Faith, From Mom, Next Installment

Faith.  To "hear" God's Word, to "read" God's Word, to "obey" (practice) God's Word.  Mark 11:22 Then Jesus said to the disciples, "Have faith in God."  Faith is a forward focus on God, His Word, and His promises.  Faith also looks back at the blessings of God to give strength.  Faith always allows us to flee confidently to God when in trouble and to abide in Him for protection  Faith determines action, produces obedience, overcomes, becomes fruitful. Faith occurs when we cease to do something on our own.  Faith acts,  To believe it is to do it.  Faith, an attitude of the heart.

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Footnote: "Faith is a conviction concerning things unseen and settled experience of a future with God."
"Substance" in Greek literally means "standing under" to support its validity.  This "faith is the support of things hoped for."  Assurance rests on God's promises.  Step out in faith.  Simply, trust God.

God's way:  seek Him, talk with Him, listen for Him to speak, wait on Him, obey Him.

Every day, all day commit your ways to Him.  Psalm 37:5  Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you.  Seek and desire with all your heart, wisdom, understanding, discernment, to walk His way and keep His commandments.  1 Kings 3:12, 14  "I will give you what you asked for!  I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have...And if you follow me and obey my decrees and my commands as your father, David, did I will give you a long life."

From me:

Today is not going well.  My checkbook is messed up (I am horrible with numbers), my printer and computer refuse to communicate (and I think I've made it worse trying to fix it), I keep misplacing important items....faith is in short supply for this struggling heart today.   So basically, I am walking around feeling quite bad about myself, and my ability to handle life. The self talk is really gloomy and negative, then I  start to question God as well.  I'm thinking sitting down and crying would be a good plan about now!

 All this is swirling and floating around in my head as I type (with about a thousand typos!) this message, and then I come to the verse Psalm 37:5  Commit everything you do.....Hmmm, can I do that?  What will happen if I do?  The Lord promises that He will help me.  I know He is trustworthy. I know all these things have happened before and I've gotten through them.  I can have faith!  I can let the negative, the unbelief and the self-focus go and just look up and trust the one who only does good.  And I can be at peace.  Peace with myself, my circumstances, my checkbook, and especially with God.

This entry from Mom's journal was timed perfectly by the Lord to strengthen and sustain me. Think about it. She wrote this journal of hers years ago.  And then she asked that it be shared with others. And then I decided (or should I say God directed LOL) to start sharing it here on this blog after she died to honor her request.  And then the entries had to line up in timing for this specific one to be entered on this particular day  To give me, and  I'm sure certain other specific individuals going through a rough patch, hope and confidence. He is so good.  Are things going to change?  I don't know.  I do know that I will.

Thank You Lord for Your perfect timing and Your individually designed care.  I really needed this today.  I'm sure I'm not the only one, so I lift up all who are having a hard time today...and I thank You that You love us and are tenderly caring for each.

Speak positively about yourself and your circumstances today.  Change the pessimistic song in your head.  

Freedom's Never Free

Have a thoughtful and thankful Memorial Day.  Thanks to all who fight for freedom.  Thanks to Jesus who gave us the ultimate freedom.

Faith, From Mom

My Mom had a extended entry on faith in her journal.  I'm thinking we work through it in two, maybe three segments. It's a big topic to cover, and it's a beautiful part of our journey with the Lord, we need to take our time and let the Lord's gift of faith take root and blossom in our hearts.  For me, faith is a struggle...not so much in the big things, but in the little bits of life that we experience every day.  I'm sure most of us need growth in this area.  So prayerfully, I open Mom's thoughts, her "God visits" to you and ask the Lord to let faith rise up in each of us, growing strong, bold and secure.

From Mom:

Faith.  A belief or confident attitude toward God, involving commitment to His will for one's life. Believe, living by faith, covers various levels of commitment.

Best thought of as a combination of two ideas:  reliance on Christ and commitment to Him.  Genuine saving faith is a personal attachment to Christ.

Saving Faith:  involves personally depending on the finished work (Jesus died on the Cross for me) of Christ's sacrifice as the only basis for forgiveness of sin and entrance into heaven.  It is also a personal commitment of one's life to following Christ in obedience to His commands.

1 Timothy 1:12  I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that day.  

Faith is the divinely implanted principle of inward confidence, assurance, trust and reliance in God and all that He says.  Believe.

Mark 11:22  Then Jesus said to the disciples, "Have faith in God."  

