tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236Sun, 10 Apr 2016 15:21:51 +0000prayerabortionPresident ObamaLoveJesusGod's LovesinGod's WordgratitudelisteningGoddeathheavenhopepeacejoyGod's PlanhealingGod's willRevelationRomansanswered prayercomfortgiftssinstrustblessingsfamilyforgivenesspurposesafetytimelifesacred echossalvationGrandchildrenWindows of the SoulchangeeternityfaithleadershippraiseprioritiesworshipHoly SpiritRabbi Jesusfeargracelightplansservant-leadershipthanksthanksgivingBible StudyChristmasGod's greatnessNational Day of PrayerSatanchildrencrossgrandparentsmiraclesneedspatienceprayer listsquietrelationshipsrestservingwords11ControlGod's gloryGod's voiceOne Thousand Giftsbe stillcleansecrucifixiondarknessdecisionsfaithfulnessfocusfreedomfriendsgriefheartmissionobedienceprotectsurrendertemptationwisdomworthAmy CarmichaelChristGod's presenceGod's 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72RaptureRememberingRevelationsSabbathSaviorValentines DayViet Namabsolutelyabundant lifeachesagpealtaralwaysangelsanniversaryassuranceattainattitudesbabiesbelievebestbooksbrainbreadbreakfastbreathbuildcallingcalmcatastropheschampionschaoscharacterchildhoodchoosecluttercoldcolorcommittmentcompanioncomplainingconcernconfidantconfidenceconfrontationconsistencyconsumecooperationcouragecrippleculturedangerdaydecisiondefenselessdelicatedelightdependencedesertdestructiondevastateddifferencesdifferentdifficultiesdirty dishesdisableddisasterdiscdisciplingdiscontenteddisplaydivorcedoctrinedreamdrivingdutyeagle wingsenemyerroreveningeverlastingevilexamineexhaustedexhaustionexpectancyexperiencefaintfeastfeathersfeelingsfellow humansfillfinancesfireflamesflawsforwardfretfurnacegatesgenerositygivegloomygodlessgospelgrowthhandshappinesshard workharmonyheadhearhearerheresyhidehidingholidaysholinesshonestyhurtingillnessimaginationimmoralityimperfectionsimpossibleindependenceinspirationinterventionintimacy with Godinvestingirritabilityjobjournalingjusticeknowlapleaninglegacylet Godlet goliberatingliesliftlostnessmeekmeeknessmeltmessagesmightmindmissionariesmissionsmoldmountainsmouthmurdernamenapnationsnearnessnegativitynightmarenoiseobeyobeyingopenopen doorsoptimistotherspacepartypastpathsperfectionpersecutionperseverancepersistenceperspectivepessimistplantpleasureplentypolicepolishingpreparationpressureproblemspromisepublicationpunishmentpurityquarrelingradiantrainbowreadingreaprecordsredeemedreflectrefreshrejectionreliefremedyrescueresponsesrestorationretirementrevitalizerosessaltsandingsatisfactionsealssecond birthsecuresefishnessself-pityselfishnesssensitivityseparateseparationshepherdshieldsiblingssinful naturesistersleeplessnessslumsmellsoarsoftsoldiersolutionsonsowspeakspeechspiritspiritual battlesspirtual thirstsportssteadfaststormstrangersstrugglesstubbornnessstudentssufferingsufficiencysupportsuresweetsympathytastetenderthievesthingsthirsty soulthrillthronetight confinedtoddlertonguetouchtransformationtreetrumpetstryingunchangingunderstandingungodlinessunknownunteachableunthankfulvotingwarmthwarningwavesweepwhisperswindwinterwomenworld viewworshipm make a differencewoundWriting Encouraging Wordshttp://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Jean)Blogger594125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236.post-6725826897129853195Thu, 30 Sep 2010 03:23:00 +00002010-09-30T08:39:07.141-04:00kindnessobedienceWindows of the Soulworshipm make a differenceFrom Windows of the Soul: Experiencing God in New Ways by Ken Gire, from pages 185-188. The sight of that woman hobbling down that sidewalk in front  of that playground was a window of the soul. It showed me something of the sadness of those whose life is the street. Something of the sidewalk monotony of their lives. And the meandering tragedy of a soul slowly walking itself to death. The picturehttp://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/2010/09/making-eternal-difference.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jean)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236.post-4400471578135555316Sun, 26 Sep 2010 23:45:00 +00002010-09-26T20:28:35.573-04:00God's LoveLovememoriesWindows of the SoulFrom Windows of the Soul: Experiencing God in New Ways by Ken Gire, page 139-142. I left the old neighborhood and drove to another part of town where my aunt lived. I came to see her, thinking it would probably be the last time I would see her before she died. Her husband greeted me at the door and invited me in. And there she was. I hardly recognized her. She was in a wheelchair, wearing a http://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/2010/09/who-am-i.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jean)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236.post-1150098740717163768Thu, 23 Sep 2010 04:05:00 +00002010-09-23T00:05:00.794-04:00childhoodforgivenessmemoriespastsinsFrom Windows of the Soul: Experiencing God in New Ways by Ken Gire, page 132-  No matter how fast we drive or how far away, we can never escape our past. Even though it is behind us, it is always in our rear-view mirror. And though it seems that the images of our past should grow smaller, the irony is that the farther down life's highway we travel, the closer they sometimes appear... Of those http://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/2010/09/past-in-my-rear-view-mirror.