You Gotta Love Max Lucado!

 Excerpts from Grace for the Moment:

The purpose of life 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.               Matthew 22:37

Mine deep enough in every heart and you'll find it: a longing for meaning, a quest for purpose. As surely as a child breathes, he will someday wonder, "What is the purpose of my life?" 

Some search for meaning in a career. "My purpose is to be a dentist."  Find location but hardly a justification for existence. They opt to be a human "doing"  rather than a human "being." Who they are is what they do: consequently they do a lot. They were many hours because if they don't work, they don't have an identity. 

For others who they are is what they have. They find meaning in a new car or a new house or new clothes. These people are great for the economy and rough on the budget because they are always seeking meaning in something they own.... Some try sports, entertainment, colts, sex, you name it. 

       All mirages in the desert of purpose.,..

      Shouldn't we face the truth? If we don't acknowledge god, we are floatsom in the                universe.

The Dungeon of Bitterness 

If you forgive others for their sins, your Father in heaven will also forgive you for your sense.                                                                                                                                          Matthew 6:14

Bitterness is its own prison. The sides are slippery with resentment. A floor of muddy anger stills the feet. The stench of betrayal fills the air and stings the eyes. A cloud of self-pity blocks the view of the tiny exit above.

Step in and look at the prisoners. Victims are chained to the walls. Victims of betrayal. Victims of abuse 

The dungeon, deep and dark, is beckoning you to enter..... You can, you know. You've experienced enough hurt..... You can choose, like many, chain yourself to your hurt..... Or you can choose, like some to put away your hurts before they become hate.....

How does God deal with your bitter heart? He reminds you that what you have is more important than what you don't have you still have your relationship with god. No one can take that.

Fall 2026

 Story begins September 17 9:30

As a general rule, women had fewer rights, social status, and power than men in the ancient world in which the Bible was written. But Jesus regularly defied these social conventions, fulfilling his mission and purposes through faithful women and giving them dignity and purpose.

In this One book Daily-Weekly study, Suzanne Nicholson highlights the qualities of several women in the New Testament that Jesus asks all believers to faithfulness, persistence, and a boldness to follow him even at great personal cost to ourselves. These stories help us to better understand not only our own calling, but the very nature of the gospel itself.

Summer thoughts

  Obeying and Honoring God 

Isaiah 29:13: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.”

I dearly love this quote from Max Lucado:

Is there any emotion that imprisons the soul more than the unwillingness to forgive? 

If you suffer for doing good, and you are patient, then God is pleased.         1 Peter 2:20

 Everyone who is a child of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world - our faith. 1 John 5:4 ncv

 As we study women of the Old Testament, I find remarkable women in my path and marvel at their contributions to God's Kingdom. Here are excerpts from two such women found on Christian radio stations,  Leanna Crawford and Samantha Ebert. Even if you've heard them before, I invite you to listen to these songs and read the excerpts below. God is surely speaking through these women!

Excerpts from: Still Waters (Psalm 23) by Leanna Crawford

"Write scripture on your heart for when you need it                                                                            'Cause anxiety hates Psalm 23.                                                                                                                   So just say it to yourself 'til you believe it"

Lord, I believe You can set mе at ease                                                                                                         Turn this broken piеce in me to peace and quiet
I know there's power in Your word                                                                                                              So I'll say it over and over 'til my soul's reminded

Still waters run through any valley I could find                                                                                        I'm laying fear down here at Heaven's riverside
Your word has been true in every season of my life

Oh, the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want
He leads me by still waters 'til my fears are gone
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Oh, I know You are with me, my Father, my friend
Your goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days
I know by Your still waters I'm safe

Excerpts from: Flowers by Samantha Ebert

Well, blue skies and hillsides feel so far away
And I wrote in my notebook that I've seen better days
Than the ones as of late
I can't bear that weight

I wish something would change
'Cause I'm losing faith

So I brought it up in a desperate prayer
Lord, why are you keeping me here?
Then He said to me, "Child, I'm planting seeds
I'm a good God and I have a good plan
So trust that I'm holding a watering can
And someday you'll see that flowers grow in the valley"

So whatever the reason, I'm barely getting by
I'll trust it's a season knowing that you're by my side
Every step of the way
And I'll be okay

When I'm on the mountain and looking down below
I'll see a valley of flowers that needed time to grow
And I'll thank you for the rain
The hurt and days of pain

And I'll bring it up in a grateful prayer
Thank you, Jesus, for keeping me there
You know just what I need and you've planted seeds
'Cause you're a good God with a real good plan
And you hold my world in a watering can
So I can have peace 'cause flowers grow in the valley