HE LIVES FOREVERMORE!!!
Happy Easter!!!!
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Happy Easter!
Luke 24:1-7 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
What Is In Your Garden?
Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body, and be ye thankful.
Two Written Instructions:
1. Let PEACE rule
2. Be THANKFUL
Peace and Thankfulness can grow beautifully if we have cultivated our hearts with the ingredients found in the aforementioned verses. Here they are:
Colossians 3:12-14 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forebearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Planting flowers and getting the yard "presentable" from the winter blues is such a joy this time of year. Spring is so refreshing! Pops of color can be found everywhere. To me it brings such a feeling of unity, as if the whole region is working together to bring joy to its inhabitants. I love Spring! It's RENEWAL time!
But to have the beauty that surrounds our landscapes, our flower pots & flower-beds, we must add new nutrients to the soil. Adding nutrients, Mixing things up a bit, then patting everything back down in it's place again. We must be sure that the grounds in which we plant are ready to produce.
Well, so is the spirit of every man, woman, boy & girl. We have to dig around our heart & mind, so to speak, and get the right mix again in order for us to produce the beauty that God would have us present to the world. We have to get rid of the stale-winter-blues. We can not afford to be complacient, moody, intolerant, busy-bodied, gossips if we are going to add to our fruits. These are weeds that quickly choke progress. We have to mix up a good bag of "potting soil"---mercies, kindness, humbleness, meekness, longsuffering, forebearance, and forgiveness. Topping our lives with pure love, which to me, is the mulch of our flower-bed. There is nothing more beautiful than to see a flower-bed with beautiful flowers, surrounded by mulch. It adds the special touch of completeness. So is LOVE. Love is that. Complete. Unifying. Beautiful.
With all the added ingredients the "bed" is a sight of contentment for the viewer. Therewith bringing feelings of PEACE and THANKFULNESS.
What is in your garden?
Two Written Instructions:
1. Let PEACE rule
2. Be THANKFUL
Peace and Thankfulness can grow beautifully if we have cultivated our hearts with the ingredients found in the aforementioned verses. Here they are:
Colossians 3:12-14 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forebearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Planting flowers and getting the yard "presentable" from the winter blues is such a joy this time of year. Spring is so refreshing! Pops of color can be found everywhere. To me it brings such a feeling of unity, as if the whole region is working together to bring joy to its inhabitants. I love Spring! It's RENEWAL time!
But to have the beauty that surrounds our landscapes, our flower pots & flower-beds, we must add new nutrients to the soil. Adding nutrients, Mixing things up a bit, then patting everything back down in it's place again. We must be sure that the grounds in which we plant are ready to produce.
Well, so is the spirit of every man, woman, boy & girl. We have to dig around our heart & mind, so to speak, and get the right mix again in order for us to produce the beauty that God would have us present to the world. We have to get rid of the stale-winter-blues. We can not afford to be complacient, moody, intolerant, busy-bodied, gossips if we are going to add to our fruits. These are weeds that quickly choke progress. We have to mix up a good bag of "potting soil"---mercies, kindness, humbleness, meekness, longsuffering, forebearance, and forgiveness. Topping our lives with pure love, which to me, is the mulch of our flower-bed. There is nothing more beautiful than to see a flower-bed with beautiful flowers, surrounded by mulch. It adds the special touch of completeness. So is LOVE. Love is that. Complete. Unifying. Beautiful.
With all the added ingredients the "bed" is a sight of contentment for the viewer. Therewith bringing feelings of PEACE and THANKFULNESS.
What is in your garden?
Friday, March 29, 2013
Continually Fashioned
Psalm 139:16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O GOD! how great is the sum of them!
Well, after making a phone call to a staffing agency and being told they had a job for me that I could most likely do and was in the salary range I'm looking for, I went to the agency to submit my resume and fill out an application.
After filling the necessary paperwork at their office, it doesn't appear that there is any "definite" job as yet. I have to take some tests online, the results (scores) will be submitted to that office, and then I'll have to probably keep calling them back to see if any position has been found for me.
*hey!----maybe I'm becoming a Professional Applicant! :-D :-D Wonder how much a person can be paid for that??!! LOL
Gotta keep my humor. It's the only way to survive sometimes.
