This seemed worthy of sharing….

I know there are other organizations who have and are helping out as well…

In times of turmoil, it is refreshing to see the love and care that is also going on…comforting to know ….

Thank YOU….

 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

1Thess.5.14

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/franklin-graham/november24/?utm_source=FY24FGNewsletterNovemberEmail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=m_YFGN-24EB&utm_content=button

No straw…

 No straw….

 So the taskmasters and the foremen of the people went out and said to the people, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I will not give you straw. Go and get your straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least.’” 

They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came out from Pharaoh; and they said to them, “The Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” 

Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.”

Exod.5.10,Exod.5.11,Exod.5.20,Exod.5.21,Exod.5.22,Exod.5.23

Years ago, in some Sunday school class, or sermon, there was an illustration of a circle…the concept was that we are convicted/encouraged to do something by the Holy Spirit, we do it or we don’t - the test-  obedience in some area of our lives…some change we should make….I can say that I wasn’t always immediately obedient…but it laid on my heart until I finally followed through…

Back to the circle…conviction, test, obedience or not, and round in round the learning process would go…there were outside forces that could make it harder and harder to follow through…

God was going to deliver these people from their oppressors…but there were some other lessons to be had first…some hard…and the blame game starts…no straw…more hard work, more oppression…and no delivery!

Don’t we still want things to be easy? With no hard lessons?

Reading Colossians 1….this is the goal…but, even Paul acknowledged endurance and patience…through the “no straw” times….

 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking …

*that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 

*so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, 

*fully pleasing to him: 

*bearing fruit in every good work and 

*increasing in the knowledge of God; 

*being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, 

*for all endurance and patience with joy;

Col.1.9-11

Thank YOU….

God help me….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_pgGgHVxPg

Speaking….

 Speaking….

 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”

Exod.4.12

 I am not an “upfront” speaker at all…one on one, thinking through my words is my best way to talk to people…so reading about poor Moses and his excuses resonates…he had already run away from this nation and lived in the desert as a shepherd, talking to the sheep…that was his style…plus he probably knew this man he was being sent to …and his people  didn’t trust him…

But God….had other plans…He wanted him to speak and would give him the words to speak…then He gave him his brother to speak…

This passage is such a reminder of the New Testament words as well…the Holy Spirit will give us the words to say when called to speak in places we may be afraid…and there are definitely times when He is the only one speaking…He has the truth…it is just as applicable today as it was thousands of years ago…

How often do I speak, not letting the Holy Spirit have free rein to the words I say? How often do I hold back with excuses to not speak when the Holy Spirit yearns to speak?

 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Matt.10.16-20

 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

Luke.12.11-12

Thank YOU….

 I am the Lord your God,who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. 

“But my people did not listen to my voice;Israel would not submit to me. 

So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,to follow their own counsels. Oh, that my people would listen to me,that Israel would walk in my ways! I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes. 

Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him,and their fate would last forever. 

But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat,and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Ps.81.10-16

 For the Lord gives wisdom;from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. 

Then you will understand righteousness and justiceand equity, every good path; 

for wisdom will come into your heart,and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 

discretion will watch over you,understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil,from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked,and who are devious in their ways.

Prov.2.6-15

 Hear, for I will speak noble things,and from my lips will come what is right, for my mouth will utter truth;wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 

All the words of my mouth are righteous;there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. 

They are all straight to him who understands,and right to those who find knowledge. 

Take my instruction instead of silver,and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels,and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

Prov.8.6-11

 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart-be acceptable in your sight,O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Ps.19.14

Let the words of my mouth…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr8QoQKmXfk

Naps….

 Naps….

I have never really been a nap taker…I remember riding  gathering cows or checking fences with my dad as a child. We would stop at lunch time, eat our lunch, the my dad would lay back, cover his eyes with his red handkerchief, take a ten minute nap and then on we would go. I watched him, wondering how he could do that so fast while I couldn’t. He did that all of his life until his passing…quick naps…

This last year I have learned or tried to learn about that fast relaxing nap. Mine come in spurts, with this last illness, they been easier…as I have been doing some major healing…1-3 hour-long naps…not the quick ones my dad took…

The nap/rest in itself is healing…and our bodies need it…I am so thankful God gave us sleep…Jesus needed it himself when he was here on earth…

I get weary at times not just tired, but weary…then this promise of completion comes to mind…God has a plan and He will finish it in each of us…

 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Phil.1.6

 

For he delivers the needy when he calls,the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy,and saves the lives of the needy.

