Happy Birthday from the Sowers page 1

 Happy Birthday from the Sowers page 1 by ric gustafson

Margaret Sower licked the cake spoon. She put it in the sink. She smiled as Michael Sower entered the spacious kitchen. He gave his mother a big hug. " Mom, you don't have to make a cake for me".

" Yes I do". She smiled.

Michael scratched his chin. " What kind am I getting this year?".

" German Chocolate". She smiled again. " Your favorite".

" It is". He hugged her again. " I am also curious about the present I saw in the closet".

" You saw that". She grinned as she put the cake in the oven. " It is your birthday present".

" Mom, you did not have to".

" Your father and I want to". She hugged him again. " We love you so much".

research help: a church sermon

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

God Reflections: Matthew 3

God Reflections: Matthew 3 by ric gustafson

When we think of fruit, we think of actual fruit to eat. There is also a different kind of fruit talked about in God's Word. In Galatians 5, the Apostle Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit. Fruit by the Holy Spirit is evidence that God's grace is transforming us. Spiritual fruit produces a harvest of goodness to feed a hope deficient world. 

There is no fake spiritual fruit. We cannot pretend to be like Jesus. We cannot pretend good spiritual fruit when it is not. Spiritual fruit must be rooted in a right relationship with God.

If we come to know Jesus, spiritual fruit will come.

God loves us more than anything else.

research help: ' Mini Devotions to refresh your heart' by Christian Art Publishers

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Paul Simon page 2

 Paul Simon page 2 by ric gustafson

On Feb 16 1967, Paul Frederic Simon was trying to explain in his lawyer's office who he was. He explained that as a senior in high school, he and best friend Artie Garfunkel recorded their first pop tune. It was a hit. Right away, they signed a recording contract with a small New York recording company.

Simon and Garfunkel needed a stage name for their act. Someone from the recording company came up with the names of Tom and Jerry. Paul and Artie recorded at least 8 songs after the success of ' Schoolgirl'. None of them were a hit. The two friends decided to go their seperate ways.

In 1963, Simon and Garfunkel reunited and became folksingers. Their last names became their stage name. The duo from 1963 to 1965 crafted meloncholic songs that resounded with their generation. In late 1965, their song ' The Sound of Silence' broke into Billboard's top 100. They were on their way. But first they had to clean up their past.

research help: ' Home Ward Bound' by Peter Ames Carlin

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

The Nine page 13

the Nine page 13 by ric gustafson

It was Sunday October 25 1959. The nine year old boy stood between Chestnut Avenue and Division Street. The town was Trenton New Jersey. The boy was dressed in his Sunday best. The boy and his family watched as a bronze statue of Christopher Columbus was being raised. The boy's family was part of Trenton's Italian American community. This community accounted for 25 percent of Trenton New Jersey's population.

On July 8 2020, Samuel Anthony Alito Jr watched as city workers dismantled the Christopher Columbus statue. The statue pieces were hauled away. The Supreme Court Justice was sad. What had happened to the statue rankled Alito. He had studied at Princeton University. At law school, people knew Alito as shy but kind and polite. 

Alito had joined the Supreme Court in 2006. He became known as the Justice who spoke out in public.

research help: ' Revenge for the Sixties' by Peter S Canellos

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

God Reflections: Hebrews 10

 God Reflections: Hebrews 10 by ric gustafson

Our culture today is about individualism and self sufficiency. A world view has it's strength. We don't want to act needy. Society has been taken up by pride. And also foolishness. It all ends with spiritual, social, emotional and relational failure. 

God created us for community. God created us for friendship. We were designed to need others. We need the wisdom, guidance and encouragement of other believers. 

Others need our love. We need the love of others. God loves us more than anything else.

research help: ' Mini Devotions to refresh your heart' by Christian Art Publishers

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

God Reflections: Psalm 147

 God Reflections: Psalm 147 by ric gustafson

God is the great Physician. God can heal and repair you. God can heal you socially, physically and spiritually. God can restore our hearts. He can restore our emotional damage. 

No matter what happens in our lives, there is always hope. There is always the possibility of recovery. Healing is possible. Forgiveness is possible. God causes all things to work for our good. Heartbreak can and will grow us.

Bad habits can clog our spiritual lives. God can cut out the bad habits in our hearts. He can and he will.

research help: ' Mini Devotions to refresh your heart' by Christian Art Publishers

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

God Reflections: John 11

 God Reflections: John 11 by ric gustafson

Women cry 30 to 60 times a year. Men cry 5 to 15 times per year. Wether you are a male or female, you are an emotional being. John 11 says Jesus wept. We were created in the image of an emotional God. 

Jesus loved people. Jesus loves us. We need to be emotionally available. It will cost us courage and vulnerability. It will cost us tears. Tears can soften a hard heart.

Jesus loves us more than anything else. 

research help: ' Mini Devotions to refresh your heart' by Christian Art Publishers

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric