Not resting .....

Not resting....

I found that I have been again not resting in God's unfailing, ever present, burden taking love...sleepless nights...tossing and turning...myriads of manmade solutions, concerns, decisions, how-tos, why's, have been keeping me awake or awakening me in the middle of the nights...

I lay them down at the foot at the cross only to gather each of them up again to wrestle again and again...not that I don't trust God to take care of them, I just feel powerless to do anything about them....and that is the point...I am powerless to do anything about each...only God has the power to work in any of these areas that are plaguing my mind and restlessness ...He alone can work in people's lives with miracles in their attitudes, life choices, etc...

Thank YOU that you remind me again and again through so many avenues that you really care, that you really can and do work out everything to your glory....that You alone are capable to handle every situation that comes into our lives...and those situations are filtered to help us grow in our trust in You...help me open my hands and heart again to your care....

Jesus calling...November 28
Rest in the deep assurance of My unfailing Love. Let your body, mind, and spirit relax in My Presence. Release into My care anything that is troubling you, so that you can focus your full attention on Me. Be awed by the vast dimensions of My Love for you: wider, longer, higher, and deeper than anything you know. Rejoice that this marvelous Love is yours forever!
The best response to this glorious gift is a life steeped in thankfulness. Every time you thank Me, you acknowledge that I am your Lord and Provider. This is the proper stance for a child of God: receiving with thanksgiving. Bring Me the sacrifice of gratitude, and watch to see how much I bless you.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
—1 Peter 5:7
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
—Ephesians 3:16–19
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.
—Psalm 107:21–22

A thousand lives....

a thousand lives.....

I read a quote..".a man/woman who reads lives a thousand lives before he dies, a man/woman who never reads lives only one..."

Another quote, "so many books, so little time..."

I have loved reading for as long as I can remember...my grandparents read a lot, my parents read a lot...we didn't read as a family together, although I wish we had...my children read a lot and now my grandchildren read a lot..

We are all living those "thousand lives" vicariously through the eyes and words of many, many authors...but, each person is living full lives as well, not totally stuck in books, but writing lives of their own...

Besides that, they are reading the most popular book as well, the very Word of God...which speaks of many lives of various people...and the lessons they learned on their journey with the Creator...and are passing those lessons on down through the centuries to relate to modern day people...God working now as He has in all time...

Each morning my husband would read his Bible, and then read the Bible to our children either in "picture book" form or the regular Worded one...as I prepared breakfast....then we would read a family devotionals geared to children's level..., "the  magnificent machine", "keys for kids", "daily walk"...

The way God spaced our children, each had time alone to do this with their dad...and we had worn our picture Bibles to prove it...

Thank YOU for your word which richly inspires, teaches, admonishes our lives through the generations...

2 Timothy 3:15-17 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 

Colossians 3:16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 

Thanksgiving blessing...

Thanksgiving Blessing....

 

As we live in a world of Black Fridays, cyber Mondays ,  red holiday decorations, Santa arrivals, sales, blowout prices, there is little mention of the real meaning Thanksgiving and Christmas...in some ways it has become a merchant's and consumer's dream...sell, sell, sell, buy, buy, buy...with advertisements beginning earlier every year... 

Where are the Pilgrims who sacrificed, the nativity in remembrance of Christ's birth ....they have been lost in shuffle of political correctness ...history rewritten to suit the times and not the truth... 

It was refreshing to hear the following short radio (radio?, what's that ) broadcast..

http://www.coolestone.com/media/13558/Red-Skelton's-Thanksgiving-Blessing-(1947)/#.VlcaL4g76K1

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, 

pray continually, 

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 

1 Corinthians 10:30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? 

Psalm 107:8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing loveand his wonderful deeds for mankind, 

Sometimes I feel like Jesus is going through my soul as He did in the temple, over throwing the money changers tables,...when I have gone the way of the world in leaving the the thanks out of Thanksgiving and the Christ out of Christmas... 

Matthew 21:12-13 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” 

Let my day, instead of focussing on the world view, help me focus on God's view..let me humble myself before Him, thanking Him for the riches He has bestowed on this country, the riches He has bestowed on me, not materially but making this vessel I live in a thankful blessing...let me be a "house of prayer" ...

2 Chronicles 7:14-16 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. 

Thank YOU, God for Yourself...

Agreement...

Agreement....

"In His sovereign way, He has the right to take  them away or leave them right here. I need to be ready to agree with Him in either case." From Lori Wick, " The Proposal".

There are times that I don't agree with what God does...I know that may sound awful...but I want my way or the highway ....I want him to work in certain ways and He doesn't...it seems like it would be much simpler that way...having my way...the sin of pride goes deep in many of us ...

But when I stop and listen with my heart...I know that God's way is the best and I agree with Him even though I don't understand all the reasons...the whys, the how's, the everything...

The lessons learned from my wanting my way to turning to His way are deep cleaning of my attitudes..my pride, my hopes, my expectations ...my, my, my...replacing them with listening, learning, agreeing with the sovereign Creator of the universe ...the One who knows each of us before we were formed in our mother's womb...the One who has a path for us in life...the One who loves us beyond our finite list of words ...the One who desires our fellowship...our love...the One who gave His Son for us...the One who is preparing an eternal home for us...if we but agree that we need Him above all...and accept Him, rejoice in Him and His love for us...

