Walt Whitman...

John 3:17 (NLT)...

Senior Year Schedule...

Tim is doing some 11th grade and all of his 12th grade subjects this school year.  He has been given a schedule that he will have to keep for this school year in order to graduate on time in May 2026.  

Other than Church on Sunday mornings and going to bed by 10pm his Sunday's will be a free day for him.

Galatians 6:9 (NLT)....

Footnote from NIV Life Application Bible:

It is discouraging to continue to do right and receive no word of thanks or see no tangible results.  But Paul challenged the Galatians and he challenges us to keep on doing good and to trust God for the results.  In due time, we will reap a harvest of blessing.

Matthew 4:4 (NLT)...

Footnote from NIV Life Application Bible (v.3-4):

Jesus was hungry and weak after fasting for 40 days, but he chose not to use his divine power to satisfy his natural desire for food.  food, hunger, and eating are good, but the timing was wrong.  Jesus was in the desert to fast, not to eat.  And because Jesus had given up the unlimited, independent use of his divine power in order to experience humanity fully, he wouldn't use his power to change the stones to bread.  we also may be tempted to satisfy a perfectly normal desire in a wrong way or at the wrong time.  If we indulge for example in sex before marriage or if we steal to get food, we are trying to satisfy God-given desires in wrong ways.  Remember, Many of your desires are normal and good, but god want you to satisfy them in the right way and at the right time.  

Jesus was able to resist all of the devil's temptations because he not only knew scripture, but he also obeyed it.  

knowing bible verses is an important step in helping us resist the devil's attacks, but we must also obey the Bible!

note that satan had memorized scripture, but he failed to obey it.  Knowing and obeying the Bible helps us follow God's desires rather than the devil's.  

Joshua 1:8 (NLT)...

Footnote From NIV Life Application Bible (v.6-8):

Many people think that prosperity and success come from having power, influential personal contacts, and a relentless desire to get ahead.  But the strategy for gaining prosperity that God taught Joshua goes against such criteria.  He said that to succeed Joshua must 1) be strong and courageous because the task ahead would not be easy, 2) obey God's law, and 3) constantly read and study the Book of the Law - God's Word.  To be successful, follow God's words to Joshua.  You may not succeed by the world's standards, but you will be a success in God's eyes - and His opinion lasts forever.  

Joshua is one of my absolute favorites to read about in the Bible.  He was Moses's assistant and successor.  He was one of only two adults who experienced Egyptian slavery and lived to enter the Promised Land.  He led the Israelites into their God-given homeland.  He was a brilliant military strategist.  He was faithful to ask God's direction in the challenges that he faced.   We learn from his life that effective leadership is often the product of good preparation and encouragement.  That the people we pattern ourselves after will have a definite effect on us.  That a person committed to God provides the best role model for us.  

Something we should ask ourselves is Who is our Joshua?  We are part of the chain of God's ongoing work in the world.  We are modeling ourselves after others, and others are patterning their lives after us.  How important is God to those we want to be like?  Do those who are watching us see God reflected in every area of our lives?  We can and should ask God to lead us to trustworthy Joshua's so that we can become more like them as we strive to walk lives worthy of God.  

WHO INFLUENCES OUR LIVES MATTERS!!!

4 Years Ago Today...

Aug. 1st 4 years ago was release day from the hospital for Tim after which he had had a really close call from a super huge loss of salt in his body. His numbers were so low that he spent close to 30 hours in an extremely altered state in PICU. Life threatening events definitely bring things into perspective in a big way. As a family we all know how much we mean to one another. #godplusfamilyiseverything is our Motto. We know what is important and we value every single moment that we are given.

My Future Hope....

As Tim graduates high school next year this quote is my hope as he goes out into the world and becomes his own man.  As he makes a life for himself it's my hope and prayer that this will be our relationship.  He is so loved and treasured by his dad and myself and we can only hope and pray that he will continue to love and treasure us as well as he makes a life for himself as he continues to grow into manhood.  

Phillippians 2:3 (NLT)..

Selfish ambition can ruin a church, but genuine humility can build it.  being humble involves having a true perspective about ourselves (see Romans 12:3).  It does not mean that we should put ourselves down.  Before God, we are sinners, saved only by god's grace, but we are saved and therefore have great worth in god's kingdom.  we are to lay aside selfishness and treat others with respect and common courtesy.  Considering others' interests as more important than our own links us with christ, who was a true example of humility.

James 4:17 (NLT)...

Footnote From the NIV Life Application Bible:

"We tend to think that doing wrong is sin.  But James tells us that sin is also not doing right.  (These two kinds of sin are sometimes called sins of commission and sins of omission.)  It is a sin to lie; it can also be a sin to know the truth and not tell it.  It is a sin to speak evil of someone; it is also a sin to avoid him or her when you know he or she needs your friendship.  We should be willing to help as the Holy Spirit guides us.  If God has directed you to do a kind act, to render a service, or to restore a relationship, do it.  You will experience a renewed and refreshed vitality to your Christian faith."