The scripture above lets me know that God knows. He knows right where I need to be. He knows exactly what I need. He knows it all!! All the days planned for me were written in His book before I was even a day old! He knew me before I was formed in my mother's womb. He knew me at the Cross!
I'm so thankful that I have hope BEYOND this life! Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ I have the assurance that my sins are forgiven and I have a HOME not made with earthen hands! If He can do all that, I know that He CAN take care of a "little job situation". :)
Still hoping in faith! Have a BLESSED & HAPPY EASTER, everyone!
Well, after making a phone call to a staffing agency and being told they had a job for me that I could most likely do and was in the salary range I'm looking for, I went to the agency to submit my resume and fill out an application.
After filling the necessary paperwork at their office, it doesn't appear that there is any "definite" job as yet. I have to take some tests online, the results (scores) will be submitted to that office, and then I'll have to probably keep calling them back to see if any position has been found for me.
*hey!----maybe I'm becoming a Professional Applicant! :-D :-D Wonder how much a person can be paid for that??!! LOL
Gotta keep my humor. It's the only way to survive sometimes.
The scripture above lets me know that God knows. He knows right where I need to be. He knows exactly what I need. He knows it all!! All the days planned for me were written in His book before I was even a day old! He knew me before I was formed in my mother's womb. He knew me at the Cross!
I'm so thankful that I have hope BEYOND this life! Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ I have the assurance that my sins are forgiven and I have a HOME not made with earthen hands! If He can do all that, I know that He CAN take care of a "little job situation". :)
Still hoping in faith! Have a BLESSED & HAPPY EASTER, everyone!
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Commitment
Psalm 37:5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
A few days after being told about the termination of my position at the office, I was cleaning out my desk drawers, boxing up personal items. I wanted to make sure that all "my stuff" was out of the drawers, so I was doing a thorough investigation of any possible "stashes" that had accumulated over the last 8 1/2 years. Thinking I'd gotten everything out of a bottom drawer, but needing to be sure, the task required me to put my knees on the floor. Bending there on the office floor and reaching back into the dark corner of my desk drawer, I found the tiny sticky-note. In my pathetic handwriting was written this awesome scripture. Psalm 37:5
A GOD MOMENT.
I couldn't help but raise my hands right there and excitedly whisper, "Thank You, Jesus". You see, during the moments of that morning while cleaning out the desk's contents, I felt so bewildered, dis-heartened, confused, sad, etc; all the feelings that are good ingredients for an emotionally BAD DAY. You get the picture.
Oftentimes through out the last 8 years or so, when I would have a spare moment or when a scripture would drop into my mind, I would write scripture passages on anything that could be written on. Even the unused paper napkins from lunch. (I guess I'm that much like my father). :) So, finding this little sticky-note was not a huge surprise, yet it was. Because usually I put all those kinds of notes in the roll-out drawer directly below my desk top, not the bottom drawer. I really did not use that drawer frequently, almost never.
I'm so thankful that I took the time to look closer. After finding that note, I felt as if God Himself was telling me, "its' gonna be alright".
Since that day I can't say that every day I've awoken to the feeling that "everything's gonna be alright", but what I have done is take many glances at that little sticky-note which reminds me that God's Word speaks truth. Always. Forever. His Word never fails.
I heard a message last night entitled: God's Choice For You, preached by Rev. Lee Stoneking. Awesome message!
I don't know what the future holds, I don't know exactly where God wants me to work, but what I do know is that God holds it all in His great big hand. His choices for me are based on my choices that I commit to Him. If I'm faithful to Him, He's gonna see to it that my EVERY NEED is met.
So in the meantime I'm going to do my best to live out my days Faith-Empowered. For it isn't so much the power of positive thinking or the power of will that motives God, but it is Faith. Faith is the tangible thing, the substance, of those things we hope for. Faith is the evidence of those things that has not even come to pass yet. These are the things I'm committing to God: My life. My soul. My faith (which encapsulates truly trusting).
In the meantime, as I'm committing my way to the Lord, I'm headed out to yet another Staffing Agency.
