Salome page 3

 Salome page 3 by ric gustafson

I woke up to a sharp distinctive whine. My head hurt. It needed stitches. Then I heard that familiar whine again. Could it be.

" Noy". I jumped. 

My Abba and a man entered the room. The man was holding my dog.

" Noy". I ran over and cupped the dog's face in my hands. " I thought he was dead".

Abba grinned. " Thank you for finding Noy Zebedee".

Zebedee smiled. " I found him roaming the field north of town".

Salome frowned. " And the boys?".

Zebedee pointed a finger at a bruise on his jaw. " They won't be bothering you for a while".

Salome jumped up. She ran over to Zebedee. She gave the tall thin man a big hug. " Thank you".

research help: ' On Living Stone' by Heather Kaufman

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

God Reflections: Acts 1

 God Reflections: Acts 1 by ric gustafson

God's Word talks a lot about power. In Acts 1, Jesus talks about power. He promises to his disciples that he will send the Holy Spirit to them. And that the Holy Spirit will infuse them with power. Jesus's power enables the disciples and us to be the best we can be.

In our spiritual lives, we need something to get us going. And what is that?. We need God's Word and we need the Holy Spirit.

God will give us the power to be the best we can be. He promises that to us. Why?. Because he loves us more than anything else.

research help: ' God Reflections' by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

God's Reflections: Genesis 1

 God Reflections: Genesis 1 by ric gustafson

Everyone has a world view. We view life through a lens. In the 1950's, we viewed the world through a modern yet moral lens. In the 1960's, we were more introspective. Our answers were now being questioned. Our world view changed.

In the 1970's, we were skeptical. We had new hope in the 1980's. 

Genesis 1 talks about in the beginning. Before Genesis 1 there was love, glory and eternal life. In Genesis 1 was God. Elohim was God. God created everything from nothing. God created the heavens and the earth. 

Why would God do that?. Because he loves more than anything else.

research help: ' The Joshua Code' by O S Hawkins

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

God Reflections: I Peter 1

 God Reflections: I Peter I by ric gustafson

When God gave the law to Moses on Mt Sinai, he gave a command to the children of Israel. That command was to be holy. Why? because he was holy. I Peter 1 says be holy because I am holy. 

Do we consider ourselves holy?. The fact is anyone can be holy. The word Holy means that something is different or special. We were created to be holy. When we believe in God's Son Jesus. we become holy in God's eyes. We are set apart. We may look and act the same outside. Inside, we are different.

God loves us more than anything else.

research help: ' God Reflections' by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Wine page 3

 Wine page 3 by ric gustafson

One nature influence on wine is climate. Climate determines if grapes exist at all. Grape vines thrive in temperate regions. Around 50 degrees, grape vines begin to grow. Below 50, grape vines remain dormant. When temperatures are 63 to 68, vines will flower. 

Microclimates include wind, cloudiness and precipitation. Photosynthesis is a process that produces sugar that grape vines need in order to grow. Four elements are needed. Chlorophyll molecules must be found in the vines leaves. There must be light. There must be a small amount of water. There must be carbon dioxide. 

Grape vines need the sun. Mountains and hillsides help. North facing slopes help. South facing slopes help in cool regions. 

Grape vine leaves can help or hurt. Without enough leaves, Leaves convert light energy to chemical energy. Without enough leaves, grape vines will produce more clusters than it can ripen. The result are grapes that are weak and lack in flavor. 

When grape vines have to work harder to grow because of lack of sun and water, they are stressed. Other hazards to grape vines include temperature swings and frost.

Next we will look at three important things grape vines need in order to survive.

research help: ' The Wine Bible' by Karen MacNeil

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

God Reflections: Matthew 7

 God Reflections: Matthew 7 by ric gustafson

The words of Matthew 7 come as Jesus is on a small hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee. This event has been called the ' the Sermon on the Mount'. Jesus is talking about two different paths in life. 

Both roads in this story represent ways of living. The first road is the easy road. Crowds take this road. Take this road to be happy. This road is an easy choice. Following this crowd leads to a path filled with futility.

The second road is less traveled. There is a price to pay to walk along this narrow path. This road is a rewarding path. This road leads to fulfillment. 

Are you at a crossroads in your life?. Which path will you choose?. I pray your choice is the right one.

research help: ' God Reflections' by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

God Reflections: I John I

God Reflections: I John I by ric gustafson

I John I says and purify us from all unrighteousness. God is in the cleaning business. We can take care of the surface in our lives. Yet, there is something that keeps us from true spiritual purity. Something much deeper in us needs to be addressed. 

We are not perfect. God knows that. God sends the Holy Spirit to work in us. God wants us to be honest with him. We must confess our sins. God will forgive us. God will cleanse and purify us. Why will he do this?. Because God loves us more than anything else.

research help: ' God Reflections' by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric