Over the last week I decided to step off the roller coaster of emotions that I have been on. I had to step out on faith. My heart hurts. An unforseen event happened, my husband and I switched emotions. I am thankful that God's allowed him to feel the same anguish that I have had over the last nine months. I am also thankful that God allowed me to feel the separateness that my husband felt. I can't express my feelings here. They are too private. I am still in prayer for God's will in my life. I try to look at each day. Today I spent the day alone trying to be at complete peace being by myself. I haven't been able to feel that peace because I had been so angry about my situation. Now I feel I can stop looking at the past and wishing I was there. This is really hard for me. I have a future that I can't see and will rely completely on God for what will be best for me.
Today's verse spoke to me first thing this morning,
Philippians 4:7
"God's peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
When we are in a situation we feel we will never be able to get out of, and God tells us to get out, He gives us a wonderful gift called peace.
Peace before the storm. Peace beyond logic. Nothing is logical about my situation. But my divorce is going to happen and God is giving me a peace about it.
This evening my bible study reminded me that this life is temporary and I need to keep my focus on the things of God. I am still reading the book of Exodus daily.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
One hundred thirty-six
Psalm 22:10
"I have leaned on you since the day I was born; you have been my God since my mother gave me birth."
Not all of us know that God gave us our first breath, and eyes for our first sights and the urgency to do all the things we had to do to grow.
If I was asked about my earliest thoughts about God in my life, I know it would be from going to church with my mom and later letters from my mother after my parents divorce. Every one of her letters ended with her asking me to pray for her. I still pray in that same childish way, "God bless, daddy, mommy, J, my dog, etc."
Knowing that you are a child of God, you cannot help but to be drawn to the things of God. You seek the peace that God can give. You seek to feel His presence. You want to know He is with you.
God is here and God is at work every day from our first breath to our last.
Today I wish I had a day to sit with God for a while and just listen.
I think I will make time for that later. Just silence. Just me and God. I spend a lot of time alone and even then I know I am not alone. I still have my little chats with God all through the day, but today feel a little different. I have a few aches, a few prayer requests, a few things to give thanks for, I feel overwhelmed and have a need for some encouragement.
I know we could all use some encouragement from God.
Take a deep breath- A deep, deep breath and know it is a gift from God.
Grace and peace to you from God our father.
"I have leaned on you since the day I was born; you have been my God since my mother gave me birth."
Not all of us know that God gave us our first breath, and eyes for our first sights and the urgency to do all the things we had to do to grow.
If I was asked about my earliest thoughts about God in my life, I know it would be from going to church with my mom and later letters from my mother after my parents divorce. Every one of her letters ended with her asking me to pray for her. I still pray in that same childish way, "God bless, daddy, mommy, J, my dog, etc."
Knowing that you are a child of God, you cannot help but to be drawn to the things of God. You seek the peace that God can give. You seek to feel His presence. You want to know He is with you.
God is here and God is at work every day from our first breath to our last.
Today I wish I had a day to sit with God for a while and just listen.
I think I will make time for that later. Just silence. Just me and God. I spend a lot of time alone and even then I know I am not alone. I still have my little chats with God all through the day, but today feel a little different. I have a few aches, a few prayer requests, a few things to give thanks for, I feel overwhelmed and have a need for some encouragement.
I know we could all use some encouragement from God.
Take a deep breath- A deep, deep breath and know it is a gift from God.
Grace and peace to you from God our father.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
One hundred thirty- five
Hebrews 12:1-2
“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”
Today I admit I lack motivation. I didn’t want the day to start. I didn’t want to say the difficult things I had to say. I didn’t want to do all the difficult things I had to do. I did not start my day, I was late getting up, I said the things I said and didn’t say them in the best way. I got in my car and drove away, even though it was the hardest thing for me to do. Today I did all the things I didn’t want to do. I have to focus on the fact that it is part of God’s plan, not mine.
He really has changed my everyday, so much has been removed and so much more; I have to have faith in the future.
Sometimes faith requires us to do things we don’t want to do, but faith is believing in what we can’t see.
“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”
Today I admit I lack motivation. I didn’t want the day to start. I didn’t want to say the difficult things I had to say. I didn’t want to do all the difficult things I had to do. I did not start my day, I was late getting up, I said the things I said and didn’t say them in the best way. I got in my car and drove away, even though it was the hardest thing for me to do. Today I did all the things I didn’t want to do. I have to focus on the fact that it is part of God’s plan, not mine.
He really has changed my everyday, so much has been removed and so much more; I have to have faith in the future.
Sometimes faith requires us to do things we don’t want to do, but faith is believing in what we can’t see.
Monday, January 25, 2010
One hundred thirty-four
2 Thessalonians 2:16
“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our father encourage you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.”
I needed to hear this verse today. I listen to people complain a lot during the day and I think as I listen, “Please Lord, don’t let me sound that bitter when I speak.”
I think sometimes it is best when someone is able to say an encouraging word instead of supporting another’s bad attitude.
Today my heart hurt for some of my friends that have experienced a loss. It is my prayer God will be with all of us during these dark days.
I saw a painting once and it was a simple painting of two stick candles lit side by side. The woman that owned the painting commented that she and her husband bought the painting because they saw themselves as the two candles. Two people- illuminating a room burning at the same pace. It might have been said differently but seeing the photo and hearing what she said, was beautiful.
Lighting candles have always been a part of worship- Advent candles, unity candles at weddings, and others I can’t think of now. I wonder if I could have the same relationship with God? God said, “I am the light of the world.” And he represents one of the two candles, and I represent the other.
Dear Lord, bring us all good things in our actions and our words.
I am thankful that tomorrow, I will have another chance to be filled with the Holy Spirit and be in the presence of the Lord.
Grace and mercy to you from God the Father.
“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our father encourage you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.”
I needed to hear this verse today. I listen to people complain a lot during the day and I think as I listen, “Please Lord, don’t let me sound that bitter when I speak.”
I think sometimes it is best when someone is able to say an encouraging word instead of supporting another’s bad attitude.
Today my heart hurt for some of my friends that have experienced a loss. It is my prayer God will be with all of us during these dark days.
I saw a painting once and it was a simple painting of two stick candles lit side by side. The woman that owned the painting commented that she and her husband bought the painting because they saw themselves as the two candles. Two people- illuminating a room burning at the same pace. It might have been said differently but seeing the photo and hearing what she said, was beautiful.
Lighting candles have always been a part of worship- Advent candles, unity candles at weddings, and others I can’t think of now. I wonder if I could have the same relationship with God? God said, “I am the light of the world.” And he represents one of the two candles, and I represent the other.
Dear Lord, bring us all good things in our actions and our words.
I am thankful that tomorrow, I will have another chance to be filled with the Holy Spirit and be in the presence of the Lord.
Grace and mercy to you from God the Father.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
One hundred thirty- three
My brother-in- law, Mark Foster, was in a motorcycle accident yesterday while on duty. Prayers for healing of his injuries for a speedy and full recovery.
Thanks to God that his injuries were not critical.
At times when I feel like I am having a difficult time in my love life, that is when it seems like every verse I turn to during my bible study has the same theme- love.
