Another day…

I remember my first cancer infusion like it was yesterday…. I was petrified, so petrified I was shaking all over…. I thought as a believer in the Comforter, creator of the universe, I wasn’t a very good example. My heart felt like it would pound out of my chest. So I “walked the plank” arriving at the clinic…family was with me, we walked in to face the music…as I silently screamed, “please, please help me!”…

Shown the cubicle in which I would become acquainted, looking around , there was the rack of meds, a huge window to look upon the pond outside, a nice lounge chair, and a TV…

As I stood there for the first time, all of the sudden a peace filtered through…we started the infusion and went forward…none were easy , but that petrified feeling remained at bay… that peace that passes all understanding…

Today I am here again…that infusion chair, those meds that flow into my veins…it is easier, not totally…but signs of cancer for a year now…prayers of many and  God saw me thorough…

Thank YOU…

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3 NIV).

Habakkuk 3: 17 Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
    he enables me to tread on the heights.

Through it all…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh-tRWA11HE

 

Counterfeit….

  

To find truth, you don’t learn lies…

I once heard that to teach people how to know counterfeit, they had to know the real thing better…

Isn’t that the way with God…we want to know Him better and better , being transformed more and more into his image…becoming closer and closer , abiding in Him…

John 15: 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

 Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and 

perfect will.

2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplatefn the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

 Ephesians 4:15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

 Truth be told…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs-PcD79XVY

 

 Shepherds….

Our family has been pastored by many kinds of pastors…some missions oriented, legalists, others-social issues, while others were more knowledge driven and a few more…I appreciate all of them for their gifting, but I appreciate the ones who are shepherding the most…those who like Barnabas stayed behind and helped people grow in their faith….we can’t forget  the others though…we have looked for good teaching, care and encourage missions or are involved with the community and its issues. So I guess we have looked for well rounded people…

 Good shepherds care for the people and follow after God, desiring that his flock do the same…

Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding (Jeremiah 3:15 NIV).

Genesis 29: 3 When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone away from the well’s mouth and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.

Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Psalm 78: 72 And David shepherded them with integrity of heart;

    with skillful hands he led them.

Micah 5: 4 He will stand and shepherd his flock

    in the strength of the Lord,

    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.

And they will live securely, for then his greatness

    will reach to the ends of the earth.

Hebrews 13: 20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Revelations 7: 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne

    will be their shepherd;

‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’

    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

What a Shepherd we have…

Thank YOU….

Shepherd of my soul…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sv3e2cFcj4

 

Anger…

Once upon a time, I was angry…at the world, at church, at my family, at everything….I didn’t know I was so angry…and I really don’t remember the reason why now…but things were not going my may….

One Sunday, I walked into church, sat through the songs and then the sermon and I realized I was just plain mad at God…I can remember where I sat that day and how the realization hit me hard…I wasn’t trusting God’s goodness even through the trials or circumstances…I thought I had a better plan…and I was mad…angry…and everyone around me was suffering because of it…

That verse about seeing someone’s splinter in one’s eye while ignoring the plank in your own was so evident…

I was so humbled and asked for forgiveness….

It didn’t change the circumstances, but my heart was changed and I could look at what was happening with God’s light rather than my own…so much peace came, that I was startled by the amount of anger I had held onto, cherished…joy returned…

I have so far to go to learn all that God wants to teach….and the lessons are frequent…both with discipline and goodness…

Thank YOU…

Proverbs 3: 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart

    and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways submit to him,

    and he will make your paths straight.

Isaiah 42:8 “I am the Lord; that is my name!

    I will not yield my glory to another

    or my praise to idols…

Isaiah 54:10 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,”

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Again I say rejoice…

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

 

Do not be anxious….lady bugs…

Going to my overgrown garden boxes, yesterday I was picking dried milkweed pods for flower arrangements….some still had seeds, some hadn’t popped yet and others were totally empty of seeds… But, low and behold I found a whole miniature world of ladybugs…🐞 

The adult bugs were crawling around…then upon further observation, there were all the life cycles of the lady bugs, from eggs to nymphs to adults…then upon  further searching, their food source, aphids, was in some plants while the ladybug colonies were on other plants…

Their homes, their food were all provided.

It brought to mind the verses in Matthew….how God provides and anxiousness…here was a miniature world, going about their business without a care in the world and God was providing…their needs…how much more are we, created in His image, cared for…

Thank YOU….

therefore I tell you , do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on, is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing…look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap or gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  Matthew 6:25-26

Jehovah Jireh….

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

 More joy….

