Assumption: We get counsel and value the perspectives and opinions of others to help us understand what God might be saying to us. God is the sole source of wisdom and the Bible is our authority and the primary way God gives wisdom to us. My response to these questions is not an attempt to…
(looking back as parents of grown children – of which we have 8) Isaiah 64:6 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. Why is…
PRAY fervently and continually. That’s it. We tend to examine/evaluate our parenting in terms of success and failure. A much better scale is obedience/disobedience. Raising our kids is a stewardship and the goal is to be found trustworthy. 1 Cor. 4:1-5 So have as your Parent Focus: Be the best I can be in living…
(adapted from a talk given at Mom2Mom Jan. 2016) [Bio: Lauris was raised the son of a bivocational pastor/school teacher in small towns of KS, #4 of 6 children. Rhonda was raised the youngest of 3 in San Diego, CA. After military service and a graduate degree in mathematics, Lauris moved to San Diego to…
“It is finished!” are the last words of Jesus on the cross while still in a body like ours. He had already prayed for His attackers/torturers (and all mankind, including you and me), “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Jesus instructs us to pray the same way when He gave us…
Prayer: True to scripture and thus honoring to God, Motivated by love w/o condemnation, Freeing, uplifting, encouraging – not bondage and legalism, Receptive minds and hearts eager to do Your will. INTRODUCTION: This is THE one subject just about everyone finds interesting and quite possibly the area that we tend to protect…
Jesus is about to ‘be lifted up’ (for all to see – shame, the greatest unfairness/injustice, as though powerless – He who had ALL authority and power) for the sins of the whole world…and He knows it. He says, “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour?’”…
Prov. 3:6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. “…and He will make your paths straight.” I’ve always wondered what this meant. Recently I recognized that pride is my bent, the direction of…
Not too long ago I confessed to the Lord discouragement and lethargy in prayer and asked why? The Psalmist struggled with this from time to time. Psalm 42:5a Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? What came to mind? Little faith due to a divided focus…
Have you ever made such a mess of life that you’d like to start over? If not our self, we all know someone in that mode. The main way people try to do that is physically move (some stay on the move), even join the military. Sometimes moving to a new location/situation is necessary to…