Happy New Year!

So...2012 is almost over. Some of it has been good and some...not so much. In fact there are a few things if I could change them...or somehow talk God into it...I would. But...I have learned that God sees things differently than we do. He knows the big picture and we don't. Sometimes though it's hard to grasp the way He does things. However...I accept His ways because I know they really are better than mine. God really does have everything in His control and He has us in His hands. I am thankful!

To all of my bloggy friends out there...HAPPY NEW YEAR!

To everyone who reads this blog...I pray it has somehow blessed you this past year. HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all!

May you all have a blessed 2013. 

Unshakeable

How's your faith? Saturday morning I awoke thinking about faith. You know. How some people have this great...amazing...long lasting...almost seems unshakeable...faith! How do they have faith like that? Is it because of how long they have been a Christian? How many amazing things they have seen God do in their life or in the life of others? Or is it just because they have a stronger belief than myself? I actually even had a conversation with someone in the afternoon about faith. I also thought about all of the amazing things that I have seen God do...before I was a Christian and since. However...I still don't know how to have...and keep...that strong faith! Now, I know that in the bible it says...

Romans 10:17 NKJ
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

I like the Amplified version as well.

Romans 10:17 AMP
So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself).

Well...needless to say...I have thought about faith a lot this weekend and I want to tell you that I do have faith. Without faith I wouldn't be where I am today. There are so many things I wouldn't be doing if it weren't for faith in God. Here's a small list...

Writing this blog
Sleeping at night...most of the time with my light off!!
Going to a life group...even if I don't say much.
Asking for prayer.
Praying for family and friends.
Most of all...I wouldn't be a Christian if it weren't for faith.

There are many things I do now that a few years ago...even some just a few months ago...I wouldn't be doing if not for the faith I have in God. The problem is getting...and keeping...a strong faith. A faith that is not shaken because of circumstances. I don't want to live a gung-ho...wholeheartedly enthusiastic...faith filled life one day and a ho-hum...weary or routine...faith filled life the next! I want to be consistant in my faith. I want a complete...undivided and uncompromised...faith. Is that possible? I believe it is...with the Lords help!

While writing this post tonight  the Lord let me know what my one word is for 2013.

Unshakeable!

If I don't have unshakeable faith I will never be as strong as I need to be...as the Lord wants me to be.
There will be moments when things may shake me a bit but I need to only let them be moments. Never should it be days...sometimes even weeks!...that my faith seems almost gone.

I want to live a faith filled...whole heartedly enthusiastic...life doing what the Lord has for me to do.

How about you? What kind of a life do you want to live? Ask the Lord what He wants to change in your life this next year.

Untitled

Trying to find
a way out of the mess
Lightning comes in
and brings much distress

What do you do
where do you go
Pain can be freeing
you've heard it said so

Looking to find
the right path to take
So many twists
what turn do I take?

Keep going forward
don't take a break
Look all around
the earths ready to quake


Lights on it's way
dark to defeat
Your minds in a jumble
don't end up in  heap

Things change so quickly
how did I get
From there to here
Lickety split!


Life's like a maze
a prize at the end
Just don't break stride
your in it to win

JESUS Birth...The Story Of The Century

Luke 2:7-14

⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

How many times have you heard something said to be...The Story of the Century!? Well, I have to tell you, unless it was the news report of baby Jesus being born that night so long ago, in the little town of Bethlehem...it fell far short of the title. And the story didn't end there. The wise men went looking for Him...

Matthew 2:1-12

 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

² Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
³ When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
⁴ And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
⁵ And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
⁶ And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
⁷ Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
⁹ When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
¹¹ And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
¹² And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Can you imagine the trip those wise men must have had? I'm sure they probably encountered many things on their way to find Jesus. The Bible doesn't tell us any of that. What it does tell us is when they finally found Jesus...they fell down and worshipped Him! 

Most of us heard the story of Jesus birth our whole life. But...just like the wise men many of us went searching. Searching for peace...happiness...joy...just a life worth living! We didn't even know what we were looking for or how to find it. And...like the wise men...we encountered many things along the way. But...We just knew that there had to be something better than what our life was. And...just like the wise men...it took some of us years to find Him. But oh...when we did...how our lives changed forever!

I didn't literally fall down and worship Him, though I should have. Like many of you reading this...I was too messed up to even realize fully what had just taken place in my heart...my life. But now I know. The same Jesus that was born in Bethlehem...died on the cross...lives in my heart today! He doesn't care what I did while I was searching. He doesn't care that I didn't immediately fall to my knees in worship. All He cares is that I asked Him to forgive me and come into my life. That I do the best I can...everyday...to live for Him and show His love to others. Those who know Him as their Savior and those who don't know Him...yet. 