A few days after being told about the termination of my position at the office, I was cleaning out my desk drawers, boxing up personal items. I wanted to make sure that all "my stuff" was out of the drawers, so I was doing a thorough investigation of any possible "stashes" that had accumulated over the last 8 1/2 years. Thinking I'd gotten everything out of a bottom drawer, but needing to be sure, the task required me to put my knees on the floor. Bending there on the office floor and reaching back into the dark corner of my desk drawer, I found the tiny sticky-note. In my pathetic handwriting was written this awesome scripture. Psalm 37:5
A GOD MOMENT.
I couldn't help but raise my hands right there and excitedly whisper, "Thank You, Jesus". You see, during the moments of that morning while cleaning out the desk's contents, I felt so bewildered, dis-heartened, confused, sad, etc; all the feelings that are good ingredients for an emotionally BAD DAY. You get the picture.
Oftentimes through out the last 8 years or so, when I would have a spare moment or when a scripture would drop into my mind, I would write scripture passages on anything that could be written on. Even the unused paper napkins from lunch. (I guess I'm that much like my father). :) So, finding this little sticky-note was not a huge surprise, yet it was. Because usually I put all those kinds of notes in the roll-out drawer directly below my desk top, not the bottom drawer. I really did not use that drawer frequently, almost never.
I'm so thankful that I took the time to look closer. After finding that note, I felt as if God Himself was telling me, "its' gonna be alright".
Since that day I can't say that every day I've awoken to the feeling that "everything's gonna be alright", but what I have done is take many glances at that little sticky-note which reminds me that God's Word speaks truth. Always. Forever. His Word never fails.
I heard a message last night entitled: God's Choice For You, preached by Rev. Lee Stoneking. Awesome message!
I don't know what the future holds, I don't know exactly where God wants me to work, but what I do know is that God holds it all in His great big hand. His choices for me are based on my choices that I commit to Him. If I'm faithful to Him, He's gonna see to it that my EVERY NEED is met.
So in the meantime I'm going to do my best to live out my days Faith-Empowered. For it isn't so much the power of positive thinking or the power of will that motives God, but it is Faith. Faith is the tangible thing, the substance, of those things we hope for. Faith is the evidence of those things that has not even come to pass yet. These are the things I'm committing to God: My life. My soul. My faith (which encapsulates truly trusting).
In the meantime, as I'm committing my way to the Lord, I'm headed out to yet another Staffing Agency.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Lesson From A Bird
I'm not ready to be called the "bird lady" yet, I am not an avid bird watcher, but I do love birds. The little finches and blue jays that I see outside my kitchen window, they are such a lovely sight. I find such beauty in them.
This time of year I feel that beauty even more.
But nowadays you don't have to wait for the coming of Spring, you can even find them in department stores and it doesn't seem to matter the season. On plates, on jewelry, on cups, saucers, glasses....
I guess the reason I love it when I see a bird is because birds make me think of hope, they make me think of sheer freedom.
Last evening I had the privilege of eating dinner at my parents' home. The whole family sitting around my parents' table. Such a wholesome blessing. Really it is.
As we were ending the meal, we started talking about my job status, my BIL's job status, the economy...blah blah. This topic of conversation quickly ended. It was bringing me too close, much too close to indigestion. I remember saying something like "well, if God can take care of the flowers and make them spring up through no will of their own, surely He can take care of me, right?!" :) We all seemed to smile, even chuckle a bit, and we all nodded our heads. Yes, God is a big God. He can take care of His children.
Matthew 6:30 Wherefore if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you? O ye of little faith?
Are you of little faith? Do you falter in your faith when it comes to believing for your own needs? If so, don't feel alone. I seem to do the same. I can believe wholeheartedly for others, but most of the time (sadly) when it comes to myself, I don't have as much faith. I do have faith, just not as much when it comes to my own self. I don't know if that's because I feel I don't deserve my prayers being answered or what it is. However, through it all, I do hold on to the belief that God hears and in His own time He will answer. I also believe that I am His child. And because I am His child that makes Him my Father, and because He's my Father He has me on His hands. When it comes to being a child of God, there is no "get out on your own" plan. :) We have to lean on Him. He's the Creator of all. I find such comfort in that. God isn't ready to kick any one of His children out! He loves it when we depend on Him.
