Surpassing love...
Today would be my 49th wedding anniversary, but, alas, it was not to be...I assumed from the beginning of our marriage that, of course, we would celebrate 50+ years as my grandparents did as well my parents and my husband's parents...that was the expectation, the reward...long lives together...But, God had other plans, as he often does...He gave us 43 years instead....but, more than that he gave us Himself...a much greater love than a short 50 years ...much richer, more eternal...infinite...the years on earth are fleeting, vanishing in a vapor...while eternity is, well, eternal...
Thank YOU for years You did give us...thank you for the gift of yourself, your surpassing love ....
Jesus always, December 28
HOW PRICELESS IS MY UNFAILING LOVE!
This is truly a gift of heavenly proportions. Remember the unspeakable price I paid to secure this gift for you: I endured torture, humiliation, and death. My willingness to suffer so much for you demonstrates how extravagantly I love you. I want you to comprehend how astonishingly rich you are in Me. I have given you the priceless treasure of My eternal Love! This gift makes you far wealthier than a multibillionaire, even if you own very little of this world’s goods. So stand tall as you journey through your life, knowing that this glorious inner treasure is your portion each step of the way. Rejoice that My Love is both priceless and unfailing. You can always count on it because it’s even more reliable than the rising of the sun. Let My unfailing Love fill you with exuberant Joy as you walk along the path of Life with Me.
How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.—PSALM 36: 7
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.—2 CORINTHIANS 4: 7
You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.—PSALM 16: 11 NKJV
Thursday, December 28, 2017
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Blessing boxes...
Blessing boxes...
My local library has a craft night each month except January. this month, December they had two to make up for the January break. The first one was a felt Rudolph ornament with a LED blinking light nose and the second class is a "blessing box".
Above my headboard of my bed, I decorated the wall with vinyl words, "grateful, thankful, blessed" to remind me each day to "think on these things". So the blessings box caught my eye as something to do as another reminder...
But, as I looked up "blessing box" ideas, I found another dimension....blessing boxes, bags to give away instead of keeping or watching for...lists of ideas to fill bags, containers to hand out to the less fortunate...or patterns for street side cupboards to bless those around you...with games, food stuffs, sharing libraries...a much broader take of the small blessing boxes we are making...all to bless others...giving out in a giving time of the year...blessing others...
Thank YOU that you blessed the World with the greatest Gift of all, your Son...in whom you were pleased...help me to give as you have blessed me...freely...help me to discern the best giving, and the blessings to give...
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
2 Corinthians 9:15
Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—
Psalm 103:1-2
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
1 Peter 4:10
http://www.coolestone.com/media/18370/TOP-15-INCREDIBLE-ACTS-OF-COMPASSION/#.WkOOG-tHaK0
blessing cards to give to others...
https://allthingswithpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/YOU-MATTER.pdf
My local library has a craft night each month except January. this month, December they had two to make up for the January break. The first one was a felt Rudolph ornament with a LED blinking light nose and the second class is a "blessing box".
Above my headboard of my bed, I decorated the wall with vinyl words, "grateful, thankful, blessed" to remind me each day to "think on these things". So the blessings box caught my eye as something to do as another reminder...
But, as I looked up "blessing box" ideas, I found another dimension....blessing boxes, bags to give away instead of keeping or watching for...lists of ideas to fill bags, containers to hand out to the less fortunate...or patterns for street side cupboards to bless those around you...with games, food stuffs, sharing libraries...a much broader take of the small blessing boxes we are making...all to bless others...giving out in a giving time of the year...blessing others...
Thank YOU that you blessed the World with the greatest Gift of all, your Son...in whom you were pleased...help me to give as you have blessed me...freely...help me to discern the best giving, and the blessings to give...
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
2 Corinthians 9:15
Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—
Psalm 103:1-2
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
1 Peter 4:10
http://www.coolestone.com/media/18370/TOP-15-INCREDIBLE-ACTS-OF-COMPASSION/#.WkOOG-tHaK0
blessing cards to give to others...
https://allthingswithpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/YOU-MATTER.pdf
Sunday, December 24, 2017
Light in the darkness...
Light in the darkness....
My shipboard roommate sleeps later than I do each morning...so I open my iPad and iPhone to read, catch up on email, do my daily devotions, read the daily activities and finally leaving the room to catch each sunrise in photos...