Mark 11:20-24  The next morning they as they passed by the fig tree He had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up.  Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, "Look, Rabbi!  The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!'  Then Jesus said to the disciples, "Have faith in God.  I tell you the truth, you can say to the mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea, and it will happen.  But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.  I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours.  

I need to learn to pray for a passion for and in prayer and faith.

1 John 5:1-5  Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God.  And everyone who loves the Father loves His children, too.  We know we love God's children if we love God and obey His commandments.  Loving God means keeping His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.  And who can win this battle against the world?  Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.  

Faith, love and obedience are related to one another.  Faith brings us into a loving relationship with God.  Love for Him (God) leads to love for other Christians and to obedience of His commandments.

Saving faith is the instrument by which the gift (by grace) of salvation is received.

Ephesians 2:8 For it by grace (favor or kindness) you have been saved through faith.

Saving faith is thus distinct from the basis of salvation (which is grace, God's gift to us) and from the outworking of salvation which is good works.   True faith is in God or Christ, no oneself.

Faith
Accepts the Bible's record of who Jesus is
Of what Jesus has accomplished on our behalf
It also draws us near to God and we cling to Him tenaciously
I (the believer) enters God's presence with confidence.
I believe the Bible implicitly, knowing that it is God's living self-expression and so I submit to its judgment.

Finally, faith, I am willing to suffer with Christ.

From me.

Wow, a lot to take in.  What I've never seen before, or thought of is that faith is not just a belief.  It's not that I just believe God and all....but that I am COMMITTED to that belief and to Him.  I never thought of faith as a commitment before.  This is something I definitely want to mull over and explore with the Lord.  And I am really interesting in pursuing the connections of faith, love and obedience.  So much to think about and pray on!!  I hope this gives you some direction to go in your walk with the Lord, things to talk with Him about and seek out His answers in this area.

Do a faith check today!!

Breathe

We received these wonderful little journals for Mother's Day from my church.  Each year the church gives out a little gift to honor Mothers and these gifts are always so thoughtful and lovely.  I enjoy using them so much.  This year's prayer journal is called "Bouquet of Blessings."  It encourages its readers to focus on or reply to specific statements and then has a call to action for the day. I love daily journals like this, they are just enough to spur a thought or action, but not so big that they overwhelm. The perfect addition to my "God time."

So Friday morning was one of those....crazy chaos.  There was so very much to accomplish and so little time to do it in.  My goal was to be able to go to the kitten/cat adoption center to help out that day. We are in the middle of the busiest kitten season yet, so extra hands are needed whenever possible. But there were so many other responsibilities to tend to before that happened.  Let's face it, it wasn't just one of those days, but one of those weeks!!  LOL  I was really getting stressed out that day though.  My head was spinning with things needing to be done!  You know those days when you accomplish one thing and four others needing doing immediately pop into your head.

All this being said, even on the busiest of days, I am determined to spend time in the morning with the Lord.  I need it.  And on days like this it's these little journals and devotionals that give me that sweet few minutes of peace with Him.  As I sat down, opening up this booklet to the next page I was to do, I of course open to the "wrong" page.  I ended up somewhere in the middle of the book, about six or seven pages from where I am supposed to be....but God had a different idea of where I belonged.  He had the perfect spot for that day!  The opening statement or jumping off point the author desired us to run with that day, "Help me focus on You, Jesus.  For the next few minutes, let me rest in You."  To do lists, where I have to go, what I have to do, time schedules, errands, needs.....my thoughts a cyclonic swirl of activity and chaos.  But what was needed most...Jesus. What was it Jesus told Martha when He and the disciples came to visit her and her family?  As she hurried about, her sister sat at Jesus' feet just soaking in His presence and teaching...He said to Martha,"My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!  There is only one thing worth being concerned about.  Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her."  

God took a small booklet, with just one sentence, to focus and realign my thinking to what was most important.  Just that few minutes of time, settled me and reconnected me to my Savior.  What refreshment!  That is why we need this time with Him everyday, many times a day!

The writer then encouraged us to read Psalm 23 and pick one or two verses that really speak to us and think about them throughout the day.  Mine choices were verses 1, 2, 3a: The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.  He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength.  And verse 6a:  Surely Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life.  

I encourage you to read it (Psalm 23) for yourself today and pick your own verses to ponder as you walk through your day's journey.

Lord, thank You for the little moments, the oasis of peace that I find when I am with You.  Let me never neglect this time....it restores me, strengthens me and makes me ready to face the day.  Help me and all of us to carry it throughout our daily walk.   Help us all to make a priority our time spent with You.  It is so needed!   Love this song!  It make me laugh, because a lot of it hits way to close to home!!

