Psalm 33

I've been immersed in prayer this morning.  Loving God's precious gems in His Word.  He led me to Psalm 33 today.  Please read it, too.  Meditate.  Ask God's Holy Spirit to reveal what HE wants you to understand from this Psalm.  I was especially drawn to verse 12:

"Happy the nation whose God is Yahweh".  Happy and Blessed are the same word.  We have been such a blessed nation, and will continue to be as long as we seek God and know HE IS LORD!!!! 

Reading on in verse 16:  "A large army will not keep a king safe,
nor does the hero escape by his great strength;
It is delusion to rely on the horse for safety,
for all its power, it cannot save."  Continue reading, and then in verses 20-22:

"Our soul awaits Yahweh,
HE is our help and shield;
our hearts rejoice in HIM,
we trust in HIS HOLY NAME. (Yahweh, or Jesus)
Yahweh, let your love rest on us
as our hope has rested in YOU."

JESUS IS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR.  HE ALONE IS OUR HOPE.  HE IS OUR HELP AND SHIELD FROM HARM AND THE EVIL ONE.  We rejoice in HIM.  Praise God!

Promise #16

Psalm 37:4

He Gives Us the Desires of Our Heart

a project for all of us!

How about if we all read Ecclesiaasticus (NOT  ECCLESIASTES).  THIS BOOK IS ONLY IN THE CATHOLIC VERSIONS OF THE BIBLE.  As you read it, jot down verses that jump out at you and are interesting to you.  There is so much in that book and it would be a great excercise for us to do.  Hope you can find a Catholic Bible.  A few examples that I know of are:  The Jeruselum (This is the bible I use most of the time), The New American, The Way - the blue one is the Catholic version.  You can look in your bible and see if you have ECCLESIASTICUS, then you know you have the Catholic version.  Remember it's not Ecclesiastes - that is in all the bibles.  I wonder why they didn't include . . . . . . ticus in all the bibles?  It's such a good book.  I love reading it.  In the page before the book starts my bible says of ECCLESIASTES that the name means 'the Preacher'.  ECCLESIASTICUS means 'the wisdom of Ben Sirach'.  Also it is called 'the churches book.'  The church adopted it, the synagogue did not.

So, let's begin.  Dig into it and find some treasures to post here.  Tell us also why that particular verse or verses was meaningful to you.  We can learn lots!

Promise #15

Psalm 92:12-15

We Can be Strong and Faithful in Old Age

Promise #14

Philippians 4:4-7

He Gives Us Peace

Promise #13

Matthew 11:28-30

He Gives Us Rest

Promise #12

James 1:5

He Grants Us Wisdom

Promise #11

1 Corinthians 10:13

He puts a limitation on our trials.

Promise #10

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

He Comforts Us When We Are Troubled

Praying for government leaders - by Don Nori

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice . . . (proverbs 29:2)

Lord, You have the ultimate authority; you Are the ultimate authority.  You are high above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.

I pray for the leaders of our country.  They need Your help, Lord!  You've said in Your Word that if anyone lacks wisdom, all they need to do is ask; and You said there is safety in a multitude of counselors.  So, I pray that every person in any position of authority will be led by Your Spirit.  Give them wise counsel and wise counselors.  Give them divine guidance.  Help them to understand the times we are living in and show them the right course to take.

Put a hedge of protection around every leader and their family.  Bless them, Lord!  Bless them with peace, prosperity and an inner confidence that You are in control.  Amen.

"There should be prayers offered for everyone -- petitions, intercessions and thanksgiving -- and especially for 'the president', kings and others in authority, so that we may be able to live religious and reverent lives in peace and quiet.  To do this is right, and will please God our savior." (1Timothy 2:1,2)
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Let's all try to pray this prayer from the scriptures daily - or whatever prayer you choose to pray.  Pray for the president and those in authority.  As you pray or during your day, when you think of something or someone in authority who needs God's help, pray for that.  Just a word or two will do. 

Read Isaiah 58 with our nation and our leaders in mind.  Maybe you would want to share what you see there that pertains to our government and it's needs. 

Psalm 33

Psalm 33 is so full of everything and many different subjects. Read it and share here what verse or verses jumped out at you.

I love verse 12 tonight. "Happy the nation whose God is the Lord". (Happy and blessed are the same word. I see this as Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. There are so many passages in the bible that speak of God blessing nations when they honor Him. America has always honored God, and we were founded on the principles of God, and we need to stay with Him as Lord of our country if we want to continue in His blessings.)

Promise #9

Psalm 68:19

The Lord Daily Bears our Burden

Promise #8

Psalm 84:11

He will not withhold any good thing.

Promise #7

1 John 5:14-15

Answered Prayer
(Claim for yourself what God has clearly promised.)

Promise #6

Matthew 6:25;  31-32

He will meet our daily needs.

Promise # 5

Isaiah 41:9-10

His Strength

From my journal - April 17, 2011

Ephesians 1:16-23:  (a prayer for you)

"I have never failed to remember you in my prayers and to thank God for you.  May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed, to bring you to full knowledge of him.  May he enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, what rich glories he has promised the saints (you) will inherit and how infinitely great is the power that he has exercised for us believers."

I copied this prayer right out of Ephesians.  It is my prayer for all of you.  Could you pray it for me, too?

What I wanted to post here from my Journal is this - read it and see it as a word from God to us!  :

"My child, believe on the promises in my word - they are life for you - a life you cannot even begin to know from here on earth.  Believe and keep going towards that goal.  Never take your eyes off that promise.  Believe!  It is the only purpose in life here.  Keep your eyes on Jesus - He leads the way, you follow!  Take a stand against sin around you - even though you will suffer for it.  Remember, Jesus died for that sin.  Build your faith, and your faith will see you through."

Read Hebrews 12:1-4

In this word from God that I posted above, what do you think He is talking about when He says  "never take your eyes off that promise."?  And "It is the only purpose in life here."? 

Where's promise #6.???

Debbie - where are you?  Maybe Michelle will post it today.  It's Tuesday.  I love following these promises and scriptures.  It's a fun study and time with God.  Keep 'em coming!

Where's promise #5? It's Monday.

Promise #4

John 14:16

We have the Holy Spirit

Promise #3

Hebrews 13:5

His Continued Presence in our Life

Another word from my journal - dated April 10, ?

God speaks to us:

You are my people.  You are my bride.  (Rev 22:17).  You are my beloved.  I have given you a special token of my love for you - for I have sealed you with my Holy Spirit - and you are mine - you shall be my crowning glory on that day when I call you to Myself.  You are - each one of you - a beautiful, brilliant, special jewell for my crown.

For I will be KING OF KINGS - I will reign over all Kings, nations and peoples.  Yes - I will be ruler over all the earth.   You shall have a special place of honor for you are my prized possessions.  As it is written:  You have shared in my suffering, and you shall - on that day - share in my glory.

Rejoice now, that you have been chosen.  I have picked you and counted you worthy to suffer for my sake.  We share one common destiny, and we walk one single path.  At this time, there may be sorrow, pain and suffering in your path, but rejoice, for you will see the glory of God. 

Do as Paul:  Rejoice in the midst of your suffering and tears, for you know these things in that glorious day shall bring exceedingly greater joy than any thing you can know or imagine in the present, for I will reign as King of all the earth!

"When you see these things begin to happen, look up and rejoice for your redemption draweth nigh".

Promise #2

1 John 1:9

Daily Forgiveness of Sins

Promise #1

Romans 5:6-11
Reconciled to God Through Christ

Suggestion:  Read each verse and meditate on it, asking the Lord to tell you what He wants you to hear. 
If you want to watch the entire program of Dr. Charles Stanley, go to InTouch.org, and cllick on "watch video".  This was his sermon this week - The Promises of God part 2; God's Precious Promises.

Luke 12:22-32 We are worth more than the birds of the air and the flowers of the fields!"

Set your hearts on His kingdom first, and on his righteousness, and all these other things will be given you as well.  Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. 


Read Luke Chapter 12 verses 22-32. And Matthew 6:25-34. I had received this message from these texts:

"Be not afraid, o my child, rest in me - yes - be quiet before me now and settle down in my care, as a bird settles down in his nest.  For I am watching over you, I love you, and I WILL care for you.

There is no danger that I am unable to turn, there is no enemy too strong for me to handle.  I am able to carry out all my purposes, and to care for you at the same time.

Be not afraid - nor allow fear to strike.  My power is at your disposal.  Call upon my name, my presence is all around, and nothing can harm you as long as you are in my care, and that is FOREVER!"

