Promised
This is from my little In Touch calendar:
" Jesus is utterly faithful. Whatever He says He will do, He does. You can count on His promises. His commitment to you is lasting. All that Jesus is, he will always be. His friendship never changes. Jesus will be with us for all eternity. He has built us a heavenly home and will live with us forever. oh, what a friend we have in Jesus."
How wonderful to know that His promises are true. I am once again, reassured by the Lord.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
More visits
Two things this morning....I am just cleaning up a little, kinda wandering around the house. Things seem off, and of course they are. I am still adrift in all this. So as I clean up some dishes in the sink, there is a little thingamajig, like a word that was on a plaque. I've seen it before, but can't really remember where, I think it was on one of my knickknacks. But there it was lying in the sink. A little oval shaped piece of plastic with the word FAITH on it. Now, I have no idea how it got there, or where it came from but there it was looking up at me!
Immediately, the verse rose up in my heart, Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen, it gives us assurance about things we cannot see, Hebrews 11:1.
A little while later I walked past my frig, as I have a million times before, and one of my magnets jumped out at me (not literally of course!). On it is the words, written really big: I promise you. --God. The word "promise" is actually in bold print on the magnet. The verse on the magnet is 2 Corinthians 1:20, For as many as are the promises of God, they all find their answer in Him.
My Father is speaking directly to my heart today. I am just dumbstruck at His awesomeness and lovingkindness and care. All those things about Him comforting us and caring for us in the Bible I am seeing first hand. I cannot even describe how blessed He has made me feel. All I can do is say thank You.
I have heard stories from others about Him doing things like this during their times of loss, but quite honestly never felt He would do it for me. I kinda always think He expects me to just be strong in faith without any coddling from Him, because so often that seems to be the case. I was so wrong in this. And I have never been so happy to be so wrong.
And this doesn't even begin to speak of all the care and love He has shown through my family and friends, coworkers and facebook friends....I could write a thousand pages on that!! What a blessing it is to be His child.
The assurance we have of eternal life with Him is priceless. And we do have that assurance. I think my Mom called it unmatchable. And that is just what it is.
Two things this morning....I am just cleaning up a little, kinda wandering around the house. Things seem off, and of course they are. I am still adrift in all this. So as I clean up some dishes in the sink, there is a little thingamajig, like a word that was on a plaque. I've seen it before, but can't really remember where, I think it was on one of my knickknacks. But there it was lying in the sink. A little oval shaped piece of plastic with the word FAITH on it. Now, I have no idea how it got there, or where it came from but there it was looking up at me!
Immediately, the verse rose up in my heart, Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen, it gives us assurance about things we cannot see, Hebrews 11:1.
A little while later I walked past my frig, as I have a million times before, and one of my magnets jumped out at me (not literally of course!). On it is the words, written really big: I promise you. --God. The word "promise" is actually in bold print on the magnet. The verse on the magnet is 2 Corinthians 1:20, For as many as are the promises of God, they all find their answer in Him.
My Father is speaking directly to my heart today. I am just dumbstruck at His awesomeness and lovingkindness and care. All those things about Him comforting us and caring for us in the Bible I am seeing first hand. I cannot even describe how blessed He has made me feel. All I can do is say thank You.
I have heard stories from others about Him doing things like this during their times of loss, but quite honestly never felt He would do it for me. I kinda always think He expects me to just be strong in faith without any coddling from Him, because so often that seems to be the case. I was so wrong in this. And I have never been so happy to be so wrong.
And this doesn't even begin to speak of all the care and love He has shown through my family and friends, coworkers and facebook friends....I could write a thousand pages on that!! What a blessing it is to be His child.
The assurance we have of eternal life with Him is priceless. And we do have that assurance. I think my Mom called it unmatchable. And that is just what it is.
Visits continue
I have a story to tell. A God visit of a dear friend and sister in the Lord. Karen loved my Mom and my Mom loved Karen. So I will attempt to relay Karen's visit from our Lord as best I can. On Sunday, Karen gathered with her family at her Mom's house. Her brother Kirk collects items for restoration (curb shopping, treasure rescue...whatever you want to call it, I love it !!!). A while back he had picked up an item and forgot about it. Does anyone remember the string art back in the 70's? Well this was a large piece of string art. He "just happened" to bring it with him on Sunday and since Karen's son's girlfriend likes this kind of thing Kirk was going to give it to her. He asked Karen transfer the picture for him to Scott's girlfriend. When he handed her the picture, she was completely amazed....it was a string art butterfly!!!
My Mom loved butterflies. In fact when Karen and Greg came home from their recent cross country trek, she has brought my Mom some souvenirs and all of them were butterfly designs.
God had used this art piece to comfort Karen. Imagine, months and months ago, God had planned Kirk's finding of this piece, planned the timing of him giving it to Karen, all to bring comfort, peace and joy to one of his beloved children. Just think about this. Our God is so amazing. Even when all seems wrong, His timing, His ways are perfect. And He is so loving and intimately involved with us.
Please never forget this. He knows what He is doing. And the Father is always planning for our good. Thank You Lord.
I have a story to tell. A God visit of a dear friend and sister in the Lord. Karen loved my Mom and my Mom loved Karen. So I will attempt to relay Karen's visit from our Lord as best I can. On Sunday, Karen gathered with her family at her Mom's house. Her brother Kirk collects items for restoration (curb shopping, treasure rescue...whatever you want to call it, I love it !!!). A while back he had picked up an item and forgot about it. Does anyone remember the string art back in the 70's? Well this was a large piece of string art. He "just happened" to bring it with him on Sunday and since Karen's son's girlfriend likes this kind of thing Kirk was going to give it to her. He asked Karen transfer the picture for him to Scott's girlfriend. When he handed her the picture, she was completely amazed....it was a string art butterfly!!!
My Mom loved butterflies. In fact when Karen and Greg came home from their recent cross country trek, she has brought my Mom some souvenirs and all of them were butterfly designs.
God had used this art piece to comfort Karen. Imagine, months and months ago, God had planned Kirk's finding of this piece, planned the timing of him giving it to Karen, all to bring comfort, peace and joy to one of his beloved children. Just think about this. Our God is so amazing. Even when all seems wrong, His timing, His ways are perfect. And He is so loving and intimately involved with us.
Please never forget this. He knows what He is doing. And the Father is always planning for our good. Thank You Lord.
Monday, December 30, 2013
Mom
Yesterday, my beautiful Mom was called home by the Lord. My life, our lives, were so enriched by her. She will be so very missed, more than I can say.
My focus of this post if Hope. She lived with the hope of glory. And I am so at peace knowing she is with her Savior and all the loved ones who have gone before. I know lately she was missing more and more the ones who had gone on to heaven before her. And I am thrilled for her that she is finally with them.
Of course, God has visited during this time. Giving words and signs of comfort. He is so awesome and full of compassion. A couple of years ago, my Mom had spoke of a vision she had. She told of being in Heaven with Jesus and they were dancing.
As we drove home from the hospital Sunday morning, the Lord brought to my remembrance those words she spoke. And I was filled with peace and joy for her, knowing she was dancing with her Lord. What a comfort.
My Mom was sick of hospitals and doctors. She didn't want to go to them anymore. My husband and I both believe she died before she left the house. I thank God for that. She did not have any suffering, nor leave this earth from some hospital bed. What a blessing both for her and us.
Yesterday we went to the funeral home...you know all the details and arrangements that have to be done. As we picked out those little cards (forget what they are called) 2 stood out to me. One was a picture of a dove in the clouds. My Mom loved all the stunning cloud formations that the Lord created. She was always saying, "oh look at the clouds, aren't they beautiful!" So I knew this was perfect for her. Also there was one with the Cross atop the water. About a year or so ago, my Mom told of sitting at Tanner Park and just seeing Jesus on a boat in the water, beckoning her to come to Him. So I knew that both these were exactly what she would want on her remembrance cards. They so much spoke of her.
We had the opportunity to pick the reverse side verses as well. And of course the Lord's Prayer was one of the choices. Over the last couple of years she has been so excited about this prayer and studying it intensely. It's amazing the way God is working these things out, step by step, tiny detail by detail.
I was going through all our old pictures yesterday. I came across my eight grade graduation picture. There was a big banner in the church (I graduated Catholic school), and on the banner was written: "Death has been overcome." I always tell God when asking Him for direction that I want a neon sign to come down and tell me what choice to make. I think this was His way of sending my "neon sign." Our God is not only comforting but has a sense of humor. I am so humbled and grateful that He would do this, down to the littlest point of reference, for me.
I see God working out each and every detail of this process. I think back over the last year or so and see His hand weaving the last times of her life into a beautiful tapestry of visits with friends and family. It really is wonderful to see. So many times we take for granted and God was there, working it out that each person she loved and that loved her was able to spend time with her. I am so grateful and so blown away by His care.
Mom, I miss you. I know you are so happy where you are but I feel so adrift down her without you. I know God's comfort and care are here for me. I see it in everything. I am grateful. I love you.
Yesterday, my beautiful Mom was called home by the Lord. My life, our lives, were so enriched by her. She will be so very missed, more than I can say.
My focus of this post if Hope. She lived with the hope of glory. And I am so at peace knowing she is with her Savior and all the loved ones who have gone before. I know lately she was missing more and more the ones who had gone on to heaven before her. And I am thrilled for her that she is finally with them.
Of course, God has visited during this time. Giving words and signs of comfort. He is so awesome and full of compassion. A couple of years ago, my Mom had spoke of a vision she had. She told of being in Heaven with Jesus and they were dancing.
As we drove home from the hospital Sunday morning, the Lord brought to my remembrance those words she spoke. And I was filled with peace and joy for her, knowing she was dancing with her Lord. What a comfort.
My Mom was sick of hospitals and doctors. She didn't want to go to them anymore. My husband and I both believe she died before she left the house. I thank God for that. She did not have any suffering, nor leave this earth from some hospital bed. What a blessing both for her and us.
Yesterday we went to the funeral home...you know all the details and arrangements that have to be done. As we picked out those little cards (forget what they are called) 2 stood out to me. One was a picture of a dove in the clouds. My Mom loved all the stunning cloud formations that the Lord created. She was always saying, "oh look at the clouds, aren't they beautiful!" So I knew this was perfect for her. Also there was one with the Cross atop the water. About a year or so ago, my Mom told of sitting at Tanner Park and just seeing Jesus on a boat in the water, beckoning her to come to Him. So I knew that both these were exactly what she would want on her remembrance cards. They so much spoke of her.
We had the opportunity to pick the reverse side verses as well. And of course the Lord's Prayer was one of the choices. Over the last couple of years she has been so excited about this prayer and studying it intensely. It's amazing the way God is working these things out, step by step, tiny detail by detail.
I was going through all our old pictures yesterday. I came across my eight grade graduation picture. There was a big banner in the church (I graduated Catholic school), and on the banner was written: "Death has been overcome." I always tell God when asking Him for direction that I want a neon sign to come down and tell me what choice to make. I think this was His way of sending my "neon sign." Our God is not only comforting but has a sense of humor. I am so humbled and grateful that He would do this, down to the littlest point of reference, for me.
I see God working out each and every detail of this process. I think back over the last year or so and see His hand weaving the last times of her life into a beautiful tapestry of visits with friends and family. It really is wonderful to see. So many times we take for granted and God was there, working it out that each person she loved and that loved her was able to spend time with her. I am so grateful and so blown away by His care.
Mom, I miss you. I know you are so happy where you are but I feel so adrift down her without you. I know God's comfort and care are here for me. I see it in everything. I am grateful. I love you.
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Friday, December 27, 2013
Practice
Hmmmm....okay now comes the hard part. Putting this living out of victory thing into every day life practice. Since this morning, I have been given 2 extra jobs to do. (It's my vacation for crying out loud--don't I get a break) Well that was my thinking as the "extras" starting coming during the 1st hour of my waking !!
First off, my Mom decided she didn't want the coat she received for Christmas. Ok, not really a big deal, except now I have to go over to the mall and stand on the loooonnnngggg return line. Sigh. Next up....the heater disguised as a side table I purchased for my husband for Christmas is making entirely too much noise.
(insert another audible sigh here). So here's how this conversation with the Lord goes: Oh this is just great Lord, something else I have to take care of. (make sure I bring up the vacation thing again..lol). Where's the box it came in? (I run out to the garbage, no they haven't taken it yet, but it's not there) Great I got rid of it...me, the one who keeps all the receipts and boxes have gotten rid of the ONE I really needed!! God, can't You just help me with anything!?!?!? Thanks a lot !! Can you say "being a brat"?
Ok. Maybe there is something in the instructions. Of course, no phone #, just an email....ok put it on the to do list. Now my husband gets up. I talk to him about it. Asking about the box...oh! Low and behold! He has put it in the garage! Ummm, oops, sorry about the not helping thing Lord.
So this is the 1st hour of my day. And by now the living in victory thing is no where in sight. So I come into the computer room (calling it an office in my house just seems a little too pretentious for my purposes) and on the wall I keep a sign posted with the verse: "For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"
That verse just flew off the wall right into my heart! I heard the Holy Spirit say, that is the verse you should be living out of today. The victory. Faith and trust. What if I had looked at all these annoyances with that attitude instead of the way I did? What might my conversation with God looked like, sounded like? Then I thought about it some more...what if I took a different verse every day and worked on living out of that verse ( remember, the Word is living!). How much more alive would my life look, and feel and be if I was living out of the living Word of God?
Lord, help me to live out of Your Word today. Help me to keep it front and center in my mind and heart and mouth. Forgive me for my tantrums. And thank You for using all this as another enlightening lesson for me. You are so patient and kind and loving. Help me to remember that always.
Hmmmm....okay now comes the hard part. Putting this living out of victory thing into every day life practice. Since this morning, I have been given 2 extra jobs to do. (It's my vacation for crying out loud--don't I get a break) Well that was my thinking as the "extras" starting coming during the 1st hour of my waking !!
