Are You Listening?

“Listen. Can you hear the note hang in the air as the next note is played?”

Squinted eyes. Frowning face.

“Listen again. It’s as if I’m connecting the notes as a complete thought – a sentence. One note joins the next to produce a new meaning. Do you hear it?”

“Cool!”

“Wasn’t that beautiful?”

Smiling nod.

“That’s legato … a complete thought … a complete moment.”

It took several attempts, but my 9-year-old student learned how to listen a little deeper for the connections between the notes in a legato phrase.

Deep listening connects thoughts and emotions to understand the moment's meaning and beauty. Click To Tweet Read more

Jesus in Me … Thankfully Read

I look forward to the evenings that my husband and I put on our walking shoes, grab each other’s hand, and step outside. As we enjoy the companionship of each other, we point out nature’s beauty, discuss the day, and share our dreams, disappointments, struggles, and hopes. My husband is my lifelong friend, servant leader, and lover of my soul.

We have another walking companion – a constant Companion in the Holy Spirit. This is the Companion Anne Graham Lotz has revealed in Jesus in Me: Experiencing the Holy Spirit as a Constant Companion.

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The Key to the Christian Walk

Venice Apartments - 1

When someone asks you “”Where do you live?” How do you answer? I usually say, “Beaumont, California” or my subdivision if I’m not in Beaumont. I don’t say if I live in a house, an apartment, or on the street.

Pilate asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” but Jesus gave no reply in John 19:9.

How would you respond if someone asked you where your heart abides?  Continue reading The Key to the Christian Walk

Walking in The Holy Spirit’s Stunning Power

Gate Beautiful

The Beautiful Gate or Eastern Gate where the lame beggar sat was the largest gate to the temple and the most beautiful. In Hebrew, the name of the gate means “Gate of Mercy.” It took 20 men to move the gate. The gate faces the Mount of Olives across the Kidron Valley. It was sealed shut, and a cemetery was placed before its entrance to render anyone who walked through the cemetery unclean. Jewish tradition says that the Messiah will come through the Eastern Gate when He comes to reign. Ezekiel writes of the glory of God entering the temple through the Eastern Gate.

Look at him! He’s walking. He’s jumping. He’s prancing around and praising God. Wait … he’s going into the temple with those men. He can’t do that; he’s unclean. Hasn’t he been lame since birth? I’ve seen him begging every day for decades. What happened?

Continue reading Walking in The Holy Spirit’s Stunning Power