The Word

John 1:1-5 (NKJV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

2 He was in the beginning with God. 

3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 

4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 

5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

People of faith have quoted these scripture verses from the Holy Bible since they first had the faith to believe that Jesus was God in flesh and walked with us on this planet.  People of faith believe in a Creator, a Supernatural Supreme Being, Father God, Almighty God, and so many other names and descriptions of the One True God.  Some people have a faith in others gods but not the one True God that Jesus spoke of.  Not the One Jesus called his Father. People of faith believe the Holy Bible, though written by many men, is the word of God given to the people of his kingdom, of his family in order to live a life of purpose.  

In verse 1 the Apostle John, who lived longer than any of the other apostles, and wrote these words himself, and who walked with Jesus during his ministry on earth, placed Jesus at the beginning of time and the beginning of creation.  The word John used was "logos", meaning Divine Expression, Christ, Messiah.  In the beginning Jesus was with the Father and the Father was with him. They were together as one.  Not two separate supernatural beings but one in two divine expressions.  God and Word.  One.

Then in verse 4 John brings in the Holy Spirit, the Light that shines in the darkness. Jesus came to earth and the Holy Spirit was with him.  Jesus taught in his ministry that he was the light of the world.  

John 8:12 (NKJV) "Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Even Isaiah spoke of the Light hundreds of years before Jesus was born.  He spoke of the Messiah.

Isaiah 9:2 (NKJV) 'The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.'

People of faith read these verses and know that God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit are one and the same and that all three Divine Expressions are one and the same working and living in the people who have this faith to believe.  Each One is separate but they are One.  People without faith are unable to comprehend this just as John says in verse 5.  Without faith there is no belief and without belief there is no Divine Expression (God) in that person's mind, heart or soul.  The Word and the Light are not understood so they are discarded as myth, legend, fable, fake, non-truth, nothing but meaningless nonsense.

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) 'But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.'

Believers are set apart, different from this world because believers believe in an unseen God but to them He is seen.  He is seen in their lives through love, kindness, generosity, and servitude to other's in the world.  They shine His light to a world filled with darkness, evilness, selfishness, greed, power and all of the other sins of the world that lives in the hearts of mankind that have no belief or accountability for their actions.  Unbelievers are why believers still walk this earth.  God has not given up trying to reach the people of unbelief that He loves.

The Book of John was written by John the man with the help and inspiration of the Divine Expression. Creator, Word, and Light. Father, Son, Holy Spirit.  Each unbeliever that searches for the truth about the One True God should begin their search reading the Book of John. Over and over and over until that little bit of Light starts shining inside of them.  Believe me, that Light will shine if one truly seeks with an open heart.

Jesus said, 

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) But seek first he kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Matthew 7:7 -8 (NKJV) Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

The Times of Testing

Most of us remember being in school and those tests that were given in science class, history class, math class, and all of the other subjects we were being taught.  Scores ranking from A to F.  Those who studied hard and retained the information scored far better than those who did not.  

Scripture tells us as we live life on earth we will be tested to see how we score in the eyes of our Lord.  Here are a few of the many verses that speak of the test.

James 1:3 (NIV) because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

Ezekiel 21:13 (NIV)  ‘Testing will surely come. And what if even the scepter, which the sword despises, does not continue? declares the Sovereign Lord .’

Acts 20:19 (NIV) I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.

I don't know about you but I was never a fan of school tests.  I could study my heart out and then still fail the test.  Retaining what I had studied the night before would leave me when the fear of the test came.  I panicked.  Panic does not help in a test.  

In our walk of faith we have these same tests happening.  One day we are flying on a cloud with the Lord God, feeling His love and knowing we can do all things in Christ Jesus.  The next day we are in a puddle on the floor begging for His mercy because someone we love is suffering from a horrendous medical discovery or the money is gone and the rent is due.  These are the tests of our faith.  These are what mold us into the person God intends us to be.  It is easy to say we have great faith but it is another to live it.

When we continue our walk with Jesus we learn and we grow.  He never promised us there would not be really, really hard tests.  In fact He promised us we would have severe tests in our lives.  Yes, there are times of peace and harmony.  Tranquility and beauty.  Rest and relaxation.  But we should always be prepared for that test to pop up.  Teachers called them "Pop Test's".  Pop tests were scary!

Romans 5:3-4 (NIV)  Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. 

Paul the apostle teaches that our sufferings, our testing's, are what build us and make us into the mature child of God that we are to become.  Testing brings us to hope and being firm in our hope that the Lord will do as He has said.  

Jesus spoke about the storms (tests) that would come to the people on earth but reminded right off the bat we have to be wise and put the word of God into practice in order to stand and endure the tests.

Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)  “24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Each time one of those "Pop Tests" come into our lives we have to believe there is a reason.  Sometimes the test will account for 50% of the grade.  Sometimes it's a pass or fail test.  Sometimes it is a simple test with simple answers.  It is always a test for a reason or for a season of life. 

We do not ever question the Teacher. He is the Author and the Finisher. He is Almighty God who knows all things.  He is the Father who loves us so deeply that He wants us to pass the test and receive the price of all He has in store for us, His children, His family.

Romans 8:18 (NIV) I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV) For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

When Jesus Was Not A Pacifist

When Jesus Was Not A Pacifist

Saturday, 28 March, 2026 1:53 PM

There is a lot of discussion about Jesus being a peacemaker and a pacifist since the war began in Iran.  Yes, I fully agree He wants peaceful followers and He wants peace on earth.  Yes, he is the Prince of Peace.  There should be a balance in how we follow His example of living peacefully with our brothers, sisters, and neighbors and how we stand against the injustices of this sinful world. 