Psalm 37:3 - 7

(From my Jeruselum Bible):

Psalm 37:3 - "Trust in Yahweh and do what is good . . . "
               4 - "Make Yahweh your only joy and He will give you what your heart desires."
                5 - "Commit your fate to Yahweh, trust in Him and He will act . . . "
                7 - "Be quiet before Yahweh, and wait patiently for Him . . . ."
I meditated on these verses and then I continued, and this was where God led me - His wonderful promises!:
                23 - "Yahweh guides my steps, they are sure, and He takes pleasure in His progress;"  (Meaning spiritually to me)
                24 - "You may fall, but never fatally, since Yahweh supports you by the hand"  ( I immediately thought tof when I fell at Penney's.  It was such a miracle that I didn't break bones, or have worse head injuries than I did have.  But, I also thought of the spiritual aspect of this verse.  Even if I should make mistakes, if I fail in my walk with God, it won't be fatal.)  Since He supports me by the hand.
                26 - "Now I am old, but ever since my youth, I never saw a virtuous person deserted, or
his descendants forced to beg their bread; he is always compassionate, always lending: his children will be blessed."
                39, 40 - "The salvation of the virtuous comes from Yahweh, He is their shelter when trouble comes;  Yahweh helps and rescues them, He saves them because they take shelter in Him."

Isn't this just amazing?  God was speaking to me - and he's speaking to you, too -  through these scriptures - Such wonderful promises.  Vs 7 - "Be quiet before Yahweh, and wait patiently for Him . . . "  He never lets us down, does He?

Read the whole psalm and listen for God to speak to you in it.  He will!  Share it with us here, if you want to.

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From my journal:

The devil's purpose is destruction, but prayer changes that.  Look around you - do you see that old devil at work trying to destroy what we have:  Our freedoms, our churches, our families, our finances, our selves.  But no need to worry.  Jesus has saved us from the devil and all His evil ways.  Jesus has saved us from destruction.  Jesus is our shelter when trouble comes.  We can abide in the shelter of His wings!  What a promise!  What a hope! 

And then He spoke further to me to us - "Pray, my people.  Pray.  Pray for all nations of this world, pray for America, pray for your cities and states.  Pray for your families, your parishes.  Pray for yourselves.  Pray as I prompt you.  There are many, many prayer warriors in my army.  You are among them.  I have my troops posted in many positions all over the world, and as I need them, I prompt them  - I prompt you to go into the battle as my prayer warriors.  Pray.  Pray.  Pray!"

And I know we will know the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  He will prompt us.  He will lead our prayers.  He will lead us into action to DO what we can to change our world and our circumstances.  We just have to be still and wait for Him, wait for Him to lead us.  Pray!

"My Glory, the Lifter of My Head" - Ps. 3:4

From the Jeruselum Bible this is what it says:  (verses 3 and 4)

But, Yahweh, my encircling shield,
my glory, you help me hold up my head.
Loudly I cry to Yahweh,
and He answers me from His holy mountain.

From the New American Bible it say: (verse 4)

But you, O Lord, are my shield;
my glory, you lift up my head!

The whole of Psalm 3 is such an encouraging psalm.  I look at it as the great spiritual battles we go through all the time.  All these demons and bad thoughts and self-condemnation thoughts, etc., come at us all the time.  They say - in some way or another - "You are no good.  There is no salvation for you.  Nothing can help you!"  BUT ----- "You, O Lord, are my shield" - we just need to recognize God there shielding us from all that comes against us.  He is shielding us.  Nothing can touch us in HIM.  "my glory".  MY GLORY!  I had a hard time grasping this one.  How can my Lord be MY glory?  So, I went to the Webster dictionary.  Some of the meanings of the word are listed there:  Distinguished honor or praise; exalted reputation..  The glory of heaven; bliss.  Extreme well-being, prosperity,  etc. - to be in one's glory.  To rejoice proudly or triumphantly; take pride with in.  Isn't this exciting?  He brings us into glory!  Into a place of honor  and our reputations is exalted!  We can have well-being, prosperity,  and all that we need!  Instead of complaining and feeling bad, we can boast, take pride within our being because we KNOW that our Lord is sheilding us, He is bringing us glory!  And then in verse 4 it says "He is the lifter of my head!"  I don't need to hang my head in shame.  The devil can no longer rob me of my joy, my glory, my pride in what I do!  My Lord is the lifter of my head!!!  We are blessed to know this.

The title of this post is the title of the song I mentioned in my e-mail to Mickey.  She asked me if I could post the words of this song and a teaching on my blog.  So, I studied it a little, and was so blessed by this study.  I pray you will be, too.  Here are the words of the song:

My glory and the lifter of my head, my glory and the lifter of my head!  \
Thous, O lord, art a shield to me, - - my glory and the lifter of my head!

I cried unto the Lord with my voice
I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and He heard me out of His holy hill!

My glory and the lifter of my head,
my glory and the lifter of my head! 
And thou, O Lord, art a shield to me, -  -
my glory and the lifter of my head!


The whole of Psalm 3 is worth reading and pondering.

Another prophecy from my journal

August 14, 2003

"Do not let the sound of war and unrest in many parts of this world keep you from hearing My message.  The television and radio secular news bring only fear and discouragement and hopelessness into your minds and hearts.  Do not let the noise and news around the world distract you and keep you from spending your time in the quiet of your prayer closet.  Do not miss the importance of this time in history.  Do not miss My message.  For I bring you words of encouragement, I bring you tidings of great joy, I bring you hope!

Listen, My children, I have not gone away never to return; but I WILL come - yes, even at a time you least expect, and when many have become engrossed in the problems of the hour.  I say to you - My precious ones - do not become obsessed by the problems of the world; be obsessed with Me and My love for you.  Look up and rejoice!  For surely your deliverance is very near!  Fill your days with My light, and love, and sharing the GOOD news.  Glorify and honor My name.  Praise and delight yourself in the Lord.  Then you will experience a freedom from the pressures and cares of this world.  You will find peace.  You will find rest for your weary soul.  Come to Me.  Let Me shower you with My blessings.  Let Me touch you with My love and heal your soul.  Come into My presence whenever you choose, as often as you choose.  You can enjoy this rest and the opportunity to be apart from time and concerns of this world.  You shall lose nothing and gain everything!  Try it as a therapy for your physical body.  Always it will be a great source of energy and life for your spiritual journey!

COME TO ME---COME AWAY WITH ME---I LOVE YOU---I HAVE NOT GONE AWAY---I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS.  COME TO ME!"

John 6:63  -  "What gives life is God's Spirit; human power is of no use at all. 
                       The words I have spoken to you bring God's life-giving Spirit."

Rev. 7:15b - "He who sits on the throne will protect them with His presence."

A prophecy from the past

As I was going through my things, I came across this journal from 2003.  I record the scriptures and what the Lord speaks through them to me.  This is amazing, and a very encouraging word for us for NOW!

February 6, 2003 (nine years ago!)

Read Psalm 118:1-9, and 15-17.  (this was what I had recorded 9 years ago to read, but today as I read this psalm, I believe we should read the whole psalm for us now):

This was the prophecy I had from it:  (This is a word from God spoken through His Spirit in me.  Please discern what I say here.)

"Quiet your hearts and minds, my people, and hear what I speak to you this hour:

Hard times are coming!  Chaos and panic, suffering and hardships as have never come so near your land in your life times!  But - Be not afraid!  I go before you always.  Come, follow me, and I will give you rest!  I am with you.  Stay alert.  See me at work as you ask!  Study my word.  Search in the scriptures for answers to all questions - to find how and why and where and even when I am working.  I speak to those who have open hearts and minds to hear my words, to do my will.  I respond to those who call upon my name.  I will send my angels to minister, guide, and guard as you ask me to do so.  Listen - Stay close to me.  Listen - stay alert.  You will see me in the events in your life.  You will be guided by ME - you will be guarded by me.  You will be strengthened by Me.  You will be sent out - with all you need to fight the battle that is now being waged for the very souls of all people.  My name and My word, and your prayer, are the weapons that will win the battle!  Stay close to me.  Stay alert!  Know My word!  DO my work as I lead you.  Have no fear - you are in My kingdom and we will not be defeated."

Michelle Hanson

Okay, here is a mystery to me. God's plan was that Jesus would serve as the sacrificial lamb. Part of the plan was that he would be betrayed by the kiss of Judas. So Judas performed a task planned by God to fulfill His redemption of mankind, right? I don't get why Jesus told Judas it would be better that he not have been born at all. I mean, Judas' role in the condemnation and murder of the Christ was preordained by God, himself. Why then would God, in the form of human Jesus, tell Judas it would have been better had he not been born? Seems like Judas was an important key figure in the fruition of God's redemptive plan for mankind. Things that make me go hmm...