There is no better time than today...Christmas...for you to come to know Him. To ask Jesus to forgive you and begin to live your life for Him. So many things can go wrong in this life. Things can happen that we aren't expecting. We can get sick...people we love can get sick...how do we cope with this? It's hard. The only way we can is with Jesus. 

Think about it. Ask Jesus into your life. You don't have to change before you do. He wants you to come to Him just like you are. Talk to Him like you would a friend. Jesus will listen and He will help you. 

Have a Merry Christmas!






 

GOD Has It All Under Control

Faith...trust...peace...believing that no matter what, GOD has it all under control. That all sounds good doesn't it? In fact, if you can have those things and truly believe, then you can stand through the storms of this life.

In my lifetime I have heard people say they have faith...trust...peace...and no matter what they will always believe! I have then seen those same people change...turn...when the unexpected happened in their life.

"GOD?!"...they would say. "How could HE let this happen!" "Where is HE?" "Doesn't HE care?" 

You know the stories. Their faith...trust...peace and belief seem to fly out the window like the wind! Those people never influenced me in a positive way. In fact...just the opposite. Who needs faith like that?! If your faith is only good when everything in your life is going from good to great...who cares?

But...if you have faith...trust...peace and belief when your life gets shook to the core...then you have it all. I believe those are the ones who truly know the GOD that has it "all" in HIS control. Those are the people that I look up to...the ones that have impacted my life in a positive way. Do you know anyone like that? Someone that has impacted your life? I do...

Wayne...

I want you to know that you have impacted me. You have encouraged me greatly. Through your journey this past year I have seen you continue to worship the LORD regardless of how bad you have felt. Even in those times at church when you were sitting because of how you felt...while everyone else stood...you were there. Singing...worshiping...praising the LORD and encouraging others! I have only heard you say good things the LORD has done for you. No matter how bad it gets I have never heard you say, "Where is GOD in all of this?" You have only said things about having a better...closer...relationship with the LORD. You have even said, "I wouldn't change a thing." WOW! That was hard for me to get a hold of but I knew beyond any doubt...you meant it with your whole heart! You have given nothing but praise to our LORD. I have listened to your words...watched your life...saw how you have lived what you say you believe, and through it all, how you have modeled faith...trust...peace and belief, that no matter what...GOD has it all under control! I have no doubt that you will continue to serve HIM whatever the circumstance. Thank you Wayne, for not just talking the talk but for really walking out and living what you say you believe! Daily you have been an inspiration to me. There have been times in the last few months that my faith has not been what it should be. I have let fear get in and faith walk out. It's in those times that I remember some of the things I have heard you say...seeing you pray for others and their needs...including me. Because of all of this you have helped me to believe that no matter what the circumstance...GOD truly does have it all under control. Wayne...you are a true man of GOD. You have made a great impact on my life and I believe you have greatly impacted the lives of all who know you. With my whole heart I say...Thank you Wayne. I love you.

This is just a little bit about the man I have asked you all to pray for. We are all still believing for a miracle to take place in Wayne. Our GOD is the GOD of miracles. I know that prayer changes things and prayer still moves the Hand of GOD. I also know this...GOD really does have everything under control! Thank you all for your prayers for Wayne and Marge.

Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 4:16 NLT

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Hebrews 11:1 AMP

Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. 

Ephesians 3:20-21 NLT

²⁰ Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. ²¹ Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

 

My Prayer Today

Father God
here I am
again
Bowing down
humbleness within
You know me
outside
and
You know me
in
Where do I start
Do I speak it out
or let You read
my heart
In all that's happening
You
are in charge
You
have control
I
I know this
but
sometimes
well
sometimes there are questions
Mostly though
I don't get answers
Yet
I still know
You
are there
waiting
Waiting for me
to bow
To give it all
everything
to You
And
right now
that's what I'm doing
Laying it all
all
everything
at Your feet Lord
And then thanking
Thanking You Lord
for what You
are going to do
What You
are doing
even now
In my life and
the lives of all
everyone
I love

Lord, I Need You Now

Tonight I don't know where I'm going with this but I just feel like I need to write. Somehow, when things aren't all that good, writing seems to bring me closer to God. Writing about the Lord...listening to Christian music...is therapy for me. Music reaches down into my soul and helps me to get in touch with the Lord...just to feel Him closer to me. That's what I'm wanting for myself right now and that's what I'm wanting for you!

