Category: Perspective

The Last Hope

For Life Lost

Friday, July 4, 2025

Where Will You See It?

Waves Come In and Go Out

Washing Us Free.

Psalm 119:114

You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.

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John 6:40

This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.

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Words of Grace for Today –

…

How do you find that precious slice of time-place-tempo-song that gives you

everything to live for,

that gives you hope,

for another day, week, year, decade?

In the lives of those who have found a way to move from desperate-despair-loss-end

to become someone for someone, and maybe for a few more than one or two, maybe even for us all?

In the words that inspire one to dig deep?

Or in the faces of sounds defying the obvious end, despite the great loss getting into tomorrow from here?

Or in the safety of laughter and joy with children not yet stained by the short-harsh-brutish?

…

in the turmoil that is inevitably life,

the only hope for all kinds of life is

…

knowing that God is with us, for us, and

more than eager to redeem us, renew us, and give us renewed life each day.

Plans of Mice and Men and Women

Steps to Life

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Holy Spirit Guided

Colouring In Between the Lines of Life:

Greedily gobble it all up,

or give it your all, today.

Proverbs 16:9

The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps.

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Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

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Words of Grace for Today –

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We’d like to think that we can plan and set goals, work hard according to our plans, and reach our goals … and thus make life worthwhile.

We’d like to think that as we are executing our plans and reaching our goals, God directs our steps … and thus makes life worthwhile.

BUT

always that big butt gets in the way.

The rear-end of reality

that the plans and goals and executions we undertake, and even the goals we reach and celebrate

are

ALL

meaningless.

And God does not direct our steps along our planned paths.

…

Life as a human is so much more than we can plan.

And the only way to reach into that life and realize even a tiny bit of it, is …

to give up trying to plan and execute our way through life towards success (or the inevitable failures.)

The Holy Spirit offers gifts and guidance, and life becomes full, filled with meaning, as we strive to serve others selflessly, following Jesus’ Way, teaching, healing, and giving life to others with our daily sacrifices.

Then we are able at the end of the day, to give God thanks

for it all.

Precious as it all is

when we give it away so others may live.

Rich And Done

Or Sacrificing All Now and …

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Rich Forever

Why Wait To Really Live?

Give Your All, Today!

Psalm 138:6

For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly; but the haughty he perceives from far away.

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Luke 12:19-21

The rich will say to their soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.

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Words of Grace for Today –

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How people have yearned to be rich. To be able to ‘take a break’, head off on the ‘freedom 55’ train, give up deadlines for lifelines, to do what you want, when you want, where you want, and how you want, to turn ‘short, nasty, and brutish’ into ‘eat, drink, and be merry!’

But life simply does not work that way.

Life lived for oneself becomes perverse, if it wasn’t that already. And it rots from within, spreading to those around one, and affected by one. It’s living hell.

The true treasure of life is free, but not without cost. It is to live as Jesus did, giving everything to give life to others, to love one’s neighbour as oneself, even one’s enemies, and the downtrodden and outcast most of all.

To be truly rich, we only need recognize that God walks with us, blesses us, and sends us out to be that same blessing for all other people.

What’s In A Number?

158

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

42
10,000 – 1867 – 1870 – 1905 – 1986 – 2025
83.26 – 2.40

Numbers Usually Mean Something.

Can Numbers Mean Everything?

Psalm 73:26

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

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Revelation 3:7-8

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens: I know your works. Look, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

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Words of Grace for Today –

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from Wikipedia:

Canada Day, is the national day of Canada. A federal statutory holiday, it celebrates the anniversary of Canadian Confederation which occurred on July 1, 1867, with the passing of the British North America Act, 1867, when the three separate colonies of the United Canadas, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick were united into a single dominion within the British Empire called Canada.

1 July 1867 to 1 July 2025, 158 years: Happy Canada Day.

Of course Alberta was not part of Canada until July 15, 1870, and then only as part of the Northwest Territories. Only in 1905 did Alberta, along with Saskatchewan, become a province. So I guess for us in Alberta we only have 150 years to celebrate as part of Canada, and only 120 as a province of Canada.

Then again I didn’t show up until 1986, so I only have 39 years, and lots of Canadians have less, reflecting their birth dates, of course.

Then again there are many people who can celebrate being here in Canada’s land spaces since at least 10,000 BCE, so call that a 12,025 year celebration. Makes one feel old just looking at that number of life years.

But that’s not for individuals, just the indigenous ancestors. This year in Canada, on average, the life expectancy is now 83.26, but we have a 100% fatality rate, still. It’s the nature of things for us, eh!

As far as the other two numbers 2.40 is the latest bill I received that I have to pay. There’s certainly lots more waiting to be paid and many, many more to come (if I live as I hope to.)

And 42, well that’s the computers’ answer to the question, “What’s the meaning of life.”