First off, my Mom decided she didn't want the coat she received for Christmas. Ok, not really a big deal, except now I have to go over to the mall and stand on the loooonnnngggg return line. Sigh. Next up....the heater disguised as a side table I purchased for my husband for Christmas is making entirely too much noise.
(insert another audible sigh here). So here's how this conversation with the Lord goes: Oh this is just great Lord, something else I have to take care of. (make sure I bring up the vacation thing again..lol). Where's the box it came in? (I run out to the garbage, no they haven't taken it yet, but it's not there) Great I got rid of it...me, the one who keeps all the receipts and boxes have gotten rid of the ONE I really needed!! God, can't You just help me with anything!?!?!? Thanks a lot !! Can you say "being a brat"?
Ok. Maybe there is something in the instructions. Of course, no phone #, just an email....ok put it on the to do list. Now my husband gets up. I talk to him about it. Asking about the box...oh! Low and behold! He has put it in the garage! Ummm, oops, sorry about the not helping thing Lord.
So this is the 1st hour of my day. And by now the living in victory thing is no where in sight. So I come into the computer room (calling it an office in my house just seems a little too pretentious for my purposes) and on the wall I keep a sign posted with the verse: "For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"
That verse just flew off the wall right into my heart! I heard the Holy Spirit say, that is the verse you should be living out of today. The victory. Faith and trust. What if I had looked at all these annoyances with that attitude instead of the way I did? What might my conversation with God looked like, sounded like? Then I thought about it some more...what if I took a different verse every day and worked on living out of that verse ( remember, the Word is living!). How much more alive would my life look, and feel and be if I was living out of the living Word of God?
Lord, help me to live out of Your Word today. Help me to keep it front and center in my mind and heart and mouth. Forgive me for my tantrums. And thank You for using all this as another enlightening lesson for me. You are so patient and kind and loving. Help me to remember that always.
Victory--part 2
Yesterday, shortly after I posted on living out of the victory given to us by Jesus, I picked up a little book given me by one of my cousins (love them all, they are the best btw). It's called "a little daily wisdom" by Joel Fotinos and August Gold. So I paged through to Dec. 26 and this is the verse it had for that day:
1 John 5:4 Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory.
The wisdom from that verse offered by the authors was "Today I know taht every apparent defeat is a chance for resurrection."
How absolutely cool was this!?!?!?! Talk about instant confirmation of what God had just visited with. Yet another obvious.....GOD VISIT !!
Lord, thank you that you confirm and establish Your principles and teaching to us. When I think about the fact that the One who created everything and sustains everything, the One who is eternal, and non-ending in every way, actually takes the time to do this, to reach out and interact with me, I am amazed.
Yesterday, shortly after I posted on living out of the victory given to us by Jesus, I picked up a little book given me by one of my cousins (love them all, they are the best btw). It's called "a little daily wisdom" by Joel Fotinos and August Gold. So I paged through to Dec. 26 and this is the verse it had for that day:
1 John 5:4 Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory.
The wisdom from that verse offered by the authors was "Today I know taht every apparent defeat is a chance for resurrection."
How absolutely cool was this!?!?!?! Talk about instant confirmation of what God had just visited with. Yet another obvious.....GOD VISIT !!
Lord, thank you that you confirm and establish Your principles and teaching to us. When I think about the fact that the One who created everything and sustains everything, the One who is eternal, and non-ending in every way, actually takes the time to do this, to reach out and interact with me, I am amazed.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Victory
Aaaahhh. The after Christmas sigh of relief. Time to take a deep breath and reconnect with the Lord, after a week of hustle and bustle and hurry and rush. I so love this day. It's the most peaceful day for me. (except for the fact that this goofy person made a dentist appt for the day?? Why did I ever do that???) My wonderful heavenly Father rushed right into our time together with a new outlook for me to practice and learn and live. It's not really new, just fresh and it needs to be applied to my life.....CONSISTENTLY. That is the word of the year for me !!
I was in "31 Days of Praise" and the line was "How I praise You that I need not strive toward a possible victory, but can live from a position of victory already won..." Sounds familiar, right? Most of us have heard this before, right? But I guess I needed a refresher on this concept. What would it look like if I actually and consistently put this into practice?
In the Word I am told to renew my mind. I don't know about you, but my mental sound track goes a lot like this: "this is too hard", " I never get past this...", "why can't I ever seem to get this right?"....and so on. Failure and defeat seem to play over and over. But that is not the Lord's music. If I let the Lord write the sound track for me it would go more like this:
1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Conquerors. In the Greek the word is hupernikao which means one who is super-victorious, over and above, achieving abundant victory. Gotta love the Greek !!
1 Cor 15:57 says that God has given me victory. In verse 58 I am told, "THEREFORE, be steadfast and immovable."
I am not to be moved off of, out of, or away from the place of victory given to me by God through Jesus. when I stay in that place I will overcome, above and beyond and abound in His work accomplishing His goals and purposes for me. Yet I continually let myself be moved into and live in a place or mindset of defeat. Instead of joyfully accepting God's gift of victory, I all to easily accept Satan's "gift" of defeat.
This is not God's will for my life. Nor is it His will for yours dear readers. It's time to change that tune in our heads. Change the channel, in fact I think we should put a block on that channel LOL. Time to live in a place of victory. It's ours anyway, why shouldn't we !!
What would our days look like if we lived knowing the victory was already given to us, secured by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Would there still be struggles and temptations? Of course, we live in a fallen world, we have a bratty flesh that wants all the wrong things. But the greater one who is in us told us in John 16:33: These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." And so we can too.
The Lord wants me to live in consistency. And that applies to this as well. Lord, help me to remember my place in You. The place of victory, overwhelming victory that You have given me. Thank You. As always, to You be the glory.
Ok, I am officially exhausted. I hope your Christmas was as nice as mine. I have the greatest family and I love them so very much. May your New Year be filled with visits from the Lord. Keep an eye out !! He is always looking to come and sit and talk with us. Keep an open door policy for Him. Many blessings !!
Madeline
Aaaahhh. The after Christmas sigh of relief. Time to take a deep breath and reconnect with the Lord, after a week of hustle and bustle and hurry and rush. I so love this day. It's the most peaceful day for me. (except for the fact that this goofy person made a dentist appt for the day?? Why did I ever do that???) My wonderful heavenly Father rushed right into our time together with a new outlook for me to practice and learn and live. It's not really new, just fresh and it needs to be applied to my life.....CONSISTENTLY. That is the word of the year for me !!
I was in "31 Days of Praise" and the line was "How I praise You that I need not strive toward a possible victory, but can live from a position of victory already won..." Sounds familiar, right? Most of us have heard this before, right? But I guess I needed a refresher on this concept. What would it look like if I actually and consistently put this into practice?
In the Word I am told to renew my mind. I don't know about you, but my mental sound track goes a lot like this: "this is too hard", " I never get past this...", "why can't I ever seem to get this right?"....and so on. Failure and defeat seem to play over and over. But that is not the Lord's music. If I let the Lord write the sound track for me it would go more like this:
1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Conquerors. In the Greek the word is hupernikao which means one who is super-victorious, over and above, achieving abundant victory. Gotta love the Greek !!
1 Cor 15:57 says that God has given me victory. In verse 58 I am told, "THEREFORE, be steadfast and immovable."
I am not to be moved off of, out of, or away from the place of victory given to me by God through Jesus. when I stay in that place I will overcome, above and beyond and abound in His work accomplishing His goals and purposes for me. Yet I continually let myself be moved into and live in a place or mindset of defeat. Instead of joyfully accepting God's gift of victory, I all to easily accept Satan's "gift" of defeat.
This is not God's will for my life. Nor is it His will for yours dear readers. It's time to change that tune in our heads. Change the channel, in fact I think we should put a block on that channel LOL. Time to live in a place of victory. It's ours anyway, why shouldn't we !!
What would our days look like if we lived knowing the victory was already given to us, secured by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Would there still be struggles and temptations? Of course, we live in a fallen world, we have a bratty flesh that wants all the wrong things. But the greater one who is in us told us in John 16:33: These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." And so we can too.
The Lord wants me to live in consistency. And that applies to this as well. Lord, help me to remember my place in You. The place of victory, overwhelming victory that You have given me. Thank You. As always, to You be the glory.
Ok, I am officially exhausted. I hope your Christmas was as nice as mine. I have the greatest family and I love them so very much. May your New Year be filled with visits from the Lord. Keep an eye out !! He is always looking to come and sit and talk with us. Keep an open door policy for Him. Many blessings !!
Madeline
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Comforted
Lately it seems I am extremely frustrated at work. Frustrated with the job, the nonsense that goes on there....and most of all myself. My attitude has really taken a downturn and of course then that comes out of my mouth. I want so badly to be a good witness and glorify the Lord, but it seems an insurmountable task for me.
As I was bemoaning and belaboring this fact once again to the Lord, Matthew 5:4 came rising up inside. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Oh sweet relief ! I know God is working. And I know He sees my hearts desire to honor Him and I will come to victory. He sees the anguish of my heart over my sin and struggle and promises comfort.
I have a box of those little cards with a Scripture verse on one side and an uplifting sentence or 2 on the reverse. The one I picked out today said "If God loved you enough to give His Son for you, you can believe He loves you enough to meet your needs." This was just a reassuring confirmation that He blessed me with this morning.
I know that most of us know this stuff. But sometimes I feel I need to be reminded again and again that He is working. I am grateful for Your patience once again Lord. Help me, help all of us not to go down into discouragement, to to rise up in faith that says our victory is in You and we will see it come to pass.
Lately it seems I am extremely frustrated at work. Frustrated with the job, the nonsense that goes on there....and most of all myself. My attitude has really taken a downturn and of course then that comes out of my mouth. I want so badly to be a good witness and glorify the Lord, but it seems an insurmountable task for me.
As I was bemoaning and belaboring this fact once again to the Lord, Matthew 5:4 came rising up inside. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Oh sweet relief ! I know God is working. And I know He sees my hearts desire to honor Him and I will come to victory. He sees the anguish of my heart over my sin and struggle and promises comfort.
I have a box of those little cards with a Scripture verse on one side and an uplifting sentence or 2 on the reverse. The one I picked out today said "If God loved you enough to give His Son for you, you can believe He loves you enough to meet your needs." This was just a reassuring confirmation that He blessed me with this morning.
I know that most of us know this stuff. But sometimes I feel I need to be reminded again and again that He is working. I am grateful for Your patience once again Lord. Help me, help all of us not to go down into discouragement, to to rise up in faith that says our victory is in You and we will see it come to pass.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Expectancy
On the Third Sunday of Advent we celebrate the Light of Expectancy. The Jews awaited their Messiah for thousands of years. He arrived on Christmas day.
We are awaiting His return. This hit me on Sunday as we talked about it in Bible study and service. As awe-inspiring as His first coming was, (imagine the Creator of the Universe came as a baby) His return will be nothing short of astounding...and that is putting it mildly. When I think about Him coming at all, it is truly amazing. Why would someone want to come down here to save a people who had rebelled against Him?
And what affected me so on Sunday was not the Christmas season as we see it now, but the fact that it points to His return. There is something about aligning ourselves with the Jewish people in the expectancy of His coming that is truly beautiful. I read somewhere years ago, that before the country of Israel was reestablished, Jews around the world would toast on certain holidays "next year in Jerusalem". As a Christian, my focus should be, "next year in Heaven".
As I listened to the songs during service on Sunday the line in O Little Town of Bethlehem stood out: "the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight". And yes they were. Hope for a future, deliverance of fear of death. I am looking forward to the new day, to His return. The day when we sing "Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King!"
So for me, this Christmas has become about "expectancy". This God visit on Sunday brought me to a new place in celebrating the holiday. And I love it!!
Some verses to ponder this season:
Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice, even forever. For the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded; And there were loud voices in heaven saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ and He shall reign forever and ever!"
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
I thank God for this new revelation and different way of looking at Christmas. It is beautiful and wonderful and hope giving.
Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so come, Lord Jesus!
Are you expecting?
On the Third Sunday of Advent we celebrate the Light of Expectancy. The Jews awaited their Messiah for thousands of years. He arrived on Christmas day.
We are awaiting His return. This hit me on Sunday as we talked about it in Bible study and service. As awe-inspiring as His first coming was, (imagine the Creator of the Universe came as a baby) His return will be nothing short of astounding...and that is putting it mildly. When I think about Him coming at all, it is truly amazing. Why would someone want to come down here to save a people who had rebelled against Him?
And what affected me so on Sunday was not the Christmas season as we see it now, but the fact that it points to His return. There is something about aligning ourselves with the Jewish people in the expectancy of His coming that is truly beautiful. I read somewhere years ago, that before the country of Israel was reestablished, Jews around the world would toast on certain holidays "next year in Jerusalem". As a Christian, my focus should be, "next year in Heaven".
As I listened to the songs during service on Sunday the line in O Little Town of Bethlehem stood out: "the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight". And yes they were. Hope for a future, deliverance of fear of death. I am looking forward to the new day, to His return. The day when we sing "Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King!"
So for me, this Christmas has become about "expectancy". This God visit on Sunday brought me to a new place in celebrating the holiday. And I love it!!
Some verses to ponder this season:
Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice, even forever. For the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded; And there were loud voices in heaven saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ and He shall reign forever and ever!"
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
I thank God for this new revelation and different way of looking at Christmas. It is beautiful and wonderful and hope giving.
Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so come, Lord Jesus!
Are you expecting?
Friday, December 13, 2013
Rejection/Acceptance; God is smiling!
For as long as I can remember I have struggles with rejection issues. I have always battled feelings that God, while He may love me because that is who He is and what He does, really doesn't nor couldn't like me all that much. But patient as He is, He continues to encourage me, and reassure me of His acceptance and approval.
