PEACEFUL ROCK

I headed for a place I know,

not wanting any clock,

where my burdened ears can hear the flow,

resting well on Peaceful Rock.

By the brook, I’ll sit and close my eyes,

where the canopy is thick,

and contentment there I’ll realize,

as I hear the water skip.

I will sit for many hours there,

or at least what seems to be,

and I’ll hear the water sing His care,

of the love He has for me.

And my troubles will go down the way,

where the ravens tend to flock,

yet the perfect peace of God will stay,

trusting well on Peaceful Rock.

Come unto me, all ye that labour 

and are heavy laden, 

and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

PEACEFUL ROCK

But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before.

Acts 3:18-20

To bask in times of refreshing given from being in the presence of the Lord is the only way the soul restores. To have sins blotted out is the only way we gain eternal life. Knowing sins are as white as snow because of the atoning sacrifice of God's Anointed One is the only way the heart is lifted.

If only Korah had repented of his ways, he might not have ended up in the gruesome death he did. We read about his demise in the book of Numbers, chapter 16. He and his friends, who were well-known leaders and council members, led 250 Levite men against Moses and his brother Aaron, both serving as priests and appointed by God. Moses said to Korah,

"Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the LORD, And what is Aaron that you complain against him?"

Number 16:11

Moses knew that when Korah went against him and his brother, Korah was also going against God. That was not wise. When Korah and his followers twisted the truth, Moses grew angry and told God. Then, Moses instructed Korah and the 250 men to present incense in their censers at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting along with he and Aaron. God's glory appeared, followed by God speaking to Moses.

"Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment."

Numbers 16:21

Yikes! When God talks like this, you're in big trouble! There's no wiggle room in that command. So, knowing the incredible power of God Almighty better than Korah and his company did, Moses and Aaron fell facedown, pleading for Korah's life and those of the gathered group. But, God had already made His decision.

So the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the congregation (to the Israelites not with Korah), saying, 'Get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.'" Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. And he spoke to the congregation, saying, "Depart now from the tents of these wicked men! Touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins." So they got away from around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, with their wives, their sons, and their little children. And Moses said: "By this you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will. If these men die naturally like all men, or if they are visited by the common fate of all men, then the LORD has not sent me. But if the LORD creates a new thing, and then earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the LORD." Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly.

Numbers 16:23-33

Korah and his followers had rejected God's authority. If Korah had changed his mind and repented, things might have been different for him. But, everyone following the rebellion he led paid for it with their lives. Korah's decision ended the lives of 250 men in cahoots with him, their wives and even children, in an unnatural, horrific death.

At Korah's opposition, Moses had taken his frustrations to the LORD, and the LORD helped deliver Moses. Pray that we can learn from Korah's mistake. God is merciful and slow to anger. He is loving and kind, and His Son, Jesus Christ, loves us very much. He proved that on the cross! But there will come a day when God will execute His wrath. The Day of the Lord is coming, as explained in His Word, and sins not blotted out will go down into the pit where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. God Himself does not wish this for anyone. Yet, people perish every day. He will not force anyone to believe in His Son, but to come to Him willingly.

Live in Christ's steadfast love and powerful provision of salvation by believing in Him, resting on Peaceful Rock, and holding to the eternal blessings that come from the decision to repent.

The Long Skip Home book trailer!

 

THE FAITHFUL TRAIL

On the faithful trail, I’ll go,
where the ferns are thick and greening,
and the undergrowth goes up and down,
and the trees are sometimes leaning.
 
Yet on the trail, I’ll follow,
as I pass beneath the basswoods,
as I stroll along the touch-me-nots,
and a patch of tangled dogwoods.
 
I’ll trust when at the gully,
where the woods are dark and deepest,
and cross upon the cherry tree,
where the bank is slick and steepest.
 
At trail’s end, I’ll have rest
in a special, hidden clearing—
on the grass, I’ll watch the passing clouds,
and the veeries I’ll be hearing.

