Journey into Forever

"Then he said to them all: 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."                         - Luke 9:23 "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him."                         -Philippians 1:29           I love quilting.  I love looking at them, pinning them on Pinterest, planning them, thinking about making them, and making them.  I haven't done a lot of them, but my retirement plan is to change that.  I can go in a fabric store and stay for hours, just feasting my eyes on all there is to see.  My friend Belinda asked me a while back if I wanted to participate in a quilting c...

"Do not repay evil for evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."          - 1 Peter 3:9      I love how God starts working on something with us.  The idea is introduced to us, whether through experience, a sermon, Bible reading, an article we read, or an experience with another person.  Invariably, we hear it again, soon, in another way.  Depending on how slow we are to understand, we may keep hearing this same message in different ways for quite some time until we "get" it.  Oh yeah, God is telling me that.......       This time it was an experience, a sermon, and a conversation.  What was so funny was the same word, "Pricklies", was used in 2 of those situations.  Now since it is not a common word, I had to believe there was something going on here.  And there was.    ...

" So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."                        -1 Corinthians 10:31 "Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury.  Many rich people threw in large amounts.  But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.  Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They all gave out of their wealth, but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on."                        - Mark 12:41-44      A retreat is being planned in Aurora for the fal...

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?"                           -Matthew 6:25 "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief of all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.  Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."            1 Peter 1:6-9 ...

    "Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem.  Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before"         Daniel 6:10       "Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress."       - 1 Timothy 4:15      "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."       -Matthew 6:33          Well another year is in the books for the fireworks stand.  It was a different year.   Nothing was typical of years before.  We felt disorganized , stressed, and kind of out of touch with what was going on. Very busy, but somehow d...

"Everything is permissible for me but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me but I will not be mastered by anything."       - 1 Corinthians 6:12 "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble whether Jews Greeks or the church of God----- even as I try to please everybody in every way for I am not thinking my own good but the good of many so that they may be saved."     -  1 Corinthians 10:31-33       We are getting a new baby next month.  I can hardly wait.  I love everything about watching them grow.  From the first smile to the teen attitude, every stage is wonderful to watch.  The youngest years are the most fun I think.  Watching a child learn to walk, talk, and develop her individual personality is great.  And everyone loves the baby.  Even the siblings don't tease or mistreat her. It is especia...

"Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience , which leads to righteousness?"                  - Romans 6:16      Have you ever read the story of Joshua and Jerico?  Not just singing the song, which many of us have sung through the years:            Joshua fit the battle of Jerico, Jerico, Jerico            Joshua fit the battle of Jerico            And the walls came tumblin' down. When you really think about that story, it's another incredible example of what God can do when He is obeyed.  Just imagine being told by God to walk around a city for 6 consecutive days, then on the 7...