Main Pages

Today's Word

Lectionary Index

Scriptural Index

1999-2010 Topical Index

2011-2020 Topical Index

2021- Topical Index

Home and Away

Midweek Oasis

My Spiritual Journey

Poems and Stories

Site Map

You are welcome to use the writings on these pages or pass them on to others who might find a touch from God in the words. Our purpose is always to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world. Please remember to give credit to the Author who has given you everything, and keep in remembrance the vessel which He used to bring these words to you. We pray that this site may be a blessing to you and anyone with whom its been shared. All rights reserved. Peggy Hoppes

Christian Bible Study Pages

Sermons

Proverbs 31,
A Study on Christian Living

A Study on Prayer

A Study on Obedience

A Study on Spiritual Gifts

Archives

August 1999

September 1999

October 1999

November 1999

December 1999

January 2000

February 2000

March 2000

April 2000

May 2000

June 2000

July 2000

August 2000

September 2000

October 2000

November 2000

December 2000

January 2001

February 2001

March 2001

April 2001

May 2001

June 2001

July 2001

August 2001

September 2001

October 2001

November 2001

December 2001

January 2002

February 2002

March 2002

April 2002

May 2002

June 2002

July 2002

August 2002

September 2002

October 2002

November 2002

December 2002

January 2003

February 2003

March 2003

April 2003

May 2003

June 2003

July 2003

August 2003

September 2003

October 2003

November 2003

December 2003

January 2004

February 2004

March 2004

April 2004

May 2004

June 2004

July 2004

August 2004

September 2004

October 2004

November 2004

December 2004

January 2005

February 2005

March 2005

April 2005

May 2005

June 2005

July 2005

August 2005

September 2005

October 2005

November 2005

December 2005

January 2006

February 2006

March 2006

April 2006

May 2006

June 2006

July 2006

August 2006

September 2006

October 2006

November 2006

December 2006

January 2007

February 2007

March 2007

April 2007

May 2007

June 2007

July 2007

August 2007

September 2007

October 2007

November 2007

December 2007

January 2008

February 2008

March 2008

April 2008

May 2008

June 2008

July 2008

August 2008

September 2008

October 2008

November 2008

December 2008

January 2009

February 2009

March 2009

April 2009

May 2009

June 2009

July 2009

August 2009

September 2009

October 2009

November 2009

December 2009

January 2010

February 2010

March 2010

April 2010

May 2010

June 2010

July 2010

August 2010

September 2010

October 2010

November 2010

December 2010

January 2011

February 2011

March 2011

April 2011

May 2011

June 2011

July 2011

August 2011

September 2011

October 2011

November 2011

December 2011

January 2012

February 2012

March 2012

April 2012

May 2012

June 2012

July 2012

August 2012

September 2012

October 2012

November 2012

December 2012

January 2013

February 2013

March 2013

April 2013

May 2013

June 2013

July 2013

August 2013

September 2013

October 2013

November 2013

December 2013

January 2014

February 2014

March 2014

April 2014

May 2014

June 2014

July 2014

August 2014

September 2014

October 2014

November 2014

December 2014

January 2015

February 2015

March 2015

April 2015

May 2015

June 2015

July 2015

August 2015

September 2015

October 2015

November 2015

December 2015

January 2016

February 2016

March 2016

April 2016

May 2016

June 2016

July 2016

August 2016

September 2016

October 2016

November 2016

December 2016

January 2017

February 2017

March 2017

April 2017

May 2017

June 2017

July 2017

August 2017

September 2017

October 2017

November 2017

December 2017

January 2018

February 2018

March 2018

April 2018

May 2018

June 2018

July 2018

August 2018

September 2018

October 2018

November 2018

December 2018

January 2019

February 2019

March 2019

April 2019

May 2019

June 2019

July 2019

August 2019

September 2019

October 2019

November 2019

December 2019

January 2020

February 2020

March 2020

April 2020

May 2020

June 2020

July 2020

August 2020

September 2020

October 2020

November 2020

December 2020

January 2021

February 2021

March 2021

April 2021

May 2021

June 2021

July 2021

August 2021

September 2021

October 2021

November 2021

December 2021

January 2022

February 2022

March 2022

April 2022

May 2022

June 2022

July 2022

August 2022

September 2022

October 2022

November 2022

December 2022

January 2023

February 2023

March 2023

April 2023

May 2023

June 2023

July 2023

August 2023

September 2023

October 2023

November 2023

December 2023

January 2024

February 2024

March 2024

April 2024

May 2024

June 2024

July 2024

August 2024

September 2024

October 2024

November 2024

December 2024

January 2025

February 2025

March 2025

April 2025

May 2025

June 2025

July 2025

Travel Pages

Scotland

Our English home 1997-2001

Cotswold Adventure

Salisbury Plain

South Coast

Cornwall

Climb a Hill, Look at a Rock Day

Tintagel and Glastonbury

Paris

Oxford

Sulgrave Manor

London

Extended Pages

Potpourri Pics!