Hi - Thank you, Mickey for asking this question. It's great to inquire. Inquisitive minds, like mine, want to know! It starts us all thinking on this, and, hopefully looking up everything we can find about Judas. Looking at our footnotes in our bibles. Asking questions of others as to what they think of Judas. It's exciting to me. I love this. Thanks.

Anyway, that's what I did . . . went on a quest to find answers as best as my little pea-brain can understand. And lo and behold I turn on the TV and there is a program on about the passion and resurrection. And a lot of it was about Judas! The whole point of the program was the prophecies foretold in the old testament about the death and resurrection of Jesus! 500 to 1,000 years BEFORE Jesus even came to be! That was amazing to me.

All of the gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - have this story, the story of Judas' betrayal of Jesus, in them. So much can be gleaned from all of them, and they fit together to form a picture of what happened. I find it most interesting that in John 13:27 it says "at that instant, after Judas had taken the bread, Satan entered him (Judas), . Jesus then said 'what you are going to do, do quickly'. then verse 30: "as soon as Judas had taken the piece of bread he went out." Vs. 31 - When he had gone Jesus said: 'Now has the Son of Man has been glorified . . . .' (Read John Chapter 13 and read what else is there). The passion has begun, since Judas has just gone out to do Satan's work. Jesus speaks of His victory as already being won. See John 16:33 "I have conquered the world.".

Later on, after Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss (you can read of this in the gospels), he was so shamed. He said "I have betrayed innocent blood." and he took his precious 30 pieces of silver and threw them at the court. He couldn't wash away his shame and guilt and went out and hung himself. The place where he hung himself is called the Potter's Field, and is still there and still named that!

I could just go on and on, but I will end now, just saying - read these gospels for yourself. Go to the cross references in your footnotes and put together your understanding of it all. And read Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53. Written hundreds of years before. It's so amazing! God is speaking to us through the scriptures yet today. "alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. Better for that man if he had never been born!" means to me that I would be better off not being born if I turn my back on Jesus! When I follow Jesus I have everything I could ever need, just like Judas had, but if I turn my back on Him, and choose a different one to follow, if I turn to Satan and his evil ways, like Judas did, then I will hate my life, I will be better off to not have been born! Judas was greatly tempted by the worldly pull of what money could do for him! He took a measly 30 pieces of silver in exchange for betraying His Lord! Turning away from Jesus. Big mistake!

Our new furniture

The pictures are of the furniture we received from our kids for Christmas, birthday, mother's day, father's day, valentines day, etc., etc., etc. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!
We are enjoying them so much.

The little white spot on the couch is the sun poking through a hole in the blind. The little dog beside the chair is Linda's pal, Toby. He likes my chair, too.

Again - thanks all of you. Such a sacrifice you have made for us, when I know you could have used this $$$ for your own needs. We are so blessed!

It looks bad, but Psalm 12:5 is a wonderful promise from our God: "I will set him in the safety for which he yearns."

Read Psalm 12. (When I read it, it reminded me of the state of affairs in our country as we speak. Especially in view of what is happening in politics!)

King David looked out at the world and was troubled. He didn't need the internet to paint a bleak picture of society or the New York Times to remind him of crime and suffering. Even without a cable news show to give him all the bad news, he saw the evil.

He looked around and saw that "the godly man ceases." He noticed that "the faithful disappear." In his world, everyone spoke "idly" to his neighbor "with flattering lips and a double heart" (psalm 12:1-2).

This description may sound like the theme of a TV show, but it was life, in 1,000 BC. While we think that all this evil is much worse than anything that came before, David reminds us that all of the ills of the world are not just happening in the 21st century.

But David's words also give us hope. Notice his reaction to the bad news he bore. First, he turned to God and cried, "Help!" (v. 1) Then he implored God for specific needs. The response he got was positive. God promised that He would provide protection and safety for his people (vv 5-7)

When you are discouraged, cry out for God's help. Then just sit back, knowing that God has promised His protection and safety! Three thousand years AFTER David, God is still, and always will be, in control!

We have nothing to fear, because God is in control.

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ. - - 2 Corinthians 5:20

The word "ambassador" in the dictionary means "An accredited diplomatic agent of the highest rank, appointed as the representative of one government to another. Any personal representative or messenger."

Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.

I am an ambassador for Christ - and so are you! We need to show people what and who and why and where Jesus is. We must live as as ambassadors for Christ so people see Him in us! I've been assigned to do this in my family, among my friends, and in my church. It's my calling and my honor. Yours, too.

I believe I'm living in a different world than this secular world we are in. I live in God's/Jesus' government.

Let's face it, being an example (ambassador) is often about being different. But most of us don't want to be different. We want people to like us, and the safest way to do that is to blend in. I can't tell you how many times I've agreed with someone who I know is going against the teachings of Christ, or just kept quiet. I don't like to cause waves. I want everyone to like me. But following Jesus has never been about blending in. Following Him means to be like Him, to respond to life and relate to people as He did. It's a little risky and uncomfortable to be different. But that's what being an "ambassador for Christ" is all about - - bringing the wonderful difference of your King to bear on the territory you've been assigned to. What an honor!

Make a difference by daring to be different.

God's mother, Mary

This Mary - the mother of God - has always been so important in my life. When I was growing up, I often felt alone and unloved. I would go and let Mary, whom I imagined as my Mother, hold me, comfort me. I would even talk to her, and I knew she was there, stroking my hair, and being my "Mother". I prayed to her. She was who I could relate to as someone who would hear me and care about me and I felt comfort from that.

Then one day, I was "baptized in the Holy Spirit" after a Life in the Spirit Seminar. Everything changed. I knew God, the creator of the whole universe, the God who supposedly sat on His throne in the heavenlies and was so untouchable - I knew HE loved me. I felt His love. He became my heavenly Father. And Jesus was alive!!! The Holy Spirit was revealing truths to me - then and He still is. The Bible came alive to me. It really is the word of God. He speaks to me through it. What an amazing life this is! One of the readings I read and still read often is Chapter 2 of the book of John. Verse 5 is important: "His mother instructed those waiting on table, 'Do whatever He tells you.' "

That is what I feel Mary did for me. I know she was with me through out my life, but when the time was ready she led me to Him and said "do whatever HE tells you to do." I believe that is Mary's role. Leading us to Jesus. She gave birth to Him - brought Him into our world. She was with Him to the bitter end of His life. She buried him behind the big stone. She was there when He came out of that grave. She was among those who witnessed Him walking amongst us. She was in the upper room with the other followers of Jesus, praying in the spirit for the Holy Spirit to come down on them as Jesus had promised, and they would receive power from on high.

Mary is a model for my life. And I do try to do whatever He tells me. Jesus is my Lord and Savior! Mary pointed the way.

Isaiah 46: 3-4

In my prayer this morning, I was lead to this scripture! I was amazed and blessed, as usual.
Here is what it said to us:

"Listen to me, House of Jacob
all you who remain of the House of Israel,
you who have been carried since birth,
whom I have carried since the time you were born. (I see this as the Lord speaking to me
directly, and you, too! God wants us to listen to Him. He wants to let us know how
He has always been with us, and has carried us. Reminds me of the poem "Footprints".)

"In your old age I shall be still the same,
when your hair is grey I shall still support you.
I have already done so, I have carried you,
I shall still support and deliver you."

Isn't this wonderful? God is so good, and so awesome.

I can remember going through tough stuff when I was in high school, and I leaned heavily on Mary, the mother of God. (I hadn't met Jesus, her Son, yet). I felt my Lord was there, protecting and leading me as long as I can remember. I didn't realize this at the time, but now as I look back, I know HE IS STILL THE SAME, and HE IS STILL SUPPORTING ME! And He means this for all of us! Doesn't that just give you goose bumps to know the God we serve is so wonderful and cares so much!

I do feel the aging process harrassing me these days. I told Linda the other day that I I'm getting older, but I'm tired of it, so I don't think I'll do it anymore. I get depressed when I hurt so much, and can't do what I used to do, and then I hear these words through the Bible from my Lord and Savior! This lifted me all day, and I read this scripture several times today to remind me of God's love.

Hallelujiah!

QUIET TIME WITH GOD

Psalm 23 is such a beautiful, peaceful psalm with lots of powerful and beautiful thoughts in it. It is a good one to meditate with often.

I find that a daily time of Bible reading and prayer is essential in my walk of faith. Quiet time with God - a time away from the busy-ness of my day - away from the phone, the TV, the computer, yes even time away from Phil - helps me connect with God. "He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters." (Psalm 23:2) The "green pastures" and "still waters" are more than a perfect country scene. They speak of our communion with God whereby He "restores our souls and leads us in His paths" (verse 3).

All of us can make time to meet with God, but do we? Here is a suggestion for a way to begin: Start with a short prayer for guidance, ask The Holy Spirit to lead you, then read the Bible for a few minutes, and close with a short time of prayer that includes adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and prayers for others. It's vital to take time today to connect with the Lord, who is our life.