1 Corinthians 13 has been evident all week in my studies and on Christian radio these were one of the selected daily bible verses.
“Love… bears all things, believes all things.”
All things. All leaves nothing out. I know I love like that, but I think the only person I have had this love with is with my family. I know I love like that. God has the same love for us. NOTHING IS HIDDEN FROM GOD. God sees our good days and our bad days along with all our failings.
Love is not like shopping where you make selections of all good things, smiles, good health and good moods. That sounds like ideal love for anyone. When you are shopping you don’t make selections that would be bad or not right for you. You don’t buy dog food when you don’t have a dog. You don’t make selections not right for you. Love isn’t a shopping trip.
Love wouldn’t be love if it only exists when things are easy or only there when it reflects our own needs. It is when times are difficult that love is needed most. Love is needed when there is chaos. Love is needed when there is pain. Love is needed ALL the time. Love doesn’t happen only when things are easy. What if God only gave love when things were easy?
That makes me think of the quote, “Love isn’t love until you give it away.” - unknown
I know that when things are the most difficult, God shows his love by offering encouragement from friends and sometimes even strangers. It is during the difficult times that I experience the strongest love. Love is powerful.
I am thankful to God for the love I have experienced from Him ALL the time. Trials do come, times are difficult, chaos happens, but when love is present, everything changes.
I love you even if I don’t know you. God wants you to know he feels the same way. God loves us even if you don’t know him, but you can. If God could speak to you right now if you don’t know him, he might say, “I find YOU very interesting, attractive and exciting, Let’s be friends. I love you.” I know God would say that to you if you are covered from head to toe with chicken pox, suffered from burns, or have a life challenge that makes you unique. God’s love for you is no different, because every human is different.
Could you love God in the same way?
Can you say, “Jesus, I find you very interesting, attractive and exciting. Let’s be friends. I love you.”
May God show you his love today and you feel it without a doubt.
Love, hope and joy to you from God our father.
Other verses from Corinthians tha reminds us of God's love- 2 Corinthians 4
"8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.
11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. 12 So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.
13 But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.” 14 We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. 15 All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.
16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever."
Love.
Thanks to God that his injuries were not critical.
At times when I feel like I am having a difficult time in my love life, that is when it seems like every verse I turn to during my bible study has the same theme- love.
1 Corinthians 13 has been evident all week in my studies and on Christian radio these were one of the selected daily bible verses.
“Love… bears all things, believes all things.”
All things. All leaves nothing out. I know I love like that, but I think the only person I have had this love with is with my family. I know I love like that. God has the same love for us. NOTHING IS HIDDEN FROM GOD. God sees our good days and our bad days along with all our failings.
Love is not like shopping where you make selections of all good things, smiles, good health and good moods. That sounds like ideal love for anyone. When you are shopping you don’t make selections that would be bad or not right for you. You don’t buy dog food when you don’t have a dog. You don’t make selections not right for you. Love isn’t a shopping trip.
Love wouldn’t be love if it only exists when things are easy or only there when it reflects our own needs. It is when times are difficult that love is needed most. Love is needed when there is chaos. Love is needed when there is pain. Love is needed ALL the time. Love doesn’t happen only when things are easy. What if God only gave love when things were easy?
That makes me think of the quote, “Love isn’t love until you give it away.” - unknown
I know that when things are the most difficult, God shows his love by offering encouragement from friends and sometimes even strangers. It is during the difficult times that I experience the strongest love. Love is powerful.
I am thankful to God for the love I have experienced from Him ALL the time. Trials do come, times are difficult, chaos happens, but when love is present, everything changes.
I love you even if I don’t know you. God wants you to know he feels the same way. God loves us even if you don’t know him, but you can. If God could speak to you right now if you don’t know him, he might say, “I find YOU very interesting, attractive and exciting, Let’s be friends. I love you.” I know God would say that to you if you are covered from head to toe with chicken pox, suffered from burns, or have a life challenge that makes you unique. God’s love for you is no different, because every human is different.
Could you love God in the same way?
Can you say, “Jesus, I find you very interesting, attractive and exciting. Let’s be friends. I love you.”
May God show you his love today and you feel it without a doubt.
Love, hope and joy to you from God our father.
Other verses from Corinthians tha reminds us of God's love- 2 Corinthians 4
"8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.
11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. 12 So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.
13 But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.” 14 We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. 15 All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.
16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever."
Love.
Friday, January 22, 2010
One hundred thiry-two
James 1:12
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love him.”
I’ve been tested, and I feel like I fail every day. Do I give up? No. Stubborn me, I continue on. Things are very fallow with me right now. I feel like that empty field awaiting spring and for something to be planted and sprout new growth. Patience. I keep reminding myself. Patience will make a difference.
So much tragedy going on in the world and within each individual life can make a person feel helpless. We are supposed to keep positive and rejoice in everything. I admit I am completely human and rejoicing is difficult when it seems every thing happening is a trial.
I heard this morning that the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has accused the United States of having an earthquake weapon and we used it on Hati and now the United States is planning to occupy Hati. I really do believe that the earthquake was a natural act, but the Venezuelan President has now accused the United States of being an enemy instead of a country of goodwill. It is frustrating.
Can America persevere? Can each American persevere? God never promised things would be easy. He never said these trials would not come. It is frustrating. It can be discouraging. It can seem hopeless.
During these times we are to turn to God. I lay my trials out to God every day and I admit to God I don’t understand why things have happened. I know I am supposed to hold on to today’s verse and look forward to the goal, in the same way as looking forward to a trip. We decide to take a trip. To go on the trip we know it will cost a certain amount of money, so we sacrifice to be able to save for the trip. Saving the money is hard, but the day you have the ticket in your hand, hope is restored, and then you travel to the destination, and after arriving, it is all you have expected and know it was worth the sacrifice to be at the destination.
Life on Earth is Christians saving up and preparing for that trip to heaven when we will be with God.
Yes, persevere. Persevere with God. Persevere with prayer. Persevere with worship to God. The destination is going to be worth it.
Pray for perseverance and encouragement for each other and also for our nation. I am still proud to be an American. I am still proud to live in a country where I can openly be a Christian and worship God.
Love and peace to you from God our father.
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love him.”
I’ve been tested, and I feel like I fail every day. Do I give up? No. Stubborn me, I continue on. Things are very fallow with me right now. I feel like that empty field awaiting spring and for something to be planted and sprout new growth. Patience. I keep reminding myself. Patience will make a difference.
So much tragedy going on in the world and within each individual life can make a person feel helpless. We are supposed to keep positive and rejoice in everything. I admit I am completely human and rejoicing is difficult when it seems every thing happening is a trial.
I heard this morning that the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has accused the United States of having an earthquake weapon and we used it on Hati and now the United States is planning to occupy Hati. I really do believe that the earthquake was a natural act, but the Venezuelan President has now accused the United States of being an enemy instead of a country of goodwill. It is frustrating.
Can America persevere? Can each American persevere? God never promised things would be easy. He never said these trials would not come. It is frustrating. It can be discouraging. It can seem hopeless.
