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Seasoning Our Speech with Salt?
The first words that come to mind when I think about salty speech is that of a Hollywood image of an old-fashioned seafaring man whose language is certainly colourful. He often has no regard for the thoughts and feelings of others, but barrels his way through conversations. His talking style is not usually the type one wants to emulate. God asks us for a different kind of salty speech: “Let your conversations be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (Colossians 4:6 NIV) How can our talks with others be seasoned with salt? No one wants to listen to a dull,…
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The Essential Building Blocks
Any kind of building project requires thoughtful planning. As we currently work to do some house renovations there are a myriad of details to attend to. Inspections to be done. Plans to be approved. Services to set up. Contractors to hire. It is not a venture to go into lightly. We want a place that is both functional and attractive. Without forethought and planning, the end result could be a disaster. At times, the task feels daunting as we have to live for years with the choices we are making now. King David had a dream to build a great temple for a permanent home for the Israelites to worship…
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How Are we to Achieve Perfection?
As a young girl I used to look at other families and think how perfect they were. They had dads who encouraged them and who showed up at their school events. Their families did things together, like going on holidays or going to church. And so, my list went on. I would see these families together and wish I were a part of them. I longed for the day when I could have my own family and have things be as ideal as I perceived them to be in the families around me. I even carried this attitude into my own married life thinking how “perfect” other households were compared…
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Calming Our Anxious Thoughts
For the umpteenth time I remind myself to trust in God. He’s got this. I say that in many of my blog posts. My head knows it is true. Why can’t my heart get the message? We can be well grounded in Scripture, be in worship, fellowship with believers – but still have those moments of doubt and uncertainty. The devil loves when he can get his digs in and upset our lives. Some seasons of life just seem to promote anxiety in various forms. For me, it has come with some life changing decisions that need to be made. It has been months of back-and-forth feelings – from relief…
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Our God Carries Us
The experiences of the Israelites as they prepared to and then left Egypt has always been a fascination for me. This group sees mighty miracles that lead to Pharaoh letting them leave Egypt. They walk through the Red Sea as God makes a safe path of escape for them. There is no doubt that it is God at work in this situation. His mighty deeds are recounted to many as they share what the Lord has done for them. Fast forward to when the Israelites get to the edge of the actual Promised Land. What should be a time of hope and delight is not. There is grumbling. There is…
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When Days Feel Bad, God Still Has a Purpose
Can you imagine being a privileged child whose father dotes on you? You have everything you need as your family is prosperous. Blessings abound. This should have been a good start to life – after all you’ve got it made. Old Testament Joseph was such a child; however, his father had a large part in making Joseph a target of disdain by his brothers. His father treated him differently and even had an ornate robe made for him. Scripture tells us of the reaction of Joseph’s brothers: “When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind…
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The True Measure of Success
I really wasn’t sure about writing a post this week. I’m definitely in a somber mood. Mother’s Day is just around the corner – my first Mother’s Day with both my precious mom and mother-in-law not being here. How do I feel about it all? I cannot even define it. Sometimes it is such an empty feeling as I consider all that has been lost in my life. I had such a terrific relationship with both women. Not having them to talk to is an ache that doesn’t seem to want to go away. At other times I can rejoice that they are in heaven and they suffer no more.…
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Paving the Way for Great Things
A shepherd wanders through the wilderness tending his sheep. His life is simple and uncomplicated. He is a man of faith and lives that out in a quiet way with family and community. The land of his birth is a thing of the past and he seeks to make a productive life where he is right now. But God’s plans are different. Unknown yet to this man is the fact that God has handpicked him for an enormous task. God has been guiding him throughout his life to mold him into the leader that He needs him to be. One day while checking on his sheep, he sees a bush…
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Did God Really Get This Right?
Some days my heart just aches for the traumas my students endure and how it affects, not only their learning, but also every aspect of their young lives. These precious little ones, each an amazing gift of God, are way too often mistreated, malnourished, ignored, upset, and the list goes on. I find it difficult to balance this all in my brain. Each of these children is loved by God – of that I am certain. Why must they lead lives of such pain at such a young age? Who is there to advocate for them? Why does this happen? I knew a little girl once. She was a quiet…
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Hope for Those Who are Seeking
An amazing app on my phone gives me the ability to see my husband’s location wherever he is. At this point in time, he works away from home and weekly must make the long drive back to his place of employment. I find it comforting to watch his journey and know that he is safe. As I watch the miles between us grow bigger, yet I find it reassuring to know I can find him when I want. Sometimes I wish I had a device to mark the difference between myself and my Saviour. It would be nice to have some kind of warning bells to indicate that the space…
