Blessings for stressing

We're in the run up for the season of Thanksgiving into Christmas.

So many people are stressing out about so many things.

We just came through a long and arduous political season. There were daily rallies, so much rhetoric, so much protesting, so many angry talking heads, so many threats and fears and anxieties, and then the election itself. Every election somebody wins and somebody loses. That is stressful for half the country. This election was no exception.

So now comes a

What are you thinking right now?

Have you made a habit of thinking about what you are thinking?

I mean, thoughts continuously run through our minds: what to eat, where to go, things to do, work to get done, people to contact, what to wear, making lists, etc. Unless you are the average man and then I am told that it can be a little like an echo chamber.... my husband told me that. 

Have you noticed that what you think influences how you feel?

Think about it... it's a rainy day and you think: "Ugh it's so nast

The unity of community

We are a growing church family. Yay, God!

We have new families, retirees, single parents, widows and those who attend without their spouse. And we have a new crop of kids.

There is so much joy in welcoming the new folks, but growth is also messy.

Everyone comes with expectations, baggage, burdens, fears/anxieties, and hope.

As Chaplain, I work to get to know each of them. What makes them want to attend HERE? What is their experience in churches past? What are their goals? Issu

HAPPY BIRTHDAY (to me!)

What a day we had this past Sunday!

The sky was blue and the weather fallish and cool.

The church seemed full and the buzz of voices was high spirited and friendly. Everyone was smiling in anticipation of what God had in store that day.

Worship was spirited and upbeat raising our hearts to Father God. And the message was, "Fear.... NOT!" and then we turned to the day's treat!

Hoving Home women's choir were our guests and did a lovely job. They ladies shared our lunch celebrati

Boooooooo!

It's that time of year, again.

The incredible finale to the Feasts of the Lord are complete for now. The sukkah is being dismantled and put away for next year (unless Jesus comes and we meet in Father's house instead!) Pumpkin everything is available everywhere and Fall clothes are feeling warm and cozy.

This next week will bring Halloween festivities and every restaurant is decorated with gross body parts, gruesome decor and models of dead zombies or skeletons or monsters.

Time to set up the tent for a FEAST!

This week we celebrate the last of the 7 feasts/fasts of God as recorded in Leviticus 23. 

There are 7 assigned Holy Days for God's revealed plan and 3 (Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles) are High Holy Days.

With Passover being the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, 

Pentecost being the gift of God via the Holy Spirit to all Believers,

the last Holy Feast is Tabernacles, or Sukkot (a sukkah is a temporary tabernacle or dwelling.)

We will build our church's sukkah and decorate with

God's Calendar

God's calendar is so interesting to me.

If God (& Jesus) thought that revealing their plans to humanity was so important, it seems to me that we should take an interest in it!

Personally, I keep a calendar for me, my mate and my church so that we can coordinate for events that are coming our way.

God did that same for us, and over the centuries, divisions between Jews, Christians and the world have changed the official times, seasons and calendar,

But looking at Leviticus 23,

Listen for the Trumpet

The ram's horn is a special instrument. God hears the blast of the ram's horn/shofar. He ordained it for use. It is the blast of that trumpet that makes Him listen.

This week commemorates Rosh HaShanah, the New Year. However, before the temple was torn down, it was actually called Yom Teruah, the Feast of Trumpets. This is an amazing moed/holy day on God's calendar.

Our church will be celebrating and learning of the awesome power of the prophecy of this day on Sunday. Next w

It's that time of year, again,

It's going around.

So a week ago I got a cough.

The next day it was a fever.

Then it became full blown flu.

Triggered by a virus but seems to come in the fall when leaf mold and pollen are at their worst.

Oh Joy.

Fluids. Lots of sleep. Coughing up a lung. No appetite. But the spirit is willing even if the body is completely pooped.

The fever finally goes down.

The meds keep the sinuses and lungs working.

The cough is the last to go after a couple of weeks.

So how do we wait?Trust in

Being a fan with a 1-1-0 Record

Football, particularly Philadelphia Eagles and UT Longhorns, is a passion of mine.

I love working Sundays for the LORD and then coming home, changing into comfy clothes and grabbing Sunday's meal as we settle into watching the battle between teams.

Now, we say that winning isn't everything, but it IS a rush to see our teams win!! But when we lose, it is disturbingly frustrating.

I mean, I'm not suiting up to bash my body or anyone else's body. I am not pulling in millions of

The Great Debate

People all over the country will be tuning into the Great Debate between the 2 candidates running for US President of the most powerful nation in the world.

There are those who will not be moved from their positions of support for their candidate on both sides of the stage. Nothing said will change their minds. They are ready to vote right now with certainty of their choice.

Then there are those who cannot decide. That is who the debate is for: those who want more informatio

The Harvest is upon us!

Labor Day is officially behind us... onto what's next!

We are wrapping up the early harvest of our veggie gardens. Now we are looking forward to the latter harvest: hay, apples, grapes and pumpkins. These are the sweet things of Autumn.

As we snuggle under soft blankets, cuddle without sticking together in humidity, and sip hot tea, warming our kitchens with baking, soups & stews --- the season is quietly changing from hot, humid days to crisp, cool evenings. 

This slowing d

The Power & Promise of Joy

Last Sunday we finished our "road trip" series: Faith to Hope to Joy.

We started with Faith = trust/confidence in God. 

Without faith it is impossible to please God.

Then we discovered Hope = joyful expectation of good from God.

Hope fuels faith and keeps it moving, strong and joyful.

And we ended the trip with JOY and a party celebrating God's promise of HOME! Joy is not just a feeling like happiness. It is deeper and abides in us in spite of our circumstances.

Joy is our susta

Hope to fuel the faith road trip....

This past Sunday was part 2 of 3 on a Road Trip series: FAITH, HOPE and JOY.

Faith is the foundation of everything that makes life worth living and is defined as trust/confidence in GOD.

Faith is fueled by Hope and is defined as joyful expectation of good from GOD. God's word reminds us that without faith it is impossible to please God. Hope keeps faith fresh and alive to sustain us in the hardest of times. Hope says that ALL things are possible for God and we can do ALL thi

Faith for the trip....

Last Sunday we began a "road trip" from the loneliness of separation from God, our Father & Creator, to Father's House.

This week, the first leg of the trip, was about FAITH for the journey.

Going through Hebrews 11, we discovered those who have blazed a trail for us to follow. Abraham, Sarah, Noah, Moses, and all those who sacrificed, believed and kept faith alive. Their lives are like signposts saying, "Go this way!"

We are called to be people of Faith: putting our constant