Barbara’s Blog

John 10:14-18

What a wonderful reminder that God loves all of us. Sometimes we look at ourselves and think we don’t quite fit in. Esp in this day and time, it can be easy to not know your neighbors, only know the people you work with with a passing nod, know the people who work where you shop with only a smile.

It is refreshing to know that when God is looking at us- he sees FAMILY.

Let’s learn to look at the world that way too. Family! That is a kind of love that passes this world and goes right on into the next! Hugs, Barbara

John 8: 42-43

We need to remember to pray hard for those who can not hear God’s word. There are those who CAN NOT hear. The Bible teaches that several places. Until their hearts are open to the message, they are both blind and deaf.

How do we open their eyes, ears, and hearts? By prayer and by living a life of light. Light will bring the dark things into view.

Funny how this fits with this mornings news. We are to pray for our leader. Good or bad, if we like them or not- we are told to pray.

Prayer can turn hearts to the real true God. Eyes can be opened and ears can hear. Our president has been given a great honor. Let us join as one in prayer that he will use it for God’s purpose. Hugs, Barbara

Good morning! Prayers of safety to all who are out and about today.

Ready for Bible study?

John 5:42

So who was Jesus speaking to? He was speaking to the relgious men.

We can have all the right looks, and say all the right “christian” things- and not be filled with God. Like actors in a play, we can look the part. We may fool others, and even ourselves for a time, but Jesus knows. He knows if your talk and walk is real- out of love for him. Or if it is show to impress others. Or if it an act to get to heaven.

Have you ever thought of that? Our life here is not what it is so we can “make it to heaven”. The Christian life is a walk with God. It is being a part of him and his body. It is loving God and loving others.

God is much more interested in your heart than your actions. He knows we will make mistakes. Our being perfect is not the point. Our acting out of love and worship is. When we mess up- we hurt and get back on track- because we miss that close bond with our God.

Take some time today just to be a child of God. Enjoy him, as he enjoys you. Hugs, Barbara

I seem to be losing posts. So here is a test!

Good morning! Rise and shine!

Before we start our lesson today I have a question. Do you like it when the Bible gives you instructions? Or do you only like to read the verses that make you feel all warm and fuzzy? Humm, answer yourself honestly.( You don’t tell us- just yourself!)

Luke 20:46-47

This is a lesson that is a repeat in the Bible. if God tells you the same thing in several verses:
1-It is very important
2-It is something we are going to resist

If you will indulge me, I want to go back to the last lesson about loving only one master. I just feel I did not say what I was being prompted to say. Sometimes I am more human than you think. I will read a verse and know just what God is telling me with it. I usually just share flat out what I feel. Sometimes though, the fact that I know all of you so well will color my writing. I don’t know why but I feel that way about Friday.

So I am going to throw a few more thoughts out on the table.

When I asked this morning about if you LIKE to read the different parts of the Bible- this was on my mind. It can be very easy for us to read the stories of people long ago and think “wow, that is amazing”. or we love to read about how Jesus was willing to do what-ever it took to save us.

Yet when you hit a passage that pricks you where you live- we can skip that part, or skim right over it.

Sometimes I think the day to day struggles we have fall into this catagory. If we study the Bible we find what our priorities are supposed to be. They do not always match what we want to be doing.

That is where the love/hate of masters falls in.

If your #1 job is to love God, but you are busy keeping busy and making yourself happy- you will resent the thought that you are not reading the Bible or praying enough, or what-ever it is you do to love God.

If you are married, then loving your husband is #2 then. If you are busy showing the world how smart or active in things you are- you will resent your husband. He does not support YOU enough, apprecitate YOU enough, help YOU enough.

Now I like having my husbands help too. There were times in my marriage that he did not do what he should have been doing- and my burden was crushing frankly. If most of you were married to my husband in those day you would have divorced him or killed him!

Why did I stay? Because God told me that marriage was a picture of him and the church. So I loved when my husband did not deserve it- because God loved me when I did not deserve it.

The Bible also told me that I was created to be my husbands helpmeet. It is not the other way around. Modern day or not- that verse still stands.

That is where the verse of us loving one master and hating the other comes to life. If whatever you are doing makes you mad at hubby…perhaps you are doing the wrong thing? Or maybe you are just looking at it wrong? Maybe the “burden” will be your blessing in times to come. Mine was.

I now have a thoughtful husband who treasures me, because he now realizes just how hard those times were for me. It was my love and faithfulness and JOY during those dark years that eventually lead my husband to Jesus.