So as I read this morning's "Jesus Always" selection, I was reminded of the light that illumines my space in our room... It shines each morning in the darkness of my space from my iPad. The Word of God, the earthly life of Christ, the comfort and truth of the Holy Spirit lighting up my world each day.
Thank YOU that you came to give life and light to a dark an desperate world...You bring the choice of eternal life with You to mankind...You being truth, bread for our souls, light out of darkness to all who put their faith in you....
"Jesus Always"
December 22
I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD! Many people celebrate Advent season by illuminating their homes with candles and decorated trees. This is a way of symbolizing My coming into the world—eternal Light breaking through the darkness and opening up the way to heaven. Nothing can reverse this glorious plan of salvation. All who trust Me as Savior are adopted into My royal family forever!
My Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it. No matter how much evil and unbelief you see in this dark world, I continue to shine brightly—a beacon of hope to those who have eyes that really see. So it’s crucial to look toward the Light as much as possible. Fix your eyes on Me, beloved! Through thousands of good thought-choices, you can find Me—“ see” Me—as you journey through this life. Have My Spirit help you persevere in the delightful discipline of keeping your eyes on Me. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but will have the Light of Life.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”—JOHN 8: 12
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.—EPHESIANS 1: 5 NLT
And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it].—JOHN 1: 5 AMP
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.—HEBREWS 12: 2
My shipboard roommate sleeps later than I do each morning...so I open my iPad and iPhone to read, catch up on email, do my daily devotions, read the daily activities and finally leaving the room to catch each sunrise in photos...
So as I read this morning's "Jesus Always" selection, I was reminded of the light that illumines my space in our room... It shines each morning in the darkness of my space from my iPad. The Word of God, the earthly life of Christ, the comfort and truth of the Holy Spirit lighting up my world each day.
Thank YOU that you came to give life and light to a dark an desperate world...You bring the choice of eternal life with You to mankind...You being truth, bread for our souls, light out of darkness to all who put their faith in you....
"Jesus Always"
December 22
I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD! Many people celebrate Advent season by illuminating their homes with candles and decorated trees. This is a way of symbolizing My coming into the world—eternal Light breaking through the darkness and opening up the way to heaven. Nothing can reverse this glorious plan of salvation. All who trust Me as Savior are adopted into My royal family forever!
My Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it. No matter how much evil and unbelief you see in this dark world, I continue to shine brightly—a beacon of hope to those who have eyes that really see. So it’s crucial to look toward the Light as much as possible. Fix your eyes on Me, beloved! Through thousands of good thought-choices, you can find Me—“ see” Me—as you journey through this life. Have My Spirit help you persevere in the delightful discipline of keeping your eyes on Me. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but will have the Light of Life.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”—JOHN 8: 12
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.—EPHESIANS 1: 5 NLT
And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it].—JOHN 1: 5 AMP
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.—HEBREWS 12: 2
Thursday, December 21, 2017
Poor , tired and alone...
Poor, tired and alone...
I like reading historical Christian novels...they put me to sleep. Calming my mind at night. I have read them since I was a teen for the same reason...a part of my nightly routine to get to sleep...
From the "Little house on the prairie " series to modern day novels or even diaries of people long ago...no mysteries to make my mind try to solve something...just life on the prairie...
Those people were true heroes...they left families in the east, travelled by wagons, went through hardships that make our lives look pretty cushy...most were poor looking for new opportunities, taking few belongings, looking and working for a dream....children were born, some perished, widows and widowers were made, rivers crossed, Indians were met and faced, dust storms, bug storms, deserts, bandits....and much more were faced, plus just the drudgery of day to day dust, dirt and walking....to come to places where they either prospered or didn't....
Now is the season we remember our Savior's birth....I think of his earthly parent's journey ....they were not rich, had few earthly possessions and had to travel to new village, pregnant, dusty, roomless...carrying the King to fulfill a prophecy ...no hospitals, no help or mothers to attend...a dirty animal stable to give birth, wrapping Him in the cheapest of cloths...but loved beyond measure...how He gave up the gloriousness to come to earth is unimaginable ....but sorely needed by us, a sin filled mankind...
thank YOU for your sacrifice ....that we might go from poor, tired and alone to rich, righteous and never alone...
