Doses of Faith

When I look back on when my love passed, I wonder what those around thought of my response.  I loved my Kevin, but to claim or touch an empty body, I can’t do.  I was falling apart inside, but I could not let it out.  He was there and I could not touch him.  I know it is because I have had a thing about open caskets and touching the dead.  It brings back the memory of my first experience with an open casket and what happened after that Mother’s Day Sunday many years ago. A Sunday afternoon playing with cousins in the yard on a sunny day in May ended on a sad note.  I loved Grandma and loved the time alone I could share with her.  We were celebrating her birthday and everyone was in good spirits, but leaving that little white house that Sunday afternoon made me sad, because Grandma pleaded with my parents to let me stay and spend a few days.  I remember Grandma saying, “Just a few days out of school will not make a difference.”   It ...

In Psalms 32, David writes about repentance, forgiveness, and God’s guidance.  RFG (repent, forgive, guidance) comes in that order.  Notice, I’m starting my own set of initials.  My manager at work loves these things.  We have COP, SED, BOM, CIF, FOB, ISF, etc.   We have quizzes on these things.  Don’t worry, there will be no quizzes, but I hope you will search your heart and meditate on the Word.  Now, let’s go back to RFG and Psalms 32.  Verses 1 through 5 is about what sin does to our lives: “my bones grew old through my groaning” and “my vitality was turned into the drought of summer.”   Sin can be unbearable, but we can acknowledge and repent.  Get if off your chest.  Let God take it away with the assurance that the sin is covered.  It is covered, because Jesus covered it with His blood, and we know that God forgives and forgets.  God not only forgives our sins, He guides us through each trial and eac...

Praying and preparing for set of lessons for this summer with theme "It's Not About Me," and preparations and Biblical characters remind me of Granny and Aunt Nona.  Both of these dear ladies suffered circumstances that could have left them bitter or selfish, but they served others in times of personal distress with love and care.  They both showed God's love and a life not centered on "Me."   I knew Granny as the summer cook for us during the summers, care taker of two of my cousins, and the center of her family.  Years later, I met two African American seniors.  Immediately, they asked me, "Are you related to Hattie Evans."  They thought I favored her.  Believe me, I look more like my mother and Granny was a very large lady and I have a smaller frame.  I acknowledged that Mrs. Hattie was my grandmother.  These sweet dear ladies shared with me how Granny saved one of their sons.  The mother was not able to nurse her baby....

"He marveled because of their unbelief." Mark 6:6 Living without faith leads to a dead end.  I just glimpsed a headline where Trump is predicting a recession.  Those who have faith in Trump will believe that a recession is coming soon.  They put their faith in a man who is running for president of the USA and will say anything to get a vote.  I'm not getting into politics, but warning that we can't have faith in a man who is vulgar, running a campaign that is like a SHOCKING reality show with the media having many field days.  Be careful where you put your faith.  The faith I'm speaking of is not in man but our Lord. In Mark chapter 5, the Legion of demons, Jairus, and the woman with an issue of blood believed that Jesus was the Son of God, and the Legion of demons left the body of the man, Jairus’ daughter was healed, and the woman who touched the robe of Jesus was healed.   It was their faith in God.   However, in chapter 6, Jesus ...

In this crazy world of ridiculous politics, discrimination, and hate, hold to your faith in Jesus, the Son of God.  Let’s take a look at Mark chapter 5 to see how two different individuals' faith helped them. Jairus, a leader in the synagogue, came to Jesus asking Him to heal his daughter.  Immediately, Jesus follows Jairus to his house.  On the way to Jairus’ house, a woman touches Jesus’ garment believing that she would be healed.  Jesus felt the power leaving him and stopped to see who touched him and he said to the woman, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.” (Mark 5:34) Notice that Jesus called her daughter.   What a wonderful thing to be called by the son of God.   We are no different.  Each of us who believes is his sons and daughters.  Just have faith! There was poor Jairus, anxious for Jesus to come to his house to heal his daughter.  On arriving, they are told that she is dead.  Jesus turns...