Jesus was a Lion and a Lamb.  Just ask the religious leaders of His time!

Here are some of His not so peaceful actions:

1. Hypocrites (most common rebuke)

Jesus repeatedly called them hypocrites (Greek: hypokritai, meaning "actors" or "play-actors", fake, false, pretend).

Examples: Matthew 23:13–36 (the "Seven Woes"): "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!" (repeated 7 times in this chapter alone).

Matthew 15:7–9: "You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you..."

Mark 7:6 and Luke 12:56 also record similar uses.

2. Blind guides / Blind fools / Blind men

Emphasizing their spiritual blindness while claiming to lead others.

Examples: Matthew 23:16, 24: "Blind guides! ... You blind fools!" (fools = moros = morons, blockhead, dull, stupid, absurd)

Matthew 23:17, 19: "You blind men!"

Matthew 15:14: "They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit."

3. Brood of vipers / Snakes

A harsh image of danger and deceit, echoing John the Baptist's language.

Examples: Matthew 23:33: "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?"

Matthew 12:34: "You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good?"

4. Whitewashed tombs / Beautiful on the outside

Highlighting their external piety masking internal corruption.

Example: Matthew 23:27–28: "You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean."

5. Wolves (in sheep's clothing)

Warning about false teachers who appear harmless but are predatory.

Example: Matthew 7:15: "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." (Contextually aimed at hypocritical leaders.)

6. Children of the devil / Of your father the devil

Pointing to their spiritual allegiance.

Example: John 8:44 (to Pharisees/Jews opposing him): "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires."

7. Murderers / Sons of those who murdered the prophets

Accusing them of continuing the pattern of rejecting and killing God's messengers.

Examples: Matthew 23:31: "So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets."

Matthew 23:35: They would be held responsible for "the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah."

8. Other descriptive titles

Fools and foolish ones (Matthew 23:17, 19).

Unmarked graves (Luke 11:44) – people walk over them without knowing the corruption beneath.

Leaven of the Pharisees (Matthew 16:6, 11–12; Luke 12:1) – referring to their corrupting influence and teaching (hypocrisy and legalism).

Those who shut the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 23:13).

Serpents (Matthew 23:33, alongside vipers).

These were fighting words for the established elite and religious leaders so they hated Him and murdered Him without even a fair trial.  Of course we know that was how God's plan had to evolve.  Only during His ministry did He turn over tables and call names and only to the so called leaders of the times.  With the everyday normal people, believers and unbelievers was He gentle, kind and peaceful.  

Romans 12:18 (NIV) If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Beware of Hell

 Three times in Mark 9 Jesus repeats his warning about the results of sin and the damnation of hell.  Three times he repeats the words of Isaiah 66:24,

“And they shall go forth and look Upon the corpses of the men

Who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die,

And their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”

Mark 9:43 -48 (NKJV) Jesus speaks to the disciples,

43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— 

44 where ‘Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.’

45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— 

46 where ‘Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.’

47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire— 

48 where ‘Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.’

Why would He repeat this three times in a row?  Because he is serious about saving the sinner? Because He wants no one to endure an eternity of worms and fire?  Jesus loves the people and wants to save all who come to Him and honor Him as their savior and redeemer from their sin.  But….people are hard hearted until He takes their heart of stone and makes it a heart of flesh.  To have a heart of flesh is to have compassion.  To have love for others.  To forgive people who hurt you.  To live in the world peacefully and joyfully even with all of its darkness and sin.

I have lived long enough to have heard the naysayer and unbeliever say 'there is no heaven and there is no hell because there is no god'.  To them and their hearts of stone it is sadly their truth.  My truth tells me there is a God.  My faith tells me there is a God who cares and shows me in the days of living life that those with a heart of flesh are far better off than those who turn their back on faith, on God.  It breaks my heart that those who choose not to believe have not only a heart of stone but also a brain of stone.  They seem to have put themselves in the position of a god in their lives.  They believe in themselves and deny a Creator.  According to Jesus (three times right here)they will be cast into the lake of unquenchable fire with the worms.

Being the seeker of knowledge that I am I looked up the Hebrew word "worm" used in Isaiah 66:24.  In English we have a 4 letter word but in Hebrew it is a really long word, "tola tole ah tola ath tola ath".  The definition is quite extraordinary.  Voracious maggot.  Crimson grub. Scarlet, crimson, worm.  Deeper dive takes you to the Hebrew word, "yala", definition "devour".  Jesus is warning of the voracious worm (aka maggot) that devours for all eternity because once in hell the worm never dies.  Literally put, how can that mind picture not scare hell out of everyone?  Yet Jesus repeats the warning 3 times!

People do not like to talk about hell but they will always talk about heaven.  People like the good stuff but they do not like the bad stuff.  People want to believe that God is only love and forgiveness but then they respond to those closest to them with hatred, anger, and unforgiveness.  They blame God for the bad things that happen in the world and then pile their own immorality into the world year after year.  Sin is a human condition that leads to death and God did not send them there.  They did it all on their own and God was not even in their picture.  Each one of us makes a choice.

A couple of verses before Jesus gave His warning about hell he told the disciples,

Mark 9:40  (NKJV) "For he who is not against us is on our side." 

Choose your side wisely my friends.

Elijah in the Wilderness

 I Kings 17 begins the history of evil King Ahab and his evil queen Jezebel and also tells the story of Elijah the prophet of God for the time.  Right after Jerry died in 2022 I attended a Bible Study on Elijah and felt the Lord touch my heart and tell me I was in the same wilderness that Elijah was in.  A wilderness of learning to trust in God for my every moment and every day to come as I learn the ways of widowhood.