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jean)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236.post-9202600245746316487Mon, 20 Sep 2010 04:05:00 +00002010-09-20T08:21:06.960-04:00answered prayerGod's sovereigntyGod's willprayerWindows of the SoulFrom Windows of the Soul: Experiencing God in New Ways by Ken Gire, pages 110, 114-115. There are no persons so pagan that God cannot speak through them. There is no place so remote that God's voice cannot be heard there. At any time, in any place, through any means, God can speak to us. Sometimes He speaks through a wild wind raging through our lives; other times, through the calm rhythms http://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/2010/09/sovereign-in-chains.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jean)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236.post-2593405899221396659Thu, 16 Sep 2010 04:05:00 +00002010-09-16T00:05:00.927-04:00disappontmentssurrenderwildernessWindows of the SoulPersonal Note: The past week has been difficult for me. I received several rejections for manuscripts I had submitted after pouring months into research, then months into writing them. I'm not sure why they hit me so hard this time; I thought I was accustomed to the rejections after six years of receiving them. But this time--this time they came close to devastating me. So, I did the only thing Ihttp://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/2010/09/in-wilderness.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jean)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236.post-9002276072067830392Mon, 13 Sep 2010 02:05:00 +00002010-09-14T20:14:58.172-04:00abilitiescallinggiftsGod's glorypurposetalentsWindows of the SoulFrom Windows of the Soul: Experiencing God in New Ways by Ken Gire, page 73. [Note: this is a poem, I hope that Blogger doesn't lose the formatting. If it does, my sincere apologies to Mr. Gire.] A Prayer for Joy  (by Ken Gire) Help me, O God, To listen to what it is that makes my heart glad      and to follow where it leads.May joy, not guilt,     Your voice, not the voices of others,     Yourhttp://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/2010/09/childhood-toys-and-joys.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jean)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236.post-2772793026389064428Thu, 09 Sep 2010 04:05:00 +00002010-09-14T20:15:33.672-04:00humblehumilityWindows of the SoulFromWindows of the Soul: Experiencing God in New Ways by Ken Gire, from pages 43-44. ...How many times have we failed to see the heavenly blaze in the earthly bushes we brush by every day on our way to somewhere else? How many times have we failed to hear what was spoken to us there? A story is told of a pagan who asked a rabbi, "Why did God speak to Moses from the thornbush?" For the pagan http://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/2010/09/divine-humility.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jean)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236.post-6076712741318050455Mon, 06 Sep 2010 04:05:00 +00002010-09-06T09:12:26.446-04:00be stillGireWindows of the SoulFrom Windows of the Soul: Experiencing God in New Ways by Ken Gire, except from pages 32-33. The problem is not entirely in finding a quiet nook in this roller rink world of ours. The problem is quieting the soul in the midst of the noise. But quieting the soul of a writer, who once fed a family of six from odd jobs and sometimes no jobs at all, is no small task. In those days I spent most of http://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/2010/09/spinning-like-top.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jean)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236.post-9017451096276049949Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:10:00 +00002010-09-02T08:10:51.817-04:00GiresearchWindows of the SoulFrom Windows of the Soul: Experiencing God in New Ways by Ken Gire, page 17.    We reach for God in many ways. Through our sculptures and our scriptures. Through our pictures and our prayers. Through our writing and our worship. And through them He reaches for us.    His search begins with something said. Ours begins with something heard. His begins with something shown. Ours, with something http://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/2010/09/spiritual-hyper-vigilance.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jean)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236.post-9140272049472671683Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:25:00 +00002010-08-30T08:25:10.004-04:00God's WordsinsinsFrom Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate by Jerry Bridges, pages 178-181. So we need to be honest and humble enough to admit our subtle sins in order to experience the love that comes through the forgiveness of those sins. But we must also face them in order to deal with them. The worst sin of all, in practical terms, is the denial of the subtle sins in our lives... How can we http://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/2010/08/dealing-with-our-respectable-sins.