How to Draw Near

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Purify your hands, you sinners; sanctify your hearts, doubting souls." (James 4:8) Aramaic Bible in English

Tips for Drawing Near to God
1.  Soak in the scriptures (read or listen)
2.  Recognize the hand of God in daily life. (Pray to recognize God's hand and voice in your life.)
3.  Play your instrument; sing; do both.
4.  Talk about truth.
5. Laugh often; be thankful.
6. Think of the eternal value of your actions and the pleasure that will be yours eternally.
7.  Read great books and biographies. (Pilgrim's Progress, George Mueller, Padre Pio)

Prayer and Kindness

Three days after the Newtown, Connecticut massacre, we pray for those entering a lifetime of grief.
We care for them by small acts of kindness.  A smile, a kind word, a gift -- small gestures that can be a momentary balm for the fire of their pain.

Put on kindness

A  lady passed out small jars of Burt's Bees moisturizer.  She likened rubbing this waxy substance into her hands as a parallel for putting on kindness.  Being kind requires work and continual attention, especially when those around us seem hardened and unreceptive.

But it is His kindness that leads us to repentence.  So, in turn, His kindness within us can be sent out to our "neighbor." 

Fine Wine

My husband compares graceful aging to that of a fine wine, that mellows and becomes beautifully resonant with age.  So it is, as I look at pictures of my husband and me together at our daughter's wedding.  The essence of a "fine wine" seems apparent as I see us, married for 26 years, still together at a most poignant moment in time.

Sometimes it's easy to stay together, sometimes it's not.  But the results can be that of tasting a fine wine.  These results can't be bought, or forced.  They only come with years of faithfully pursuing God and each other.

Power to do and bear

There is the BIG reason why being a child of God makes a difference-- because we are washed clean in Christ's blood, thus being able to achieve heaven.

Yet there is a daily reason, summed up well in this quote from my favorite devotional, Streams in the Desert:

"I cannot tell how it is that I should be able to receive into my being a power to do and to bear by communion with God, but I know it is a fact.

Are you in peril through some crushing, heavy trial?  Seek the communion with Christ, and you will receive strength and be able to conquer.  'I will strengthen thee.' "

Love covers

Love covers a multitude of sins......

Advice remembered

A pastor once said something about marriage that I will always remember.  He said, "There will be things about that person (your spouse) that you hate, but you choose to overlook those things."  That has really helped me over the years.  I hope it helps you, too.