Isaiah 50:7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do His will. And I know that I will not be put to shame.
Psalm 23:2 He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams.
What do these two verses have in common? I'm working on that! Both verses stood out to me this past week. When that happens I know God is creating a path for me to follow His directions, plans, corrections or instructions in my little part of the world.
Jesus has something in mind He wants me to discover. I'm pretty sure the search for His heart is part of the plan. Sometimes it unfolds in a major burst of light, but for me it's mostly little bits at a time, flicker by flicker until I have the "aha" moment.
I know part of this walk is the reminder that God is for me and on my side. In my last entry I spoke on how I was feeling like God really wasn't for me. I felt like He was distant and disinterested. I felt set adrift and set apart from His protection and care. So the first stones on this path were the song I posted and the fact that He wanted me praising and thanking instead of complaining and worrying.
Then came these verses. Seeing the first part of Isaiah 50:7..."The Lord helps me" was confirmation I was on the right road. Stone number two! Step by step I walk into the will of my heavenly Father.
My job is to be determined, and to persevere and to praise. Okay, so I am getting the steps right!
Stone number three....as I do my part, then comes the rest, the peaceful streams of refreshment and meadows of stillness. In these meadows, I find the peace of God's care, I no longer doubt or feel cut off. It's a place of sure-ness
I know there is more to this road. I have just started out and as I keep walking in what I am being shown, the next steps will appear. More God visits! Oh, to have the patience and diligence I need for this journey!
Lord, thank You. Please keep me walking. I ask that You encourage all who are weary to keep following Your lead. Encourage their hearts that You are with them...You never forsake us, never give up, never abandon the works of Your hand. Sometimes it may seem we are alone, but that is never the truth. We can never fall too far from Your love.
Find one promise in the Bible today and grab on to it. Don't let go...it's for you!!
Hebrews 13:5b ...I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.
Philippians 1:6 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 when Christ Jesus returns.
1 Thessalonian 5:23-24 Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for He who calls you is faithful.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Nudges
Nudges. God's little taps on the shoulder to get my attention. I have had a couple of those over the last few days. The Lord seems to be giving me little reminders that He loves me and wants me to remember that.
Firstly, (is that a word? if not it should be, I like it!), I was going around the house the other day murmuring to myself about this and that...grumbling about housework, broken stuff, to dos, etc, basically airing my complaints about the minor irritants of the day. This is something I've been trying to quit doing....but I was falling short of that goal right then. I grab my phone just to check....well, you know, we look at those darn things every other minute it seems, for what I don't know....anyway, I grabbed my phone and the daily Bible verse notification was showing, so I took a peek at it....Hebrews 13:15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to His name. Well, I had the continual part down anyway, but I'm pretty sure I wasn't proclaiming my allegiance to God! LOL Hmmm, you mean something to do with my words other than mutter complaints and jabber about my annoyance? I certainly need that reminder A LOT!!! Okay, nudge #1.
Nudge #2, came and continues to come even this morning. Many things seem to be going against me lately. I had a car accident in December and it seems to be the gift that keeps on giving. There are still problems. "God, don't You care about me?" I was out for a run yesterday, and had a physical problem that just wouldn't quit. "God, why are You against me?" It seems my finances are taking quite a battering lately, one thing after the other. "God, don't You see what I'm going through?" I think you get the picture here...incident after incident over the last few days and each time those negative questions came to mind, the Lord put that Hawke Nelson song in my head, specifically the line "I am for you. I'm not against you. If you want to know how far my love will go, just how deep, just how wide. If you want to know how much you mean to me, look at my hands, look at my side." Time after time, negative thought after negative thought, those lyrics came into my mind immediately, as if combating the downward spiral of my thinking. Amazing! And it just lends credence to the need of putting positive things into our heart and mind.