  

Prayer Extensions

Matthew 22:37 speaks of loving God wholly, completely committed, nothing held back.  Out of that love for God will flow the desire and the ability to obey verse 39.  "A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself." (I've always wondered a bit about that, because, honestly I don't always love myself too much....but that's a whole other entry LOL).  But I get the implications and the understanding that God wants me to be loving, kind, giving, sacrificing, and basically just be a blessing to others around me.  Share His love with them.

This, of course, is all a work in progress for me.  God has put in my heart a desire and yearning to reach for these lofty goals of loving Him unreservedly and extending that same love towards others. Yesterday I was listening to the radio (yup, no big surprise there....gotta have my tunes when driving!) and I heard this song that spoke directly to that aspiration.  This is the second part of my prayer

It breaks my heart that I am so far from this..Maybe that's where God starts though, huh?

Matthew 22:37-38  Jesus replied, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself."

All I can pray is Lord help me.  I can't do this.  It has to be You.  Lord, make this all our prayer today. Thank You. In Jesus name, amen

Confirmed!

Lately, I've been praying "Lord, help me to love you with all my heart, all my soul and all my mind." It has been my hearts desire, my deepest need.  Everything else pales in comparison.  I want to love God as I should.  I always feel like I fall so very, very  short!!  And so my heart is consumed with this prayer. Well Tuesday morning I woke up and checked my Bible App and guess what the verse was! Yup, Matthew 22:37  Jesus replied, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind."  LOL  I know this was the Lord on confirming I had some straight thinking going on (a nice change of pace, for sure!), and it is a prayer that He will definitely answer.  I kind of figure, once I get this down, all else will fall into its correct place!

I feel like so many things, especially "ME" gets in the way of loving God the way I should.  I'm sure we all struggle in this area.  Me, self, I want, I need....round and round I go on the self centered merry-go-round.  But when everything is stripped away, my greatest and only need is God Himself. And so I want to love Him first and foremost with everything I am.  I am so glad He put this desire in my heart.  What a great visit this was!  What a wonderful Father we have!!

Lord, help us to love You with all of ourselves.  It is how You love us!  Clean out the selfishness, the laziness, the unfocused heart we walk around with.  Let our lives echo David's words in Psalm 37:4 Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart's desire.  Be our heart's desire Lord.  

Make this your prayer today!

No Problem!

Luke 8:40-56  On the other side of the lake the crowds welcomed Jesus, because they had been waiting for Him.  Then a man named Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with Him to come home with Him.  His only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying.  As Jesus went with him, He was surrounded by the crowds.  A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure.  Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of His robe.  Immediately, the bleeding stopped.  "Who touched Me?" Jesus asked.  Everyone denied it, and Peter said, "Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you."  But Jesus said,  "Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me." When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of Him.  The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched Him and that she had been immediately healed.  "Daughter," He said to her, "your faith has made you well.  Go in peace."  While He was still speaking to her, a messenger arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue.  He told Him, "Your daughter is dead.  There's no use troubling the Teacher now."  But when Jesus heard what had happened, He said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid.  Just have faith, and she will be healed."   When they arrived at the house, Jesus wouldn't let anyone go in with Him except Peter, John, James and the little girl's father and mother.  The house was filled with people weeping and wailing, but He said, "Stop the weeping!  She isn't dead; she's only asleep."  But the crowd laughed at Him because they all knew she had died.  Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, "My child, get up!"  And at that moment her life returned and she immediately stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.  Her parents were overwhelmed, but Jesus insisted that they not tell anyone what had happened.  

This was the reading at Sunday's service.  As it was being read, verse 49 stuck out...."While He was still speaking to her, a messenger arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the Synagogue.  He told him, "Your daughter is dead.  There's no use troubling the teacher now."  Here was Jesus, surrounded by crowds, pressed on every side, an overwhelming sea of people following Him, needing Him, walking to the home of a distraught and heartbroken man.  And now it seemed as there was no reason to "trouble Him."  But I thought to myself, or I should say the thought was given to me, it was no trouble at all for Jesus.  He desires, asks, wants us to come to Him.  We are not a burden or a problem.  He doesn't get sick of us nor seek to escape our presence or our needs.

The woman who touched Him was so frightened.  Yet He welcomed her with open arms into her healing.  Noticing her need, sharing her joy at being healed.  There was no hurry here.  He took the time to stop, listen and love.  Then on to the next need.  No problem!