Thank YOU above all ....help me agree with you in all my being...and listen to You....

1 Samuel 3:9-18 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 

The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 

And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. 

At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. 

For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them. 

Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’” 

Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.”Samuel answered, “Here I am.” “What was it he said to you?” 

Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you.” So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. 

Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.” 

"Old " music....

"Old" music...

Recently, I attended a concert of music from the 1960's-70's...music I grew up with...music that I heard as a preteen and teenager.....

We listened to music all the time, with my parents owning a music store...we sold the 45 double sided records, the 33 1//3 albums and the 78 records as well as the sheet music to the popular songs of the time...the "top ten" played regularly...they were played on the local radio stations and the school dances we attended.....a huge part of our everyday lives...we hummed the songs as we went about our lives, knew the words as we listened ....this was a long time before our present MP3 players, iPhones, androids, iPads, computers, DVDs, CDs ....

While the music concert was fun to listen to, it was hard as well...those were fun times...enjoying life, music, childhood, a good life, but time has passed and age is showing....now a half century later, one marriage, four children, nine grandchildren later....lives have changed, my life has changed...the love songs sang at the concert emphasized the aloneness of widowhood... I still knew the words, but the love of my life is gone ...and I am on to new horizons...

Over those same years, God has worked so much in my life...continually showing His love...replaced the old songs with new ones....added many more songs of life, love and His Word...working to grow more grace, care and service into my life...put new words into my thoughts, new praises in my 

lips with His psalms....to glorify Himself...with "new music"...

Thank YOU for the "old" music but thank You so much for the "new" songs You have put in my heart....

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. 

Psalm 40:3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.Many will see and fear the Lord And put their trust in him. 

 Psalm 98:1 Sing to the Lord a new song,for he has done marvelous things;his right hand and his holy armhave worked salvation for him. 

Pushing the chair....

Pushing the chair....

As I waited for a bus to take other passengers and myself back to our cruise ship, i was watching a group of "homeless" people across the street encamped under some low trees....one of them was in a wheel chair, the others were sitting around on the dirt or on rocks...finally one pushed the wheel chair bound one across the street to take up his place at a mall entrance...

"There, but by the grace of God, go I" my mind cried...but in realty I was a beggar as well, asking God for His gift of salvation....the Holy Spirit "pushed " me to God's entrance as well...I was standing outside the Mall, wanting entrance, wanting those gifts, goods inside...and God drew me in... And gave me the greatest gift of all, His Son...now wearing a robe of righteousness, I don't have to beg for tidbits from others, but have the God of the universe as my caregiver and Father...

Bringing others, helping them...those acts of kindness , serving one another, even in the little things like pushing a wheel chair is our privilege...whether they are poor or rich is a privilege so that they may come to that open Door which God holds open... 

Thank YOU for sending those friends who have helped me along the paths of life...

Psalm 22:26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;those who seek the Lord will praise him—may your hearts live forever! 

Psalm 34:6-7, 15 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;he saved him out of all his troubles. 

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,and he delivers them.

 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,and his ears are attentive to their cry; 

Excursions ....

Excursions....

On tours from various trips, cruises, tours there are side excursions .  Some are chosen by the participants and others are added by the tour guide.  Some are added for enrichment to the basic tour while others add fun and games. And as tour participants , we may or may choose to do any or all of the excursions ...

Yesterday, a friend and I arrived one day early to catch our tour. So we chose to add our own side trip... With Map and information in hand, we set out to go to local holiday crafts fairs...

Calling a taxi, we gave him the address of the biggest craft fair..he couldn't find it and finally with meter running, we asked him to let us off at a huge swap meet instead ....this one was set in a former drive-in space. Amid tents, open trucks, blankets, we found personal care items to used clothing to mounds of fresh fruits and veggies or care parts...an Asian cultural experience...

Then asking a variety of locals, we made our walking way to another side excursion. It turned out to be another swap meet, " bugs in the Park" a huge show of old VW beetles and vans.  So spiffed up and shiny, they stood in rows  for inspections and admiration...

asking other locals , we boarded a bus which finally took us to our original destination...the craft fair...well worth the wait, it was all we hoped for. Booths and booths of hand made articles and commercial ones as well, Asian food, music, and fun amongst the local neighborhood of people...what an excursion!!!!

 

We didn't go directly to our destination, but found enrichment in the side trips...

We may plan our lives with goals and plans, But the "taxi driver"  may have another  route to our destination...adding enjoyment, cultural experience, sometimes pain which adds to our life...we may not like  the route  or we may love it...they all add something to our lives...

The side  trips may include surgery, death, a new acquaintance, culture, family members, a wrong turn, a bus ride, and even swap meets in the middle of a drive in or a car show...

The Israelites went to Egypt because of a famine, left Egypt to claim a new land, went to Babylon  for discipline, returned to their land year later...

Jesus' earthly father took them to Egypt to safeguard his family and brought them back to a new home when safety was assured..

Paul took numerous trips to preach the gospel to peoples along the way....

Stephen rode with the Ethiopian to explain the gospel and baptize him nearby...

So many "excursions", so many "side" trips...or are they really??? God ordained moments to teach us lessons of life or just to enjoy the journey ...

Thank YOU for excursions you have allowed or planned just for me in life...help me to be enriched by them no matter what they are...

Jeremiah 29:11-12 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart,but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.