I have been reminded by the Lord, that bothersome things, whatever form, whatever size, pass. I've been through them before and these problems pass on by in time. And quite frankly, with few exceptions, I cannot remember what the issues of yesteryear were or even the angst they produced in that moment,
Lord, thank You for the nudges You give everyday. Help me, help all of us to be more aware of them. And to trust!! 2 Corinthians 4:17 For our present troubles are small and won't last very lone. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we ca see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. Lord, help me to focus on "what is true, and honorable, and right and pure and lovely and admirable." Turn my mind to the "things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Philippians 4:8 Remind me always of Your love.
Purposely look for God's attention getters today
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Living Gospel
Our Sunday sermon series is from the book of Mark. Last Sunday's message was on living and sharing the Gospel (don't know if that is what our Pastor intended but that is what the Lord brought out of it for me. LOL) Two statements were impressed upon my heart by the Holy Spirit and I believe they need to be life defining for Christians. The first one was "PREACH THROUGH ACTIONS." And the second was "LIVE THE GOSPEL." So often we tell people we are Christians, we may even tell them about Christ, but our lives don't bear our His message of love, hope, righteousness and salvation. We tell them how their eternity can be safe (very important for sure) but do nothing to alleviate their pain now.
Sometimes that may take buying a sandwich, other times it's just a listening ear....whatever the need, sharing the Gospel means helping. Jesus helped. Wherever He went He listened, He loved, He helped. Ever notice how throughout the Gospels, Jesus listened to the stories of people before He healed them. He took time to see them as people, not just a means to an end. He reached out and touched those around them.....even those society said were outcasts, untouchable and unwanted.
Mark 9:17-27 One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.” Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth. “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, “Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” he said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!” Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.
From our Sunday sermon....keep it plain, the Gospel need not be couched in fancy words. Just God's simple truth of His love for humanity. Positive, the Gospel lifts up. And might I add humble. No one wants to listen to someone who comes across as holier-than-thou, haughty and self-righteous. Helping. How can our lives, our actions show the love that the Gospel brings when we share it's message? Does a monetary problem need to be met? Compassion need to be extended? Prayer in the moment? And this leads to the last must for sharing the Gospel, it has to be Spirit-filled. We can do nothing without the Holy Spirit leading us, giving us insight to meet the immediate need, and putting the right words in our mouths that will reach a specific heart at a specific time. John 15:5 Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
If I share Jesus with those around me and they don't see my life as living what I am saying, then I am disqualified, my words of no effect. LIVE THE GOSPEL! Wow, God is so smart!!
1 Corinthians 13:1-7 (The MSG Bible) If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.
The Gospel is more than just speaking, it's acting. If I am following Jesus I will be acting as He acted, loving as He loved, helping as He helped. And this opens doors and hearts to God's salvation. Oh, I so desire to live this life! Help me Father! The Gospel requires love and action before we ever speak a word.
Lord, let my life look like Your love, that people will want Your salvation, and You! Change me in any and all areas I fall short of this goal. I don't want my behavior, my life to be a stumbling block to anyone who is looking for You. Help all of us to be beacons of light shining on the path to You.
Try helping someone in Jesus' name today, let your actions build a bridge for sharing God's salvation.
Sometimes that may take buying a sandwich, other times it's just a listening ear....whatever the need, sharing the Gospel means helping. Jesus helped. Wherever He went He listened, He loved, He helped. Ever notice how throughout the Gospels, Jesus listened to the stories of people before He healed them. He took time to see them as people, not just a means to an end. He reached out and touched those around them.....even those society said were outcasts, untouchable and unwanted.
Mark 9:17-27 One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.” Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth. “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, “Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” he said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!” Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.