A great song I was listening to tonight was...

If There Ever Was A Time

If there ever was a time, I needed you before, Lord I need You now.

If there ever was a trial, I couldn't handle on my own, that's how this feels somehow.

That's just a couple of lines but very important ones. No matter what...there is never a moment that we don't need the Lord. Right now is the time. Trials...yeah...we all have them. Sometimes you think you can handle them on your own...but you can't. I have found this for myself so many times in the last 5 years...I needed His help over and over, and I need it now.

I think there are many of us that feel like this right now.  Whether it's us going through trials, or family or friends that are...we Need the LORD and His help. There are so many things that we depend on the Lord for during bad times in our lives. Comfort...peace...joy...healing...strength...He provides all of these things for us. We just need to press in close to Him.

Press in.

I have said this many times in the last couple of months. Pressing in seems to be an urgency for me right now. Stress...anxiety...feeling down or sick...all these things get better when you press in to Him! Do what ever it takes for yourself to get closer to the Lord.

Nahum 1:7

The Lord is good,
    a strong refuge when trouble comes.
    He is close to those who trust in him.

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.

Psalm 28:7

The Lord is my strength and shield.
    I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
    I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. 

Here's a link to the song.  Sorry for the ads on it but I wanted you to hear it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUELr1roiBY

Love...a GOD Sized Word

Live second...make Jesus first in our lives. That's what we as Christians are called to do. In my last post on this I have chosen

Week 7: Day 3

Mark 12:29-31

²⁹ Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. ³⁰ And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

Love is not a feeling...But a God-sized word.
                                                  Doug Bender

Love...for some of us...me...that word and what it stands for was hard. And then...something incredible happened...I met Jesus and He begin changing my heart, my soul, my mind...everything about me. I found out that it really is a God-sized word!

Wrapping my mind around the fact that Jesus loves me regardless of all that I have done in my life...
now that was hard for me! Most of my life I didn't even believe that He wanted anything to do with me and now...He loves me!! Then people I don't really know are showing me love. Whoa...this was different! Then...the clincher. He wants me to love others...no matter what! 

Some people in our lives are easy to love. We know that they love and care for us. We feel it from them. They show it to us all the time. It's easy to love them back.

But...We all have people in our lives that have wronged us in some way. Some who have really done terrible things to us. According to everything the Lord tells us...we even have to love them! The remarkable thing about that for me was...Once I forgave these people I did begin to love them. Only because of the love of Jesus in my life!

Then there are others that I don't know at all and yet I love them too. They are our neighbors in this life. Ones we run into everyday that are hurting. Ones that don't know Jesus as we do. Ones that need to know that someone...just loves them! They need to know that someone cares for them. Not just us...but JESUS! 

Love...it really is a God-sized word! 

The only way we can love as we are supposed to is this...to live second. 

live second you won't be sorry. It's not always easy...but it is what we are called to do!

He Knows Us

Tonight as I opened my I am second daily reader I was drawn to write about the devotion titled Known. It is week 9, day 7.  

Psalm 139:1-6

¹ You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.

Nothing is hidden, nothing is secret, nothing escapes God's eyes. 

                                                                               Doug Bender

Think about that statement. It really isn't profound, but if you're a Christian you know it to be truth. 

God...He does know everything. All of our thoughts...our words...our feelings. He knows everything our eyes read...ears hear...hands touch...feet go. How does that make you feel? 

I know before becoming a Christian it just wasn't that big of a thing to me. I was who counted. I was first in my life. Jesus was mostly an after thought. But now...

I want His thoughts to be my thoughts...His words to be my words. I want to feel compassion like He feels for people. Love like He loves....see with His eyes...and go only where He wants me to go. I want everything I do and say to be what He wants me to do and say. Do I accomplish this on a daily basis? Do you?

I think it's important that throughout our day we ask the Lord to search our hearts. Help us to remember that only with His help can we accomplish what He wants us to. Only with His help can we make Jesus number one in our lives. Only with His help can we truly...

live second

Get the book

live second
365 Ways to Make Jesus First
by Doug Bender

It will be a great devotional to start off your new year with. 

Struggles

This is my second post for the Living Second blog campaign and I have to tell you that this has been hard for me and I'm not sure why. Writing with transparency has always been something that I have done since I begin my journey in the blog world but somehow...this has been different. Tonight I started to write on two different days in the book and deleted them both. I knew they weren't the right ones. I ended up at session 2, Day 4: Death to Sin...in the struggle section. I'm thinking this fits because I know about struggles. I've had my fair share of them since becoming a
Christian as I'm sure you have too. So...here we go!