Elijah spent roughly 3 1/2 years in the Kerith Ravine wilderness before God called him out to be the servant and prophet he was destined to be.  He ran away.  He had doubts.  He had fears.  He did not want to do the task at hand.  I am not called to be a prophet but called to learn to be a better servant to the Lord and to learn to trust him in every single day as I now trudge through life without a spouse, without a helpmate, without my closest friend.  Like Elijah, I cannot see what and why the Lord has me where I am. Not yet.

For over 3 full years Elijah learned to trust in God for food and water.  The essentials of life.  According to Hebrew customs the food delivering ravens were unclean and contact with them was against the law yet Lord God used them to feed Elijah. For over 3 full years Elijah was alone in the wilderness.  I am sure he cried many tears. I am sure he expressed his anger at being stuck in the wilderness as the rest of the land experienced a drought of water but also a a drought of separation from Lord God at the hands of the evil king and queen.  

When God first called Elijah out of the ravine after some years he goes to a widow who is ready to give up and die.  She and her son have no food.  Elijah comes along, prays, and food miraculously comes from the Great Provider.  Later the son dies but Elijah pleads with God to restore the son to life and it is done.  Without Elijah leaving the ravine the widow and her son both would have died in the drought and famine.  God had other plans.  Elijah trusted God and then the widow and her son trusted Elijah's God.  I wonder how many more were led to trust God as each one of them lived on and told of their miraculous touch of Lord God in their lives.

Today I am 3 years and 6 months into my widowhood journey.  There are days I want to stay in the ravine where I am safe from the outside world.  Where I can cry and shout.  Where I can seek and find.  Where I can grow in the Lord for whatever plans He has for my future.  I have told others I feel like a three and a half year old child.  I am still learning to walk on my own.  I am learning how to be a fairly self-sufficient human being.  I still fall down and cry.  I still hide away under my bed in fear of the outside.  Not really under the actual bed but I am safe in my home without having to pretend I am okay.

When you read the rest of the story of Elijah he fights against the evil king and queen who are eventually defeated by the hand of Almighty God and His faithful servants. It was never an easy time and Elijah had some rough down times but in the end Elijah never experienced death and is taken out of this world into heaven on a Chariot of Fire in a whirlwind while Elisha the next prophet of God watches.  

Elijah's story of endurance through the terrible times of drought, sadness, persecution, doubts, and fears, only to experience an intimate relationship with Almighty God who rescues him from death is one of those Bible stories that get us through this life.  Jesus rescues us.  Jesus does this for me and for you.  We all experience times of wilderness in so many different ways.  Do I lose faith sometimes?  I do.  Do I come back to the arms of Jesus looking for comfort and the courage to continue?  I do.  Do I want to serve and help in this world filled with so much darkness and wilderness?  I do.  Am I able to do this on my own without my husband?  No.  But with the Lord Jesus Christ my eternal bridegroom at my side I can do all things.  

Jesus came out of his wilderness experience and saved each one of us who call Him Lord, God, Savior.  The wilderness is never a fun place to be but it is essential if we are to learn how to trust in an Unseen God who has loved us since we drew out first breath of life.  

John 10:9-10 (NET) I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.

When Death Comes

When Death Comes

Friday, 13 February, 2026

7:43 AM

 

It has been a very long couple of weeks to sort through. 

 

On Monday, January 26th I took Penny the cat, who had been having serious health issues for a year, to the Vet and had her put to sleep.

 

On Tuesday, January 27th my friend and Power of Twelve sister, Rose died of a sudden heart attack at home.

 

On Wednesday, January 28th my friend and longtime sister in the Lord, Bobbie Jo died after a long battle with brain cancer.

 

That was over 2 weeks ago and I am still having a very hard time coming to grips with these deaths.  Two of the death involved sickness that were not healed by God.  One was an unexposed medical issue that exposed itself within hours. 

 

I understand that God is in charge of everything for everyone.  I know He has a purpose that we do not understand so many times.  I know there is birth and death.  I know that all that all things work together for good for those who are called by the Lord. 

 

When death comes into our lives we must find a way to live with it and try to understand that it is always going to be a part of everyone's lives.  As Christians we can get a little better understanding know that the body we have on earth is only a vessel for the spirit that lives inside each one.  We are the believers of a life after this one for those who follow Jesus as Lord and savior.  Those who believe in a Creator and God who formed us and put our spirit inside of these vessels believe there is a spiritual life after this one.  Jesus made a promise of a new heaven and a new earth where every tear will be wiped away and there will be no more sorrow, no more death and no more evil.

 

There is nothing wrong with having sorrow and grieving the loss of someone close.  We know that life will not be the same as they are missing from now on.  We move through each day learning how to live without that one in our life.  Moving slowly forward through grief is a tough walk.  There are days where we do not even want to face the world without these loved ones but we do it because of the others who are still with us in life.

 

Whether it is one day or one thousand days since death has shown itself in our lives we rely on the Lord to get us through today and we do our best not to worry about tomorrow. 

 

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” - Revelation 21:4

 

he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.  - Isaiah 25:8

 

l be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” - 1 Corinthians 15:53-55

 

 

Noise

Noise

Tuesday, 27 January, 2026

9:03 AM

 

I think people are in such turmoil and in an uproar because of instant news.  The internet and social media is to blame.  Back in the old days we waited until the television, radio and news agencies filled us in on the day.  People in Oregon had no idea what was happening in Maine until it was reported in the news, audio or print.

 

 We had no idea, minute by minute what was happening in other parts of the world until we saw or heard the news reports.  Now we get slammed minute by minute with instant news or at least instant reporting with someone else's opinion of the circumstances or actions.  This is where the confusion comes.