I like to think of it like this: I have an appointment with my doctor. I would never think of not going with such excuses as "I'm too tired today", "it's too cold or too hot", "I'm sick", "I need to go shopping" . . . . No, I would not do that. I keep my appointment. That's what I need to do with My Lord. And that's the most important appointment I could ever have! Keeping a daily appointment with GOD is a vital part of the Christian life. The more time we spend with God -- reading His Word, conversing with Him in prayer, meditating on thoughts from His Word - - the better we get to know Him and the more our lives begin to reflect His image and His truth. It's so worth the effort and the time.

I like to have a journal at my fingertips so I can jot down thoughts and scriptures, etc., that I receive when I'm praying. Later when I go back and read these journals, I see God at work in my life. I know My Lord is sitting with me. Sometimes I feel His presence, hear His words to me, feel His touch - Other times, I feel like He has forgotten me. But, I know that the rest of my day (or night) will go a lot better, and somehow everything I wanted to get done, does get done.

I also like to listen to music during this time. A very wonderful gift from God for us. Music seems to chase the blues away, seems to chase the devil - and all he thinks he's going to do - away.

I will be doing a time of teachings on prayer - what I have learned through the years - and I will be posting it here. Please share your thoughts, your prayers, your opinions whenever you want to.

God bless you!

Joshua 1:9

"Have I not told you: be strong and stand firm? Be fearless, then, be confident, for go where you will, Yahweh your God is with you."

My prayer with this scripture:

Help me, Lord - I am weak and I am fearful - I have no confidence in what I can say or do! But - in You I can be all that You would have me to be! Thank you for your promise that wherever I go, whatever I do, YOU go with me!

And Isaiah 41:9 1/2 through verse 10 and verse 13: "You are my servant, I have chosen you, not rejected you', do not be afraid, for I am with you; stop being anxious and watchful, for I am your God. I give you strength, I bring you help, I uphold you with my victorious right hand. For I, Yahweh, your God, I am holding you by the right hand; I tell you, 'Do not be afraid, I will help you'.

I thank you, My Lord, for knowing me through and through. You know I get fearful and anxious. I am so blessed to know you. To know you are my God, and you have chosen me - not rejected me! Thank you for giving me strength to face whatever is coming, thenk you for your help. I reach up to you, and put my hand in the hand of GOD ALMIGHTY. How could I be afraid. I know you are helping me. Please, Lord, help our country. Have mercy on your people. God bless Israel and America!

Lonely? Turn to me, says the Lord

I found this pamphlet from "Life Spring", and thought I would post it here. So many of us need to hear God speaking this message to us now.

"Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.

Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress.

Consider my affliction
and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins."

Psalm 25:16, 18

Even David, a king and a hero, knew loneliness and despair. In this psalm he asks God to help him in his troubles - - to comfort him. Each of us, at certain times, experiences loneliness. We wish that a friend or family member would reach out to us in a personal way. We would like to talk to and be with someone who cares about us.

Even though people aren't always there when we need them most, we can be assured that God is present with us at all times. God comes to us. God knows and hears our troubles. God is our constant companion and friend.

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

I feel very lonely today. No one calls or stops by. I feel like David - - lonely and afflicted. It helps me to know that you are there.

Thank you for being with me at all times, for hearing my troubles, and for forgiving my sins.

Amen


I picked this pamphlet up somewhere along the way - in Billings when I was the Religious Ed Director at St. Pius. The date on it is 7-02-90! copyright 1990 Augsburg Fortress. Couldn't be more perfect for right now, could it?

Praying the scriptures

I will often open my bible, and read what is there. I ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truths and inspirations of those verses I read. A word or a phrase or a paragraph or whatever will sort of "come off the page at me", and I will stop there. I meditate a little (or a lot) and then I can usually use that as my "revelation" of what to pray for at that particular time. The bible is so full of prayers. The Psalms, the letters, Isaiah, have lots of prayers, as do so many other books of the bible. This reading from the book of Ephesians chapter 1, verses 16 and 17:

"I have never failed to remember you (insert name of person you are praying for) in my prayers and to thank God for you. May our Lord Jesus Christ give you a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed to bring you to a full knowledge of him."

1 corinthians 16:verses 13 and 14: (I want to pray this one for myself, but insert whatever name you want here) "Lord, Help me to be awake to all the dangers; to stay firm in faith; to be brave and strong - to have courage and truth. Help me to do everything I do or say in love".

Or the passion of Christ and after the resurrection - Luke - chapter 22 through chapter 24. Meditate on each event there, and pray as you are being prompted by the Holy Spirit to pray. Or Luke Chapter 11 - The Lord's prayer. Wonderful scriptures to pray!

Pray with a daily devotional - one that has scriptures with that day. Read those scriptures, read the devotion for the day, then your prayer can take off from there.

Then, of course, the Psalms. Find one that is speaking to you and meditate on all the words. Pray it! Psalm 5 - titled MORNING PRAYER in my Jerusalem bible - especially verses 1-3, are a great prayer to start your day. Psalm 51 - a psalm of repentance. Just a few verses that pray!

Go on your own "treasure hunt" through the verses of the bible. You will be rich and blessed, and grow close to God.

Prayer and the words of God from scripture, are so powerful! They work well together.

A great teacher!

I watched the best teaching on TBN today! Google in baylessconley.com and click on to one about heart something. Maybe I'll get a better title for you. He's a wonderful teacher. Very inspiring and fun to listen to.

Prayer for Russ

Please go to the Eve's Dropper, look into the post titled Pray for Russ, scroll down to Kay's post and then my last post to see the latest news on Russ. Read that scripture I posted there. Continue praying for him, please. God can work miracles. He can fix Russ's heart.

Thank you for your prayers!

A prayer for Karen

Please pray with me:

Lord Jesus, Karen is your beloved daughter.
Snatch her, Lord, from the grasp of your enemy.
Cover her with your precious blood and flood her with the healing waters of your love.
Let her know that a great and good God is her provider.
Send her some people to love her - send your angels to minister to her.
Give her the grace of repentance. Lord, help her to turn around and go on your path. Help her before she does further damage to herself and to those who love her.
Help her before she sinks more deeply into the path the enemy has laid before her.

You are God. You are Lord.
Thank you, Jesus, that you have the ability
to turn every attack of the enemy to great good.

Do that now, Lord. In Jesus' name I pray.

Amen!

Ecclesiasticus 30:21-27

I prayed this morning for all of us. I prayed against the spirit of depression that is rearing it's ugly head these days and causing all kinds of troubles for some of us. I opened my bible and here is what I read:

"Do not abandon yourself to sorrow,
do not torment yourself with brooding.
Gladness of heart is life to you
Joy is what gives you length of days. (Our prayer group in Billings was called
"The Children of Joy and Gladness" - just
an interesting aside.)
Beguile your cares, console your heart,
Chase sorrow far away;
For sorrow has been the ruin of many,
and is of no use to anybody.

Jealousy and anger shorten your days,
and worry brings premature old age.
A genial heart makes a good trencherman,
One who benefits from his food."


I had to look up the meaning of a couple of these big words:

Beguile means to mislead, deceive, cheat.
Genial means kindly, pleasant, cordial in disposition or manner.
A trencherman is someone who sponges, a hanger-on. Someone who likes to eat, it
says in my dictionary.

So, "beguile your cares" means to mislead, deceive, cheat our cares. They cannot drag
us down.
A genial heart, or someone who is kindly, pleasant, cordial in disposition, makes a
good friend. I wonder if a "Trencherman" is someone who never lets you down,
a person you want to be around - to go out to lunch with! ???

I thought this was a good reading for today. I will follow up with ideas I find to
help bring us our of sorrow and sadness and torment into Joy and Gladness!

Do you have any ideas or ways you have found to bring you our of the doldrums?

Ecclesiasticus 32:1-3 (or Sirach)

As I was praying today for our president, our country and our world - I was drawn to this scripture from my Jeruselum bible. This is a book that is only in the Catholic Bibles. It is a favorite book for me to read, I get so much out of it. I hope you all have a Catholic Bible around just so you can read this book.

Chapter 32:1-3 says this: (I am praying for our president)


"Have they made you president?
Do not let it go to your head, or behave like everyone else in your party.
See that the people are happy, and then sit down yourself.
Having discharged your duties,
Take your place, and enjoy yourself with the others.
THEN you will receive the crown (reward)
for your competence."

Keep in mind this book of the bible is not Ecclesiast-es, but Ecclesiasti-cus, and is also the book of Sirach.


Any thoughts - anyone?

The condition of the world!