My mom called this afternoon. In the conversation I told her about the status of me talking to someone about a potential job earlier today. She said, "yes, just remember what we talked about yesterday, if God can feed the birds He can make sure your needs are met too". With a smile I said, "well...if I don't get I job...can't eat...I'm gonna be asking God why He didn't make me a bird!!!". We laughed.
On second thought, it probably WOULDN'T hurt if I did eat like a bird! LOL
Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
This time of year I feel that beauty even more.
But nowadays you don't have to wait for the coming of Spring, you can even find them in department stores and it doesn't seem to matter the season. On plates, on jewelry, on cups, saucers, glasses....
I guess the reason I love it when I see a bird is because birds make me think of hope, they make me think of sheer freedom.
Last evening I had the privilege of eating dinner at my parents' home. The whole family sitting around my parents' table. Such a wholesome blessing. Really it is.
As we were ending the meal, we started talking about my job status, my BIL's job status, the economy...blah blah. This topic of conversation quickly ended. It was bringing me too close, much too close to indigestion. I remember saying something like "well, if God can take care of the flowers and make them spring up through no will of their own, surely He can take care of me, right?!" :) We all seemed to smile, even chuckle a bit, and we all nodded our heads. Yes, God is a big God. He can take care of His children.
Matthew 6:30 Wherefore if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you? O ye of little faith?
Are you of little faith? Do you falter in your faith when it comes to believing for your own needs? If so, don't feel alone. I seem to do the same. I can believe wholeheartedly for others, but most of the time (sadly) when it comes to myself, I don't have as much faith. I do have faith, just not as much when it comes to my own self. I don't know if that's because I feel I don't deserve my prayers being answered or what it is. However, through it all, I do hold on to the belief that God hears and in His own time He will answer. I also believe that I am His child. And because I am His child that makes Him my Father, and because He's my Father He has me on His hands. When it comes to being a child of God, there is no "get out on your own" plan. :) We have to lean on Him. He's the Creator of all. I find such comfort in that. God isn't ready to kick any one of His children out! He loves it when we depend on Him.
My mom called this afternoon. In the conversation I told her about the status of me talking to someone about a potential job earlier today. She said, "yes, just remember what we talked about yesterday, if God can feed the birds He can make sure your needs are met too". With a smile I said, "well...if I don't get I job...can't eat...I'm gonna be asking God why He didn't make me a bird!!!". We laughed.
On second thought, it probably WOULDN'T hurt if I did eat like a bird! LOL
Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Monday, March 18, 2013
Mindfully Happy
Having the ability to think sure is a blessing. But sometimes it sure can send you on a downward spiral. *sigh Why is it that there are "just some things" that when you start to think on them, can leave you so anxious, angry, and drained??!
Isn't that just like the enemy of our soul to put a thought into our mind that leaves us "just a bit twisted"?
That very thing has happened to me tonight. So much so that I was beginning to not even want to take on the duties of tomorrow (should we all still be here anyway...afterall....the rapture could take care of it all).
So with that in mind, I couldn't help but send a few requests Heaven-ward. Request like:
"God, help me!"
"God, why did I let this get me so aggitated?!"
"Lord, I need you now!"
Stuff like that. I was so aggitated that I could literally feel the tension building up in my shoulders and neck. Now that's bad. Here I sit, sweating the small stuff, and needing a chiropractor now. LOL
So with my pleas being sent Heaven-ward I thought I'd also go to my Master's Word. The Bible. Here is what I read....
Psalm 32:11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart
Psalm 64:10 The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.
Now I can go to bed in a much better frame of mind. I've been re-minded to think of God's joy. I've been re-minded to think on how trustworthy HE is. I've been re-minded to mind the things that bring me my true joy. I know that He holds it all in His hands. My every day. My every night. My every circumstance. My every trial. My every aggrivation. My Lord holds my every happiness. When I place things in HIS hands, not one thing formed against me shall prosper! I'm glad. So glad. Glad I know the Lord. He's my Comforter. He's my Guide. He's my Councellor. He is my Friend. This is why I can be JOYFUL!! Because He LIVES I can face tomorrow.
