Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Possible Hand Surgery

Well, it looks like I am going to have to have surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome.
I hope that when it is over, I will learn some new ways to use the computer so I can continue this blog. We'll see...but for now, no more computer for me--I guess I have to really mean it this time.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Autumn's Ornaments

When I parked the car today
at the grocery store,
I was surprised by bright red and green
decorations in the parking lot,
not hung by a stock boy on the light posts
to welcome Christmas--
not in September, no!--
But miraculously mixed on maples' branches
by our loving Lord...

Friday, September 17, 2010

He Just Speaks!

How does God change our lives?
He just speaks!
Such a beautiful message...
(from September 13, 2010)

Thursday, September 9, 2010

A View of Berry Mountains on Tuesday Morning, September 7, 2010

Golden foilage brushed
the tips of Berry Mountains
meeting autumn skies.

Green's grip is released
as summer stretches to rest
from her warm watch soon.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

A Tiny Word With Huge Meaning

I almost missed it. This morning I was making note of the words that are used the most in Hebrews 8. I noticed only four (other than articles, conjunctions, and other minor words) that were used more than two times: covenant, priest, Lord, and offer. I couldn't see a major theme shouting out to me as I had in other chapters. Then I saw it in verse 10. Will!

I backtracked and noticed nine "wills" (or "shalls") in all from verses 8-12:

"Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah,
not like the covenant that I made with their fathers
on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.

For they did not continue in my covenant,
and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, declares the Lord:

I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts,
and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor
and each one his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,'
for they shall all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest

For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
and I will remember their sins no more."

These verses show us ten wonderful things that God will do:

1. Establish a covenant.
2. Make a covenant.
3. Put his laws into our minds.
4. Write his laws on our hearts.
5. Be our God.
6. Make us his people.
7. Make us understand it is not human teaching (verse 10 and Matthew 16:17)
8. Make us to know him.
9. Be merciful toward our iniquities.
10. Remember our sins no more.

Our relationship with God is based on all these things that he will do for us and in us.

If we want these things, we can ask him to do them, and we can trust that he will!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Jihad Could Not Quench Their Love

Adel and her husband Methu lived on the island of Dodi in an Indonesian village where nearly all of the residents were Christian. Adel's grandfather had been a preacher, and now she enjoyed reading Bible stories to the neighborhood children. At their wedding, her pastor told her, "Adel, only God can separate you and Methu now."

But on September 9, 1999, there was a commotion outside. About 30 men, women, and children from a Muslim village named Dahma, had come to Dodi carrying a banner with two words printed on it: "Cinti Damai," or "Love Peace."

One of the men in the group announced, "People of Dodi, we are your neighbors, and we should commit to each other to live in peace." Their children played together cheerfully that day, but just a few months later the men of Dahma, including many of those who had come in September chanting, "Peace to the island of Dodi," returned and burned the village. Adel's little boy, Christiano, his grandmother, and numerous other villagers were murdered with machetes.

Adel was forced to be the wife of Almin, one of the Muslim men, even though Methu was still living. Many months later, she wondered if her husband could ever accept her after she had been with Almin against her will and had his child. Her young daughter, Christina, had encouraged her while the baby was still in her womb.

After Adel escaped and Methu saw baby Sarah for the first time, he smiled and said, "So this is our new daughter." He had written a letter to Adel while she was still in captivity:

"Adel, you could have ten children by ten men, and you would still be my wife. Don't you remember what the pastor told you? Only God can separate us now. I love you."

You can read the rest of Adel and Methu's story in Hearts of Fire from The Voice of the Martyrs.