A few years ago, He reminded me that all this is based on Jesus and not on myself. And that it was actually sin for me to doubt this love and acceptance of His. That being said, I still have to be reminded of this lesson on a regular basis. And I am truly grateful for His long-suffering in this area with me.
This week was no exception. I have this kinda performance mentality, you know how we think when things are hard or going wrong then I must be displeasing God in some way. He's sending those lightening bolts again!! But God had other ideas for my thinking and He came with a series of visits with His reassurance again !!
So here is the list and the order in which they came.
1) A couple of days ago, I went to my index card file and the one for the day was "And this is my beloved daughter in whom I am well pleased." This is based on Matt 3:17. I once read that since we are in Jesus, and when the Father pronounced this over Him, He was also pronouncing it over us. He sees us in Jesus.
2) Yesterday's "31 Days of Praise" was all about my robe of righteousness, given to me by the Lord. The Scripture verse being Isaiah 61:10 I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For He has dressed me in the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels.
3) And from "Enjoying the Closeness of God" (Roger C. Palms) I was up to the chapter on....God smiling ! In it spoke of the fact that many people, because they have trials and troubles think that God is not "smiling" on them. But the author reminded us that Jesus Himself went through much suffering and God was certainly pleased with Him. In fact, Isaiah 53:3 calls Jesus, "a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief". The absence or presence of tribulation is by no means an indicator of God's pleasure with us.
4) My book mark was on a page it shouldn't have been in "31 Days of Praise" (Ruth and Warren Meyers). But of course it was exactly where God wanted it. The big, bold Scripture verse taking up most of the page where my book mark lay was: Ps. 103:10-13 He does not punish us for all our sins, He does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For His unfailing love for those who fear Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from as us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him.
5) And then back to today's reading from "31 Days of Praise" "You accepted me in Your beloved Son, welcoming me into the everlasting love you have for Him...and now as Your child, You take me into Your arms and tell me that You love me." I can say this myself, making these words my own, because my heavenly Father is doing just that right now. There is even a beautiful poem included in the reading adapted from "A Mind at Perfect Peace" by Catesby Pagent.
Near, so very near to You
Nearer I could not be,
For in the Person of Your Son
I'm just as near as He!
Dear, so very dear to You,
I could not dearer be;
The love wherewith You loved
Your Son,
Such is Your love for me!
I thank the Lord for His infinite patience with me. And I am so grateful for His love. Time and time again He holds me, whispering His love toward me, His unsure child. Tender and compassionate, loving and merciful. What an awesome God we serve. He loves me. He accepts me and smiles at me. And He is smiling at you as well dear reader. He knows we are not perfect, will make mistakes and missteps. But that doesn't change Him and the way He looks at us. And His love does not depend on us.
For as long as I can remember I have struggles with rejection issues. I have always battled feelings that God, while He may love me because that is who He is and what He does, really doesn't nor couldn't like me all that much. But patient as He is, He continues to encourage me, and reassure me of His acceptance and approval.
A few years ago, He reminded me that all this is based on Jesus and not on myself. And that it was actually sin for me to doubt this love and acceptance of His. That being said, I still have to be reminded of this lesson on a regular basis. And I am truly grateful for His long-suffering in this area with me.
This week was no exception. I have this kinda performance mentality, you know how we think when things are hard or going wrong then I must be displeasing God in some way. He's sending those lightening bolts again!! But God had other ideas for my thinking and He came with a series of visits with His reassurance again !!
So here is the list and the order in which they came.
1) A couple of days ago, I went to my index card file and the one for the day was "And this is my beloved daughter in whom I am well pleased." This is based on Matt 3:17. I once read that since we are in Jesus, and when the Father pronounced this over Him, He was also pronouncing it over us. He sees us in Jesus.
2) Yesterday's "31 Days of Praise" was all about my robe of righteousness, given to me by the Lord. The Scripture verse being Isaiah 61:10 I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For He has dressed me in the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels.
3) And from "Enjoying the Closeness of God" (Roger C. Palms) I was up to the chapter on....God smiling ! In it spoke of the fact that many people, because they have trials and troubles think that God is not "smiling" on them. But the author reminded us that Jesus Himself went through much suffering and God was certainly pleased with Him. In fact, Isaiah 53:3 calls Jesus, "a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief". The absence or presence of tribulation is by no means an indicator of God's pleasure with us.
4) My book mark was on a page it shouldn't have been in "31 Days of Praise" (Ruth and Warren Meyers). But of course it was exactly where God wanted it. The big, bold Scripture verse taking up most of the page where my book mark lay was: Ps. 103:10-13 He does not punish us for all our sins, He does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For His unfailing love for those who fear Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from as us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him.
5) And then back to today's reading from "31 Days of Praise" "You accepted me in Your beloved Son, welcoming me into the everlasting love you have for Him...and now as Your child, You take me into Your arms and tell me that You love me." I can say this myself, making these words my own, because my heavenly Father is doing just that right now. There is even a beautiful poem included in the reading adapted from "A Mind at Perfect Peace" by Catesby Pagent.
Near, so very near to You
Nearer I could not be,
For in the Person of Your Son
I'm just as near as He!
Dear, so very dear to You,
I could not dearer be;
The love wherewith You loved
Your Son,
Such is Your love for me!
I thank the Lord for His infinite patience with me. And I am so grateful for His love. Time and time again He holds me, whispering His love toward me, His unsure child. Tender and compassionate, loving and merciful. What an awesome God we serve. He loves me. He accepts me and smiles at me. And He is smiling at you as well dear reader. He knows we are not perfect, will make mistakes and missteps. But that doesn't change Him and the way He looks at us. And His love does not depend on us.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Robe of righteousness
My old robe is so comfortable. I've had it for years. Its warm and cozy, a pretty blue shade that I love to wrap around me and snuggle in. As I read today's (actually I read yesterdays by "mistake" haha) devotion in "31 Days of Praise", I came across the phrase from Scripture "robe of righteousness", and I felt the Lord's prompting question--"What sins and bad habits do I cling to because they are comfortable?"
Of course one of the first things that come to mind is my bad eating habits. Because even though they are making me sick, I still use food for comfort and receive pleasure from eating the things that are not good for me. Both of these responses are temporary, but, ugh, that is a whole other topic LOL. Other things come to mind, like not following the Holy Spirit's promptings to do the right thing, say the right thing, not say the wrong thing...It is more comfortable to follow the crowd than risk rejection and ridicule. More comfortable to stay in the old robe than to walk in the beautiful new one Jesus has given me.
I love when God visits with these little questions geared toward spurring me on to higher living. And while change does not come overnight, slowly, steadily like a wave of the ocean creating a beautiful piece of sea glass that you collect from the shore, the Lord washes me, and tumbles me around (and some days it really does feel like I went through the washing machine !!) so that I become more like Jesus, more the treasure He designed me to be. I become His masterpiece, created in Jesus for good works.
Lord, change me. I want Jesus to be seen in me.
Is 61:10 I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God ! For He has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels.
My old robe is so comfortable. I've had it for years. Its warm and cozy, a pretty blue shade that I love to wrap around me and snuggle in. As I read today's (actually I read yesterdays by "mistake" haha) devotion in "31 Days of Praise", I came across the phrase from Scripture "robe of righteousness", and I felt the Lord's prompting question--"What sins and bad habits do I cling to because they are comfortable?"
Of course one of the first things that come to mind is my bad eating habits. Because even though they are making me sick, I still use food for comfort and receive pleasure from eating the things that are not good for me. Both of these responses are temporary, but, ugh, that is a whole other topic LOL. Other things come to mind, like not following the Holy Spirit's promptings to do the right thing, say the right thing, not say the wrong thing...It is more comfortable to follow the crowd than risk rejection and ridicule. More comfortable to stay in the old robe than to walk in the beautiful new one Jesus has given me.
I love when God visits with these little questions geared toward spurring me on to higher living. And while change does not come overnight, slowly, steadily like a wave of the ocean creating a beautiful piece of sea glass that you collect from the shore, the Lord washes me, and tumbles me around (and some days it really does feel like I went through the washing machine !!) so that I become more like Jesus, more the treasure He designed me to be. I become His masterpiece, created in Jesus for good works.
Lord, change me. I want Jesus to be seen in me.
Is 61:10 I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God ! For He has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels.
Resolutions
A wise friend once told me he doesn't use the New Year to make resolutions for himself like most people do. Instead, he prefers to use his birthday as the day to focus on the positive changes he wants to make in his life. It's the time of your own "New Year", is the way he looked at it. And this year for some reason the Lord brought this conversation to my remembrance and the idea resonated within me. I hadn't thought about his words in years, but this year on my 51st birthday they came back to me.
Recently, I was thinking about the new direction God wanted me to focus on for the upcoming New Year. Every year the Lord gives me specific areas He wants to work on in my life. Last year was the quality of mercy. (Still working on it !!!) And this year I could feel the Lord impressing on me His desire for me to be consistent. And this was to start on Dec. 5, my birthday, not Jan. 1 the celebrated New Year.
So here I go. Off on another quest for growth. Another voyage of evolution and hopefully maturation so that when I look in the mirror at the end of my 51st year I will see more of Jesus looking back at me.
Lord, thank You for the work You continually desire to do in us. Thank You that You never stop helping us grow and change. Please do the work in me that You desire. Help me to let go of the things that hinder and reach for the things that will make me soar!!
Friday, December 6, 2013
God visits.
Yesterday was my birthday. I had so many wonderful birthday wishes from so many people who love and care about me. My God visits on my birthday came thru each one of you who took a moment to think about me and send birthday wishes and blessings. I am really so very blessed. Thank you all. And thank You Lord.
Yesterday was my birthday. I had so many wonderful birthday wishes from so many people who love and care about me. My God visits on my birthday came thru each one of you who took a moment to think about me and send birthday wishes and blessings. I am really so very blessed. Thank you all. And thank You Lord.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Busyness or fruitfulness?
That is the question I heard in my heart as I was reading an article from the "In Touch" devotional. The study was titled "Faith In Works" and the caption for it read "If your deeds feel more like hard labor, find power and purpose through the Holy Spirit.
In the opening paragraphs it referenced Luke 13:10-17. This is the account of Jesus healing the woman who had been bent over for 18 years. I pictured the scene: Jesus in the temple, it was the Sabbath. People all around, listening to Him teach. And then this woman walks in, and He zeroes in on her. He could have continued teaching, ignoring her completely. Or He could have just waited til He was done with His speaking, and then focused on her. But no. He stopped what He was doing and made her the center of His attention. And He met her need. He healed her. And that is the difference between busyness and fruitfulness.
It got me to thinking, how much of my time is spent merely busy. Is what I am doing being done with the attitude to honor God? To be a blessing? Or is it just to get things done, do my Christian duty. When God looks at me does He see fruitfulness? Jesus took time to care for people. What am I caring for? Is it pride in my accomplishments for the day? "Look at this 'to do' list and how many items I crossed off it today. Whohoo! Yaay me!"
I want God to look at me and see fruit. I think if I am focusing on honoring Him, doing the good works that He prepared for me beforehand, not what I think I should do then I will be fruitful and fulfilled and peaceful. And He will be glorified. This seems to be dovetailing with the recent discoveries of being who God designed me to be. I seem to be learning about this a lot lately. I hope through these post you dear reader are too. That in your life you are seeing where God is leading you. And feeling the joy and peace of being the YOU he created.
All this from one little question that God visited me with....Thank You Lord for these little nudges in our spirits. We really need them. Let Your will be done in my life and in all our lives, that You may receive the glory and honor from the fruit produced.
That is the question I heard in my heart as I was reading an article from the "In Touch" devotional. The study was titled "Faith In Works" and the caption for it read "If your deeds feel more like hard labor, find power and purpose through the Holy Spirit.
In the opening paragraphs it referenced Luke 13:10-17. This is the account of Jesus healing the woman who had been bent over for 18 years. I pictured the scene: Jesus in the temple, it was the Sabbath. People all around, listening to Him teach. And then this woman walks in, and He zeroes in on her. He could have continued teaching, ignoring her completely. Or He could have just waited til He was done with His speaking, and then focused on her. But no. He stopped what He was doing and made her the center of His attention. And He met her need. He healed her. And that is the difference between busyness and fruitfulness.
It got me to thinking, how much of my time is spent merely busy. Is what I am doing being done with the attitude to honor God? To be a blessing? Or is it just to get things done, do my Christian duty. When God looks at me does He see fruitfulness? Jesus took time to care for people. What am I caring for? Is it pride in my accomplishments for the day? "Look at this 'to do' list and how many items I crossed off it today. Whohoo! Yaay me!"
I want God to look at me and see fruit. I think if I am focusing on honoring Him, doing the good works that He prepared for me beforehand, not what I think I should do then I will be fruitful and fulfilled and peaceful. And He will be glorified. This seems to be dovetailing with the recent discoveries of being who God designed me to be. I seem to be learning about this a lot lately. I hope through these post you dear reader are too. That in your life you are seeing where God is leading you. And feeling the joy and peace of being the YOU he created.
All this from one little question that God visited me with....Thank You Lord for these little nudges in our spirits. We really need them. Let Your will be done in my life and in all our lives, that You may receive the glory and honor from the fruit produced.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Decorating
All the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season is here. Sometimes I have felt maybe I am not supposed to be so involved in the "stuff" of the season. I love to decorate the house, EVERY room gets something! And sometimes I have felt that maybe that was missing the reason. I feel like all you hear sometimes is that Christians aren't supposed to be part of the craziness, we are supposed to remember the reason for the season and all that. And it's true....we are supposed to be Jesus centered.
