God's Provision
Posted by Elizabeth on Friday, March 12, 2010 at 10:45am
While taking my walk early this week the foothills of the Olympic Mountains kept playing peek-a-boo with the low-lying clouds. There were fleeting glimpses of new snow. Just a few days before the local news had talked about how the unusual warm winter was causing concern about the summer water supply. Many parts in Western Washington, including Seattle depend on snow pack for water supply. With an unexpected cool down in the weather, God provided a late snowfall that will help diminish the water crisis. God provides for all of mankind in so many ways - giving us a wonderful earth that provides food, water, clothing, heat. He has given us bodies that heal and brains to help us take care of ourselves. God doesn’t just tell us that He loves us. He shows us by providing for us. His love is active. God continually treats us in grace - taking care of us when we don’t deserve it. Psalm 108:4 “For Your lovingkindness is great above the heavens, and Your truth reaches to the skies.” Psalm 19:1 “The heavens are telling the glory of God; And the firmament is declaring the work of His hands.” Do we love others the way He love us - actively?
Print this \| Permanent Link \| E-mail a friend \| Add a comment \| 0 comments

God Is Love
Posted by Elizabeth on Friday, March 5, 2010 at 10:18am
It is comforting to know we have a perfect God. And because He is pure and perfect His love is perfect. Not only does God love perfectly He is perfect Love. Love is a part of His essence - an attribute of His character. 1 John 4:8 “…for God is love.” 1 John 4:16 “God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” The Greek word agape is used in both of these verses. This is a special love -unconditional love. This pure love is not based on the character of the one being loved, but on the one loving. This is a love that never fails and puts the recipient first. It is giving, sacrificial, everlasting, and available to all. This is difficult to understand by imperfect people, but wonderful to experience. God is the perfect father, one that we can always depend on.
Print this \| Permanent Link \| E-mail a friend \| Add a comment \| 0 comments

Continue In Hope
Posted by Elizabeth on Friday, February 26, 2010 at 9:13am
This past week while ‘unpacking’ items that my Mom had ‘packed’ in one of her sundowner’s moments, I discovered a wooden plaque. Carved in the oval shape was a sheaf of wheat with the words ‘The Lord Provides’ below. Amongst the rusted paper clips, outdated coupons, dry pens, and junk mail she had considered valuable, sat the most precious reminder. Even in a confused state she clings to hope. We will be moving onto Love in the month of March. So I leave you with this verse: 1 Thessalonians 1:3 “constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father;” Reading these verses you might imagine the perfect little church building of stone in a sunny neighborhood with no problems reaching out to the needy with freshly baked food. But the Thessalonians were undergoing persecution and suffering (verse six). Despite the hardships they encountered, this church gives us a shinning example of faith, love, and hope in action. Their faith resulted in good works. They labored in love, and they had steadfast hope. Macedonia and Achaia witnessed their example. When things get tough are we shining examples of faith, hope, and love?
Print this \| Permanent Link \| E-mail a friend \| Add a comment \| 0 comments

Hope In The Rock
Posted by Elizabeth on Friday, February 19, 2010 at 11:20am
Two crescent shaped walls of rock break up the small cove at our marina. Made of large rocks left over from building the jetty, these four to ten foot high barriers provide hiding spots, fishing perches, and feeding beds at low tide for a diverse bird population. Banded King Fishers, Great Blue Herons, loons, sea gulls, and Canadian Geese play king of the mountain taking turns reigning on the top rocks. These rocks provide security and stability in an ever-moving watery world. Repeatedly in scripture the rock is portrayed as a place of strength, security, refuge, and a shield. In Psalm 62 David tells us his rock is the Lord. God is our protector. Ps 62:5-8 “My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him. v6 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken. v7 On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge in is God. v8 Trust in Him at all time, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” Because God is unchanging, powerful, and is always there for us - we can have hope. No one else can give us perfect security as David brings out in verse six - “He only is my rock…”. So why do we look to this world for hope and security?
Print this \| Permanent Link \| E-mail a friend \| Add a comment \| 0 comments

Waves Of Hope
Posted by Elizabeth on Friday, February 12, 2010 at 12:40am
Unfortunately many times we allow hope to ebb and flow in our lives like ocean waves. Jeremiah 29:11-13 “‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’ V12 ‘Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. V13 ‘And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.’” Jeremiah wrote this passage to the Jewish exiles in Babylon when things seemed hopeless. God’s plan for us is good. He has promised, and therefore we can have hope. It's so simple, but we make things complicated. We become afraid and we think of all the “what if’s”. We get our eyes on the circumstance and loose hope. Fear paralyzes us. Instead we need to be building God’s Word in our souls, keeping our eyes on Him, and moving forward in hope. All God asks is that we trust Him and He will direct our paths for good.
Print this \| Permanent Link \| E-mail a friend \| Add a comment \| 0 comments