Category Archives: Guests

A Poem 

I’m reading again. And today I’d like to share a poem from the book, Waiting For A Miracle by Jan Markell.

Nobody Else Will Listen, Lord

I had a monumental need today, Lord.
I needed someone to talk to.
I needed a conversation that went beyond
     my neighbor’s rose bushes, or 
      last night’s election results.
Such a paradox it seems,
     to be surrounded by people,
     to have their voices vibrating through me,
     to be numb from shaking hands,
     to hurt from smiling . . . 
     and yet to feel alone.
Alone because conversations
     center on things of insignificance for eternity.
Because conversations focus on
    the high cost of living
    and not on the Giver of Life.

Yes, alone in a crowd,
But never alone, Lord,
     for You listen
     even if I ramble and make little sense,
     or if I can’t quite explain myself,
     or if I am redundant
     and never get to the point.
Thank You, Father,
     for being my Companion,
          Confidant,
           and Counselor,
And for listening, when all the world
Is caught up with the fun and games of life,
Too busy with yesterday’s sports results
To listen to a needy soul. 
                                                      Amen.   (found on pages 50 and 51)

Jeremiah 33:3 (TLV) 3 “Call to Me, and I will answer you— I will tell you great and hidden things, which you do not know.”  source 

Chazaq! 

Whatever

I have a new (to me) devotional book I’ve started late in the year but it is right on time.  Together with GOD Psalms. The editor is Dave Branon.  Here’s a link for more information. HERE

Today’s reading, November 9, is worth this post. The Editor and this Blogger are All Out of Teenagers in our homes yet today’s message applies. 

Whatever their age. That’s the phrase that started the wheels turning. I have no teenagers at home but I have people in my life WHATEVER their age that need me to love them unconditionally; that need me to help them learn to love GOD’s Word; to show them how to have a deep love for JESUS.  And then this part. To Hold on! To hold on to unconditional love for them and demonstrating love for the Word and love for JESUS to them especially when it seems too hard and that’s it’s not working anyway! 

And then came the clincher.  If I am going to love them unconditionally and teach them anything about loving the Word and loving JESUS deeply, I must FIRST love GOD’s Word myself. I must FIRST love JESUS more deeply than anyone or anything.  

Prayers Appreciated!

Chazaq! 

Psalm 128 (TLV) 

Blessing on Those Who Fear God

A Song of Ascents.

Happy is everyone in awe of Adonai,
    who walks in His ways,
for you will eat the labor of your hands.
You will be blessed
and it will be good for you.
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house.
Your children will be like olive saplings around your table.
Behold, thus will the man be blessed
who fears Adonai.
May Adonai bless you out of Zion,
and may you see Jerusalem in prosperity
    all the days of your life,
and may you live to see your children’s children.

Shalom be upon Israel!  
source

Still my Favorite

The Burned- Over Place

The Burned- Over Place
He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities. —Isaiah 53:5

Some early settlers were traveling together across the western prairies of the United States. One day they were horrified to see a fire fanned by strong wind coming their way.

As the flames raced closer and closer, one man, to the amazement of the others, set fire to a large patch of grass downwind. The tinder-dry grass burned quickly and left behind a charred and barren area. Then he told them to move onto the burned-over place. They watched as the fire swept toward them until it reached the burned area—and then stopped! They were safe as the fire passed by them on both sides.

The fires of God’s judgment will descend on a wicked world, but God has provided a burned-over place. At Calvary, the fire of God’s justice was met by Jesus. He bore our sin there and fully paid for our transgressions. He made full satisfaction for our sins, and we who have taken our stand by faith in the finished work of Christ are safe in the burned-over place. There is nothing left to burn.

Jesus “bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Pet. 2:24). Are you in the burned-over place?

The flames of God’s judgment can never touch me,
For Jesus has borne all God’s wrath on the tree;
I now stand secure in the burned-over place,
A sinner, unworthy, yet saved by His grace! —Bosch

Jesus died in our place to provide a place of safety.

 

Shabbat Shalom 

Chazaq! 

Screens

I have some buzz to share.  It found its way to me today, unexpectedly, I might add! There are more than a few writing about it so I’m not going to belabor it by writing my own lengthy post; but I am asking you to familiarize yourself with the message, the pros and the cons.  You could spend substantial time reading post after post; herein I am offering you a few. Particularly though I’m asking you to consider praying. 

This is the caption that caught my eye: THE IPAD IS A FAR BIGGER THREAT TO OUR CHILDREN THAN ANYONE REALIZES

Another post: Why is an iPad like a cooker? (And why do all parents need to know the answer?)

And a more moderate one:  Middle-class angst over technology in the early years

So what is the buzz? Screens! And the hours our children and grandchildren spend zoned in on them.

Isn’t it ironic that I am using one of subject screen medias to get this message to you? Obviously, getting rid of all screens is not the solution but after reading the above I think you will agree there is a threat to address.

Truthfully, I am relieved that I do not have children young enough that GOD expects me to steward them in this regard. However, I do have grandchildren. Yet, even if I did not, should not the love of GOD move me to look after, at least in prayer, my neighbors’ young ones? 

Fresh Air
Face to face fun
Face to book reading
Hand to paper creating and
Parental face to child face loving attention
Screens do not deliver on these but they do deter. 

Abba, thank You for alerting me. I don’t know what You want me to do, I don’t even know what I am capable of doing in this but this I know I must pray. I must have Your voice here. I want Your help even within my own family. I see it. I see what is happening and I am worried. I am asking You to intervene and help us. I pray parents will cooperate with You so You do not have to get drastic with all of us. Holy Spirit, would You be of a mind to raise up enough Prayer Warriors to move the hearts and wills of parents and grandparents to rescue our children and save this and the next generation for JESUS sake? I pray You will let me be one of those. I pray to see You do this divine intervention. Amen and Amen.

Chazaq! 

We are glad you are here; stay a while, look around, and be encouraged. We estimate there to be over 3,000 posts here at The White Stone Blog. Please know my hope is ALWAYS to help and NEVER harm. I have voiced many opinions and thoughts here since 2007 and by now I MAY NOT EVEN AGREE with all of them and some of my grammar and punctuation likely needs editing. But this is changeless: JESUS is our ONLY Savior and Hope. Do you KNOW Him?