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Part of God’s family

June 15, 2026 By Annette1 6 Comments

Huh… the word this week is part. A word that can be used in a variety of ways. So this should be fun to do. We’ll see eh? I’ll be adding something to this intro after the post gets written. In the end we come to the thought, we are part of God’s family. So what does that mean for how we live, act, and seek to change?

part of God’s family

Part the way
Make the space
Coming through
CLEAR THE PATH
Like knights leading the
charge for royal procession.

Now seen in part,
just glimpses of the whole,
the mysteries of God
slowly revealed,
understanding begins with
fear, a true reverence
of the most Holy God.

So long, farewell,
auf wiedersehen, good night
This parting tune
is known by people
far and wide.
The sound of people
parting ways for
good or ill.

Should I part it down
the middle or off to the side?
Which looks better
help me decide?
Oh! That looks cute, I
love that angle down
the side there!

Which part of history
draws you in the most?
The fear of death for bad
choices made?
The radically unexpected?
The showing forth of
power or the delight in
growth seen in people?
God’s story tells it all, the
the little parts show a greater whole.

What issues in your life
do you need to part with
to be the person you need to be?
I know a guy who wants to be
married, so I asked him one day,
what do you need to change about
yourself to attract the sort of
woman you want to marry?
I remember his utter surprise.
But the women he attracted up until
then were not women you’d want to marry.
So change was needed.
Every parent is faced with changes
they need to make as they raise
up youngers for the Lord. You learn
that it’s not all about you.

But then as part of God’s larger
family, we do have to see
our part in it. How do we fit into
the larger whole? How does our foot,
lift the leg, which moves the hip?
Are we the breath that helps the
body move as a cohesive whole?

Many Signs and Wonders Done

June 10, 2026 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Okay, it’s another week and I’ve been pondering Ananias and Sapphira all week. The juxtaposition between God who can kill people and yet God who shows mercy upon mercy to his wayward people. Believers all, Sinners all, and yet some die by his hand in dramatic fashion. This week we come to Acts 5:12-16. Not a long passage, but one that focuses on the many signs and wonders done in this time period.

¹²Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. ¹³None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. ¹⁴And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, ¹⁵so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. ¹⁶The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

What are the many signs and wonders that were done?

The time of the apostles was a great time for the start of the church. The apostles were kept busy. They regularly performed signs and wonders among the people.

¹²Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles.

I found this picture of Solomon’s Porch. This makes me rather curious. Why were they in Solomon’s Porch? Did they live their or just gather there regularly? What was the significance of this?

And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.

¹³None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.

Regardless of what was going on with Solomon’s Portico they were there. Visible. And I guess kinda scary. No-one would join them. I’m supposing that they were held in too high of regard because of all the signs and wonders being done among them. But even though folks wouldn’t join them, they were admired. They were also being noticed.

¹⁴And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, ¹⁵so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.

They were being noticed so much that believers were being added. Both men and women. In multitudes.

Isn’t that interesting?

Isn’t it? People watched them. Waited for the disciples. Wanting just a hint of power to pass over them. (Peter’s shadow).

So this group of believers, this close knit group that stayed at Solomon’s Portico, that had signs and wonders performed among them daily, that no-one would come near and where held in high regard. This group impressed enough people that others were drawn to them, drawn in to become believers. So many people that they overflowed the porch into the streets, hoping that Peter’s shadow would fall over them.

I have to admit, this feels so foreign to me. I’m imagining people living in this porch area of Solomon’s temple, or at the very minimum going there everyday all day. Just being where the apostles were and seeing all the marvelous things that were happening. I can see the draw, but at the same time it’s like….going to the same place everyday? Maybe living at a temple? Just seeing wonders and signs and being amazed?

Maybe I’m too practical but I’d also want to be getting on with the business of living too. It seems so outside my paradigm of thinking that I’m not sure what all to think.

At the same time, I want to have this draw you know? This need to be part of a community that is so connected with each other they want to be together. A community that has God working visibly in it. A community that is perceived well by those around them. So different from many communities of faith now-a-days. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to see this lived out today?

