The Lord Is Faithful

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. — 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Yesterday we kicked off our Vacation Bible School. 

Our theme this year is Hometown Nazareth: Where Jesus was a kid.

We have several children from other countries participating.

Some who don't speak much English.

Our preschool group included one three-year-old who had just arrived in the country.

He told his mom afterward that Americans really love their cheeses.

He wasn't talking about the string cheese they served but rather the songs they sang.

When she asked him to tell her more, he said, "Today we sang about how much we love cheeses."

Then he sang, "Oh, how I love cheeses, Oh, how I love cheeses."

I couldn't stop laughing when I heard that story.

His mom shared it with the preschool teacher.

The Lord is faithful.

He will strengthen us.

And God will protect us from the evil one.

Oh, how I love Jesus!

God Is Faithful

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. — Deuteronomy 7:9 

We know that the Lord is our God.

He is faithful.

He keeps His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him.

God keeps His promises always.

And He keeps His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who keep His commandments.

This we know.

Those Who Love the Lord

Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. — Psalm 97:10 

Those who love the Lord hate evil.

God guards the lives of His faithful ones.

He delivers us form the hand of the wicked.

Even though we don't deserve it.

He loves us in spite of ourselves.

The Lord Is Faithful in All He Does

For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. — Psalm 33:4-5 

Today is our friend Edna's birthday.

She has been an active prayer warrior for our family over the years.

When I was diagnosed with cancer, she had her church create this beautiful quilt for me.

The congregation tied prayer knots in each square and prayed for me.

Our neighbors were surprised at church that Sunday when they discovered the quilt they were praying over was for me!

That was five years ago, and today I'm either in remission or cured.

Praise God for strong friends such as Edna who covered me in prayer and showered Kirk and me with love.

We are blessed.

The Faithful and True Witness

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. — Revelation 3:14, 20 

John was commanded to write to the seven churches.

These are the words of the one true God.

The Amen and the faithful.

The true witness.

The ruler of God's creation.

Our Lord and Father.

Be Joyful!

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. — Romans 12:12 

On the Beach at Mauna Lani

Our hope in Jesus causes us to be joyful.

Since yesterday was the National Day of Prayer, I was thinking about how we talk to God.

He wants us to talk to him in the name of Jesus.

And the only way we can do that is if we know Jesus personally.

He is our hope.

Through Jesus we can be patient in affliction.

And He guides us to be faithful in prayer, even when our days are full.

Perhaps especially when our days are full.

We need to tune into Him in prayer even more during those hectic times.

He is our source of joy.

God Is Faithful

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. — 1 John 1:9

God cares for me just as He cares for the birds and the flowers.

This little bird sat outside my window at work the other day.

A gentle reminder that God is faithful.

He is also just.

And He forgives my sins — all the wrong things I say and do.

The blood of Jesus Christ purifies me from all unrighteousness.

All I have to do is confess my sin to Him.

Thank you, Lord.

God Guards the Lives of His Faithful Ones

Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. — Psalm 97:10 

God guards our lives.

He delivers us from the hand of wicked ones.

And from evil that surrounds us.

We love Him and hate evil.

He watches over us and cares for us.

The Word of the Lord Is Right and True

For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. — Psalm 22:4-5 

God's Word is right and true.

He is faithful in all He does.

The Lord loves righteousness.

God love justice.

The earth is full of His unfailing love.

God Will Provide a Way

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. — 1 Corinthians 10:13 

God does not send me temptations beyond what I can handle.

Unfortunately, I tend to give in to them and then turn to him afterward.

Even though God is faithful.

And He provides a way for me to get out of it when I'm tempted.

Sometimes He sends others to remind me not to tell the white lie.

Other times He sends my family or coworkers to show me how to do the right thing.

If I just stay in touch with Him and follow the Holy Spirit when He nudges me in the right direction, He directs and guides me.

Thank you, Lord.

God Has Shown the Power of His Works

He has shown his people the power of his works, giving them the lands of other nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. — Psalm 111:6-7 

Today we'll thank God for His blessings as we worship and praise Him.