“To infuse more joy Into your day, seek to increase your awareness that I am with you…an easy way to do this is to say; Thank You, Jesus, for your presence.”  Sarah Young…

Don’t we all want joy, that deep sense of thankfulness, peace that runs through our soul? In the hard times as well as the parking spot in just the right place…knowing that we are cared for….that we are a vessel of God’s grace…a vessel prepared…a vessel of the promised Holy Spirit…

Thank  YOU Jesus, for your presence…..

Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life;

    you will fill me with joy in your presence,

    with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 5:11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;

    let them ever sing for joy.

Spread your protection over them,

    that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Psalm 7: 17 I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;

    I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.

Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;

    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.

My heart leaps for joy,

    and with my song I praise him.

Acts 17: 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

John 1: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

2 Corinthians 4: 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Psalm 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation

    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

 Your presence…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGDsreB1CyQ

 A rock…

I need to go back to this last weekend and one of my grandsons….

A rock poking out of the water saved him…that rock was created by the spoken Word of God at creation…was it planned just for my grandson to find rescue…a solid perch on which to wait…if God has a plan for each of our lives, it was…He knows the beginning… He is the first and last…He knows our thoughts before we perceive them…

Our whole family is very aware of rocks…my husband was a geologist…the rocks God made put food on our table, clothes on our backs, shelter ….allowed us to give…rocks are personal to us…and they became more personal this last weekend…they became another saving force to our family…

I look at the video of the rescue and see God’s hand of care and salvation….what you don’t see in the pictures is rescuers downstream as backup to the one in the water …another picture of God desiring that none should perish…He wants us to live…he wants us to come to Him…

We depend upon the Rock as well…Jesus is our rock…our refuge…

Thank you…

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you (Isaiah 26:3 NIV).

 Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his works are perfect,

    and all his ways are just.

Psalm 71: 3 Be my rock of refuge,

    to which I can always go;

give the command to save me,

    for you are my rock and my fortress.

Jesus is my rock….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M88ItKnXlrI

 New lines…

Our neighborhood and town is getting new underground lines….day after day of huge trucks grinding away underground…Pulling lines, cutting holes in our driveways, lawns..backing up traffic, etc so that we can get “better service”…”faster service”…

This is the second time around in six months…

Pretty soon, the salespeople will be knocking at our doors with their sales pitch for subscriptions to their new services. Then , if we bite, they will come around and hook up the individual homes to the lines going down the streets…more trucks and equipment…

Talking to God requires none of these inconveniences…He is there, waiting… no trucks, no salespeople, no ruined yards, no waiting in traffic, no cost…no subscriptions…and a much better advisor and listener, plus a relationship with the Creator of the universe…he hears us when words are too deep to speak, he teaches us truth, counsels us, and so much more….

Thank YOU…

Romans 8: 26 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. 27 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.

Matthew 6: 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.’

John 14: 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Our Father…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRg2kZcg9q4

 

Comfort verses…??

Not sure where I am anymore on my lists of comfort verses…there are so many….

My grandson is well, now needs to overcome the trauma and face water again. It will come…he is the adventurer. Thank you for your prayers, concerns, care…blessings to you all….

I’m pleading with you, Yahweh, help me! Don’t close your ears to my cry, for you’re my defender (Psalm 28:1 TPT). PM

So as for you, return to your God, Maintain kindness and justice, And wait for your God continually (Hosea 12:6 NASB).

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4 NIV).

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted (Isaiah 12:4 NIV).

Yes, he did mighty miracles and we are overjoyed! Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again (Psalm 126:3-4 TPT).

They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord (Psalm 112:7 NIV).

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles (Psalm 34:17 NIV).

I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord” (Psalm 122:1 NIV).

Thank YOU….

Through it all….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfAj_l1bLlQ

 Flood waters…

Some verses get really personal really fast…not that they all aren’t…but circumstances bring different ones to mind and heart at different times…

 The following got really personal last night…one of my grandsons, 12 years, went on an adventure with a friend, crossing a shallow creek for part of it…when they came back to return, it was a torrent from flash flooding in the area..the friend made it across, but my grandson was swept downstream…catching a boulder, he climbed on and sat until rescued late last night…it gives my chills and tears just thinking about it…had prayed that he would sit and stay until help came and he did…thank YOU…

Psalm 68:9 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,

    who daily bears our burdens.

20 Our God is a God who saves;

    from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.

Palm 69:2 I sink in the miry depths,

    where there is no foothold.

I have come into the deep waters;

    the floods engulf me.

15 Do not let the floodwaters engulf me
    or the depths swallow me up
    or the pit close its mouth over me.

16 Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love;
    in your great mercy turn to me.

