Nov
11
Today, at 11 am and 11 pm hundreds of thousands of Christains around the globe will raise their hands and fall to their knees in prayer for their communities, neighbors and governments. They are expressing Provebs 11:11 which states -
Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.
We have seen deteriation of manners, service attitudes, consideration for others, and neighborliness in the past decade. What used ot be only seem in back rooms of XXX stores is now on TV and no one blinks mcuh at foul language. More people stay home than go to church, and Christ themes are taboo at Christmas. Will Easter be next?
Oct
6
Iridescent Bread Crumbs
By Julie B Cosgrove | 3 Comments
My eyesight is poor. I have had glasses on my face since third grade. At times, my spiritual eyes are even worse. I just can’t see God’s hand in my life.
Do you know the story of Hansel and Gretel? As they wandered into the forest, Hansel left bread crumbs behind to mark their way. But the birds and animals ate them. At times, I feel as if all my bread crumbs leading down the right path have been chomped up as well, or blown off the walk, or rolled under leaves. The trees of doubt loom over me and I become anxious. The road seems dark.
Nov
17
Conflciting Wisdom
By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. James 3:16-17
I come from a family of attorneys. In my clan, you never spurted out a spontaneous thought. You formulated your defense first. It always drove my husband nuts. That is the world’s wisdom. It focuses on “me being right and you being wrong”. On winning the argument, not reconciling the relationship.
Oct
4
Up to This Day
By Julie B Cosgrove | 2 Comments
Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” ACTS 23:1
Wait. Paul, who used to be Saul and persecuted Christians by stoning is saying this? I had to pray about that one. I don’t believe he was a lair. And I believe the Bible is Truth. But how could this statement he made before a council be correct?
Jun
4
Get it Right
By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
This Psalm is one of my favorites. Perhaps because I grew up in a church where we recited some of it every Sunday – “Open my lips O Lord and My mouth will show forth thy praise. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not from thy presence and take not thy Holy Spirit from me”.
Apr
26
Do I Say It?
By Julie B Cosgrove | 1 Comment
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Colossians 4:5
Have you ever bopped yourself mentally after you walked away from a conversation. It suddenly hits you what you should have said, five minutes too late. Hindsight is twenty-twenty, isn’t it? All at once your head fills with elegant prose you could have used instead of your stammered, short answers.
Or maybe, there were things you wanted to say, but you just didn’t have the gumption to spit them out. You were not bold enough.
Mar
29
Down in my heart
By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off
Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Psalm 51:6
The heart. It is the center, the core. I lived most of my life “deep in the heart of Texas”. As a child at camp I sang that I had the love of Jesus down in my heart. We talk about the heart of the matter. If someone is charitable, they have a good heart. If something tragic happens, it breaks our heart. If I don’t want to do something , it is because my heart just isn’t in it. And I love to eat artichoke hearts – the tender part protectively buried beneath the outer armor of bristles and spiked leaves.
Search & Win
Earn Amazon Giftcards!
-
Christian Books
Subscribe