From our Sunday sermon....keep it plain, the Gospel need not be couched in fancy words. Just God's simple truth of His love for humanity. Positive, the Gospel lifts up. And might I add humble. No one wants to listen to someone who comes across as holier-than-thou, haughty and self-righteous. Helping. How can our lives, our actions show the love that the Gospel brings when we share it's message? Does a monetary problem need to be met? Compassion need to be extended? Prayer in the moment? And this leads to the last must for sharing the Gospel, it has to be Spirit-filled. We can do nothing without the Holy Spirit leading us, giving us insight to meet the immediate need, and putting the right words in our mouths that will reach a specific heart at a specific time. John 15:5 Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
If I share Jesus with those around me and they don't see my life as living what I am saying, then I am disqualified, my words of no effect. LIVE THE GOSPEL! Wow, God is so smart!!
1 Corinthians 13:1-7 (The MSG Bible) If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.
The Gospel is more than just speaking, it's acting. If I am following Jesus I will be acting as He acted, loving as He loved, helping as He helped. And this opens doors and hearts to God's salvation. Oh, I so desire to live this life! Help me Father! The Gospel requires love and action before we ever speak a word.
Lord, let my life look like Your love, that people will want Your salvation, and You! Change me in any and all areas I fall short of this goal. I don't want my behavior, my life to be a stumbling block to anyone who is looking for You. Help all of us to be beacons of light shining on the path to You.
Try helping someone in Jesus' name today, let your actions build a bridge for sharing God's salvation.
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Tired
I'm sure like me, many of you are tired. Some days just putting one foot in front of the other is an act of monumental proportions. Tight schedules, work, family, mini and major crises. Then there is physical impairments or illnesses...anything from aching backs and knees to serious sicknesses. Oh, but don't forget to fit in some good for you exercise and healthy food! LOL. Ugh. Years ago I had this picture in my head of me being on a treadmill, time clock in one hand, to do list in the other....running, running to get ahead and in reality I was just stuck in place.
This is how I am feeling right now. These are the days where God visits seem more like God glimpses! Sitting in His presence seems like a far off dream, out of reach and vanishing. But that is what I need most. And so I take the time. Put away the distractions. And just breathe. In this place, I find His peace, if only for a few moments. It's so worth it. This is God visit.
There are days when I feel like I only have 10 minutes at the start of the day to sit with my Creator and rest. Study time, prayer time comes later on breaks and lunches....but this quiet with Him that my spirit craves, this short visit is the healthy food I need to walk (or sprint) through my day. Just enough time for a devotional, a short prayer, draws my mind and heart to the Lord. And like cool, fresh water in the desert, I'm desperate for it.
Our schedules leave us exhausted. Yet this small time of fellowship with the Lord is so very important. And that is what God has reminded me of today. Everything else will be there when I step out of my quiet little sanctuary...the treadmill will be there, the jobs, the house stuff, responsibilities and joys, problems and pleasures. But these few moments with God, they have fed my soul.
As I sit here this morning, the tiredness still deep in my bones, I know that the Lord will carry me through the day ahead, I can face anything with Him and because of Him. Time spent with my Jesus is never wasteful, never an extravagance. And I am so thankful for it.
Lord, thank You for Your presence. Thank You that even the smallest amount of time spent with You is more nourishing than anything else we could do. Days are long, bodies get tired...but You are constant, You carry us through. Let me never forget the importance of this tarriance with You.
Give yourself permission to rest in God's presence each day. It's essential!
This is how I am feeling right now. These are the days where God visits seem more like God glimpses! Sitting in His presence seems like a far off dream, out of reach and vanishing. But that is what I need most. And so I take the time. Put away the distractions. And just breathe. In this place, I find His peace, if only for a few moments. It's so worth it. This is God visit.
There are days when I feel like I only have 10 minutes at the start of the day to sit with my Creator and rest. Study time, prayer time comes later on breaks and lunches....but this quiet with Him that my spirit craves, this short visit is the healthy food I need to walk (or sprint) through my day. Just enough time for a devotional, a short prayer, draws my mind and heart to the Lord. And like cool, fresh water in the desert, I'm desperate for it.
