Archives

Details

It certainly has been a different kind of Christmas and New Year.



For one thing the weather has been more like early november since the freezing temps killed our garden off.....
left us with gallons of green tomatoes...and then left again..

a few of them pictured..

It was 30 last night (humm..by the time you read this it will have been a week ago ..)
but it is going to go right back up to 70 for the New Years day Holiday supposedly..
Well, I am really tempted to complain but Miriam loves the warm so I will just take what comes and be happy for those who like the above normal temps..
I think we may have broken records because we have been here over 15 years and have never had such a warm Holiday!!
I saw on the weather channel that the entire country was above normal and way above normal except for a small area in the very south western border along the Mexico border and it has been below normal temps there..


And then for another thing...

I remember Mom mentioning to me a while back about the change in the role she played in the Holiday's and I did not really hear her...
I wish I had listened to her back then as this year I experienced that very situation.
I have made the Holiday dinners for many years now and with our situation the way it is Crystal and Miriam took the Dinner plans and were responsible for the meals..
Wow...I sure did feel old..
Took me a couple of days to deal with the emotion of that ...
But life changes and changes and never stop coming at you...

And it really is the way it should be...
I understand that the older you get the more of a burden things in life are to you..
I can see how that could be very true...
I think that Scripture makes sense to me now where it did not before..


Ecc 12:1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, "I have no pleasure in them";
Ecc 12:2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain,
Ecc 12:3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed,
Ecc 12:4 and the doors on the street are shut--when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low--
Ecc 12:5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets--
Ecc 12:6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern,
Ecc 12:7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.


I have to say the Scripture is a little sad sounding to me and I am not sad.

Learning to change should be something we welcome..
If we do not accept the changes how can we continue on to the place that is next for us...
God is such an awesome presence in the heart of us when we need understanding to make those changes.

I hope you are able to make the changes in your life that comes to you with an understanding that there is a season for everything...


Well, It is a New Year and life changes continue and we just do not know what God has in store for us tomorrow..
I know I have a lot of changes in my life right now that keep me wondering about how to deal with them..its good...

And Whatever your future holds, whether young or old or in between, may you find all your hopes and dreams met in Gods perfect plan for you...
Me too!!

 


Details
It's New Years Day, we stop to reflect on what has gone past us and we consider that which lies ahead. We mark time as though it could have a slash of chalk upon it, like one marks a calendar. It gives us a sense of measure, a record, a way in which we keep track of our lives so that we don't get lost. The telephone operator in a large industrial town in England received a call each day requesting the proper time. It was the same person asking again and again. After a month of such requests, she asked the caller why this was so important. ?I have to know the exact time?, he said, ?because I blow the town clocks whistle right at noon.? 'my goodness?, gasped the operator, ?I always set my clock to that whistle.? Time is of great value to us not just because we are mortal but because it is linked to the purposes of God. Just think of the descriptions of time you've read in the Bible? seven days of creation, 40 days of flood, 40 years of wandering, on the third day He arose, time is linked to the purposes of God. He has a calendar whose pages contain the timing of His purposes, and by grace He tips the page that we can glimpse the ways that are higher than our ways, the thoughts that are higher than our thoughts. Such a glimpse is in Malachi chapter 4. These are the last recorded words of the Old Testament, it was like a great New Years Eve that lasted for over 400 years and then came the unveiling of Christ in the New Testament. The words of Malachi 4 speak to a ?New Years Day? that is yet to be known, they speak about a day of which every human heart has a longing for, they speak about a day that God has linked in an unbreakable way to His purposes. Let's read that together, Malachi 4.

I. In a World of Unbalanced Abilities, of Unequal Powers, of Imperfect Motives, We Long For . . .

Read more: Hearts Restored

Details

I was thinking about synonyms this week, not the cinnamon that you find in sticky buns, but the synonym you find in tricky phrases. Synonyms point us to the source of something, they amplify, they color in the character and take us deeper. Put together they can sound like this?

His name was short, brief, an essence,

A heart, a passion, a loving presence,

I knew in an instant, quickly, right now,

All to be cherished, treasured and held.

Ever since God spoke and said, ?Let there be light?, words have directly shaped our understanding and our very life, even for all eternity. The ideas of God's mind often come to us as words and are the purest expressions of being, known to us. It is no coincidence to think that of all the phrases God could have used to describe Jesus Christ, He picked, ?In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.?, John 1:1. As you read the Christmas story there will be account after account of angels coming as messengers from God and the words they bring have been crafted by the very . . .

