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!

Do Not Fear, for I Am With You

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 

God is with me.

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.

May God Strengthen Our Hearts

May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. — I Thessalonians 3:13

May God strengthen my heart.

Helping me to read His Word and pray.

Helping me to become blameless and holy.

More like Him each day.

So that when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones,

I may enter the presence of God the Father.

I Am With You

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

Today we returned from a week in Palm Desert.

It was hot, but we stayed cool in the pools and the air conditioning.

Here's a group photo of some of the families who we were with.

We had some great conversation and lots of laughs.

We cooked dinners two nights, and they were a hit.

We had a chance to talk about our faith and our blessings.

And how we can trust in the Lord, even when our future seems uncertain.

So do not fear, for God is with us.

He is our God.

He will strengthen and help us.

The Lord will hold us up with his strong right hand. 

We are grateful.

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 Rules Over All

Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.  — 1 Chronicles 29:12

God has the power to strengthen me.

He can lift me up when I feel like falling.

He gave me the ability to go for a two hour walk after my chemo treatments.

And he helped me recover from cancer.

His hand is power and might.

He created the world and put us in it to do His will.

Riches and honor come from Him.

He rules over all.

Strengthen Your Hearts

May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. — 1 Thessalonians

Happy Halloween!

Have a safe weekend.

May God strengthen your heart and mine.

So we will be blameless and holy in God's sight.

God our Father, who cares for us.

We look for Jesus to come, our Lord and Savior.

I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. — Isaiah 45:5-6

Palm Desert Sunset

God is Lord, and there is no other.

Apart from Him there is no God.

He gives me strength to get through any trials that come my way.

My Bible study group is reading Pilgrim's Progress right now.

Reading about the Hill of Difficulty that Christian climbs and the people he meets who try to take the easy path of Destruction or avoid the narrow way is very humbling.

I often act that way, too.

Even so, God gives me strength, forgiving me when I don't acknowledge Him.

From the rising of sun to its setting, people may know there is none besides Him.

Do Not Fear

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

God is with me.

He is my God.

He gives me strength and helps me.

This week I discovered a lump in my arm.

I'm not sure if it was from pulling weeds or sitting too long at my computer, or what.

It may be lymphedema so I will talk with my oncologist on Thursday.

And I will see my doctor to determine if I need to see a lymphedema therapist or if it will go away.

For now, I've stopped jumping rope and lifting weights.

I've also stopped doing jumping jacks until I find out more.

But God gives me strength and helps me through this time.

God Will Strengthen Us

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

Yesterday at church, my brother Steve quoted this verse from Isaiah.

Very timely.

Today Abby is still sick.

Kirk and I were up most of the night checking on her.

Her stomach and ribs are sore and she is worn out.

All of us are exhausted.

Even so, we are not dismayed or discourage.

God is watching over us with His strong right arm.

We know that He will strengthen us and help us.

He will uphold us with His righteous right hand.

He is the Great Physician and will heal Abby completely.

We are grateful.

God Has Healed Me

Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise. — Jeremiah 17:14

God has healed me and strengthened me.

He has saved me from death and has given me life eternal.

I praise him for his mighty acts.

I exalt him for his excellent greatness.

He is the one I praise.

God Has Done Great Things for Me

Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. — Psalm 66:16-17

Thursday my boss gave me my semi-annual review. 

I really enjoy working with her; she has a lot of marketing expertise and is a strong advocate and supporter of me and my team.

She had hip surgery last month and is working at home as she recovers.

God is healing her more and more each day.

We are looking forward to her return.

God is healing me each day, too.

His healing arms surround me and strengthen me. I don't have the strength to climb Cowles' Mt. yet, but I do walk around the hills of our neighborhood 1-2 miles a couple of times a week.