A City Life For Me

Psalm 42:11

I’ve noticed a trend around the blogosphere the last few years on Mother’s Day. Everyone starts posting about why we should “tone down” our Mother’s Day celebration and be uber sensitive to those for whom Mother’s Day is a painful reminder instead of a joyful day. It includes those who may struggle with infertility, who have had a miscarriage, whose own mother has passed away, or those who are still waiting for Mr. Right to come along so they can begin a family. I certainly understand that we should be sensitive of the pain experienced by the ladies in these situations. We are supposed to bear the burdens of others (Gal. 6:2), to comfort the feebleminded (fainting), and to support the weak (1 Thess. 5:14). Ecclesiastes 3:4 reminds us that there is a time to weep, and a time to mourn. Romans 12:15 teaches us to weep with those who weep. However, the pain of some does not negate the rejoicing of others. Both Ecclesiastes and Romans tell us this – continuing the verses mentioned above wit...

Last night was beautiful here in Brooklyn, so we decided to take a walk after supper.  We didn’t quite make it to the park before dark, so we ventured out to the American Veterans Memorial Pier which is very near to us.  From the pier you can see Staten Island and the Verrazano Bridge, Lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, and both the Hudson and East Rivers.  There is a “tower” on the pier that says Brooklyn remembers September 11, 2001.  Elaine had fun running circles around it!  Too much fun…she wouldn’t stop and smile for me! I was able to get this picture of the Lower Manhattan skyline.  The bright tower on the left is the unfinished Freedom Tower (I think).  The red building in the middle is the Empire State Building, and the bright pointy- topped building on the right is the Chrysler Building.  While I was admiring the Freedom Tower, thinking again about September 11th, and feeling proud to be an American, something else caugh...

The lyrics from this song have been stuck in my head lately.  They have caused me to contemplate what I am doing to touch the world around me with the love of Jesus. He walked along the shores of Galilee. From clay he formed the healing balm that caused the blind to see. When stones of wrath weighed heavy in their hand, He knelt to write His mercy in the sand. Jesus came to set the captives free; showed us by the way He lived, the way we need to be. Our love is more than words could ever say - We must touch them with compassion to help them find their way. How can we reach a world we never touch? How can we show them Christ if we never show them love? Just to say we care will never be enough. How can we reach a world we never touch? Could we be so busy being saved? Trying to impress a world, that’s long since lost its way? We pride ourselves in being set apart, Yet we don’t take time to touch a broken heart. Even if we found the time to ...

Today is the 41st Earth Day celebration.  Many people around the country are focusing on this celebration this weekend.  While I believe that we should do our part to be good stewards of this world that was given us, I also understand that when God is finished with this earth nothing we can do will stop Him from destroying it and creating the New Earth. You see, while most people are focusing today on how to save the trees, as Christians, my family is remembering a Tree that saves.  Today is not only Earth Day, but more importantly it is Good Friday.  Around 2,000 years ago, my Savior Jesus Christ gave His life on a tree called Calvary so that the entire earth might be truly saved by placing their faith in Him.  I know that it is not really the Tree (His cross) that saves, but rather what He did on the cross that brings salvation.  I am so thankful for my Jesus, and that He was willing to pay the price for my sin, to take my punishment, so that He cou...

Our pastor made this statement: The Spirit of God without the Word of God is delusion . The Word of God without the Spirit of God is deadness . But the Spirit of God with the Word of God is dynamic . Happy weekend, and have a blessed day tomorrow as you worship the Lord at your church!

Read God’s Word daily!  Here are some thoughts from my Scripture reading today: 2 Corinthians 7:1  Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit , perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 8:10-11  And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.  11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.   (I know it’s talking about the offering for the churches, but we can take admonition from these verses to finish what we have begun.  Also, we are often willing to do what is right, but we don’t rely on the Holy Spirit for the power to actually do it.) Galatians 3:3  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (We are sanctified the same way that ...

“The more I think of and pray about the state of religion in this country, and all over the world, the deeper my conviction becomes that the low state of the spiritual life of Christians is due to the fact that they do not realize that the aim and object of conversion is to bring the soul even here on earth to a daily fellowship with the Father in heaven. “When once this truth has been accepted, the believer will perceive how indispensable it is to the spiritual life of a Christian to take time each day with God’s Word, and in prayer to wait upon God for His presence and love to be revealed.” ~Andrew Murray I was reminded of the words of the second verse of Like a River Glorious by Francis Ridley Havergal: Hidden in the hollow Of His blessed hand, Never foe can follow Never traitor stand. Not a surge of worry, Not a shade of care, Not a blast of hurry Touch the spirit there. Chorus: Stayed upon Jehovah Hearts are fully bl...

