Posted on February 15, 2026
use 'up-arrow button' at the bottom left to return to the Quick Links menu.
Paul’s Ponder
February 15, 2026
Victor Knowles sends out a monthly report from Peace on Earth Ministries called The Knowlesletter. The following is from the February 2026 edition.
George Jones and Tammy Wynette once sang “Golden Ring”, a plaintive song about a couple in Chicago who, on a sunny summer day, stood gazing longingly at a set of golden rings on display in a tawdry pawn shop. By the time the song was over, so was the marriage…The chilling chorus includes these words: “By itself it’s just a cold metallic thing. Only love can make a golden wedding ring.”
Look close and the ring mirrors your reflection. Look closer, and the ring reflects your morals… The wedding band also stands for 12-carat purity of mind, 24-7. It encircles my mind as well as my ring finger - serving as a band to keep out impure thoughts, images and imaginations… When you slip the ring over your knuckle, the ring speaks: “Knuckle down, you knucklehead!” The wedding ring is also like a telephone ring: “Wake up! Don’t blow it! Be true to your spouse, you louse!”
I am also bound by love. I made a promise - a vow- to have and to hold, to leave all others, to cleave to her and to her only. The ring is an endless circle. It represents endless love, constant commitment that is to last for all eternity.
Like a bird, I am banded. My wedding ring covers less than ¼ inch of flesh on my wedding finger. Yet it somehow overs my entire being - body, soul, and spirit… My wedding ring says, “I love my wife, and I am loved.” I have made a promise to you before Almighty God, the Christ who loved His church, and the holy angels. I will love you forever!”
The wedding ring glints in the sunlight, gleams in the moonlight, and glows by candlelight. Hot blood flows beneath the cold band, from my heart to my hand, from her hand to her heart.
Hebrews 13:4
Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
Just Pondering
Posted on February 8, 2026
use 'up-arrow button' at the bottom left to return to the Quick Links menu.
Paul’s Ponder
February 8, 2026
God can have a short memory. That is good for us when it is from God’s grace. Our sins are forgiven. But it can also be a detriment. Look at Ezekiel 3:16 - 21. God is preparing Ezekiel to be a watchman for the people in captivity. His job is to warn people to change from their evil lives. In Ezekiel 3:20, 21, God describes what happens when a righteous person does evil.
20 “Again, when a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 21 But if you do warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself.”
God is talking to Ezekiel about the life of a righteous person. The righteous person does evil. They will die for their sin, even though they are righteous. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered. They have no account in this man’s salvation.
What we have done does not give us an excuse to not do anything or to turn to evil. “I have served God for 50 years, now I want to play around and enjoy what I have denied myself.” This is not a wise strategy. We must be faithful our entire life. It is important how we finish.
Jesus says something similar in Matthew 5:13:
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
Salt loses saltiness, it is thrown out and trampled. For we older saints, let us not grow weary in doing good. Stay faithful to the end.
Just Pondering
Posted on February 1, 2026
use 'up-arrow button' at the bottom left to return to the Quick Links menu.
Paul’s Ponder
February 1, 2026
“As you summon to a feast day, so you summoned against me terrors on every side. In the day of the LORD’s anger no one escaped or survived; those I cared for and reared my enemy has destroyed.”
Lamentations 2:22
Jeremiah lived at the time of the Babylonian captivity. He experienced the horrors of the war. He is talking about the people of God who decided not to follow God. God is long-suffering and not wanting any to perish, but when they refused to listen and to obey his word, they suffered unimaginable pain. (Lamentation 2:11, 12, 20; 3:10, 16; 4:8, 10; 5:10, 15)
My eyes fail from weeping, I am in torment within; my heart is poured out on the ground because my people are destroyed, because children and infants faint in the streets of the city.
They say to their mothers, “Where is bread and wine?” as they faint like the wounded in the streets of the city, as their lives ebb away in their mothers’ arms.
“Look, LORD, and consider: Whom have you ever treated like this? Should women eat their offspring, the children they have cared for?
Like a bear lying in wait, like a lion in hiding,
he dragged me from the path and mangled me and left me without help.
He has broken my teeth with gravel; he has trampled me in the dust.
Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as a stick.
With their own hands compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food when my people were destroyed.