People Healed

¹⁶The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

If we could see this today I’m betting we would also see people coming from all around wanting to be part of it all. People wanting to be healed. Along with people wanting to just see the show you know?

Sick person … healed. Demon possessed person…healed. Signs and wonders performed by the disciples.

I was thinking about this passage today and this is just after Ananias and Sapphira’s death caused great fear to arise in the church. And now God is at work every time they turn around. It’s like people got a real taste of who God is and then God shows up even more clearly. The awe (fear based) and wonder (surprise at God at work healing/helping) must have been great (as in surpassing). So to go from that fear to the anticipation of God daily working miracles, to seeing all those signs and wonders of people healed. It’s like how do you reconcile that all in your mind? From death to new life seen.

And so one longs

Oh, it makes me long for those days you know? When people truly feared the Lord and were blessed by God at work in their lives in visible ways. Too many people, myself included, take God for granted. “He’ll forgive, He’ll understand, He watches over me…. etc etc.” Without remembering just WHO God is. Mighty, powerful, just, awe-inspiring, kind, compassionate, healer, etc. He is so much more than what we often give him credit for.

I don’t know.

I read a facebook post the other day that signs of revival are starting to be seen here in Canada. Would be rather neat eh? But I wonder….will God show up in signs and wonders to help people see him power and might more clearly? Curious hmm?

mother walking with baby son — Photo by Jonathan Cooper on Pexels.com

Follow Along

If you are interested in the rest of the series you will find them here eh?

What’s the Deal?

May 30, 2026 By Annette1 8 Comments

It’s time for our weekly Five minute Friday prompt. The word prompt from our host Miss Kate prompted the question What’s the deal? So many ways of considering this question you know? But ultimately, there is a best deal to make… Do you know what it is?

What’s the deal?

Oh what’s the deal the
question asked. A response made
on a day when quietness reigns.
What’s the deal Annette?
Are you okay today?
A caring heart seeking
after potential hurt, a
desire to lift another before
the Lord.

What’s the deal, can we
barter a bit? A child asking
“will you take $6 instead of
the $10 asked?” A man suggesting
$250 instead of the $350 quoted.
Yard sales and private sales
what kind of deal can be made?

The deal? Is it texas hold’em,
poker, horse, or something else?
What card game is your choice,
whether it’s uno, skipbo, or wild aces.
Can you win even if the cards seem
against you or do you graciously
own your defeat?

What’s the deal with knowing
God who can raise folk from
the dead, and yet punishes dead
those that lie to his face?
A God who gently calls the lost
back to him, yet metes consequences
to those who say no?
Jonah, David, Noah,
me, and sometimes you?

Let us set the deal straight.
Without God we are literally,
and forever lost. With no hope.
With him, we have the chance to be
made right. Needing to see clearly
the potential for permanent
consequences if we forget the holiness
and justice of the one who created us.
The one who chooses daily to forgive
us through the death of his beloved boy.
Resultant life matters.

Let us live a life that matters.
Let that be the deal that
solidifies our lives.
Make the deal. Choose life.
Avoid the hopelessness of
having no fear of awesomeness
in your life. What’s the deal?
Life changing action.

Ananias and Sapphira

May 29, 2026 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Do you remember the last time we met? The focus was on the community spirit and togetherness of the church? Well, you know how sometimes our baser desires get the better of us? We want to fit in and yet we want to hold on to our own stuff? How we want to do what is right but at the same time we truly struggle with it? Lies come easily because you want one thing and do another and don’t want to be caught out. This was NOT just something I (or you) struggle with but something that Ananias and Sapphira struggled with too. Let’s learn more from these first eleven verses of Acts 5.

Acts 5:1-11, Ananias and Sapphira

Ananias

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, ²and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. ³But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? ⁴While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” ⁵When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. ⁶The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

Sapphira

⁷After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” ⁹But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” ¹⁰Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

Bad Decision Made

So there was this guy named Ananias who had a wife Sapphira, and they had property. Remember how church members who had property would sell it and bring the money to be distributed to those in need? Well these folks saw that and said “hey, we have some property we can sell it.” Good decision eh? But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,

Then came the bad decision.

and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

He was challenged on this by Peter, and Peter explained what he was really doing. Lying to God.

