Sep
29
Brown Patch
By Julie B Cosgrove | 2 Comments
It never seems to grow. Outside my apartment window is a common ground area. In the center is lush green grass, but a half moon around is dead, brown grass. It was that way in the spring, over the summer and now into the fall months. It never seems to grow. I don’t know why it is there. Perhaps they dug it up to put in a sprinkler system and the grass never recovered. Also, that section gets less sun, shaded by the building.
Feb
14
True Love
By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off
I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;
with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 89:1
Today is Valentine’s Day – a day for chocolate, roses and jewelry. Perhaps a flowery card or a splash of champagne over a candlelit dinner, or a roughly cut from construction paper heart scrawled with crayons saying I LOVE U MOM.
But today is the day one man died for the love of His Lord. He was one of the early martyrs of the faith – beaten and beheaded today in 272 A.D. by a decree from the Emperor of Rome. His crime? He refused to stop marrying soldiers and their betrothed into a Christian union.
Jan
11
Eyes of the Heart
By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off
having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you . . . Ephesians 1:18
How often do we “see” with our hearts? In the quiet moments as we watch a small child blissfully sleeping? Maybe when we see one family member actually thinking of another and doing something nice for them out of the blue. When we see a person who has been recovering from a difficult surgery once again walk up the church aisles. When our Alzheimer’s parent or grandparent get a glimpse of recognition in their eyes and smiles. Precious snatches of time captured in extra slow motion and etched in our emotions.
Nov
23
The God-View Love
By Julie B Cosgrove | 2 Comments
If asked to describe a Biblical love, many will quote John 3:16— For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. But few quote the next verse, which is the finish of that thought:
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.(vs.17)
Jul
13
Severe Kindness
By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off
Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Romans 15:22a
Christians emphasize the love of God, and His mercy and grace. That the Creator of the Universe could care about every hair on our head and every breath we take is far too awesome to contemplate. Yet faith confirms it is true.
But let’s not forget there is another side of this powerful, Almighty God we serve. The God who commands us to put nothing and no one before Him in our loyalties. The God who banishes the wicked to Hell and turns His back on the stiff-necked people who refuse to acknowledge Him.
May
26
Covered
By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off
Whoever covers an offense seeks love,
but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. Proverbs 17:9
What should you do when someone offends you? Over and over Scripture tells us to forgive and move on.
The Lord’s Prayer says “forgive us our trespasses AS we forgive those who trespass against us.”
I Peter 4:8 states: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
Jesus, when asked how often we should forgive, said “Seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:22)
May
17
It’s a Given
By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off
Each day I read from a lectionary, a system of studying the Bible developed centuries ago that millions of others also participate in doing, and have done so for thousands of years. (You can find it online at many sites, or order daily devotionals that use it). It consists of a passage from the Old Testament, a Psalm or two, a passage from one of the four Gospels and one from the letters in the New Testament called the Epistles.
Today, one theme kept popping up – God gives, and has given.
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