StatCounter - Free Web Tracker and Counter



A WORD FOR TODAY

Our Lord is so good, He grants us many blessings. We can see Him in the daily course of events, in our homes, our jobs, our lives. I pray that these words help you to grow in your faith and recognize His hand in even the most mundane circumstances.

The picture to the right is of a Celtic Chapel located in Cornwall England. This building is approximately 1700 years old, and contains a holy well known for its healing powers.

(Click for enlarged)







A WORD FOR TODAY, July 11, 2025

“See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him. Beloved, now we are children of God. It is not yet revealed what we will be; but we know that when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him just as he is. Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:1-3, WEB

Drew Barrymore was just nine years old when she starred in a film called “Irreconcilable Differences.” It was not her first film when it was released in 1984. She filmed more than twenty films before she turned twenty. It is not surprising since she comes from a family of notable performers that goes back to the 19th century. She had her first paid part in a dog commercial when she was just eleven months old. She admits that she struggled with substance abuse, went to rehab, and was institutionalized at thirteen because she was exposed to the pressures of fame at a very early age. Was this the life she wanted for herself or was she forced into the business? It was not necessarily the life that Drew wanted. Children are dependent on their parents for their early days, and sadly, parents do not always do what is the best for their children.

The movie “Irreconcilable Differences” was about a young girl who was the daughter of two famous people who were in the business (a novelist/screenwriter and producer). They spent too many hours away from home and barely knew their child. The housekeeper was much more like a mother to the girl. She decided to divorce her parents so that she could move in with the housekeeper and live a normal life with a parent who was willing to give her the love and attention she needed.

We might think this is just a problem with the rich and the famous, but it is a problem in many average families today. Many parents from humble households do not spend enough time with their children, leaving them to fend for themselves. This is not just about finding food to eat or clothes to wear. Many parents leave children to find their own beliefs and moral understanding. We live in a time when many families need two paychecks just to survive, so children are left in the care of daycare and then school. Even stay-at-home mothers can get caught up in life that they forget to spend time with their family. I confess that I did this when my children were young; I justified my work by claiming it was for the children, for their future. The parents in the movie thought they were doing their best, giving their daughter everything she could possibly want, but all she needed was time as a family.

This happens in every household to some degree, but I think it is more difficult for those in positions of authority or jobs that are in demand. Actors spend months away from home filming television shows or movies. Corporate executives fly all over the world to inspect their facilities or to cut deals. Entertainers spend night after night on the road going on tour from city to city to perform. Military members are sent around the world to serve. These parents do not see their children on a daily basis, often rushing the reunions as they prepare for another trip.

I have heard stories lately about stars who have made the conscious decision to leave their hectic world behind having realized that the hustle and bustle of their job leaves no room for raising their children. I saw an interview with Celine Dion. She talked about how difficult it was to be on the road so much. She decided to make a long-term commitment to sing at a casino so that she could spend her days with her daughter, while working only a few hours each evening. She said she just wanted to drive her daughter to school. She was more interested in her daughter than working hard to give her the things she did not really need.

The character Drew played in the movie did not feel like a daughter to her parents anymore. They were never around, they never listened to her problems, and they never saw her achievements. She didn’t want the big house and the best toys; she just wanted the love of the people who she loved. Sadly, there are people who feel that way about God, particularly at times when it seems like the world is falling apart around us. Where is God? Is He too busy to care about my problems?

God, our heavenly Father, is not like the parents in the movie. Even though He is the King of Eternity, the Creator of all things, He has time to take each of us by the hand, sit us on His lap and love each of us personally. He is with us through everything: the good and the bad, calm and the chaos. We, who are nothing more than specks compared to the wholeness of the universe in time and space, are called children of God. He is with us, transforming us into His image, manifesting Himself through our lives. As we grow in the hope of that which is to come, we are changed to become more and more like Him. He wants us all to be His children, for us all to look to His grace for our lives. This is why it is so important for us to constantly work on our faith and help others see God’s grace, beginning with our children, so that they will see that God is always near, that He is active in our world, and that He is always working to make all things right according to His good and perfect Word.







