Category: Inspiration

CHRISTMAS TO-DO-LIST

Since the holiday season is upon us in full force, we’ll delay our last day of Paul’s second missionary journey until the New Year and focus on a ‘Christmas To-Do-List’ this week. When I saw this picture,  I thought it was perfect to share. This ‘Christmas To-Do-List’ is what I want to focus on—not just on Christmas, but every day.

 

 

 

Rather than just BUY PRESENTS—BE PRESENT!

Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”  –Luke 9:62  (NIV)

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”  –Matthew 6:34  (ESV) Continue reading “CHRISTMAS TO-DO-LIST”

JOURNEYING WITH PAUL TO EPHESUS

Greetings, my dear pilgrims. We leave with Paul from Corinth as we travel to Ephesus, which is located in Turkey. Turkey is unique in that a small portion is located in Europe while the majority is in Asia. Ephesus, currently known as Kusadasi, is near the west coast of Asia and is the fourth largest city of the Roman Empire. Its spectacular Roman structures still possess glory two thousand years later. It was a major seaport in Paul’s time for both the Greek world and then the Roman Empire.

 

Our early morning arrival to Ephesus (Kusadasi)

 

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.  –John 19:25-27  (NIV)

We know that when Jesus was on the cross, He entrusted the care of Mary, His mother, to the beloved disciple, who we believe is John. Jesus, even while suffering, was concerned that His mother would be taken care of after His death; it was an important part of the culture. Continue reading “JOURNEYING WITH PAUL TO EPHESUS”

JOURNEYING WITH PAUL TO CORINTH

Hello, my fellow pilgrims. As we continue with Paul on his second missionary journey, we leave Thessalonica and make a quick stop at a site Paul did not see when he sailed the seas. The Corinth Canal was 2500 years in the making! It is an artificial canal in Greece that connects the Gulf of Corinth to the Ionian Sea in the west and the Saronic Gulf to the Aegean Sea in the east. It separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland, making the peninsula an island. The first attempt at building the Corinth Canal was in 67 AD, when the Roman emperor Nero began the canal. The work ceased when he encountered a revolt, ran out of money, and died shortly thereafter. Work on the canal began again in 1882 and was completed in 1893, which brought economic benefits to the area. The Corinth Canal is about four miles long, has a water depth of about twenty-six feet, and the width ranges from a minimum of sixty-nine feet at the bottom to a maximum of eighty-two feet at the water’s surface, making it quite narrow. A highway crossing the canal connects Athens and the Peloponnese. Continue reading “JOURNEYING WITH PAUL TO CORINTH”

JOURNEYING WITH PAUL TO THESSALONICA

Greetings, my fellow pilgrims. I hope you enjoyed our visits last week and are ready to travel on. As we continue to follow in St. Paul’s footsteps on his second missionary journey and leave Lydia’s house in Philippi, we head a little northwest and make a quick stop at Amphipolis, in Greek Macedonia.

Paul and Silas then traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.  –Acts 17:1  (NLT)

We know that the next major town that Paul and Silas went to was Thessalonica. To get there, they had to go through Amphipolis and Apollonia. Since the Scriptures do not give us any other information on the two towns, it is probably safe to assume they did not preach at either place on this journey. Continue reading “JOURNEYING WITH PAUL TO THESSALONICA”

PAUL’S STORY

Our pilgrimage in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul, which will focus on his second missionary journey, will officially start next week. Today we will focus on an overview of his life. Paul’s given name when he was born in AD 5 was Saul which is of Hebrew origin.  He was an Israelite, from the tribe of Benjamin, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, which is considered part of Asia Minor, known as Turkey today. Saul was considered a Roman citizen because his father was a Jewish Roman citizen.

At a young age, Saul lived in Jerusalem, studying the Hebrew Law with the Jewish scholar Gamaliel. He excelled in his studies and became a devout Pharisee who is someone who believed a person must keep every one of the traditions of Judaism, as well as all the commandments. He was very legalistic. Continue reading “PAUL’S STORY”

AUTUMN LEAVES

The last few weeks in upstate New York have held the most beautiful array of colorful leaves displaying God’s glory at its finest. In fact, I have found them breath-taking, especially with the many yellow and red trees. I thought about the life cycle of the leaves throughout the four seasons and some parallels with our lives and our faith.

 

 

When we first come to know about Jesus and start that personal relationship with Him, our faith is like the budding trees in the springtime. We are like newborns in our faith journey, slowly emerging like the new buds. Continue reading “AUTUMN LEAVES”

MOONLIGHT

I have returned from a beautiful, grace-filled pilgrimage, walking in the footsteps of St. Paul’s second missionary journey. In the near future, I hope to bring you, my dear reader, along on some of the adventures and places we visited.

The pilgrimage included a three-day cruise to a few of the Greek Isles. The last night of the cruise, I was walking around the upper decks of the ship, enjoying solitude as there was no one else around. I was mesmerized while looking at the almost full moon, seeing the light it produced on the Aegean Sea. At one point, the moonlight lit up a wider area on the water, which fascinated me even more. It was a special time gazing on the moon and water while being in God’s presence as His beloved, and in oneness. Continue reading “MOONLIGHT”

CARRY BURDENS

While at work, on a short walk to stretch my legs, I ran into a man who works for a different company in the same building that I work in. It has been a few months since I have seen him, and I wondered how his family and his son were doing. I have been praying for the whole family as they lovingly and faithfully continue to care for their son, who requires 24/7 care.

Through a series of occasional orchestrations, eight months ago I shared a book of mine with him. At that time, I was blessed to learn some of his story. He has a 30-year-old son who was born blind and has several health issues that have worsened over the years. Some of the latest issues include trying to control his diabetes, which has unfortunately not improved since I saw him last. I was sad to hear that. Continue reading “CARRY BURDENS”

CARE FOR

This reflection draws inspiration from a friend who shared these thoughts with me after our most recent visit. We both know it was divine intervention a few years ago that brought us together because of a Christian T-shirt that I was wearing at a retreat. Since then, we get together at least once a month and enjoy food, walks, and spiritual conversations.  This time I was glad she asked for assistance with two small house tasks that needed a second person.

She had been praying the next morning, and the word “care” came to her.  She pointed out something I had never thought about—the difference she sees between when you “care about” or “care for” someone.

Continue reading “CARE FOR”

FORGIVENESS

As I was gazing out upon the vastness of beautiful, calm Lake Ontario, feeling oneness with the gentle, rolling waves, I happened to read a related Scripture verse.

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.  –Micah 7:18-19  (NIV)

God is so great and loves us all so much. Even when we, like Israel from this Scripture, grumble, complain, and get angry with God, He does not remain angry with us. Instead, God lavishes us with His mercy and compassion. I could envision God stomping on, and then hurling the evil we do out into the depths of the water. The vastness of the water lets us know God remembers our sins no more. The gentle waves reminded me of His compassion and mercy washing over us. Our incredible God is willing to grant us His forgiveness. Continue reading “FORGIVENESS”