Palm 91: 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;

Isaiah 43:1 but now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

4a Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you,

I watched this grandson being born and wasn’t quite ready to let him go…God has such a great plan for him as he does for us all…but, he has lessons for us to learn along the way as well…

Thank YOU….

You are my hiding place….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElVC6rfX3Z8

 25 years…

When I awoke this morning, I thought of 25 years ago as I am sure many did…what was I doing, what were my plans, what did the day ahead look like…etc…

We were all getting ready for a day…some were planning evil, some were planning good, some were getting their children read for school, some getting ready for work or getting off of work…

My daughter and her husband were planning on flying to Asia, we had talked the night before….breakfasts were served, people out the door for their day…I went walking as usual on my three mile trek…

My neighbor caught me half way through my walk…”have you heard….?” That question changed the world…we watched the scenes over and over as more information filtered through…we cried and prayed for the victims. We waited, not fully comprehending…and we were three thousand miles away from the terror attack…

Our daughter and her husband didn’t make it to Asia that day…nor did many air travelers make it to their destinations …

This week has been times of memories, memorials…while we go on with our lives…today at least one tv channel will have all day coverage of events …for those almost 3000 victims as well as thousands who have died from working at ground zero. It wasn’t just one day in infamy, it is an ongoing bad memory for so many who were affected personally….

I don’t understand evil, but I know that it exists in so many facets…and he will be around til God draws the line in time…

We are to be alert, the Bible says…God has defeated and overcome…we have peace in God…

1 Peter 1: 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,

1 Peter 5: 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

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.”

I know we are supposed to give thanks in all things, but realistically, there are times that it is hard…not just 911, but other times as well…but, that is the way to experience God’s peace that surpasses our understanding …

Thank YOU…

I will praise you in the storm…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgpaULjZOl8

 25 years ago….

25 years ago…evilness was working just as it has since the garden of Eden….

Tempting , Lying, deceiving, planning…only a few knew what was going to happen the following day…

Others, meanwhile, were packing, laughing with family / friends, anticipating their work or trips on the plane the next day…maybe going on a special vacation or visiting someone special…

Evil was still at work, really no caring one whit what the passengers or workers were doing that day…theirs was one of murder, confusion, chaos and rewards….

It can happen any time, any where…darkness, evil lurks in the shadows, works in the night…can’t standing the light of day…to be exposed….

God exposes those…He is the light…knowing good from evil, opposing the evil…Victorious over evil…

Thank YOU…

Job 12: 22 He reveals the deep things of darkness

    and brings utter darkness into the light.

Psalm 18: 28 You, Lord, keep my lamp burning;

    my God turns my darkness into light.

Psalm 112:4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.

Proverbs 4: 19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;

    they do not know what makes them stumble.

Ecclesiastes 2: 14aThe wise have eyes in their heads,

    while the fool walks in the darkness;….

Isaiah 5: 20 Woe to those who call evil good

    and good evil,

who put darkness for light

    and light for darkness,

who put bitter for sweet

    and sweet for bitter.

Isaiah 29:15 woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their work in darkness and think, “Who sees us? Who will know?”

John 8: 12 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.”

Our God Reigns…..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Usc6-WjJwZg

 Oblivious….

25 years ago, we were doing daily things…oblivious of the horrors that were coming within days…when evil against our country raised its ugly head inside our borders…

Last month, I went to the Washington coast for a delightful wedding … but we did a bit of touring as well…hidden in the trees and overgrown brush along the coast were bunkers built with a massive amount of cement and steel, rock and finally, the camouflage of trees and natural plantings…the WW2 Coastal Defensive System… I wasn’t around then, but it was defend our American soil from the enemy…probably most people did not know it existed…but a war was raging then on other shores…

Since then there have been others wars, but, fought in other lands…

 25 years ago it was coming to ours…and we didn’t know it…

We personally don’t realize when battles are coming for us…rebellious teens, death in the family , the words-cancer, heart disease, inoperable, etc are uttered from our doctors’ mouths, bankrupt, etc…..battles we have to face…and we are oblivious that they are going to hit…we aren’t ready…

But, as Christians we have a burden bearer, a refuge giver, a comforter and so much more…Jesus…

 Psalm 9:9 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,

    a stronghold in times of trouble.

Psalm 17: 7 Show me the wonders of your great love,

    you who save by your right hand

    those who take refuge in you from their foes.

Psalm 25: 20 Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.

 Psalm 61:3 For you have been my refuge,

    a strong tower against the foe.

Thank YOU…

Refuge…

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

 

 The search….