³But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? ⁴While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”

Do you realize that right? When we do bad things we aren’t doing them just to be people around us, or to ourselves, but we are doing them to God! I know that I have failed many times to realize the gravity of sin. What it truly is. A violation directly against the goodness of who God is

Ananias suffered the direct consequences of that.

⁵When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last.

And the community heard about it and were afraid Rather makes sense right? You hear of someone lying to God and then dropping dead when confronted about it. I’d be scared Does that mean that every time you lie you risk dying? I don’t think, particularly when you consider church history. People have lied for ages and ages and not everyone is dropping dead. So why did Ananias drop dead? Was God just trying to make a point?

Links to help

Got answers tells me this

God’s reasons for bringing about the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira involve His abhorrence of sin, the hypocrisy of the couple, and the lesson for the rest of the church, both then and now. It can be easy today to gloss over the holiness of God, to forget that He is righteous and pure and that He hates sin wholeheartedly. This particular sin of hypocrisy in the church was dealt with swiftly and decisively.

And BibleHub goes on to say that we have the ability to resist when sin enters our hearts. We can’t say “the devil made me do it” since God gives us the ability to fight against him. We need to be the people that God calls us to be, and deliberately lying to him isn’t part of his plan for our lives.

God decisive action always comes with a purpose, this day that purpose was to root out evil creeping into this close knit group of believers.

Great Fear

And great fear came upon all who heard of it.

Scared people. People aware of just WHO they are offending when they sin against God. Would have made seriously consider their next steps eh? Kept people aware of the larger picture and whom they represented in their actions eh?

They dragged out his body after wrapping him up and buried him. This would have taken some time. It wasn’t a five minute situation.

⁶The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

dark artistic portrait with dramatic shadows — Photo by David Rojas Villalobos on Pexels.com

Sapphira’s Turn

We know it took some time to bury Ananias. And we know that it was at least three hours before Saphira came onto the scene. She had no clue what had happened.

⁷After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

Peter took the opportunity to see what her role was in all of this. Did she acknowledge the amount claimed for the selling of the land?

⁸And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.”

She agreed.

And she said, “Yes, for so much.”

And Peter called her on that. Calling it for what it was… testing the Spirit of the Lord. What else is sin eh? It’s testing God’s limits, patience, holiness, justice etc. It’s not an idle game we play because “God will forgive us.” God does forgive us if we are truly repentant of our actions against us. But if we aren’t….

⁹But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord?

Peter lets her know the consequences of this willful action against God.

Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” ¹⁰Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

Once again, the whole church saw the result and were greatly afraid.

¹¹And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

Thinking it Through

This makes me wonder if the church was getting too complacent in their community togetherness. Everything was going so well, and then suddenly they are faced with just who God is.

Isn’t that the way it is though? Life is going well, and so we start to slip and start to cruise, not considering the gravity of how we are living. And then something happened, like a bolt of lightening. Bringing into the foreground the fear of the Lord. Fully aware of the God that we say we serve.

Not that I want people to die in front of me right? I don’t want that. But at the same time I think having more awareness of the one we are offending and what that truly means is important for us as believers. So I am not wishing for death.. I am not. For then I should be one of the first to be taken down by God. Seriously…. I see and yet don’t see my offenses before him. But I also want to know that true fear (as much as I know that true love and care). But it’s too easy to NOT see that God is beyond awesome and wonderful and we will never truly understand what it means to fear the Lord God.

So how do we cultivate that awareness? We can’t be asking for fellow believers, as frail as they are, to die because they were too confident in their lying. I shall be pondering this during the week, because I don’t have the answers.

What Benefit?

May 22, 2026 By Annette1 6 Comments

Kate has given us a word prompt this Friday that has me asking the question…. What Benefit? Pondering this word kept me fairly quiet at work today. “Hey, Annette, you okay?” They are used to me singing, or chatting with customers, or saying “hey, do you know the joke of the day?” and then following it up with the joke. Sometimes they get it, and sometimes it’s like “that’s a horrible dad joke!!!! GROAN.” It adds fun to the day you know?

