From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth–he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.   –Psalm 33:13,14 www.intellicast.com One of my favorite apps on my smartphone is my radar app. Why I feel the need to compulsively check it every time I see a couple dark clouds in the sky, I don’t know; but it makes me feel a little better knowing what kind of weather may be headed my way. Sometimes

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.  –1 John 4:4 Remember the old Looney Toons episode where the two dogs, Spike and Chester, spend the whole episode trying to catch Sylvester the cat?  Initially Spike, the bulldog, is the hero and Chester, the hyper terrier, is the sidekick.  Chester idolizes Spike, but by the end of the episode Chester becomes the hero because he succeeds in taki

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s th

and he said, “This is what the Lord says: I will fill this valley with pools of water. For this is what the Lord says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink.  This is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord; he will also deliver Moab into your hands. You will overthrow every fortified city and every major town. You will cut down every good tree, stop up all the springs, and ruin eve

In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed…But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will posses

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. –1 Peter 1:6,7 This week’s blog comes complete with a visual aid. Before you read on, take a minute to check out this video: http://tv.yahoo.com/video/search-r

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”  –Psalm 91:1,2 If you’re from farming country like I am, the summer heat can be as brutal as the winter cold.  Driving on county highways and country roads takes you past many a pasture with herds of cattle, crammed under any available shade tree in an effort to get some relief from the oppressive temperat

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  —Nehemiah 8:10 Why is it so important that we put ourselves in a position to receive joy from God? Because it is His joy that gives us strength! Keep in mind, joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness is an emotion that comes and goes. True joy is a spiritual experience that occu

Every valley shall be lifted and filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked and uneven shall be made straight and level, and the rough places a plain.  –Isaiah 40:4 During the deep-freeze much of the United States experienced recently, many people (who aren’t normally used to such low temps) experimented with the phenomenon of watching boiling water turn into snow in the frigid temperatures (click the link provided to check out one example). How

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  —Romans 12:2 If you’ve ever done any gardening, you know the success of your labors has a lot to do with the kind of soil you use, how often you water it, and whether or not you use fertilizer or plant food. The more you feed your plants these things, the healthier, bigger and stronger

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?  –Psalm 42:1,2 We’ve all heard health experts emphasize the importance of drinking enough water. When you’re not used to doing that, it can be a challenge until your taste buds get used to it. Even if they don’t, however, often something remarkable happens after a few weeks. You taste buds may crave something else but you beg

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. –James 1:2–4 I love to bake. Mostly because I love sweets. So really, it’s about the eating more than the baking…but I digress. Sometimes around the holidays I make my mom’s recipe for pecan cinnamon rolls. It’s quite a process