Our schedules leave us exhausted. Yet this small time of fellowship with the Lord is so very important. And that is what God has reminded me of today. Everything else will be there when I step out of my quiet little sanctuary...the treadmill will be there, the jobs, the house stuff, responsibilities and joys, problems and pleasures. But these few moments with God, they have fed my soul.
As I sit here this morning, the tiredness still deep in my bones, I know that the Lord will carry me through the day ahead, I can face anything with Him and because of Him. Time spent with my Jesus is never wasteful, never an extravagance. And I am so thankful for it.
Lord, thank You for Your presence. Thank You that even the smallest amount of time spent with You is more nourishing than anything else we could do. Days are long, bodies get tired...but You are constant, You carry us through. Let me never forget the importance of this tarriance with You.
Give yourself permission to rest in God's presence each day. It's essential!
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Stars
Dealing with my car has been an uphill battle lately. Before Christmas someone spun into me and damaged my vehicle and honestly, it's felt like everything was fighting against me in finding a quick and smooth solution to fixing this little blip in my life. To this day, I still do not have my car back.
The body shop keeps finding addition mechanical problems that resulted from the accident. I've had to switch out rentals....and the worst part of all of this, I had an accident with the rental!! I realize this isn't a major problem in life, but it's certainly been major irritant!
Okay, so that is all going on in the background of my life. I then found out that both of my Aunts were sick. Both live out of state. One is the last in that generation on my Mom's side of the family, the other the last of my Father's siblings. My Aunt Vicky, my Dad's sister passed away a few days ago. It's a very sad time for her children and especially her husband of more than 60 years.
The day she died was the same day her mother died 57 years prior. It was also the day before her one brother died 11 years ago, and 6 days before the anniversary of my father's passing (which is today) in 1990. Her other brother died in May, but of the same thing she did. And my grandfather, her Dad, died only 3 weeks prior back in 1978. The alignment of these things amazes me. Throw in that my Mom died on December 29th, and we have a whole section of my family that has passed on in one month's time date-wise.
I don't know why God aligns things like this...but I heard this song on the radio and it reminded me that everything is in His control, He aligns the stars and planets and hold them in place, and He does the same for our lives and hearts. Whether it's families, death, sickness, or car troubles, stars, mountains, oceans or nations, it's all in His capable and loving hands, weaving together to form His perfect tapestry of creation. And He is not just focused on the "big picture," but on each of us as individual children that He loves dearly.
Whatever you are living with, what's going on in your world right now, look up...God's got this! In thinking about it, this post lines up perfectly with the previous one! God is not surprised by the storms, but rests comfortable knowing His plan is in motion and we are safely in the boat with Him.
We can be at peace because we are loved and cared for by the one who holds the stars and calms the storms.
Lord, remind us that all things serve You. All circumstances, all problems, all blessings, all creation. Thank You for Your tender loving care.
Remind yourself to be at peace....God's in control.
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Stay the Course
Luke 8:22-25 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!”
We get a direction from the Lord. He sets us off on a path, giving us a mission or ministry, some sort of work to do for Him..."Let's cross to the other side of the lake." Jesus told the disciples. So off we go...obedient, excited, expectant. And then the storm comes. Violent waves are crashing over our plans, strong gusty winds keep pushing against us, seemingly trying to hold us back from our newfound purpose and undertaking. As we feel like we are being overwhelmed by the storm we cry out, "What's going on Lord? I'm going where you told me to!" We share the apostles fear, their confusion. If we are following the Lord, why is it so hard? I feel like this so often. And then God....
As I read the account of this episode of Jesus' life here on earth, I thought to myself...well Jesus certainly didn't seem surprised or concerned with this storm. In fact, it's as if He wasn't even aware it was happening. And sometimes it seems that God is asleep when we feel like we are going to drown. The thing that God impressed upon my heart though, was that it's not that Jesus wasn't aware, or didn't care..,.He just knew that since He was following God's plan, He would get there safely. God was opening up my heart to see this passage in a new light. Jesus could peacefully fall asleep, secure in the knowledge that He was under the Father's watchful eye. The disciples in their human-ness saw only the storm, the problems, the sinking....And I know I am that way too. Instead of resting in the Father's arms, I fret. If God has given us a mission or task...then He will complete it. Whenever we step out in faith to follow God's commands, opposition will not be too far behind. Our job....have FAITH!