Which any thinking person knows is wrong.

It’s either chocolate or ice cream, according to some.

More serious answers come in all forms. That’s the nature of things for us thinking (at least sort of, anyway) beings.

…

As for me and my household (which is non-existent anyway) I’ve noticed that God’s left a door open for us, for each and every one of us. It’s a door that no one can close in our faces.

Grace upon grace flows through Jesus’ sacrifice to save us, to rehabilitate us (daily), and to send us out to be that same Grace for others.

And that’s more than any number can contain.

Get Going, To Good

While You Still Can

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Time Will Ravage Also You.

Don’t Be A Chicken And Run Away!

Face Life and It’s Challenges

Each Day.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

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John 21:18

Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.”

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Words of Grace for Today –

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Getting old is not for sissies, and it’s not for everyone.

Just look at all the people who die young, who will die young because they live hard lives. I’m not talking about those who are caught in a hard life. That’s most people who have and will ever live. I’m talking about those who choose to live fast, furious, stupid, pleasure seeking, danger seeking, alcohol or drug or nicotine or sugar induced entertainment until it becomes an addiction.

Getting old is tough.

Real tough.

So while you are young,

start doing what you know is right.

If you don’t who is going to do what only you can do

to help the helpless

to feed the hungry, in famines and wars and poverty cages,

to bring water to those caught in droughts or dry areas because someone steals their water,

give clothing to those without, who suffer the environmental dangers and risks each day,

give homes to the homeless, as their number multiples year after year,

give peace to the troubled, whether they’ve made their own trouble or had it dumped on them,

give hope to the hopeless, for what else is there!

Give love to the loveless, for to be unable to love is a curse greater than any other.

And receive God’s thanks, for as a servant, this is what God gave you life for.

God will reward you with straight paths,

straight to heaven on earth,

or, if you resist and refuse and deny and turn away and rebel against the Holy Spirit, there will be a path straight to hell on earth, a hell of your own making.

…

So he said to himself, as he rose to another day, wishing for youthful energy, fewer challenges of age, and a long list of must-do’s and should-do’s

and little opportunity to help others

much.

…

What about you?

Need a word of encouragement? Heaven or hell? Which is it for you today?

Pounding, Knocking

Wakey Wakey

Monday, June 23, 2025

It’s The Rain!

There’s a Long Road Ahead,

Just for Today!

Psalm 145:9

The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.

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Romans 8:21

… the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

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Words of Grace for Today –

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So you thought you could sleep in because no one really depends on you today?

Or just because you were going to get away with it again?

Not so fast.

Whether it’s the co-worker,

the boss,

the clients,

the neighbours,

or even just the weather

or (watch out for this one!)

Maybe it’s the Holy Spirit,

Someone is counting on you getting on the road, getting to the destination, the goal for today and getting done what needs getting done,

and if there’s nothing pressing, then to get around to that ever growing backlog of things that ought to be done sooner than later,

and now it’s later

enough.

So Hit the Road Jack!

Swing into action.

Rain or Shine.

Honesty and Kindness

Always need some doing in many a creative ways

for those least deserving,

and for the regulars

that count on your love

or at least God’s love

which you are supposed to be the agent of.

So

…

the most honest and most kind thing is to yell again

GET YOUR BUTT MOVING

before it’s too late,

and things go into the can real quick.

Honest and kind because then

… well then, it’s a whole other kind of mess you need to clean up.

So

knock

knock

the rain is pounding

on your roof.

Come out, come out wherever you are

and start

reflecting the light given you at baptism.

Small task it is not!

Just know that God is good to you, no matter what, look at nature around you, as God sets it free from us, and it reflects the goodness God created it to be.

.

…

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(What!?

Just some motivational words, since I slept in after staying up late.

What are you looking at? You’ve done it, too!)

Could God

Do Great Wonders

Saturday, June 21, 2025

Here, Now, For Us, For You?

Healing With Fire,

Powerful Fire

Consuming the Chaff.

Psalm 136:3-4

O give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever.

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Acts of the Apostles 8:6-8

The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralyzed or lame were cured. So there was great joy in that city.

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Words of Grace for Today –

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The greatest wonder of all is that God actually loves us sinful humans!

Accounts of preachers bringing hearts and minds to realize God is not only to be feared but to be loved, in return for God’s steadfast, unending love for us all.

Accounts of illnesses being cured, illnesses that no one thought could be cured.

Accounts of God’s love enduring through people’s darkest times.

Accounts of people responding to God’s Wonders with great joy, spreading like wildfire – the only smoke being from the incense burned in ceremonies of thanks.

Account of …

Well they are account of God curing other people.

How about you! Will God cure you?

Will God ever get around to curing you of a disease that destroys people around you, a disease that is hidden in plain view, a disease that no one thinks can be cured, for you play it to your advantage while it consumes life around you?