Tuesday night around 11:30 pm Elaine awoke.  She is teething, and I assumed she just needed some more relief tablets to go back to sleep.  I discovered that she was soaked, along with her sheet and blanket, and stuffed animal.  I was puzzled.  It did not smell like spit-up, and there was too much dampness for it to be sweat.  I concluded it was her diaper.  For some reason, when she wet, it all went everywhere except into the diaper. Now for those of you who know me well, you understand that I am addicted to cloth diapers.  I even sell cloth diapers online .  In fact, I think cloth diapers are perfect.  They are better for my baby, they save me tons of money, and they are just stinkin’ cute.  So I was really dismayed to encounter a problem which was causing my cloth diapers not to work.  As I struggled to find, and then fix, that problem the next day, I realized some things about my own heart.  I learned some spiritual lesso...

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28   Yesterday Pastor Bickel taught from Romans 8:28 in the afternoon Bible Study at Bethel Baptist Fellowship .  He gave four truths to encourage us, as long as two conditions are met.  The conditions are to love God (be in a right relationship with Him), and be called according to His purpose (where my plan gives way to God’s plan).  When those two things are true, “All seeming adverse circumstances can be viewed as advantageous.” Four Truths to Encourage You: God’s plan is beneficial - “good” God’s plan is active - “work” God’s plan is inclusive - “all” God’s plan is harmonious - “together” I was reminded of one of my favorite songs, “In All Things God Works for Our Good” by Lloyd Larson.  The lyrics go like this: In the lush verdant valleys where we walk sure and strong, or the rugged terrain unsafe and long; ...

I have been mulling this one over in my head for a little while now.  Several experiences lately have reminded me that what used to be considered “common courtesy” is now very uncommon.  Let me explain.  (Please note: this is not a post directed at any person in my life specifically.  It is mostly from recent experiences with strangers that has prompted this post). The courtesy of a phone call.   Whatever happened to letting someone know if plans go awry?  I have a piano student who frequently does not show up to her lesson.  (This of course is the fault of the parent).  I have only received a phone call on rare occasions.  Once I was sent an email, thirty minutes before the lesson, and I did not receive the email until after the lesson would have been over.  If you are supposed to meet someone, have an appointment, or are committed to attend something, it is common courtesy to call (not email, text, etc., unless you are SURE that pe...

I am planning to read through my Bible this year, so right now I am in Genesis. I just finished reading the story of Jacob - from how he cheated Esau out of the birthright, and then the blessing, then he worked 14 years for his Uncle Laban in trade for Leah and Rachel as wives. Then Jacob stayed on in the employment of Laban in order to build up his own herds and flocks. Yesterday I was in Genesis 31, where Jacob wants to return to his own land, but he is afraid of Laban. As a result, Jacob sneaks out and puts and three days' journey between himself and Laban. Once he righted his relationship with Laban, Jacob then had to face his brother Esau, who was breathing out threats of killing Jacob upon their last encounter. This caused me to think about fear. In the first instance, Jacob was afraid of Laban because he was trusting in himself, and not in God. God had given the command in Genesis 31:1, "And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kind...

"Never does the human soul appear so strong and noble as when it foregoes revenge, and dares to forgive an injury." ~ Edwin Hubbell Chapin Psalm 37:1-5~ "Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. (2) For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. (3) Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. (4) Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. (5) Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Romans 12:19~ "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Ephesians 4:32~ "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. "

Sorry this is a little late... "Any concern too small to be turned into a prayer is too small to be made into a burden." ~Corrie ten Boom Philippians 4:6-7 ~ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Corrie and Betsy ten Boom suffered a lot during WWII. I'm sure they had many things to be worried and burdened about. Yet Corrie was able to turn those things into prayers, and let the peace of God envelop her mind and heart. In this way Corrie could focus on her God instead of on her circumstances.

"A real friend is one who helps us to think our best thoughts, do our noblest deeds, and be our finest selves." ~Anonymous Proverbs 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Are you being a real, true friend? Are you surrounding yourself with real, true friends? Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever tings are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report: if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Sorry this is a day late - we were out of town with no internet connection. Here are several thoughts to think about. The difference between Christian giving and communism/socialism: Communism/socialism says, "What's yours is mine." Christian giving says, "What's mine is yours." In reference to the election, consider Titus 3:1-2: "Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, (2) To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men." Now that Barrack Obama is the president elect, we must respect him and his position of authority as God ordained, and "speak evil of no man" - including a president we may not like. A quote from a Bible commentator (given in our Sunday School lesson, and the man was not named) on the fact that the Apostle Paul never slandered Nero (his "president" and a very wicked man): "How could Paul att...

I am going to start writing a "Think About It" post each Sunday. It will be Scripture, or quotes, or thoughts from the sermon at church. This is the first one. "The answer for America is not a new administration, but a new attitude toward sin." ~Pastor Warren Skinner, Diamond Springs Baptist Church "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14