Psalm 33:11 But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.
Psalm 119:91 Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves your plans.
Psalm 138:8 The Lord will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.
Isaiah 14:27 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has spoken— who can change his plans? When his hand is raised, who can stop him?”
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
When the Lord sends us forward, Satan will not be happy, people around us may not understand or agree, our emotions might have a fit, we may even feel like we are in the middle of a raging storm...but God is in control, His plans will prevail. We can rest, peacefully, quietly, secure in the knowledge that our heavenly Father will bring us safely to the other side.
I pray Lord that You would encourage us to keep going, keep our eyes fixed on You and not the storm when we are following Your plans. Strengthen our faith. In Jesus Name, amen.
Don't let fear of stormy opposition deter you from your God given task ! Face the storms, like Jesus did, at rest and at peace. One step, one inch at a time if need be, just go forward with Him.
We get a direction from the Lord. He sets us off on a path, giving us a mission or ministry, some sort of work to do for Him..."Let's cross to the other side of the lake." Jesus told the disciples. So off we go...obedient, excited, expectant. And then the storm comes. Violent waves are crashing over our plans, strong gusty winds keep pushing against us, seemingly trying to hold us back from our newfound purpose and undertaking. As we feel like we are being overwhelmed by the storm we cry out, "What's going on Lord? I'm going where you told me to!" We share the apostles fear, their confusion. If we are following the Lord, why is it so hard? I feel like this so often. And then God....
As I read the account of this episode of Jesus' life here on earth, I thought to myself...well Jesus certainly didn't seem surprised or concerned with this storm. In fact, it's as if He wasn't even aware it was happening. And sometimes it seems that God is asleep when we feel like we are going to drown. The thing that God impressed upon my heart though, was that it's not that Jesus wasn't aware, or didn't care..,.He just knew that since He was following God's plan, He would get there safely. God was opening up my heart to see this passage in a new light. Jesus could peacefully fall asleep, secure in the knowledge that He was under the Father's watchful eye. The disciples in their human-ness saw only the storm, the problems, the sinking....And I know I am that way too. Instead of resting in the Father's arms, I fret. If God has given us a mission or task...then He will complete it. Whenever we step out in faith to follow God's commands, opposition will not be too far behind. Our job....have FAITH!
Psalm 33:11 But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.
Psalm 119:91 Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves your plans.
Psalm 138:8 The Lord will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.
Isaiah 14:27 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has spoken— who can change his plans? When his hand is raised, who can stop him?”
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
When the Lord sends us forward, Satan will not be happy, people around us may not understand or agree, our emotions might have a fit, we may even feel like we are in the middle of a raging storm...but God is in control, His plans will prevail. We can rest, peacefully, quietly, secure in the knowledge that our heavenly Father will bring us safely to the other side.
I pray Lord that You would encourage us to keep going, keep our eyes fixed on You and not the storm when we are following Your plans. Strengthen our faith. In Jesus Name, amen.
Don't let fear of stormy opposition deter you from your God given task ! Face the storms, like Jesus did, at rest and at peace. One step, one inch at a time if need be, just go forward with Him.
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Painting the Picture
We love stories. Good stories, happy endings. As a child I grew up hearing the fairy tales....princes and princesses, good verses evil....of course good always wins! Some of the stories had a darkness about them, like Hansel and Gretel. I read stories about girls and their horses, always filled with struggles and ultimately triumphs. We have so many books, so many movies all telling stories. And I was thinking about how in many cultures their stories are told orally, passed down from generation to generation. Tales and histories....battles sagas, love stories, parables (Jesus liked these!)....The Bible itself tells story after story... the entire Book woven together with God's love and wisdom to show His beautiful plan for humanity and His desire to bring us back to Himself.