But you know what, as I was decking my halls, it came to me...I am being Jesus centered, in the way HE designed me to be. Just like caring for His creation by working with the cats, I am honoring Him by my decorating because it is for HIS birthday that I am celebrating. As He created me to care for the animals, so too, He created me to be artistic and express that part of me. I don't have to be like other Christians who choose not to go all out. I can be me!! And being me honors God, because He is the one who made me.
As that came over me I was so honored and awed to be able to celebrate His birth and make a home that rejoiced in it. I was so thankful, once again that the Lord gave me permission to be myself. The self He designed me to be. I believe this is all part of living out Hebrews 13:21 where it says: make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. As long as I am following His plan for my life, who I am specifically, what I am to be, and how He fashioned my make up to work I am glorifying Jesus and well pleasing in His sight.
It is said that we all walk to the beat of different drums. And I believe that is true. I believe it is how our Creator desired it to be. Lord, help me to encourage others to be what You want them to be, as You are encouraging me. You have such a multifaceted plan for all of us, and that plan comes together as a beautiful tapestry when each of us is walking in the way you precise, individual path you destined for each of us. Thank You. You are amazing.
http://youtu.be/-fgen24eKiM
All the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season is here. Sometimes I have felt maybe I am not supposed to be so involved in the "stuff" of the season. I love to decorate the house, EVERY room gets something! And sometimes I have felt that maybe that was missing the reason. I feel like all you hear sometimes is that Christians aren't supposed to be part of the craziness, we are supposed to remember the reason for the season and all that. And it's true....we are supposed to be Jesus centered.
But you know what, as I was decking my halls, it came to me...I am being Jesus centered, in the way HE designed me to be. Just like caring for His creation by working with the cats, I am honoring Him by my decorating because it is for HIS birthday that I am celebrating. As He created me to care for the animals, so too, He created me to be artistic and express that part of me. I don't have to be like other Christians who choose not to go all out. I can be me!! And being me honors God, because He is the one who made me.
As that came over me I was so honored and awed to be able to celebrate His birth and make a home that rejoiced in it. I was so thankful, once again that the Lord gave me permission to be myself. The self He designed me to be. I believe this is all part of living out Hebrews 13:21 where it says: make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. As long as I am following His plan for my life, who I am specifically, what I am to be, and how He fashioned my make up to work I am glorifying Jesus and well pleasing in His sight.
It is said that we all walk to the beat of different drums. And I believe that is true. I believe it is how our Creator desired it to be. Lord, help me to encourage others to be what You want them to be, as You are encouraging me. You have such a multifaceted plan for all of us, and that plan comes together as a beautiful tapestry when each of us is walking in the way you precise, individual path you destined for each of us. Thank You. You are amazing.
http://youtu.be/-fgen24eKiM
More thankful.
I came across some more spiritual blessings to be thankful for. The Lord has been drawing me to the book of Ephesians for some time now. And I was just skimming the 1st chapter when I came across some wonderful blessings to be grateful for. ( I am guessing if we did this with most chapters of the Bible we would find a ton of them in each book !!)
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has BLESSED US WITH EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING in the heavenly places in Christ.
v4: just as HE CHOSE US IN HIM before the foundation of the world, that we WOULD BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLAME BEFORE HIM IN LOVE,
v5: having PREDESTINED US TO ADOPTION AS SONS by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
v6: to the praise of the glory of His grace by which HE MADE US ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED.
v7: In Him we HAVE REDEMPTION through His blood, the FORGIVENESS OF SINS, according to the RICHES OF HIS GRACE
v9: Having MADE KNOWN TO US THE MYSTERY OF HIS WILL, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself.
v11 In Him also, WE HAVE OBTAINED AN INHERITANCE, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.
v13: In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation in whom also, having believed, YOU WERE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE.
Every spiritual blessing, holy and blameless, adopted, accepted, redeemed, forgiven, included, inheriting, sealed. Lord, I am truly blessed and I thank You.
You in Your kindness toward me have done all this. Lord, the next time I am inclined to complain and gripe please bring me back to this, back to Your Word and Your blessings and Your promises.
Ephesians 2:7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
I came across some more spiritual blessings to be thankful for. The Lord has been drawing me to the book of Ephesians for some time now. And I was just skimming the 1st chapter when I came across some wonderful blessings to be grateful for. ( I am guessing if we did this with most chapters of the Bible we would find a ton of them in each book !!)
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has BLESSED US WITH EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING in the heavenly places in Christ.
v4: just as HE CHOSE US IN HIM before the foundation of the world, that we WOULD BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLAME BEFORE HIM IN LOVE,
v5: having PREDESTINED US TO ADOPTION AS SONS by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
v6: to the praise of the glory of His grace by which HE MADE US ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED.
v7: In Him we HAVE REDEMPTION through His blood, the FORGIVENESS OF SINS, according to the RICHES OF HIS GRACE
v9: Having MADE KNOWN TO US THE MYSTERY OF HIS WILL, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself.
v11 In Him also, WE HAVE OBTAINED AN INHERITANCE, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.
v13: In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation in whom also, having believed, YOU WERE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE.
Every spiritual blessing, holy and blameless, adopted, accepted, redeemed, forgiven, included, inheriting, sealed. Lord, I am truly blessed and I thank You.
You in Your kindness toward me have done all this. Lord, the next time I am inclined to complain and gripe please bring me back to this, back to Your Word and Your blessings and Your promises.
Ephesians 2:7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Thankful
I have so many things to be grateful for. The normal things we all say, like family, friends, salvation, warm home, full frig, a job...But I wonder how many things I miss. Mainly I am talking about the spiritual blessings. I wonder how many little things happen every day that help me to be more of what God purposed for me to be that I miss. Opportunities for growth, opportunities to bear fruit for the kingdom. Little kindnesses performed that the Lord allows me to participate in that show His love to another. I wonder how many times I may have had a little victory that went unnoticed that caused me to grow closer to being like Jesus. When I help someone, do I say thank You Lord for showing your kindness thru me. When I praise God during I trial, am I grateful that I am acting more like Jesus, exhibiting His fruit.
I spend time praying for the Lord to work in me, to change me, to help me grow. Yet I think that I fail to recognize the methods He uses in answering that prayer. And because of that I unintentionally fail to be grateful.
I don't know if this will make sense to anyone. I only blogged today to express my thanks to the Lord for His goodness in my life. Where the rest of this came from, well I would say I don't know, but I think we all know it must be the Lord.
So, I say it now Lord, thank You for the spiritual training and growth that You do in me every day. I have so many physical blessings and I am very thankful for them all. Help me to see You at work spiritually as well, so I can say thankful for those as well. Thank you for using me in Your plans. I am so honored.
Happy Thanksgiving all!
I have so many things to be grateful for. The normal things we all say, like family, friends, salvation, warm home, full frig, a job...But I wonder how many things I miss. Mainly I am talking about the spiritual blessings. I wonder how many little things happen every day that help me to be more of what God purposed for me to be that I miss. Opportunities for growth, opportunities to bear fruit for the kingdom. Little kindnesses performed that the Lord allows me to participate in that show His love to another. I wonder how many times I may have had a little victory that went unnoticed that caused me to grow closer to being like Jesus. When I help someone, do I say thank You Lord for showing your kindness thru me. When I praise God during I trial, am I grateful that I am acting more like Jesus, exhibiting His fruit.
I spend time praying for the Lord to work in me, to change me, to help me grow. Yet I think that I fail to recognize the methods He uses in answering that prayer. And because of that I unintentionally fail to be grateful.
I don't know if this will make sense to anyone. I only blogged today to express my thanks to the Lord for His goodness in my life. Where the rest of this came from, well I would say I don't know, but I think we all know it must be the Lord.
So, I say it now Lord, thank You for the spiritual training and growth that You do in me every day. I have so many physical blessings and I am very thankful for them all. Help me to see You at work spiritually as well, so I can say thankful for those as well. Thank you for using me in Your plans. I am so honored.
Happy Thanksgiving all!
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Accept the you God created. And rejoice in it.
The greatest gift has been given to me thru a dear sister in the Lord. She gave me the gift to accept and rejoice in who God made me to be.
As long as I remember, I have had a love for animals. All of them. Dogs, cats, horses, hamsters, bunnies, whatever. And I have always wanted to work with them, help them in some way. I would have a hundred in my house if I could!!
So, life gets going, dreams drift away in the responsibilties, bad decisions and just the everyday living of life. I have mentioned this desire over the years to people. And have heard things like, "maybe you can use working with animals to help people", or (and this is a big one I've heard often), " you love animals more than people". And these things have come from Christians and people close to me. I am sure they did not intend to demean my hearts desires, but it always made me feel "less than" in who I am.
For the last couple of years, I have been taking care of a feral cat colony. And the last couple of months I have been helping out at a local kitten shelter. I have been so happy and fulfilled in doing these things. It's as if I found my fit!! If you can imagine being happy cleaning out kitten cages, well you know you have to be given a special love for them, as the littlest kittens can make the biggest messes ! LOL
But again, those old words spoken to me rise up in my head, and I think, maybe this isn't important, maybe it's not what God intends my life to be about...I mean how could it, isn't it supposed to be about spreading the kingdom, saving people, helping others???
And then the words spoken to me by my dear sister: "Seems to me your path is leading to being a caretaker of God's animals on this earth...kinda like what Adam and Eve were supposed to do way back when!"
She also said, " If something gives us joy and peace, then ultimately it gives Him honor because we are better human beings and show that we are in tune with what He wants us to do...does that make sense?
And it just clicked. I am doing what God created me for. He is the one who gave me this heart. He is the one who desired and designed people to care for ALL of His creation. He gave certain people that task. He gives different gifts to different people, but they are ALL His gifts!! And there is nothing, absolutely nothing "less than" about His gift and purpose for me!! I am being who He meant me to be. That honors my Father. And I am so grateful to have received this.
Are there other things I enjoy doing, that involve helping people? Absolutely. Do I know I have to remain in balance? Definitely. Do I need to keep growing and refining the giftings God has given me? Of course.
Two things to take from this experience. First, those things that come naturally to us, the things that make our hearts sing and rejoice, they are, I believe the gifts that God has given us to use for His purposes. Take the time to get to know them. And secondly, if you are struggling with something, know it is not in vain. As my friend came upon this wonderfully insightful wisdom during her time of struggling and shared it with me, giving me one of the greatest blessings of my life, so too your trials and testings may be just what someone else needs to be helped. God uses everything in our lives. I am grateful for her obedience in sending me this email as the Holy Spirit prompted her.
It is so releasing and joyful to just accept who I was created to be. And as I go to take care of God's creatures, I go with a new purpose, a new mission...to honor and obey Him.
I end this with something else my wise friend said: "so let go of the things you think you "should do", hold lightly to the things you "must do" and embrace the things in your heart of hearts you want to do!"
Lord, please bless this beautiful lady with joy and peace in You. Let her know Your love more deeply today. Help her to hold onto Your hand. And work all things out as they should in her day. Keep her safe. We need her here!!!
The greatest gift has been given to me thru a dear sister in the Lord. She gave me the gift to accept and rejoice in who God made me to be.
As long as I remember, I have had a love for animals. All of them. Dogs, cats, horses, hamsters, bunnies, whatever. And I have always wanted to work with them, help them in some way. I would have a hundred in my house if I could!!
So, life gets going, dreams drift away in the responsibilties, bad decisions and just the everyday living of life. I have mentioned this desire over the years to people. And have heard things like, "maybe you can use working with animals to help people", or (and this is a big one I've heard often), " you love animals more than people". And these things have come from Christians and people close to me. I am sure they did not intend to demean my hearts desires, but it always made me feel "less than" in who I am.
For the last couple of years, I have been taking care of a feral cat colony. And the last couple of months I have been helping out at a local kitten shelter. I have been so happy and fulfilled in doing these things. It's as if I found my fit!! If you can imagine being happy cleaning out kitten cages, well you know you have to be given a special love for them, as the littlest kittens can make the biggest messes ! LOL
But again, those old words spoken to me rise up in my head, and I think, maybe this isn't important, maybe it's not what God intends my life to be about...I mean how could it, isn't it supposed to be about spreading the kingdom, saving people, helping others???
And then the words spoken to me by my dear sister: "Seems to me your path is leading to being a caretaker of God's animals on this earth...kinda like what Adam and Eve were supposed to do way back when!"
She also said, " If something gives us joy and peace, then ultimately it gives Him honor because we are better human beings and show that we are in tune with what He wants us to do...does that make sense?
And it just clicked. I am doing what God created me for. He is the one who gave me this heart. He is the one who desired and designed people to care for ALL of His creation. He gave certain people that task. He gives different gifts to different people, but they are ALL His gifts!! And there is nothing, absolutely nothing "less than" about His gift and purpose for me!! I am being who He meant me to be. That honors my Father. And I am so grateful to have received this.
Are there other things I enjoy doing, that involve helping people? Absolutely. Do I know I have to remain in balance? Definitely. Do I need to keep growing and refining the giftings God has given me? Of course.
Two things to take from this experience. First, those things that come naturally to us, the things that make our hearts sing and rejoice, they are, I believe the gifts that God has given us to use for His purposes. Take the time to get to know them. And secondly, if you are struggling with something, know it is not in vain. As my friend came upon this wonderfully insightful wisdom during her time of struggling and shared it with me, giving me one of the greatest blessings of my life, so too your trials and testings may be just what someone else needs to be helped. God uses everything in our lives. I am grateful for her obedience in sending me this email as the Holy Spirit prompted her.
It is so releasing and joyful to just accept who I was created to be. And as I go to take care of God's creatures, I go with a new purpose, a new mission...to honor and obey Him.
I end this with something else my wise friend said: "so let go of the things you think you "should do", hold lightly to the things you "must do" and embrace the things in your heart of hearts you want to do!"
Lord, please bless this beautiful lady with joy and peace in You. Let her know Your love more deeply today. Help her to hold onto Your hand. And work all things out as they should in her day. Keep her safe. We need her here!!!
