The blessings…
The sun was rising, the air clean, the temperature just right….
Walking to the nearby school to walk ….
This song came up…wanted to stop and just sing with it, Too many witnesses…so sang in my heart…
Praise….
The Blessing…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnC7z03QkEM&list=OLAK5uy_lOIw3NO90pYeKvM6ZVOeaTIxagE3S1XDA&index=6
Where did the time go?!….
I awoke this morning, checked my watch to check the time, (too early of course)…the date is right under the time and it said tomorrow’s date and day!
Shock, is it really the next day, was I off…no, yesterday was Tuesday and today is Wednesday…oh, well…maybe it will right itself…it hasn’t so far…
Time seems to be flying anyway….getting those graduation or wedding invites from young people who were just babies…or seeing your grandchildren marry and have children of their own…is does seem that time does fly…
The Word speaks of “time” over 800 times…
A few…
Genesis 1:14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years,
Psalm 9:9 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
Psalm 59:16 But I will sing of your strength,
in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.
Ecclesiastes 3
Isaiah 9: 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
1 Peter 5: 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
2Peter 3:8 but do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day
I glad he is control of the time…times…he is not one day early or late…nor does time surprise Him…
Thank YOU…
God is always on time…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1L6zv_ilzY
Traffic Jam….
Yesterday I volunteered to take my neighbor to our main bus terminal which is on the other side of our valley, about 30-45 minutes away…
We doubled the time it usually takes, giving us plenty of time to spare… about 3 miles into the journey, we hit a wall of stalled traffic …not a good sign… our time was swiftly ticking away…the traff kept moving slowly, slowly on the freeway (a misnomer, it wasn’t freely moving and was more of a parkway, more descriptive)…
Our time of departure was coming soon, so she called the bus information about getting a refund or credit on her unused ticket…no such thing…then she specifically prayed that the bus would be late for some reason…
The traffic thinned about two miles from the bus stop, four minutes to go…we buzzed down the freeway, staying within the speed limit, drove into the airport, zoomed to the stop…one bus standing, waiting-wrong bus…people milling round, another bus pulls in behind us-the right bus…stops and starts taking on passengers…God had delayed that bus! Praise all around…a good faith start for the morning….
Now , I realize He could have said no, as well. But, it was fun to get a yes…i
1 Samuel 12: 24 But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.
Psalm 40:11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord;
may your love and faithfulness always protect me.
Thank YOU…
You are faithful….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GpsOoMPLrA
Jesus, keep me…
I read a Sentence this morning before my walk in some fresh air…I say that with emphasis because it has been so smoky we couldn’t walk outside…
Back to the sentence…”Jesus keep me aware of your presence “….
Then as I walked, these songs came up on my play list, I had never heard them before, but they went with the sentence…the 7 word prayer….
I know that I am supposed to share them for someone today….
Blessings to all…
Thank YOU,
When God lifted what I couldn’t carry …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7ISjAzZcrY
Jesus , find me here….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1ePXpblsvg
Jesus don’t let the light in me die…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb3Sc_sv3ig
Buying a Phone, iPad…
The other day, I spent a chunk of time replacing my IPad…I use my iPad all the time…so my former iPad was getting slower and slower…and I would impatiently wait for various programs to load, taking longer and longer to write each morning, answering mail, etc…oh, I have. Big computer on which I do business with, but it is not portable…and I have an iPhone as well, but the iPad is a mainstay…
My first iPad was purchased with points from my husband’s accounts that I closed down after his death…those points, which he never used, were spread far and wide. I was able to give a bunch to Make a Wish, some were actually transferred to my accounts…others given away to various charities, etc…it was like spending someone else’s money…which it was…I knew he would have had fun doing it…
But, back to buying a new one…it takes a lot of time doing it…waiting time…like buying a car…paperwork, signatures, basic instruction, transfer of more information, etc…this world information, nothing eternal, except the Bible programs included, which I didn’t want to lose!
For simple things, our lives seem complicated…but, the Gospel is simple….thank YOU for that…
Acts 16: . 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.
The Apostle Paul was good at instructing…he wrote letters of instructions , he visited many places and taught…he relied on the Holy Spirit to further instruct …so that people were fully engaged in The Word…Jesus…
Much better than buying a car or an iPad…the opportunity of living eternity with the Creator….
1 Thessalonians 4: As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
Thank YOU…
Your Words…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqaA8XBI15o
Lavish…
1
: expending or bestowing profusely
2
a
: expended or produced in abundance
b
: marked by profusion or excess
Merriam Webster online Dictionary….
I thought of this word this morning as I was taking my shower…in wonderful hot water…pouring down on sore muscles…. was sooooo thankful…and later reading about the hundreds of firefighters struggling day after hot day to get some control of the fires we are having. Wouldn’t they love to lavish in a shower to wash the grime and sweat away…a huge SHOUT OUT TO THEM….
But the word appears in the Word as well…the riches of God’s grace…lavished on us….his love lavished on us…doesn’t that just warm your heart…thrill your soul…
Think YOU….
Ephesians 1: 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he-made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
1John 3:1See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
God of every grace…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5SARNm0M8A
Overcomer….
I opened my devotional ….first sentence-“ I am teaching you to be an overcomer, to find joy in the midst of circumstances that previously would defeat you” Sarah Young…
I guess I didn’t know I wanted to learn that lesson…
Psalm 46: 1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
Psalm 145:18 18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. 20 The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.