Read Romans 6:1-14

This passage talks about how sin's power is broken. Verse 12 says this...

¹² Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.

That's a great verse but...how do we do that? Every minute of every day we have to commit to putting Jesus first...in everything!

 After giving my life to Jesus there was one thing I continued to hold on to for a long time. That "thing" for me was a sin. I knew it was but I just had a hard time with giving it up completely. I didn't actually do this thing but I thought about it whenever things in my life didn't go well. Because I let that "thing" have control over me...I was having a hard time. I didn't realize for a while that as long as I held on to this...Jesus would never really be first in my life. There finally came a day when I knew that I had to make a choice. Give in to the sinful desire that I hadn't totally let go of, or...give myself completely to God. 

Romans 6:13-14

¹³ Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. 
Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

I chose God and I have never regretted it. That particular sin is no longer my master as it once was. Gods grace was, and still is, my freedom. 

I want Jesus to be number One...as I strive to live second daily.

Forgiven

This is the first in a series of four posts I will be writing this week. I am taking part in, the Week Of Second Campaign promoting the new book...

Live Second:365 Ways To Make Jesus First by Doug Bender.

Your sins are forgiven. . . . Your faith has saved you; go in
peace.
—Luke 7:48, 50

Read the story in Luke 7:30-50

For fifty two years I listened to a lie from satan and lived my life how I wanted...just like the woman from the story in Luke...always thinking of myself as being in charge and being number one...doing whatever I chose to do. Raised in a Christian home...my dad an elder in the church and my mom a Sunday school teacher and women's leader...you would think I would have known better. The problem was...

the lie I listened to when I was a small child...nine I believe...which caused me to live by my own set of rules. In church every time the doors were open...but never believing that anything said was meant for me. I started smoking somewhere around ten and taking any kind of pills I could get my hands on by the time I was in 7th grade...often mixing amphetamines and barbiturates together because I needed to not feel all the pain of my life. Drinking started in high school. It was in those years that I would try to get others to join in on the "fun" I was having. Telling them how much they would like the feeling the drugs gave them. It was always a good time to be had yet...

I lived in fear because I knew if Jesus came back I would go to hell. Jesus didn't come back and I continued to live as if I were all that mattered. I was number one, living life that was always on a down hill spiral. At forty-nine I left my home town and moved to Idaho. My thought was...

If I leave and go someplace new maybe I can convince God that He wants me. Convince Him to somehow give me a second chance. I didn't know it then but this was all in God's plan for me. Things did begin to change. God begin to use people to speak into my life. People I didn't even know. God wanted me to know He loved me. He wanted to be number one...First in my life. God...

He is a life changer! He changed my life on August 10, 2007. Jesus came into my life. On that day...Jesus became my Savior. Jesus became First in my life. I always want to live second...

Praise the LORD! I am forgiven and...

I am second.




                                  

Keep Getting The Word Out

I want to apologize for the comment that was left on my blog today. It had a link to a porn site on it. Lately I have been inundated with porn comments but this is the first time that one has gotten through the spam detector. Thank you Jan for e-mailing me and letting me know. I may not have went back to the post for a while and more people would have seen it.

When this stuff happens I believe it is just one more thing the enemy uses to try to get his foot in the door and mess with us. satan knows that the Lord uses our blogs to get His Word out and satan doesn't want that to happen. I think we need to pray for the Lord's covering over our blogs so that these spam attacks stop happening. 

Jesus tell us that He is the way to salvation. The way to live a free and abundant life. On the other hand...satans purpose is to destroy us. We need to stay strong and fight the enemy. Get the Word of the Lord out.

John 10:9-10

⁹ Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. ¹⁰ The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

He Is With Us

Isaiah 43:2

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
    and the flame shall not consume you.

I thought that this verse is a great way to start the day. We always need to remember this. The Lord is with us through everything we go through in life. Now and then we might tend to forget...momentarily. But, if we truly believe in what we say we believe in, in the next moment we come back strong and know...The Lord is with us through everything. 

Don't listen to satans lies. We all know the truth if we know the Lord. We have a big GOD and He is more than able to take care of us...and the best thing...HE wants to take care of us. The Lord loves us with an unfailing love.