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Amazing
I had to include this song on the blog. Yesterday was a very stressful day. I really had too much to do, and could not seem to focus on anything, including the Lord. I had heard this song the day before and wanted to post it, but of course by the time I got home from work, I had forgotten what the name of the song was. When I finally thought about it again yesterday morning I was frustrated because I could not recall it. (guess it was one of those things that fell out of my head when I overloaded it with all the other items to remember for the day). Anyway, I just pulled into Stop and Shop to do some grocery shopping and there it was on the radio again!! I was so happy and it was so nice to just take a minute out of the craziness to focus on and worship the Lord. I really needed this little visit with Him. I also wrote the name of the song down, lest I forget again!! I hope you enjoy listening to it and it blesses your day while you focus on our amazing God
I had to include this song on the blog. Yesterday was a very stressful day. I really had too much to do, and could not seem to focus on anything, including the Lord. I had heard this song the day before and wanted to post it, but of course by the time I got home from work, I had forgotten what the name of the song was. When I finally thought about it again yesterday morning I was frustrated because I could not recall it. (guess it was one of those things that fell out of my head when I overloaded it with all the other items to remember for the day). Anyway, I just pulled into Stop and Shop to do some grocery shopping and there it was on the radio again!! I was so happy and it was so nice to just take a minute out of the craziness to focus on and worship the Lord. I really needed this little visit with Him. I also wrote the name of the song down, lest I forget again!! I hope you enjoy listening to it and it blesses your day while you focus on our amazing God
Friday, November 22, 2013
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Blessed Victory
God really does come through on His promises. After applying the things Jesus has been teaching me in His visits lately, I can honestly say I am more at peace during my work day and getting closer to calmness during the rest of my day.
As I take time for a quick visit via my Scripture cards (you know, the little index cards many of us write out and stick in our bags or cars or pockets then forget to look at) it helps me to refocus on Him and His principles. This brings a little measure of peace into my day. It's like I can just take a breath and feel....aaaahhhhh, calmer. And as the Holy Spirit reminds me, Jesus is by my side. This helps my attitude to improve while doing my job. He has also been mentioning that I need to be doing all things as unto Him. It certainly makes me want to do things with a sense of honoring Him. When I do this, even the smallest of jobs, or kindnesses become a privilege and an honor to do. I know I have a ways to go yet, but I am so excited about this progress. He is so good.
As I sat in my truck on lunch last night, reading the latest Joel Osteen book, Jesus sat with me and it was almost like He started a conversation with me. We reminisced about all those years ago, sitting in the same parking lot, alone or with coworkers, in a substance abuse induced stupor. I was reminded how different things were now and such peace and gladness enveloped me. I have such a quiet gratitude for my deliverance. This was just the sweetest visit.
Lord, thank You for progress, great and small. Please continue to work with me and each of us toward the goal of becoming like Jesus. Be glorified.
God really does come through on His promises. After applying the things Jesus has been teaching me in His visits lately, I can honestly say I am more at peace during my work day and getting closer to calmness during the rest of my day.
As I take time for a quick visit via my Scripture cards (you know, the little index cards many of us write out and stick in our bags or cars or pockets then forget to look at) it helps me to refocus on Him and His principles. This brings a little measure of peace into my day. It's like I can just take a breath and feel....aaaahhhhh, calmer. And as the Holy Spirit reminds me, Jesus is by my side. This helps my attitude to improve while doing my job. He has also been mentioning that I need to be doing all things as unto Him. It certainly makes me want to do things with a sense of honoring Him. When I do this, even the smallest of jobs, or kindnesses become a privilege and an honor to do. I know I have a ways to go yet, but I am so excited about this progress. He is so good.
As I sat in my truck on lunch last night, reading the latest Joel Osteen book, Jesus sat with me and it was almost like He started a conversation with me. We reminisced about all those years ago, sitting in the same parking lot, alone or with coworkers, in a substance abuse induced stupor. I was reminded how different things were now and such peace and gladness enveloped me. I have such a quiet gratitude for my deliverance. This was just the sweetest visit.
Lord, thank You for progress, great and small. Please continue to work with me and each of us toward the goal of becoming like Jesus. Be glorified.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Hungry?
John 6:57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.
I kind of see this verse as a continuing visit with Jesus. How do I "feed" on Him? How do I consistently visit with Jesus? How do I live?
The Word. I need to be in the Word regularly, routinely, and persistently. It can not be a hit or miss kind of practice. I spoke of this a few posts back. I wouldn't be comfortable or healthy if I didn't eat at regular intervals, neither can I be a healthy Christian if I am not in the Word frequently.
Next, I need to be focusing my thoughts toward Your presence. Am I remembering You are with Me? Your Word tells me on numerous occasions that You will never leave me. Am I recalling this as I go through my day? Am I praying and talking to you as my day unfolds?
And lastly, am I thinking about what You would do or say in whatever situation I am in. If I am in constant communion with You, I will have access to this information. You will lead me.
If I am not "feeding" on You, I will become a weak, malnourished Christian. With that condition comes susceptibility to spiritual disease and apathy because I have no spiritual energy. I have cut myself off from my food...You. Like a physical body dies without food, so our spirit dies without feeding on Christ. And this food, is something you can never overeat !! No dieting needed here !! And like a good meal, Jesus is best when shared !!
Lord, let me feed on You every moment of my day. Let me draw my strength and direction from Your presence by my side, in me and around me.
John 6:57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.
I kind of see this verse as a continuing visit with Jesus. How do I "feed" on Him? How do I consistently visit with Jesus? How do I live?
The Word. I need to be in the Word regularly, routinely, and persistently. It can not be a hit or miss kind of practice. I spoke of this a few posts back. I wouldn't be comfortable or healthy if I didn't eat at regular intervals, neither can I be a healthy Christian if I am not in the Word frequently.
Next, I need to be focusing my thoughts toward Your presence. Am I remembering You are with Me? Your Word tells me on numerous occasions that You will never leave me. Am I recalling this as I go through my day? Am I praying and talking to you as my day unfolds?
And lastly, am I thinking about what You would do or say in whatever situation I am in. If I am in constant communion with You, I will have access to this information. You will lead me.
If I am not "feeding" on You, I will become a weak, malnourished Christian. With that condition comes susceptibility to spiritual disease and apathy because I have no spiritual energy. I have cut myself off from my food...You. Like a physical body dies without food, so our spirit dies without feeding on Christ. And this food, is something you can never overeat !! No dieting needed here !! And like a good meal, Jesus is best when shared !!
Lord, let me feed on You every moment of my day. Let me draw my strength and direction from Your presence by my side, in me and around me.
Self control
Self control, that phrase we hate but all want!! It's the gift of the Spirit that seems out of reach for many of us, myself included. And 2 days ago God had a little talk with me about this self-control thing and the necessity of it for accomplishing His purpose in my life.
I was reading "Enjoying the Closeness of God" by Roger C. Palms and he brought up an interesting way of looking at self-control. He stated that we can see self- control as an adventure and something that when done, is able to create a sense of accomplishment in us. And really, isn't it the truth. I thought about days when I eat all the right things and how good I felt at the end of that day. Or when I held my tongue instead of blasting someone for annoying me. It feels (after the initial anger subsides) so much better not to have that guilt and embarrassment of having to apologize for spouting off over nonsense. And it feels great knowing that I listened and obeyed God! I do get that sense of accomplishment.
I can only fully become what God intends me to be when I live completely with Him and for Him. Self-indulgence gets in the way of this. And that is where self-control comes in.
When Jesus was led into the wilderness, He could of at any time supplied His own need, given up and walked out or walked away, but He didn't and He emerged fully being what He was meant to be. By exhibiting self-control, He became ready to fulfill His purpose and accomplish the will of the Father. He was ready for ministry! Through the testing and the tempting, He was shown to be the overcomer we needed, the one to fulfill the unique purpose God ordained for Him.
Likewise, when I walk in the gift of self-control (following the leading of the Spirit), I become the person my Father designed me to be, ready and able to fulfill the unique purpose He has for me as well.
Areas I need to exhibit this self-control in? MOUTH: I need to watch what I say
ATTITUDE: Pride, impatience, self righteousness, unkindness....EATING: Am I taking proper care of God's temple so it is usable for Him?
From the author, "If we are going to be any kind of light to a rebellious, disobedient and undisciplined world, it will be only as we discipline ourselves under God's command and allow Him to demonstrate to the world that true experience of happiness that comes from obedience"
So the questions comes; Does my life cause others to believe? Does my lack of self-control cause others to disdain Jesus?
Lord, help me to walk in self-control. Let me not fulfill the desires of the flesh, but live for and by the Spirit. Let my life look like You. In John 5:19, Jesus stated: "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son does also in like manner". Lord, let the same be said of me. I can do nothing of myself, but let me imitate You through Your power of self-control. Thank You.
Self control, that phrase we hate but all want!! It's the gift of the Spirit that seems out of reach for many of us, myself included. And 2 days ago God had a little talk with me about this self-control thing and the necessity of it for accomplishing His purpose in my life.
I was reading "Enjoying the Closeness of God" by Roger C. Palms and he brought up an interesting way of looking at self-control. He stated that we can see self- control as an adventure and something that when done, is able to create a sense of accomplishment in us. And really, isn't it the truth. I thought about days when I eat all the right things and how good I felt at the end of that day. Or when I held my tongue instead of blasting someone for annoying me. It feels (after the initial anger subsides) so much better not to have that guilt and embarrassment of having to apologize for spouting off over nonsense. And it feels great knowing that I listened and obeyed God! I do get that sense of accomplishment.
I can only fully become what God intends me to be when I live completely with Him and for Him. Self-indulgence gets in the way of this. And that is where self-control comes in.
When Jesus was led into the wilderness, He could of at any time supplied His own need, given up and walked out or walked away, but He didn't and He emerged fully being what He was meant to be. By exhibiting self-control, He became ready to fulfill His purpose and accomplish the will of the Father. He was ready for ministry! Through the testing and the tempting, He was shown to be the overcomer we needed, the one to fulfill the unique purpose God ordained for Him.
Likewise, when I walk in the gift of self-control (following the leading of the Spirit), I become the person my Father designed me to be, ready and able to fulfill the unique purpose He has for me as well.
Areas I need to exhibit this self-control in? MOUTH: I need to watch what I say
ATTITUDE: Pride, impatience, self righteousness, unkindness....EATING: Am I taking proper care of God's temple so it is usable for Him?
From the author, "If we are going to be any kind of light to a rebellious, disobedient and undisciplined world, it will be only as we discipline ourselves under God's command and allow Him to demonstrate to the world that true experience of happiness that comes from obedience"
So the questions comes; Does my life cause others to believe? Does my lack of self-control cause others to disdain Jesus?
Lord, help me to walk in self-control. Let me not fulfill the desires of the flesh, but live for and by the Spirit. Let my life look like You. In John 5:19, Jesus stated: "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son does also in like manner". Lord, let the same be said of me. I can do nothing of myself, but let me imitate You through Your power of self-control. Thank You.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Luke 5:16 So He Himself, often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
This was the verse from 31 Days of Praise that I worked on this morning. As I meditated and prayed about this verse, jotting down my thoughts, I was once again reminded of Romans 8:29 where we are told that we are predestined to be like Jesus.
I thought to myself, I too wanted and needed these quiet, solitary times of communion with my Father. And Jesus was the example I am to follow in this area as well. So I prayed. I prayed that I would have the continuing desire for these times and that I would be like Jesus in this.
And then the phone rang.....as it always does when you are having these wonderful revelation times with the Lord!! Luckily, it was a quick conversation, but I did decide to check out the verse of the day from my Bible App (I think it's called the Daily Bible, and it's only on the Android phones, but it's a great app to download).
And the verse was......da da da daaaaa:
Philippians 1:6 being confident of the very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
(and yes, you need to make the trumpet sounds !!! LOL)
Is that not an amazing answer to my prayer? And not only was it an answer to my previous prayer, it is the answer to the next one I would pray, which was based on Isaiah 50:4 The Lord has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear.
I pray for a learned tongue and a listening ear driven by compassion.
Oh, I am so far from that place. And carving out time in an already overloaded schedule for peaceful separateness with the Lord is sometimes seemingly impossible, but the encouragement of that verse is exactly what I needed to be reminded that God is at work in me and is answering my prayers. I don't know what your life looks like, but I know if it is like mine, it is probably "under construction" and "behind schedule". But I think that is exactly where and when God does His best work...and He is working. He assures us of that!!
Lord, draw us away from the hectic chaos of life to your quiet presence, that we may be refreshed and renewed and learn to share that refreshment with others around us. Thank You that You are at work and will not give up until Your plan for us has been completed.
This was the verse from 31 Days of Praise that I worked on this morning. As I meditated and prayed about this verse, jotting down my thoughts, I was once again reminded of Romans 8:29 where we are told that we are predestined to be like Jesus.
I thought to myself, I too wanted and needed these quiet, solitary times of communion with my Father. And Jesus was the example I am to follow in this area as well. So I prayed. I prayed that I would have the continuing desire for these times and that I would be like Jesus in this.
And then the phone rang.....as it always does when you are having these wonderful revelation times with the Lord!! Luckily, it was a quick conversation, but I did decide to check out the verse of the day from my Bible App (I think it's called the Daily Bible, and it's only on the Android phones, but it's a great app to download).
And the verse was......da da da daaaaa:
Philippians 1:6 being confident of the very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
(and yes, you need to make the trumpet sounds !!! LOL)
Is that not an amazing answer to my prayer? And not only was it an answer to my previous prayer, it is the answer to the next one I would pray, which was based on Isaiah 50:4 The Lord has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear.
I pray for a learned tongue and a listening ear driven by compassion.