He has shown us the power of His works.

The works of His hands are faithful and just.

All His precepts and laws are trustworthy.

He has given them to us to help us thrive.

And He has given us the fellowship of community to help us worship Him in full.

To Him be all power and majesty.

Sing to the Lord

Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people. — Psalm 149:1 

I love to sing.

And to sing to the Lord.

To shout His praise in the assembly of His people.

Sing to the Lord a new song.

In the assembly of His faithful people.

Here we are in the chapel at Versailles.

A beautiful tribute to God.

And the majesty of His greatness.

God Is Faithful

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. — 1 John 1:19 

Today Kirk had his cataract surgery.

He was originally scheduled to have it in September, but it was postponed due to covid.

The surgery was quick and had amazing results.

By this afternoon Kirk could see our television with his left eye.

And everything he saw with that eye before had been a blur.

By tomorrow it will probably be close to his right eye, which is 20/20.

Amazing how far they've come with that surgery.

God is faithful and just.

He cares for us and cleanses us from all unrighteousness when we confess our sins to Him.

The Lord Your God Is God

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. — Deuteronomy 7:9

Whitworth University Campus

The Lord is God.

He is my God.

He keeps His covenant of love to me.

And to a thousand generations.

To everyone who loves Him and keeps His commandments.

We need to get to know Him.

He is faithful.

Even when I'm not.

The Word of the Lord Is Right

For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. — Psalm 33:4

God's Word is right and true.

The Lord is faithful.

He is faithful in all He does.

He is Creator and Lord.

And Mighty, Counselor.

Wonderful, Majestic Father.

And we worship Him with all our hearts.

The Lord Will Strengthen You

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. — 2 Thessalonians 3:3

God is faithful.

I am not.

Even when I try, I fail.

Tuesday I got new compression sleeves for my arms.

When I went to pick them up, the cashier commented on all the supplies I was getting.

My insurance covers them all, which is amazing to me.

I got two new pairs of knee-high compression stockings plus a new pair of gloves.

If I'm eligible for a surgical procedure on the veins in my legs, I'll need to get one more set of thigh-high compression stockings.

That I'll have to pay for myself.

Even so, how blessed am I that every 6 months I get new compression garments.

On Mother's Day I forgot I was wearing a sleeve when I posted my picture.

One of Kirk's teacher friends noticed and invited me to join a lymphedema group.

God protects me from cancer, from injury, and from the evil one.

Thank you, Lord!

God Is Faithful

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. — 1 John 1:9

Today is another beautiful day here in sunny California.

We have lemons galore from our tree now that Kirk cut it back yesterday.

Our neighbor is having his trees cut this morning.

And the birds are singing their hearts out.

This is how our plumeria looked back in September.

It's budding again, but no blooms yet.

God helps me bloom when I confess my sin to Him.

And I am very thankful that He forgives me.

God Is Faithful

For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. — Psalm 33:4

God's Word is right.

The Bible is true, and I believe it, even when I don't understand it completely.

God is faithful in all He does.

He always keeps His promises.

Last weekend, we spent some time in Coronado.

We relaxed by the pool, swam, and enjoyed our time together as a family.

God has blessed us, and we are thankful.

My Heart Is Glad

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. — Psalm 16:9-10


My heart is glad.

I rejoice in the Lord.

My body is at rest.

I rest secure in the knowledge that God is with me.

He will not abandon me.

He watches over His faithful flock and brings us back to the fold.

We were born into community.

Called Into Fellowship

God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. — I Corinthians 1:9

God is faithful.

He has called us into fellowship.

We fellowship with other Christians.

And we worship together as one body in Christ.

God has called us into fellowship with Jesus.

God's Son Jesus is our Lord and Savior.

This is the Anthurium we were given a year ago.

It is now thriving in our front courtyard.

Kirk has cared for it and watered it to ensure that it is happy there.

God nurtures us in His love and care.

When we join in fellowship with others, God helps us to thrive.