 

We hear things and see things and then our brain determines the interest or the desire to seek if what we see or hear is the truth.  That is the normal way a human should respond but we have a generation of people who have been spoon fed minute by minute without the ability to seek reality or truth.  We have a generation of people who have never been taught to think for themselves.  There has always been another person's opinion or thoughts manipulating their own thoughts.  In school we are taught by a teacher and that teacher influenced us.  If the influences are not Godly and grounded they will affect our own opinions of the situation unless we dive into getting the entire truth. Not little bits and pieces of it.

 

This is the noise of the world today.  A majority of the world uses cell phones which are connected to the constant news noise of the world.  Every single little thing good or bad will pop up into our daily lives whether we want it or not.  We have a choice to turn off the noise or let it influence our day and our thoughts. 

 

God wants us to be a people that are grounded and filled with knowledge and wisdom.  He does not want us to become a part of this world as this world will come to an end one day.  Either we will leave it or it will leave us.  In the meantime if we are following God we will be able to discern the good from the bad.  We will be able to find the truth of the situation and gain knowledge from it. 

 

If you are letting the noise of the world ruin your day turn it off.  Unplug and go for a walk or read something valuable.  Listen to music and work in the garden.  Paint a picture or do a puzzle.  Turn off the television, radio, and your phone for an hour. 

 

The noise will still be there after you have sought the quiet but you will feel better knowing that it is your decision to turn it off at any given point.

 

Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 

 

Proverbs 13:16 - All who are prudent act with knowledge, but fools expose their folly.

Two Stories

Two Stories

Tuesday, 16 December, 2025

9:01 AM

 

There are two stories that have been on my mind and my heart recently.  One is in John 4: 46-53 about the Nobelman's dying son and Jesus.  The other is the Woman who had been bleeding for 12 years spoken of in Luke 8:43-48 and in Matthew 9:20-22.

 

The Nobleman was considered some kind of royalty while the bleeding woman was a total outcast of society.  The Nobleman had everything and every kind of luxury affordable to those of that high status.  The Woman had nothing and was not allow to even touch or be touched since she was deemed unclean by the blood that flowed from her.  Not one single Jew could come anywhere near her as that would make them unclean also.  The Nobleman had slaves and servants while the Woman had no one and was alone.  The Nobleman had all the money he needed and more.  The Woman had nothing left of her money and lived in poverty.  She had spent it all trying to find a cure for her ailment.

 

When Jesus shows up on the scene for each of these encounters He is not thinking about the royal status of the Nobleman and He is not thinking about the unclean status of the bleeding Woman.  He is looking into their hearts for faith and He finds it in both of them. 

 

The Nobleman is seeking a healing for his dying son whom he loves with all his heart.  He knows there is a death sentence on his son but he hears about a man who is healing others and he goes to find this man.  At this time he could care less about his royal status, his wealth or what the Jewish society says about some false Messiah and healer who is a madman and a liar.  All he knows is that his only hope lies in this man who has healed others.  He believes in his heart that this man can heal his son.  When he finds Jesus and speaks with him he knows that the healing pronounced by Jesus is the truth and he instantly believes and has faith.  And so it is that the son who is not even touched by the hands of the Healer is healed while lying in a bed far away.  The Nobleman knows this and when he finds out the details He and all of his household are saved and believe in  Jesus the Messiah, the Savior.  This royal household could be hundreds of people.  They all now believe, have faith and are saved.

 

The Woman had lived with her bleeding for twelve years we are told.  That is a very long time to be an outcast from society.  She was not allowed near any of the people so she had to do her grocery shopping when no one was around.  The merchants did not want to have any contact with her.  She was not allowed near any of the water sites so that also had to be done in quiet when no one else was at the well or the riverside.  She was not allowed into the synagogue's to pray or listen to the scripture.  She once had money and was not an outcast but then the bleeding began and she used all of her money to find a cure.  There was no cure for twelve years.  But she heard about a healer.  He was in town and was headed through the street to heal a little girl who was dying.  The street was crowded and she crept down among the people hiding and just trying to get close enough to touch him and hope for a healing.  It was the only chance she had left.  She believed in what she had heard about him.  He had healed others just by a touch.  She reached out and touched the hem of his robe and was instantly healed.  She felt it and knew it but Jesus also knew it and He said out loud while standing in the crowd, "Who touched me?"  He had felt the power leave him and enter into the woman who was now healed.  She knew and He knew.  She had reached out in faith and He had provided the healing.  Nothing was ever the same for this woman who was no longer an outcast and was one of those whom Jesus had healed and changed their lives forever.

 

Both of these stories talk about a person changed by their faith in Jesus Christ.  Neither one of them expected something like this to happen in their lives.  None of us today expect a miraculous change in our lives. Many of us have followed Jesus for decades and have not had anything overtly miraculous happen to us.  We know we are blessed and that the Lord is with us.  We know that His love for us is eternal and wonderful.  We have faith that we will see him one day when we are no longer on this earth.  We believe in what the scriptures say about him and we seek more wisdom and knowledge of him.  But the days and the pages of the calendar keep passing by.  Sometimes a miracle comes in a grand fashion with bells and whistles and standing ovations.  Sometimes a miracle comes in a crowd of people who are seeking something special and life changing.  Sometimes a miracle come in the quiet times of life when nothing is seen or heard and only by faith do we know that something supernatural did happen. 