Oh, I am so far from that place. And carving out time in an already overloaded schedule for peaceful separateness with the Lord is sometimes seemingly impossible, but the encouragement of that verse is exactly what I needed to be reminded that God is at work in me and is answering my prayers. I don't know what your life looks like, but I know if it is like mine, it is probably "under construction" and "behind schedule". But I think that is exactly where and when God does His best work...and He is working. He assures us of that!!
Lord, draw us away from the hectic chaos of life to your quiet presence, that we may be refreshed and renewed and learn to share that refreshment with others around us. Thank You that You are at work and will not give up until Your plan for us has been completed.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Building a house.
I got this great picture from Jesus today. The Scripture reference was Matthew 7:24-28:
I got this great picture from Jesus today. The Scripture reference was Matthew 7:24-28:
24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.
I could picture a person sitting on a rock(a very large, almost island sized rock). And all around the person were building blocks. And the person was just sitting there, guess he was contemplating the blocks!! Jesus is the Rock. He is that person's Salvation. His teachings and words are building blocks given to the person for his use.
If the man just sits there on the Rock, doing nothing, he is leaving himself open to the winds, the floods, the torrents of the world and Satan and he will ultimately fall. But if the man picks up (obeys) the building blocks and and creates around himself a house of Jesus' teaching then he will be protected from the elements that would topple a disobedient man.
We can't just sit there. We have to obey His words. Wouldn't it be nice to just "sit there on Jesus, la la la, here I am sitting on Jesus, all is well" and never have to do a thing? But that is not what we are being taught. Jesus says we stand because we obey.
I just wanted to share this really cool picture that God gave me this morning. Hope you can picture it as well and it gives you a desire for obedience as it did me.
Complaining.
Seems I've been doing a lot of it lately. For whatever reason, complaining seems to come a lot more naturally than gratefulness. And I find that very frustrating and annoying!! Today I just had to repent (again) of this attitude and ask for God's help in changing this really really bad habit. And talk about an answer to prayer....Right after asking for forgiveness and help I read Day 27 in "31 Days of Praise". The very first paragraph: "Lord, I extol you for Your great power toward us who believe...You are able to do infinitely beyond all our highest prayers or thoughts. Nothing is impossible with You!" What a wonderful answer to my desire to lose the complaining lips !! Does this mean that not only will I be speaking thankfulness, but infinite thankfulness and praise? Multitude of gratitude. Plenitude of praise. LOL I love the thought of that.
Even more confirmation was given on my run this morning as well. I was listening to Joyce M's teaching on living without frustration and she spoke on God doing the changing in us instead of me trying and trying and failing and failing. I am not on a self improvement quest, but a God changing me from glory to glory path.
And the visiting continues....today's Bible verse from my phone app...For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Romans 8:29 One of my favorite verses! It's always 8:28 that gets all the play, but this verse gives us the reason and the final outcome of God working all things out for our good. And that is an outcome that I really look forward to and desire with all my heat...to become like Jesus.
He chose me to become like Jesus. And He is working to make me so. And I am grateful that it does not depend on me, because that would just be a complete disaster!
And yet, O Lord, You are our Father. We are the clay and You are the Potter. We are all formed by Your hand. Isaiah 64:8
O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand. Jeremiah 18:6
I am so grateful Lord, that You do not give up and that You keep working to change me (even when I don't see it happening, it is). Thank You for this encouragement. Help me to keep cooperating with You and please let my words and speech honor You more and more each day.
Seems I've been doing a lot of it lately. For whatever reason, complaining seems to come a lot more naturally than gratefulness. And I find that very frustrating and annoying!! Today I just had to repent (again) of this attitude and ask for God's help in changing this really really bad habit. And talk about an answer to prayer....Right after asking for forgiveness and help I read Day 27 in "31 Days of Praise". The very first paragraph: "Lord, I extol you for Your great power toward us who believe...You are able to do infinitely beyond all our highest prayers or thoughts. Nothing is impossible with You!" What a wonderful answer to my desire to lose the complaining lips !! Does this mean that not only will I be speaking thankfulness, but infinite thankfulness and praise? Multitude of gratitude. Plenitude of praise. LOL I love the thought of that.
Even more confirmation was given on my run this morning as well. I was listening to Joyce M's teaching on living without frustration and she spoke on God doing the changing in us instead of me trying and trying and failing and failing. I am not on a self improvement quest, but a God changing me from glory to glory path.
And the visiting continues....today's Bible verse from my phone app...For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Romans 8:29 One of my favorite verses! It's always 8:28 that gets all the play, but this verse gives us the reason and the final outcome of God working all things out for our good. And that is an outcome that I really look forward to and desire with all my heat...to become like Jesus.
He chose me to become like Jesus. And He is working to make me so. And I am grateful that it does not depend on me, because that would just be a complete disaster!
And yet, O Lord, You are our Father. We are the clay and You are the Potter. We are all formed by Your hand. Isaiah 64:8
O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand. Jeremiah 18:6
I am so grateful Lord, that You do not give up and that You keep working to change me (even when I don't see it happening, it is). Thank You for this encouragement. Help me to keep cooperating with You and please let my words and speech honor You more and more each day.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Check list
Is spending time with God, visiting with Him and Him with me, just something to cross off my "to do" list?
I just started reading a book "Enjoying the Closeness of God" by Roger C. Palms. And not one page into it this was what was glaring out from the page at me!! I had prayed before hand that the Lord would use this book to draw me to Himself and to make me more fruitful for His work. I really want to enjoy and sense His presence in my life. I want those times of visiting to be constant and consistent !!
The author was speaking of a visit he had made to Notre Dame Cathedral and how the intense tourist activity made it a very noisy visit. He spoke of one couple in particular, and it is that passage with God used to speak to me.
"The man had a checklist in his hand. As they stopped into the sun light, the man asked his wife, 'was that the cathedral of Notre Dame?'
She answered that is was, with that confirmation, he took out his pencil,
ticked off that item on his out list, and they hurried away."
It hit me so strongly. Is this what my time with Jesus is? Something to be marked off my "to do" list? I really think in some ways this is the case. It's not that I don't enjoy my time with the Lord, but it does tend to get lumped into the to do list category. And oh, how I am so sorry for that and do not want it to be that way at all.
Instead, I want it to be something I am looking forward to, like sitting down with a dear friend for coffee and talk. A peaceful interlude to start or interrupt my day. A time of closeness and solitude with the Lord. And it can be and is all those things, but I want to get it off the "to do" list mentality. I think God wants me to start seeing our time together, our visits in a different light. And I want to also.
Lord, help me to have to proper perspective of our time together. It is the most special time of my day and I want to look at it in the right way, with the right heart. Thank You for correcting this attitude in me.
Is spending time with God, visiting with Him and Him with me, just something to cross off my "to do" list?
I just started reading a book "Enjoying the Closeness of God" by Roger C. Palms. And not one page into it this was what was glaring out from the page at me!! I had prayed before hand that the Lord would use this book to draw me to Himself and to make me more fruitful for His work. I really want to enjoy and sense His presence in my life. I want those times of visiting to be constant and consistent !!
The author was speaking of a visit he had made to Notre Dame Cathedral and how the intense tourist activity made it a very noisy visit. He spoke of one couple in particular, and it is that passage with God used to speak to me.
"The man had a checklist in his hand. As they stopped into the sun light, the man asked his wife, 'was that the cathedral of Notre Dame?'
She answered that is was, with that confirmation, he took out his pencil,
ticked off that item on his out list, and they hurried away."
It hit me so strongly. Is this what my time with Jesus is? Something to be marked off my "to do" list? I really think in some ways this is the case. It's not that I don't enjoy my time with the Lord, but it does tend to get lumped into the to do list category. And oh, how I am so sorry for that and do not want it to be that way at all.
Instead, I want it to be something I am looking forward to, like sitting down with a dear friend for coffee and talk. A peaceful interlude to start or interrupt my day. A time of closeness and solitude with the Lord. And it can be and is all those things, but I want to get it off the "to do" list mentality. I think God wants me to start seeing our time together, our visits in a different light. And I want to also.
Lord, help me to have to proper perspective of our time together. It is the most special time of my day and I want to look at it in the right way, with the right heart. Thank You for correcting this attitude in me.
How will the world be different for my being here?
This was the question put to us by Tony as he shared God's teaching with us on Sunday. A very unsettling question, which led to some very inconvenient answers and some more thought provoking questions. God's visit today had a very definite message about what my life here on earth is supposed to be about.
It occurred to me that if I live for myself, there will be no difference. Not now. Not for me. Not for anyone. And not eternally. Quite inconvenient. Who doesn't to live for self self self !!
But I I choose to live for God, then HIS difference will be evident! So some questions came to me and I think we all need to answer them for ourselves. I did, and am and I am not liking some of my answers.
1. Am I building God's kingdom or Satan's? (the Lord has brought this up before)
2. Am I bringing peace to situations or more strife?
3. Am I sharing the answer or contributing to the confusion around me?
4. Can people tell I have been with Jesus, am I sharing His love with others?
5. Would I want others to follow my example?
6. Does Jesus' light shine in the darkness when I am around?
7. What do I want my life to count for?
Hard questions. Hard answers. Lord, help me, help us to live for You. Help my life to count for You.
This was the question put to us by Tony as he shared God's teaching with us on Sunday. A very unsettling question, which led to some very inconvenient answers and some more thought provoking questions. God's visit today had a very definite message about what my life here on earth is supposed to be about.
It occurred to me that if I live for myself, there will be no difference. Not now. Not for me. Not for anyone. And not eternally. Quite inconvenient. Who doesn't to live for self self self !!
But I I choose to live for God, then HIS difference will be evident! So some questions came to me and I think we all need to answer them for ourselves. I did, and am and I am not liking some of my answers.
1. Am I building God's kingdom or Satan's? (the Lord has brought this up before)
2. Am I bringing peace to situations or more strife?
3. Am I sharing the answer or contributing to the confusion around me?
4. Can people tell I have been with Jesus, am I sharing His love with others?
5. Would I want others to follow my example?
6. Does Jesus' light shine in the darkness when I am around?
7. What do I want my life to count for?
Hard questions. Hard answers. Lord, help me, help us to live for You. Help my life to count for You.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
God has a sense of humor !
God has been dealing with me on my critical nature and giving mercy instead of judgment for quite some time. And yesterday was no exception. I went into work, and as usual things were not what I wanted (and of course we all know that the way I want things is the right way LOL). The area was messy, mail placed where it shouldn't be, equipment not charged.....Well the thought came into my head; "WWJD--what would Jesus do?" Immediately, I got this picture in my head of what He WOULDN'T do.
I pictured Jesus saying things like; "I have to take care of everything...I do all the healing, all the teaching. Can't anybody else do something !?! I have to do the praying, all by myself, I have to provide lunch for 5000 people. Can someone help out once in a while???"
It just was the funniest thing to get that image of Jesus in my mind. And of course I know He would never, ever say things like that. And that was the lesson. By being critical and judgmental I was not being very Christlike. I am so grateful for the conviction the Lord brought, but also that He did it in such an amusing way. We always think of God as serious, but He must have a sense of humor, just look at us humans!! He does say, a cheerful heart is good medicine (Proverbs 17:22)
Lord, thank you for laughter. Please help us not to take things so seriously. Perhaps if we look more for humor and less for perfection we will be kinder and more merciful with one another.
God has been dealing with me on my critical nature and giving mercy instead of judgment for quite some time. And yesterday was no exception. I went into work, and as usual things were not what I wanted (and of course we all know that the way I want things is the right way LOL). The area was messy, mail placed where it shouldn't be, equipment not charged.....Well the thought came into my head; "WWJD--what would Jesus do?" Immediately, I got this picture in my head of what He WOULDN'T do.
I pictured Jesus saying things like; "I have to take care of everything...I do all the healing, all the teaching. Can't anybody else do something !?! I have to do the praying, all by myself, I have to provide lunch for 5000 people. Can someone help out once in a while???"
It just was the funniest thing to get that image of Jesus in my mind. And of course I know He would never, ever say things like that. And that was the lesson. By being critical and judgmental I was not being very Christlike. I am so grateful for the conviction the Lord brought, but also that He did it in such an amusing way. We always think of God as serious, but He must have a sense of humor, just look at us humans!! He does say, a cheerful heart is good medicine (Proverbs 17:22)
Lord, thank you for laughter. Please help us not to take things so seriously. Perhaps if we look more for humor and less for perfection we will be kinder and more merciful with one another.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Holiness
1 Peter 1:16 You must be holy because I am holy.
In the "Set Apart" study, this verse is described as not just a command but also as a promise of God.
Once again, God confirmed this to me in a separate teaching. As I was running (if you can call my pokey pace running) this morning, I was listening to a Joyce M podcast and the verse that came up was:
1 Peter 2:9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a HOLY nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness and into His wonderful light.
Well the Holy Spirit light bulb went off in my head, as He linked these 2 verses together. Like links in a chain or pieces in a puzzle it all seemed to just fit. A promise and a declaration of holiness from the Lord, for His people. The Lord not only promises us holiness, He declares it to be so.
This visit came at a time when I once again was beating myself up over the seeming lack of progress in my Christian walk (I guess my pace is slow there too!! I am sensing a pattern here!!). I feel like I fight (or sometimes not, unfortunately) and struggle with the same sins and character flaws day after day seeing little growth or betterment. I think sometimes I am at the same spot on the narrow road as I was a year ago, and the year before that and the year before that....
As I write this the Jesus reminds me that it is His shed blood that makes me holy, set apart for Himself. And God promises and declares that He will bring my life into alignment with that truth. Remember: And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue HIS work until it is finally finished on the day that Christ Jesus returns--Phil 1:6
Thank You Lord for conviction of sin and the comfort of knowing that You are still working on me, never giving up. It is You working out the details in me so that I may portray Your holiness to the world around me. Thank You for the visit, reassuring me of Your promises and declaring over me Your holiness. Let Your people rejoice in Your holiness.
