We’re God’s Idea

‘I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.  Psalm 139:14”

We’re God’s idea.  His face.  His eyes.  His hands.  His touch.  We are him!

Look deeply into the face of every human being on earth and you’ll see his likeness.  Though some appear to be distant relatives, they’re not.  God has no cousins, only children. 

You aren’t an accident or an incident; you’re a gift to the world.  A divine work of art—signed by God.

One of the best gifts I ever received is a football jersey signed by thirty former professional quarterbacks.  For all I know it was bought at a discount sports store.  What makes it unique are the signatures.

The same is true with us.  What makes us special is not our body, but the signature of God on our lives.  We’re his works of art, created in his image.

Significant, not because of what we do, but because of whose we are!

‘I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.  Psalm 139:14”

another from Max Lucado!

“As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12”

Home Sweet Home

Wednesday I spent the night at the Fulton's so that JP could have surgery performed on his knee...ouch. The babies are so precious and the time went quickly but it reminds me that as we get older......there really is No Place Like Home, Dorothy!

“Happy is the person whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned. Psalm 32:1

One year my brother got a BB gun for Christmas.  We spent the afternoon shooting at an archery target.  When he decided to try it looking over his shoulder, he missed.  He also missed the storehouse behind the target and the fence behind the storehouse.  We had no idea where that BB went.

Our neighbor across the alley knew!  He was at our back fence asking who’d shot the BB gun and who was going to pay for his sliding glass door.  I disowned my brother, changed my last name and claimed to be a visitor from Canada.  My father, more noble than I, said, “Yes, these are my children and I’ll pay for their mistakes.”

Christ says the same about you.  He knows you miss the target.  He knows you can’t pay for your mistakes.  But he can.

And since he loves you—he did!

Does Max Lucado have a way with words or what ?

“No one has ever seen this, and no one has ever heard about it. No one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him. Isaiah 64:4”

He cares for YOU!

“I have written your name on my hand! Isaiah 49:16”

No one can defeat you.  You are protected.  God is for you!


Max Lucado

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Philippians 2:13”

God gives you the desire and the talent to accomplish His will in your life...Listen to Him!

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7”

Our lives should be stitched together with conversations with our Father, quietly listening for His guidance, in all the nuances of our daily lives :)

The Lord said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

His grace is all we need :)

Joy in the Lord is our strength :)

“For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4”

Last night Ashley and I along with Mom and Dad celebrated Ashley's Birthday at the "Golden Corral"another bout of overeating......but it was really good! Calamari, clam strips.......who could ask for anything more :)

“Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them. Psalm 126:2”

“This is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us. John 4:10”

No greater love exists than the agape love of the Father for man.

Easter Sunday and egg hunts and food OH MY!

Yesterday was beautiful and rain free...perfect for an Egg Hunt!  The older boys hid the eggs and the younger ones found those eggs....the little ones got by with a little help from their friends. Despite the holes in Kollier's and Cait's Kroger bags we managed to have a lot of fun. As usual the jeep was a great hit and Dani and Phillip joined in with Dani doing some driving and Phillip doing some pushing up the hills after I could push no more :)

I love my family and I love the Holydays!!

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21”

Six hours, one Friday.  Mundane to the casual observer.  A shepherd with his sheep, a housewife with her thoughts, a doctor with his patients.  But to a handful of awestruck witnesses, the most maddening of miracles is occurring.

God is on a cross.  The creator of the universe is being executed.  It is no normal six hours.  It is no normal Friday.  Far worse than the breaking of his body is the shredding of his heart.  And now his own father is beginning to turn his back on him, leaving him alone.

What do you do with that day in history?  What do you do with its claims?  They were the most critical hours in history.  Nails didn’t hold God to a cross.  Love did.

The sinless One took on the face of a sinner so that we sinners could take on the face of a saint!


Max Lucado

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed. I Peter 2:24”

What is the fruit of sin?  Step into the brier patch of humanity and feel a few thistles.  Shame. Fear. Disgrace. Discouragement. Anxiety.  Haven’t our hearts been caught in these brambles?

The heart of Jesus, however, had not.  He had never been cut by the thorns of sin.  What you and I face daily—he never knew.  He never worried. He was never guilty.  He never knew the fruits of sin until he became sin for us.  And when he did—all the emotions of sin tumbled in on him like shadows in a forest.  He felt anxious, guilty, and alone. Can’t you hear the emotion in his prayer?

“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”  This prayer is one of the most remarkable parts of his coming.  But there’s something even greater!

He did it for you. Just for you! Max Lucado

We are home....home sweet home :)

Thursday before we left for Williamsburg we took Mom and Dad to dinner....they wanted to go to Baltimore to a church dinner and it was delicious! On the way home from Williamsburg yesterday we stopped at the "Applachian Log Homes" company in Ripley to explore the possibility of building a log home at the Quarry....it was an eye opener to the realities of costs involved but they are beautiful.

Last night after talking to Mom I came to the realization that I am very thankful that Dave and I are here to share in their journey and that one of us is usually a 10 minute ride away :)

I am looking forward to Easter and meeting Chuck's (Ashley's) children! Our little family is ever increasing a blessing from above :0)

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed. I Peter 2:24”

He died because of His great love for you.....let's die to our own selfish desires and show that agape, unconditional love to all of His creation!