So how did I get to thinking about all this? I can't say I really know...but this picture has been in my heart for a week now. I keep seeing the peoples of old. Young children gathered around their parents, or grandparents, listening to the legends of how their people came to be, came to live as they lived and it brings to mind Heaven. Of course, I'm sure you can see how it would do that, I mean, it's such a logical leap between those two scenarios and places, right? LOL
The image in my heart is this: We are all in Heaven with our Lord. And I can just see us, as little children sitting around the feet of Jesus. And just like children, we excitedly ask Him, "Tell us again how you saved us! Tell us again how You came to get us when we were lost!" And our loving Savior will once again, with joy in His eyes, tell us of the time He left the beauty, holiness and glory of Heaven to come to our dusty, sin-filled, dark home on earth. He'll tell how He met with us, walked with us, helped us and taught us. We will hear of the temptations He faced from our archenemy, Satan. How this evil prince tried to stop His mission to redeem us. And Jesus will tell us how He walked the lonely, dirt road to the final battle. Bloodied and beaten by the forces of darkness, His love for us kept Him going forward to the place of His death, the Cross.
But that was not to be the end of this story. We all look for the part where the hero comes back and saves the day. So there we sit at, the feet of our Savior in Heaven clamoring for the happy ending when our mighty hero returns We've heard it a thousand times, but we never tire of hearing His story, our story, He continues. Jesus tells how the earth was bereft of His light for three days. He tells how His followers were frightened, saddened, and in hiding. They thought all was lost! But then the third day dawned! He arose! Our mighty Savior arose! He had beaten death, beaten darkness and the evil forces who wanted to separate us from our loving Father forever. Our hero has saved the day, saved eternity!
And that's not the end of this story either! After our hero rose from the dead, He went back to His home in heaven to ready a place for us. And as He is working, the world continues much like it was the first time He came, struggles and triumphs, life, death, love, hate....all the normal human existence toiling onward to the next part of the drama. Our Savior, our King is destined to return for us. He came once to save us, He will come again to return us to Himself. Once again there will be a final battle....this time massive forces will gather together. There will be many days of hardship and suffering leading up to this final battle. But the end is already decided. The victory is set. Our King Jesus, who conquered death will once and for all conquer the forces of evil in this world. He will make this earth anew... a place of perfection, beauty, peace and joy. And all who are His will be with Him forever, seated at His feet in worship, basking in His love for us. I can't imagine how wonderful this will be....my mind doesn't go that far. It is beyond our dim imaginations to completely fathom and picture our heavenly home.
Are you ready? Each day thousands die without knowing this story. Ignoring the one who came to save them. And it's such a simple act of faith to reach out to Jesus. Ask Him to be your Savior. Today is the day of salvation. Tell the Lord you need Him. We are all sinners. No one is perfect. But He died that we may be forgiven. He rose that we may live with Him for eternity. Life here on earth will never be easy, but there is another place after this....actually there are two. One for those with Jesus---Heaven, a place of peace, joy, wholeness and eternal beauty and rejoicing. And the other is a place of darkness, sadness, and emptiness. A place bereft of God's love and tender care...this place exists and it is real and will be filled with Satan and his cohorts, and those who reject God. It is my prayer that all who read this, all who hear of God here,or anywhere else will accept His salvation, and will ask Jesus to save them, to be their Lord, their King. In surrendering to Him there is great freedom. Freedom from sin, from hell and ironically freedom to be ourselves, our truest selves, accepted, loved and cherished without fear of rejection. Enter into this beautiful relationship with the one who created you! You will never regret it!
Lord, I pray for those who read this today. I pray there will come to You with open hearts and minds. Lord reach them. Soften hearts to accept Your love. Save them Lord. Thank You.
Ask Jesus to be your Savior today. Speak from your heart, He will lead you.