During these times we are to turn to God. I lay my trials out to God every day and I admit to God I don’t understand why things have happened. I know I am supposed to hold on to today’s verse and look forward to the goal, in the same way as looking forward to a trip. We decide to take a trip. To go on the trip we know it will cost a certain amount of money, so we sacrifice to be able to save for the trip. Saving the money is hard, but the day you have the ticket in your hand, hope is restored, and then you travel to the destination, and after arriving, it is all you have expected and know it was worth the sacrifice to be at the destination.
Life on Earth is Christians saving up and preparing for that trip to heaven when we will be with God.
Yes, persevere. Persevere with God. Persevere with prayer. Persevere with worship to God. The destination is going to be worth it.
Pray for perseverance and encouragement for each other and also for our nation. I am still proud to be an American. I am still proud to live in a country where I can openly be a Christian and worship God.
Love and peace to you from God our father.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
One hundred thirty-one
Psalm 90:4
"For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night."
Time happens so fast. One day and one chance. Take it.
Grace and peace to you from God our father.
"For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night."
Time happens so fast. One day and one chance. Take it.
Grace and peace to you from God our father.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
One hundred thirty
Psalm 119:105
“Your word is like a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.’
Today the people in Hati are on my mind. Everything we take for granted, they no longer have. I hurt for the ones left behind that suffered another 6.0 quake again today. In this time of darkness for the people of Hati, I hope they will have their needs met. Without enough resources, their lives are forever changed.
One day at a time is all they can deal with. One day at a time is all any of us can deal with.
May you have mercy and grace from God our father.
“Your word is like a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.’
Today the people in Hati are on my mind. Everything we take for granted, they no longer have. I hurt for the ones left behind that suffered another 6.0 quake again today. In this time of darkness for the people of Hati, I hope they will have their needs met. Without enough resources, their lives are forever changed.
One day at a time is all they can deal with. One day at a time is all any of us can deal with.
May you have mercy and grace from God our father.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
One hundred twenty-nine
Galations 6:9
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
Monday, January 18, 2010
Prayer list
Tonight I heard a few prayer requests-
Janette Forston (my husband's aunt) Was released from the hospital after a week's stay and they were not able to find out what her illness was. She is very weak and still recovering. Prayer also for her husband Rex and his health.
Mrs. Meredith had pace maker put in today. Prayer for her speedy recovery and strength for her family as they care for her.
Marty Robbins (Of the roofing company) thought he had the flu and had some blood work done and was diagnosed with lukemia and is having life saving treatment at the hospital tonight. Praying that the Lord God will be be great physician that he is and bring healing to Marty. Prayers also to his brothers and his family.
Continued prayer for Mr. Hughes and his continuing recovery.
Prayer for many that are caring for a family member with an illness. I could name a lot of names here, but I especially want to say that my friend Susanne and her husband Paul have been struggling with his health for three years and they both still mangage a smile and are a blessing and example of two people who know and reflect God's faithfulness in their everyday life.
Prayer for Shyanne Jackson. She is my daughters age and had a brain tumor and has anexiety that is preventing her from living the life of a teenager. Some days she can not even go to school.
Let us all uplift these and others you may know. Stop what you are doing and pray for the health of all the people you know. Include a prayer for salvation for family members. None of us know what day or how the Lord will call us home, but knowing that they will meet Jesus in heaven is a blessing and a peace.
Grace and peace to you from God our father.
Janette Forston (my husband's aunt) Was released from the hospital after a week's stay and they were not able to find out what her illness was. She is very weak and still recovering. Prayer also for her husband Rex and his health.
Mrs. Meredith had pace maker put in today. Prayer for her speedy recovery and strength for her family as they care for her.
Marty Robbins (Of the roofing company) thought he had the flu and had some blood work done and was diagnosed with lukemia and is having life saving treatment at the hospital tonight. Praying that the Lord God will be be great physician that he is and bring healing to Marty. Prayers also to his brothers and his family.
Continued prayer for Mr. Hughes and his continuing recovery.
Prayer for many that are caring for a family member with an illness. I could name a lot of names here, but I especially want to say that my friend Susanne and her husband Paul have been struggling with his health for three years and they both still mangage a smile and are a blessing and example of two people who know and reflect God's faithfulness in their everyday life.
Prayer for Shyanne Jackson. She is my daughters age and had a brain tumor and has anexiety that is preventing her from living the life of a teenager. Some days she can not even go to school.
Let us all uplift these and others you may know. Stop what you are doing and pray for the health of all the people you know. Include a prayer for salvation for family members. None of us know what day or how the Lord will call us home, but knowing that they will meet Jesus in heaven is a blessing and a peace.
Grace and peace to you from God our father.
One hundred twenty-eight
1 Thessalonians 5:17
“Pray Continually.”
This is how I felt yesterday. I wanted to just pray continually. I can give my every thought and action to God, but actually just sitting in prayer all day is not an option because I have a job that God expects me to do, and other commitments through my day.
Praying and prayer time can be as simple as looking at your hand and saying a five finger prayer.
1. When you fold your hands to pray, your thumb is closest to you. Start your prayer by raising up the needs of your children, parents, spouse, friends and other loved ones.
2. The pointing finger is next. Pray for those who lead. Our boss, teachers, ministers, and mentors.
3. The middle and tallest finger is next. That finger will remind us to pray for our president, (even if you do not agree with him, he still needs prayer) leaders in government and positions of high authority.
4. The ring finger is our weakest finger. The ring finger will bring to mind those who are sick and in trouble. Pray that God would intervene and show them that He is strong when they are weak.
5. The little finger reminds us that we need to put others first, even in prayer. By the time you get to your little finger your personal needs will seem to be small, but do pray for yourself- to hold to the Bible’s truth and know that God is God, and we are not. Glory to God!
Today is a new day and everyday is a chance to begin again.
“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.”
-Charles R. Swindoll
May we all have a praying attitude. Put ALL things to prayer.
Grace and peace to you from God our father.
“Pray Continually.”
This is how I felt yesterday. I wanted to just pray continually. I can give my every thought and action to God, but actually just sitting in prayer all day is not an option because I have a job that God expects me to do, and other commitments through my day.
Praying and prayer time can be as simple as looking at your hand and saying a five finger prayer.
1. When you fold your hands to pray, your thumb is closest to you. Start your prayer by raising up the needs of your children, parents, spouse, friends and other loved ones.
2. The pointing finger is next. Pray for those who lead. Our boss, teachers, ministers, and mentors.
3. The middle and tallest finger is next. That finger will remind us to pray for our president, (even if you do not agree with him, he still needs prayer) leaders in government and positions of high authority.
4. The ring finger is our weakest finger. The ring finger will bring to mind those who are sick and in trouble. Pray that God would intervene and show them that He is strong when they are weak.
5. The little finger reminds us that we need to put others first, even in prayer. By the time you get to your little finger your personal needs will seem to be small, but do pray for yourself- to hold to the Bible’s truth and know that God is God, and we are not. Glory to God!
Today is a new day and everyday is a chance to begin again.
“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.”
-Charles R. Swindoll
May we all have a praying attitude. Put ALL things to prayer.