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.—2 CORINTHIANS 8: 9
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.—JOHN 1: 12
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”—LUKE 2: 10 ESV
I like reading historical Christian novels...they put me to sleep. Calming my mind at night. I have read them since I was a teen for the same reason...a part of my nightly routine to get to sleep...
From the "Little house on the prairie " series to modern day novels or even diaries of people long ago...no mysteries to make my mind try to solve something...just life on the prairie...
Those people were true heroes...they left families in the east, travelled by wagons, went through hardships that make our lives look pretty cushy...most were poor looking for new opportunities, taking few belongings, looking and working for a dream....children were born, some perished, widows and widowers were made, rivers crossed, Indians were met and faced, dust storms, bug storms, deserts, bandits....and much more were faced, plus just the drudgery of day to day dust, dirt and walking....to come to places where they either prospered or didn't....
Now is the season we remember our Savior's birth....I think of his earthly parent's journey ....they were not rich, had few earthly possessions and had to travel to new village, pregnant, dusty, roomless...carrying the King to fulfill a prophecy ...no hospitals, no help or mothers to attend...a dirty animal stable to give birth, wrapping Him in the cheapest of cloths...but loved beyond measure...how He gave up the gloriousness to come to earth is unimaginable ....but sorely needed by us, a sin filled mankind...
thank YOU for your sacrifice ....that we might go from poor, tired and alone to rich, righteous and never alone...
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.—2 CORINTHIANS 8: 9
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.—JOHN 1: 12
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”—LUKE 2: 10 ESV
Sunday, December 17, 2017
Songs..
Songs.....
I am on a ship venturing from one Caribbean port to another...the difference being that it ends right before Christmas...Christmas carols, both old and new are playing continually all day long ....some of my fellow voyagers have decorated their doors with Christmas decorations, the ship is decorated with trees, garlands, tinsel....as we sail to each warm port, far away from the snow covered scenes of the "white Christmas " ....
Bu, we have the tunes on our minds...bringing to mind, if we listened to the words the real reason for the season...Christ's birth...the Savior ...the Emmanuel...
Thank YOU for this wonderful reminder here in the middle of the ocean ports, the warms seas, this ship, that You are with us...
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Matthew 1:23
December 17 "Jesus Always...."
SING FOR JOY TO ME, your Strength. Christmas music is one of the best blessings of the season, and it doesn’t have to cost you anything. You can sing the carols at church or in the privacy of your home—or even in your car. As you are making a joyful noise, pay close attention to the words. They are all about Me and My miraculous entrance into your world through the virgin birth. Singing from your heart increases both your Joy and your energy. It also blesses Me. I created you to glorify Me and enjoy Me forever. So it’s not surprising that you feel more fully alive when you glorify Me through song. I want you to learn to enjoy Me in more and more aspects of your life. Before you arise from your bed each morning, try to become aware of My Presence with you. Say to yourself: “Surely the LORD is in this place.” This will awaken your awareness to the wonders of My continual nearness. I will fill you with Joy in My Presence.
Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!—PSALM 81: 1
But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy.—PSALM 5: 11 NLT
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”—GENESIS 28: 16
You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.—ACTS 2: 28
I am on a ship venturing from one Caribbean port to another...the difference being that it ends right before Christmas...Christmas carols, both old and new are playing continually all day long ....some of my fellow voyagers have decorated their doors with Christmas decorations, the ship is decorated with trees, garlands, tinsel....as we sail to each warm port, far away from the snow covered scenes of the "white Christmas " ....
Bu, we have the tunes on our minds...bringing to mind, if we listened to the words the real reason for the season...Christ's birth...the Savior ...the Emmanuel...
Thank YOU for this wonderful reminder here in the middle of the ocean ports, the warms seas, this ship, that You are with us...
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Matthew 1:23
December 17 "Jesus Always...."
SING FOR JOY TO ME, your Strength. Christmas music is one of the best blessings of the season, and it doesn’t have to cost you anything. You can sing the carols at church or in the privacy of your home—or even in your car. As you are making a joyful noise, pay close attention to the words. They are all about Me and My miraculous entrance into your world through the virgin birth. Singing from your heart increases both your Joy and your energy. It also blesses Me. I created you to glorify Me and enjoy Me forever. So it’s not surprising that you feel more fully alive when you glorify Me through song. I want you to learn to enjoy Me in more and more aspects of your life. Before you arise from your bed each morning, try to become aware of My Presence with you. Say to yourself: “Surely the LORD is in this place.” This will awaken your awareness to the wonders of My continual nearness. I will fill you with Joy in My Presence.
Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!—PSALM 81: 1
But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy.—PSALM 5: 11 NLT
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”—GENESIS 28: 16
You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.—ACTS 2: 28
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Repetition....
Repetition....
I am watching a friend enter the same tunnel I did 6 years ago...listening to her cries, her pain...and the petitions for a miracle...the wonderful family closely surrounding them with love and concern...we are sisters in life...
My husband's best friend, the one who performed his memorial services, the one who listened, counseled, hunted, laughed, encouraged, etc. since college days...they talked often, kept in touch, commiserated with one another over Bible issues, bears, caribou, fishing, children and probably wives for forty plus years...
I yell in my soul...this can't be happening again, not to these people...not to another faithful servant...I cry in the silence of the early morning hours...watching the repetition....that tunnel where you wonder if the light at the end is another train or the light of day....God, You are there, aren't You...
Looking the some of the Psalms...
3:5 I lie down and sleep...I wake again because the Lord sustains me...
4:8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety..
23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
Or
"His love endures forever" repeated over and over in the psalms ...100:5,
106:1, 107:1, 117:2, 118, 136...
Or
"Do not be afraid" from the beginning to the end of the Bible...
Loving endearments that hold us in the hard times, through laughter and tears...giving us peace when the world crashes around us...when the storms of life gather like black clouds or hurricane winds sweeping us into places we really don't want to go...repeated...
Peace, peace, He whispers to our souls...and we hang on for dear life, not realizing sometimes that He is carrying us in infinitely strong arms...and we just need to lay back and rest...He is the sustainer...the comforter...
Thank YOU...you give us our days...
I am watching a friend enter the same tunnel I did 6 years ago...listening to her cries, her pain...and the petitions for a miracle...the wonderful family closely surrounding them with love and concern...we are sisters in life...
My husband's best friend, the one who performed his memorial services, the one who listened, counseled, hunted, laughed, encouraged, etc. since college days...they talked often, kept in touch, commiserated with one another over Bible issues, bears, caribou, fishing, children and probably wives for forty plus years...
I yell in my soul...this can't be happening again, not to these people...not to another faithful servant...I cry in the silence of the early morning hours...watching the repetition....that tunnel where you wonder if the light at the end is another train or the light of day....God, You are there, aren't You...
Looking the some of the Psalms...
3:5 I lie down and sleep...I wake again because the Lord sustains me...
4:8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety..
23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
Or
"His love endures forever" repeated over and over in the psalms ...100:5,
106:1, 107:1, 117:2, 118, 136...
Or
"Do not be afraid" from the beginning to the end of the Bible...
Loving endearments that hold us in the hard times, through laughter and tears...giving us peace when the world crashes around us...when the storms of life gather like black clouds or hurricane winds sweeping us into places we really don't want to go...repeated...
Peace, peace, He whispers to our souls...and we hang on for dear life, not realizing sometimes that He is carrying us in infinitely strong arms...and we just need to lay back and rest...He is the sustainer...the comforter...
Thank YOU...you give us our days...
Monday, December 11, 2017
fellowship 101 ...to eternity....
Fellowship 101...to eternity...
This weekend was another memorable weekend with inclusion of a gathering of one my children's friends. Food, laughter, fun gifts were exchanged...
I cannot remember a time that my family did not gather together for some reason...birthdays, holidays, whatever...it may have been playing cards with college friends of my parents or camping in the California redwoods, a beach cookout...groups down the years with no children, preschoolers to teenagers to married adults....time honored fellowship all over the globe ...what wonderful memories and we are still making them...
I love to see my children and grandchildren carry on with fellowships, longtime friendships, family gatherings that makes lives rich...these times count and bring fullness to our lives...thank YOU for the blessings of friends and family...the memories that are made...the laughter and sometime the tears.....
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:3
And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God,
Revelation 19:17
https://bible.org/seriespage/4-fellowship-offering-leviticus-31-17-711-34-195-8-2229-30
Throughout the Bible, the people gathered together for feasts and fellowship of various kinds...to remember, to worship, to thank God for his wonderful works in their lives..
Jesus enjoyed the fellowships with friends and family at the wedding where he turned the water Into wine, with Zacheous, with Mary/Martha and Lazarus, his disciples-many times until the last supper...