Jehovah Rapha

Every three months we get this little devotional at church called; The Word For You Today. Sometimes I pick it up and read a few of the days all at once instead of reading them as I should. Tonight I picked it up and turned it to December 10th. The title is...Believe God For Your Healing. The verse they used was the last few words of Exodus 15:26, "I am the Lord, who heals you." For me to read this tonight I believe is a God thing. If you know me you know I have a heart issue. Lately it has been making me sick a lot and I'm not real happy about it. As I read this devotion tonight I realized that I need to really believe God is going to heal me and not just say it because that's what everyone wants to hear from me. Here is some of what the devotion says...

One of the names God chooses to be called by is "Jehova Rapha", which means "I am the Lord who heals." Now, if God calls himself the healer, then you have the right to believe what He says and expect that, given an opportunity, He will perform His role competently.

Here are a few verses that were used...

Psalm 138:2b NLT
for your promises are backed
    by all the honor of your name.

Malachi 3:6a
 “I am the Lord, and I do not change."

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

So...I read this and thought about how I have really just got to do what this says...

Believe God for my healing. And, I have to pray in faith...believing! 

I know that this is all true. So...

Starting right now I am going to start claiming what I know to be true. Jesus Christ is the same and He never changes. He is the only one who can heal and He is going to heal me. Marge told me some weeks back that...the answer is on the way! I believed it then but somewhere lost that belief. Right now I am claiming that word and in faith believing that my healing is on the way!

Just An Outlet Tonight

Ever have life just totally knock you down? Well, lately it's been getting to me big time. It seems when things aren't going well in one part of my life...physically...spiritually...or mentally...that all the rest eventually start being affected. I don't like that I let that happen. When I give in to circumstances of life in one area it's a lot easier to let the negative into my life in all the other areas.

After some less than good moments tonight I looked down at my Bible...laying open on my desk where I had left it last night...and read this...

Psalm 63:1

O God, You are my God;
I earnestly search for You.
My soul thirsts for You;
my whole body longs for You
in this parched and weary land
where there is no water.

This is saying to me how I am feeling. With everything I have...the entirety of me...my whole being is longing for Him. For God. When things are happening in my life and I'm not trusting God with them as I know I should, my spiritual life starts lacking. My soul starts to get dry and ache.

Sometimes I know that I need to really press in to God and yet I let things just hold me back. It's as if I have hit a wall and I can't go over it...under it...or around it. For me, I know I just have to push my way through it.

Reading further on...

Psalm 63:6-8

I lie awake thinking of You,
meditating on you through the night.
Because You are my helper,
I sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings.
I cling to You;
Your strong right hand holds me securely.

Tonight I know that this is the answer. To think on and meditate on the Lord. He is my help in the time of trouble. In the time of anything in my life that throws me off balance. I have to cling...hold on to the Lord...through all the stuff in my life. I know this is true for me. I know this is right.

I really didn't start writing this tonight for anyone except myself...as an outlet for how I am feeling.
But as I end it I know that there are probably others reading this that are struggling with things in their life as well. If so...try doing what David did. Meditate on the good things of God. Let Him lift you out of the place you have let yourself get into.

 

It's That Trust Issue Again

Tonight while sitting and thinking...way more than I should be...I was finding myself getting into a bit of a funk. You know...having my own little party! While doing this, every know and again it would flash in my thoughts...read your Bible. As I'm sure you can guess, I didn't get right up and grab it! But... just as I am persistently stubborn...the Holy Spirit is also persistent. The thought just kept coming to me...Read your Bible. Finally I went and got it and decided to read in Psalms. This is where I turned.


Psalm 62:5-8

5 Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
    for my hope is in him.
⁶ He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress where I will not be shaken.
⁷ My victory and honor come from God alone.
    He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
⁸ O my people, trust in him at all times.
    Pour out your heart to him,
    for God is our refuge.

This is perfect! I know when things are going well, and when they aren't, that God is my rock...fortress...hope...salvation and refuge. I also know that the Lord must really want me to get this because on November 10th I used these same verses in my post. Tonight I believe what He wants me to know and what He wants you to know is this...

It doesn't matter what we are going through. The Lord our God is with us. We need to just put our life in His hands and trust Him with it...at all times!

live second

This past week I have joined the "live second Blogger Launch Team".
The week of December 9-15 we will all be writing four posts, about the story of our own spiritual journey, as we read four readings from the new book...

live second: 365 Ways To Make Jesus First

One of my favorite verses is this...

John 3:30 (NLT)

He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

I can only do that by remembering that I am second and JESUS is first. The only way that will happen is...

to live second everyday of my life...which at times is a real challenge for me. 

Where Is Your Hope?

Today I have to ask myself...as we all should...where does my hope lie? Who is my true...and sure...foundation? When things in my life start shaking...where will I run and to whom?