Will God?

Yes, God will, whenever we allow God to turn our hearts and minds inside out. Whenever we surrender our lives to be as God created us to be: loving sacrifices, conduits of God’s love for all people. Whenever …

Whenever the Holy Spirit enters our lives and we do not refuse all that the Holy Spirit has to offer.

Whenever.

And then there will be great joy. In the city. In the deserts. In the bush. In the mountains. On the lakes and oceans. There will be great joy across the face of the earth.

Whenever, though, can take more than a lifetime,

which is sad,

no an occasion for joy at all.

Happy Birthday

Death Day

Friday, June 20, 2025

Funeral Day

The sun will set

also on the longest day of the year.

Psalm 25:16

Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.

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Mark 10:47

When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

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Words of Grace for Today –

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It’s the longest daylight day of the year,

here, and most places in the northern hemisphere.

It’s a birthday coming,

A death date going.

Makes for long thoughts to fill the long hours.

Celebrating life, mourning death,

but mostly counting on God’s mercy

and compassion

to save us yet again,

from all that would undo us

or put us, too, six feet under

for the long dirt-nap.

Oh, that honesty and kindness were possible ….

Oh, that Grace would prevail ….

Oh, Lordy, Lordy, have mercy on us all, help us each day

when death is easier to deal with than the opposite of honesty and kindness practised against us so, costing us so much,

but costing those who lack honesty and kindness so much more, the very essence of life itself.

Light our way, heal us all, bring your promises to come true, also in this time and in this place for us, as we celebrate and mourn your own Irene.

The End

Averted or

Thursday, June 19, 2025

Coming

Is the Bulldozer come to build

or raze?

Isaiah 56:8

Thus says the Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I will gather others to them besides those already gathered.

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Matthew 24:14

And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.

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Words of Grace for Today –

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It’s okay, maybe fun, to watch in films or read in books as the End of All life is portrayed, brought on by forces unstoppable …

and then averted.

Who doesn’t want to know we have ingenuity and heart enough to avert the End of All Ends?

It’s okay, maybe fun, to watch in films or read in books as the End of Love is portrayed, brought on by forces that should have been stoppable, but selfish choices still brought on the end …

only to have true love inspire and move a simple person of heart to express love in actions that cannot be denied so that

…

love

wins

and lives on in hearts that were hardened.

But in real life …

all that is not fun to watch or be involved in.

In real life the stakes are higher,

for everyone involved.

The only thing that saves us

each day

is

the Holy Spirit working in us

to love where there is no room for love.

Only God saves us from ourselves and other people’s wish to hate us.

Beyond These Troubles

Fear Not

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

God Goes With Us

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto

And brings us home,

to a home greater than a city,

or even a nature retreat

…

at the last.

Genesis 46:3-4

Then God said to Jacob, “I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again; and Joseph’s own hand shall close your eyes.”

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Luke 18:28-30

Then Peter said, “Look, we have left our homes and followed you.” And Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not get back very much more in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

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Words of Grace for Today –

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The rise of dictators around the world, and most disruptive, to the south, has any thinking person on edge.

The threats are like those in many times in the past. None of those times were good times for most people. Of course there were a few who made tremendous fortunes on the backs of everyone else. But it’s hard to see how any good person today would follow that path, though plenty are poised to try, if not already in action, to ‘fleece’ us all for their gain.

The immediate economic threats are clearly felt as we look for food, clothes and shoes, transportation (even vehicles for some), and shelter (even apartments and houses for the lucky ones), all at prices that we can afford. No honest person says things are going to get more affordable. The effort is to stop the rate of increasing un-affordability! Drop that on our heads and the response is almost always FEAR. Fear for ourselves, and greater fear for our children, and all the following generations.

The breakdown of good order in society adds to the triggers of fear. More and more the police are found to be bullies or white supremacist-racists or misogynists or misandrists, as are prosecutors, lawyers and judges. Even churches seem to be led by those faithful to something far from the Gospel of Jesus the Christ. The less than faithful can be found in all religious institutions.

…

If we follow Jesus …

If we follow Jesus then we recognize we were created and given great gifts (everything we are and have, including the unmatched gifts of the Holy Spirit – given at our baptisms) so that we can share them with those most in need … the world ‘round.


Which means we already have no claim to any security of possessions, place, privilege, or reputation. Instead our security is founded only in that God will be with us and …


Well, even though we have reason to fear for our survival in the future.

We already know the future will be harder than the present.

But God always offers us peace

in knowing God gives us life, not to enjoy comforts and false security offered by possessions, place, privilege, or reputation.

God gives us life so that we may expend it

giving life to others.

And in the end

God will be with us and bring us home.

Fear not.

Purpose given, the best possible security demonstrated each day, the only ending worth anything.

Fear not.

God gives it all to us.