 

Jesus  does not see us as a Nobleman or royalty.  He does not see us as unclean and unworthy to be loved and healed.  He sees us as the children he created before time began on earth.  He sees us as the chosen ones whom he placed on earth to love and learn.  He sees us as his people whom he will continue to bless and keep in his care until the time comes we are standing next to him at his throne.  Then we will all be royalty and all be perfectly clean.

Pride

Pride

Wednesday, 19 November, 2025

6:37 AM

 

It's hard to admit pride and I have been prideful about my health.  Now I see it and wish I would have never held that pride.  That pride has cost me dearly as I have now been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Heart disease.  Not to mention, obesity.  My health life was unremarkable as the OHSU Neurosurgeon said back in 2018.  At that time I had nothing wrong except 20 extra pounds and a small Meningioma tumor, which he took out.  Fast forward, my complacency and pride took me from that to today.  A short 7 years!

 

Today I hear the Lord speaking to me of my pride.  Like the Tribes of Israel, I stopped listening to God.  I stopped treating my temple, my body, as the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.  I left it untended and unloved.  I am the only one to blame for what is happening to me today.  My body is 71 years old and is suffering from my pride and my abuse of it.

 

I spent an hour with a doctor yesterday telling me of all the different medications I will now be on for the rest of my life.  I am so undisciplined and taking pills every day is going to be hard for me.  I could not even take vitamins every day let alone lifesaving drugs.  Lord, help me!  When I went into this a month ago I was taking zero prescription medications.  Today I have five. Two heart meds, a cholesterol med and two meds for water retention which harms my heart.

 

There is quite a list of what causes diabetes but the only two that pertain to me are extra weight and a sedentary life style. I asked the doctor how I could exercise when I get out of breath so easily and she said it will take some time to get my heart pumping better then I could exercise so for now it is getting salt and sugar out of my diet including carbohydrates which turn to sugar.  Everything I put into my mouth now matter to my life.  If I want to live I have to change.  I want to live Lord!

 

Proverbs 16:18 says;

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

 

The Contemporary English Version says, "Too much pride will destroy you."

 

The Message Bible says, "First pride, then the crash - the bigger the ego, the harder the fall."

 

I would never have thought pride was one of my characteristics but today I see it clear as a bell.  My health and my body I took completely for granted and was so lazy about it.  I told everyone I did not like to sweat but that sweat could have saved me from all of this.  I had a desk job most of my life and then lived a life just like the chair that sat at that desk.

 

I am hoping and praying today that I can stop any further destruction of my body and that the Lord sees my repentance from pride and allows some healing and some extra time.

Life Happen Fast

 Life Happens Fast

Thursday, 23 October, 2025

7:40 AM

Almost a week ago I ended up in the hospital out of nowhere.  This would be my third stay in a hospital in 71 years.  First was a cesarean section birth in 1980 with Chris.  Second was a meningioma tumor in 2018.  Now 2025 is a heart issue.  My heart is in Atrial Fibrillation or A-Fib.  It is not beating correctly and therefore caused me breathing issues.  I am now on a blood thinner, two high blood pressure medicines, high cholesterol medicine and potassium.  I went from zero prescriptions to five!

 

It looks like I caused all of this with the way I have eaten whatever I wanted.  I lead a sedate lifestyle without any exercise.  I did not care about my weight and let it go.  My poor heart was just forgotten about.  Now all of me is suffering.  Until I have an echocardiogram I will not know just what I have done to my heart.  Than will not happen for 2 more weeks.  Doctor's offices are filled with sick people and appointments are days in coming.  An appointment with a cardiologist to review the echocardiogram is scheduled for January 6, 2026, over 2 months away.

 

In the meantime all I can do is eat better to try to get my cholesterol down.  I can try to get my blood pressure down.  I am in a weak state so any exercise will have to wait.

 

I can pray for mercy from the Lord! 

 

An Echocardiogram was done on October 30th and the results were as expected but they were unable to get a good one for some reason.  The report was listed fair to poor and they were unable to capture good pictures and diagnostics.  It still was good enough to say I have congestive heart failure due to Atrium Fibrillation of my heart which was caused by high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and lack of exercise. Now I wait for an appointment with my new primary care provider on November 18th so she can go over the echo and talk with me about a plan with her and a cardiologist. 

 

I am in the arms of God each moment of the day and for how many days he gives me.

 

The Split of the Twelve Tribes

The Split of the Twelve Tribes

Monday, 6 October, 2025

1:37 PM

 

Do you ever wonder if the Twelve Tribes of Israel ever thought they would split and become enemies?  I doubt when they were held slaves by Pharoah they thought about it.  I doubt when they were going through the Red Sea they thought about it.  I doubt during the wandering in the desert for 40 years they were thinking about it.  Even when they were fighting to take the Promised Land they were fighting for the land that God the Father had promised Abraham.

 

But sure enough after centuries of being blood relatives and worshipping the One True God they divided into Judah (2 tribes) and Israel (10 tribes).  Israel was the first to be conquered and scattered then about a century and a half later the tribes of Judah were conquered and scattered.  Satan with his idolatrous way had destroyed the family that God had made.  He is still doing it today.

 

Fast forward a couple thousand years plus and you see the people in America dividing in much the same way. The idol worship of 'self' has taken so many away into a life away from God.  The people on one side have morals, integrity, values, and focus on others.  The people on the other side are mostly looking out for themselves first and then maybe there is a little room for others.

 

So is the split for America coming soon?  It does look like America is going that same direction.  It is almost a repeat of what happened for the original Hebrew tribes.  Little by little the evils of the world lead many away from God.  God the Father and creator of all things.  People in America worship their money, their possessions, their looks, and their fame.  The most elite of the tribes of Israel were led astray by the same things. 

