Tag Archives: faith

Writing Prompts

Life Happens

Dave and I at Julie’s retirement dinner.

Dave and I want to thank everyone that commented on our circumstances yesterday. I wish we would have been that lucky today, but a minor glitch spoiled his morning anyway.

He was on his way to measure the fit of the carpet in the bus and grab my laptop because he needed a document for my son when he texted me a few minutes later and said “this is how my morning started” with a picture of the jeep at the shop. Flat tire.

Luckily, the charge was low; under $30, and he was on his way. I thought he would be gone for a while, but he was back about an hour or so later. He had the laptop, and a couple of his old thumb drives, which is where he found the document. I’d forgotten to put the charging chord back into the laptop case. He said the fit of the carpet was close, but he can trim a piece and make it perfect!

I have physical therapy this afternoon, so I skipped my exercise but did take a walk. I also did household chores, and made a salad to go with brats for dinner, so now I only need to make the mac and cheese. I wanted to paint today, but didn’t have time…maybe tomorrow afternoon once I get back from my appointment to get a CT.

One more VA appt is all I have after that, this one on a Sunday!! That is for a sonogram. My guess is so my primary will know what I’m saying is true about my PKD. I don’t know why else she would want one, since it has nothing to do with my back. I did mention at my last appointment with her that I would be leaving my current nephrologist and eventually letting the VA take over that job. So maybe it’s so she can line me up with one at a future date.

The CT is for my back, so I’m anxious for the doctors to see it and decide what else to do for me before we get back on the road. Other than all that, we need to lay the carpet, set the backsplash and buy all the new furniture before we leave. Anyone want to loan us another $5,000? Haha, just kidding. We will manage just fine.

On my walk it was very heavy, hot, and difficult to breathe. I suspect storms are on the horizon again for this afternoon. And just to think, we were actually in the pool yesterday! It was 96° then, it’s 81° now. I don’t recall being able to be in the pool this early in the year, but Dave disagrees. Course, he always does. 😜

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Writing Prompts

The Sunday Message

I think this sums up today’s message perfectly, so I’ll let the lyrics do the talking. Hope you enjoy!

More Than Conquerors

Rend Collective

When my hope and strength is gone 
You’re the one who calls me on 
You are the life 
You are the fight 
That’s in my soul

Oh, Your resurrection power 
Burns like fire in my heart 
When waters rise 
I lift my eyes 
Up to Your throne

We are more than conquerors, through Christ 
You have overcome this world, this life 
We will not bow to sin or to shame 
We are defiant in Your name 
You are the fire that cannot be tamed 
You are the power in our veins 
Our Lord, our God, our Conqueror

I will sing into the night 
Christ is risen and on high 
Greater is He 
Living in me 
Than in the world

No surrender, no retreat 
We are free and we’re redeemed 
We will declare 
Over despair 
You are the hope

We are more than conquerors, through Christ 
You have overcome this world, this life 
We will not bow to sin or to shame 
We are defiant in Your name 
You are the fire that cannot be tamed 
You are the power in our veins 
Our Lord, our God, our Conqueror

Nothing is impossible 
Every chain is breakable 
With You, we are victorious 
You are stronger than our hearts 
You are greater than the dark 
With You, we are victorious

We are more than conquerors, through Christ 
You have overcome this world, this life 
We will not bow to sin or to shame 
We are defiant in Your name 
You are the fire that cannot be tamed 
You are the power in our veins 
Our Lord, our God

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Writing Prompts

The Sunday Message

Have you ever found yourself in what you considered an impossible situation? Well, that’s what today’s message is all about.

Making the Impossible Possible

This is the story of the Feeding of the 5,000.

In John 6: 1-15 we learned that at one time, Jesus and His disciples were presented with a problem. They had gathered quite a following, and needed to be fed. The disciples were exhausted themselves, yet Jesus told them to feed all of these people.

They didn’t know what to do, and they hadn’t yet put their full faith in the Lord, even after all the miracles they had already witnessed, so they fretted, and worried about it, and asked Jesus how they were supposed to do it and He told them to sit and rest. Andrew showed Jesus a boy with a small amount of food, which was nice, but he knew it wouldn’t feed everybody, so he told Jesus that it still wasn’t a solution.