I contrasted in my heart this verse with Matthew 11:28  Then Jesus said, "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."  Jesus invites us to come.  We are told in Hebrews 4:16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.  There we will receive His mercy and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.  James 1:5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.  Time and time again Scripture encourages us to come to God...Ask, seek....bring our needs and burdens. Isn't that a heart that pleased Him, the one who humbly admits their need for Him?  The Holy Spirit is given to be our helper, our advocate, our comforter, our teacher....if that doesn't sound like He wants to us to lean on Him fully.....
 
What a beautiful Savior we follow and serve.  There is none like Him...the Ruler, Sustainer, Creator of the universe, every cell, every star, every being, desires, even calls for us to come to Him.  He has time for us. He wants to help us.  We are not a problem nor a burden for Him, but His dearly loved children.

Thank You Lord.  That's all I can say.  I am awed by You.

Bring your burdens to the Lord today.  Lay them into His capable hands.

Verses

The Bible is such a gold mine.  Verse after verse we are given so much beauty, teaching, blessing...the Father sharing His love with us.  What a wonderful gift the Lord has bestowed on us.  I've been playing on and off with the idea of sharing some greatly treasured verses here...perhaps you may want to take one or two as your own personal foundations.  I carry verses and passages around with me on index cards...I have a stack of them in my pocketbook, one taped on the dashboard of my truck, and even a couple on the nightstand next to my bed.  I'd like to say I memorize them, but memorization is  not my strong suit....I do have some in my head, the Holy Spirit brings them to mind when needed...more often than not they are partial verses (or two put together!) and I certainly couldn't tell you where in the Bible they are located.  But being in the Word of God for many years, reading, studying....they are planted in my heart and that is where they belong!

So, I would like to share some favorites with you.  I am thinking there is a reason for this, God has a plan for these verses I am sharing today, He has specific verses for specific people for specific times and situations.  He's a very specific God!!  LOL

"For the mountains shall depart and hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has mercy on you.  Isiah 54:10

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you."  Isaiah 43:2

Trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.  Hebrews 10:36

Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. "  Joshua 1:9

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  Psalm 23:1

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:19

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."  Matthew 6:14-15

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.  Galatians 5:1

Ephesians 4:29  Don't use foul or abusive language.  Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

You see how there are verses that speak to every situation.  Right now, I've been battling addiction to food and caffeine....and the Lord has been doing a wonderful work.  It's still a struggle.  And the last couple of days, I did not do so good with the junk food...but right there, in Galatians 5:1 I feel the Lord's admonishment.  And that is how the visit comes, a quickening in one's spirit when a verse hits the mark of need in our hearts.  Over the years there have been many of these visits from the Lord. And I treasure each one.  It proves His love, His involvement and watchfulness over our lives.  

Our Bibles are such deep wells of pure refreshing water and  bountiful blessings.  I am so thankful that I have access to it. Lord, I pray for protection today of the Bible smuggles, that Your Word would get into the hands of those in restricted areas and nations.  Thank You that we are free to have a Bible here...it is such a privilege.  I pray everyone who wants will have this access to Your life giving Word.  Lord, bury Your Word in our hearts, let it bear amazing fruit, bring comfort, direction and wisdom to our everyday and glory to Your name.   

Today, take time to look up a couple of verses that speak to your life right now. Concordances (on-line, or in the back of you Bible) will be useful to find the subject you need.  Write out the verse and read it often throughout the day.  For the Word of God is alive and powerful.  It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow.  It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.  Hebrews 4:12

 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Unexpected, Not My Way, and Choosing

Okay, I know that is a very confusing title.  But it's been a bit of a confusing couple of weeks for me, so I thought I'd share the mind muddle with you guys!

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about a small electronic miracle that I experienced with the camera on my phone.  I was so excited and thankful.  The Lord fixed my phone!!  Woohoo!!   Or so I thought.

About a week later the camera again had the same disturbing and aggravating message "camera failure" in the middle of a black screen!  I googled, I tried all the "fixes."  None of which worked by the way.  Okay, so now what?  Lord, I thanked You.  Lord, I bragged about Your blessing.  What do I think and say now?  How am I supposed to feel.?

Well, I prayed and I questioned and I sought the Lord's wisdom.  Part of me wanted to rail against the Lord.  I quoted James 1:5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you.  He will not rebuke you for asking.  But the other part knew this was a testing, a lesson in faith and trust and putting into practice all that the Lord's been showing and teaching me. So I trusted.  Ugh.  LOL

Then there was the added burden of what to tell you, my readers.  Do I write a new entry?  Do I just leave it alone?  Hence the James 1:5 quoting.  I needed wisdom.  I needed direction.