 

God has always know the heart of mankind is hard hearted and very selfish but he repeatedly tries to woo his children back to him.  His love is everlasting but can his patience for the horrific things people do to one another continue?  I don't think so and I think that was probably why the twelve tribes split back around 750 BC and 590 BC.  Instead of destroying the people he scattered them all over the world so they could chase after other gods and lose the blessings he had once offered them if they would worship him alone.  It is really one of the saddest stories ever told.

 

America was once a Christian nation.  A nation that followed after God and worshiped him for the most part. There are always the rebellious just like Lucifer but 400 years ago on the shores of America they were few and far between.  Not so today in 2025!  Satan and Self worship go hand in hand in America today.

 

The American split is coming.  It could come very fast or it could take several hundred more years.  I pray not but humans never seem to learn lessons the easy way, only the hard way.  All I can do is pray that those in my linage never walk away from the face of God.  The one true God who loves us, created us and wants to be a Father to us.

In the Image of God

In The Image of God

Saturday, 4 October, 2025

6:56 AM

We read in Genesis that we were created in the image of God.  In my mind that means we look like him.  Though we each have our own personality and our own mind the outside of us looks like him. 

 

When I think of my children I can see some of me in them.  The freckles.  The white skin.  Even some of the mannerisms are there but those can be formed by them living with me from their early childhood until early adulthood.  The same with characteristics.  It's always entertaining to hear some of my words come out of them in the later years of life just as when I make statement that my own mother used to make.

 

These are all human traits but what about the spirit of each of us?  My children were raised from the beginning to believe in a God, the One who loves them and gave them life.  They were raised in a Christian home with Bible teachings.  They were not raised in a Jewish home, an Islamic home, a Buddhist home or any other religion.  Many children are born to homes that practice no religion whatsoever.  They are brought up in the image of what their parents put into them.  They develop the same morals, character and beliefs of their parents.  Sometimes later in life a person will seek their own identity and not that of their parents and find their own version of God. 

 

In 2025 we live in a world of instant information.  If you have a question you can find an answer.  The answer can come from many different versions of intelligence.  Artificial intelligence is just starting to take hold but even artificial intelligence was placed by human knowledge so there could be many answers.  Which one is the truth? How does a human speak of the knowledge of spirituality if they are not a spiritual person?  How does a person who has no relationship with God define the Spirit of God or the image of God? 

 

Scienfitic truths are the facts, but as technology changes and advances those facts can also change and therefore that scientific truth changes.  Is that the same with spiritual truth?  Can a Creator God open the eyes of the blind through the power of His Spirit? Can we be changed and molded into more of a reflection of who He is? I believe we can.  Personally as my knowledge of my God changes and grows my spirit also changes and grows.  I know only the one true God.  I know only his son Jesus Christ.  I know only the Holy Spirit who lives and dwells with me.  I study the Holy Bible and then I let the power of God's Holy Spirit open my eyes of understanding.  I seek knowledge.  I seek only his truth and as the years have passed I find my truth and his truth become one and the same.  I want and desire to be like my Father.

 

I pray a lot.  I want my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to have God in them and be transformed into his image.  As I write this they all know the same God that I do. They all confess that Jesus is the Son of God who came to pay the price for sin.  My heart is filled with love and thankfulness of this! I cannot express my gratitude for God's image being in my family and those who carry my blood in them!  What a miracle that we are considered chosen and called by the Creator of the Universe!  

 

When I look in a mirror I see my old blue eyes, my freckled white skin and now white hair that used to be reddish, I see a twinkle of God the Father in me.  In that reflection is my earthly father who had the blue eyes, his mother who had the red hair and freckles but also of my heavenly Father whose spirit lives in me.  This makes me smile!

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

 Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

12:15 PM

 

I have been stuck in a study of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for a week and it is always so fascinating to me. 

 

The One True God calls Abram out of Ur and he and his family travel from Ur, along the Euphrates River to Haran. Eventually they go down to Egypt and then back to the Jordan River Valley near Hebron. Several times Abraham is in Damascus which is Northern Israel. Isacc, son of Abraham and his family seem to stay in the vicinity of the Jordan River Valley (Southern Israel) most of the time.  Jacob, son of Isaac, leaves the Jordan River Valley (Southern Israel) and travels far north to Haran to find his wives Rebekah and Leah.  When he leaves Haran to head back to his homeland he meets God who changes his name to Israel and he settles back in the Jordan Valley which becomes called the land of Isreal.

 

 

On Jacobs travels back to the Jordan Valley he encounters a man whom he wrestles for a night.  The man eventually gives Jacob a blessing and  Jacob knows he has just seen the face of God.  The place is called Peniel "The Face of God".  He then meets his estranged brother Esau and they reconcile.  Jacob settles near Shechem where more trouble follows him and his family.

 

 

It seems that once Jacob is named Israel trouble becomes normal life for the family.

The family is stubborn and hot headed.  They are rebellious in life and rebellious to God.  The brothers sell their younger brother, Joseph, into slavery.  But God is still holding on to his promise to Abraham, Issac and Jacob that he will make them a great nation.  Joseph is a slave in Egypt but eventually becomes a great Egyptian leader.  During a great famine he saves his lost family living in Edom and they all move to Egypt only to becomes slaves as the centuries move on.  God sends Moses to get the Israelite's out of slavery.  They wander through the desert for 40 years with God taking care of them and keeping them alive.  God finally lets them into the Promise Land where they battle the idol worshipping pagans but still do not obey God.  They are taken captive again and again.  They fight with the pagans and they fight amongst themselves.  God finally send the promised Messiah to save them but they kill him.  That was over 2,000 years ago and they are still fighting, still waiting for their Messiah and still a hated nation of people. In a nutshell, nothing has changed for the chosen people of God since Abraham was called out of Ur to a promised land.