Grace and peace to you from God our father.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
One hundred twenty- seven
Philippians 4:6
“Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need.”
I felt like today I could just sit and pray and pray. I could put my every thought to prayer.
Some days are like that. Every conversation we have with another brings up a need. Not only for one another but for others we know, or needs we see on the news.
We wish that we could help everyone. At these challenging times we do what the Holy sprit leads us to do what we can and put the rest to prayer for God to meet needs.
May you know the grace and peace of God when you tell your worries to Him.
“Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need.”
I felt like today I could just sit and pray and pray. I could put my every thought to prayer.
Some days are like that. Every conversation we have with another brings up a need. Not only for one another but for others we know, or needs we see on the news.
We wish that we could help everyone. At these challenging times we do what the Holy sprit leads us to do what we can and put the rest to prayer for God to meet needs.
May you know the grace and peace of God when you tell your worries to Him.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
One hundred twenty- six
I am reading Exodus. I’ve read through the plagues to the pass over of the angel of death to take every firstborn man and beast. God performed great miracles to prove to Pharaoh that He is God. God was purposeful to harden Pharaoh’s heart to not let the people go.
In times when belief in God is weak, disasters happen so that people are reminded of the might of God. I think God is urging every person to see that Revelation is true and must be an ever present thought so that when God does what He said he will do, believers will not be surprised. They will know that God is at work to deliver us once again.
Just like in the days that Arron and Moses spoke to Pharaoh, the bible is our guide to tell us again-God spoke, He is going to bring about disasters, we will see the end of Earth and when the Lord comes again we will be in expectation.
Praise God!
In times when belief in God is weak, disasters happen so that people are reminded of the might of God. I think God is urging every person to see that Revelation is true and must be an ever present thought so that when God does what He said he will do, believers will not be surprised. They will know that God is at work to deliver us once again.
Just like in the days that Arron and Moses spoke to Pharaoh, the bible is our guide to tell us again-God spoke, He is going to bring about disasters, we will see the end of Earth and when the Lord comes again we will be in expectation.
Praise God!
Friday, January 15, 2010
One hundred twenty-five
Thanking God for hot oatmeal for breakfast! Today it is especially delicious. It might even be extraordinary! I think I added just the right amount of water to make it creamy this morning. Some mornings I don’t add enough water and it is a little thick and dry. Today I made good oatmeal.
I have a habit of not really measuring when I cook so food can always turn out any old way when I cook something. The other night baby girl wanted some ice cream after dance, so instead of going out for a meal, we stopped in the grocery store. I was hungry and I was going to pick some vegetable to eat from the produce aisle. I saw the perfect thing- spaghetti squash. Baby girl hasn’t eaten my cooking in a while and when I said I was cooking it, her mouth watered. It was late so I couldn't bring her home with me, cook it, eat, and get her home at a decent time.
Many of you may not be familiar with the spaghetti squash. It is a football sized yellow squash. To cook it you cut it in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds (it looks like a pumpkin inside) lay the half in a glass dish with about an inch of water and microwave the half for 15 min on high. I have a small microwave so I only do half at a time- to cook both halves you could bake them in the same way but bake for aprox. 45 min. at about 350 degrees. When it is cooked you turn the half up and scrape the inside with a fork and the squash comes apart in strands like spaghetti. I then layer the spaghetti squash, cooked hamburger meat seasoned with onions and salt and pepper, and a layer of shredded cheddar cheese. Bake or microwave until the cheese is melted. – Yummy!
I took baby girl home with thoughts of that yummy-ness in her mind. I told her I would bring her some, but she couldn’t wait. Then next day she got her step mother to buy one, she prepared it like I described. I know she was proud to have some of her momma’s cooking even if I didn’t exactly make it. Food does bring us comfort and togetherness when we are apart from our loved ones. I too, make some of my mother’s dishes when I miss her.
This really doesn’t have anything to do with today’s verse but maybe you will think of some comfort food you love and share it with someone you love.
Tomorrow I am going with my girlfriends to eat some Korean food. My friend Kim was in the army and enjoys foods she ate stationed overseas. She wants to share her comfort food with us. We are going to try some new flavors, fellowship and have a good time. Next week I plan to have Thai food for lunch with my friend Stacie. I used to cook for her too, but it has been a while; we take advantage of those Thai cooks and fellowship while we eat. I am blessed to have wonderful friends.
Philemon 7
“I have great joy and comfort, my brother, because the love you have shown to God’s people has refreshed them.”
I love you, even if I don’t know you. God loves you, and He does know you. I hope you will give God thanks for your next meal and if you don’t know Him, seek Him.
Grace, mercy and love from God our father.
I have a habit of not really measuring when I cook so food can always turn out any old way when I cook something. The other night baby girl wanted some ice cream after dance, so instead of going out for a meal, we stopped in the grocery store. I was hungry and I was going to pick some vegetable to eat from the produce aisle. I saw the perfect thing- spaghetti squash. Baby girl hasn’t eaten my cooking in a while and when I said I was cooking it, her mouth watered. It was late so I couldn't bring her home with me, cook it, eat, and get her home at a decent time.
Many of you may not be familiar with the spaghetti squash. It is a football sized yellow squash. To cook it you cut it in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds (it looks like a pumpkin inside) lay the half in a glass dish with about an inch of water and microwave the half for 15 min on high. I have a small microwave so I only do half at a time- to cook both halves you could bake them in the same way but bake for aprox. 45 min. at about 350 degrees. When it is cooked you turn the half up and scrape the inside with a fork and the squash comes apart in strands like spaghetti. I then layer the spaghetti squash, cooked hamburger meat seasoned with onions and salt and pepper, and a layer of shredded cheddar cheese. Bake or microwave until the cheese is melted. – Yummy!
I took baby girl home with thoughts of that yummy-ness in her mind. I told her I would bring her some, but she couldn’t wait. Then next day she got her step mother to buy one, she prepared it like I described. I know she was proud to have some of her momma’s cooking even if I didn’t exactly make it. Food does bring us comfort and togetherness when we are apart from our loved ones. I too, make some of my mother’s dishes when I miss her.
This really doesn’t have anything to do with today’s verse but maybe you will think of some comfort food you love and share it with someone you love.
Tomorrow I am going with my girlfriends to eat some Korean food. My friend Kim was in the army and enjoys foods she ate stationed overseas. She wants to share her comfort food with us. We are going to try some new flavors, fellowship and have a good time. Next week I plan to have Thai food for lunch with my friend Stacie. I used to cook for her too, but it has been a while; we take advantage of those Thai cooks and fellowship while we eat. I am blessed to have wonderful friends.
Philemon 7
“I have great joy and comfort, my brother, because the love you have shown to God’s people has refreshed them.”
I love you, even if I don’t know you. God loves you, and He does know you. I hope you will give God thanks for your next meal and if you don’t know Him, seek Him.
Grace, mercy and love from God our father.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
One hundred twenty-four
Last night I opened my bible and it opened to the book of Exodus. I wonder sometimes if God has a sense of humor… deliverance, guidance, and direction to follow God.
God is good all the time.
