Category Archives: Devotional

No Means Know

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“What is it about the word ‘no’ that you don’t understand?” This is a question I would ask my children after they continually asked the same question and I continually answered, No.  When would they know that the word ‘no’ was spoken for their protection, for their best, for their welfare…to be content with the word, no? Instead of persisting for the thing that is a ‘no’ (a “no-thing”) I prayed that my children would persist to obey, to know wisdom and know they are becoming more like Jesus.


It’s funny how things come back around and bite you. This time, I kept asking God a similar question and God replied in a manner that kicked:  “What is it about the word ‘no’ that you don’t understand?” 

I have come to this simple conclusion: “No Means Know.” Accepting the word ‘no’ with contentment is a result of knowing God. And this is my prayer…

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; Teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, For you are the God of my salvation; For you I wait all the day long. Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.             Psalm 25:4-5; 8-9



This Book & Mark

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I think I shall read the “King’s Cross” by Tim Keller over and over again. This book is for those who are looking for a closer connection to Jesus and Christianity. It is an unforgettable look at Jesus Christ, and one that will leave an indelible imprint on every reader.

“It is an extended meditation on the historical Christian premise that Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection form the central event of cosmic and human history as well as the central organizing principle of our own lives.” ~Tim Keller, King’s Cross: The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus

I’ve taken my time reading this book, underlining phrases, making notes, turning down the corner of pages while I also study the gospel of Mark…which is why this book is so alive with meaning.  Keller focuses on the gospel of Mark and describes the essence and depth of being a child of the King and how to appropriate all of that truth into the now.

Reading, King’s Cross along with the gospel of Mark has been the best thing I’ve done this summer to help develop the habit of spending time daily reading God’s Book, and meditating on His word.  Selecting a “study book” to companion my reading through the gospel of Mark was a good idea, especially since both books are a page turner.

Everyday Wonderment

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one of seven blue herons

I appreciate these photos of a family of blue herons. I wish I had my video camera to capture all seven of the birds flying and swooping about. Their voices were amazing to hear.  Usually, there will always be one or two blue herons on the pine tree so seeing seven magnificent birds was incredible. (I don’t have a camera lens able to zoom in close enough to see all of the birds in the trees) If my camera had the power of the binoculars I use, the photos would be amazing as I discovered that several of the birds were young herons learning how to fly and soar and swoop. As soon as a young heron would land on a branch, the mature heron would squawk and coax the young one to go again and again and again. At one point, the mature herons chased away other mature herons from perching on their trees. I’ve seen a Mocking Bird fight another bird out of its territory but this was the first to see a great blue heron showing dominance over another great blue. Now multiply that by two because there were four mature birds announcing their presence. Watching the action and hearing the squawking sounds and flapping of wings reminded me of a scene from a movie about dinosaurs with the pterodactyl defending its turf.

I hope I never take for granted the everyday wonderment of observing God’s creation.

I couldn’t help but think of Matthew 6:26: Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 

Ah! How the Lord values us! That is the “everyday wonderment.”

Created to Dance

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His glory is great through your salvation; splendor and majesty you bestow on him. For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence…Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power. ~Psalm 21

“In Christianity God is not a static thing…but a dynamic, pulsating activity, a life, almost a kind of drama. Almost, if you will not think me irreverent, a kind of dance.”

~C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

“God must have created us to invite us into the dance, to say: If you glorify  me, if you center your entire life on me, if you find me beautiful for who I am in myself, then you will step into the dance, which is what you are made for…

You are made to center everything in your life on me, to think of everything in terms of your relationship to me…That’s where you’ll find your joy. That’s what the dance is about.”

~Timothy Keller, King’s Cross: The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus

 God has invited me to dance. Filled with joy…for the glory of God. I’m dancing.

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