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Snow
“Come now, let us settle the matter, “says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18) The snow sparkles and glistens as it covers the ground in a blanket of white. It appears fresh, pure, beautiful, untouched when it first falls. Within minutes, there are car tracks, footprints, dogs running and playing. The purity seems to fade quickly. Isn’t this similar to the way sin entered into our world? In Genesis chapter one, God creates a perfect world; filled with purity and beauty; perfect. Yet, by chapter three of Genesis,…
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Shut Mouth Grace
In the Bible, James tells us “but no human being can tame the tongue, It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”(James 3:8-10). Last evening with my prayer group, we talked about “shut mouth grace”, again. This has been a hot topic that has come up quite frequently over the past few months. A few years ago, I had a good Christian friend tell me that her pastor had…
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God Speaks Through Nature
This morning it is gently snowing outside. The birds at the feeder are numerous and beautiful: 3 sets of cardinals, several blue birds, snowbirds, finches and a variety of woodpeckers. They come faithfully, daily. They bring their friends and forage in and around the feeders. When praying for the name of this website, several ideas were brainstormed. Then, the word “forager” came out of nowhere. Immediately, I went to a dictionary for a definition. The definition given “a person or animal that searches widely for food or provisions.” As I pondered, the name Faithful Forager, kept spiraling around in my head. My first thought, God is faithful. In Hebrews 10:23,…
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Lent Journey
Lent Journey Forty-day journey towards the cross Ask, Seek, Knock, Yearn, Ponder the Sacrifice, ultimate cost. It cost God His only Son To redeem us, pay the price for our sin; render the curse undone. Jesus faithfully knew there would come a day The price of sin with His blood would pay. He did not turn away and run. He knew who He was; God’s own Son. He knew the price. Willingly, laid down His life, became the sacrifice. When the nails pierced his hands and whips tore his flesh, He was “still” and demonstrated holiness. The people spit and yelled; mocked His name. He knew He bore our guilt…
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Forty Day Journey To Lent
Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent; forty days to journey towards Easter, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. It is a time of introspection, reflection and preparation of our hearts. What does God want us to see, hear, feel, do today, each day? How can we draw closer to Him? How has He prepared us to serve? Will we be faithful to obey what He is asking each of us to do? This morning the words that resonate with me from my daily devotional book, My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers, is “simple things.” This morning in the Midwest the temperature is -4 F. It is bitterly…