 

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

 

 

THE FAITHFUL TRAIL

Veery Glade is lush and green now, and the deep-forested little brown thrush birds known as veeries sing their mystical, swirling tunes in the woodland realm. I especially enjoy their songs at dusk, when they are often one of the last birds to sing, other than the robin, believe it or not!

What happens on the faithful trail?

When a person accepts Jesus as her Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit reveals God's abundant mercy. God chose mercy over justice when He sent His perfect Son to bear the sins of the world on the cruel cross. His blemish-free life was given for our blemish-filled lives. Sacrifice provided eternal life to believers in Jesus Christ, the anointed One, the risen King. The answer to what happens on the faithful trail is that believers become redeemed through God's abundant and enduring mercy.

I give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 136:1

Where does the faithful trail lead?

But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

Genesis 3:3

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God's word, the outcome had to be as was stated by God because God is just. Even if they touched the fruit, Adam and Eve would have sinned. They didn't even need to eat it! But of course, we know they did, as scripture tells us. My mother, who is with the Lord now, had written in her Bible: 'God Himself faced a moral conflict in the cross. Should He sacrifice His only Son or should He allow the world to perish?' We have the answer in John 10:10 where it is written that Jesus declared He came to give us abundant life.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

John 10:10

I see Mom's wisdom continued in her notes when she wrote: 'God chose mercy over justice. Mercy triumphed! Over Justice! There was no guarantee that man would repent and change his ways after God sacrificed His Son. He sacrificed His Son anyway! When we see people sin, we have a moral conflict. Should we forgive Christians and treat them like nothing happened, or expect them to change their ways first? We must chose as God did and forgive them! Perhaps in time, they will make things right with God.' Thank you, Mom, for your words of wisdom.

The faithful trail leads to abundant life, and ultimately, Heaven.

What do we learn on the faithful trail?

To trust and obey our Father's will, as Jesus did and does, is the best thing anyone can do. To learn to depend on God's Word as we walk along on the faithful trail is most rewarding.

But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father?

Matthew 21:28-31a

The Son of God told a story about a father with two sons to the chief priests and elders who challenged His authority. The story went that a father told the first son to go work in the vineyard, but the son replied he wasn't going to. Then, he changed his mind. Something caused him to obey his father after all. So, he repented and went to work like he was told. The second son, however, said upfront, Sure, Dad (actually, 'sir'), I'll go to work. I'll do as you say. But, he didn't really go to work. After the story, Jesus asks the priests and elders which son of the two did the father's will. They answer correctly, the first son. Then, Jesus had more to say to these priests and elders who didn't seem to care about the Son of God's words anyways.

Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

Matthew 21:31b-32

The way of righteousness was shown to both the priests and elders and the publicans and harlots. One group did not believe while the other did. One group did not repent, or confess their sins, while the other group did. The answer to what we learn on the faithful trail includes, among so much else, trusting and obeying our Heavenly Father's will.

The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: and the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executed his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

Joel 2:10-13

Stay on the faithful trail and hear the veeries sing the joyful blessing bestowed from the word 'repent'.

WOODLAND SONG

Joyfully, joyfully, the feathered friends call,
the chickadees and grosbeaks and orioles all,
to sing a lyric melody at opening of day,
and start the winging choir, a-chirping all the way!
 
Over high, over there, beside the babbling brook,
the cardinals and veeries resound in every nook;
the drumming of the ruffed grouse, the cooing of the dove,
the tapping of the woodpecker that echoes high above!
 
“Yahweh God! Yahweh God!”, into the evening night,
hummingbirds and nuthatches turn in from their flight.
And in the final light of day, the robin sings her song.
What joy to hear the woodland birds sing praises all day long!

 

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Luke 1:46-47

 

 

WOODLAND SONG

The veeries are very glad, here in Veery Glade. And so am I. These deep-forest thrushes have returned to the woods. Their mystical, swirling tones lift my spirit and remind me to call on God in prayer. The robins, also thrushes, are equally vocal here in the woodland realm.

