lynn-guistics

In Chapter 4 of Matthew, we are told, “…people need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God.” So it seems that the axiom, “You are what you eat!” finds an application not only in the physical, but also in the spiritual, realm. A diet rich in God’s Word is life-sustaining; conversely, a diet consisting mainly of “cheap foodstuff” can cause our spiritual health to suffer. Those who regularly feast on and are obedient to the Word of God enjoy an improved quality of life and grow ever stronger, because God’s Word provides soul-satisfying nutrients like these: Knowledge and freedom - To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ~John 8:31 and 32 Encouragement and hope - For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we mig

I adore Christmas! It's a time where families draw close to celebrate the greatest gift the world has ever known: the gift of Christ Jesus. Perhaps it's because I remember well the overwhelming joy I felt when I received that precious gift that I also adore gift-giving. There is something magical about seeking and finding the perfect gift for the one you love, then awaiting their reaction as they open it on Christmas Day. A gift expresses the affection you feel for someone; it is an opportunity to demonstrate in a tangible and creative manner just how much they mean to you. Given my passion for gift-giving, it's no wonder that Christmas 2018 was one I greatly anticipated. For I had found what I believed to be the perfect gift for Gary, and couldn't wait to see what his response would be when he opened the bag in which it resided. In order to understand the gift's significance, one needs to know that Gary lost his father at a very young age, and lost his mom, Peggy,

Today, many of us will be doggedly working to firm up our New Year's resolutions. I don't know about you, but my resolutions always seem to be a variation on the same theme: eat wisely, exercise diligently, serve others joyfully and read my Bible daily. Admirable goals, to be sure, but somewhat nebulous. I wanted to challenge myself to explore more deeply what matters most in my life. To that end and several years ago, I began the practice of choosing a word, mantra and Scriptural verse that would command my attention and guide my steps throughout the year. In 2018, my word was FAITH, my mantra was "Faith over fear!" and my Scriptural verse was Mark 5:36: "Jesus told him, 'Don’t be afraid; just believe.'” During the year, I dedicated myself to the pursuit of reading and studying all I could find on the topic of faith. And the practice proved to be a powerful blessing, as it helped me to confront my 20-year fear of flying! In 2019, my word will be PERSEV