Isn't that just like the enemy of our soul to put a thought into our mind that leaves us "just a bit twisted"?
That very thing has happened to me tonight. So much so that I was beginning to not even want to take on the duties of tomorrow (should we all still be here anyway...afterall....the rapture could take care of it all).
So with that in mind, I couldn't help but send a few requests Heaven-ward. Request like:
"God, help me!"
"God, why did I let this get me so aggitated?!"
"Lord, I need you now!"
Stuff like that. I was so aggitated that I could literally feel the tension building up in my shoulders and neck. Now that's bad. Here I sit, sweating the small stuff, and needing a chiropractor now. LOL
So with my pleas being sent Heaven-ward I thought I'd also go to my Master's Word. The Bible. Here is what I read....
Psalm 32:11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart
Psalm 64:10 The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.
Now I can go to bed in a much better frame of mind. I've been re-minded to think of God's joy. I've been re-minded to think on how trustworthy HE is. I've been re-minded to mind the things that bring me my true joy. I know that He holds it all in His hands. My every day. My every night. My every circumstance. My every trial. My every aggrivation. My Lord holds my every happiness. When I place things in HIS hands, not one thing formed against me shall prosper! I'm glad. So glad. Glad I know the Lord. He's my Comforter. He's my Guide. He's my Councellor. He is my Friend. This is why I can be JOYFUL!! Because He LIVES I can face tomorrow.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Morning Joy
Psalm 94:19, "When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul." (NIV 1984)
I awoke before the dawning of a new day this morning. Such abstract behavior for me! If I had my way, the whole world would go to work around Noon. :)
But on mornings when I do awaken earlier than my norm, I find that I rather enjoy it. I don't know if it's because it happens so rarely or what. But I do enjoy my "extra time". On mornings such as this, it's as if all my senses are waking up right along with the sun. I love that feeling!
This morning, listening to all the little birdies...the little finches that sit along the top of my dog's pen outside...I couldn't help but smile. And, I smiled even bigger, chuckling to myself, when I heard the neighbor's rooster greeting the new day. It reminded me of the scripture in Matthew where it talks about not worrying about our days. The earth was waking up and singing. I should do the same.
The sun was just beginning the backdrop for the beauty of the morning sky. Beautiful. Instead of worrying about my job prospects. Instead of worrying about my health. Instead of worrying about all things that encapsulate my future. I should rather focus on the fact that I am a child of God. He's my Father. He knows just how to take care of me. good care. He doesn't want serpents and stones for me. He wants life. And He wants me to have it more abundantly.
Thinking on that I couldn't help but re-read the quote on this month's calendar page: God Designed Your Life For The Purpose Of Making It Lovely
What peace floods my soul.
The sun is higher in the sky now. Awaking the black of the night sky to its happy blueness. It's the same sky, but the colors have changed. Light has come! The trees standing outside my window in the neighbor's yard seem are more greener today than yesterday. Pollen may be prevelent in the air, but LIFE is happening. Spring is coming. It's gonna be a beautiful day! Hey, it ALREADY is.
No, I do not have the promise that trials won't come. But I do have the promise that my Father will be with me in them. through them. I have the promise that no matter what He is working all things, designing all things, for my good. And, what's more, He's allowed me a whole other 24 hours to work with me! :) That's love, my friend, that's unconditional love!
This is my consolation. This brings me great joy!
Blessed Assurance
Jesus Is Mine
Oh! what a foretaste
of GLORY divine.
I'm an heir of salvation
Purchased by God
Born of the Spirit
I've been washed in His blood.
This IS my story. This is my song!
I'm praising my Savior ALL DAY LONG.
I awoke before the dawning of a new day this morning. Such abstract behavior for me! If I had my way, the whole world would go to work around Noon. :)
But on mornings when I do awaken earlier than my norm, I find that I rather enjoy it. I don't know if it's because it happens so rarely or what. But I do enjoy my "extra time". On mornings such as this, it's as if all my senses are waking up right along with the sun. I love that feeling!
