Beautiful Scripture Passage Plus Blogging Break

July 6, 2021 By 2 Comments

Hey friends, summer calls for a blogging break at some point, doesn’t it? We all need to slow things down where we can, and blogging is one place where I can do that. Here’s to you finding your own places to give yourself a bit of a break!

I’ll be back with regular weekly posts in mid-August, but in the meantime, let me leave you with a beautiful passage from the Word of God. Think of these words over the next several weeks when you look up at the skies or gaze at mountain views or take a dip in the ocean. Remember, God’s love is vast. It cannot be measured. And best of all, it’s for all of us!

“Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.” Psalm 36:5-9 NIV

*How has God shown you his love recently?

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, will come out in early August. Sign-up is FREE and to the right! (If you’re on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click View Full Site to find it.) *Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride and also my Wedding Inspiration cards, check out my Books/My Work page.

*My photo

2 Comments Filed Under: beauty, life, light, love, refresh, rest, simplify, summer, wisdom, Word of God Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

God Living in Us Makes Us Lovely

April 20, 2021 By 4 Comments

“How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD Almighty!” Psalm 84:1 NIV

One morning when a full, out-of-town day stretched before me, I wanted a taste of God’s Word to begin my day. I decided to open my Bible to a random Psalm and read wherever my eyes landed. And I am so glad I did.

I opened to Psalm 84 and as I read the first verse, the taste I desired exploded into a feast. They were familiar words, but in that instant, I saw them in a new light, with a deeper understanding. My drive-through, random reading suddenly felt like a full course meal.

This psalm, this verse, was written in Old Testament times, of course, and the words “dwelling place” referred to the temple of God. But in the New Testament, where does Paul tell us God’s dwelling place—his temple—is now? In us! In the hearts of believers. “Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16 NCV)

So if you’re a believer like me, what does this truth mean for us in the context of the above Psalm 84:1 verse? Because God’s Spirit lives in us, friends, we are lovely. And not just an off-hand use of the word lovely, but lovely emphasized—how lovely. In other words, you and I are very lovely. Extremely lovely. Amazing, huh?!

I’ve got to be honest. I don’t usually think of myself as lovely—in the physical or the spiritual sense. Too often I concentrate on the imperfections in both realms. I dwell on the warts of my shortcomings.

But I need to see myself as God sees me. Redeemed and dearly loved as one of his children. As very lovely because he lives in me. Anyone else need that reminder today?

“And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 NET

*How has God’s loveliness been shining through you lately?

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, comes out in early May. One lucky subscriber (new or current) will receive a $15 gift card to Amazon and a signed copy of my book to use personally, give as a gift, or donate to a library. Sign-up is free and to the right! (If you’re on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click View Full Site to find it.) *Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride and also my Wedding Inspiration cards, check out my Books/My Work page.

*Flickr photo by Shandi-lee, Creative Commons License

4 Comments Filed Under: appearance, beauty, body, encouragement, food, love, new thing, Word of God Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Beautiful Bible Passage Plus May Blogging Break

May 15, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Hey friends, my last-half-of-May blogging break tradition is on again this year! As I’ve said in the past, since for most of us May proves to be the second busiest month of the year after December, wisdom tells me to slow things down where I can. And blogging is one place where I can do that.

I’ll be back with regular weekly posts on June 5, but in the meantime, let me leave you with a beautiful passage from the Word of God. Think of these words this spring and summer when you look up at the skies or gaze at mountain views or take a dip in the ocean. Remember, God’s love is vast. It cannot be measured. And best of all, it’s for all of us!

“Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.” Psalm 36:5-9 NIV

*How has God shown you his love this month?

*The new issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, came out earlier this month. It’s not too late to receive it. Sign-up is free and to the right! (If you’re on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click View Full Site to find it.)

*My photo

Leave a Comment Filed Under: balance, blogs, faithfulness, love, rest, righteousness, simplify, tradition, wisdom, Word of God Tagged With: , , , , ,

Last-Half-of-May Blogging Break

May 16, 2016 By 2 Comments

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The first half of May has been filled with work for me, and the last half will be filled with family—and some work, too, where I can sneak it in. I’m willing to bet it’s a jam-packed month for you as well. In fact, I think May might be second only to December where the busy factor is concerned!

And so, dear readers, I’m going to apply my 2015 theme word rest to my life this month and declare a last-half-of-May blogging break again. It worked out so well for me last May that I think I’m going to make it an annual blogging tradition. Rest is good no matter what year we’re in, right?

I’ll resume regular posting on June 2, but in the meantime, let me leave you with a beautiful passage from the Word of God. May the King of Glory bless you and be your strength today and always!

“Lift up your heads, O you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
the LORD mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is he, this King of glory?
The LORD Almighty—
he is the King of glory.” Psalm 24:7-10

*How has the King of Glory blessed you this month?

*The new issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, came out earlier this month. It’s not too late to receive it. Sign-up is free and to the right!

*Flickr photo by Silvia Sala, Creative Commons License

2 Comments Filed Under: balance, blogs, rest, tradition, Word of God Tagged With: , , ,

Midweek Morsel: Our Help Is in God

April 14, 2016 By 4 Comments

2403346923_be16fd3eee_z“Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:8

As believers, think of the mighty help that is available to us through our heavenly Father. The very Maker of heaven and earth loves us and stands ready to help us at all times. No better help can be found.

The Bible is filled with passages that describe our God, our divine Helper, but today let’s look at a few more verses from the Psalms. Read and be blessed by these words that David sang after the Lord had delivered him from his enemies:

“You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
With your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall.

. . . He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.” Psalm 18:28-32

Anyone in need of help today? Why not turn to the Maker of heaven and earth?

*When has God helped you in a mighty way?

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, will come out in early May. Sign-up is free and to the right!

*Flickr photo by Paul Weingartz, Creative Commons License

4 Comments Filed Under: creation/creative/creator, help, light, protection, strength, unfailing, Word of God Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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