Life in His Hand

Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.   But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:32, 33 We can confess Christ with our mouths but deny Him by the way we live our lives. We claim to be Christians. But what does that really mean? What is a Christian? A Christ follower. A representative of Christ, an example of His transforming power and grace. So how do we make sure what we claim matches who we are? And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Cor. 3:18 As we spend time with the Lord, in prayer, in His Word meditating on His character, we become more like Him. That is why it is so important to make having our own private devotions a top priority. If  we don't "behold" Christ, how will we bec...

I'm really terrible...when it comes to calling or visiting people. So this week I've really been thinking about my dad a lot. So much that I finally decided to call him. We haven't seen or talked to each other since Christmas. We had a great conversation. Talked about a little of this and a little of that. It was nice. We live an hour apart.  We've been accustomed to getting together only once or twice a year for a long time now. So I thought that after he lost his wife, we should try to spend more time with him. That was a few years ago and it seems like we've been in the same pattern. But I want to change that. At least see each other every couple of months. Really none of us is guaranteed a tomorrow. My half-brother just lost his dad two days ago. There was a little warning that this was coming. Thankfully my brother had a chance to spend some time with him before he passed away. Seriously I had been thinking about calling my dad all week, and then I heard ...

One of the people who has inspired me the most is Corrie ten Boom. I've read many of her books, including her most well- known - "The Hiding Place." It's the story of how Corrie and her family risked their lives to hide Jews during the Holocaust. I've also seen the movie and watched / listened to several of her sermons. If you are unfamiliar with her story, I am including a link to a very short version of it here called -  "The Secret Room" . There are a few reasons I have been so inspired by not only this woman, but also by her family. Corrie's parents were amazing. Casper ten Boom, Corrie's father, was a quiet Christian clockmaker in Holland. Corrie also became a clockmaker. Casper had a strong faith and gathered his family around him, daily, as he read the Bible to them, truly instilling God's word in their hearts. Corrie's mother was a wonderful woman that shared her love with her "soup pot and sewing basket"-(The Hidin...

It was the first day of November twenty years ago. A dreary day with clouds and drizzle which eventually gave way to rain. Cold November Rain. "Please just drive," I said to my friend, Dave, as I wiped away the tears that just kept coming. I felt sad. Not for me so much as for the little life just confirmed by a pregnancy test at the health department. A little life I'd suspected. A little life I loved with all my heart. I knew it would be hard for him to not have a father in his life. As soon as I got in the truck, I turned on the radio. "November Rain" came on. I looked out the window and cried. Dave drove.                                                                                                           ...

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered; Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God; It was never between you and them anyway.                                      ~this version has been attributed to Mother Theresa This inspires...