This week in our women’s Bible study we were discussing Romans 5. We had a discussion about verses 3 and 4. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ESV How can we rejoice in suffering? Several…
Ten years ago, my husband and I went on a tour of Israel with friends from our church. We went by bus from north to south and ended our travel in Jerusalem. In a previous blog I wrote about visiting the Church of St. Peter. Bright pink flowers on a…
This past week my Bible study group discussed chapter 3 of the book of James. Verse 8 states, but no human being can tame the tongue. We see that in our world today. Much is being spoken on social media, news media and among friends and relatives. We are divided over…
On Wednesday mornings I meet with three or four women to study and discuss verses in the book of James. Like so often in the past, we are studying the right book. The message of James is relevant to our current time. Count it all joy when you meet trials…
Throughout the past year my husband and I have been reading through the Bible. Today our reading was from 1 Chronicles and Isaiah. The books we have read clearly illustrate human nature and the problem of sin in the lives of people who have gone before us. After God chose…
The Bible has books that praise God, record His interaction in the world and report the words of Jesus. The Psalms have both praise and lament and I feel that I am in the company of people who have struggled with their faith. The gospel of John gives me a…
In the middle of the week, I have a women’s Bible study. During the week each of us spends time reading a couple chapters and looking up cross references. On Wednesday morning we meet and discuss what we have learned. Currently we are studying the book of Amos, having already…
Flowers are still blooming in my backyard. The aster (I think it is an aromatic aster) is a nice surprise. It’s blooming in a pot of depleted wild flowers. The humming birds still visit the phlox and zinnias. My humming bird feeder attracts wasps as well as the humming birds.…
Next week our women’s Bible study will begin a study of the gospel of Luke (meeting in my backyard). So I am reading and meditating on the first chapter as Luke relates the unfolding of God’s plan to send Jesus. The angel Gabriel visits Zechariah to announce that God has…
Yesterday I spent the afternoon with my grandchildren. I was happy to join the family for dinner. As we were eating dinner the second grader said, “We might be having world war three.” “Why do you say that?” I asked. “A boy in my class said that.” The granddaughter who…