This morning I read a few scriptures.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹⁶ Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.

¹⁷ For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!],

¹⁸ Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.

Titus 2:11-13

Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹¹ For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind.

¹² It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world,

¹³ Awaiting and looking for the [fulfillment, the realization of our] blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One),

Isaiah 40:31

Amplified Bible (AMP)

³¹ But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.

 

The Lord is my hope. When it comes right down to it...HE is my only hope. My Rock...Strength...and sure foundation! When all else fails in my life...the Lord is always there for me! This next verse really sums it up well...

Psalm 62:5-8

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁵ My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him.

⁶ He only is my Rock and my Salvation; He is my Defense and my Fortress, I shall not be moved.

⁷ With God rests my salvation and my glory; He is my Rock of unyielding strength and impenetrable hardness, and my refuge is in God!

⁸ Trust in, lean on, rely on, and have confidence in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is a refuge for us (a fortress and a high tower). Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

Here is a little saying that fits in well. I may have used it before but it is so good.

A Little Hope For Your Heart

GOD is for us

God is in us

God is with us

We all know that but at times we need to be reminded of it.

So...to answer my questions...

My hope lies in the Lord. He is the true foundation of my life...my world. When things satrt shaking...it's only Jesus that can help!  A few years ago I could not have said that. Oh, how thankful I am today that I can! My life...like yours...is shaken to the core sometimes. But I know as long as I stay close to Jesus I will be okay.

How about you? Where does your core strength come from? Is your foundation shaking today? Your hope...where does it lie?

Be Refreshed Today

Hosea 6:3

Oh, that we might know the Lord!
    Let us press on to know him.
He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn
    or the coming of rains in early spring.”

Do you feel the need to be refreshed today?

Think about it. Who is that can refresh you? Only the Lord! It doesn't matter what is happening in your life. The Lord is the one we lean on. He loves us all so much. In fact...we can't even fathom how much He loves us.

Ephesians 3:18

¹⁸ And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

If we know Jesus as our Savior nothing can ever take His love away from us. 

Romans 8:39

³⁹ No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

As you go through your day today just think about how much Jesus loves you. Nothing else in life can even compare! 

Be refreshed in Jesus love today!!



Linking up today with Tracy at Winsome Wednesday!

Pray For Wayne

I know there are many Christians that read this blog from all over the world and I have a favor to ask of you. You may remember me posting about Wayne and Marge in the past and asking for prayer for them. Well, I'm asking again because Wayne isn't doing so well right now. He has lung cancer and has been having radiation treatments for the past few weeks. He has four treatments left to go. They have intensified the "beams" to hit the areas harder over the last six or so times. It's made it almost impossible for him to eat or drink and keep it down. Now Wayne is dehydrated and having to get infusions to get some liquid into him. He is having a very hard time. Please pray for Wayne that all of this will improve and he will be able to get through these last treatments without complications. He needs strength and healing that only the Lord can provide right now.

I may not have gotten everything technically correct but the important thing is that you just please pray. Pray for Marge as well as I know this is a hard time for her.

Thank you all so much and I know GOD will bless you!

Fully Engaged

Do you engage fully or do you live out on the edges of where you should be? For myself there are times when I'm fully engaged and other times when I'm out there...just reaching in every now and then to barely touch the edges. The edges of what?

My relationship with the Lord...

There are times when I am so close that excitement fills my soul! Every thing I hear and read touches me so deeply that at times I feel like I might explode! My soul is so full that I want to tell everyone! I send e-mails telling about all the good things He is doing and write posts of what the Lord is talking to me about. In those times I can't get enough of anything having to do with the Lord! Overpowering love and excitement seem to fill the air! That's when I am fully and totally engaged. And that's where I am now...Fully engaged and excited about everything the Lord has done and everything I'm believing that He is going to do. Not just for me but for others in my life that need His touch today!

But...there are the times when I'm barely hanging on. I feel as if I'm on the edge of a cliff flailing about trying to keep my balance so I don't go over. There isn't any excitement when I think about the Lord...nothing seems to get through to me. My soul is empty. The walls go up and I don't talk to the people that mean so much to me. As for writing...a numbness fills my soul as well as my thoughts. Nothingness is all I have. Discouragement...

These are tactics of battle...spiritual battle...a ploy from satan himself. He wants to get us down and keep us down. He doesn't want us to feel excitement and joy from the Lord. NO! Satan wants us to feel emptiness and numb! He tries to keep us from engaging because he knows if we do that he will lose us.

