“I have appeared unto thee for this purpose.” Acts 26:16 What Are Your Purposes? by Barry Bennett – shared with permission I often speak of our purposes in life. I prefer the word “purpose” to the word “plan.” The idea that God has a plan for my life lends itself to a “God is in…
Now the man Moses was a quietly humble man, more so than anyone living on Earth. God broke in suddenly on Moses and Aaron and Miriam saying, “Come out, you three, to the Tent of Meeting.” The three went out. God descended in a Pillar of Cloud and stood at the entrance to the Tent.…
And he [Jesus] answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27 RSV This morning we read Luke chapter 10 and once again the idea of my Biblical “heart” representing…
Today I am reminded of Paul’s prayer for the church in Ephesus. He asked God to impart (verb: to transmit knowledge of) the riches of the Spirit of Wisdom and the Spirit of Revelation so that you and I could deepen our intimacy with Jesus. Today my prayer for all of us is: Paul’s Prayer…
Growing More Intimate With Jesus If the past twenty-four months have taught me anything it is that growing more intimate with my Lord and Savior is truly meant to be my first priority. This morning, when I read the daily devotion from Oswald Chambers (see below), I was immediately convinced “Intimacy with Jesus” has to…
So… here we are… in the waning moments of another year! 2021 has been . . .? Interesting? Awful? Terrifying? Blessed! I guess it all depends on how you look at it. I think I mentioned once before, in the last hours of 2019 the Holy Spirit spoke to me: “Expect the unexpected.” We now…
“Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts. Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in…
INGREDIENTS 1 med onion, peeled and thickly sliced 3 stalks celery, halved lengthwise 4 carrots, trimmed and split lengthwise in half 1 (3 to 4 lb) whole chicken, cavity cleaned and rinsed Kosher or fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 lemon, quartered 1 small onion, trimmed, peeled, and quartered Fresh herbs such…
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! 5:20-21 Awhile back God gave me an acronym for EVIL. E…
For the Lord spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: “Do not call conspiracy all that this people call conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, him you shall…
Contentment Cottage 