Our skin is hot as an oven, feverish from hunger.
Princes have been hung up by their hands; elders are shown no respect.
Joy is gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.
They had a choice. They chose to disregard God. We have a choice: Disregard God or Follow God. Our choices have consequences.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
2 Peter 3: 9, 10
Just Pondering
Posted on March 9, 2026
use 'up-arrow button' at the bottom left to return to the Quick Links menu.
Sweet Sisters,
Our lesson today begins in Luke 2:1 - 7. But before we read this passage, I want to begin with some background information.
Caesar Augustus
This information comes from G. Campbell Morgan’s Commentary on the Book of Luke.
Caesar Augustus was the first Roman Emperor. His real name was Caius Octavius. He was the great nephew of Julius Caesar.
The word “Augustus” is significant. It is his title. In time the title. Augustus was dropped. The title became Caesar. At this time the title Augustus came from the Greek word, agur. It indicated a religious sanction. He was moving towards the claim of deity on the part of the supreme ruler of the Roman Empire. He became the first Roman Emperor, the first Imperator (a military title) with a capital I.
In those days:
G. Campbell Morgan continues, In those days, when that autocratic ruler and that empire had bludgeoned the world into submission, when the whole world was under the heel of a despot, the one time in the history of humanity when power rested in one man,”in those days”, Jesus was born. This was the darkest hour the world had ever seen.
Census:
In the Roman Empire, periodically census were taken with the double object of assessing taxation and discovering those who were liable for compulsory military service.
The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem was 80 miles.
Now, Let’s look at our passage in Luke 2:1-7.
2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Why did everyone have to go to their town to register?
Why did Joseph travel to Bethlehem?
What do we learn about Joseph and Mary’s relationship in verse 5?
They would not be considered “married” until they could physically consummate the marriage. This was not possible considering Mary’s condition.
I love how G. Campbell Morgan describes Mary and Joseph. He describes Mary as the woman in whose womb tabernacles the son of God and Joseph as the man whose passion was to guard her (protect).
What happened when they arrived in Bethlehem?
Let’s look at the term Inn.
There are two words translated “Inn” in the New Testament
Pandocheion - This would be like a hostelry, a place with a host and provisions.
Kataluma - This was merely an enclosure, just walls that a traveler might drive his cattle into at night. Sometimes an apartment may have been included. There was access to water, but not food, and no host.
Luke says there was no room for Mary and Joseph in either of these places.
Where then, was Jesus born?
He was born outside everything, even the place where cattle might be sheltered through the night. Jesus was born in a small shelter, outhouse (not bathroom), outside some dwelling.
In a time, when Mary should have been surrounded by other women to support and care for her, she was alone. Luke writes with detail about how with her own hands, Mary wraps her baby in cloths and places him in a manger. Luke doesn’t tell us what role Joseph played in Jesus’ birth. I would like to think he was right beside her, helping her any way he could.
Our second passage in today’s lesson is found in Luke 2:18 - 14.
Background Information
Shepherds
William Barclay tells us this about these shepherds.
These shepherds were in all likelihood very special shepherds.
In the temple, morning and evening, an unblemished lamb was
offered as a sacrifice to God. To see that the supply of perfect and unblemished offerings was always available, the Temple Authorities
had their own private sheep flocks; and we know that their flocks
were pastured near Bethlehem.
It is mostly likely that these shepherds were in charge of the
flocks from which the Temple offerings were chosen.
It is a lovely thought that the shepherds who looked after the
Temple lambs were the first to see the Lamb of God who takes
away the sins of the world.
Now let’s look at our passage: Luke 2:8 - 14
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Who did the angel of the Lord appear to?
What shone about them?
In verse 10 what did the angel tell them?
IN verse 11, who has been born and where?
In verse 12, what was the sign?
What happens in verse 13?
In verse 14, what did the angels sing?
Remembered we talked before about how it was the custom at this time to have a celebration when a son was born. This was not a possibility for Mary and Joseph, sooooo God makes it happen for them.
The phrase “in the highest” does not mean in the highest degree. It means above. It is a descriptive word of heaven, the dwelling place of God.
Why do you think the angels sang this song?
Our last passage in today’s lesson is found in Luke 2:15 - 20.
