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

Troubled by Many Things?

Photo by Charles 🇵🇭 on Unsplash

 “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that I will seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.” (Psalm 27:4)

Doing good. Serving others. So many needs out there!

“Lord! I’m serving you, but I can’t seem to get everything done. I’m worn out! Send workers to help me!”

That’s been my reaction many times.

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Surprised By Titles

Titles in Psalms

Many Bibles I have include titles of sections and of chapters. However, I have one Bible that does not. I recently completed the Psalms, took notes, and assigned titles to each Psalm.

What if we all ignore the titles that someone else assigned to the chapters and sections and listen for the titles the Holy Spirit speaks to us?

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The Light Shines in the Darkness – Merry Christmas!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:1-5

May the lights and colors of Christmas fill you with reverent wonder as Jesus shines on you.

Stories of Significance

“Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,” Luke 3:21-23.

Genealogies. Someone may be preparing a family history as a Christmas gift for the rest of the family. I was blessed several years ago when my brother, Jay, blessed us with a history of our family. He spent much time over the years meticulously researching and recording the mysteries of our family. What a blessing he gave us!

All the stories of the past looked forward to the future and the shaping of a family who touched communities and made a difference in the lives of others.

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From Suffering to Ministry

Why, God? What do I have to learn, Lord?
Is there some sin that I haven’t confessed?

Elizabeth and Zacharias had prayed for a child, but no child came. They were old now.

In those days, it was a disgrace if a woman could not have children. Elizabeth was probably looked down upon, and some may have thought that there was a hidden sin or two that she had not confessed. Imagine the smirks, the heads shaking, the gossip!

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