So after of few days of prayer, of still waiting on God to "fix" the phone, I finally concluded I had to go back to the store with the phone, get it taken care of the the old fashioned way....LOL  Well, I have to say, the Lord was in this.  I ended up getting the new store manager waiting on me, and he was wonderful.  He was so helpful and knowledgeable.  He spent a ton of time backing up files and working on my phone, all the while being pleasant and patient.  It was ultimately concluded that I needed a new phone, which...miracle of miracles...I am still under warranty!  Big shout out to Alex of the Lindenhurst T-Mobile!!  What a excellent experience he provided.

All this time, as I was going back and forth in my mind about what to do, what to say....thankfully, I have to say the peace and trust of God stayed with me.  And I think that is my true miracle.  The miracle of the Holy Spirit's work in me.  And that is infinitely greater than fixing a phone or any other temporary problem.  Certainly, I was frustrated...but I can't really say I felt the usual disturbed spirit. And that is wonderful to me.

Thank You Lord, for the unexpected miracle, the way You out think our small plans and visions. Ephesians 3:20  Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.  

Look for the unexpected ways God is working in your life today.  Look outside the box!!

Endurance, From Mom

Hebrews 10:35-36  So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord.  Remember the great reward it brings you!  Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will.  Then you will receive all that He has promised.  

Keep on God's course for my life.  Watch diligently for entanglements - sins, allowing Satan into that current situation.   Encumbrances are habits or attitudes that slow us down.

How do we know the difference?  Go immediately to God and ask Him to show you what the sin or entanglement is.  Rely on Him to avoid it.  Depend on Him, trust Him.  Focus, keep your eyes on Jesus.

Psalm 119:129-136  Your laws are wonderful, no wonder I obey them !  The teaching of Your Word gives light, so even the simple can understand.  I pant with expectation, longing for Your commands. Come and show me Your mercy, as You do for all who love Your name.  Guide my steps by Your Word, so I will not be overcome by evil.  Ransom me from the oppression of evil people; then I can obey Your commandments.  Look on me with love' teach me Your decrees.  Rivers of tear gush from my eyes because people disobey Your instructions.  

Follow:  God's direction, His instruction manual, the Bible.

Learn:   To recognize whatever comes against you is of the enemy, Satan
              To think before we speak

Ephesians 4:29  Don't use foul or abusive language.  Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.  

Scripture is meant to give me protection, correction, and direction.

Hebrews 12:1-3  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.  And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.  Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame.  Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. Think of all the hostility He endured from sinful people, then you won't become weary and give up.  

vs 1 - lay aside the weight, (anything that hinders, sin) which so easily traps me, run with endurance the race (God's plans for me).

vs 2 - look unto Jesus, who has endured the shame of the Cross for us....

vs 3 - look to Jesus - consider what He has done for us, so don't become weary or discouraged.

Remember - learn to be like Jesus.  God's discipline is training me and correcting me to live for Him and in His kingdom.


From me:

Endurance.  Patient endurance.  The Christian life is hard.  We live in a world of difficulties. Circumstances, people get to us.  Living righteously, forgiving, being kind, keeping our words sweet...all seem impossible some days, and yet we are called to endure.  Sometimes it seems to more "right" we live, the worse it gets, the more we get hammered with hardship.  I think of my persecuted brothers and sisters, and how the have to endure great danger and affliction.  Endurance seems to play such a big part in our walk with the Lord....but the rewards, the wonderful, awesome rewards....both here and in the yet to come place called Heaven. So often I forget, it's not really about this life here on earth!   It's hard to focus on the intangible when the tangible is so in our face, but yet that is what I am called to do.  And Jesus did it.  He wasn't looking for His own comfort, His own life on earth, but on the bigger, the greater, the eternal picture....our salvation, our reconciliation and our restoration. As we are told in Hebrews, look to Him.   That same Spirit that was in Jesus is in us.  And so, YES we can endure!