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
What did the shepherds do when the angels were gone?
What did they find?
What did they do after they found the baby?
What was the reaction of the people they told?
What does verse 19 tell us Mary did?
Ponder:
To think about carefully, deeply, and often quietly
before making a decision or reaching a conclusion.
It’s a focused, prolonged consideration.
What things do you think Mary pondered?
Think of everything Mary has been through since the day Gabriel appeared to her. I imagine it would be a lot to deal with. It would have been one thing to deal with it with your mind, but a whole other thing dealing with it with your heart.
Sweet Sisters, once again the passages we have looked at are unique to the book of Luke. The Gospel of Matthew shares events from this time that Luke does not. Mark and John both jump to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. I’m glad that God allowed each of the Gospel writers to tell their story from their point of view.
TRUST GOD
OBEY GOD
WAIT ON GOD
EmojiDebbie
Posted on February 9, 2026
use 'up-arrow button' at the bottom left to return to the Quick Links menu.
Sweet Sisters,
This time of year, we see a lot of emphasis on the concept of love. People spend a lot of money on candy and flowers and all sorts of stuff that are supposed to represent love, but what is love? Is it a feeling? Is it an action?
In order to get a clear understanding of what true love is, we must go to God’s word. Let’s begin in I John 4:7 - 12:
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
Where does love come from?
Who has been born of God?
Who knows God?
God is ____________________?
How does God show His love?
What is love?
Since God loved us, what should we do?
What happens if we love one another?
In the New Testament, the Greek word for true love is agape. Agape is defined as a selfless, unconditional and sacrificial love. It is giving love that doesn’t depend on the other person’s actions or worthiness. It is a choice. It is a verb. It means desiring the best for others, even at a cost to oneself.
In the Old Testament, it is the word KHESED. It is defined as: a deep layered covenant love. It is often translated as “steadfast love”, “loving kindness”, or “mercy”.
It encompasses enduring commitment, loyalty, and generous action that goes beyond mere affliction. We see this word in Numbers 14:18 (ESV)
‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’
I want to look at passages today in both the Old and the New Testament that helps us better understand the purest concept of love. Let’s begin with the Old Testament in Exodus 34:6 - 7.
6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”
How is God described in these verses?
Who does God maintain love to?
Who does He forgive?
How does God show “tough love”?
Hosea 6:6.
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
What does this passage teach us about God?
Psalm 136:1-4
1
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
2
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
3
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
4
to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
Why should we give thanks to God?
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
What does God require of man?
Does this require commitment to others?
Deuteronomy 6:5
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
How are we to love God?
What does this passage teach us about our level of loyalty to God?
Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
What does a friend do?
What is the contrast here in this passage?
As we move into the New Testament, the first passage we all think of that deals with love is I Corinthians 13. Let’s look at verses 4 - 8.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
What does love do?
What does love not do?
What does love not keep record of?
What does love rejoice in?
What does love always do?
What does love never do?
John 3:16.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
How does God show His love?
Did HIs action require sacrifice?
John 13:34 - 35
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
What is the new command?
How are we to do this?
What will our following this command show others?
Romans 12:9 - 10.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
What must love be?
What are we to cling to?
What are we to be devoted to?
What concept about love do we see in the last pat of verse 10?
Ephesians 4:2
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
What does “bearing with” mean?
I Corinthians 16:14
Do everything in love.
How do we do everything?
Does this require intentionality in the way we live our lives?
I Thessalonians 3:12.
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
What does Paul want the Lord to do?
Does this passage indicate that we need God’s help for our love to grow?
I Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.
Do you think love involves all the characteristics in this verse?
I Peter 1:1 - 2.
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
Who is Peter writing to?
How do we purify ourselves?
What does this process give us the ability to do?
How are we to love each other?
Sweet Sisters, in today’s lesson we have only touched the “tip of the iceberg” when it comes to the subject of love in God’s word. Jesus said that the two greatest commandments were to love God and to love others.
Matthew 22:35 - 40.
35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
We learned in I John that God is love. If we want to please God, we need to love like God. Loving God requires intentionality and purpose. It’s not a feeling, it is a deliberate action. It is not n easy task. God knew this so He gave us the holy Spirit to help us.
Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Romans 5:5.