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jean)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236.post-3743989971338418731Thu, 26 Aug 2010 04:05:00 +00002010-08-26T00:05:00.246-04:00impatienceirritabilitypatienceFrom Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate by Jerry Bridges, pages 116- ...we can put on our "Christian face" outside the home, but with our families, our true character often comes out. This is especially true in the two areas of sin we will look at in this chapter: impatience and irritability. ...I am going to define impatience as a strong sense of annoyance at the (usually) http://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/2010/08/your-favorite-jeans.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jean)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236.post-4486952179307429846Mon, 23 Aug 2010 04:05:00 +00002010-08-23T00:05:00.234-04:00faithpromisesthanksthanksgivingFrom Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate by Jerry Bridges, page86. So the giving of thanks in a disappointing or difficult situation is always to be done by faith in the promises of God. It is not a matter of doing it by sheer will power. If we do that, we are giving thanks with our lips but not with our hearts. But as we cling to the promises of God, we can say, "Father, the http://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/2010/08/gods-promises.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jean)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236.post-9128276906793446976Thu, 19 Aug 2010 03:21:00 +00002010-08-18T23:27:23.804-04:00frustrationtransformationFrom Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate by Jerry Bridges, pages 69-70. Closely akin to anxiety or worry is the sin of frustration. Whereas anxiety involves fear, frustration usually involves being upset or even angry at whatever or whoever is blocking our plans... Actually, this type of reaction has its roots in my ungodliness at the moment, for at that time I am living as thoughhttp://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/2010/08/frazzled-frantic-and-frustrated.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jean)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236.post-6673478823970854915Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:23:00 +00002010-08-15T20:32:49.638-04:00God's presencesinungodlinessFrom Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate by Jerry Bridges, excerpts from Chapter Seven "Ungodliness" pages 53 - 61. "...one comment I often hear is that pride is the root cause of all of them [sins]. I believe there is another sin that is even more basic, more widespread, and more apt to be the root cause of our other sins. That is the sin of ungodliness, of which we are all http://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/2010/08/everyday-ordinary-ungodliness.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jean)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236.post-9148233654075043584Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:11:00 +00002010-08-12T09:30:38.898-04:00choicesopportunitysintemptationFrom Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate by Jerry Bridges, pages 41-45. There is a fundamental principle of the Christian life that I call the principle of dependent responsibility: that is, we are responsible before God to obey His Word, to put to death the sins in our lives, both the so-called acceptable sins and the obviously not acceptable ones. At the same time, we do not http://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/2010/08/dependent-responsibility.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jean)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236.post-6789383618406071731Mon, 09 Aug 2010 04:05:00 +00002010-08-09T00:05:00.594-04:00forgivenessgospelsinFrom Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate by Jerry Bridges, page 34-35. ...not only does the gospel prepare me to face my sin, it also frees me up to do so. Facing our sin causes us to feel guilty. Of course we feel guilty because we are guilty. And if I believe, consciously or unconsciously, that God still counts my guilt against me, my instinctive sense of self-protection forbidshttp://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/2010/08/you-are-for-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jean)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236.post-2293120946397004128Thu, 05 Aug 2010 04:05:00 +00002010-08-05T00:05:00.602-04:00forgivenessGod's Lovesinsinful natureFrom Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate by Jerry Bridges, page 29-30. I referred earlier to the Puritan Ralph Venning's book The Sinfulness of Sin. The title sounds somewhat like a tautology, a needless repetition. But in his title, Venning was trying to make a point, and here is his point in his own words: "On the contrary, as God is holy, all holy, only holy, altogether holy, http://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/2010/08/altogether-sinful.