So how did I get to thinking about all this? I can't say I really know...but this picture has been in my heart for a week now. I keep seeing the peoples of old. Young children gathered around their parents, or grandparents, listening to the legends of how their people came to be, came to live as they lived and it brings to mind Heaven. Of course, I'm sure you can see how it would do that, I mean, it's such a logical leap between those two scenarios and places, right? LOL
The image in my heart is this: We are all in Heaven with our Lord. And I can just see us, as little children sitting around the feet of Jesus. And just like children, we excitedly ask Him, "Tell us again how you saved us! Tell us again how You came to get us when we were lost!" And our loving Savior will once again, with joy in His eyes, tell us of the time He left the beauty, holiness and glory of Heaven to come to our dusty, sin-filled, dark home on earth. He'll tell how He met with us, walked with us, helped us and taught us. We will hear of the temptations He faced from our archenemy, Satan. How this evil prince tried to stop His mission to redeem us. And Jesus will tell us how He walked the lonely, dirt road to the final battle. Bloodied and beaten by the forces of darkness, His love for us kept Him going forward to the place of His death, the Cross.
But that was not to be the end of this story. We all look for the part where the hero comes back and saves the day. So there we sit at, the feet of our Savior in Heaven clamoring for the happy ending when our mighty hero returns We've heard it a thousand times, but we never tire of hearing His story, our story, He continues. Jesus tells how the earth was bereft of His light for three days. He tells how His followers were frightened, saddened, and in hiding. They thought all was lost! But then the third day dawned! He arose! Our mighty Savior arose! He had beaten death, beaten darkness and the evil forces who wanted to separate us from our loving Father forever. Our hero has saved the day, saved eternity!
And that's not the end of this story either! After our hero rose from the dead, He went back to His home in heaven to ready a place for us. And as He is working, the world continues much like it was the first time He came, struggles and triumphs, life, death, love, hate....all the normal human existence toiling onward to the next part of the drama. Our Savior, our King is destined to return for us. He came once to save us, He will come again to return us to Himself. Once again there will be a final battle....this time massive forces will gather together. There will be many days of hardship and suffering leading up to this final battle. But the end is already decided. The victory is set. Our King Jesus, who conquered death will once and for all conquer the forces of evil in this world. He will make this earth anew... a place of perfection, beauty, peace and joy. And all who are His will be with Him forever, seated at His feet in worship, basking in His love for us. I can't imagine how wonderful this will be....my mind doesn't go that far. It is beyond our dim imaginations to completely fathom and picture our heavenly home.
Are you ready? Each day thousands die without knowing this story. Ignoring the one who came to save them. And it's such a simple act of faith to reach out to Jesus. Ask Him to be your Savior. Today is the day of salvation. Tell the Lord you need Him. We are all sinners. No one is perfect. But He died that we may be forgiven. He rose that we may live with Him for eternity. Life here on earth will never be easy, but there is another place after this....actually there are two. One for those with Jesus---Heaven, a place of peace, joy, wholeness and eternal beauty and rejoicing. And the other is a place of darkness, sadness, and emptiness. A place bereft of God's love and tender care...this place exists and it is real and will be filled with Satan and his cohorts, and those who reject God. It is my prayer that all who read this, all who hear of God here,or anywhere else will accept His salvation, and will ask Jesus to save them, to be their Lord, their King. In surrendering to Him there is great freedom. Freedom from sin, from hell and ironically freedom to be ourselves, our truest selves, accepted, loved and cherished without fear of rejection. Enter into this beautiful relationship with the one who created you! You will never regret it!
Lord, I pray for those who read this today. I pray there will come to You with open hearts and minds. Lord reach them. Soften hearts to accept Your love. Save them Lord. Thank You.
Ask Jesus to be your Savior today. Speak from your heart, He will lead you.