1 Peter 1:16 You must be holy because I am holy.
In the "Set Apart" study, this verse is described as not just a command but also as a promise of God.
Once again, God confirmed this to me in a separate teaching. As I was running (if you can call my pokey pace running) this morning, I was listening to a Joyce M podcast and the verse that came up was:
1 Peter 2:9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a HOLY nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness and into His wonderful light.
Well the Holy Spirit light bulb went off in my head, as He linked these 2 verses together. Like links in a chain or pieces in a puzzle it all seemed to just fit. A promise and a declaration of holiness from the Lord, for His people. The Lord not only promises us holiness, He declares it to be so.
This visit came at a time when I once again was beating myself up over the seeming lack of progress in my Christian walk (I guess my pace is slow there too!! I am sensing a pattern here!!). I feel like I fight (or sometimes not, unfortunately) and struggle with the same sins and character flaws day after day seeing little growth or betterment. I think sometimes I am at the same spot on the narrow road as I was a year ago, and the year before that and the year before that....
As I write this the Jesus reminds me that it is His shed blood that makes me holy, set apart for Himself. And God promises and declares that He will bring my life into alignment with that truth. Remember: And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue HIS work until it is finally finished on the day that Christ Jesus returns--Phil 1:6
Thank You Lord for conviction of sin and the comfort of knowing that You are still working on me, never giving up. It is You working out the details in me so that I may portray Your holiness to the world around me. Thank You for the visit, reassuring me of Your promises and declaring over me Your holiness. Let Your people rejoice in Your holiness.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Fall Pictures
I took these beautiful pictures just walking around my neighborhood. God just visits all the time. We just have to look at the beauty around us.
Peace
Happily I remembered to ask Jesus to visit quite a few times during the last few days. And you know what? When I did take that few seconds to call out to Him, and just focus on His presence, I actually felt peace enter my spirit. And I could feel a smile come to my lips. It was just a couple of minutes of breathing in His presence no matter what I was doing or where I was. And it was wonderful. It would be so awesome to stay in that place every moment of the day.
I wonder if by doing that I would start to see not just peace, but more wisdom, more discernment, more kindness, more mercy, and more lovingness in my life as well. I am thinking that if by asking Jesus to visit He brings everything He is into that point of time. I to do this more and more
Lord, please continue to remind us to call out to You over and over, all day long. Thank You that by focusing our minds on You we can be at peace. You are our peace.
Happily I remembered to ask Jesus to visit quite a few times during the last few days. And you know what? When I did take that few seconds to call out to Him, and just focus on His presence, I actually felt peace enter my spirit. And I could feel a smile come to my lips. It was just a couple of minutes of breathing in His presence no matter what I was doing or where I was. And it was wonderful. It would be so awesome to stay in that place every moment of the day.
I wonder if by doing that I would start to see not just peace, but more wisdom, more discernment, more kindness, more mercy, and more lovingness in my life as well. I am thinking that if by asking Jesus to visit He brings everything He is into that point of time. I to do this more and more
Lord, please continue to remind us to call out to You over and over, all day long. Thank You that by focusing our minds on You we can be at peace. You are our peace.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Jeremiah 33:3
New International Version (NIV)
3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’
I have a little card with my name on one side of it and some encouraging scripture verses on the reverse. During my quiet time with the Lord, I decided (or more accurately was directed in the spirit) to go through these verses today, meditating on them. All of them were beautiful, heart soothing promises given by our Lord. All, of course are favorites.
One of them was Proverbs 3:6, "in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." I had to read verse 5 as well: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; We Christians just love those 2 verses together, and they do fit don't they!?!
My Bible has something called Word Wealth, where it delves into different words and phrases in certain passages to give a deeper, fuller understanding of what is being said. Well in these verses the Word Wealth (WW) led me to the above verse in Jeremiah. (please remain on this twisting path with me!). And that verse just touched and spoke to my heart this morning. God asks me (and you too) to call to Him. He desires us to seek Him, to address Him to call out, shout out to Him. Putting these 2 sections together, calling out to God, trusting in Him, submitting to Him, and in return He gives us straight paths. He lead us and answers us and shows us great and unsearchable things.
I feel like the Lord was telling me, "ask me to visit you". Ask for His presence in my everyday life. I feel like jumping up and shouting "Visit Lord!! Here I am, come on over. I want to spend time with you." But how many times am I too busy, too distracted?
Lately it seems like I don't do that enough. I get so caught up in the details of the day that I forget to take a few minutes here and there with Jesus being front and center. I forget to invite Him for more than just coffee in the morning.
Lord, please come and visit, sit a while with me.
Have you asked Him to visit today?
Jeremiah 33:11...Praise the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for His mervy endures forever...
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Look !!
Yesterday was grocery shopping day. I left my house, and it was an absolutely beautiful day. The sun was warm and shining, the air felt clear. It was one of those great crisp, chilled autumn mornings that make it favorite season.
I said a little prayer for God's blessing on my shopping trip. As I entered Target, I decided to use the ladies room. Of course there is never a place to put down your lists, and coupon holder and sale papers....I know the ladies understand. But I just happened to bring my pocketbook that actually makes its own little shelf when hung just so !! Thank You Lord for that little blessing.
Next up, as I proceeded through the aisles I noticed that many of the items I needed where on sale, and.....I had coupons for those items !! SCORE !! Thank You Lord for another visit.
Finally, I come to the dairy section. I picked up my yogurts, my hummus and really wanted to get the guacamole I like. I have such a hard time finding the guac in the right sized containers anymore, you know the individual serving size ones instead of the big one. Well, guess what? There were actually 2 of the ones I use left !! Unfortunately, they were pushed all the way towards the back of the shelf (something that is a problem for someone of my vertically challenged 5'2" stature). But once again my Father came through...there was a step stool right there !! I was completely amazed !!
My Papa was with me all the time, working things out to help me through my shopping day. All I had to do was take notice. To look for His hand of blessing. I am so grateful that He opened my eyes to His intervention in my day. And that is the reason for this blog, to make my heart and hopefully those who read it more aware of His loving care everyday. To help us to remember to take notice!!
Thank You Lord for helping us each and everyday. Please continue to open our eyes more and more.
Yesterday was grocery shopping day. I left my house, and it was an absolutely beautiful day. The sun was warm and shining, the air felt clear. It was one of those great crisp, chilled autumn mornings that make it favorite season.
I said a little prayer for God's blessing on my shopping trip. As I entered Target, I decided to use the ladies room. Of course there is never a place to put down your lists, and coupon holder and sale papers....I know the ladies understand. But I just happened to bring my pocketbook that actually makes its own little shelf when hung just so !! Thank You Lord for that little blessing.
Next up, as I proceeded through the aisles I noticed that many of the items I needed where on sale, and.....I had coupons for those items !! SCORE !! Thank You Lord for another visit.
Finally, I come to the dairy section. I picked up my yogurts, my hummus and really wanted to get the guacamole I like. I have such a hard time finding the guac in the right sized containers anymore, you know the individual serving size ones instead of the big one. Well, guess what? There were actually 2 of the ones I use left !! Unfortunately, they were pushed all the way towards the back of the shelf (something that is a problem for someone of my vertically challenged 5'2" stature). But once again my Father came through...there was a step stool right there !! I was completely amazed !!
My Papa was with me all the time, working things out to help me through my shopping day. All I had to do was take notice. To look for His hand of blessing. I am so grateful that He opened my eyes to His intervention in my day. And that is the reason for this blog, to make my heart and hopefully those who read it more aware of His loving care everyday. To help us to remember to take notice!!
Thank You Lord for helping us each and everyday. Please continue to open our eyes more and more.
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Healing, health, and obedience
This was supposed to be published a couple of weeks ago, it is the post I referenced in "Papa". I don't know why it didn't publish, but some how God means these posts to be shown on the same day. He knows best.
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? Romans 6:17
As some of you may know, I have been given a report of some health issues by my doctor. I believe that these problems are a direct result of my disobedience in eating habits and abuse of coffee. In Tony's teaching on Sunday he spoke on Romans 5 where it talks about sin being handed down to us by Adam. My addictive nature seems to be a family trait. Why have one cup of coffee when you can have 3 or 4, why one serving of honey mustard pretzel pieces when you can have 2/3rds of the bag....
As I read on in Chapter 6, some verses seem to be jumping up to greet me.
Like verse 11-14: Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in you mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
The teaching from Sunday and these verses started speaking directly to the situation I am in. It is through that addictive nature, handed down to me from previous generations and my obeying that nature that I have become unhealthy. But.........For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. Romans 5:19
So onward to Monday morning and my quiet time with the Lord. I opened up my Bible (and this was one of those rare "open it up to a page with a verse that calls out your name" times), and at the top of the page, highlighted, yoohooing my name was Luke 13:12 "...woman you are loosed from your infirmities". Sunday I had told the Lord I would be looking for a verse on healing to couple with those on being dead to sin and obedience to righteousness so I could write them down on an index card to meditate on this week, and HE supplied the verse. I did not even have to go looking for it, not pick one on my own, JESUS gave me His own words to encourage me and to strengthen me. This lead me to the other woman, the woman with the issue of blood, Jesus healed, and to her He said "Daughter be of good cheer, your faith has made you well, go in peace", Luke 8:48.
I realize that my healing has to come not just to my physical body, but it also has to be walked out spiritually, in obedience by me. I have to walk out the verses in Romans, walk to meet the healing the Lord has promised. I have to do my part. It is absolutely driving me crazy not to have more than one cup of coffee a day. But it is essential to my healing, both physically and spiritually to line up with the verses in Romans 6. I know that I need healing of my digestive track, but I also need healing of the cause, which is my addiction to food and caffeine. I know to, that I have an awesome, loving Savior who desires to heal me. I need to do my part. God doesn't let us get away with sloppy, haphazard living.
Thank you Lord for giving me these verses to hold on to and claim as my own. I pray that you will empower me to obey and walk to my healing. I know You desire to bless each of us and I thank You for that. Lead us each to the path of healing you have planned for our lives.
This was supposed to be published a couple of weeks ago, it is the post I referenced in "Papa". I don't know why it didn't publish, but some how God means these posts to be shown on the same day. He knows best.
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? Romans 6:17
As some of you may know, I have been given a report of some health issues by my doctor. I believe that these problems are a direct result of my disobedience in eating habits and abuse of coffee. In Tony's teaching on Sunday he spoke on Romans 5 where it talks about sin being handed down to us by Adam. My addictive nature seems to be a family trait. Why have one cup of coffee when you can have 3 or 4, why one serving of honey mustard pretzel pieces when you can have 2/3rds of the bag....
As I read on in Chapter 6, some verses seem to be jumping up to greet me.
Like verse 11-14: Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in you mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
The teaching from Sunday and these verses started speaking directly to the situation I am in. It is through that addictive nature, handed down to me from previous generations and my obeying that nature that I have become unhealthy. But.........For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. Romans 5:19
So onward to Monday morning and my quiet time with the Lord. I opened up my Bible (and this was one of those rare "open it up to a page with a verse that calls out your name" times), and at the top of the page, highlighted, yoohooing my name was Luke 13:12 "...woman you are loosed from your infirmities". Sunday I had told the Lord I would be looking for a verse on healing to couple with those on being dead to sin and obedience to righteousness so I could write them down on an index card to meditate on this week, and HE supplied the verse. I did not even have to go looking for it, not pick one on my own, JESUS gave me His own words to encourage me and to strengthen me. This lead me to the other woman, the woman with the issue of blood, Jesus healed, and to her He said "Daughter be of good cheer, your faith has made you well, go in peace", Luke 8:48.
I realize that my healing has to come not just to my physical body, but it also has to be walked out spiritually, in obedience by me. I have to walk out the verses in Romans, walk to meet the healing the Lord has promised. I have to do my part. It is absolutely driving me crazy not to have more than one cup of coffee a day. But it is essential to my healing, both physically and spiritually to line up with the verses in Romans 6. I know that I need healing of my digestive track, but I also need healing of the cause, which is my addiction to food and caffeine. I know to, that I have an awesome, loving Savior who desires to heal me. I need to do my part. God doesn't let us get away with sloppy, haphazard living.
Thank you Lord for giving me these verses to hold on to and claim as my own. I pray that you will empower me to obey and walk to my healing. I know You desire to bless each of us and I thank You for that. Lead us each to the path of healing you have planned for our lives.
Papa
I struggle with food so much. Eating is on my mind 90% of the time. I was just crying out to the Lord over this again. I am grateful for the words He spoke to me a few weeks ago, yet I still struggle, still fail. Today He brought me back to the women with the issue of blood in Mark 5, and Luke 8.
In "Set Apart", her story was retold in such a way, I could really feel her shame, her feelings of rejections, her hurt over being ostracized by a society more concerned with rituals than people. She was an outcast to everyone. Everyone, that is except God. He was her Father, her Daddy, her Papa. The one who was on her side, her protector, her benefactor, someone who saw her as the apple of His eye. And He had a plan for her healing.
In this story I saw my own struggle. My own feelings of worthlessness and shame in the face of my failure to overcome my addictive nature. I'm a Christian after all!!! Why should I be defeated in this!! Yet I am. Again and again.
In this story, I also saw a Father who was on the side of His child. A Papa who rushed in to help. Who stopped a crowd of people moving to see an "important" man's daughter healed, in order to care for an outcast.
As I contemplated this story (that contemplative prayer again), I heard in my head "It is finished". My Papa has a plan for my healing. He has visited me with healing in this area. I will no longer be held captive, bound to an addictive past, present or future. It is finished. I know I will have to stand in His power, and I believe I will have to walk this out before the craving and calling of excessive eating leaves for good. But it's over. My Father is here.