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked. When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table.
Luke 22:7-9,14
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another —and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:23-25
Fellowships from the beginning to the wedding feast in heaven...getting together is a blessing...thank YOU again...
Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
Revelation 19:9
This weekend was another memorable weekend with inclusion of a gathering of one my children's friends. Food, laughter, fun gifts were exchanged...
I cannot remember a time that my family did not gather together for some reason...birthdays, holidays, whatever...it may have been playing cards with college friends of my parents or camping in the California redwoods, a beach cookout...groups down the years with no children, preschoolers to teenagers to married adults....time honored fellowship all over the globe ...what wonderful memories and we are still making them...
I love to see my children and grandchildren carry on with fellowships, longtime friendships, family gatherings that makes lives rich...these times count and bring fullness to our lives...thank YOU for the blessings of friends and family...the memories that are made...the laughter and sometime the tears.....
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:3
And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God,
Revelation 19:17
https://bible.org/seriespage/4-fellowship-offering-leviticus-31-17-711-34-195-8-2229-30
Throughout the Bible, the people gathered together for feasts and fellowship of various kinds...to remember, to worship, to thank God for his wonderful works in their lives..
Jesus enjoyed the fellowships with friends and family at the wedding where he turned the water Into wine, with Zacheous, with Mary/Martha and Lazarus, his disciples-many times until the last supper...
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked. When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table.
Luke 22:7-9,14
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another —and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:23-25
Fellowships from the beginning to the wedding feast in heaven...getting together is a blessing...thank YOU again...
Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
Revelation 19:9
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Praying for me...you...
Praying for me...you...
I was again struck by John 17:20-26, Jesus praying for those who are coming ...me...you...our children...our friends...those who are in Him...
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
John 17:20-26
It is a comfort beyond words that we have an advocate, we have the ultimate prayer warrior...Jesus, the very son of God...praying on our behalf...as well as the Holy Spirit who utters words when we can't even pray...
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27
What a powerful love...a Father who listens....His Son, who prays for us and died to save us...a Spirit who intercedes in accordance with God's will, comforts and lives in us as a seal of that love...
Thank YOU....beyond measure, infinite love....
I was again struck by John 17:20-26, Jesus praying for those who are coming ...me...you...our children...our friends...those who are in Him...
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
John 17:20-26
It is a comfort beyond words that we have an advocate, we have the ultimate prayer warrior...Jesus, the very son of God...praying on our behalf...as well as the Holy Spirit who utters words when we can't even pray...
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27
What a powerful love...a Father who listens....His Son, who prays for us and died to save us...a Spirit who intercedes in accordance with God's will, comforts and lives in us as a seal of that love...
Thank YOU....beyond measure, infinite love....
10 Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:10
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:10
Monday, December 4, 2017
Worthy....?
Worthy...?
I'll admit that there are sometimes I doubt my worthiness...or even worth...and I ask "how can it be" that such a great God would love such as me...then verses come flooding in chasing the doubt away ...as well as this old hymn...
Thank YOU...for your Word...your comfort...
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
James 1:2-5
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9
The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17
Song - And can it be that I should gain...
1 And can it be that I should gain
An int'rest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?
Refrain:
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!
2 'Tis mystery all! Th'Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine!
'Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more. [Refrain]
3 He left His Father's throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race;
'Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me. [Refrain]
4 Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee. [Refrain]
5 No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own. [Refrain]
Amen.
Sing Joyfully, 1989
I'll admit that there are sometimes I doubt my worthiness...or even worth...and I ask "how can it be" that such a great God would love such as me...then verses come flooding in chasing the doubt away ...as well as this old hymn...
Thank YOU...for your Word...your comfort...
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
James 1:2-5
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9
The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17
Song - And can it be that I should gain...
1 And can it be that I should gain
An int'rest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?
Refrain:
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!
2 'Tis mystery all! Th'Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine!
'Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more. [Refrain]
3 He left His Father's throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race;
'Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me. [Refrain]
4 Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee. [Refrain]
5 No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own. [Refrain]
Amen.
Sing Joyfully, 1989
Sunday, December 3, 2017
Everything's great....
Everything's great...
As do most people, I want each day without pain or problems ....oh foolish thought...that just doesn't happen...there is pain from birth to death...
