Soul Value
God values us enough to wait for our choice. During the week before His death and resurrection, He has a poignant moment of deep grief. ”O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together…and you were unwilling.” Matthew 23:37 NASB Not that […]
Soul Calling
Congratulations to our daughter Rachel, completing her M. Div next week! (A portion of her manuscript from an advent message by Rachel S Wood, edited by JS): We are mentored by our sister, Mary, through her song in Luke 1:46-56. She sings into this extraordinary situation (Luke 1:21ff.): Gabriel appears to Mary announcing the miraculous […]
Soul Path
PATH TO THE CROSS Crown of Thorns – What does this represent? Mockery Shame Rejection Not being taken seriously Disregard Not accepted Not important Irrelevant Hated In the way Public spectacle Disgrace Unloved […]
Soul Entitlements
Our idea of what well-being for our lives and souls should be is greatly dependent on expectations that spring from our contexts and inner neediness. Weary hours and years can be spent groping for what we think should be due us. If I hold over you a set of unspoken or subconscious expectations that stem […]
Soul Launch
I wrote the poem below to my 91 year old mother-in-law 2 days before she was launched into eternity. She departed on Mother’s Day. Perhaps there was a celebration they wanted her there for! As my husband wrote: Yes, she is fully alive now with the Lord. As I heard Dad whisper to her at […]
Soul Spring
“…let us grow in every way into Him who is the head–Christ.” Ephesians 4:15 After a full-on week, I sat outside to enjoy the fresh spring air and gaze on the new. The new raspberry bush growth; new, bright colors taking the place of the grey and worn; new leaves on the chestnut […]
Soul Rainbow
(Thoughts after PS, teaching elder at Sojo’s church, led us into Noah’s life in Genesis 8 & 9) 600 years strong, Noah was. His “right” heart before God kept God from wiping out the whole race in his fury. (Gen. 6:7,8) Noah was a rock! He diligently obeyed for many years while withstanding ridicule & […]
Soul Peace
The stunning promise of peace was penned approximately 700 years before the Prince of Peace arrived; and penned in the midst of a battered, disappointed, dysfunctional, sorrow-filled world. Two of the prophets that foretold the coming of this Prince lamented similar problems of their day. Isaiah – the degraded political condition of Israel Micah – […]