We have been searching for my husband’s Bible for an event coming up soon…I know it is in a box with other books, which we have lots of, I thought it was with his journals, of which there are also many…

So, getting into storage bins, one after another… then going through bookshelves in everyone’s homes…just in case…

The Funny and delightful thing is, we all know exactly what we really looking for…

“dad’s black Bible, you know, the one he always read…”

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

Proverbs 2: 1 My son, if you accept my words
    and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
    and applying your heart to understanding—
3 indeed, if you call out for insight
    and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds success in store for the upright,
    he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8 for he guards the course of the just
    and protects the way of his faithful ones.

9 Then you will understand what is right and just
    and fair—every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you,
    and understanding will guard you.

12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,

But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:8-9 ESV). 

We search and search for truth…and it is right before us in the Word…

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds;and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

We are planning on finding the “lost Bible”… it is somewhere, but, more importantly, we also want to seek the Word of God, to teach, admonish, challenge us….

Thank YOU…

Your Word…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9NEYy71lcU

 

Names of God…

These are just a few references to read about the names of God…there are Bible studies, books, sermons, YouTube classes, lifestreams, podcasts, etc. about this subject…

I was just thinking about it this morning as I prayed..what name or characteristic did this person or that person need right now that would make God  personal to him or her…if we believe that God  makes himself known to us, he does it in a personal way…knowing our needs , thoughts, words…He is there for us…

Thank YOU….

https://www.gotquestions.org/names-of-God.html

https://bibleislife.com/100-names-of-god-with-bible-verses-explained/

https://christiananswers.net/dictionary/namesofgod.html

https://www.scripturalgrace.com/post/names-of-god

Names of God…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU2MLVrTc8k

 No more straw…

Several years ago, my husband and I were privileged to go to western China to “teach” English to Chinese teenagers…I use “teach” loosely ….they knew English very well, but the pronunciation was a bit off…so basically we had lots of conversations with them…about a lot of subjects…lots of questions…they watched reruns of old western movies or when they were allowed, games shows, anything they could watch about the West…we had classroom time with them or just wandered around their city…

One of the main manufacturing plants there was for making bricks…the buildings were built out bricks,the sidewalks , the walls around buildings, fences…all brick…would have liked going through a brick factory, but was not able to…

I took lots of pictures of old buildings, but the people would rather show you all the new stuff as it was finished much better…there was a decided difference…”no, no, look at new”, they would say…

The Israelites were making bricks for Pharaoh and his task masters during their captivity…what a hard job…

And then Pharaoh gets mad at the audacity of the Israelite leaders asking for “time-off”…then he says, don’t supply the straw, let them find their own…spiteful, anger, controlling…lets make them work harder…”are you sure God will rescue us?”…

Sometimes, Just when you think events are as hard as it will get, it gets harder….but, God has a bigger plan…we think the events are just about us, but He deals with a lot, maybe nations, maybe individuals…but they all meld together working for good those who love Him…he does it do it out of spite for us…He loves us…and we can learn from His teaching…in His timing….his path…

Thank YOU…

These are days of Elijah…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j63-J0GBG5c

Bits and pieces I found along the walks we took in the city, working with teens…

Pharaoh’s brick makers…

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-egypt/pharaohs-brick-makers/

The history of brick making…

https://brickarchitecture.com/about-brick/why-brick/the-history-of-bricks-brickmaking

Terra cotta soldiers…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terracotta_Army

 Divine ground or interruption….

Yesterday, I was dutifully getting ready for the women’s Bible study, checking the house, making sure I turned off the stove,lights out, etc…ready to pick up my purse and walk out the door….the phone rang…

“If I answer, I will be late…” but as I looked at the name, I knew I had to answer…and listen, encourage…their pain is deep and they needed a listening ear….

20 minutes later, we finished and I thought   “I will only be 15 minutes late”, so headed for the door again and there was a knock at my front door….doesn’t happen that often in the morning , so I better check….another one who needed to talk as recent widowhood is painful as well….

Needless to say I didn’t make it to Bible study…God had other plans…

But, it was a study in itself… 

Moses, whom I had just read about,  was “interrupted “ in the desert by a burning bush…holy ground, divine appointment…a call that changed his life’s direction…

We mostly likely don’t get such dramatic calls or interruptions…but, we still have to heed them…

Thank YOU…

Exodus 3 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”

4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”

And Moses said, “Here I am.”

5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

“When people bare their souls to you, you are on holy ground, your responsibility is to listen and love ….”Sarah Young…

Psalm 143: 8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,

    for I have put my trust in you.

Show me the way I should go,

    for to you I entrust my life.

John7:38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Teaching my heart to listen…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOeDg1K7z98