Ps.72.12-13

 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most Highwill abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,my God, in whom I trust.”

Ps.91.1-2

 He gives power to the faint,and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Isa.40.29

 For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.”

Jer.31.25

 The Lord your God is in your midst,a mighty one who will save;he will rejoice over you with gladness;he will quiet you by his love;he will exult over you with loud singing.

Zeph.3.17

 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary.

Rev.2.3

 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.

Gen.2.2

 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matt.11.28-29

Thank YOU…..

Come to Me….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb7hWNafr50

….comfort verses …12

 Comfort verses….12….

I have still accumulated verses that can give comfort….

Hope delayed makes the heart sick; longing fulfilled is a tree of life (Proverbs 13:12 CEB).

 

“My soul yearns, yes, even pines and is homesick for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out and sing for joy to the living God” (Psalm 84:2 AMP 

Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? (Isaiah 43:18-19a MSG)

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24 NIV). 

But I cry to you for help, Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you (Psalm 88:13 NIV).

When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it” (John 11:4 NIV).

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you (John 15:7 ESV).

Thank YOU…

Great is thy faithfulness…

https://www.desiringgod.org/great-is-thy-faithfulness

Inwards parts…

 Inward parts….

Yesterday as I was unpacking from my summer away from home, at the hospital and rehab, I found a drawing that the doctor must have made of what he did to my insides, fighting to bring about healing …he is a good doctor/surgeon who explained well and obviously drew pictures of what took place in my “inward parts”….the picture is even signed…while people prayed…

There is still some time needed for completed healing, but it has started…due to God’s design.

 For you formed my inward parts;you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.Wonderful are your works;my soul knows it very well. 

My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret,intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;in your book were written, every one of them,the days that were formed for me,when as yet there was none of them. 

Search me, O God, and know my heart!

Try me and know my thoughts! 

And see if there be any grievous way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting!

Ps.139.13-16,Ps.139.23-24

  I thought about this…as we grow in Christian life, there are times we find some of our thoughts and ways need “operated” on, cleansed , searched out to heal and be transformed more and more to be like Christ…

This is not necessarily an easy process…it may need some rehab and time to heal…we hold fast to some old habits and thought patterns…which can fester away our joy…but, God is there with his healing hand, others are there with their prayers…

 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1John.1.9

Thank YOU….

 Show me your ways…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGp3VCKkjaU 

Others are worth your time in prayer….

 Others are worth your time in prayer….….

I am sitting, waiting to go home…I left July 5 and barely remember that as I was so ill.  I got to go home for about 4 hours about a month ago, take a nap, sort mail…and then back to rehab and finally back to hospital for repair….no matter the day of the week the whole time, I heard from someone who prayed for me…I was worth their time…that is more humbling than I can imagine…and more convicting as well…

Granted the prayers could have been answered with a resounding “no” as well, but for this time, they weren’t…God has our days numbered as he say in Psalms.

Anyway, every time, I thought about going home, I cried, because I was so humbled, so thankful that people took time to pray for me…I was worth their time…which turns into…”others are worth our time to pray for them”…so simple, yet so profound…

God answers prayer…

When I put the word “pray” in the search section of my Bible program, it came up with over 300 references starting with Abraham praying…

 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children.

Gen.20.17

On through…

 “Hear my prayer, O Lord,and give ear to my cry;hold not your peace at my tears!For I am a sojourner with you,a guest, like all my fathers.

Ps.39.12

And on…to a few of my favorites …Jesus praying for us…He thought we are worth His prayers…John 17…

 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

John.17.6,John.17.7,John.17.8,John.17.9,John.17.10,John.17.11,John.17.14,John.17.17,John.17.20,John.17.21,John.17.26

Through the rest of the New Testament, praying for one another…and even when we do t k ow how to pray…

 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Rom.8.26

 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.

1Pet.4.7

Ending with…

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.

3John.1.2

We may look around at those in the spotlight for various ministries, thinking we have little to give/offer to the kingdom, but we were worth Jesus’ prayers and his love, by his declaration…and if He says so, others are worth our time in prayer for them as well…He brings those into our lives who need prayer…

are we answering the call?????

Thank YOU…

Talking to Jesus…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXsxw1fRHMA