If you would like to contact me, please use the following address, replacing the bracketed words with the symbol. Thank you for your continued interest, prayers and messages of encouragement.

   heart2love4god [at] aol [dot] com   


A Word for Today Devotional | Promote Your Page Too


A WORD FOR TODAY is available daily through a mailing list. Visit the link below and you will receive the WORD in your box Monday through Friday.

awordfortoday at google groups






A WORD FOR TODAY, July 10, 2025

“But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, persecutions, and sufferings - those things that happened to me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I endured those persecutions. The Lord delivered me out of them all. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you remain in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them. From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:10-17, WEB

We visited Hadrian’s Wall when we lived in England during a trip to Scotland. The wall was built by the Romans to keep the ancient people of Scotland out of England. I tend to buy books when we travel so that we can remember the places and people where we have been. In one shop I found a cookbook describing the foods and cooking methods of the ancient Romans. They used mostly earthenware jars, which has seen a resurgence in modern kitchens. The Romans ate plenty of fruits and vegetables, seafood, beef, and pork. They used strong sauces and herbs to hide the taste of the meat, particularly when it became rancid from storing too long. The cookbook had some recipes for typical Roman food, some of which had unusual ingredients. This book included a recipe for snails with instruction on how to fatten the snail with milk before frying it. This was a delicacy for the men and women who ate it. I don’t think many people purchase that book with the expectation of living as the Romans lived. I still have the book but have never once tried any of the recipes.

Quite frankly, I don’t use recipes very often. I like to throw things in a pot and hope for the best. Of course, I do have some I use regularly, and I have a bookshelf full of recipe books. I often download recipes that I see on Facebook, and I have tried quite a few. Most of those recipes have worked out just fine. When you purchase a cookbook in a bookstore or find one on the Internet, you expect them recipes to be accurate so the food will be edible. The integrity of the author is at stake, so the recipes are usually tested and tasted to be sure the food is good.

A few years ago, I created a cookbook with recipes from my husband and my mothers for their grandchildren. It was a daunting task, especially since some of the recipes were very old, hard to read, and included ingredients I could not identify. How much is 15 cents worth of saccharine? It doesn’t help that their generation often kept incomplete recipes! I confess that I didn’t test every recipe before including in my book, but most of them were so well used and beloved, we had already eaten those foods many times.

The author of the cookbook included a disclaimer telling the readers that he did everything he could to ensure the recipes were accurate, but the chefs who helped him edit the book refused to taste a few of them, like the one for the snails, so he could not guarantee the results for those who might try them.

The Bible is our recipe for life. Inside the pages of God’s love story for us are the directions for living a life which is in harmony with Him, so that we might be part of His Kingdom as we were created to be. To understand and follow the directions in this book, we must read and study it on a regular basis and follow the directions. Throughout history, the words in this book have been tried and tested and have been found to be the Truth. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul encourages us to listen to his teaching, to follow the ways that God us through him. He reminds us that there are people who try to twist God’s Word, to manipulate people with it to get their way. But he assures his readers that the scriptures are the foundation of our salvation and our life in God’s Kingdom. We know God’s word from a lifetime of reading the Bible, but it is like an old recipe we return to over and over again, certain and delicious for us to consume.

Do you follow a regular pattern of scripture reading? The pastor at our church has encouraged us to do “the first fifteen,” a time of prayer and scripture reading to start our day. It is good to include a devotional such as A WORD FOR TODAY, but do you do more? Do you read the scripture used in context and ask God what it should mean in your life today? Do you have His Word written on your heart so deeply that you are able to share it with those who are placed in your path? It doesn’t do much good to have a cookbook in which the recipes are never tried. Neither does it do much good to have a Bible whose spine is never cracked. Get out your Bible today. The words within have been tried and tested over the ages and are Truth. Read it, then live it. That’s how you will be equipped to do the work God is calling you to do.




The following links provide some specially chosen scripture that tell the stories of the Birth and Passion of our Lord as Savior Jesus Christ, as well as a fictional perspective of the Crucifixion. Spend time in God's Word, read about His life and learn of the wonderful gifts He has for you. Know Jesus Christ and honor Him today. Thanks be to God.

The Birth of our Savior

The Story of our Savior's Passion

The Crucifixion, a fictional perspective




When researching, I use several versions of the bible, including the New International Version and English Standard Version. Due to copyright restrictions, I have not included quotes for the scriptures on some of the archives, but highly encourage you to open your own bibles to read the scripture passages for yourselves. Where scripture is quoted, it is usually the American Standard Version or World English Bible which belong to the public domain. Any other versions used in quotes are identified.



The devotion posted on Wednesday is based on the Lectionary texts used by millions of Christians each Sunday. The Lectionary consists of four texts: an Old Testament passage, a Psalm, a passage from one of the Epistles and a Gospel text and follows the church calendar. Archives for these writings are found at Midweek Oasis.




You are welcome to use these words to share the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. Please remember to give credit to the Author who has given you these gifts, and keep in remembrance the vessel which He used to bring them to you. We pray that this site may be a blessing to you and anyone with whom you've shared it. Peggy Hoppes