Read more: A Picture of Highest Glory

Details

“What room can I de-clutter now?” My daughter grinned at me. I didn’t grin back. “Slow down,” I said, “we have six months before we move.” She laughed and said it might take longer to do the down-sizing we will have to do to move from a five bedroom into a two-bedroom house. It isn’t going to be easy for me. I confess I am a packrat and I tend to hold on to things a little too tightly. Things like books. My other daughter said we should advertise this way – “House For Sale, Includes Library.” I didn’t grin at that comment, either.

The problem is that so many of the things around me have a story attached. Many of the things are connected to people – friends and family. Letting them go means letting go of emotional attachments and memories, so it’s hard, even though I tell myself that . . .

Read more: Letting Go

Details
A passenger traveling on a train across Saskatchewan was so enthralled by the journey that every few moments he was heard to say, ?Wonderful!? The passing scenery, the faces of the people in the towns, even the smallest details drew out exclamations of awe. Finally one fellow traveler, overcome by curiosity, asked, ?How is it that the rest of us are worn out with this monotonous trip while you are having the time of your life? He answered them, ?Until a few days ago I was a blind man, but now for the first time in my life I can see and what is ordinary to the rest of you, is out of this world to me.? It is my desire that before you leave here this morning there will be a sense of wonder, an amazement even at what had previously looked to be ordinary.

I remember traveling in the Rocky Mountains with our children when they were just 5 years old and younger. As we peered up at the craggy ridges we'd point to first one peak and then another and the word that came out was, ?Incredible!? I hadn't realized that we'd used that term as much as we had until our daughter began to point with her little hand and say, 'mom, Dad, look, the Incredibles!? Let's look at the incredible, wonderful, amazing view of Christ in Luke 1, verses 26 to 38.

I. The Wonder of Christ Is Wrapped in Detail.

The coming of Christ was a precision event, perfectly timed, accurately plotted on the map, strategically aimed at specific . . .

Read more: Christ Our Wonder

  1. Evangelist?! Not me!
  2. Merry Christmas Family!
  3. Immanu - el
  4. Captivated by Wild at Heart

Subcategories

The Spur Article Count:  92

Marcia Laycock is a pastor's wife and freelance writer living in Alberta Canada.  Her devotional book The Spur of the Moment has been endorsed by Janette Oke, Phil Callaway and others.  To order, and to view more of Marcia's writing, see her web site - www.vinemarc.com

Wonders of Creation Article Count:  37

Written By Richard Gunther.

Harris Dvores Article Count:  1

Harris Dvores is a corporate lawyer in Orlando, Florida. But only from 9 to 5. For more than 20 years, he has pursued his passion to create: everything from Christian music and church skits, to Star Trek scripts and board games. His new website, www.harrisdvores.com, is a playground for the mind and spirit. A Jewish believer, Harris has been given truly amazing stories to share about the power of God.

Rev. Spence Laycock Article Count:  49

Rev. Spence Laycock pastors at Church of the Open Bible, Ponoka, Alberta, Canada.

Pastor Bert Nieuwenhuis Article Count:  2

Pastor Bert Nieuwenhuis is the interim pastor at Somerset Bible Chapel, Manitoba, Canada.

Diane Davis Article Count:  1

Diane Davis, a former policewoman in Toronto, recently retired from a lengthy career as a civilian member of the Ontario Provincial Police.  Amongst many things, she is now turning her attention to writing, music, and her 5 grandchildren.  She is also Pastor Tim's mom.

Melva's Devotions Article Count:  48

Blog Writings by Melva Cooper.

Melva Cooper is a wife, mother and grandmother from Jonesboro, Arkansas. God has given her, in her retirement years, the ministry of writing for HIM. "Even in old age, you will still produce fruit" is a verse He has given her (Psalm 92:14). And it is her desire to serve Him all the days of her life.

Barb's Mantle Article Count:  59

Barbara, a Christian homemaker, began her Web Site through encouragement from her son, and a dream. It quickly became a ministry for the Lord. She began writing devotionals to encourage, inspire, and build up spiritually those coming to her site.  Barbara is a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.

Sandra Boyte Article Count:  10

Writing poetry that brings glory to God is Sandra's passion.  No matter where she has lived, or what she has gone through, she has found that God is always there before her to lead her in His paths and to catch her when she falls.  Married, with two sons two granddaughters on the way, Sandra's future goals include writing more poetry trying her hand at writing short devotionals for children.

Dr. Harold McNabb Article Count:  98

Dr. Harold McNabb pastors at Westshore Presbyterian Church in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Peggie's Den Article Count:  77

"Ever feel as though life is a lions' den and like Daniel, you're right in the middle of it all? Enjoy these "Devotions from the Den" (Lions 'n Life at Peggie's Place) and delight in God's promises of love, joy and peace for whatever is happening in YOUR den today!"

Misc Article Count:  77

Miscellaneous archived items.

Page 8 of 110