The Nothing Blog

This photo: Nora & I met once a week during her lunch break at Woodmont Golf & Country Club in Canton, GA,  from 2009 -- 2010 for a devotional study and prayer time in the Ladies Locker Room/Lounge. She was attending the Woodmont Ladies Bible Study (2000-2009) with us when she was able to take a break from her work at the club. My Friend Nora At the time of this writing Jesus has gently taken hold of Nora's hand. She’s now receiving Hospice care 24/7 and Jesus is preparing her to come with Him to her heavenly home very soon. Her loving, broken-hearted family knows Jesus is close enough to be holding her hand, preparing them to let her go to be with Him. They’ve remained close by her physically and emotionally watching her health rapidly decline in her long battle with cancer. Many hearts are broken at the thought that soon Nora will not be here with us all. Her radiant presence, her smile, her love, her prayers for others, and her beautiful, humble spirit will be missed ter...

God will never stop being awesome.  It's very difficult to comprehend His greatness and His goodness. He is eternal and infinite. Like the pounding water of Niagara Falls, His heart beats and gushes unconditional love for His children. He knows when we suffer. He knows why we're hurting. He sees us when we're fearful and filled with anxiety. He makes it possible for us to overcome evil with good. He sees us as we celebrate His lovingkindness toward us, too! And just think, our worship of Him is music to His ears--"He is enthroned on our praises" (Psalm 22:3). Whoohoo! So yes, He is awesome! As His children in this broken world we desperately need Him to keep showing us His magnificent love and power! And if we will draw near to Him we will see He is constantly working to accomplish His purposes -- for His glory and our good. Are we amazed at God?  Are we in awe and wonder of His love and greatness? In all our pain, in our struggles against sin, and the temptations...

"All Israel was listed in the genealogies recorded in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. They were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness." 1 Chronicles 9:1 When God put His rebellious, idolatrous children in  Time Out   -- that is, had them taken into captivity to Babylon -- it was because they relentlessly pushed the limits of the loving, long-suffering character of the Father!  This book of the Bible is rampant with descriptions of evil behavior. It was an evil culture!  Kings were seeking and creating idols to guide them and bless them. Generations of idolaters puffed up with pride.  Yes, God never changes. He will always be the One and Only True God. Jesus prayed, "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (John 17:3).  He is holy and wants us to be holy. He will lovingly discipline His children for choosing to grow prideful, hard hearts instead o...

Nora Joiner has been in and out of hospitals for the past three years after the cancer invaded her body again. She's been rushed to the ER in the middle of the night countless times due to excruciating pain from her illness. Her beloved husband, Mike, faithfully and prayerfully remains at her side.   2017 photo with her daughter Julie  2017 photo hospital stay Today, at this writing sweet, dearly loved Nora, is in now Hospice care at their home in Holly Springs. Her health is declining daily, her hair is gone from chemo treatments, her physical strength is depleted from so much weight loss,  but she will still lift her thin arm in praise to her God when she hears worship music. That's who she is. No matter what, she will praise and love her Savior. The Joiners are passionate Christians and faithfully tithe and serve others in countless ways.  And now Nora and her family need prayer and financial help from the community. Mike and Nora's finances have been depleted d...

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him." Psalm 62:1 I providentially stumbled and gladly fell into this verse during my early morning focused time with God. Focused? Yes. I know where to go when I have a need. He always provides exactly what i need!  Oh, what a beautiful Psalm this is and especially this verse reminding me to look to God first if I want rest from stress. Yep. I was getting caught up in treadmill life of our culture when God rescued my thought life with this comforting reminder.  Some of us think we can control circumstances around us and we don't need to be seeking the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit when things get...."shaky."  The reason, I think, that we don't ask God for guidance in everything is because we're in a hurry to keep up with the competitive rat race of our culture. Maybe? You know, we forget the Creator of the entire universe rules over every part of it. He is sovereign and sees all and knows all thi...