 

This brief summary spans around 4,000 years.  We can only estimate the years from Adam to Noah and then Noah to Abraham but it could be another 4,000 years or more.  Father God keeps calling to his chosen people to repent and come to him.  He still wants to have a relationship with his creation.  He still loves us even when we are rebellious and stubborn.  He continues to keep the earth rotating, the sun shining and letting us breath air. 

 

Jesus walked the earth about 2,000 years ago and did his best to open up the door between mankind and God.  He told his followers that the only way to come to the Father was through him and his offer of salvation for eternal life.  He told his followers that faith, hope and love were the ways of God.  He said to love each other and not kill each other.  He showed signs and wonders to back up his claim to be God in the flesh.  His own preachers and teachers denied him and hung him on a cross.  They turned their backs on God.  Hundreds of people saw Jesus alive after his death but many could not and would not believe this could ever be possible.  They turned their backs on the Son of God.

 

Today we still have signs and wonders that happen but many choose not to believe.  Many still choose to walk in the desert, disobey God, seek their own selfishness, follow after pagan idols, lie, steal, cheat, kill and destroy others.  They choose to turn their backs on God, his Son and his Holy Spirit.

 

It can be an amazing journey if we are seeking God and his ways and every once in a while a heart sparks and an ear hears that whisper from God that says, "Come to me! Follow me!" 

 

 

To Be Stronger

To Be Stronger

Saturday, August 16, 2025

6:21 AM

 

What a long month and it is only half way through.  Actually, all months seem long these days.  The years are passing right before my eyes since Jerry died almost 3 years ago.  How can 3 years possibly have passed?  Yet here I am.

 

I made it through my 30th year in the Floral Department of the Fair.  Though I do not know for certain if it is 30 years or more.  It could be 32 years since I have Fair ribbons from 1993 and did not start taking flowers into the fair until I was volunteering in the floral department.  But at any rate, 30 years is a long time to volunteer.  At age 71 it is harder than ever to get through the week.  I am so thankful for the other ladies who volunteer with me! 

 

Before the Fair, for several weeks my lungs were bad.  I am not sure what happened, whether it was the dry air with no rain or moisture for almost 2 months, or a build-up of pollen and dust, but I had lots of wheezing going on and my energy level was way down.  I was not sleeping well.  I was not eating well.  I was worn down and very tired.  Daily tasks were a struggle.  After the Fair my body was even worse so I ended up in Urgent Care and was put on a nebulizer to help my lungs.  That had been 3 days ago and at least I am breathing a bit better.  But my strength is gone. 

 

My weight is up almost 20 pounds since Jerry died.  I know much of it has to do with inactivity.  I know much of it has to do with my eating habits.  I know much of it has to do with me not caring about how I look any longer.  I know much of it has to do with age.  I do not know how to get myself back to a point of caring about me.  I need to find strength to go on.

 

2 Corinthians 12:9 - But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 

 

Today I could hardly feel any weaker.  Weaker in body.  Weaker in mind.  Weakness is all I feel.  How could I let myself go so bad?  How can I get through the day?  How can I find a way out?  How do I find the Lord's power in me when I can barely walk?

 

I don’t feel depressed but maybe this is the way I do depression.  Maybe it is just another part of grief as I move into this new life that has become such a mystery to me.  Maybe I need to find the new Debra and figure out the path she must take.  Maybe I should move more!  Maybe I should do something, anything, different.  I wish the Lord would show me what the future looks like.  I wish he would speak to me and let me hear him.  I wish he would give me the strength I need to keep going with at least a little bit of joy and happiness.  Thankfulness I do have but joyfulness is lacking.  Lacking a lot!  I am not happy with this Debra who mopes through the day feeling fat, useless, weak, and without strength.

 

Lord please hear my plea for strength for the day.  Strength of mind.  Strength of heart.  Strength of body. 

 

 

Refresh Me Oh Lord

 There are times in life that deplete every ounce of energy we may have.  We are so busy we cannot find even a few minutes to breathe and be still before the Lord.  There are times of life that take everything we have just to get out of bed in the morning.  We haven't slept a wink because our bodies ache and our minds will not stop running us ragged.  There are times of life where it seems nothing will ever resolve itself and the Lord is silent.  We cry out but the answers do not come.

We drag ourselves through each day to only repeat it the next day.  We beg for mercy.  We beg for help.  We beg for one scrap from His table just so we know He is there. 

Where is our Lord during these times?  Did He tell us there would be times of hardship?  Did He tell us we would be persecuted?  Did He tell us life would not be easy?  Yes.  He did.  We just did not really want it and we certainly did not want to expect it, but here it is.  

Jesus spend 40 days in the desert with no food and no water.  How did He do it?  No human can live 40 days without water in a desert.  But He was God, not all human.  He had angels attending to Him.  Something was different for Him.  He had to go through a persecution far greater than anything you or I must ever deal with for we are fully human.  He had to prove He was able to make it through the desert temptations for that one final sacrifice would be the greatest sacrifice of all.  He would have to take the sins of the entire world upon Himself and not give in to the evil one.  Somewhere out in that desert He was refreshed and was able to endure.

You and I are given those times of refreshing when we feel like we cannot take one more step.  We cannot take one more thing without breaking.  The Holy Spirit reminds us He is with us and drops that first drop of refreshment upon us.  He gives us that little spark to tell us He hears us and is for us not against us.  He breathes that small tiny breath of life back into us so that we can go on for one more hour.  He reminds us that the fight is real but so is the reward at the end of it all.  He calms our fears and holds us in His arms of love and reassurance that it will be worth it if we just keep going.  We hear His words of refreshing in our souls.