I want total security from our government as do many people...it is our right, isn't it, to be totally without fear of anything happening...I want them to do what is always right for all of the citizens...except they are just as normal as everyone else....not without a sin nature...
I heard this week that at least 40% of the millennial generation felt that our nation should switch to a socialist form or government, to be taken care of...less work...more pleasure ...less commitment...less pain...
These all sound great, but in reality that just doesn't happen..there is pain, there is evil, there is sin...as well as there is good...and it is our lot to accept...
I was thinking about this earlier and then the following devotional was in my inbox this am...God speaking yet again into my life...He is there...with his Word , with himself...he knows my thoughts...thank YOU....
“Now then, listen, you lover of pleasure, lounging in your security and saying to yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me. I will never be a widow or suffer the loss of children.’
Isaiah 47:8
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"The Power of His Presence
Accepting What God Gives
A daily devotion for December 3rd
From your friends at RayStedman.org
Read: Job 2:9-13
He replied, You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? In all this, Job did not sin in what he said (Job 2:10).
Job's rebuke is a very gentle one. He did not say, You foolish woman! He said, You are talking like a foolish woman. He is not attacking her; rather, he is suggesting that this is a temporary lapse of faith on her part and that, for the moment, she has begun to repeat the words of stupid, foolish women who have no knowledge of the grace and glory of God. In that gentle rebuke you can see something of the sturdiness and tenderness of Job's faith. In this great sentence, he again reasserts the sovereignty of God: Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? Job's wife had the philosophy that life ought to be pleasant, and if it were not, there was no use living it.
That philosophy is widespread in our own day, and a mounting suicide rate testifies to the universal acceptance of it. But this book is given to show us that life is not to be lived on those terms. The reason we are here is not necessarily to have a good time. There are meaningful objectives to be attained in life, even when it all turns sour. When the pressure comes, when living is no longer fun, life is still worth living. A philosophy that wants to abandon everything as soon as things become unpleasant is a shallow, mistaken, distorted view of life. Job reaffirms that. Shall we not take both good and evil from the hand of God? We take His joy and His pleasure, the pleasant things of life, with gladness and gratitude. If God chooses to send something that is difficult, shall we then abandon that gratitude and begin to curse Him in protest because life is suddenly different than we thought it would be? The reason we are here is not merely that we might have a good time, and this is taught everywhere in the Scriptures. God, in His grace and glory, does give us many hours of joy and gladness and pleasure and delight, and it is right for us to give thanks. But do not abandon that when the time of pressure comes, because that is what Satan wants us to do. He wants us to begin to complain and protest to God; to get upset and angry and resentful; to stop going to church or to reading the Bible. That is what Satan's whole attack on our lives is aimed at doing.
Father, strengthen my faith in You, that I can accept from Your hand both good and evil. Thank You that Your purposes for me, though sometimes painful, are always good.
Life Application
Sometimes meaning and purpose for our lives gets out of focus. Do we then give in to despair? When we choose to trust God, then we can offer His comfort to others.
Daily Devotion © 2006 by Ray Stedman Ministries. For permission to use this content, please review RayStedman.org/permissions. Subject to permission policy, all rights reserved."
As do most people, I want each day without pain or problems ....oh foolish thought...that just doesn't happen...there is pain from birth to death...
I want total security from our government as do many people...it is our right, isn't it, to be totally without fear of anything happening...I want them to do what is always right for all of the citizens...except they are just as normal as everyone else....not without a sin nature...
I heard this week that at least 40% of the millennial generation felt that our nation should switch to a socialist form or government, to be taken care of...less work...more pleasure ...less commitment...less pain...
These all sound great, but in reality that just doesn't happen..there is pain, there is evil, there is sin...as well as there is good...and it is our lot to accept...
I was thinking about this earlier and then the following devotional was in my inbox this am...God speaking yet again into my life...He is there...with his Word , with himself...he knows my thoughts...thank YOU....
“Now then, listen, you lover of pleasure, lounging in your security and saying to yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me. I will never be a widow or suffer the loss of children.’
Isaiah 47:8
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"The Power of His Presence
Accepting What God Gives
A daily devotion for December 3rd
From your friends at RayStedman.org
Read: Job 2:9-13
He replied, You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? In all this, Job did not sin in what he said (Job 2:10).