All that said, today’s post didn’t take very long to write once I started since I had it all mostly worked out in my head. Come along, let’s consider together What the benefit is!

What Benefit

What benefit?
It’s a question to ask,
when applying for a job,
What is the benefit package like?
The wage I’ll be making, and what is
the PTO like (not the power take off,
but you know…the other).
If the benefit isn’t there, are
there intangibles I need to
discover about this position?
Asking what benefit this job is
to me can make or break the position.

What benefit is there
to helping the guy on the street?
The gal standing on the corner
looking forlorn? The shaggy head
middle-ager sitting on the stoop?
The child crying on the playground,
or the teen looking for dressy clothes
with a job interview around the bend?
Do unto others as you’d have them to
unto you … so we are told.
Some would help for the social media
likes, or the “feel goods” generated, but
what is the true benefit?
The help given to someone who
might not know how to ask, help
given in the name of another.

What benefit?
The question asked when
looking to purchase.
Do I want the cheapest price?
Should I consider the value
long-term or the quality of the
product itself? How does one
do a cost comparison of the
intangibles of things? Cuz you
know not ALL things are considered
equal when comparing.

What benefit is there
for God to fix things up with
humanity? To offer us a way
back to him after we messed it
all up so very very badly.
Is showcasing his glory and his
holiness and his love for mankind
enough of a benefit?
Apparently it is.
Because he did it for that
very reason. His holiness, glory,
mercy, and love.
Showcased for the entire
world to see.
Helping more people to catch
a glimpse of him and ask
questions about who he is.

The benefit we have
if we showcase who Christ is
to us… more people to
showcase God’s glory, holiness,
mercy and love evident in
our lives. Shall we get on

with it then?

They Had Everything in Common

May 20, 2026 By Annette1 2 Comments

Five verses remaining in this chapter of Acts. All week I’ve been thinking about how the people gathered when Peter and John returned prayed for boldness. And I don’t feel bold. I don’t feel bold enough to pray even though I know how big and caring God is. That makes me feel rather small inside. And so I come to this section entitled They had everything in common. I find myself intrigued. Let’s dig in shall we?

text they had everything in common Image of underside of mushroom

Acts 4:32-37

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Of one heart and soul

I was talking with a friend tonight and she mentioned how much she likes her new pastor. He’s young and preaches sermons that are biblical. BUT she struggles with some decisions being made. And we talked a bit about how sometimes young pastors need to let things go in order to keep the peace in a congregation. Making decisions without helping the congregation understand can be detrimental to the body of believers. I come to this passage with that conversation in mind.

These people, this small congregation (I’m assuming small since they were all gathered together in a time when Christianity was frowned upon), were gathered together. The full membership of this group of believers and we read: those who believed were of one heart and soul.

Can you imagine that? Being such a unit as a group of believers? I have a hard time conceiving of it. I’ve never really been part of a body of believers like that.

It sounds great though eh?

Not only were they are one heart and soul but no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. GAH, that almost sounds like a cult eh? Like the hippy groups that all stayed together? BUT this was a group of believers genuinely caring and loving each other. No one was superior. Equality and sharing everything. This is where cults and hippy groups and communes fall apart eh? Eventually someone wants to rise up, be the leader, or wants to take stuff from others or decides that something they have is theirs’ alone. They forget the God is the one who brings them altogether… .that held belief in God. I forget it too you, you know? Even though I am not part of a community like this… where we share everything in common… I sometimes forget that the person wearing perfume ahead of me is part of the family of God. The mom with the screaming child is part of the family of God. And so on. It’s hard sometimes to remember. to hold it close that God is more than.

And yet, these people did that. They held it close this knowledge they were all in it together. And so they shared it all and held all their stuff in common. A close knit group.

Apostles Free to Share

This community was so close knit that the apostles were free to exercise the great power God gave them to share their testimony and to speak to the resurrection of Jesus. And God’s grace… it’s actually says GREAT GRACE was upon them all. Think on that. If you are a believer you’ve already experienced grace upon grace, but would you call it great grace?

