Category Archives: Bible

Christmas Spirit Hodgepodge

Wednesday Hodgepodge questions that Joyce From This Side of the Pond asks each week are not surprisingly Christmas themed in December. Here we go…

1. What do you think it means to have the holiday spirit?

Going deep on this one and deferring to my hubby:

“It’s having the Spirit of Christ, who convicts of sin and enables faith in that Jesus is who He says He is and has done what He has says He has done. Without the work of the Spirit of Christ we would have no hope for forgiveness, for eternity with Him, for glory.

Romans 5:1 (ESV)

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

2. What’s one thing you’ve baked this month?

I baked a Chocolate Decadent Bundt cake last week for our card night.

Have you eaten the finished product?

Yes, at the card night last Friday night. It got very good reviews from those who ate it.

How much baking do you do around the holidays?

This varies from year to year. Some years I don’t make any cookies…shock!

What baked sweet something does your family insist is on the menu during this season of the year?

Roolyet is a Russian treat our mom would make every Christmas. A yeast dough rolled with a  walnut filling (walnuts, sugar, egg whites and vanilla). Now that my sister and I perfected the recipe I should make it every Christmas, too.

3. Your most recent ‘half-baked’ idea?

How about thoroughly baked. In January I clicked on the buy button for plane tickets from Seattle to London for September of this year. Then COVID-19 struck us all. Plane tickets, Air BnB deposits and many plans made that had to all be cancelled. Thankfully all was refunded.

4. Where were you the last time you ‘baked’ in the sun?

In my own backyard pulling weeds.

The top ten sunniest destinations in the world (most sun from January-December according to this site) are Dubai, Bali Indonesia, Los Angeles CA, Miami FL, Barbados, Dominican Republic, St. Lucia, Mauritius, Antiqua, and the Canary Islands Spain. Have you been to any of the cities listed?

I was born in East Los Angeles and raised in the “burbs” of Los Angeles and spent many summers baking on Southern California beaches slathered in Coconut Butter. Craziness!

Which one on the list appeals to you the most?

We do not choose sunny destinations these days. We do not lay in the sun. We look for shade and head straight to an umbrella when the sun is out and the air is hot. The only reason L.A. is appealing these days is because of our loved ones who live there and who we enjoy spending time with.

If the world were not upside down crazy and you could lie on a beach anywhere right now where would you go?

Never mind lying on the beaches, I would choose Jolly Old England any time of the year, walking down a lane instead of lying on a beach!

Now that said, we do enjoy walking on the beach at dawn in the summer and any time of day in the Winter.

5. Today I wish I had more _____________________.

Options for shopping in my little town of Colville.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

This past Sunday to Monday we enjoyed a 46th Anniversary night at the Coeur d’Alene Resort in Idaho on Lake Coeur d’Alene. Dinner at Beverly’s on the 7th floor made us feel like normal before all this craziness came upon us all.

Our complimentary Anniversary dessert! Vanilla ice cream wrapped in cotton candy with some fruit and dessert bark.

When the Christmas cards are all signed, sealed and delivered to the Post Office I feel like I should get an award. Do you still send cards?

Himself ~ Hymn

Himself

Once it was the blessing,
Now it is the Lord;
Once it was the feeling,
Now it is His Word;
Once His gift I wanted,
Now, the Giver own;
Once I sought for healing,
Now Himself alone.

Refrain

All in all forever,
Jesus will I sing;
Everything in Jesus,
And Jesus everything.

Once ’twas painful trying,
Now ’tis perfect trust;
Once a half salvation,
Now the uttermost;
Once ’twas ceaseless holding,
Now He holds me fast;
Once ’twas constant drifting,
Now my anchor’s cast.

Refrain

Once ’twas busy planning,
Now ’tis trustful prayer;
Once ’twas anxious caring,
Now He has the care;
Once ’twas what I wanted,
Now what Jesus says;
Once ’twas constant asking,
Now ’tis ceaseless praise.

Refrain

Once it was my working,
His it hence shall be;
Once I tried to use Him,
Now He uses me;
Once the pow’r I wanted,
Now the Mighty One;
Once for self I labored,
Now for Him alone.

Refrain

Once I hoped in Jesus,
Now I know He’s mine;
Once my lamps were dying,
Now they brightly shine;
Once for death I waited,
Now His coming hail;
And my hopes are anchored
Safe within the veil.

Refrain

Words: Albert B. Simpson, 1904.

Truth from A to Z ~ L is for…

Welcome back to Truth from A to Z on this first Thursday in December. We are on the letter L. There are lots of choices for this letter of the alphabet. Add your verse/verses in the comments and I will add them to this post. If you post on your own blog leave your blog address in the comments and I’ll add a link here to your blog!

L is for Light:

John 8:12 

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 3:18-21

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgement: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God. 

From Vera: Love, Lord and Life

“Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O Lord, according to your justice give me life.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭119:149‬ ‭ESV‬‬

From Patsystitch: Light, Lamp

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:15-16

From Happyone: L is for Laughter

Then was our mouth filled with LAUGHTER, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, the Lord as done great things for them.
Psalm 126:2 KJV

Bethany at Raindrops & Rainbows has a post up on her blog. Click over and visit. Her word is Life.

From Maristella: She chose Life, too.

L is for LIFE:
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20

Sing along with Angie: Light

“This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.” 

I’ll wait and see what verse or verses you share before I add more verses about the Light!

Time to add more verses on Light here:

John 1:5-9

The light shines in darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 

John 11: 9

“If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.

John 12: 35-36

So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

John 12: 46

I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

Romans 13:12

The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Ephesians 5:8 

…for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. 

Thank you everyone who contributed to this post!

 

Truth from A to Z ~ K is for…

This Thursday we have reached the letter K in the alphabet. Remember that we will be skipping next Thursday since it is Thanksgiving. We will resume on Thursday the 3rd of December.

Share your verse/verses for the letter K in the comments or on your blog and I will add your choices to the post. Thank you so much.

K is for Kindness: Titus 3:3-7 (ESV)

 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

From Cheryl: King of Kings: Revelation 19:11-16

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He [e]had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in [f]fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a [g]sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

From Vera: Keeps Known

“No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

From Maristella: Knowledge

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness,* knowledge*; and to *knowledge*, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.”
2 Peter 1:5-7

From Bethany: Check out here post on her blog, Raindrops and Rainbows.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

From Patsystitch: Kindness

Isaiah 54:10 (Eternal Covenant of Peace)
For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from you, nor my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has mercy on you.

From Happy One: Keeper

 Psalm 121:5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

So many great verses for the letter K. Thank you everyone. May God’s Word build you up and carry you through the week.

Truth from A to Z ~J is for…

For this Thursday in November we are on the letter J in our Truth from A to Z Bible Verse Challenge.

There are many verses with Jesus as the theme and others with important J words, too. I’m looking forward to the verse or verses that you settle on. Please share in the comments and I’ll add them here.

J is for judges and judgement:

John 5:22-24 (ESV) 

For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.  Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

From Vera: J is for Justified

“And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:30‬ ‭ESV‬‬

From Maristella: J is for Jesus and Joyful

“If anyone acknowledges that *Jesus* is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.”
1 John 4:15

“Be *joyful* in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Romans 12:12

Click over to Raindrops and Rainbows to see the verses Bethany chose for I and J!

Truth from A to Z ~ I is for…

For the first Thursday in November we are on the letter I in our Bible Verse Challenge. I’m going to go with several “I ams” that are found throughout the Bible that God declares about Himself.

I is for I AM

Exodus 3:14: “I am who I am.”

Isaiah 41:13: “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”

Isaiah 45:18: “I am the Lord, and there is no other.”

Matthew 28:20: “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

John 6:35: Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

John 8:12: Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 10:11: I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 11:25-26: Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

John 14:6: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Revelation 1:8: “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

From Tom: Another I Am:

Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’

From Cheryl:

My verses today are two similar questions:
“Is anything too hard for the LORD?” Genesis 18:14
“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” Jeremiah 32:27

From Maristella:

“Better a little with righteousness
than much gain with *injustice*.”
Proverbs 16:8
And
“The *integrity* of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.”
Proverbs 11:3

From Vera: I is for Immortal, Invisible

“To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”
‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭1:17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Add your verse/verses for the letter I in the comments or on your blog and I will add them to this post. Happy Hunting!

I want to give you a heads up that we will not have our Bible Verse Challenge on the Thursday that Thanksgiving lands on this year, November 26th. We’ll resume the following Thursday, December 3rd.

Perfect Peace Hodgepodge

The verses before this verse are: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4: 4-7

1. How do you define peace?

Funny you should ask that question. Tuesday morning as part of my devotions I read these words from a commentary on Ephesians:

Speaking about Jesus…

For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near. (Ephesians 2:14-17)

Jesus alone is our peace.

Jesus Christ came as a babe to earth, and in His sacrifice on the cross He Himself became peace for those who trust in Him. His peace is not temporary but permanent. he made both groups, Jews (those who were “near”) and Gentiles (those who were “far off”), into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall. (MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Ephesians)

Believing in Jesus Christ as Savior because of his perfect sacrifice on the cross for our sins is the only way to peace with God. This is the only permanent peace available.

2. November 3rd is Election Day in the US of A, but did you know it’s also National Sandwich Day? Let’s vote, shall we? egg salad or tuna salad? chicken salad or grilled chicken on a bun? peanut butter and jelly or a bagel with cream cheese? turkey and swiss or ham and cheddar? grilled cheese or pimento cheese? roast beef-corned beef-or make mine veggie? 

I vote for tuna salad, grilled chicken on a bun, peanut butter and jelly, turkey and swiss, grilled cheese and corned beef on rye, please.

3. When did you last say (or feel) ‘no rest for the weary’?

This is my hard working husband every day while he tries to get the shop ‘snow tight’ before the next big snow. Hard to work in freezing temps so his hours are limited but he keeps plugging away.

4. This time last year, where were you?

This time last year we had just had a weekend with my sister Vera in our neck of the woods and I was taking her back to the airport. While she was with us we enjoyed a trip into Canada to enjoy a Persian lunch at Kootenay Kebab in Trail, B.C. and we had a baking day in my kitchen making Piroshky with our kids and our cousin while Dear and our son worked on the shop. (We’re still working on the shop!!) I’m hoping that some day in the future we’ll be able to cross the line again into Canada…

5. Share a favorite song, verse, or quote featuring the word ‘peace’.

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you;
You will find a solace there.

Blessèd Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded
There will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

A quote from our pastor this last Sunday that made a few of us laugh out loud.

“The Bible tells us how to live in the nasty now and now.”

Thank you to Jo From This Side of the Pond for asking the questions each week!

Truth from A to Z ~ H is for…

The last Thursday of October and we are on the letter H for our Truth from A to Z Bible Verse Challenge. Choose a verse or verses from the Bible with words beginning with H. Share your choices in the comments and I will add them to this post. Thank you in advance.

Psalm 121 (ESV): H is for Hills, Help, Heaven, Hand, He

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.

Looking forward to seeing your verses!

From Aguene7:

Isaiah 52:7 

7 How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

From Cheryl:

Hebrews 13:14 

“For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.”

From Maristella:

H is for HOPE :
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
1 Peter 3:15

From Barbara:

My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

From Patricia:

Isaiah 49:15-16

…I will not forget you. I have written your name on the palms of my hands…

From Vera:

H is for he, his, hand, heir, high and having

“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1:1-4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

From Bethany: H is for Hope

but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31
Click over to Bethany’s Blog, Raindrops and Rainbows to read her post.
~
From Martha Ellen: H is for Heart
*
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding ”
Proverbs 3:5
From Willow: H is for Heart
*
And you shall love the LORD your God with all your HEART, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.
Mark 12:30

Truth From A to Z ~ G is for…

Hello Thursday and time for the letter G. Looking forward to the verse or verses you will come up with to share today. It’s still October and we still are in the good season of having family in our midst so bear with me if I’m slow in adding your verses. Thank you very much.

G is for Glorify, Given, Give, God, Glorified and Glory!

John 17: 1-5 (ESV)

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

From Maristella: G is for GIFT:
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
And…
“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”
1 Corinthians 13:2

From Gloria: G is for Gracious & Great
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and great in loving kindness.
Psalm 145:8

From Vera: G is for Grace

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Here is the link to Bethany’s post for the letter G.

From Naomi: G for Grace…

John 1:16 – Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.

Add your verse or verses in the comments or on your blog and I’ll share them here.

Truth from A to Z ~ F is for…

Thursdays come quicker and quicker and today we are on the letter F. Feel free to post your verse for the letter F in the comments and I will copy them onto this post. Leave a link to your blog if you are posting a verse or verses on your own blog and I’ll add the link here.

This week I have a 5 verse section of scripture from 1 John.

F is for:  Fellowship, Faithful, Forgive

1 John 1:5-10 (ESV)

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

From Maristella: F is for: FIRM and FAITH.

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”
1 Corinthians 16:13

From my sister Vera: Fought, fight, finished, faith

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4:7-8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

From Mrs. T at Across My Kitchen Table

From Bethany at Raindrops and Rainbows.

Click over to their blogs to read their verses and thoughts. 🙂

Looking forward to the verse or verses you are going to share this week! Thank you in advance.