Elizabeth

Submission Required

Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether...

Elizabeth

Purging the Leaven

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! ~ Psalm 139:23-24 Passover is a mere four days away and it’s got me thinking. Certainly, it ought to.   While I move through the house searching – the freezer, the refrigerator, the pantry – attempting to rid it of leaven, I come to a daunting...

Elizabeth

Tumbling Over a Waterfall

Trust in Yahweh forever, for Yahweh Elohim is an everlasting rock. ~ Isaiah 26:4   A few years ago, my husband wanted to kayak down the river. Now I want to divulge a fact few people know: I am not a thrill seeker. White water rafting is not something I do. Kayaking smooth water, however, is perfectly acceptable. I suggested the lake. He assured me it would be fine and that the water would be smooth....

Elizabeth

48 Things… a birthday gratitude list

“Be grateful for everyday you don’t wake up dead and the morning you do, be grateful you were right with Jesus.” ~ Mary Brock a rainy day; the promise of snow; fuzzy socks; candles burning; my dog’s cold nose birthday cake for breakfast; quiet mornings; dark roasted coffee; hot cocoa; sleeping in heirloom gifts from Mom; memories not fading; new traditions birthing the smell of oak; a...

Elizabeth

The Monster called Arrogance

A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. ~ Proverbs 18:2 Rarely a day goes by that I do not see it – a calling out of someone publicly. The topics vary, yet the reasons remain unwavering: the need to be right and be praised for it. Unknown fingers fly across keyboards, faces hidden, motives clear: humiliate whoever disagrees with your stance. What ought to be a...

Elizabeth

The Origin of Our Convictions: 4. On Living with Original Intent

Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute. ~ Psalm 82:3 If someone had told me I would have become a vegan within my lifetime, I would have laughed at them. The only knowledge I had of vegans was PETA, who appeared to be terroristic lunatics, and my husband’s boss, who was an elitist snob. Neither of whom I desired to associate myself with. It was at a time when PETA was...

Elizabeth

The Origin of Our Convictions: 3. Conviction

And Elohim said, “See, I have given you every plant that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed, to you it is for food.  “And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the heavens, and to every creeping creature on the earth, in which there is a living being, every green plant is for food.” And it came to be so. And Elohim saw all that He had...