Job's rebuke is a very gentle one. He did not say, You foolish woman! He said, You are talking like a foolish woman. He is not attacking her; rather, he is suggesting that this is a temporary lapse of faith on her part and that, for the moment, she has begun to repeat the words of stupid, foolish women who have no knowledge of the grace and glory of God. In that gentle rebuke you can see something of the sturdiness and tenderness of Job's faith. In this great sentence, he again reasserts the sovereignty of God: Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? Job's wife had the philosophy that life ought to be pleasant, and if it were not, there was no use living it.
That philosophy is widespread in our own day, and a mounting suicide rate testifies to the universal acceptance of it. But this book is given to show us that life is not to be lived on those terms. The reason we are here is not necessarily to have a good time. There are meaningful objectives to be attained in life, even when it all turns sour. When the pressure comes, when living is no longer fun, life is still worth living. A philosophy that wants to abandon everything as soon as things become unpleasant is a shallow, mistaken, distorted view of life. Job reaffirms that. Shall we not take both good and evil from the hand of God? We take His joy and His pleasure, the pleasant things of life, with gladness and gratitude. If God chooses to send something that is difficult, shall we then abandon that gratitude and begin to curse Him in protest because life is suddenly different than we thought it would be? The reason we are here is not merely that we might have a good time, and this is taught everywhere in the Scriptures. God, in His grace and glory, does give us many hours of joy and gladness and pleasure and delight, and it is right for us to give thanks. But do not abandon that when the time of pressure comes, because that is what Satan wants us to do. He wants us to begin to complain and protest to God; to get upset and angry and resentful; to stop going to church or to reading the Bible. That is what Satan's whole attack on our lives is aimed at doing.
Father, strengthen my faith in You, that I can accept from Your hand both good and evil. Thank You that Your purposes for me, though sometimes painful, are always good.
Life Application
Sometimes meaning and purpose for our lives gets out of focus. Do we then give in to despair? When we choose to trust God, then we can offer His comfort to others.
Daily Devotion © 2006 by Ray Stedman Ministries. For permission to use this content, please review RayStedman.org/permissions. Subject to permission policy, all rights reserved."
Saturday, December 2, 2017
"Farewell " tour....
"Farewell" tour ....
Last night I attended the "farewell to Nampa" tour of the Patrick McManus presentation by Tim Behrens.
"This will be the last show that Tim will perform in Nampa for a while. Seating will be at tables in the grand room at the Center, and finger food will be available, as well as a no-host bar. Not only will the show feature the favorite stories of Pat and Tim, but Tim will also regale you with Tales from The Road and 25 years of touring!"
The venue was packed to capacity, with tables and chairs, chairs around the room...it was like sitting in a room with old friends, those who have read, shared, loved and laughed at the stories of Patrick for years...unforgettable stories that we read to ourselves, to our children and now grandchildren...
As a family, we would read the books as we travelled the highways back and forth to grandparents, taking turns reading and laughing...along with the "little house on the prairie" and James Herriot's veterinarian adventures...reading them at night before bedtimes as well...what enjoyable memories...I can even picture Jesus sitting at the table enjoying the humor of their stories...
We first attended one of these presentations when our children were in school, elementary, junior high and high school. We came out with aching cheeks from laughing so much...at that time Patrick travelled with Tim and signed books. Now Patrick, 85, has retired from writing and traveling with Tim...
These are the pleasant memories of laughter together...family fun...times you cherish...added Into the years of growing up...before scattering as adults...the year go so quickly...but, laughter is good medicine...and good for the soul...
Thank YOU for the talents of these men who so shared their lives with so many others through the written word and one man plays...You give us joy in so many ways...
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.
Ecclesiastes 3:4,12-13
Last night I attended the "farewell to Nampa" tour of the Patrick McManus presentation by Tim Behrens.
"This will be the last show that Tim will perform in Nampa for a while. Seating will be at tables in the grand room at the Center, and finger food will be available, as well as a no-host bar. Not only will the show feature the favorite stories of Pat and Tim, but Tim will also regale you with Tales from The Road and 25 years of touring!"
The venue was packed to capacity, with tables and chairs, chairs around the room...it was like sitting in a room with old friends, those who have read, shared, loved and laughed at the stories of Patrick for years...unforgettable stories that we read to ourselves, to our children and now grandchildren...
