Set Your Hope on the Grace of Jesus

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. — 1 Peter 1:13

God commands us to keep our minds alert.

And to focus on His Word.

Our guide to living.

He calls us to set our hope on His grace through Jesus.

And the grace to be brought to us when Jesus is revealed at His coming.

Set our minds on Christ.

Be Alert

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 

Last night we had about 50 children stop by our house for Halloween.

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.

Set Your Hope on Jesus

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. — 1 Peter 1:13

This week, my friend Brad sent me a very thoughtful text, reminding me of my work anniversary with AnsMar Publishers.

It was ten years ago that he asked me to come to work for him.

Those years were a great experience getting to work on Math curriculum for grades K - 8.

I learned a lot and grew as an editor, manager, writer, marketer, and publisher.

When Brad retired, I moved on to Axos Bank, where I've been now for almost four years.

God has placed me just where He wants me to be.

I just pray that He will continue to use me to do His will.

Here's my former boss Karen and my coworker Jen reconnecting after a year apart.

I am blessed with wonderful friends.

Be Alert

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. — 1 Peter 5:8

Happy Hallowen!

Today we celebrated All Saints Day by remembering those who have gone before us.

So many wonderful saints who w were blessed to have known.

Then we went swimming - Abby and I got to share a lane.

The weather was perfect.

We're looking forward to handing out candy tonight.

Here are the pumpkins in our wall ready to greet the trick-or-treaters.

Devote Yourselves to Prayer

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving. — Colossians 4:2

Apple Blossoms

Today I read a fascinating article in wsj.com about what we've lost in rejecting the Sabbath.

And this essay is an excerpt adapted from a new book, "The Unbroken Thread: Discovering the Wisdom of Tradition in a Age of Chaos."

I'm lookingforward to reading it.

The essay was a perceptive look at how we've moved away from spending time with God.

Instead, we fill our days with busy-ness.

No wonder we have such high rates of divorce, alcoholism, drug abuse, and dysfunctional families.

We've taken our eyes off the eternal.

Everything passes away except God.

And the Sabbath is a guarantor of our "inner liberty."

While rest-less, Sabbath-less societies could easily descend into tyranny and barbarism.

Hitler and Mao did turned their focus away from God and having a Sabbath rest.

Instead, they turned the focus of their societies onto themselves. 

Two examples of societies descending into tyranny and barbarism.

Lord, help us to devote ourselves to prayer, keeping alert in an attitude of thanksgiving to You.

Devote Yourselves to Prayer

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving. — Colossians 4:2

My sister is good about setting aside time each morning to talk with God in prayer.

I'm better at talking with Him throughout the day.

We decided that these are areas we both need to work on.

I need to spend larger amounts of time alone devoted to prayer.

She needs to remember to pray throughout her day.

Both of us are growing in our prayer lives.

And learning to do His will.

Beginning to devote ourselves to prayer.

Keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.

Help us, Lord, to follow You.

Set Your Hope on God's Grace

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. — 1 Peter 1:13

Today I went to my exercise class at the YMCA.

They have cancelled our LiveStrong class until April.

I can still go work out and use the gym.

So now I'll go there just once a week and work out another day at the gym where I work.

Our church has also canceled our worship time on Sunday.

Instead, they will livestream a service with very few people there.

Therefore, with alert minds, we set our hope on the grace to be brought when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.

Pray on All Occasions

Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. — Ephesians 6:18

We are praying for healing from cancer for our pastor, Jerry.

Today we heard that our friend Chela has a pain in her arm.

Her doctor gave her medicine and asked her to return if it's not better in 8-10 days.

We are praying for healing for her, too.

And we are praying for healing for another friend who has a very dry throat that nothing seems to help.

We are continually praying for our friends and family members.

God hears all kinds of prayers and requests from us, and He answers them.

Knowing this, we can keep on praying for all the Lord's people.