus throughout all generations.
Here's the high cross we hiked to see in Portugal.
This is near Pena Palace.
The original cross was destroyed, so this is a replica.
And the vista from the top is amazing.
I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness, for you have so exalted your solemn decree that it surpasses your fame. — Psalm 138:2
His love will never fail me.
He is faithful beyond imagination.
God has exalted his solemn decree.
I will bow down and worship Him in His holy temple.
This is one of the beautiful cathedrals we got to sing in during our choir tour of Spain.
Capila de Santa Tecla in Catedral de Burgos.
Awe-inspiring!
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. — Matthew 24:35
Earth will pass away too.
And the things of the world will not last.
But God's Word will last forever.
His Words will never pass away.
I'm so grateful for God's Words and how He manages to make them apply to my life each time I read them.
As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. — Psalm 18:30
And His Word is flawless.
He shields everyone who takes refuge in Him.
Here's the Spain cathedral we sang in.
Beautiful place to worship our God.