The earthquakes and tsunami's as a result of them. It is a scarey time, IF all we do is read and hear the news. Washington state is included in the tsunami warnings. Have you heard anything about that, Hanson's? I have been praying all day today. I'm praying the blood of the precious lamb of God over those I know and love, and all people in the path of this disaster! I pray for God's mercy and grace. I pray all will come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. And that we all know the "Blessed Hope" of knowing God in all HIS glory, in His Son, and through His Holy Spirit.

And now I am hearing of massive flooding, tornadoes, thunder and lightening all over the Eastern and sounthern U.S.


Read Matthew 24 through chapter 25:1-13

What are your thoughts on this?

Pray!

I just can't help myself!

I'm very interested in what is going on in our government and politics. I'm interested. I'm holding my breath, but interested nonetheless and turning to my bible.

Look what I found!: Romans 13:1 tells me: "let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God" And it goes on to make clear that I am to respect authorities and obey the law," Romans 13:2-6. I am also to "pay to all what is due them--taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, honor to whom honor is due." Romans 13-7.

Romans 13:8-10 goes on to say that all the commandments about how God's people are to treat each other "are summed up in this word, 'love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law."

Clearly I'm supposed to love the legislators -- all of them, no matter what their views. And they are to love all of us, no matter who we are or what our views are. This makes me chuckle, because I've never thought of it this way. I think we should surround the legislature -- every single member -- and all the staff and others who are there, with love and prayer.

Now, let me see: Love, from Romans 13 to Corinthians 13:1, "If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging symbol" - - AMEN!!!

Psalm 42:1-2, Psalm 63:1-2

Read these few verses when you have a minute.

What do YOU hunger and thirst for? King David, who wrote these psalms, was in a desert place in his life. Like we are at times, too. He went in search of the living water, the living God. He wanted the Lord more than anything else. God's presence was food and water to him.

Have you ever been that thirsty for God? You know the feeling. That empty longing. That deep hunger in your heart for something more-the need to be fulfilled. And you keep looking and searching and longing and you never quite get there.

I know I tried to fill this vacuum with things I thought would work. Music, parties, dancing, Elvis, TV. Shopping, and buying things when I can. Filling the spaces in my house and closets with "things", just "stuff". I would strive for success, and try to please everyone and expect people to please me. I sought satisfaction in all my relationships, and I would drain people dry with all my needs (especially my wonderful husband, and parents, and trying to impress people who I thought were my friends). But none of these things ever really fill that empty place. That's because the empty place was designed by God to be filled with Him only! And we all have that place of longing within us! This great hunger in our hearts and our souls can only be satisfied with the presence of God!

The music, the parties, the TV programs, the shopping, the "stuff", etc., all comes to an end and the emptiness and loneliness are still there. Relationships didn't always turn out the way I thought they would, and there I was - still longing for whatever it was I thought I would gain from it! I still felt empty and lonely!

Eventually everything comes down to just me. Alone. And there is nothing I can grasp on to that is lasting -- except the presence of God. Jesus is the way to the Father. I found that wonderful presence of God in my life when I finally let my guard down and let Jesus into my heart. What a wonderful day that was! It was the beginning of my journey into the heart of God - into His very presence! That was in 1974. Every day it is a new adventure. Some days there is such a desert, such longing and thirst and hunger for God. God wants us to come after Him, to seek Him.

David looked for God. He went after Him. He searched Him out until He found Him. And then he laid his feelings and longings at His feet. Psalm 38:9. David found God because he sought Him - He searched for Him.

The way I draw near to God and seek out His presence is to worship and praise Him. I usually set aside some time every morning to be with HIM. I will often listen to teachings, some praise and worship music, read my scriptures, and just ASK HIM to soak me in His love, His presence, and I just feel Him near. I know He wants to be with me, and I want to be with HIM. The loneliness, the emptiness just are gone, and so is an hour or two of my day, when our time together is over. And then the rest of my day is filled with His presence as I go about my day.

I have not been faithful to my time with God in the mornings for a month or two, but now I'm there again. I felt the emptiness, the anxieties, the world pulling me in, the loneliness, when I wasn't keeping my time of seeking God.

Somewhere in the bible, and I can't remember where, God says "I dwell in the praises of my people", and He does. Praise and worship, song and scripture opens the gates to a more fulfilling life.

Read 1 Chronicles 28:9 in your bible. Have you been able to lay your heart bare before the Lord? Have you been able to reveal all of how you feel to Him? If not, tell Him now. If you have, tell Him again. And then write out a prayer of praise and thanksgiving for His presence in your life. Tell Him all the ways you worship and glorify Him.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

A very blessed and holy Christmas for everyone. May your New Year be filled with peace and happiness.

For the seasons, here is an interesting link discussing the world's most annoying Christmas song, 'The Twelve Days of Christmas.'

Enjoy!

http://www.tothepointnews.com/content/view/4346/2/

"Talk nice" still a valuable rule to remember

Whatever happened to, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all"? My parents and my grandparents taught me and my sisters this from a very young age. These beloved folks were not a bunch of woosses - they lived through two world wars and the great depression. Bitter experience taught them that a hard life is easier when people are kind to teach other.

"Talk nice" was my rule no matter how crummy I felt or how upset I was about not getting my way. They knew it was one of those simple things, free except for one's sacrifice of pride and self-will, that made life go more smoothly on what was often a very bumpy road.

I often heard this poem: There was a little girl,
who had a little curl,
Right in the middle of her forehead
When she was good,
She was very very good,
But when she was bad, she was horrid.
I only recently learned that this poem was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
I usually heard it in early childhood during one of my (or one of my sister's) temper tantrums.

"Talk nice" isn't for people who want to bully or show others how angry they are. There are times and places for strong words, I agree, but most of these words, I've noticed - in stores, restaraunts, on the street, in homes, and even in congress and their campaigning for office - could probably be received better by being delivered in a kind spirit and "nice talk".

As I hear all the public shouting these days, and the foul language that is so freely spoken, the "talk nice" of my upbringing sounds hopelessly out-of-date. But if it is, then so is my bible, which is full of admonitions to treat others with kindness and compassion, including The Golden Rule, Matthew 7:12 - "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." The Gospel of Matthew is clear that what we do to others, kind or unkind, we do to Jesus Himself. Matthew 25:31-46.

Yet unkind words seem the temper of our times, especially in the public arena. But anger, however justified or liberating it may FEEL in the moment, never seems to convince anyone of anything. Maybe the underlying source of children bullying in the schools and on the internet is this bad adult behavior.

Jesus called anger and harsh words offenses against God. "But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire." Matthew 5:22.

We could do a lot worse than re-adopting the old-fashioned, "talk nice." And if our hearts can't feel it, we need only "fake it until we make it." In other words, "If you can't say anything nice, say nothing at all", and one day you'll discover, "Hey, I'm not talking mean or foul anymore!" That will be a great day. That will be my goal from now on - one day at a time!

The heavens declare the glory of God!

Holter Lake in the evening and in the fall daytime.




From the book of Sirach, chapter 39, verses 16 through 17:

"The works of God are all of them good;
in its own time every need is supplied.
At His word the waters become still as in a flask;
He had but speak and reservoirs were made."

This is such a wonderful verse of scripture. Sometime you may want to read the whole chapter. The book of Sirach, or the book of Ecclesiaticus, are found only in a catholic bible. It is one of the books that was not included in King James version, for some reason. But it is such good reading and such good direction.

As we spent our days camping, I can always know that God is the creator of the universe. He is my creator. And I know that everything He created is good! I know He is there, caring for my every need and watching over me and mine. I know that just at His word the waters become still. Like a still, small voice inside of me, I feel the calming effects of spending time with Him. I feel the reservoirs of water (the Holy Spirit) well up within me. And I know He is there! What a comfort.

We look up into the night sky and behold the millions of stars, the milky way, the moon. And they are there every single night - never changed. We know there is a God! A God who loves us. A God who loved us so much He sent His only son down here to walk with us and live among us, and be led to the cross to carry all the sins and pains and sorrows of mankind and nail them to the cross, so we could be "saved" and have eternal life.

What an awesome God we serve!

psalm 8

I read Psalm 8 tonight and was really touched by it. I was thinking about it and praising God with some music I have that goes with it. It reminded me of something I had put away in my heart and hadn't thought of for a bit.

One night in 1974, after completing a "Life in the Spirit" seminar, and feeling so full of the Spirit and blessed and happy, I was driving home. It was dark, and there was a little "heat" lightening in the sky. I'm driving along and the cloud opened up, and there was an image of a Jesus who loved me. I was just amazed, and couldn't believe what I was seeing. Then it vanished into the clouds. That night in 1974, God cracked open my heart.