This morning, listening to all the little birdies...the little finches that sit along the top of my dog's pen outside...I couldn't help but smile. And, I smiled even bigger, chuckling to myself, when I heard the neighbor's rooster greeting the new day. It reminded me of the scripture in Matthew where it talks about not worrying about our days. The earth was waking up and singing. I should do the same.
The sun was just beginning the backdrop for the beauty of the morning sky. Beautiful. Instead of worrying about my job prospects. Instead of worrying about my health. Instead of worrying about all things that encapsulate my future. I should rather focus on the fact that I am a child of God. He's my Father. He knows just how to take care of me. good care. He doesn't want serpents and stones for me. He wants life. And He wants me to have it more abundantly.
Thinking on that I couldn't help but re-read the quote on this month's calendar page: God Designed Your Life For The Purpose Of Making It Lovely
What peace floods my soul.
The sun is higher in the sky now. Awaking the black of the night sky to its happy blueness. It's the same sky, but the colors have changed. Light has come! The trees standing outside my window in the neighbor's yard seem are more greener today than yesterday. Pollen may be prevelent in the air, but LIFE is happening. Spring is coming. It's gonna be a beautiful day! Hey, it ALREADY is.
No, I do not have the promise that trials won't come. But I do have the promise that my Father will be with me in them. through them. I have the promise that no matter what He is working all things, designing all things, for my good. And, what's more, He's allowed me a whole other 24 hours to work with me! :) That's love, my friend, that's unconditional love!
This is my consolation. This brings me great joy!
Blessed Assurance
Jesus Is Mine
Oh! what a foretaste
of GLORY divine.
I'm an heir of salvation
Purchased by God
Born of the Spirit
I've been washed in His blood.
This IS my story. This is my song!
I'm praising my Savior ALL DAY LONG.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Fully Supplied Adornment
II Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
When we live life centered around what others like, feel, and say, we lose touch with our own identity. I am an eternal being, created by God. I am an individual with purpose. It’s not what I get from life, but who I am, that makes the difference. –Neva Coyle
Grace: do honor or credit to; adorn; favor
My God is able to create all the combining parts that are needed for me to be fully supplied with grace.
His amazing grace is what keeps me.
His grace helps me retain possesion of myself.
His grace keeps me steady.
God’s amazing grace loves to adorn me. It’s my safety harness. His grace is the strength I need for every work I perform. for every day I wake and live.
It’s not what others think of me, or even what I may think of myself from time to time, that should make the huge difference in my little world; but I should be able to walk in graceful confidence knowing that it is the grace of God that’s made me who I am. That is what makes all the difference. The adorning grace of God.
I am a promise. I am a possibility. I am an individual with purpose. My Father made me that way, an individual with purpose. And it is His overflowing grace that enables the flow of His mercies...throughout today and in my every tomorrow...so that I may be able to withstand, to fulfill, all things He wishes me to accomplish.
**************************
God so awes me!!! I stand in awe of His presence in my life. Today I am reminded to:
Not Discount Gentle Whispers....for it just may be God trying to still my heart before the presenting storm.
I wrote this earlier in my day yesterday. Yesterday evening I received a call (totally out of the blue) concerning a "problem" that someone very dear and close to me encountered in less than 24 hours prior--the emotional abandonment of someone else because of how this person felt, perceived, viewed a situation in their life. Through this situation we were again reminded that we should never center our lives around what others think, feel, or say about our lives, but rather, what does God say about us? What does He think?!
If we place our life in HIS hands, forsaking our own will, He works out the puzzles to His own design. We then live in a God-filled, God-centered world and it really matters not whether others are happy with the result or not happy with the result. His plan, His will, has been accomplished. And that is all that matters. Meanwhile, in the hurdles, we cling to His grace.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
God Winks ;-)
I woke this morning not particularly in a great mood. For some reason or another from the time my feet barely hit the floor I was already feeling stressed.
I barked my 'motherly orders' of the morning, not really setting the tone of the day for the household as I should have. I locked the door behind us and we were off to face another day.
The moment I punched the clock I knew things weren't going to get any better. The stress began to esculate. Things that didn't change my stress level for the better that's for sure.