And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
How is love “poured into our hearts”?
As we go out into our world this week, let’s love like Bob Goff suggests: “Love everybody always, starting with the ones that creep you out the most, first.”
TRUST GOD
OBEY GOD
WAIT ON GOD
Debbie
Posted on December 3, 2023
Masters of the Storm
In times of need we may call out to God asking ‘to be taken out of the storm’. We may later reconsider and ask God to ‘calm the storm’, or we may request that He be with us 'in the storm’. Storms are inevitable! Jesus told His disciples that they would receive many blessings ‘with persecutions’ (storms). Paul understood what He meant and said that through trials and temptations that ‘we persevere’. James, the brother of Jesus, said we should ‘count it all joy’ in our trials, and Peter added that we should embrace our suffering in the name of Jesus Christ.
God knows what is needed before people ask, and that He responds when asked. God wants what is best for all people. While Jesus was in the midst of His own storm; facing crucifixion, He relied on God and prayed ‘not My will but Thine’. Parents know that children need godly discipline—Jesus subjected Himself to His parents. Some may not appreciate discipline and may only recognize it’s value later in life—God disciplines those He loves.
God gave Adam and Eve ‘Paradise’; free of storms—they were unappreciative. Today, it is a common practice to ask God for blessings and to live ‘storm free’. Few ask to be challenged or disciplined. All people are given the choice to choose the wide road or the narrow road, the hard road or the easy road. God, our Heavenly Father, places storms in our lives to strengthen us, not to defeat us! As Christians, we delight in our struggles for ‘the joy set before us’. Overcoming a difficult task is exhilarating! Instead of asking God to remove unwanted obstacles let’s ask for the strength to endure and become ‘masters of the storm’. Peter
Peter's Message
use 'up-arrow button' at the bottom left to return to the Quick Links menu.
Posted on November 5, 2023
Jesus is called ‘The Lamb of God’. He is also known as Light, Love, Lord, and Lion (of Judah). Creation is a reflection of Jesus; the Creator, made with precision and with purpose. Nothing created is without value or significance.
Jesus is also known as ‘The Good Shepherd.’ He is the shepherd of His sheep and the perfect sacrifice for them. Shepherds are held in high esteem; willing to defend their flock against all predators and willing to stay awake and on guard through the night. Shepherds care for the entire flock, risking their lives for the 99 and one that is lost. Sheep have a special place in the hearts of shepherds who often care for them as their children. Shepherds know how to protect their flock with their lives.
People have taken lambs into their hearts as some do domestic pets. To require of a shepherd that a first born lamb, in full health, be used as a sacrifice is to demand the very best. It is a sacrifice for the shepherd and lamb! Jesus willingly became a sacrifice and went to His death with ‘joy set before Him’, as did God, the Father, make a sacrifice for His ‘love of the world’. He gave His only begotten Son. Mary, Jesus earthy mother, was with Him at His death, suffering silently. Both God the Father and Son purposed to save mankind at the right time and manner—they willingly gave the very best of themselves and heaven. Peter
Peter's Message
use 'up-arrow button' at the bottom left to return to the Quick Links menu.
Posted on October 1, 2023
Moses, a servant of God, was chosen by God to deliver His law in what is known as the Ten Commandments, and to set them as God’s standard for His people, Israel. There are two sections: respect for God and respect for fellow man. Many more commands given through Moses have formed the basis of Jewish religious law through the centuries.
Jesus, the Son of God, was chosen by God to speak His words for all people; all nations of the world. Jesus, the Word of God, stated, ‘My words will judge you in the last day’. Jesus has many attributes and is known by several well known titles: He is Christ the Messiah, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, High Priest and Advocate, Great Shepherd and Prince of Peace.
Jesus’ word is God’s Christian standard. On earth, all nations have requirements for all citizens that are accepted as legal and right. By what standard-of-law, then, does God require for entrance into heaven? The Greatest Command Jesus spoke is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:28-30).
Jesus showed His love for all people by His willingness to forgive sin. Forgiveness is His gift and response to repentance. Jesus is our righteous judge and advocate, and we will appear before His judgment-seat (II Corinthians 5:10, I John 2:1). By His words, eternal life is given to all who hear and believe—these do not come into judgment (John 5:24). Peter