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Matthew West - Strong Enough
So I am walking the non-negativity route this week. Working on not spouting and spewing words that send or speak complaints, criticisms, judgments, gloom and doom out into the world around me. These are such ingrained habits and pathways in my heart and in my mind and I've found myself really struggling....but mostly being successful! Thank You Lord.
So God sent music and Scripture, as He does so often, to be encouragement to my heart. What a loving and tenderhearted God we serve.
Yesterday on the radio, it seemed like the song list was designed especially for me! LOL And then the djs threw in a Scripture verse.....definitely straight from God !! Matthew 7:7 Keep asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
In striving to become the person God wants us to be, we will have ups and downs. Some days I feel like all I do is fail! But God says to keep it up! Keep on asking for His help. Keep on seeking to grow and change. Keep on knocking until the doors of victory open up before you! He promises we will receive, find and have doors opened to us.
Thank You God for Your encouragement. Thank You, Father, that You never give up. Help me to have the same fortitude, the same "never say die" attitude that You have! Help us all to keep moving forward with You.
No matter how many times you fail, get back up and keep going. Find some good, uplifting Christian music today to inspire and comfort you in your walk with the Lord.
Matthew West--Mended
Don't lose hope. What a great song, and a wonderful reminded that God sees us already finished. He sees so differently than we do. I don't know who needs this today, but I pray that God brings healing and hope to your heart through this post and this wonderful song.
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Good Words!
Wise people treasure knowledge, but the babbling fool invites disaster. Proverbs 10:14. This verse is my "verse of the year!" If you recall, last week I shared God's growth plan for my new year...words and ideas written on the first page of my brand new 2017 notebook as it were. Well, over the weekend the Lord turned the page of that new, clean, white notebook and we wrote that verse out as our heading on page two.
I'm back to words again. My assignment for this year is to let less negativity in any form pass by my lips. And this verse gives a good reason why we should all practice this....negative babbling brings destruction and disaster to one's life. It's almost as if we call these things into our worlds as we permeate the air around us with complaints, judgments, gossip, and gloomy predictions. Kind of a scary thought, huh?
Staying in God's Word, treasuring it in my heart, listening to His voice and letting Him decide what is to be spoken and what is to be discarded before it ever makes it from my brain to my mouth is a discipline I desire to cultivate this year. Oh boy, tall order! But the Bible tells us in Philippians 4:13 For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength. A challenge for sure....complaining and cynical words seem to be a stronghold and a habit in my life. But Jesus is the chain breaker! In Him is freedom. And I plan on living there!
Lord equip me with all I need for doing Your will. Produce in me, through the power of Jesus Christ every good thing that is pleasing to You...all glory to You forever and every! Amen. (based on Hebrews 13:21) Lord, transform me into Your image, from glory to glory, by the power of Your Holy Spirit. (based on 2 Corinthians 3:18) Let my life bring You honor. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Work God's plan for you today!
I'm back to words again. My assignment for this year is to let less negativity in any form pass by my lips. And this verse gives a good reason why we should all practice this....negative babbling brings destruction and disaster to one's life. It's almost as if we call these things into our worlds as we permeate the air around us with complaints, judgments, gossip, and gloomy predictions. Kind of a scary thought, huh?
Staying in God's Word, treasuring it in my heart, listening to His voice and letting Him decide what is to be spoken and what is to be discarded before it ever makes it from my brain to my mouth is a discipline I desire to cultivate this year. Oh boy, tall order! But the Bible tells us in Philippians 4:13 For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength. A challenge for sure....complaining and cynical words seem to be a stronghold and a habit in my life. But Jesus is the chain breaker! In Him is freedom. And I plan on living there!
Lord equip me with all I need for doing Your will. Produce in me, through the power of Jesus Christ every good thing that is pleasing to You...all glory to You forever and every! Amen. (based on Hebrews 13:21) Lord, transform me into Your image, from glory to glory, by the power of Your Holy Spirit. (based on 2 Corinthians 3:18) Let my life bring You honor. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Work God's plan for you today!
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