I've thought a lot about this lately because I seem to be on the edge...just barely reaching in...a lot more than I should be. We all have times of discouragement but we aren't supposed to live there. When things are going bad for us we need to press in and engage more than when things are going great!


I can relate this to being blind. Not blindness of the eyes but...for me...a blindness of my soul and mind. Blinders...or walls...go up around me and I can't seem to feel or hear anything good that the Lord wants me too. When this happens I need to do something different before the numbness sets in. There is a story in the Bible that comes to mind...

Mark 10:46-52

New Living Translation (NLT)

Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus

⁴⁶ Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. ⁴⁷ When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁸ “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him.
But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
⁴⁹ When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.”
So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!” ⁵⁰ Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
⁵¹ “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.
“My rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”
⁵² And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.

Bartimaeus was blind but he knew that Jesus could heal him. When he cried out to Jesus what did Jesus ask him? "What do you want me to do for you?" Bartimaeus told Jesus he wanted to see! He had faith to believe that Jesus could make him whole. And instantly...he could see! 

Isn't that how we should be? We don't have to be physically blind to call out to Jesus! For me...

Blindness of soul and mind is worse than a physical sickness. I know what it feels like to be made whole by Jesus. I know what it feels like to have Him touch me...clear to my soul...and heal me of things I never thought would be okay again! I also know what it feels like to be on the edge...afraid I'm going to go over. Because of this I have decided to call out to Jesus...to have the faith of Bartimaeus...whenever I feel the battle start to begin. Stop satan in his tracks before he has the chance to start pushing me off balance. 

Fully engaged for Jesus and because of Jesus...that's how I want to live my life. Jesus is coming back soon. We don't have time to waste flailing about on the edges of our relationship with the Lord. We want to be as close as we can be. Living our lives fully engaged and devoted to the Lord doing what ever it is He wants us to do to further His kingdom. 

How about you? Are you fully engaged today...despite the circumstances that you may find your self in? If not...there is no better time to get that way. Don't let satan win the spiritual battle. Have faith and call out to Jesus like blind Bartimaeus did for healing.

Reach Out

Did you know that strength is a gift from GOD? When we think we are too tired to go on...to sick to go on...the GOD of our lives gives us the strength to keep going. HE is all we really need. This morning I read in Isaiah...

Isaiah 40:28-31

New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁸ Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
²⁹ He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
³⁰ Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
³¹ But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

What sticks out to me today is how our everlasting GOD, our LORD, gives us the strength we need. When we are weak...HE holds us up. HE meets our every need and HE will never let us down! He is all that we need to make it through our day! HIS strength that HE gives to us is all encompassing. We are surrounded...picked up...and nourished by the strength that our LORD gives to us. 

If you need strength today...if you need peace of mind...just call out to your FATHER. HE is there with HIS arms out stretched just waiting for you. HE won't let you down. Our LORD loves us with an everlasting love.

There is an old song we sang when I was young...

Reach Out And Touch The Lord

chorus:

Reach out and touch the LORD as HE passes by.

You'll find HE's not to weary to hear your hearts cry.

HE's passing by this moment your needs to supply.

Reach out and touch the LORD as HE goes by.

Reach out to HIM today. HE will meet you where you are if you will only ask.

Isaiah 41:10

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁰ Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
    Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
    I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

As I was reading this morning about the armor of GOD I turned back to Isaiah and saw this. It reminded me that as we go out today that we are definitely living in an evil day. There are all kinds of things waiting to distract us...get us off course...and bring us down. But we have hope because we are in CHRIST. We get up...put on our armor...and go out with victory in our hearts and souls! We have nothing to be afraid of because our LORD is with us. HE gives us unimaginable strength all we have to do is to take hold of it...take hold of HIS hand! Regardless of what you face today don't get discouraged. GOD is beside you all the way!

Deuteronomy 31:6

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁶ Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Put On The Armor

Ephesians 6:10-18

Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹⁰ In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].

¹¹ Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.

¹² For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

¹³ Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].

¹⁴ Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,

¹⁵ And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.

¹⁶ Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].

¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.

¹⁸ Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).

Tonight I talked with someone who reminded  how much we need to put on the whole armor of GOD everyday. We basically are in a battlefield as soon as we open our eyes in the morning. Satan is right there waiting for us so he can start with his attack. The only way to win is by being prepared...have a plan and stick to it. The best thing we can do is to start our day off with reading the WORD and talking to the LORD. 

When I looked this up to read it tonight I could hardly get past verse 10. Be strong can be translated as..."be made strong".  Right there that tells you that "you" can't do it by yourself. Only the LORD can make you strong. Without HIM, and the help HE gives, we are nothing. Without HIM I am weak.