I do not mean to hurt anyones feeling ever. I love each of you here- too much maybe. I just want to encourage you to love your husband- faults and all. I want you to go about your busy day happy, even if the burden is great. Let God lift your heart as you complete your many tasks.

If you are feeling worn out and angry, maybe you have lost sight of your first love. Hugs, Barbara

Good morning! Rise and shine and make some happy waves as people go by!

Luke 16:13

I want you to just think this mornings verse out for yourself. Each of us knows what it means when we read it, but think about your own life. Are you serving two masters…or trying to? What might you need to re-think? No need to tell us, unless you think we might learn something from your thoughts- then please share! 

Hugs, Barbara

Good morning! So who are you going to be today? A burdened pauper or the happy daughter of the King?

Money, and homes, and clothing have nothing to do with it! Have you ever watched an old movie about a princess or a king that has been captured or hidden away? They are always discovered. Why? Because no matter how you dress them, or how dirty they are….royal people still look royal! They carry themselves proudly. They have a glint in their eye!

You are the daughter of THE King! One day you will inherit the kingdom! So perk up and act like the princess you are!

Luke 11:42-43

This is not a “love” we want is it?! We do not think of ourselves as better than others. A true king or princess is busy looking over the kingdom to keep it safe! He is caring for the welfare of all those he is to protect!

It is an interesting read through history to study kings and queens. Those who sat counting money- often lost their head! But those who were just and faithful were loved and respected.

What kind of Princess/Queen are you?

Hugs, Barbara

Good morning! Rise and shine and sing!

Luke 10: 25-37

Here we see that same instruction again…love God and love your neighbor.

Wonder why God put that in the Bible over and over? I think first, because it is so important. Then second…because he knew we would be like this lawyer. We would knit-pick and try to find a way out of having to truly love everyone!

When given an instruction….do you play lawyer too? Humm……

Hugs, Barbara

Good morning! God is so wonderfully good. You know, there are times I miss a morning devotion here. I try my best, but life sometimes get’s in my way. Then along comes a passage like todays, that fits so well with what is going on in one or more of our lives and I can see God’s hand in it all. He knows….

Luke 7:36-50

Look at verse 36 and think on it awhile before moving on. You need to know that the Pharisees were really hated in this time.But what did Jesus do? Went to his house and ate a meal- rather friendly stuff really…. ( love the unlovable).

Now move on to the lady who was washing Jesus’ feet. This lady was called a sinner. Her sin was known to all. She was crying and washing Jesus’ feet and then anointing them with ointment that came in an alabaster box. Now break this down. Jesus not only let her be there- he was allowing her to touch him- IN FRONT OF PEOPLE. How do you suppose she paid for that ointment in that expensive box? Was it legal upright work? I rather doubt it. Yet Jesus accepted the gift with-out question. He accepted the tears and the love with which that gift was given. And he forgave her sin. Did she ask with words? Did she offer to do any acts to make up for her sin? Do you see that Jesus meets us more than half way? he is right there the second our hearts turn. Nothing else needs to happen first.

Now look at the Pharisee. Remember that a pharisee won no populatiry contests in this time period. He is judging not only the woman, but Jesus too. Look closely at verse 39 and 40. “He spake with-in himself…” ‘And Jesus answering said…” Do you doubt that Jesus knows what is really in our hearts?

Then look at how that is played out. This “sinner” was showing her great love for Jesus. His host was sitting in judgement. Who left forgiven?

May we keep our hearts open toward others. May we- like Jesus- be quick to love and forgive. May we be looking at Jesus, and not around at others. But most of all, let us keep the picture of this woman tucked in our hearts. She was a sinner of many sins, yet was able to come right up close and touch Jesus- and be touched by him. Where-ever you are in your life. Jesus will let you come right on in- sin and all, and will accept your gift and your heart. Hugs, Barbara

Good morning! Busy schooling this morning. We are jumping in early around here this year. Which I love, but it makes it hard to get my lesson in here early!

Luke 6: 27-38

This is the kind of love that gets nothing back in return. This is the kind of love that is hard to give. It is easy to love those who love us back. It is even easy to love those who we know will “do something” for us. It is hard to love when we know it will be ignored or even thrown back in our face.

But that is how Jesus loved. As he was on that cross, he was loving the very ones who actually nailed him there- and all of us who he was dieing for- in our place.

Many would never accept his gift, but he gave it anyway.

May we learn to love in that way. Fully, completely, with no thought of return. Hugs, Barbara