Exodus 1:24-25
“God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.”
God does know our troubles and he is concerned about us. I am thankful that God is providing for our needs. There are a lot of lessons to see in Exodus about how we ask for things from God and when we get those things, we are to be grateful and be good stewards of what He gives.
In my own life I can see how I have the same nature of the Israelites, getting what God gives and not making the best of it. Everything God wants me to have He is going to provide. I Know Exodus has a lot for me to reflect on and to take the lessons the Israelites had to learn and apply those lessons to my life.
One of the biggest lessons to learn is that when God delivers you from something, you can’t look back and wish you were back in your bad situation, you have to be patient on God, take his direction and be thankful for what you have. I can’t do things my way anymore. I have to consider and act on God’s will for my life.
God is good all the time.
Prayers needed for survivors in Hati. Pray for strength and salvation for the ones there that will see this tragedy first hand and that they will seek God during this time in their lives. Seeing death in this magnitude, we can not help but to think of God and knowing earth is temporary, heaven is forever.
Grace and mercy to you from God the father.
God is good all the time.
Exodus 1:24-25
“God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.”
God does know our troubles and he is concerned about us. I am thankful that God is providing for our needs. There are a lot of lessons to see in Exodus about how we ask for things from God and when we get those things, we are to be grateful and be good stewards of what He gives.
In my own life I can see how I have the same nature of the Israelites, getting what God gives and not making the best of it. Everything God wants me to have He is going to provide. I Know Exodus has a lot for me to reflect on and to take the lessons the Israelites had to learn and apply those lessons to my life.
One of the biggest lessons to learn is that when God delivers you from something, you can’t look back and wish you were back in your bad situation, you have to be patient on God, take his direction and be thankful for what you have. I can’t do things my way anymore. I have to consider and act on God’s will for my life.
God is good all the time.
Prayers needed for survivors in Hati. Pray for strength and salvation for the ones there that will see this tragedy first hand and that they will seek God during this time in their lives. Seeing death in this magnitude, we can not help but to think of God and knowing earth is temporary, heaven is forever.
Grace and mercy to you from God the father.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
One hundred twenty-three
Philippians 4:6
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank him for his answers.”
I’m not feeling bright and shiny this morning. My husband and I are going to go ahead with our divorce.
Yesterday’s devotion said I had to grin and bear it. Today’s verse is telling me to give it all over to God.
Maybe I’ve not been bright and shiny for a while and this is God’s way to do some rubbing to remove what needs to be removed to bring back the shine in my life. God is wanting to remove my frustration, resentment and pride.
I am humble today and trying my best to be positive and count my blessings.
God is good all the time.
Today I want to Thank God for all He has given me, all He has taken away, and all that He left me.
Counting my blessings that my husband and I are still civil during this very difficult time of our lives.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank him for his answers.”
I’m not feeling bright and shiny this morning. My husband and I are going to go ahead with our divorce.
Yesterday’s devotion said I had to grin and bear it. Today’s verse is telling me to give it all over to God.
Maybe I’ve not been bright and shiny for a while and this is God’s way to do some rubbing to remove what needs to be removed to bring back the shine in my life. God is wanting to remove my frustration, resentment and pride.
I am humble today and trying my best to be positive and count my blessings.
God is good all the time.
Today I want to Thank God for all He has given me, all He has taken away, and all that He left me.
Counting my blessings that my husband and I are still civil during this very difficult time of our lives.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
One hundred twenty-two
Job 9:27
"I will forget my complaint; I will change the look on my face and smile."
Job is a man who knew suffering. I am wondering if this is the first time the expression, "grin and bear it." came from.
Monks also dedicate their lives to suffering- depending on what type of monks they are. In ancient times self-inflicted suffering happened a lot. Sometimes they would even challenge eachother to see who could fast (go without eating) the longest.Their choosing a life of poverty and strife was a choice to only seek to know a closer walk with God. I have been reading about the lives of the Trappist Monks from a book by Thomas Merton. Trappist monks live for one purpose, to gain a deeper love and understanding of God.
When I read about how deep the Trappist monk speaks about God and love it is very moving. To smile even through troubles, is a hard thing to accomplish especially when you are not feeling like smiling.
There was a story about a monk who had sinned from looking at something he should not have and so his recourse was to have a hot poker stuck in his eye to remove it. Another monk heated the hot poker and shoved it in his eye. The eye bubbled and boiled from the heat of the hot poker, the monk winced and took the pain. Afterwards several onlooking monks asked him how he could endure such pain without a struggle. His answer was, "I expected a whole lot more pain and suffering than a hot poker to the eye when I decided to live a life for God."
Sometimes when we read the bible, it is hard to escape all the stories of tragedy- every single person in the bible had it hard. Each tells a tale of how God dealt with each person and their sin.
I pray for God's mercy and grace for my own self, and I am thankful that I did not have a hot poker in my eye to atone for my sin.
Jesus Christ died on a cross for my sins. I will be grateful and know that Jesus Christ is my savior.
Is life easier than we think?
Is all we have to do is - accept the impossible, do without the indespensable, bear the intolerable and be able to smile at anything?
Easy right?
Job... he never lost sight of God through his trials and tribulations.
"I will forget my complaint; I will change the look on my face and smile."
Job is a man who knew suffering. I am wondering if this is the first time the expression, "grin and bear it." came from.
Monks also dedicate their lives to suffering- depending on what type of monks they are. In ancient times self-inflicted suffering happened a lot. Sometimes they would even challenge eachother to see who could fast (go without eating) the longest.Their choosing a life of poverty and strife was a choice to only seek to know a closer walk with God. I have been reading about the lives of the Trappist Monks from a book by Thomas Merton. Trappist monks live for one purpose, to gain a deeper love and understanding of God.
When I read about how deep the Trappist monk speaks about God and love it is very moving. To smile even through troubles, is a hard thing to accomplish especially when you are not feeling like smiling.
There was a story about a monk who had sinned from looking at something he should not have and so his recourse was to have a hot poker stuck in his eye to remove it. Another monk heated the hot poker and shoved it in his eye. The eye bubbled and boiled from the heat of the hot poker, the monk winced and took the pain. Afterwards several onlooking monks asked him how he could endure such pain without a struggle. His answer was, "I expected a whole lot more pain and suffering than a hot poker to the eye when I decided to live a life for God."
Sometimes when we read the bible, it is hard to escape all the stories of tragedy- every single person in the bible had it hard. Each tells a tale of how God dealt with each person and their sin.
I pray for God's mercy and grace for my own self, and I am thankful that I did not have a hot poker in my eye to atone for my sin.
Jesus Christ died on a cross for my sins. I will be grateful and know that Jesus Christ is my savior.
Is life easier than we think?
Is all we have to do is - accept the impossible, do without the indespensable, bear the intolerable and be able to smile at anything?
Easy right?
Job... he never lost sight of God through his trials and tribulations.
Monday, January 11, 2010
One hundred twenty-one
Psalm 31:14-15
“I trust in you, O Lord, I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands.”
Psalm 62:5
“I find rest in God; only He gives me hope.”
“I trust in you, O Lord, I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands.”
