Taking Hebron

  Recently I was doing some research about why whales beach themselves. For those who are not familiar with the term beaching whale, this is when a whale or group of whales go to shore and then get stranded out of the water. Why do they do this? The Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida says: "The beaching of a single, live animal is usually the result of sickness or injury. Bad weather, old age, navigation errors, and hunting too close to shore also contribute to beachings." Before this research I would have thought a whale cannot be out of the water because they need to be wet. And I would be partially correct, but another factor I learned about is their weight. In water they do not have to bear their weight, but on land their weight actually crushes their organs.  They were created to live their entire lives in the ocean. They were not structurally designed to bear their own weight. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11

The other day I was out playing mini golf with my mom and siblings. I had a great start and felt I was on my way to my best score yet! Then we reached a hole with a BIG hill. My sisters had struggled a little on the previous holes and we had given them "do-overs" that didn't count toward their score. It was mini golf, no one takes it that seriously... right?  Well, I could not get up that big hill. After 3 tries I finally made it feeling a little disappointed about my "best game" yet score. My group told me I didn't have to count two of those strokes. I should have been thrilled. That would put me back in the running for getting my best score yet! Instead, I felt like it wouldn't count. My great low score wouldn't "really" be true. Immediately, the Lord touched my heart with a parallel. Jesus went to the cross so I could get my "best score" ever! But would I humble myself to accept His mercy?  On another day I went bowling with my

  The other night my family and I were watching a movie together. One of the main characters had been a famous skier until an injury had cut his career short. He feared his hometown for he felt everyone would be angry with him for having failed their expectations. When he finally admitted his fears to his old coach his coach responded by saying that no one was mad at him. And though he could no longer compete he could coach skiing and his old coach concluded by saying, "You need to trust yourself."  My 11-year-old brother who was sitting near me added quietly, "You need to forgive yourself." Wow! His insight into the situation amazed me. He was right.  How often do I find myself like this downcast skier, hanging my head in shame for not meeting the expectations set before me? But whose expectations are they? More often than not they are my own. I know the Lord loves me unconditionally and forgives me to forgetfulness so why do I still hang my head in shame?  Because

  “He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. Luke 6:48 I've heard and seen this story played out many times in children's Bible videos and at Sunday school, but I have to admit I never noticed the part that says the man "dug deep" and laid the foundation on the rock. It's not enough to build a wooden hut on top of the rock, the house has to be attached to the rock at its foundation. This lead me to research a little about how you build on solid rock. In one article the writer talked about how his soon-to-be new neighbors were blasting out portions of the rock so they could lay the foundation. These were his comments: "You have to want to build badly if you decide to go to all this trouble to blast solid rock. First and foremost, blasting is expensive. Two previous owners of the lot, which s

 I'm sorry, I've never wanted to have one of those mysterious blogs where the writer disappears and everyone wonders what happened to them! But I'm not really ready to say I'll never blog again, so... you'll have to bear with me!  Then the multitude rose up together against them (Paul and Silas); and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Acts 16:22-25 Have you ever really thought about this story? Can you image being beaten with a rod and then fastened in the stocks. You're in, I'm sure, incredible pain, but you can't even move to find the most comfortable position. They weren't

  The Rising By Rachel L Peterson 2-16-2022 Wounded, broken, doubt and gloom, Gray clouds, whispers, voice of doom. Helpless, fragile, fettered wings, Song of morning no voice sings. Darkness, silence, all seems gone, Coolness, softness, hints of dawn. Glimmer, gleaming, pins of light, Rays spread out to chase the night. Shimmer, glisten, warmth on me, Shifting, looking, start to see. Echoes, distant, calls of hope, Twitching, turning, look up slope. Moving, slowly, feet find place, Craning, searching, heart does race. Pushing, paining, fight but weak, Resting, waiting, just a peek. Lifting, spreading, stretch out wide, Stagger, stubble, hope inside. Warm air, dancing, swirls of grace, Dark eyes, upward, lifted face. Grounded, flapping, at full length, Desperate, giving, all my strength. Sounds of life up in the skies, Longing voice comes out in cries. Moment, breaking, up from ground, Wonders, craving, freedom found. Grief and pain, once out-sizing, Now gives way to the rising.