Then money was suggested by Phillip, even though they had none, so that wouldn’t work either. What were they to do? Well, they were supposed to turn it to Jesus, after telling Him, “We know this is an impossible situation, but we are putting our faith in you that you will help us solve it.” So when Jesus told them to sit and rest, he was showing them that He was about to take care of it and He knew they were also hungry and exhausted.

The miracle he then performed was to turn that three loaves of bread and two fish into so much food, that everyone ate their fill and even had leftovers, which Jesus told them to gather up so nothing would go to waste. This is the only miracle that’s found in all four gospels.

The message that I get from this lesson and so many more is that you cannot do anything on your own. You must have faith in God that He will somehow provide. You thank Him for what you do have and trust him to help you find a solution for what you don’t.

Thank you for being here to listen to my interpretation of the Sunday Message! I appreciate each and every one of you, have a blessed Sunday and a great week!

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Writing Prompts

A-Z Challenge V

Now that I have the tools I need, it’s time to get back on track.

Although I was baptized a long time ago, I’ve been pretty wishy-washy about everything from going to church to reading/studying the Word of God.

The apps that I’ve got now will help me keep a vow to read/study the Word of God on a daily basis. If you want to do the same, it’s not hard. The Bible app will let you read the Bible in any version or language you choose and the Verse by Verse app has many lessons and sermons on books of the Bible to scripture studies and more! Certain questions about faith and/or scriptures are answered in other blocks of discussion.

For example, this morning I read/listened to verses about everything from John the Babtist doing his duties and then being persecuted for it, to the meeting that Jesus had with the Woman at the Well. Then after that, I opened my Verse by Verse app and listen to the pastor explain the meaning of the Samaritin Woman (The woman at the well).

To me, that helps the reading or lesson sink in better. 😊

Many of you have (I hate to say rituals, maybe habits is better?) your own way of reading/studying the Word yourselves and that’s perfectly fine. This way works for me. You’ll have to decide for yourself how you want to do it.

I just hope and pray that you do, and when you do, that it lifts your spirit, and that you then have the best day, because you started it with God and getting to know Him better. 🙏

I know I do! 😊

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Writing Prompts

The Sunday Message

Growing Your Faith in a World That Hates It

Today’s message was given at BCBC by Cody Montandon today. I’ve never seen this pastor deliver the message but I enjoyed it very much.

He started out by having us remember what it was like in school, wanting to hang out with the cool kids, or the popular crowd. We may or may not have liked the popular kids, but we wanted to be in that crowd.

He said, in today’s world, Jesus is not the cool kid. Have you ever noticed when you attempt to bring His name up in conversation, the room gets awkward?

Loving Jesus means that:

  1. The World is Going to Hate You. Yep, sorry, but it’s true. You will not be the popular kid in the crowd. Satan is trying to take over the world, and unfortunately, he is the cool kid. Don’t think so? Bring up Jesus at your next gathering and see what happens. But what does that mean? It means that loving Jesus and spreading His word is hard and it’s work. However:
  2. But Leaving the World is Not an Option. Because God still has plans for you and me. We can’t just sit around and wait to see what happens. Our job is to make sure we glorify God by spreading the message far and wide that the only way to Him is through Jesus. We need to pray every day that He reveals our purpose. God loves you even when you don’t yet know Him. And even when it’s hard:
  3. We are Called to be Faithful Anyway. We need to study his word and pray daily. But that’s not all. If the Bible doesn’t change you, it is worthless! We can study and becomes scholars but if we don’t glorify Him by sharing what we’ve learned with others in some way, we are not doing our job. In other words, we don’t get a ticket to heaven just because we know the Bible. We have to live like God wants us to. This is hard. It’s work. But if we practice daily and make it part of our lives, it will get easier. Lastly:
  4. A Faithful Life is Built Upon, and Maintained Through the Word of God. Once we are saved and accept Jesus we have justification to evangelize to others. Then we spread the truth of the gospel, giving us sanctification. “The sum of your word is truth.” Studying the word and spreading it to others provides the glorification of God.

The pastor said to attack your plan like you do when you are on a diet. The first day is the hardest. Making the decision to open your Bible and read for five minutes. Then daily, journal what you are praying for and how your prayers were answered. Then get others involved so you are kept accountable. And it grows and grows from there.

I need to do this more myself and I understand how hard it is when say, your partner or your friends aren’t exactly on the same page. That is the hard part of the work, and I struggle like everyone else in doing this. Be patient with me as I grow and learn.

Thanks for being here, thanks for reading and hopefully, you understand what I’m trying to convey.

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