Psalm 62:5
“I find rest in God; only He gives me hope.”
Sunday, January 10, 2010
One hundred twenty
All that we have and received is on loan from God.
This is hard to accept sometimes when we lose things that belong to us. Tragedy can hit us in the most unexpected ways. A fire can destroy our homes and all we possess. A divorce can destroy a marriage and a family. An illness can destroy a body. It is hard to focus on the fact that none of it belongs to us.
This computer I’m typing on is God’s. The roof over my head is God’s. My child is God’s child. None of the things you can see will go with you into the kingdom of heaven. None of our possessions will be with us when we see God.
God is dealing with many of us about our material possessions. He is telling some of us we have to let go of things we can’t afford. I want to go shopping today, but I won’t because I don’t have the money to do so. I don’t need anything. All of my needs are met. If I bought anything, it would not be something that I NEED.
Today at Logos Baptist Church the sermon was about 1 Samuel Chapter one and the story of Hannah. She longed to have a child and when she prayed to God for it, God granted her wish, and knowing that the child was God’s to begin with she was able to give Samuel back to God at a very young age. Samuel became a great man of God.
There is a lot to learn about the bitterness that Hannah could not escape from not being able to have a child. Today’s sermon taught us that bitterness grows and any bitterness we feel towards others is also bitterness towards God.
It is such a big concept to grasp that EVERYTHING – our thoughts, our actions, our possessions, our bodies, our families, our children, our spouses, our souls are God’s.
How are you taking care of what God has given you today?
For myself I have to work at my thoughts and bitterness I had towards someone. That same person has bitterness towards me and we are both miserable because of it. Today I took my bitterness to God and laid it at his feet. Several times since I have had thoughts of bitterness, but they did not become feelings of bitterness. God gave me some encouragement about changing my thoughts to thoughts of other things, some happy things. To God be the glory!
It is my prayer that God will change the heart of the person that is bitter towards me and have them have love once again in their heart for me as I am working with God to change my own bitterness to love. It is a gigantic request. It is one that I have little hope for, but it is not up to me to change this person. It will have to be God at work in that person’s life and that is what I am praying for.
Grace and mercy to you from God our father.
This is hard to accept sometimes when we lose things that belong to us. Tragedy can hit us in the most unexpected ways. A fire can destroy our homes and all we possess. A divorce can destroy a marriage and a family. An illness can destroy a body. It is hard to focus on the fact that none of it belongs to us.
This computer I’m typing on is God’s. The roof over my head is God’s. My child is God’s child. None of the things you can see will go with you into the kingdom of heaven. None of our possessions will be with us when we see God.
God is dealing with many of us about our material possessions. He is telling some of us we have to let go of things we can’t afford. I want to go shopping today, but I won’t because I don’t have the money to do so. I don’t need anything. All of my needs are met. If I bought anything, it would not be something that I NEED.
Today at Logos Baptist Church the sermon was about 1 Samuel Chapter one and the story of Hannah. She longed to have a child and when she prayed to God for it, God granted her wish, and knowing that the child was God’s to begin with she was able to give Samuel back to God at a very young age. Samuel became a great man of God.
There is a lot to learn about the bitterness that Hannah could not escape from not being able to have a child. Today’s sermon taught us that bitterness grows and any bitterness we feel towards others is also bitterness towards God.
It is such a big concept to grasp that EVERYTHING – our thoughts, our actions, our possessions, our bodies, our families, our children, our spouses, our souls are God’s.
How are you taking care of what God has given you today?
For myself I have to work at my thoughts and bitterness I had towards someone. That same person has bitterness towards me and we are both miserable because of it. Today I took my bitterness to God and laid it at his feet. Several times since I have had thoughts of bitterness, but they did not become feelings of bitterness. God gave me some encouragement about changing my thoughts to thoughts of other things, some happy things. To God be the glory!
It is my prayer that God will change the heart of the person that is bitter towards me and have them have love once again in their heart for me as I am working with God to change my own bitterness to love. It is a gigantic request. It is one that I have little hope for, but it is not up to me to change this person. It will have to be God at work in that person’s life and that is what I am praying for.
Grace and mercy to you from God our father.
Friday, January 8, 2010
One hundered nineteen
Mathew 11:28
“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
I don’t know about you, but I really needed to hear this verse today. I feel like I could sleep for days.
I am in a waiting room – God’s waiting room. He is at work dealing with me learning lessons, suffering pain and growing. Real genuine healing is a process. It takes a long time for deep hurts to be resolved.
Choosing Joy and happiness is what God wants for all of us. Whatever your situation – even in the valley- choose to be happy. And find rest in God.
Peace amd mercy to you from God our father.
“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
I don’t know about you, but I really needed to hear this verse today. I feel like I could sleep for days.
I am in a waiting room – God’s waiting room. He is at work dealing with me learning lessons, suffering pain and growing. Real genuine healing is a process. It takes a long time for deep hurts to be resolved.
Choosing Joy and happiness is what God wants for all of us. Whatever your situation – even in the valley- choose to be happy. And find rest in God.
Peace amd mercy to you from God our father.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
One hundred eighteen
1 Peter 1:6
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”
Some things are going to happen and you can’t change it. We can do all we can sometimes, like trying your best to stay young, eating the right foods,applying chemicals, or having surgery. None of that stops the clock. I do believe in taking care of our bodies the best we can to preserve what God has given us. I like my skin lotion; I apply it to my face every daybefore I go to sleep. But there is nothing I can do about getting older.
My thought for today and my trials, is that I hope that I will mature enough to be able to make a joke of the things that are now breaking my heart. Like holding my wrinkles at bay, one day I’m going to get those, there is no way around it, but later I won’t hate them, I’ll accept them and still know I am beautiful.
My teenage daughter is struggling with acne. Her breakouts are bad sometimes, but thankfully I can encourage her and tell her to take care of her skin the best she can and later she will pass this stage of her life, it won’t last forever, but right now she needs to take care of her skin the best she can. To a teenager breakouts can ruin a whole week.
I know as adults instead of financial stress, relationship troubles or trials we would welcome our biggest trial being a pimple, or a wrinkle.
Today’s verse is God’s word offering encouragement. We are able to get through these trials and soon we will rejoice.
All of us can use a little encouragement when things are happening that we have no control over. I want God to help me accept the things I can’t change. Amen.
Grace and mercy to you from God the father.
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”
Some things are going to happen and you can’t change it. We can do all we can sometimes, like trying your best to stay young, eating the right foods,applying chemicals, or having surgery. None of that stops the clock. I do believe in taking care of our bodies the best we can to preserve what God has given us. I like my skin lotion; I apply it to my face every daybefore I go to sleep. But there is nothing I can do about getting older.
My thought for today and my trials, is that I hope that I will mature enough to be able to make a joke of the things that are now breaking my heart. Like holding my wrinkles at bay, one day I’m going to get those, there is no way around it, but later I won’t hate them, I’ll accept them and still know I am beautiful.