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Luke 1:48

We join with Mary, who knew she was blessed, in magnifying the Lord and rejoicing in spirit. Let the birds sing their full, lyrical song that Creator God is loving, rich in mercy, and compassionate.

The prophet Hosea gives a beautiful message of blessing gained from repentance. He was the prophet whom God instructed to marry an unfaithful prostitute. His marriage would ultimately show how God kept loving Israel despite the people's turning to other gods. In the last chapter of the book named after this man in the Bible, we read:

O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless find mercy.

Hosea 14:1-3

Israel had fallen by their iniquity and needed to come to their senses. There is a Bible verse that states that all of us have sinned and have fallen short of God's glory. But thanks be to God who provides the Great Physician and Savior. His Son, Jesus, heals. His Son, Jesus, saves.

Take with you words. There is another Bible verse that says the mouth speaks what the heart is full of, and even another about the power of the tongue. Words are powerful. Even as I write this post, I carefully consider my words. They are purposeful. I am deliberate, here on my blog, wishing to share a deliberate message.

Who can fix the sin problem that we all face? Can we remedy it ourselves before our Creator? Only Creator God, Giver of grace and mercy, Giver of eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ, provides the solution. Only those who realize their need and apply His solution are healed.

When we go to the LORD, let us prepare our words of repentance from keen awareness of our personal need.

So will we render the calves of our lips. Bull calves were sacrificed in the days when the Israelites wandered in the wilderness. The priests smeared the blood of the bulls on their finely-made garments that had been consecrated holy by God to make atonement in the Tent of Meeting. Blood was on God's glory, a foreshadowing of our beautiful Savior, Jesus Christ, the anointed, the Glorious One, being smeared with His own blood to satisfy God's wrath against the guilty. He is the only One able to save. And, to render something is to give. For example, money serves as a reward for services rendered. Jesus was rendered to us for salvation. In response, we give, or render, the sacrifice of our lips. In other words, we praise the LORD.

Freedom from sin is worth everything. 

Bondage to sin is worth nothing.

Asshur shall not save us. Assyria is a nearby nation and they also had a god named Ashur. When we realize only the true God can help us, we don't depend on anyone or anything else, including fabricated gods, riding on horses, or our own hard work. Mercy doesn't come from what we do for ourselves. Self-help is Satan. Self-help is against God. When a person relies on himself, there is no reliance on God. How can an independent, non-submissive sinner accept the remedy God provides?

I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

Hosea 14:4-7

I will heal. How many people did Jesus heal when He walked on the planet? How many had faith? Miracle Healer. Great Physician. God is able to heal the disease of sin. Trust Him to do it.

Returning to God brings beauty and restoration. Repentance promises blessings. The bird's songs, here in the woodland glade, tell of God's love. They sing of growth, like the return of spring after the dead of winter, and beauty, like the majestic trees around the glade for all of them to rest on. God's sweet goodness is for the one who admits need to Him. They shall revive. Our local farmers are planting corn on their fields and hoping to reap a future bountiful harvest. When you're exhausted and lacking, isn't it refreshing to be revived? When the church flounders, isn't it wonderful to see it set sail with clear vision? When you're heart is heavy, isn't it soothed when lightened?

Cast forth his roots as Lebanon. Lebanon is north of Israel, or Ephraim, and often associated with beautiful cedar trees and white snow-capped mountains. Timber was used for the temple during King Solomon's time. Isaiah 60:13 speaks of the glory of Lebanon. Glory is promised to the one who calls on the LORD.

Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found. Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

Hosea 14:8-9

As a result of turning to God and relying on Him, idols don't mean anything. What kinds of idols exist today? What things are loved, admired, and revered more than God? How about loving money? Or, boasting knowledge? Or, self-pride in accomplishments in school and the world? Or, following strange therapies and philosophies? Or, playing video games all day long? Or, convincing yourself and others you're already prefect in your own way and salvation is not needed? Or, your own personal time, space, and mirror? The list goes on of idols that take the place of a personal relationship with God.