I was in a bad way for a few months. Nothing seemed okay. I was tired. I went to all the church things, prayed my rosary faithfully, made sure my kids attended catechism and youth group, etc. Yet, God felt absent. I couldn't see the way forward and my emotional pain was the worst I'd yet experienced. I felt empty, abandoned, helpless. (I won't go into the problems here, the rest of the story is the point). Finally I cried, "I can't do it anymore, Lord. It's up to you. Your will be done!"

That was when God's grace flooded over me, washing away the fear, pride, allowing me to experience the God of the universe - the creator of all of it - MY Creator - MY LORD!!!! I felt God's boundless compassion and mercy for all, and for ME!

Ps. 8:3-4 - - - "When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are we that you are mindful of us, mortals that you care for us?"

This is one of the grand mysteries of the universe. Why should God care for us?

And yet, when I read the bible for the grand sweep of God's romance with humanity it's clear to me that God has gone to a lot of trouble to help us understand.

Read through Chapter 11 of the book of Hebrews and see a little of the troubles God has with His children. We so easily forget what God has done for us.

Ps 8:5-8 - - - "Yet you have made them (man) a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet, all sheep and oxen . . . the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea."

I can just picture God sending His only son, Jesus, to us, saying "Do you think they'll understand how to face the world with love, compassion and how to lose their fear and self-centeredness. Do you think they'll get it this time? I'm sending the best example I have!"

My vision that night shows me that God still tries to reach us. I believe God's messages come to each of us in very personal, individual ways. And always, at center, God hopes we'll respond "O Lord, our Lord, how glorious is your name over all the earth!" ps 8:10

1 John

I have been reading first John, and I want to write here some of the verses from it that I think are worth paying attention to. I also believe you would get a lot out of studying first John, too. Maybe you could write comments on what it spoke to you, too.

CONDITIONS OF A TRUE CHRISTIAN:

1st - (First John, chapter 1:verse 8) Break with sin. Repent. Forgive. Repent means to realize you are on the wrong bus, going the wrong direction. Stop the bus! Get off! Jump on the one going in Jesus' direction. Follow HIM.

2nd - (1 John 2:9-11) Keep the commandments, especially the law of love. Anyone who claims to follow Jesus, but hates his brother (that's anyone) is not in the light - but is still in the dark, not knowing where he is going because it is too dark to see.

3rd - (1 John 2:15-17) Detachment from the world. This world and all that is in it will end! Love God. Love one another. Anyone who does the will of God remains forever!

4th condition - (1 John 2:18) Be on guard against the enemies of Christ. These are the last days; you were told that an anti-christ must come, and now several anti-christs have already appeared. (2:20) You have been anointed - a people set apart - by the Holy One - and have all received the Knowledge. (2:22) You know that no lie can come from the truth. The one who denies that Jesus is the Christ (Jesus is Lord) - he is the liar, he is the anti-christ. (2:27) . . you are anointed with truth, not with a lie.

(2:28) Live in Christ, then, so that if He appears, we may have full confidence, and not turn from Him in shame at his coming. Rather, we can look for His coming with great excitement and anticipation, because we KNOW HE IS COMING FOR US!

Revelations 22:20 - "I shall indeed be with you soon."

Amen - come quickly, Lord Jesus!

When I can, I'll write some more about First John. What a book! Go ahead, find it in your bible and write about it here, too!

Vacuum Cleaner Salesman

I was watching TV the other day and happened upon a preacher who was talking about accepting the "Gift", the Holy Spirit, who is the one who can teach, help, fix us better than anything. But, we do have to open the gift box and look inside and take it out and use it!

Then he said: It's like a vacuum cleaner salesman who comes knocking on your door. He won't come in unless you invite him in. Then when you open the door and say yes, I'll see what you have to offer, he comes in. The salesman proceeds to dump all this garbage on the rug and vacuums it up. Good job. Puts his vacuum back in the bag and walks out the door???? No, no. He will usually say - do you want to buy it? You can say yes or no. Your choice. If you accept his product you can continue to clean your house with it. If you turn him down and say no, then your means for clean-up walks out the door, too.

This demonstrates that we have a "choice" to accept the Holy Spirit,and all he offers, to clean up the mess we are, or we can reject Him and keep trying on our own, never accomplishing the task. In Rev 3:20, Jesus says:"I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me, open the door and let me in"! The picture of this shows Jesus at the door knocking, but there is no door knob to open the door on the outside of the door. It has to be opened from the inside. We must OPEN the door ourselves, and invite Him to come in, for the Lord to come into our hearts. Once there, He offers us the "gift" of the Holy Spirit. Will we allow Him in? Will we accept His gift?

{I had heard this BEFORE Brian sent out His "What I Learned as a vacuum cleaner salesman" e-mail yesterday. That is a confirmation of a lesson for us to hear and act on! A song we sang at prayer meeting a lot again is in my head. Here are the words: "How great is our God, How great is His name. How great is our God - forever the same! He rolls back the waters of the mighty Red Sea, and He says I'll never leave you, put your trust in Me."}

Psalm 136

In my bible this psalm is titled "God's love continues forever". Be sure to read it in it's entirety in your bible. Thank God because he has more resources than we could ever use up!

We should never take any blessing for granted, but accept everything as a GIFT from the Lord. Now and then we could spend whole days in the practice of being thankful. I call this a HOLY practice. We should write on a piece of paper, or maybe in your journal, one by one the things for which we are grateful to God and to our fellow men as we think of them. And a constant return to this thought during the day as our minds get free will serve to fix the habit in our hearts . . .

In trying to count our many blessings, the difficulty is not to find things to count, but to find time to think of them all, and number them on paper. Personally, I have gotten great help from the practice of talking over with God the many kindnesses I have received from my family, my friends, my country - etc.

To my mom and Dad I owe my life and my upbringing. (His love continues forever).

To my teachers in school I owe that patient line-upon-line instruction that took me
when I was a young, ignorant pagan and taught me to read and write. (His love
continues
forever.)

To the patriots and statesmen of the past I owe the liberties I now enjoy. (His love
continues forever).

To numerous and unknown soldiers who shed their blood to keep our country free I owe a
debt I can never pay. (His love continues forever).

To my husband and my family I owe a debt of gratitude for my security and joy. (His
love endures forever).

And I please God and enlarge my own heart when I remind the Lord that I am grateful
for them. For every man and woman of every race and creed who may have contributed
anything to my peace and welfare I am grateful, and I shall not let God forget that I
am.

How has God blessed you? How have others contributed to your life? Take time to
thank God for ten blessings today.

Give thanks to the Lord because He is good. (His love endures forever). Ps 136:1

My Mother's Day witness

On Mother's Day, my daughter, Linda and 2 of her boys, my son, Chuck and his wife, Deedle, came over for dinner. After dinner I asked them and their dad, Phil, to sit in the living room and we were going to have a "tribute" to mothers. I started it with a spoken word on a CD I have, followed by a song "My Mother's Love", which is posted above. After listening to this, I felt it needed a little explanation, and out of me came a story I hadn't even intended to say. It just came. I hope I can repeat it her, and if it isn't exactly as I spoke it Sunday, that's just because I hadn't rehearsed it. I just know it, since I lived it!

When I was quite young - around 6 years old - I went to church for the Stations of the Cross one Friday during lent. Something happened there that I can't explain and couldn't know what it was at the time. While listening and praying the stations, and hearing Jesus' story of His love for ME, I found myself all enveloped in a feeling of hope and love. I knew right then that I loved HIM.

When I was young all my family were good Catholics. We never missed mass, or confession, or communion, or all the lent celebrations. We prayed the memorized prayers and the rosary. We had a bible, but never read it. I didn't know of the Holy Spirit, and didn't know Jesus as my personal friend and my savior. But, I felt very close to Mary. She was my Mother! When things were tough for me, I would go off by myself, and I would sit with Mary, my Mother, and tell her my troubles, and cry on her lap. I felt her comforting me, and her arms hugging me, and her love. This got me through many tough times while I was growing up. I did not realize that she was taking me on a path to the Father, God, her Son, Jesus, and the Helper, the Holy Spirit.

When I was 38, I was baptized in the Holy Spirit, just immersed in the Spirit of God, and I met my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Jesus walks every inch of my paths with me. The Holy Spirit teaches and comforts me. And I know God as my creator. This was so real and so personal and so emotional. I felt the presence of God so powerfully.

God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and Mary guided my life and protected me, and I didn't even realize it. I love my Mom, and am missing her lots. The last 3 months of her life were my best times with her. I regret not spending more time with her.

I LOVE being a mom, and Grandma. That's my occupation, that's what I do. I made huge mistakes in my career as Mom, but I thank God He gave me the children He blessed me with. And their spouses. And my grandkids.