My teenage daughter is struggling with acne. Her breakouts are bad sometimes, but thankfully I can encourage her and tell her to take care of her skin the best she can and later she will pass this stage of her life, it won’t last forever, but right now she needs to take care of her skin the best she can. To a teenager breakouts can ruin a whole week.
I know as adults instead of financial stress, relationship troubles or trials we would welcome our biggest trial being a pimple, or a wrinkle.
Today’s verse is God’s word offering encouragement. We are able to get through these trials and soon we will rejoice.
All of us can use a little encouragement when things are happening that we have no control over. I want God to help me accept the things I can’t change. Amen.
Grace and mercy to you from God the father.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
One hundred seventeen
I’ve been a flibbertigibbet.
(\FLIB-ur-tee-jib-it\, noun:
A silly, flighty, or scatterbrained person, especially a pert young woman with such qualities.)
Lately- I have locked my keys in my car four times in the last month. I sometimes feel like I am losing my mind. I wish I could rest my thoughts for a while – just turn them off. Just stop thinking, but really would I be better that what I am now? I need a little guidance.
Today’s verse is Ephesians 1:8
“How well he understands us and knows what is best for us at all times.”
Thank God! Thank you God for keeping me in your continual care.
So if I am a flibbertigibbet – God will still be watching over me.
Grace and peace to you from God our father.
(\FLIB-ur-tee-jib-it\, noun:
A silly, flighty, or scatterbrained person, especially a pert young woman with such qualities.)
Lately- I have locked my keys in my car four times in the last month. I sometimes feel like I am losing my mind. I wish I could rest my thoughts for a while – just turn them off. Just stop thinking, but really would I be better that what I am now? I need a little guidance.
Today’s verse is Ephesians 1:8
“How well he understands us and knows what is best for us at all times.”
Thank God! Thank you God for keeping me in your continual care.
So if I am a flibbertigibbet – God will still be watching over me.
Grace and peace to you from God our father.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
One hundred sixteen
When I got in my car this morning to go to work the temperature shown 19 degrees on my dash. It is the coldest it has been all year and later in the week it will get colder. Burrrrrrrr!
On the way to work there was an elderly woman walking in the cold. I have seen this woman many times. I have seen her talking to herself as she walks. One day last year I was stopped at a traffic light and the woman was yelling in my direction. She was not direct, just saying words out loud. I rolled down my window so I could hear. The events from that day in April are here.
This morning the same elderly woman was walking. I knew how cold it was and wondered why she was out walking in the cold. She was wearing a pair of white sweat pants, a floral dress that came to her knees, a button down long sleeve plaid shirt, and a thin zip-up black hoodie. She stopped to speak to the city meter man checking meters.
Someone driving by saw the woman and the spirit of God entered her, as she held a cup of steaming hot chocolate stopped at the same traffic light where I had seen the woman before. The driver of the car watched the elderly woman in her rear view window. The woman thanked God for the blessing of the steaming hot chocolate she made before she left for work to warm her hands as she had drove to work. The driver of the car wished she had rolled down her window and offered it to the elderly woman before she had taken her first sip. As I said before, the spirit of the Lord overcame the woman driving the car and she circled the block to search for the elderly woman. She could not offer the woman the hot chocolate, but she did have something else to offer the woman for warmth.
When she made the block the elderly woman was not in sight, but the man reading meters was still there. She pulled the car to a parking spot across the street and asked the man in which direction the elderly woman went. He answered that she went into a nearby service station. The woman returned to her car and drove to the service station. Upon entering the store she saw the woman speaking to another woman at the self-serve coffee station.
“Hello, I saw you walking and wanted to give you this coat,” the driver of the car said as she removed her long black wool coat with a black satin lining and handed it to the elderly woman.
“She may not want that coat,” said the woman making a cup of coffee .
That did not stop the driver of the car. “This coat is for you. You don’t need to be out in the cold without a coat.” She gave the elderly woman a hug and said, "I love you and God loves you."
The elderly woman wanted to refuse the coat. “Don’t you need to be at work?”
“Yes, I need to be at work, but I don’t need to be at work more than you need this coat.”
She took the coat, but instead of putting it on she folded it over her arm, “I’ll wear it to church.”
“You wear it to church, you wear it all the time. That is your coat and you wear it when you go outside. You take care of yourself in this cold.”
The woman making coffee spoke then, “Her name is Marie. She lives there across the street. Thank you.”
“God loves you too.” Said the driver of the car and she turned and left the gas station and went on her way to work.
Love another human being today. Love a stranger. May the spirit of God enter your life and lead you. It is through the Holy Spirit that God’s work is continuing. God is good all the time. To God be the glory!
John 21: 27
25Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
What if we were living life as if a book were being written about us? What would your book say?
During the holiday season at Logos Baptist church we watched a video about missions and a quote from the video was, “When an old man dies a whole library dies with him.”
May God bless you today, may you be the woman that gave her coat, or someone that will witness God at work and see the Holy Spirit enter someone that will give a coat off their back and change another life. God is at work. Open your eyes and heart and experience God’s love today.
Thanking God for blessing my life and praying that He will meet many needs of those who need some warmth to make it through the winter.
May you experience God today.
On the way to work there was an elderly woman walking in the cold. I have seen this woman many times. I have seen her talking to herself as she walks. One day last year I was stopped at a traffic light and the woman was yelling in my direction. She was not direct, just saying words out loud. I rolled down my window so I could hear. The events from that day in April are here.
This morning the same elderly woman was walking. I knew how cold it was and wondered why she was out walking in the cold. She was wearing a pair of white sweat pants, a floral dress that came to her knees, a button down long sleeve plaid shirt, and a thin zip-up black hoodie. She stopped to speak to the city meter man checking meters.
Someone driving by saw the woman and the spirit of God entered her, as she held a cup of steaming hot chocolate stopped at the same traffic light where I had seen the woman before. The driver of the car watched the elderly woman in her rear view window. The woman thanked God for the blessing of the steaming hot chocolate she made before she left for work to warm her hands as she had drove to work. The driver of the car wished she had rolled down her window and offered it to the elderly woman before she had taken her first sip. As I said before, the spirit of the Lord overcame the woman driving the car and she circled the block to search for the elderly woman. She could not offer the woman the hot chocolate, but she did have something else to offer the woman for warmth.
When she made the block the elderly woman was not in sight, but the man reading meters was still there. She pulled the car to a parking spot across the street and asked the man in which direction the elderly woman went. He answered that she went into a nearby service station. The woman returned to her car and drove to the service station. Upon entering the store she saw the woman speaking to another woman at the self-serve coffee station.
“Hello, I saw you walking and wanted to give you this coat,” the driver of the car said as she removed her long black wool coat with a black satin lining and handed it to the elderly woman.
“She may not want that coat,” said the woman making a cup of coffee .
That did not stop the driver of the car. “This coat is for you. You don’t need to be out in the cold without a coat.” She gave the elderly woman a hug and said, "I love you and God loves you."
The elderly woman wanted to refuse the coat. “Don’t you need to be at work?”
“Yes, I need to be at work, but I don’t need to be at work more than you need this coat.”
She took the coat, but instead of putting it on she folded it over her arm, “I’ll wear it to church.”