I entered my office. Did the usual routine. But something was different. There lying on my desk was a small beautiful book titled, Psalms Journal. Pricked with interest, I randomly opened it. My eyes falling on the words, The Lord's Enduring Faithfulness. One of my dearest friends (and close co-worker) had left it there for me. Three scriptures accompanied this heading. I knew immediatly that this was a "God Wink" moment.
But I was still too wrapped up in 'the now' to release my negative emotions. To release my stress to my loving, faithful Lord. After all, didn't He know already the things that were taking place presently? Didn't He know that...hey, I'm STILL searching for a new job? Hello.
I continued to work on various tasks with the same mindset. Negative over-riding the Positive. My day was soon to wrap up, and 2:30 couldn't come fast enough. I glanced at my desk calendar, realizing that I hadn't as yet flipped the page to today's date. I nonchalantly flipped the page, still thinking on what a hard day it had been, yet still trying to hold on to some positive thought, most likely out of sheer desparation. As my fingers touched the page to turn it, I thought "at least I have a job right now". Then another "GOD WINK" happened. My eyes landed on the day's quote:
None of us knows what the next change is going to be, what unexpected opportunity is just around the corner, waiting to change all the tenor of our lives. -Kathleen Norris
"Hmm, how true", I thought. How true it is that you can be moving right along in life and then suddenly seemingly out of nowhere you find yourself staring straight into a corner of a wall that didn't even appear there before. Life is full of change. Full of opportunity. Now that is a positive word. Opportunity.
I went on about my work day. Still holding to the negative. Still feeling glum, shunned, and at times outright mad.
Turning to my computer, I checked my email. Then another "GOD WINK" happened. The title of the email read: Bible Verse Exchange. It was from a co-woker that I rarely get a chance to talk to. She knew NOTHING about how my day was going. The Bible verse: Isaiah 40:29, 31 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Later this evening the scripture text Isaiah 41:10 dropped in my head. I picked up my Bible and read the passage, astonished at its words for I had originally thought it would say something else. This is what it says....
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
What enduring faithfulness!!! My Lord tried all day long to lift my spirits up above my circumstance! All day long He tried to perserve my heart, my mind, my spirit!!! He winked at me all day and I was too wrapped up in earthly moments to pay Him close attention. Too wrapped up in my fears. I was too wrapped up in myself, and not making sure that I was wrapped up in His loving arms. Yet in this very moment I find that, yes, He's still ever so enduring. No, today was not a good day in many ways, but I still serve a God who is always good. He's good in innumerable ways. ;-)
I barked my 'motherly orders' of the morning, not really setting the tone of the day for the household as I should have. I locked the door behind us and we were off to face another day.
The moment I punched the clock I knew things weren't going to get any better. The stress began to esculate. Things that didn't change my stress level for the better that's for sure.
I entered my office. Did the usual routine. But something was different. There lying on my desk was a small beautiful book titled, Psalms Journal. Pricked with interest, I randomly opened it. My eyes falling on the words, The Lord's Enduring Faithfulness. One of my dearest friends (and close co-worker) had left it there for me. Three scriptures accompanied this heading. I knew immediatly that this was a "God Wink" moment.
But I was still too wrapped up in 'the now' to release my negative emotions. To release my stress to my loving, faithful Lord. After all, didn't He know already the things that were taking place presently? Didn't He know that...hey, I'm STILL searching for a new job? Hello.
I continued to work on various tasks with the same mindset. Negative over-riding the Positive. My day was soon to wrap up, and 2:30 couldn't come fast enough. I glanced at my desk calendar, realizing that I hadn't as yet flipped the page to today's date. I nonchalantly flipped the page, still thinking on what a hard day it had been, yet still trying to hold on to some positive thought, most likely out of sheer desparation. As my fingers touched the page to turn it, I thought "at least I have a job right now". Then another "GOD WINK" happened. My eyes landed on the day's quote:
None of us knows what the next change is going to be, what unexpected opportunity is just around the corner, waiting to change all the tenor of our lives. -Kathleen Norris
"Hmm, how true", I thought. How true it is that you can be moving right along in life and then suddenly seemingly out of nowhere you find yourself staring straight into a corner of a wall that didn't even appear there before. Life is full of change. Full of opportunity. Now that is a positive word. Opportunity.