Prayer AND action

Colossians 1:9-14

I feel like God spoke this scripture to me as I was praying for Joshua. I believe it is a powerful answer to my prayer. And I also believe it is meant for others who read my blog and whom I have been praying for.

Basically, these verses in Collosians are saying that we have been praying for you, asking God that you will know fully what HE wants. We pray also that you will have great wisdom and understanding (A gift from the Holy Spirit - discernment). of spiritual things so that you will live the kind of life that honors and pleases the Lord in every way. You will produce fruit in every good work and grow in the knowledge of God. God will strengthen you with his own great power so that you will not give up when troubles come, but you will be patient.
The chapter seems to also remind us that Christ's power comes not from what we know, but who we know - - Jesus Christ!

And then the following words came to me (the gift of prophecy) and I wrote them down:

Watch out for the blessings. You bless what you enjoy.
Be careful of the curses. You condemn what displeases you.

It is not for you to discern your OWN way. You must ask for MY gift of discernment.

I will be with you always. Trust MY way - not yours, or others ways.

I do not always deal joy! Don't be afraid for Joshua (or whomever) - - I am not only wise, but kind, and merciful.

Todays grief may become the channel for tomorrow's blessing!

Prayer for Unity

Forgiveness

Can you find this link?: http://www.guidetopsychology.com/forgive.htm

I hope you can just go to it. I don't know what I'm doing or how to do it. So, if you can't get there you can go to "Plan B" and find it the way I did. Google in forgiveness, and when the page comes up, then click on "forgiveness, psychology, and mental health" - about half way down the page. A great article and I do believe it would be very helpful for all of us to read. I know it seemed helpful for ME. Let me know what you think.

I am also snail-mailing you another article on forgiveness that I thought was excellent. I hope you have enough time to read this and what i sent.

Forgiveness

Go to http://www.guidetopsychology.com/forgive.htm and read this wonderful article about forgiveness.

(I hope you can get it, as I have no idea what I am doing!)

Mom

How our thoughts control our lives

During the course of a single day, thousands of thoughts flow through our minds. Some of them give us life as they build us up, while others tear us down and steal our hope.

You were not created to be ruled by negative thoughts. God's desire for you is to take control of your thoughts and live life to the fullest, experiencing His goodness, favor and blessings no matter what you're facing.
You can't always control which thoughts come…but you can decide which ones you allow to stay around.
The Bible says that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7). It's so important to understand that our actions are determined by the way we think.

So many times, we replay the same negative thoughts over and over. When negativity and doubt set in and stay in your mind, it is nearly impossible to set a course toward God's best plans for your life.

In Psalm 77, the psalmist cries out to God as he wrestles with his thoughts. He says he's in deep trouble, he's overwhelmed with longing for God's help, he can't sleep and he feels rejected.

We all struggle at one point or another with thoughts that take us down the wrong path. But God wants us to start thinking on positive things – things that give hope and life. When we do this, we'll begin to experience greater victory and see ourselves rising to new levels.

Remember, when you take control of your thoughts, you ultimately take control of your life. This is just the beginning of what God wants to do in you and through you. He's got a great plan for your life to make a mark in this world

God's message to me

God said, "I AM"
NOT "I was" or " I will be"
HE is here RIGHT NOW wanting to do something great in your life, RIGHT NOW!

Your thoughts have to catch up with the way God thinks.

You know what God does with the past?
He forgets it.

You know what God does with our sins?
Forgets them, and forgives them.

God forgives us the First TIME we ask him to.

Now you need to forgive yourself.
If you don't forgive yourself, you are not RECEIVING the
FORGIVENESS that God has for you.

god wants you to move on.

It is time to move on.
It is time to move past the offenses, abandonments, hurt, abuse, betrayal. The unfair things that have happened to you. IT is time to move past that and start saying
AGGRESSIVELY

SOMETHING GOOD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME!!

Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday

I don't think Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday fall within the same week too often - at least I don't remember it. Valentine's Day is about hearts, flowers and love. But just 3 days later (Sunday to Wednesday) comes all those ashes. Such a difference a few days brings. On Valentine's day we show people how much we love them, give gifts, hugs, cards - go out to dinner and movies - celebrate our love for each other! Then here we are at Ash Wednesday in the morning. We will be starting into the 40 days of lent, a time of repentance and remembering the sacrifices of our Lord, Jesus on our behalf. We go into a few days of fasting (giving up something) and meditations and our own "way of the cross".

For many years of my life I lived in the world of tensions between belief and doubt, not understanding why or what I was doing this for. Is there really a God, and a Jesus who cares about me, and a Holy Spirit who guides my life? Is there a trinity, is the Bible really God's word and His love letter to me? Then my glorious, merciful God shoved me over the line to a place of no doubt. And now I live in the tensions between my passionate love of life and desire to cling to it as long as possible, and awareness that life may be taken from me before I'd wish.

Acceptance of that tension creates the most magnificent beauty and spiritual awareness. It makes me wonder why we all don't let go of anger and resentments and fall to the ground in wonder of God's great gifts. I don't believe God cares a bit about religious and political differences. According to Jesus' greatest commandments, life ultimately is about loving God and each other. Matthew 22:38-40.

Now-a-days I look at it this way - Pondering over my many decades of life (7+ of them), I think of how fast time goes by. How things that happened seem like just yesterday. Life is a heartbeat, a nano-second of earthly being. Why would I waste any of it with negative thoughts and actions? (I've certainly done too much of that in my lifetime!)

The heart of Lent and St. Valentine's Day is that Jesus went willingly to the cross to bring life everlasting to us believers. That includes making life beautiful and joyful here and now by learning not to fear death. By willingly and with love in our hearts, picking up the crosses life throws our way, we learn to live in God's presence and how to spread God's love to others.

Dad and I plan to attend our Ash Wednesday service. As the ashes are put on my forehead in the form of a cross, to remind me of what lent is all about - "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel." As lent begins, the 40 days of repentance and spiritual growth before Easter, I want to live those words in the tension between my love of life and my slightly shaky physical being.

I want to celebrate my continuing conversion to the Lord's ways. He has sent us many valentines. He says "I love you, Lonnie" in so many ways every day. His word - the Bible - is His Love Letter to me. This is for you, too!

I keep hearing these verses in new ways, always full of grace and love:

"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Praying for Your Adult Children - Stormie Omartian

I am having a bit of a hard time figuring out how to get this on here. I am not sure if it's okay to post the pages from the book here. Am I allowed to do that, I wonder? If anyone knows, please tell me. In the meantime, I'd like to encourage everyone to purchase this book, if you are able to. If you would like a copy I have a couple of extras I would be willing to give you. Just let me know. Karen - I am sending you a copy already. The whole thing is so appropriate and timely. A good guide and a good, easy book to read. I've read it through once, and am now in the process of going through it and praying however the Holy Spirit is leading me to pray it. I was excited when I read what Karen had written about the Lord speaking to her. It was the same as what I had been praying out of this book - and the name I filled in in the blank was Karen's. I considered that a confirmation that God hears us and is answering the prayers! Praise God!

If you should happen to get this book, look at page 128, the prayer at the end of Chapter 7 - "Have a Sound Mind and a Right Attitude".

At the end of the prayer it reads: "Lord, draw my adult children to Your Word so that it will be a "discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" every time they read it (see Hebrews 4:12). Reveal to them any wrong thinking or beliefs. Make Your thoughts to be their thoughts. Help them to have the "mind of Christ" at all times (1 Corinthians 2:16).
Where my adult children are struggling in their minds or emotions, I pray that You would extend peace to them like a river (Isaiah 66:12). To my adult children I pray that "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts . . . and be thankful" (Colossians 3:15).

In Jesus' name I pray.

Really good workout!! Just try ONE

Spiritual Music I LOVE...mom gave me this record in 1976

Happy Birthday, Kay

To my big seester, Kay...I hope your day is very special. You deserve it. You always do special things for everyone and it is your turn. Happy, Happy Birthday, Kay.
Love ya lots,
Your little seester
Karen

From Sharon

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6 (NLT)

Don't worry about anything.
Worrying doesn't change anything. It's stewing without doing. There's no such thing as born worriers; worry is a learned response. You learned it from your parents. You learned it from your peers. You learned it from experience. That's good news. The fact that worry is learned means it can also be unlearned. Jesus says, "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today." (Matthew 6:34, NLT)

Pray about everything.
Next use the time you've been worrying for praying. If you prayed as much as you worried, you'd have a whole lot less to worry about. Some people think God only cares about religious things, such as how many people I invite to church or my tithing. Is God interested in car payments? Yes. He's interested in every detail of your life. That means you can take any problem you face to God.

