The Cross

April 9
St. Anne's Shrine is located on a hillside not far from our lake house in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Joy climbs the steep stairs to the large cross.

"Then I saw dozens of hair pretties lying about, left by women who were moved to leave part of themselves there.” Joy says that the Cross is a double invitation." We can take everything we need from it like; hope, love and our salvation, and we are invited to leave at the foot of the cross what we don't need like; worries, fears and our sins." Not hair pretties.

"Come take up the cross, and follow Me." (Mark 10:21)

23rd Psalm

April 8

This Psalm I heard most often at funerals. But the words are for us, the living.

"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” That is for us-here and now.
“Green pastures and still waters” are for living sheep. “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me." I recited this psalm driving over a suspension bridge to cure a fear. I sense God's presence every day, indeed “my cup overflows" with His love.

"Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.” Psalm 23 ends with a great promise. Read it again

God Responds

April 7

Saturday afternoon the phone rings. It is the elderly lady Joy had left Friday. Seems the care agency called and said the woman who was to start Monday has quit would Joy come back until they can find a replacement..

Joy thought she was suppose to leave this assignment. She asks the Lord what she is to do and opens her Bible and reads:

“If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your
light shall dawn in the darkness and your darkness shall be as the noonday.
(Isaiah 58:10)

Jessica"s Shot

April 6

My granddaughter is seven and has come to stay overnight with Grampy and Joy. She has type I Juvenile Diabetes and has to have an insulin injection twice a day.

Her mother had shown me how and I had practiced on an orange. I’m nervous and pray silently. The Lord answers me through the child. Jessica squeezes some flesh together on her leg and says, "Come on Grampy, we can do this together." We do. Praise The Lord.

"Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will give Me the glory." (Psalm 50:15)

Petrified Wood

April 5

He was sedated and didn’t remember me visiting him yesterday in the hospital. “You told me details of an article you read in the barber shop on petrified wood.”

"Well, I did get my haircut but I don't remember the article," he said. Scientist say our brains store everything but we are limited by our ability to recall details. We may have forgotten but God hasn't.

"For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:14)

Jury Duty

April 3

I report for jury duty. I am impressed by the seriousness and thoroughness of the court to insure a fair trial. My faith in the US judicial system is reaffirmed. I contrast this with another judicial system.. At my final trial there will be no jury. Just a judge who will find me guilty as charged. My defense counsel will approach the bench and will point out He has already paid the price and I will be set free.

“ By grace you have been saved through faith and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God and not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Key to Daily Living

April 2

There are ten words in the Bible that are key to living each day free with peace.

Every sin begins with a thought and if we nip it in the bud and not dwell on it we eliminate worry, doubt, hate, bitterness, selfishness, stress and much more.

We are daily in a battle with our thoughts, every minute of every day. So how do we
change our thoughts? Paul gave the answer to the Corinthians. Try this it works.

“bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:4)