“You wear it to church, you wear it all the time. That is your coat and you wear it when you go outside. You take care of yourself in this cold.”
The woman making coffee spoke then, “Her name is Marie. She lives there across the street. Thank you.”
“God loves you too.” Said the driver of the car and she turned and left the gas station and went on her way to work.
Love another human being today. Love a stranger. May the spirit of God enter your life and lead you. It is through the Holy Spirit that God’s work is continuing. God is good all the time. To God be the glory!
John 21: 27
25Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
What if we were living life as if a book were being written about us? What would your book say?
During the holiday season at Logos Baptist church we watched a video about missions and a quote from the video was, “When an old man dies a whole library dies with him.”
May God bless you today, may you be the woman that gave her coat, or someone that will witness God at work and see the Holy Spirit enter someone that will give a coat off their back and change another life. God is at work. Open your eyes and heart and experience God’s love today.
Thanking God for blessing my life and praying that He will meet many needs of those who need some warmth to make it through the winter.
May you experience God today.
Monday, January 4, 2010
One hundred fifteen
Genesis 18: 14
“Is anything too hard for the Lord? No!”
Continuing from yesterday- God is faithful. God is always on time. God is telling us not to quit. Quitting might make us miss the answer to our prayers. Times are tough. Financially, emotionally, illnesses and tragedy.
God has three words for us today- DON’T GIVE UP.
Surrender your trails to God, but don’t give up.
The road may be long- don’t stop.
The night may be dark- morning will come.
God is watching.
God is at work.
I have to believe in God. I have to believe that God has the power to change everything.
I am praying for lost souls to know salvation.
I am praying that God will intervene when there is no hope and give hope and peace in hopeless situations.
I pray that God will surround us all with love and strength to go on with what we need to do so that we will not quit.
I pray for jobs for those who don’t have work and there is so much need.
God, it is my prayer that we will know your presence and feel your hand over the things we need. For God be the glory for all things. God is good all the time.
“Is anything too hard for the Lord? No!”
Continuing from yesterday- God is faithful. God is always on time. God is telling us not to quit. Quitting might make us miss the answer to our prayers. Times are tough. Financially, emotionally, illnesses and tragedy.
God has three words for us today- DON’T GIVE UP.
Surrender your trails to God, but don’t give up.
The road may be long- don’t stop.
The night may be dark- morning will come.
God is watching.
God is at work.
I have to believe in God. I have to believe that God has the power to change everything.
I am praying for lost souls to know salvation.
I am praying that God will intervene when there is no hope and give hope and peace in hopeless situations.
I pray that God will surround us all with love and strength to go on with what we need to do so that we will not quit.
I pray for jobs for those who don’t have work and there is so much need.
God, it is my prayer that we will know your presence and feel your hand over the things we need. For God be the glory for all things. God is good all the time.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
One hundred fourteen
Pictures are memories captured, so we can remember what things looked like before everything changed.
We are a few days into 2010 and I hated looking back at 2009 and I thought of my personal grievances – things I want to rage about and scream at the top of my lungs until I have no more breath inside of me. Of course my biggest grievance this year is my marriage falling apart. I have raged, I have screamed, I have been fighting for my marriage to remain all along, and still we are in conflict.
I carried all of this with me into 2010. I want to have some peace about it all. I want to shout this is all crazy, I can’t reason it, I can’t change it, and God knows I have been trying. Love doesn’t stop when you have experienced it, memories keep it alive.
Experiencing God’s love is wondrous and sometimes the things going on in our lives can keep us from noticing when it is all around us. God’s love is ever present. I say over and over, “Let go and let God.” But have I truly been doing that? Maybe that is why I don’t have any peace about my circumstance. I pray about my marriage every day. Patience. I know. God’s timing is perfect, and whatever He is at work at- I have to allow it. God is good all the time.
Psalm 103: 4
“He… loads me with love and mercy.”
This year I have to experience God’s love in all things in my life. All the secrets, all the hurts, and troubles, and minutes of worry. We all have failures, things we wish we could erase from our lives, those things happened, and God’s love can cover all those things.
God has a load of mercy and love waiting for all of us. I want to experience that love. Usually it is when my heart is broken, I long for love the most. Today I am longing for God’s love.
This morning Pastor Anderson began the book of John. He said that he will preach through the whole book verse by verse. I am looking forward to this study. Last month I had thoughts of how great it would be if we had a photo album of Jesus life. In the book of John we have an book written by someone that Jesus loved and that walked beside him and witnessed miracles. This study of John will allow me to look into the life of Jesus and get to know him better. Nothing is greater on this earth than the life of Jesus Christ as a show of love from God. It is from the book of John that we get John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but will have eternal life.”
I always look to my husband for love and affection. I admit I light up when he tells me he loves me. The word love provokes such strong feelings for all of us. Knowing God’s love is transforming. God’s love is always around us even when hardships are here. These hardships happen to remove what is not like Christ. God’s grace is what we experience when we make it through these hard times.
It is my prayer that we can all experience God's grace,mercy and mostly- God's Love.
We are a few days into 2010 and I hated looking back at 2009 and I thought of my personal grievances – things I want to rage about and scream at the top of my lungs until I have no more breath inside of me. Of course my biggest grievance this year is my marriage falling apart. I have raged, I have screamed, I have been fighting for my marriage to remain all along, and still we are in conflict.
I carried all of this with me into 2010. I want to have some peace about it all. I want to shout this is all crazy, I can’t reason it, I can’t change it, and God knows I have been trying. Love doesn’t stop when you have experienced it, memories keep it alive.
Experiencing God’s love is wondrous and sometimes the things going on in our lives can keep us from noticing when it is all around us. God’s love is ever present. I say over and over, “Let go and let God.” But have I truly been doing that? Maybe that is why I don’t have any peace about my circumstance. I pray about my marriage every day. Patience. I know. God’s timing is perfect, and whatever He is at work at- I have to allow it. God is good all the time.
Psalm 103: 4
“He… loads me with love and mercy.”
This year I have to experience God’s love in all things in my life. All the secrets, all the hurts, and troubles, and minutes of worry. We all have failures, things we wish we could erase from our lives, those things happened, and God’s love can cover all those things.
God has a load of mercy and love waiting for all of us. I want to experience that love. Usually it is when my heart is broken, I long for love the most. Today I am longing for God’s love.
This morning Pastor Anderson began the book of John. He said that he will preach through the whole book verse by verse. I am looking forward to this study. Last month I had thoughts of how great it would be if we had a photo album of Jesus life. In the book of John we have an book written by someone that Jesus loved and that walked beside him and witnessed miracles. This study of John will allow me to look into the life of Jesus and get to know him better. Nothing is greater on this earth than the life of Jesus Christ as a show of love from God. It is from the book of John that we get John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but will have eternal life.”
I always look to my husband for love and affection. I admit I light up when he tells me he loves me. The word love provokes such strong feelings for all of us. Knowing God’s love is transforming. God’s love is always around us even when hardships are here. These hardships happen to remove what is not like Christ. God’s grace is what we experience when we make it through these hard times.
It is my prayer that we can all experience God's grace,mercy and mostly- God's Love.
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