As Christians the armor of GOD is what protects us from the evil one. I need this protection daily and so do you. 

As I have told you...recently I have been failing big time. I haven't been reading the WORD or praying as much as I should. Because of that I have been a mess. Satan has come in and repeatedly filled my mind with lies. He is so good at it that for awhile I didn't even recognize the fact that it was him and that I was falling into his trap...his bed of lies. I was going down that long dark tunnel of despair that I have went down way too many times. Isn't it something how satan can twist your thoughts around until you don't even realize that it's him messing with you?! Thinking about it now I just get mad about all the days I have wasted listening to the evil one. I know now that all I have to do is ask the LORD to forgive me...and HE will...and then start again. Every day is a new day for us to begin again. 

Lamentations 3:22-23

²² It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not.

²³ They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness.

It is said that with everything you go through there is something to be learned. Well...I have definitely learned some things. One thing is...

Know who's voice you're listening to. If you are staying strong in the LORD by reading HIS WORD everyday...talking to HIM and listening to what HE has to say...you will know when it's not the LORD speaking! I only want to listen to the LORD! 

I hope what I have written has made sense. The main thing I needed to get across to you tonight is about the armor of GOD. Put it on everyday so you will be protected! don't give satan even a crack to get through. Be fully covered!

As for me...my plan is to do this daily. I know that the evil one will continue to attack and it will probably be even more fierce the next time. None of us can afford to lose in the battle that he wages. Stay strong. Keep up the fight. Read the WORD and pray...not only for your self but for other Christians. We all need all the support we can get. Don't try to fight your battle alone.

Still learning....

 

 

2 Thessalonians 3:3

Battles...trials...hard times...there can be many things in our life that fit into those categories. Lets just face it...life can be quite difficult at times! It seems that we go along, from day to day, and everything is good. Then one day we wake up and...things as you knew them went downhill so fast you didn't even have time to catch your breath. You are in the midst of something life changing. You pray and pray about things but GOD doesn't seem to be answering...at least in the way that "you" want HIM too! Why do you think that is? Well...

We have to remember that the LORD loves us. HE doesn't always "fix" all of our situations the way we want HIM to or in the time we want HIM to. Sometimes there are things HE wants to show us...teach us. The LORD wants us to grow in HIM. Without the trials...whatever they may be...we just go on living our life and don't think we need to change. Ohhh...but how we do need to change!

Sometimes we become okay with how things are. We know we are a Christian but we have slacked off in the things we know we should be doing. Here is a little transparency about myself...and you know I don't like letting people see the real me...but I do need to share...

I used to love to read and study my bible. Actually couldn't wait to get the chance to really take time to learn! But over the last months I just really have been losing the desire to do this. There were times that I enjoyed it but for the most part it has been as if nothing makes sense to me anymore. I read and it's like my brain...but mostly my heart...is just not getting it! The worst thing of all though is that I have lost that feeling of expectation and excitement. I always loved how I felt when I read and studied...the excitement that the LORD placed in my heart...and just way down deep within my soul! It's just been gone. This has greatly affected every aspect of my life. It has affected my relationships...with the LORD...with friends...with family...and it has affected even my writing in this blog. I could say that it is the fault of the trials and battles that have done this but it's not. It's how I have reacted to those trials and battles...and how I have let them change me instead of letting GOD have control and change me through them.

Because of the things that GOD allows into our life we can either choose to grow and become closer to HIM...or gradually pull away and let the evil one have a little more control over us each day. Sometimes we don't even realize that is what we are doing. Satan is subtle and will work his way in a little at a time. A little thought of discouragement here...a little nudge of despair there...until he has you in what I will call...the doldrums!

Doldrums definition ~ black mood...gloom...indifference...disinterest...flatness...unconcern...lack of interest...depression.

Quite a list isn't it? But that's what happens. All of those things...feelings...start happening to us and we have to make a choice. Either we decide that we will go on living...not really much of a life...in this state or we choose to let GOD take total control of the situations in our life that brought us to this point. Whatever those things are in your life they are small in comparison to the things GOD has for you. Even if HE chooses to not change what's going on HE will change how you accept them and how they affect you.

Will you draw closer to the LORD through the times in your life that are hard? You can only win by doing this!

Or will you gradually pull away and let the evil one win out? We all have to make this choice for ourselves.

1 Peter 5:7-10

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁷ Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.

⁸ Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.

⁹ Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world.

¹⁰ And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you.

2 Thessalonians 3:3

Amplified Bible (AMP)

³ Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen [you] and set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil [one].