I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 3:15
So God calls us to press on toward heaven.
Our prize is living forever with Him in heaven.
And our goal is to follow the Lord Jesus,
Becoming more like Him each day.
Growing in the love of Jesus Christ.
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” — Matthew 4:4
He is the Word and was able to live and breathe it.
So He had a ready answer from Scripture for Satan.
Even though He had fasted for 40 days, He was not tempted by food.
He received His nourishment from God's Word.
And He commanded us to live by God's Word too.
Help me, Lord, to get to know Scripture as you did, hiding it in my heart.
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
He lives with the Father in heaven.
That every knee will bow at the name of Jesus.
Whether in heaven or on earth.
Every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is Lord.
And will glorify God, our Father.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost.
World wthout end. Amen.
As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. — Psalm 18:30
Scripture is inerrant and true.
God's way is perfect.
He shields all who take refuge in Him.
Yesterday we celebrated our friend Donna's 90th birthday.
Her daughter-in-law had these cute cookies made for all the guests.
It brought back lots of memories of her husband Ralph and his astute Bible teaching.
And his book, Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: Agreements and Differences.
Happy 90th Birthday, Donna!
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. — Matthew 24:35
Earth will one day pass away.
But the Word of God will never pass away.
God's Word is forever.
This summer we're going through the book of Proverbs for our sermon series at church.
These Words of wisdom will last forever.
They are like water for the thirsty and bread for the hungry.
Help us to follow Your Word, oh Lord.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance. — Psalm 33:12
What a fun time!
It felt like we had our own private fireworks show.
They even had a Midway Mai-Tai drink with a glowing ice cube and a plumeria.
And the band was fabulous.
Their daughter who just turned 14 had a powerful voice.
A wonderful way to celebrate Independence Day after gathering with our family and friends.
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. — Romans 12:3
With sober judgment, we are to think of ourselves humbly.
Not putting ourselves above others.
In accordance with the faith God has given us.
Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. — Psalm 68:4-5
Rejoicing before Him.
He rides on the clouds.
His name is God the Lord.
He is a father to those who have no father.
And a defender of widows.
He adopts the orphans into His family.
And He reigns over us in His holy dwelling.
Alive and well in heaven.
Extol Him!
Sing in praise of His name.
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. — Psalm 19:1-2
The heavens declare His greatness.
The skies show us His creation.
The work of His hands.
Day after day, the world around us shouts His name.
Night after night, the each reveals His wisdom and knowledge.
The Lord God is amazing!
Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. — Psalm 90: 2, 4
The Lord makes my feet like the feet of a deer.
He enables me to tread on the heights.
God leads me to streams of water.
My cup overflows!
I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. — Revelation 21:2
We are praising God for Kirk's new cardiologist who got tests completed for his afib so quickly.
Thursday he had his labwork completed.
And Tuesday he's scheduled for his angiograph.
When mom had one, they went in through her groin.
Now they go in through the wrist. Amazing.
He's been talking to lots of friends who have had stents.
That may not be his outcome, but we are praying for the best.
And grateful that he is in good hands.
In God, whose word I praise — in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? — Psalm 56:4
And I love His Word.
Kirk and I trust in God.
And we are not afraid.
Kirk met with his cardiologist this week and discovered that his left ventrical is only working at 35%.
They will do an angiograph next week to determine next steps.
This is a scary time.
But we rejoice in God.
And we give Him the glory, whatever the outcome.
We pray for wisdom for Kirk's cardiologist and her team.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. — 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
He will come with a loud command.
With the voice of the archangel.
And with the trumpet call of God.
The dead in Christ will rise first.
After that, those of us who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds.
We will meet the Lord Jesus in the air.
And we will live with the Lord God forever and ever.
What a glorious day!
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. — John 3:17
We had a fun time of food and fellowship together.
And today we celebrate Memorial Day.
Remembering those who gave their lives for our country.
Here's a photo of Arlington Cemetary.
Today we honor those who gave of themselves to make sure we can live in freedom.
We thank God for each of them.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. —Romans 15:5-6
He encourages us.
May God give us the same attitude of mind toward each other that Jesus had.
With one mind we glorify God.
With one voice we praise the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Glory be to the God and Father of us all.
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. — Hebrews 6:10
He loves us and will not forget our work.
Especially when we show love to others.
And when we help His people.
And continue to help them.
God is not unjust.
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
His knowledge is
His judgments are unsearchable.
We have no way to trace out his paths.
Oh, the depth of his riches!
For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! — Romans 5:10
Only through the blood of His Son Jesus was this possible.
How much more, then, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!
God is our salvation.
And Jesus shed His blood for us.
Providing the ultimate sacrifice so that we can live with Him in heaven one day.
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
And we can't begin to comprehend how the body is formed in our mother's womb.
God's creation is too intricate for us to begin to understand.
After all, He is the Maker of all things.
His works are beyond our comprehension.
And through them He communicates His love for us.
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
We are praying for healing from her myeloma.
And that there is no sign of cancer.
And through it all, that God's will be done in her life.
Here's the prayer quilt I found for her.
Filled with Scriptures from the Psalms.
So tomorrow she can wrap herself in it while she undergoes her biopsy.
Covered in prayer.