Who is wise? The wise man built his house upon the rock. Wise people know Creator God is right. Even when judgment is declared through the book of Hosea (because God is the God of justice who makes correct decisions), the invitation to receive His offered grace is far more lovely than the sin that had abounded.

When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Mark 2:17

How gracious is our Savior to not force us but that we would willingly come! The whole have no need of Jesus. They have deceived themselves and are not called. Stop and listen. Hear the bird's woodland song. Admit need, because we are all sin-sick. Take the Great Physician up on His invitation to repent.

TRUTH IS LIKE A TRILLIUM

Truth is like a trillium

that blossoms in the spring.

It dances with the waking trees

and stirs the birds to sing.

Through winter, it lays dormant,

beneath the snowy ground.

Then with the warmth of springtime,

it stretches roots around.

It grows within the sunshine,

first budding after years.

The plant designed by Trinity

takes time to match its peers.

And there it stands a-shining,

a pure, revealing face!

The woodland floor, once bumpy bare,

now shimmers full of grace!

Truth is like a trillium.

O may my faith grow strong!

For with it, I am known and free

to bloom forever long.

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 8:32

TRUTH IS LIKE A TRILLIUM

But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.

Psalm 86:15

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

Matthew 9:36

"Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful."

Luke 6:36

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32

Compassion and mercy come from Creator God. They also come from His one and only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who is the exact representation of Creator God. 

But no such things come from the devil. Compassion and mercy are not in Satan's vocabulary. They don't exist. The devil has been lying from the beginning, void of any truth.

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Matthew 4:17

Repentance is sincere remorse about one's sin. Penitence is showing sorrow for having done wrong. Owning up to our mistakes is the beginning for walking into the light.

"And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

John 3:19-21

For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.

Luke 8:17

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:7

Repent, as Jesus preached. He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father but through Him. He flowers every promise given and written down. Jesus is the beginning of all knowledge, all truth, and all wisdom. He is the only one with the words of eternal life!

Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 3:16-18

May compassion, mercy, light, truth, and life be yours by your choice to repent.

THE DAFFODIL’S TRUMPET

The daffodil stands by the edge of the wood,
near a slumbering red maple tree,
and picks up his trumpet of finest pure gold
to announce the beginning of spring.
 
He’s early to wake from the long, bitter cold
and his yellow suit coat is a joy
to heal long worn out expressions of old,
and soothe ancient ages of yore.
 
He stands on a knoll that will carry the tune,
where sun shines a-warm on the dew.
And he plays out a “Toot, Ala Toot-ti-ly Toot!
Wake up every tree, little critters, and you!”
 
His song wakens others and soon there are many
to proclaim the renewal of life.
Their horns call brightly! The woods are waking—
away with worries and strife!
 
The daffodil smiles in the light of our Lord
and declares our dependence on Him,
and reminds us of joy only Christ can give
and life coming only from Him.

 

Lift up your heads, O you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Psalm 24:7                                                       

 

THE DAFFODIL’S TRUMPET

Forgiveness is sweet! Grace is splendid!

In Veery Glade, the still blooming daffodils, the dark red trilliums, and the innocent white trilliums remind me of the reason for Jesus Christ's death on the cross-- forgiveness. Payment was made for our sins.

Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Acts 11:17-18

The glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ went from a small group of 120 Christian Jews to every soul. What a movement from a small beginning to where it is today! The door of faith was opened to Jews and Gentiles alike. Jesus' word of people being baptized with the Holy Spirit was realized. Old Testament prophecies of salvation had been fulfilled. Through faith in the Son of God, who bore our iniquities on the cross, forgiveness was obtained.

