If you have ever grown houseplants you have noticed that they will bend and twist toward the light source. For many indoor plants, more light is better for them to be their healthiest and most vibrant. As humans, we can be affected by light as well. The lack of sunshine during the winter months can cause our mood to sink. Both plants and people can find growth in the new year by bathing in the light.Continue Reading
Even When Song
Who doesn’t, at least occasionally, hit hard spots. Some resolve quickly. Other times we find ourselves in the valley of the shadows. Even When is a beautiful song by Micah Tyler that brings encouragement to fight the good fight. Know God is with us through it all and He is with us even when.Continue Reading
I will Lie Down and Sleep
Encouraging words from the bible when worry and anxiety grip us. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
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Amazing Grace
The words by John Newton in his beloved hymn, Amazing Grace, never cease to move and humble with its message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of sins committed through the mercy of God.
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The Kindest Thing
February. It is the month of love. The month we celebrate all things “love”. Not that we don’t show love all year through but February contains Valentine’s Day with its love focus.
We send Valentines, go to fancy restaurants for a fancy dinner, buy flowers and jewelry and give candy in heart-shaped boxes. All gestures to tell someone about our love and concern for them.
But love isn’t always best expressed with these sweet and thoughtful intentions. Sometimes people feel most loved when an act touches them in a deep, personal way. That brings me to this question… Continue Reading
Psalm 91

Choose Prayer over Despair
Are you prone to anxiety? Faced with problems that you haven’t much control over? If you are like me, worry is your default. Situations and circumstances can easily produce anxiety. Counter those hard places by determining to Choose Prayer over Despair.Continue Reading
Break Every Chain
There is good news. There is HOPE. It is what I am holding on to. There is Someone who has the power to break every chain. There is power in the Name of Jesus.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1
The Way I Should Go

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Have you ever questioned God’s faithfulness? Did you ever think that He has left you or forsaken you? These are questions we sometimes are uncomfortable voicing or admitting. As you contemplate your answer, think of times of disappointment, loneliness, grief or despair. This is when we are most vulnerable to the thought that God had forsaken us. God uses His Word and sometimes a person, a quote, a book or even a hymn to remind us that He is and will always be faithful to His children. One of these classic hymns is my focus on today’s post… Great is Thy Faithfulness.Continue Reading
It is Well by Kristene DiMarco, You Make Me Brave
I recently watched a song video titled, It is Well, that inspired this week’s Sunday post. I’ve included the video at the bottom of this post. I was blown away by the words and the music. Though I really wish I could, I can’t sing. So, when I hear these very talented young people sing like Kristene, my heart praises God that He has given them the ability to write and sing songs that speak to my heart.
In It is Well, Kristene was able to marry a song of her own to the beloved old hymn…’It is Well with My Soul’. It begins soft and slow but continues to build into an awe-inspiring crescendo that literally gave me goosebumps. It ends soft and slow leaving you surrounded in God’s presence.
A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
As we fast forward two millennia, to 2017…’The waves and wind still know His name’.
Curious to know a little more about Kristene and this song, I found a short backstory clip that was very interesting. In that clip she says…’I bet you everything knows His name and I bet you that everything we’ll ever face has already tasted some level of defeat or the entirety of defeat because of what He did. And so, there is really nothing to be afraid of.’ Wow, they are insightful words that really got me thinking. That took me to Romans 8:19-21…
For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
All of creation knows Him and awaits liberation from bondage and frustration caused by the first Adam’s sin into the freedom and glory of the children of God in the second Adam’s righteousness—Christ Himself! Praise be to God!
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
This hustle bustle world we live in today has many things to distract us so we need to be diligent to focus on Him to keep us from our worries and fears.
Yes, Praise God that it is possible that we can really say… ‘It is well, It is well with my soul’.
Thanks for listening,
John
All Your Promises are Yes and Amem
The Will of God
God speaks to me in Springtime
Living He Loved Me

Oh, Glorious Day! Living HE loved me. Easter song by Casting Crowns.
What Will You Say When the Question Comes?
Thoughts of Good Friday are on my mind. Thoughts of the immensity of what the cross means and what it means for me. Thoughts of a love that goes far beyond my ability to grasp. But it is real.
In the words of an old hymn writer… What shall I do with Jesus? What shall my answer be? Question with question I answer, What will He do with me?

This hymn, written in the late 1800’s, caught my attention asking the question of utmost importance. A personal question. A question that can make us feel uncomfortable.
You have probably heard the Easter story. About forgiveness and redemption and that word no one likes to talk about, namely sin. It is a word that makes us want to walk away and think about other stuff. But sin is supremely important to God because it separates us and puts an impassable chasm between Himself and his beloved. Important enough to God that he provided a solution for it. A costly solution.
The Easter story tells of Jesus Christ’s journey to the cross, His glorious resurrection in triumphant over sin and death, His ascension into heaven where He reigns as our Lord and Savior. This gives us HOPE and JOY. We no longer have to pay the penalty for our sin. Jesus paid it in full. We can be forgiven and accepted and forever enjoy fellowship with God through Jesus. That is what Jesus meant when He uttered His last Words, “It is finished”. That heavy burden of sin we carry is dropped from our shoulders. That is amazing grace.
I hope you, dear reader, will take a moment to listen to the beautiful video below, listen to the words and if you haven’t already, consider the question, “What will you do with Jesus?” Because, neutral you just can’t be.
What Will You Do With Jesus?
Excerpt from David T. Clydesdale’s “How Great Thou Art”
Jesus is standing there in Pilates’ hall; friendless, forsaken, He’s been betrayed
by all. Suddenly comes the fateful call, “What will you do with Jesus?”
Now Jesus stands alone on trial, ready to face the crowd. To walk His
destined mile. In your heart you’re hearing all the while, “What will
you do with Jesus?”
Chorus:
What will you do with Jesus? Neutral you just can’t be. Someday
your heart will be asking, “What will You do with me?”
Will you deny Him just like Peter’s done? Will you reject Him? He is the
living Son. What will you say when the question comes? What will
you do with Jesus?
What will you do with Jesus? Neutral you just can’t be. Someday
your heart will be asking, “What will He do with me?”
What will you do with Jesus? Neutral you just can’t be. Someday
your heart will be asking, “What will He do with me?”
What will he do with me?
Below are the words of the original hymn. They are similar to the words in the video and were probably the inspiration for it.
Jesus is standing in Pilate’s hall
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Revelation 3:20
For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2