As a family, we would read the books as we travelled the highways back and forth to grandparents, taking turns reading and laughing...along with the "little house on the prairie" and James Herriot's veterinarian adventures...reading them at night before bedtimes as well...what enjoyable memories...I can even picture Jesus sitting at the table enjoying the humor of their stories...
We first attended one of these presentations when our children were in school, elementary, junior high and high school. We came out with aching cheeks from laughing so much...at that time Patrick travelled with Tim and signed books. Now Patrick, 85, has retired from writing and traveling with Tim...
These are the pleasant memories of laughter together...family fun...times you cherish...added Into the years of growing up...before scattering as adults...the year go so quickly...but, laughter is good medicine...and good for the soul...
Thank YOU for the talents of these men who so shared their lives with so many others through the written word and one man plays...You give us joy in so many ways...
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.
Ecclesiastes 3:4,12-13
Friday, December 1, 2017
50 year anniversary...December 1...
50 year anniversary...December 1...
50 years ago today, I awoke with expectancy and a little fear...I had signed up to meet a stranger that night...a computer date...at our school...a school wide activity...if you wanted to do it...I had talked several of the girls in my floor into doing this... You know- "suffer together" ...
I had never done anything like this...so totally out of character...(and now we see several computer dating match sites advertised). This was computer punch card era...how they were matched I don't know...we had both put "travelled to Alaska", (we deduced that was probably our matching factor)...at least we thought so...similar backgrounds, values we found out...rural, farming, small town people...independent, fidelity, "religious", parents still married, family oriented...factors which we later built on...
He was the last of the men to show up for their date...I was scared stiff...we were to go to a dance, but sat and talked all evening instead... It was the end of the term, finals week followed and then Christmas break...we exchanged Christmas cards...I don't remember how we got each other's addresses, but I remember sending one first...and then receiving his in return...
When school resumed in January, he saw me studying in the library, out of the snow, we visited and then started seeing one another regularly and the rest is history, so they say...
On this day 50 years ago, I never envisioned the life we would have together, the children we were blessed with, the joys and heartaches, the highs and lows, the lean and fat years, the faith that carried us through it all...But God did...I am thankful that He saw fit to put us together...even though I spend this anniversary as a widow...I wouldn't change it...wonderful, wonderful times were had in our marriage...
Thank YOU...for the partner You gave, the years You blessed us with, the children and grandchildren You continue to bless me with...along the path...
I know this verse speaks of end times, but death came as a thief in our marriage...and we desired to finish well..to live holy and godly lives as partners here...we didn't always succeed, but we worked on it...
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives
2 Peter 3:10-11
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
1 Peter 3:7
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.
For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.
Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies.
He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body.
"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Ephesians 5:22-33
50 years ago today, I awoke with expectancy and a little fear...I had signed up to meet a stranger that night...a computer date...at our school...a school wide activity...if you wanted to do it...I had talked several of the girls in my floor into doing this... You know- "suffer together" ...
I had never done anything like this...so totally out of character...(and now we see several computer dating match sites advertised). This was computer punch card era...how they were matched I don't know...we had both put "travelled to Alaska", (we deduced that was probably our matching factor)...at least we thought so...similar backgrounds, values we found out...rural, farming, small town people...independent, fidelity, "religious", parents still married, family oriented...factors which we later built on...
He was the last of the men to show up for their date...I was scared stiff...we were to go to a dance, but sat and talked all evening instead... It was the end of the term, finals week followed and then Christmas break...we exchanged Christmas cards...I don't remember how we got each other's addresses, but I remember sending one first...and then receiving his in return...
When school resumed in January, he saw me studying in the library, out of the snow, we visited and then started seeing one another regularly and the rest is history, so they say...
On this day 50 years ago, I never envisioned the life we would have together, the children we were blessed with, the joys and heartaches, the highs and lows, the lean and fat years, the faith that carried us through it all...But God did...I am thankful that He saw fit to put us together...even though I spend this anniversary as a widow...I wouldn't change it...wonderful, wonderful times were had in our marriage...
Thank YOU...for the partner You gave, the years You blessed us with, the children and grandchildren You continue to bless me with...along the path...
I know this verse speaks of end times, but death came as a thief in our marriage...and we desired to finish well..to live holy and godly lives as partners here...we didn't always succeed, but we worked on it...
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives
2 Peter 3:10-11
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
1 Peter 3:7
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.
For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.
Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies.
He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body.
"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Ephesians 5:22-33
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