Numbers 6:24 24 “‘“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace…
Thank YOU, you know what I need…
The blessing…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ55mDL7dA0
R
A place….
Is there a place that just seems like home…a place that you go to get yourself centered again with God? I realize that God is everywhere that we can talk with him anytime night or day…but, some have a special place that is just comfortable…
I was reading about Mount Moriah…its history goes from Genesis to now…
Abraham was told to sacrifice Isaac there…
David built an alter there…
Solomon built his temple there…
The temple was destroyed…
The Jews built a temple again…
Herod expanded the temple…
Jesus confronted the money “makers” there…
Roman armies destroyed it again…
Then in the 600’s, the Muslims built another temple, which stands today awaiting the end times…while the Jews use the West wall as their place for prayer, the Wailing Wall…
THe meaning of the word,Moriah, is provision…God provided a ram to sacrifice instead of Isaac…testing both Abraham and Isaac’s faith…a place they could look at and say “God provided… “, He kept his promises…
There are places in my life, I can stand upon and say “ God did this or this here” in my life…He proved himself faithful…
Thank YOU…
Everyday Relevance of Moriah
“The significance of the name Moriah extends beyond its historical and scriptural references; it has practical implications in the lives of believers today. The call to faith exemplified by Abraham serves as an encouragement for individuals facing their own trials and challenges. When confronted with uncertainty, believers can draw inspiration from the story of Moriah, reminding themselves that God is aware of their struggles and is capable of providing solutions and guidance.
Moreover, the concept of Moriah as a place of divine revelation encourages spiritual seekers to remain attentive to God's voice. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, taking moments to pause, reflect, and seek God's guidance can lead to profound insights and clarity. The meaning of the name Moriah in the Bible serves as a reminder that God desires a personal relationship with His followers, inviting them to trust in His provision and timing.”
https://bibledictionarytoday.com
Faithful…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSy4zC2_ztg
Provision…
I wonder at these scenes of Jesus taking the bread and giving it out to others, if the disciples ever thought of the manna that God provided for the Israelites in the desert, daily….enough that everyone was provided for…and were satisfied….and then in the last supper he gave them bread as a symbol of his body…He was enough …Jesus was what they/we need…and He is enough for us as well on a daily basis…He is our bread…and we should be satisfied with him…
Matthew 15:36Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people.
37 They all ate and were satisfied.
Mathew 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
John 6:11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.”
John 21:3 we’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered.
6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.
8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.fn
9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”
11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.
13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
Exodus 16:15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat…
Thank YOU….
The Lord will Provide..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-29gTlsdCZ8
Picky eaters..
I had a friend several years ago who, when feeding her children, would say, “you won’t like this, but you have to eat it anyway “…
Lo and behold, this family were all picky eaters…to which this mother, later bemoaned the fact that her children were such picky eaters she hated taking them anywhere because they complained so much…
Talk about a double whammy….
When my husband and I or our family travelled, the highlight is tasting new foods…trying new recipes…the Mediterranean shakshuka, the Chinese foods, the Uruguayan barbecue beef, the Mongolian dishes…or even various American regional delicacies. They may not be my favorites, but they are worth trying…
I thought of God providing the manna in the dessert…or the quail…the locusts for John the Baptist, fresh cooked fish waiting the disciples cooked by Jesus..or the small fish and loaves given to Jesus by the little boy…fresh grain in the fields….feasts at various homes… even the liquid given to Jesus on the cross…all “choice foods” for which people were thankful..
Fresh veggies and fruits are now available at the local farmers markets….it is fun the peruse the food venders to,see what they are selling…fresh melons, corn, beans, honey, breads, peaches, plums, etc…
Here God is such a wonderful provider…food for the body and through his Word, food for the soul…
Thank YOU…
Exodus 16: 21 Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.
Mark 1: 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey
Thank YOU…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdPcSXnsZ-I
Take heart…courage…
There are times when we just loose courage….times when things are really rough, times when our heart just fails us, our souls are down and depressed and nothing is going “right”….
We are told to wait…be strong…listen…let go of our sin…be faithful …not be afraid…take heart …take courage…and the Acts verse says that the Lord stood by Paul…and those who believe have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit with us….
Just because we are down doesn’t mean that God isn’t standing near or that he is finished with us…he has lots of life lessons …
Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Psalm 31:24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD
Ezekiel 3:10 And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you
Matthew 9:2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.
14:27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Acts 23:11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Thank YOU….
Take courage…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwvkLYJkOkk
Rescue mission….
Yesterday I had the privilege of having tea with a representative of a rescue mission here in the northwest…Our family has had friends in the rescue missions for over 50 years, at least in the administrative part…one year we got to serve Christmas dinner…amazing…
Statistics for this one..
Meals served in a year…263,654
Nights of care…70,135
Plus educational service, sobriety care, mothers and children’s care…and a whole lot more…
We have at least four in this valley that I know of, and there are probably more…selflessly serving…in God’s name…sometimes overlooked and always overworked…..
It makes me think of the statue outside the Capernaum gate, of a person lying on a bench covered with his cloak…the sign saying something like, “and He has nowhere to lay his head”.
Matthew 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Jeremiah 19:7 The poor are shunned by all their relatives— how much more do their friends avoid them! Though the poor pursue them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found.
Thank YOU…
For the least of these…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyIN5QjTyRs