God granted repentance unto life. This is interesting. God granted, or gave, the repentance. God's work in an individual moves him or her to make a decision about something. That particular decision is, I'm sure, a turning away from sin, maybe a stubborn sin, and turning to God. 'Unto life' is not 'unto death'. The gift of life comes from God.

The Jewish Christians became silent when Peter spoke to them. They were thinking. The old way was being replaced by a new way, like a paradigm shift. The vision and happenings that had occurred before the above verse explained what God was doing and they began to see. They realized their old traditions were not as wonderful as what God was now doing.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23

Repentance is, in a sense, a gift from God. Act now unto life. Eternal life. Jesus is the only One with these words.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:18

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Matthew 25:46

Jesus is the One who separates the believers from the un-believers, like sheep from goats. God cannot look at sin, and there isn't any in Heaven. We must be born again, as Jesus said. That is the requirement for entrance into God's Heavenly realm. We must apply His forgiveness, where our crimson red sins are made as white as snow. We must receive Jesus, or face spiritual death and punishment.

Lift up your head and choose life! Let the King of Glory come in! 

May you smile like the daffodil, forgiven and free, the recipient of the gracious gift to repent.

VICTORY HILL

Shout “Victory!” on the highest hill.
Call out “Joy!” where the valleys fill.
Jesus is no longer dead!
 
Cry “Savior!” to the meadow’s end.
Proclaim “Friend!” where the willows bend.
Jesus fulfilled what was said!
 
Yell “Freedom!” to the birch trees far.
Holler “Hope!” to the furthest star.
Jesus was raised from the dead!
 
Sing “Mercy!” to the babbling brook.
Whistle “Life!” to the woodland nook.
Jesus has done all He said!
 
And then, let us kneel where the grass is deep,
and give to the Lord our souls to keep.
Jesus is no longer dead!

 

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:8-11

 

VICTORY HILL

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:9-10

Some say "I've got this. I'll figure it out. I can do this alone." They don't think they need God. They've made their decision. Believing in God is just a belief system, anyways. Yup, just another belief system, and they've made a choice to not believe. That's their belief system.

But what if God exists?

What if you can't do it alone?

What if all the words in the Bible are words sent from God through people who were able to write down the words for people like us to read?

What is the Christian belief system is 100 percent accurate?

What if the devil know this and works endlessly to distort and deceive it?

For me, God exists, as you probably know if you're a forest dweller here. I believe Him when it is written that I can't do it alone. He communicates that all have sinned and fall short of His glory. He is holy. I am not. His words go on to explain how I can be in His presence. It is written that faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, His very image, secures eternal life. Can you imagine a partner as awesome as God? Can you comprehend a friend as great as Jesus?

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

John 3:16

As the study of the word 'repent' continues, a passage in Luke chapter 15 comes to mind.

Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and the scribes complained, saying, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them." So He spoke this parable to them, saying: "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' I say to you likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."

Luke 15:1-7

Repent, by definition (and as already stated earlier this year), is to feel or express sincere regret or remorse for sin or wrongdoing. It is turning away from sin and turning to God for forgiveness. I think as we say 'Jesus is our personal Lord and Savior', that can include knowing the failings of our own hearts. Our relationship with the Lord is personal. We know He can read our hearts and minds. Because we are not holy, not yet, we are works-in-progress.

The beauty of grace is nothing short of amazing! No longer lost fills cups to overflowing! Entering the fold sparks tremendous joy and rejoicing! I wish it for you, dear reader, if you are not already there.

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:54-57

Death, the final enemy, is conquered! Jesus is alive today and will return. Stand with me on Victory Hill. Because He lives, we can shout “Victory!” on the highest hill and spread the news around the woodland realm or wherever we are.

Pray for integrity to face problems trusting God. Stay faithful and diligent with a prayer list as praying is doing business with God. Go to a woodland nook and thank the Lord for the opportunities He gives. Pull up a rock and meet the Living God.

And honor Jesus' words to repent.