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jean)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236.post-7944554756889131547Mon, 02 Aug 2010 04:01:00 +00002010-08-02T07:09:13.098-04:00sefishnesssintemptationFrom Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges, pages 19-20. So we see that the entire concept of sin has virtually disappeared from our American culture at large and has been softened... But what about our conservative, evangelical churches? Has the idea of sin all but disappeared from us also? No, it has not disappeared, but it has, in many instances, been deflected to those outside our circles who http://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/2010/08/my-respectable-sins.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jean)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236.post-1649947859740616598Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:05:00 +00002010-07-29T00:05:00.698-04:00joyFrom Behind the Stories by Diane Eble, pages 260-261. Liz Curtis Higgs - Signposts to Joy If you are on the right road, you will experience a certain joy in the journey itself, even if the road becomes rocky. Liz has found that when she's doing what God made her to do--and for now, that means writing fiction--then there will be a certain joy that gives strength. "I keep thinking of the http://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/2010/07/with-great-joy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jean)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236.post-1164732356767736259Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:20:00 +00002010-07-27T07:55:12.119-04:00giftspurposeFrom Behind the Stories by Diane Eble, page185. Francine Rivers - "What God Took Away" Any gift can become an idol if we value the gift more than the Giver. Francine muses, "It was when the writing no longer mattered to me, at the place where all that mattered was following the Lord, that the door [to writing] opened again. The gift was not the fact that now I was writing again, but that God http://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/2010/07/gateway-to-giver.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jean)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236.post-7341831545299498498Thu, 22 Jul 2010 04:05:00 +00002010-07-23T13:15:46.223-04:00creation Song of Solomon 2:12 Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. Psalm 65:12 The grasslands of the desert overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness.           Psalm 103:15  As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;             Isaiah 40:8   The grass withers and the http://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/2010/07/consider-lilies.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jean)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236.post-2557288737144639300Mon, 19 Jul 2010 04:05:00 +00002010-07-19T18:00:24.697-04:00God's WordpraiseDear Reader, I'm on vacation for a few days. This week I'd like to draw your heart toward the Creator through His beautiful creation. And I want to point you to the Father through His Word. I pray I can inspire you to be still, to quiet yourself and spend some time alone with the Father today. Psalm 19:1 (NIV) The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. http://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/2010/07/heavens-declare.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jean)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236.post-9197026408379465103Thu, 15 Jul 2010 04:05:00 +00002010-07-15T07:39:55.564-04:00dreamsGod's gloryGod's PlanpassionFrom Behind the Stories by Diane Eble. Excerpt from page 92, Alton Gansky "Despite the Obstacles." Alton believes that when a deep desire continues to nag at a person's heart, it's time to listen up. He advises taking the decision to the Lord in prayer and asking God to clarify the gift and how it is to be used to bring him glory in the world. When the voices of fear and other objections clamor,http://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/2010/07/fire-of-passion.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jean)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236.post-3254049802242630404Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:05:00 +00002010-07-12T00:05:00.146-04:00dreamsGod's PlanFrom Behind the Stories by Diane Eble. Excerpt from page 74, Karen Kingsbury, "Reach for the Stars." Looking back in wonder, Karen says, "I learned a lot through my transition from reporter to author to inspirational fiction novelist. Mostly that when God has a plan, he'll see it through to fruition." In addition, Karen says it's important to dream big. "God know the plans he has for us. And http://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/2010/07/my-little-dreams.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jean)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570609735319632236.post-8929719939039097049Thu, 08 Jul 2010 03:34:00 +00002010-07-07T23:34:31.343-04:00faithfulnessgiftsFrom Behind the Stories by Diane Elbe, "Melody Carlson - Honor the Gift," excerpts from pages 57-60. It's not always easy to see our own gifts. Often the thing we do well, we do so naturally that we can't even see how we've been gifted until someone else (usually not so endowed) points it out to us... [Melody says] "It was a faith walk all the way. My prayer was, 'Oh, God, this is your gift and http://jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com/2010/07/use-it-well.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jean)