The Authorities Are God's Servants

This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. — Romans 13:6-7 

The authorities are God's servants.

God has placed them in a position of authority.

They give their full time to governing, or they should.

God asks us to give to everyone whatever I owe them.

It humbles me to know that He calls me to pay my taxes.

And to pay those who work for me and my company.

But more than that, God commands me to give others respect.

Even if I don't agree with them.

To give them honor.

To treat others as children of God.

Our neighbor is recovering from knee surgery.

It's not going as well as her first one did six years ago.

This week she went in for a tough physical therapy session.

So we sent her a fruit bouquet to encourage and support her.

It was her first one, and she said it was delicious!

Be Strong in His Mighty Power

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. — Ephesians 6:0-11 

It's only through Jesus that we can be strong in the Lord.

And God calls us to be strong in His mighty power.

Easier said than done!

But when we clothe ourselves with God's armor, we can take our stand against the devil.

And against the devil's schemes.

Jesus paid the price for my sins.

The ultimate sacrifice.

And I am grateful.

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.

Conversations Full of Grace

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. —  Colossians 4:6

That's my prayer, too.

That my conversation will always be full of grace.

And seasoned with salt.

That I'll think before I speak.

And ask God for wisdom in everything I say.

So that I may know how to answer everyone with God's wisdom rather than with my impulsiveness.

Be Strong in the Lord

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. — Ephesians 6:10-11 

God wants to give us His strength to meet all of the challenges of each day.

When I remember to put on the full armor of God, He equips me to face those challenges.

The full armor of God includes the shoes of the gospel of peace.

Giving me the ability to move nimbly to promote God's deep peace, even in the midst of anxiety.

Letting me help others find peace, too.

Last month we were in Iowa for the funeral of Roger Jones.

Two weeks ago his brother Shelby passed away.

We had a chance to meet Shelby's daughter Susan and her husband and our hearts go out to them.

God's deep peace passes our understanding and covers us, even in the midst of death and sorrow.

God's mightdy power equips me to stand strong again any schemes Satan might throw my way.

Thank you, Lord!

Put on the Full Armor of God

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. — Ephesians 6:12-13

We are only visitors to this world.

It's not our home, thank goodness.

We don't struggle agains humankind but again the spiritual forces of evil.

God has let the evil powers run rampant in our world today.

But we know the end of the story.

And He reigns supreme over earth and heaven and all creation.

When I remember to put on the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation, I am protected from the evil around me.

When I put on the shoes of the gospel of peace, I'm able to stand against it all.

And the full armor of God protects me but also helps me stand.

The Sword of the Spirit gives me the protection of God's Word to guide and direct my life.

I Praise You, God

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. — Psalm 139:14

God's works are wonderful.

I'm very aware of His goodness as our Creator.

I praise You, Lord!

I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

As are all of His creatures and creations.

His works are wonderful.

  
This is the Legend rose in our backyard.

The scent is amazing.

And the petals shimmer like velvet.

God's works are wonderful!

Let My Conversation Be Full of Grace

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. — Colossians 4:6

Yesterday marked the first day of July.

Today Kirk and I met for lunch — a welcome break from my usual work day.

Tonight we are looking at possible restaurants at Caesars Palace to see where we might want to eat when we travel with our 14 friends.

Monday we'll call to see if they recommend making reservations for 16 people or for two tables of 8.

In the meantime, we'll enjoy the weekend and perhaps Abby and I will go for a swim tomorrow.

Lord, help us season our words with salt. 

Let my conversations be full of grace.

Give me the wisdom to answer everyone who asks about You.

We've been enjoying the great weather! 

Thank You, Lord.

 

Full of Goodness

And concerning you, my brothers and sisters, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another. — Romans 15:14

I have some friends like this.

Full of goodness.

Filled with knowledge.

Walking in the light of God's love.

Able to admonish me and others in love.

And I appreciate that kind of friend very much.

I feel that God has sent them into our lives for a special purpose.

And they have walked with me through my journey with cancer.

Conversation Full of Grace

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. — Colossians 4:6

Today I went hiking with friends from our church.

We drove out to Ramona, about 40 minutes away.

Then we hiked for about 6 miles down to Cedar Falls waterfall.

Some people were climbing up to the top of the rocks and jumping into the pool below.

After sitting awhile at the falls, we started hiking back up to the top.

Fortunately, there was a slight breeze on the way up.

We also ran into a swarm of bees.

But no one got stung.

We had a beautiful day hiking.

God's glory surrounded us.

Conversation Full of Grace

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. — Colossians 4:6

This week I hired a new writer for our content team. 

It will take a couple of weeks to get her onboarded and ready to start with us.

What a relief!

After months of searching, God has provided us with just the right person.

His timing is always best, even though it is not on my schedule.

My prayer is that my conversation with all of my coworkers, family members and friends will be seasoned so as to add flavor rather than divisiveness.

Hopefully my words will be seasoned with salt and God will close my mouth to any unkind words.

My conversation is not always full of grace but that is what I aspire to.

Dear Lord, help know how to answer everyone.

In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

The Earth Is Full of God's Love

^{The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. — Psalm 33:4}

^{God loves justice.}

^{His name is righteousness.}

^{He delights in mercy and goodness.} 

^{These are not easy characteristics for us to model.}

^{The earth is full of his unfailing love.}

^{He fills us with good things.}

^{This is the sunset we had just two days ago.} 

^Amazing.

Encouraged in Heart

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. — Colossians 2:2-23

La Jolla Shores

Paul is writing to the people in Colossae, to encourage them.

We often need to be encouraged, too.

God wants us to be united in love.

He wants us to have the full riches of complete understanding.

But I don't always understand.

The more I read His Word, the more I begin to understand.

Each time I read it, He opens my mind and heart to something new.

Scripture is living and active.

When I remember to pray before I read, He speaks to me through the words on the page.

In Christ is hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

How cool.

The Earth Is Full of God's Creatures

How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. — Psalm 104:24

God created the earth and filled it with His creatures.

Here's a monkey Abby met when she was in Ghana 7 years ago.

The trees in our yard are filled with birds of all colors and sizes.

And bunnies fill our yard and our park nearby, especially at dusk. 

Lizards run around on our cement patio and our stucco walls.

And snails emerge after the rains and within the ice plant on our bank.

In wisdom God made them all.

The Knowledge of God

The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. — Isaiah 11:9

Happy New Year!

As we begin a new year, I am reminded of God's love for us.

He created the heavens and the earth.

And He created me and my family.

I have no doubt about the fact that God is our creator.

The earth is full of the knowledge of the Lord.

Just as the waters cover the sea.