33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

What a special time you know? Having the boldness to speak out. Being able to freely share the truth about God with others? And being part of a close knit community. How fantastic!

No needy among them

Have you ever been part of a group of believers where if there is a known need, it stops being a need? A co-worker goes to a smaller local church. Having major car issues. A couple in his church paid for his car to be operational… covered all costs. That’s the kind of thing happening here. People selling land, houses and what not so the needy among them could stop being needy.

34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Nice group to be part of right? The freedom they had. To ask and receive, to give and have it be useful. The immediacy would be so affirming.

Could I handle it?

I have to admit, I hold on to “my stuff” fairly hard. It’s been good to this to take a hard look at some of the stuff I have and choose to get rid of some of it. But still, it’s hard though. The thought of getting rid of my stuff. I’ll happily share a meal or stuff from my cupboards, give a kid a rabbit, or share produce from my garden, but it’s HARD to give up my stuff. Stuff I worked hard to pay for. ERGO… as much as a community that is so tightly knit sounds really cool…. I’m fairly sure I’d struggle with it. Selling land or homes or stuff to meet the needs of others…. OUCH.

BUT at the same time, if you are part of a tightly knit bunch you’d love each other. And for someone I love I’d give them the shirt off my back if they needed it. So that is probably the key right? God’s love for them brings them all together, Christ’s resurrection binds them together. God’s great grace brings them into love and fellowship with each other. Just totally together. So then it wouldn’t be a struggle. It would family doing for family. And that’s important.

woman and man hands reaching each other — Photo by Sachu Zayn on Pexels.com

Follow Along

If you are interested in the rest of the series you will find them here eh?

Sustain a Theme found in books

May 15, 2026 By Annette1 6 Comments

I will freely admit that this post took a bit longer than five minutes to write. It took me time to prepare and then find links to books. Sustain is such a power theme right? Can characters find the courage and determination to find their way through. It takes a lot to fight against an enemy, or to see a course of action through, especially when everything is against you. So let’s look at how sustain is a theme found in books. I happen to love fantasy, and I’ve read lots of book as a reviewer, and I love God. It all ties together in a way. Maybe you’ll find some reads to enjoy (or share with others).

Sustain, a theme found in books

The Society of the Sword a
novel where the main character is
seeking to maintain a hold over a
mysterious power that gives him extraordinary
speed and coordination, but is fleeting
and leaves him exhausted once battle is over.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin, I read it while back.
Not an easy read, but a good one.
Featuring the horrors of slavery,
and showing the benefits of held
faith in God. We even did a tour of
Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

Shattered Pulse series. My niece
the author. Dragons, a quest to save
the world, a broken hero who needs to
discover his strength despite his weakness,
and friends/comrades willing to help
in one way or the other. Interesting characters,
scary situations, dangerous enemies, and
somehow, the good guys always pull through.

Teeth… as in Greenteeth. I had a hard
time finding a T book that fit the them
of being sustained. In Greenteeth the
characters had to go through a series of
difficult challenges in order to gain
needed skills to beat a very bad character.
It took courage and determination to see
their way clear.

Arrow’s Flight, Arrow’s Fall and
Arrows of the Queen. All part of the
Heralds of Valdemar written by Mercedes Lackey.
A novelist with some real life concerns that
make many shy of reading her work. These books
gave me much relief from life in days
gone by, the stories predictable and easy. Giving
the mental needed to sustain during a hard time.

If I were a Fish is a book I reviewed a
while back. A book that helps to fight
against bullying. It’s also a kids song
the is sorta catchy to help children
realize that bullying isn’t okay and
we need to work harder at understanding
the people around us.

Nehemiah a book in the bible.
It tells the story of the efforts of Nehemiah
who, with the support of the king, sought to
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. It took a
lot of effort. Listened to a bible study of this
book back in my 20’s when I needed encouragement
to stay the course. God is good.

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part of God’s family

Many Signs and Wonders Done