Jeremiah 31:25 (NIV) - I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.

Proverbs 11:25 (NIV) - A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Acts 3:19 (NKJV) - Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

Change

Each one of us experience change at one time or another in our lives.  Without change there is no growth.  The changes begin at birth and go for our entire lives.  First it is our physical appearance from a baby, to a child, to a young adult, to an adult and then to an old person.  

Then there are the changes to our minds.  As babies we can do nothing on our own and require a parent to feed us and clothe us.  As we grow we learn to feed ourselves and clothe ourselves. Our minds also change as we learn new things both my experience and by being taught.  We are talk how to talk by our parents and those around us. We go to school and are taught.  All throughout life we learn new things.  Each one of us has the ability to choose to learn more or reject new teachings.  Knowledge and wisdom are before us all throughout life.

There are also the changes that happen as the years move forward.  We move on to new seasons of life.  We find a helpmate and someone to love us as we love them.  We have a family of our own.  We move to our own house.  We find our own jobs.  We live a life of our choosing.  We experience each and every day knowing that change will happen.  For myself, there were many time that changes occurred because of the decisions I made.  I chose to have sex at age 18 and a baby was on the way.  I chose to keep the baby even though my parents advocated for an abortion of that baby.  I chose to marry the father who did not want to get married but was forced by his family to marry me.  I chose to divorce him.  I chose to marry a much kinder man who wanted me and my two children.  I chose to love and forgive him for almost 40 years even when we did have some troubles.

Today I am choosing to live my life as an older, single woman who follows Jesus Christ.  Every day I choose Jesus and study the Bible and his teachings.  I choose to have faith that He was God on earth, that He died on a cross to pay for my sins, and  I choose to believe he rose from the dead and will come again to receive all of us who believe in him into his new kingdom.  I choose to change and become more of a reflection of him to a world where so many have no hope, no faith, no future as far as they can see with their eyes.  I choose to pray for the lost souls, the angry souls, the desperate souls.

Change can be hard but not changing can be worse.  Without change we live and die and nothing changes.  Without change we cannot see the kingdom of heaven and we cannot experience the eternal life promised to us by our Creator, our King, our God.

James 1:17 (NIV) Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

1 Samuel 15:29 (NIV) He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind.”

Matthew 18:3 (NIV) And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Daily Walk

It has been over 1000 days since I became a widow.  Every single day is the same yet every single day is different now.  There is no earthly husband but Jesus has become my Bridegroom.  I speak to him in the morning when I wake.  I speak to him throughout the day.  I speak with him as I close my eyes for sleep.

He speaks back not in audible words but in signs and voices of others.  Whenever I am questioning something if I pay attention the answer comes either through my Bible study, the voices of others I speak with during the day, in something else I read, through a song, through a thought.  There is always an answer.  

When I was working I would spend so much time on everything other that the Lord.  I worked and then I would spend many of the rest of my hours on me.  I have been retired 4 years now.  The first 19 months was a blur with Covid and then watching my husband die.  Now for 33 months I have been trying to figure out my place in the world at the ripe old age of 71 as a single old woman with no family close by.  

It's a different walk these days as I reinvent who I am.  I do not know how to be anything other than a wife, a mother, an employee, a friend, or a neighbor.  There is no instruction manual on living a changed life. It's a day by day experience.  Many days are quiet with no forward movement and no plan.  Some days I wonder who I am.  I wonder what I am doing.  I wonder am I doing anything right?  Is there anyone else as confused as I am?

My daily walk with Jesus Christ is solid.  I know him well and I am so very thankful for that.  I study his word and I sing his praises for all of the wonderful things he has done for me and all that is in my future.  He has taken such good care of me that sometimes I feel guilty for all of his favor and special touches on my life and the lives of my children and grandchildren.  I trust him 1000 percent with everything in my life.  I give all the glory to him for my life and that he walks with me!

Today is July 1 of the year 2025!  I remember the feelings and anticipation of the year 2000!  The world was excited yet fearful of what this new millennium would bring.  Then the Twin Towers were attacked and fell in New York City on September 11, 2001.  It has not gotten better.  In fact each year it seems the world keeps spinning farther out of control.  Hate, selfishness, greed, power, sexual sin, and so much evil has taken over. 

2 Timothy 3:1-5 says; "1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people."

How are we expected to live in a world like this?  We are to trust the Lord and not try to figure out how he will handle this.  We are not to live in fear.  We are to help with what we can help with and not try to make everything right.  We are to witness to the sinner but not think we need to live among them.  We are to live as peaceably as we can in a world filled with evil even as the evil increases.  We are to set our eyes on Jesus and watch for his second coming.  There is nothing we can do to change the world as it draws closer to the end.  We can try to point others to Jesus in hopes they will hear and seek him.  If their heart is filled with darkness and they are not a part of the chosen people they will never hear.  They will never come into the kingdom of God.  It may break our heart that someone we know is not one of the chosen but that is the way it is.  Those who refuse to hear the truth of God is not our responsibility.  Moses tried to talk with Pharoah but Pharoah's heart was hardened.  There was nothing Moses could have done to change what the Father had planned.  Accepting the will of God can sometimes be very hard and confusing for us.

As my days continue to be quiet or busy, as my days continue to seem very different from what I have experienced in the past, I will learn and adjust to what is ahead for me.  I will continue to seek wisdom and knowledge of what the Lord has set in motion for me and for the world.  I will continue to praise him for each and every day he allows me to breathe.  There is no going back to the old ways so I have to trust the new ways are his ways for me.