Thank You Papa, for Your deliverance. For coming in and making a way of freedom in Jesus for all of us. Help us to learn to live in this freedom and rejoice in our relationship with You.
I struggle with food so much. Eating is on my mind 90% of the time. I was just crying out to the Lord over this again. I am grateful for the words He spoke to me a few weeks ago, yet I still struggle, still fail. Today He brought me back to the women with the issue of blood in Mark 5, and Luke 8.
In "Set Apart", her story was retold in such a way, I could really feel her shame, her feelings of rejections, her hurt over being ostracized by a society more concerned with rituals than people. She was an outcast to everyone. Everyone, that is except God. He was her Father, her Daddy, her Papa. The one who was on her side, her protector, her benefactor, someone who saw her as the apple of His eye. And He had a plan for her healing.
In this story I saw my own struggle. My own feelings of worthlessness and shame in the face of my failure to overcome my addictive nature. I'm a Christian after all!!! Why should I be defeated in this!! Yet I am. Again and again.
In this story, I also saw a Father who was on the side of His child. A Papa who rushed in to help. Who stopped a crowd of people moving to see an "important" man's daughter healed, in order to care for an outcast.
As I contemplated this story (that contemplative prayer again), I heard in my head "It is finished". My Papa has a plan for my healing. He has visited me with healing in this area. I will no longer be held captive, bound to an addictive past, present or future. It is finished. I know I will have to stand in His power, and I believe I will have to walk this out before the craving and calling of excessive eating leaves for good. But it's over. My Father is here.
Thank You Papa, for Your deliverance. For coming in and making a way of freedom in Jesus for all of us. Help us to learn to live in this freedom and rejoice in our relationship with You.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Weaknesses and love thinks no evil.
Friday in Ladies Bible Study we viewed a video on Contemplative Prayer, listening to God speak instead of doing all the yakking ourselves. On of the speakers talked about going to a section of Scripture and reading it through once for context. Then again, highlighting the words or verses that stand out in the passage. Then he instructed us to meditate on those words or verses that spoke out to us.
I decided to read the section of Scripture we all know as the "Love Chapter" in 1 Corinthians 13. The words that caught my eye were in verse 5, speaking of love,: "is not provoked, thinks no evil".
As I mulled over these words, waiting for the Lord to speak to my heart, He brought to mind that these words described Himself. God is not easily provoked (good thing for me !!) and He thinks no evil. These are traits attributed to our Lord and Savior. When I look at Him this is the person He wants me to see. Someone who is not easily provoked or angered at my glaring faults, persistent sins, frequent screw ups, and overall bad days. He wants me to know Him as one who does not go around thinking ill of me, planning punishment for every wrong I do.
This was God's comfort and cheer visit !! Then came the correction and chiding part (uh-oh). This, He told me, is what He expects of me. This is the way He wants me to act and think towards those around me. Hmmmm, a little less comfortable now !!! I thought to myself, well this is just impossible for me to do!!
There is no chance in a million that I could walk around being patient with others and thinking good thoughts about some of those who inhabit my space in this universe. I'm just not that.....dare I say nice? Tall order Lord !!!
So I moved on from this, feeling a little discouraged and decided some worship and praise to the Lord was in order. Even though I am faulty, He is not and He deserves worship no matter how I feel or act. I got out my "31 Days of Praise Book" for today's praise reading. And lo and behold, the subject of it was .....THANKING GOD FOR OUR WEAKNESSES!!! Hello ?!?!?!
I am going to quote from the book here a few of the phrases in the reading:
"I choose to thank You for my weaknesses, my infirmities, my inadequacies...and that in Your infinite wisdom You have allowed these in my life so that they may contribute to Your high purposes for me." "Thank You that many a time my weaknesses cut through m pride and help me walk humbly with You...and then as You promised, You give me more grace--You help and bless and strengthen me. Thank You for all the ways I'm inadequate, for they prod me to trust in You and not in myself..." "Thank You that I can trust You to remove or change any of my weaknesses and handicaps and shortcomings the moment they are no longer needed for Your glory, and for my good, and for the good of other people..."
Oh my goodness. This is so on target. It is not the Holy Spirit trying to make me feel bad about myself but trying to show me what He desires for me and how much I need Him to carry out His plan for my life. I am always grateful that He makes a way. Do I need to cooperate with Him? Absolutely. Will this all happen overnight? Probably not (although I know He can do that if He thinks it is appropriate and needed), so please be patient with me folks!! But I am going to rely on Him to do this changing in me. And I am going to praise Him all the more for it and give Him all the glory.
Lord, help us to rely on You for all things. Let us take time to listen and help us to obey. Give us a hearing heart and a willing spirit. Thank You.
Friday in Ladies Bible Study we viewed a video on Contemplative Prayer, listening to God speak instead of doing all the yakking ourselves. On of the speakers talked about going to a section of Scripture and reading it through once for context. Then again, highlighting the words or verses that stand out in the passage. Then he instructed us to meditate on those words or verses that spoke out to us.
I decided to read the section of Scripture we all know as the "Love Chapter" in 1 Corinthians 13. The words that caught my eye were in verse 5, speaking of love,: "is not provoked, thinks no evil".
As I mulled over these words, waiting for the Lord to speak to my heart, He brought to mind that these words described Himself. God is not easily provoked (good thing for me !!) and He thinks no evil. These are traits attributed to our Lord and Savior. When I look at Him this is the person He wants me to see. Someone who is not easily provoked or angered at my glaring faults, persistent sins, frequent screw ups, and overall bad days. He wants me to know Him as one who does not go around thinking ill of me, planning punishment for every wrong I do.
This was God's comfort and cheer visit !! Then came the correction and chiding part (uh-oh). This, He told me, is what He expects of me. This is the way He wants me to act and think towards those around me. Hmmmm, a little less comfortable now !!! I thought to myself, well this is just impossible for me to do!!
There is no chance in a million that I could walk around being patient with others and thinking good thoughts about some of those who inhabit my space in this universe. I'm just not that.....dare I say nice? Tall order Lord !!!
So I moved on from this, feeling a little discouraged and decided some worship and praise to the Lord was in order. Even though I am faulty, He is not and He deserves worship no matter how I feel or act. I got out my "31 Days of Praise Book" for today's praise reading. And lo and behold, the subject of it was .....THANKING GOD FOR OUR WEAKNESSES!!! Hello ?!?!?!
I am going to quote from the book here a few of the phrases in the reading:
"I choose to thank You for my weaknesses, my infirmities, my inadequacies...and that in Your infinite wisdom You have allowed these in my life so that they may contribute to Your high purposes for me." "Thank You that many a time my weaknesses cut through m pride and help me walk humbly with You...and then as You promised, You give me more grace--You help and bless and strengthen me. Thank You for all the ways I'm inadequate, for they prod me to trust in You and not in myself..." "Thank You that I can trust You to remove or change any of my weaknesses and handicaps and shortcomings the moment they are no longer needed for Your glory, and for my good, and for the good of other people..."
Oh my goodness. This is so on target. It is not the Holy Spirit trying to make me feel bad about myself but trying to show me what He desires for me and how much I need Him to carry out His plan for my life. I am always grateful that He makes a way. Do I need to cooperate with Him? Absolutely. Will this all happen overnight? Probably not (although I know He can do that if He thinks it is appropriate and needed), so please be patient with me folks!! But I am going to rely on Him to do this changing in me. And I am going to praise Him all the more for it and give Him all the glory.
Lord, help us to rely on You for all things. Let us take time to listen and help us to obey. Give us a hearing heart and a willing spirit. Thank You.
Friday, October 11, 2013
God's card
Yesterday was one of those days. Ugh !!! Everything seemed to be plotting against me, including my own emotions, and my patience (or lack there of). Just an example; the day before I was trying to send a fax, and I of course plugged the fax into the wrong jack (not knowing that when I removed the cord that was already there I had caused the phone system in my house to cease working). So I tried again yesterday, and everything was still not working. Nor could I get a human being on the phone to the dr's office I was trying to fax something to, but that is another topic all together. So, I finally got the idea I should try the jack in the bedroom, which was the right thing to do, but in the process I knocked over my little jewelry holder, which of course had all these little beads in it, and of course Vinny is trying to sleep (this jack is in the bedroom remember) through all this, and well, this is just a taste of how the whole day was going. Unanswered phone calls, nothing going right at work, and cleaning the house had it's own trials and tribulations of course. Well, I guess really all of this was just the normal everyday issues and frustrations we all face, but as I said, my patience was non-existent for whatever reason.
Well just when I was lamenting some annoying trifle at work, I decided to give a quick check of my email. In it was an e-card from a dear sister at church, and just check out what it said !!
Ten things God wants you to know.
I am for You.
I love you.
I believe in you.
I will not fail you.
I will be with you.
I will provide for you.
I will bless you.
I will give you rest.
I will strengthen you.
I will answer you.
WOW!! That is all I can say. A card from God!!! How completely awesome is that. Not one of the problems or irritations I encountered that day was earth shaking or major in anyway, yet He still too the time to remind me He was on my side. I am still so blown away, still so grateful. And thank you, dear sister for your thoughtfulness.
And if you are reading this, this card is for you too. Accept it from your loving, heavenly Father.
Yesterday was one of those days. Ugh !!! Everything seemed to be plotting against me, including my own emotions, and my patience (or lack there of). Just an example; the day before I was trying to send a fax, and I of course plugged the fax into the wrong jack (not knowing that when I removed the cord that was already there I had caused the phone system in my house to cease working). So I tried again yesterday, and everything was still not working. Nor could I get a human being on the phone to the dr's office I was trying to fax something to, but that is another topic all together. So, I finally got the idea I should try the jack in the bedroom, which was the right thing to do, but in the process I knocked over my little jewelry holder, which of course had all these little beads in it, and of course Vinny is trying to sleep (this jack is in the bedroom remember) through all this, and well, this is just a taste of how the whole day was going. Unanswered phone calls, nothing going right at work, and cleaning the house had it's own trials and tribulations of course. Well, I guess really all of this was just the normal everyday issues and frustrations we all face, but as I said, my patience was non-existent for whatever reason.
Well just when I was lamenting some annoying trifle at work, I decided to give a quick check of my email. In it was an e-card from a dear sister at church, and just check out what it said !!
Ten things God wants you to know.
I am for You.
I love you.
I believe in you.
I will not fail you.
I will be with you.
I will provide for you.
I will bless you.
I will give you rest.
I will strengthen you.
I will answer you.
WOW!! That is all I can say. A card from God!!! How completely awesome is that. Not one of the problems or irritations I encountered that day was earth shaking or major in anyway, yet He still too the time to remind me He was on my side. I am still so blown away, still so grateful. And thank you, dear sister for your thoughtfulness.
And if you are reading this, this card is for you too. Accept it from your loving, heavenly Father.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Jesus a reality
A couple of nights ago, as I drove home from the evil place (that's work, to those of you who don't know my nick name for it, lol) I was trying to meditate (a difficult and completely frightening thing to me) on the whole salvation thing and Jesus, Heaven and Hell....I was trying to make this more "real" to my heart instead of it being an abstraction.
Ok, onto the next morning, and I just happened to read my wall (the one in my house, not my FB ) and on it I have John 3:16: For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. Now this may be unremarkable to some because you would think, "well it is always on your wall, you see it everyday", but it's one of those things that you take for granted and don't notice because it is always there. But that morning I took notice of it.
So I went in the bedroom to have my quiet time with the Lord, and on the floor next to my bed a little card that someone had given me many years ago was staring up at me and on it were the words: "FOR GOD SO LOVED MADELINE THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM, SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE". Are we seeing a theme here?
Well, now I am starting to think something is happening here. I went on to my study and the verse I was to work on was Luke 1:78: Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on His has VISITED us.
Hello!?!? A VISIT?? Was this my God visit? Of course it was. I believe God was affirming my desire to make the reality of salvation more of a presence in my heart and life. Not only did the verse speak to Jesus, in His mercy, coming down from Heaven to save us, it spoke directly to Him, in His love, coming down into my life that very day. Amen.
Lord, I am so blessed by You. To think that You would take time out for me. That You would honor me with a "visit" on even the most basic of things. I am so thankful. Again, Lord, help our eyes to be open to Your special touches on our days. In the most holy and precious name of Jesus, our loving and compassionate Savior. AMEN
A couple of nights ago, as I drove home from the evil place (that's work, to those of you who don't know my nick name for it, lol) I was trying to meditate (a difficult and completely frightening thing to me) on the whole salvation thing and Jesus, Heaven and Hell....I was trying to make this more "real" to my heart instead of it being an abstraction.
Ok, onto the next morning, and I just happened to read my wall (the one in my house, not my FB ) and on it I have John 3:16: For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. Now this may be unremarkable to some because you would think, "well it is always on your wall, you see it everyday", but it's one of those things that you take for granted and don't notice because it is always there. But that morning I took notice of it.
So I went in the bedroom to have my quiet time with the Lord, and on the floor next to my bed a little card that someone had given me many years ago was staring up at me and on it were the words: "FOR GOD SO LOVED MADELINE THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM, SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE". Are we seeing a theme here?
Well, now I am starting to think something is happening here. I went on to my study and the verse I was to work on was Luke 1:78: Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on His has VISITED us.
Hello!?!? A VISIT?? Was this my God visit? Of course it was. I believe God was affirming my desire to make the reality of salvation more of a presence in my heart and life. Not only did the verse speak to Jesus, in His mercy, coming down from Heaven to save us, it spoke directly to Him, in His love, coming down into my life that very day. Amen.
Lord, I am so blessed by You. To think that You would take time out for me. That You would honor me with a "visit" on even the most basic of things. I am so thankful. Again, Lord, help our eyes to be open to Your special touches on our days. In the most holy and precious name of Jesus, our loving and compassionate Savior. AMEN
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