It's almost like we need a new picture!  What if I filtered everything about my day through an eternal/kingdom focused lens?  How would that change my behavior?  I think we tend to get lost in the temporal world we live in and forget that there is a whole other realm, a spiritual, forever realm that is our true home.  Our sight is skewed.  I guess that's where the renewing of our minds with Scripture comes in!  LOL

Lord, help me to endure, to run this race with Your strength, and in Your image, for Your glory.  Let not my flesh have its way, striking out, giving up....but let me emulate Jesus, my Savior, and the author and finisher of my faith.  Thank You for being our example and our empowerment.  Lord, You know its hard here on earth, You walked in our shoes.  I pray to grow in this area each and every day. I don't know what the future will bring, but I think the troubles and trials of this day are nothing compared to what is to come for us as Christians.  And so I thank You now for this training ground.  I I know we will need to learn endurance and trust.  Help us to learn  quickly and thoroughly.

James 1:2-5  Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.  


How can your change your focus today so it will help you learn endurance?

National Day of Prayer

Today is the National Day of Prayer in my country, the United States.  It's sad, because  it seems that every year we drift farther and farther from the Lord.

God's Word tells us that prayer matters and so I pray, that the Lord will lead us back to Him.  That we will once again call on His name, invite Him into our schools, our public offices, our hearts and our lives.  Let His name be lifted up in the United States, and around the world, in each of our countries....Let Him be praised!  I pray that people would have a stirring in the spirits, a spark of desire to come to Him, to seek out the truth, to turn from unrighteousness and follow the Lord Jesus. I am praying that the Lord would place godly men and women to lead this nation, those who will seek to do His will, to follow His plan and not bow down to Satan.  I pray once again that our churches would be set on fire by the Holy Spirit, that they would lead the charge for righteousness, compassion, and caring.  That we would leave the safety of our buildings and go out to bring the Gospel and the love of Christ to the lost and hurting.  Convict us Lord of our complacency and let us turn from lukewarmed-ness.  Let Your body be the blessing You desire.  Lead this land, our leaders, our pastors and priests and ministers, lead your children, draw each heart to yourself in this country. Protect our children, there is so much danger out there, in their schools, in the streets of our cities. Bring harmony and unity to the people of this country that comes only from being in Christ. Please let Your love and peace prevail in our hearts.  Lord, we need You.  You are our healer.  You are our righteousness, our deliverer.  Lead us once again.  Use this country to be a blessing and a help andbring glory to Your name.    I pray this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Choice To Rejoice

Ugh.  Some mornings, most mornings I don't wake up well.  I've always been that way, and I am guessing it's some body chemistry thing.  I'm off balance, uncoordinated, my thinking is muddled and functioning is a struggle.  I'm sure that body chemistry is what makes some of us morning people, and some, like myself, not so much.  So to choose to be upbeat is not something that comes naturally, or I even want to do in the morning....no, grumpy and uncommunicative is more my style in the A.M. Usually, though after half an hour or so, I am feeling better, more alert and able to face the day.  Not so the last couple of days.

Maybe that's why I've been trying to say that verse (Psalm 118:24) in the morning, as I posted last. To help boost my "up" quotient in the mornings.  It's a choice I am making.  And I am learning that I have to choose, throughout the day to rejoice in the Lord.  So the Lord has put this rejoicing thing in my heart, knowing full well I would need to draw on it often.  It's God visits in advance! LOL.  I am so grateful that the Lord prepares us for our upcoming days.  We are not left without knowledge and know-how.  Putting it into practice is our part (through the power of the Holy Spirit).

The Bible teaches us that rejoicing is a choice we make.  I've met with varying degrees of success in this area, but when I do by faith what the Bible teaches, I am blessed.  Sometimes it's quite difficult when feelings don't back up our choice....I know it is for me.  But God says to do it.  Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!  Doesn't sound like a suggestion to me.

Today, I do not feel like rejoicing.  It's gray, rainy, grim and cold out.  My head hurts because I have a cracked tooth and have to go to the dentist (think pain before, and pain after I get the dentist bill!  ugh!!).  The house looks like a disaster zone (I'm wondering if a tornado swept through my kitchen and living area while I slept last night!), and even after a good night's sleep I feel exhausted. The last thing I want to do is be joyful....lets go back to that grumpy and uncommunicative....perhaps even a bit "complainy" would be in order.  But God says to REJOICE!  So now it's time to put into practice the God visit teachings of the Holy Spirit from the last few weeks.  And as the Word says in Philippians 4:13  For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.  

Help me today Lord to be obedient to Your Word.  Remind me often the give thanks, to be joyful and to praise and glorify Your name.  It's not easy Lord, when I feel down, feel blue or just plain don't feel good.  But if You say I can do it, then it must be true.  Truly, "this is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."  Psalm 118:24 

What are you facing today?  Let's be obedient to the Lord together!  Find things to be joyful for.  He is with us and nothing beats that!

Saw this on Facebook......