I went on about my work day. Still holding to the negative. Still feeling glum, shunned, and at times outright mad.
Turning to my computer, I checked my email. Then another "GOD WINK" happened. The title of the email read: Bible Verse Exchange. It was from a co-woker that I rarely get a chance to talk to. She knew NOTHING about how my day was going. The Bible verse: Isaiah 40:29, 31 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Later this evening the scripture text Isaiah 41:10 dropped in my head. I picked up my Bible and read the passage, astonished at its words for I had originally thought it would say something else. This is what it says....
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
What enduring faithfulness!!! My Lord tried all day long to lift my spirits up above my circumstance! All day long He tried to perserve my heart, my mind, my spirit!!! He winked at me all day and I was too wrapped up in earthly moments to pay Him close attention. Too wrapped up in my fears. I was too wrapped up in myself, and not making sure that I was wrapped up in His loving arms. Yet in this very moment I find that, yes, He's still ever so enduring. No, today was not a good day in many ways, but I still serve a God who is always good. He's good in innumerable ways. ;-)
Monday, March 4, 2013
Words
Daniel 10:12 "....FEAR NOT...for from the FIRST DAY that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, THY WORDS WERE HEARD, and I am come for thy words.
*I've capitalized some words to emphasize their power to me.
I'm so thankful my Lord desires to hear my words. My prayers. My supplications. My wishes. My desires. I'm so grateful He stands ready to hear my heart. My thankfulness. My appreciation of Him.
He is GOD alone. He reigns forevermore. Even in trial, the valley. He is the same. The same triumphant God that I've known Him to be on the mountain-top. He's the one constant in my life. I so love that about Him. I know I've said that before. it's still true.
I like the whole scripture (above) but tonight the words that are speaking to me most are:
"I am come for thy words".
He's coming. The Supreme Being of the Universe. The Master of my life. He's coming for MY words tonight. So many times (as in church service) I will pray "Lord, speak, for thy servant heareth" or "Speak to my heart, Lord". But tonight He tells me "I am come for THY words. Won't you speak to my heart?".
Isn't it a wonderful, glorious, most humbling thing to comprehend??!
God wants us to talk to Him. He wants us to make our request known. He wants to hear how big and great and powerful we think He is! He is GOD. He is to be MAGNIFIED.
It is only through prayer (and fasting too) that our greatest miracles will be met.
Words. Action. Benefits.
So, though I've posted numerous resumes over the past 3 weeks and been interviewed as an employee prospect only once (with negative outcomes so far), I will NOT FEAR. Instead I will choose to trust that He has heard my words. And I will choose that in His time He will do something about them. And I will continue to keep doing my part and turn in applications and resumes until I find that perfect job He has for me.
*I've capitalized some words to emphasize their power to me.
I'm so thankful my Lord desires to hear my words. My prayers. My supplications. My wishes. My desires. I'm so grateful He stands ready to hear my heart. My thankfulness. My appreciation of Him.
He is GOD alone. He reigns forevermore. Even in trial, the valley. He is the same. The same triumphant God that I've known Him to be on the mountain-top. He's the one constant in my life. I so love that about Him. I know I've said that before. it's still true.
I like the whole scripture (above) but tonight the words that are speaking to me most are:
"I am come for thy words".
He's coming. The Supreme Being of the Universe. The Master of my life. He's coming for MY words tonight. So many times (as in church service) I will pray "Lord, speak, for thy servant heareth" or "Speak to my heart, Lord". But tonight He tells me "I am come for THY words. Won't you speak to my heart?".
Isn't it a wonderful, glorious, most humbling thing to comprehend??!
God wants us to talk to Him. He wants us to make our request known. He wants to hear how big and great and powerful we think He is! He is GOD. He is to be MAGNIFIED.
It is only through prayer (and fasting too) that our greatest miracles will be met.
Words. Action. Benefits.
So, though I've posted numerous resumes over the past 3 weeks and been interviewed as an employee prospect only once (with negative outcomes so far), I will NOT FEAR. Instead I will choose to trust that He has heard my words. And I will choose that in His time He will do something about them. And I will continue to keep doing my part and turn in applications and resumes until I find that perfect job He has for me.
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