Thank God in all things.
Whenever you pray, you should always pray with thanksgiving. The healthiest human emotion is not love -- but gratitude. It actually increases your immunities; it makes you more resistant to stress and less susceptible to illness. People who are grateful are happy. But people who are ungrateful are miserable because nothing makes them happy. They're never satisfied; it's never good enough. So if you cultivate the attitude of gratitude, of being thankful in everything, it reduces stress in your life.

Think about the right things.
If you want to reduce the level of stress in your life, you must change the way you think; the way you think determines how you feel. And the way you feel determines how you act. So if you want to change your life, you need to change what you're thinking about.

This involves a deliberate conscious choice where you change the channels. You choose to think about the right things: focus on the positive and on God's word.

Why? Because the root cause of stress is the way I choose to think.

When we no longer worry, when we pray about everything, when we give thanks, when we focus on the right things, the Apostle Paul tells us the result is, "The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

What a guarantee! He is guaranteeing peace of mind.

God has a sense of humor, for sure!

I have been praying for everyone for the trials we are all facing at this time. As I was praying especially hard for Linda and her court date set for Monday, I came across Psalm 78. Verses 65 and 67 stood out to me, and I'm sure they are meant for her (and anyone else who feels they are meant for them): (quoted from the Jeruselum Bible)

"Then, like a sleeper, like a hero, the Lord woke up to strike his enemies on the rump and put them to everlasting shame."

************************************************************************************

The book of Joshua is filled with good stuff. But chapter 1, verses 6-9, are good for all of us to take to heart. In my Jeruselum bible the heading to these verses is - Faithfulness to the Law (I interpret that to mean the Bible) is a condition of God's aid

"Be strong and stand firm, for you are the one to give this people possession of the land that I swore to their fathers I should give to them. (I feel these words in this prayer of mine are saying to us that we CAN win over our troubles). Only be strong and stand firm and be careful to keep all the Law (read your bibles, and know it is the word of God you read, and keep His words close). Never swerve from this to right or left, and then you will be happy in all you do. Have this book always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may carefully keep everything that is written in it (in your heart, and on your lips, and in your mind). Then you will prosper in your dealings, then you will have success. HAVE I NOT TOLD YOU: BE STRONG AND STAND FIRM? BE FEARLESS THEN, BE CONFIDENT, FOR GO WHERE YOU WILL, YAHWEH YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU."

Luke 2:1-52

In this chapter of Luke, Luke gives an account of the birth of Jesus and his early life. In his time and culture, boys were considered responsible adults around the age of 12. It was not, therefore, irresponsible of Joseph and Mary to accidentally leave Jesus behind. As you all know, I have done that with you kids a time or two, haven't I? It's too embarrassing to go into the story of that any more than that. It wasn't that I was irresponsible so much, either. And, for sure, I loved each of you with a mother's heart and would never have left you on purpose. I bet Mary and Joseph each thought he was with someone else.

God's only son became a person and lived with us for awhile. During his life he was sad, happy, excited, and disappointed. God knows what life on earth is like.

The name "Immanuel" means "God with us". The name "Immanuel" is both comforting and unsettling. Comforting, because He has come to share the danger as well as the drudgery of our everyday lives. He desires to weep with us and to wipe away our tears. And Jesus, the Son of God, longs to share in and to be the source of the laughter and the joy we all too rarely know.

Unsettling because it is one thing to know God as this judge with the long white beard and hair and the book of life - sitting up there in the skies looking down on us from above. But quite another to think and know "He is with us"! He is here with us . . .

And when we think of the times we KNOW He is with us in the midst of our daily, routine lives, in the middle of cleaning the house, or driving somewhere, and He stops us . . . in our tracks and makes his presence known, boy is that ever incredible. Often it is in the middle of the most mundane task that He lets us know He is there with us. I can think of one time in particular when I knew and felt "God with me" "Immanuel". I had brought home this ugly Christmas tree, and had just gotten it put up with a big nail in the wall and tied up there with fish line. I stepped back to look at it and commented to myself how beautiful it looked. At that moment I felt the presence of God. It seemed like a glowing light all around the room. Next I knew I was on my knees, praising Him! I couldn't have been doing a more mundane task than that! We realize when stuff like this happens, that there can be no "ordinary" moments for people who live their lives with Jesus.

Jesus paid a huge price to be with us. Certainly the cross was the most obvious cost. But there is more -

We focus so much on the fact that Jesus died for us, we sometimes forget that He also LIVED for us and lives for us still. If Jesus had simply come as Himself, and not as one of us, the Bible makes it quite clear that we could not have stood the sight of His presence, any more than Moses could have directly looked at the face of God.

Imagine what it would be like to be at the Father's side one moment and struggling to sleep in a cattle trough the next. Imagine what it would be like to hear the angel's praising God one day, and then to the awful taunts of stupid men. We can hardly begin to understand the incredible value of the gift God the Father gave through His only son!

Take a moment and reflect on what "Immanuel - - God with us" means to you in your daily life. Make it a point to seek God even in the mundane tasks of everyday life.

Please share here what and when you have felt this in your life!

Christmas brings the gift of hope

Why would God decide to be born as a tiny infant?

I am pondering this, as I sit here looking out my window at the beautiful white world around us. Cold, and lots of ice, but it's beautiful. And how sparkly the snow is that has not been walked on yet with the sun shine on it. The sparrows - lots of them - skitter in and out of the bushes to scratch and peck for something to eat.

Here is a world, Lord, that is full of innocence, hope - and violence. Sometimes it's hard to hold on to hope or see value in innocence when I find so much war, greed and selfishness when I read the newspaper or watch the news of the world we live in.....
and in my own heart, too.

Why, I wonder, into this world would God send this Holy Child, an infant, a tiny, defenseless newborn baby - a picture of both innocence and hope?

I have some memories of World War II. I remember the planes flying over, way high in the sky, and thinking (or hearing) they had bombs in those planes - I sure do hope they don't drop them here. I remember giving up all our luxuries - candy, sugar, extra food, rubber, new cars, new shoes - lots and lots of sacrifices - so our soldiers and military could have what they needed to win a war. I was scared. I feared that Daddy would be drafted and would have to go to war, like Uncle Pat and Uncle Buddy did. That worried me so much. But Daddy always assured me he wouldn't have to go. "They don't need old guys like me (he wasn't old, either) over there, and I am more needed here at home to be available at the barber shop for people to gather and talk about all their fears and losses". His younger brother, Pat, was killed in the final days of the war. I'll never, ever forget that fear and sorrow and sacrifice and doing without.

War is so terrible. Everybody suffers. And, you know what? These awful wars and fights have been going on since before Cain slew Abel. Into this God sent a helpless newborn to lead and inspire. And yes, to save us, though sometimes I think the saving part is as much about saving us from ourselves as anything else.

At that time I'm amazed God didn't look at our world in disgust, revoke his rainbow and send another great flood. But of course He already knew the flood hadn't really improved human behavior.

So God, with grace and goodness far beyond anything I can understand, sent the Baby Jesus. Our Christ Child, Emanuel, God in human form.

God's great generosity and faithfulness boggles my mind. How can I understand?

This year, as always, the Holy Child's message is love. Pure, unbounded love. Only love. And trust. God trusted us to lay eyes on this Child, kneel in awe and receive Him.

Let us gather again at the manger. Rejoice, God loves us beyond my ability to comprehend. God has not given up on us, and we cannot give up on each other. I also remember well the day the war was ended. Such rejoicing and celebrating. We all ran downtown to be a part of it all. America had the victory! We do know that God loved us so much, that He sent His only son, that whoever believes in Him may not perish, but have eternal life! This is the "Reason for the Season"! Pray for each other. Pray for our military. Pray for America.

Hope is born anew. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Psalm 32

Psalm 32 is worth the advent read and meditation.

It records the relief and joy David found in God's forgiveness. The last verse of it calls all of the people to praise and thank God, as does Psalm 33.

God forgives the sins of those who repent. Confession brings relief.

To say "I believe in Jesus" is not enough. You must be willing to acknowledge Him as the most important person in your life. You must be willing to say "I will do what He wants me to do above all else and above any demands that others may place upon me." You must say, and really believe it "Jesus is Lord"! If you will make that decision, I have great news for you -- I can promise you a very positive self-image. When Jesus is the most important person in your life, you will soon come to define yourself in the same way that Jesus defines you. You will begin to think of yourself as He thinks of you. And here's more good news: Jesus thinks you're great! He thinks you're terrific. He really does. He wants us to realize that once we accept Him as our Savior and Lord, we stand before Him as perfect! The bible says that my sin is blotted out. It is buried in the deepest sea - it is remembered no more.

What sin haunts your mind? Have you repented? If so . . . God forgives you. Now forgive yourself.