Acts 20:35 (ESV)...

Footnote taken from NIV Life Application Bible:

These words of Jesus are not recorded in the Gospels.  Obviously, not all of Jesus' words were written down (John 21:25 - "Now there are also many other things that Jesus did.  Were everyone of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.").  This saying may have been passed on orally through the apostles.

Nahum 1:7 (NLT)...

The relationship we have with God is up to us.  To those who love Him, His mercy is a refuge, supplying all their needs without diminishing His supply.  To those who refuse to believe or trust in Him, God's punishment is like an angry fire.  What kind of relationship will you choose?

Yesterday's Dental Appt for Tim...

Tim had his 6 month checkup yesterday.  He is doing a fantastic job with his brushing.  The hygienist was thrilled that he's doing so great.  she was like most kids his age don't do as well as he's doing.  I told her that I hound him about making sure he's brushing his teeth properly...LOL!  He did, however, have a small developmental cavity.  What that means is that Tim had a grooved area in one of his back teeth that food could easily get trapped in which caused a soft spot which caused a cavity.  His dentist assured me it was nothing he did wrong because he's doing great on his care of his teeth.  What was even better was that he could take care of it right then without our having to return for another appointment.  It was Tim's first Tim having to have any work done and the dentist didn't think about explaining the whole process to him before he did it😳.  After getting over the shock of not having it all explained Tim was like that wasn't all that bad but I just wish he'd told me what was happening instead of just doing it...LOL!   He mad it 17 1/2 years with no cavities🙌🙌🙌!!!  

That's way better than most on my side of the family have done.  It's definitely better than I did.  I was really young when I had my first cavities.  Back then because they were baby teeth they'd pull them and put in spacers until the adult tooth grew in.  My parents didn't push us like I've pushed Tim to brush his teeth.  we are doing things right with him so that he won't have the teeth problems that I've had all of my life.  If my parents had done better with us kids my teeth would be in an all together better place than they've been.  But my parents were dirt poor and they could scarcely put food on the table at times much less buy tooth brushes and toothpaste for all us kids to brush our teeth.  Dental visits were free because we were getting government assistance.  And Government assistance didn't give you free tooth brushes or tooth paste.  just food stamps, free cheese, Peanut butter & powdered milk.  That's just how it was with poor folks back when I was growing up. 

I'm so thankful that Tim's not ever had to have those experiences and that we've been able to help him take great care of his teeth all these years.  He will have much better teeth in his adult years than I have had.  I'm ever so thankful that we've not had to raise him how I was raised.  I'm thankful that we have had the funds to take proper care of Tim's teeth.  Thank you Lord for your many blessings to us!  

Matthew 5:16 (NLT)...

"Light Shines Because It Is Its Nature To Shine!"  

~Jesse Duplantis 

" A Changed Life Must Become In Turn A Life Changer!"

~Jesse Duplantis

"Light Is Spread From Person To Person In Order To Kindle The Gospel!" ~Jesse Duplantis

Footnote From the NIV Version of the Life Application Bible(v.14-16):

Can you hide a city that is sitting on top of a hill?  It's light at night can be seen for miles.  If we live for Christ we will glow like lights, showing others what Christ is like.  We hide our light by 1) being quiet when we should speak, 2) going along with the crowd, 3)denying the light, 4) letting sin dim our light, 5) not explaining our light to others, or 6) ignoring the needs of others.  

Be  A  Beacon  of  Truth  -  Don't  Shut  Your  Light  Off  From  The  Rest  of  The  World!

Tim's 2024-2025 Yearbook from LCHA (Lighthouse Christian Homeschool Association) Is Here...

Tim received his yearbook today and he was thrilled with it.  It is one of the best yearbooks that Lighthouse has put out to date.

Point of Life Quote...

Isaiah 60:1 (NLT)...

As we read these promises, we long for their fulfillment.  But we must patiently wait for God's timing.  He is in control of history, and He weaves together all our lives into His plan.  

Luke 12:40 (NLT)...

Footnotes from NIV Life Application Bible:

Christ's return at an unexpected time is not a trap, a trick by which God hopes to catch us off guard.  In fact, God is delaying His return so more people will have the opportunity to follow Him.  Before Christ's return, we have time to live out our beliefs and to reflect Jesus' love as we relate to others.

People who are ready for their Lord's return are 1) not hypocritical, but sincere (12:1), 2) not fearful, but ready to witness (12:4-9), 3) not worried, but trusting (12:25,26), 4) not greedy, but generous (12:34), 5) not lazy, but diligent (12:37).  May your life be more like Christ's so that when He comes, you will be ready to greet Him joyfully.    

Proverbs 31:30 (NLT)...

Matthew 16:24 (NLT)...

 

Footnotes from NIV Life Application Bible:

(16:24)When Jesus used this picture of his followers taking up their crosses to follow Him, the disciples knew what He meant.  Crucifixion was a common Roman method of execution, and condemned criminals had to carry their crosses thought the streets to the execution site.  Following Jesus, therefore, meant a true commitment, the risk of death, and no turning back.  

Matthew 10:39 (NIV) says, "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."  

(10:39)This verse is a positive and negative statement of the same truth; clinging to this life may cause us to forfeit the best from Christ in this world and in the next.  The more we love this life's rewards (leisure, power, popularity, financial security), the more we will discover how empty they really are.  The best way to enjoy life, therefore, is to loosen our greedy grasp on earthly rewards so that we can be free to follow Christ.  In doing so, we will inherit eternal life and begin at once to experience the benefits of following Christ.