Goats....

Goats.....

When my family was younger, my youngest daughter still in diapers, we had milk goats. I know I have written about them before, but this video clip surfaced and gave me pause to think about those goats again.

Of all the animals we ever had, goats were the most entertaining, exasperating, cutest, disobedient, useful, tree eating animals we had...they would give wonderful milk which we used for cooking, making cheese, yogurt, and just plain drinking ...

When some of my family lived in and visited Mongolia, goats were used for milk, cheese, hair, cooking, and meat there as well..the babies kept penned, while the mother goats roamed to eat..is was the women's duty to milk them when the time came each day... Goat  meat was sold at the market, whole or pieces...

Goats are talked about all through the Bible, from Genesis to Revelations...both wild and domesticated....they  were used for their skins, their hair for spinning, for sacrifices, trade, their value....A sin offering and a scapegoat to be sent into the wilderness carrying " sins" on its back...they were referenced as part of one's wealth ...a variety of colors and patterns for their skins...meat and milk for the food of a family...they were and are part of the Mid Eastern culture as well as others around the world... 

Thank YOU for the provision through the generations of food which you Supply either from the ground or the animals You Have created for our use...

Everything has a purpose in your economy ....

http://www.coolestone.com/media/13906/Cute-Baby-Goats---A-Cute-And-Funny-Baby-Goats-Compilation-%7C%7C-NEW-HD/#.VqIrGIg76K1

Proverbs 27:23-27 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds;

 for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations. When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in, 

the lambs will provide you with clothing,and the goats with the price of a field. 

You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family and to nourish your female servants. 

Tightrope....

Tightrope...

As I was running errands yesterday, I drove past a park. Two young men had strung a cable between two trees and were "practicing " their tightrope maneuvers, balancing their bodies as they traversed the cable...I didn't see them fall, only walk sedately from one end to the other, with the ground five feet below...

It gave me pause to thought...am I walking a tightrope in life? With no safety net below? Or is life safe with the rope only a few feet off the ground? What is my safety net?

Then as I turned to Jesus Calling this morning, it asked the same question...as a Christ Follower, my safety net is in the Everlasting Father..as I step out in faith, He is there, holding my hand, ....if I fall, I fall into His arms....my balancing act is between Him and the world...which would I rather put my faith in...

Stepping into each day, whom do I trust? Each decision, who is my helper/ counselor ? Who gives me balance? Who catches me when I fall?

Who is my safety net?

Thank YOU for holding me  through the tightropes of life...the balancing acts we are thrown into in this world...

Deuteronomy 33:27a The eternal God is your refuge,and underneath are the everlasting arms.....

Deuteronomy 33:29b He is your shield and helper.....

Psalm 15:1-5 Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?

Who may live on your holy mountain? 

The one whose walk is blameless,who does what is righteous,who speaks the truth from their heart; 

whose tongue utters no slander,who does no wrong to a neighbor,and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord;

who keeps an oath even when it hurts,and does not change their mind; who lends money to the poor without interest;

who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

Whoever does these things will never be shaken. 

Romans 8:39 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. 

Truth....

Truth .....

 I was looking up the simple word, "truth" recently...

What a plethora of definitions..."relative", "factual", "firmness", "frankness", "faithfulness", constancy"... To name a few..."everyone's truth is different..."

So what do we base our truth on? We each have to make that decision, God has given us the free will to choose ...but if must be done carefully. It has an eternal consequence..."our truth or His..."

Truth is our core...the first first piece of armor, the belt that strengthens us...

These passages stood out when I was looking at the word, "truth". The WHOLE WORD is truth...but truth has much to say to each of us...Jesus is truth, He is the Word...

Thank YOU for real Truth,,not what the world gives, but what You give freely...  

Psalm 25:5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. 

Psalm 119----so rich with what the Word  does and our response...

Proverbs 22:17-21 Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, 

for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. 

So that your trust may be in the Lord,I teach you today, even you.

 Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge, teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth, so that you bring back truthful reports to those you serve? 

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

John 15:26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. 

1 Timothy 2:3-4 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 

This passage made me stop and consider my ways...I don't want Truth to perish ...and what am I doing to prevent that?

Jeremiah 7:28 Therefore say to them, ‘This is the nation that has not obeyed the Lord its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips. 

Our comfort....

Our comfort....

 A friend and I are having a marathon Griefshare session as We are spending the week together.

By day, we are working the sorting of equipment, books, accounting, etc that were the accumulation of our husbands' lifetime businesses.  In the evenings, we have been watching all the Griefshare videos and responding to bookwork that accompanies that class...it feels like everything is on hyper speed as we grapple with both the business and Griefshare information...she is only four months into widowhood...

This Journey really started five years ago when the two men partnered in business after successful careers singly.  Eleven months into the partnership, my husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer and succumbed five months later. Her husband then took the full reins of the new company and ran it successfully until cancer and it complications took his life as well four and a half years later as well... Leaving two widows and their children with gigantic holes  in their lives and a business to motivate through....

Through it all, God has comforted, revived, held us....He has provided people who have advised us...helped us, encouraged us..He has loved us,  sending His word deeper into our souls to those hidden places that only He sees...he has prepared us, as well, through life experiences, to move forward, to rely on Him...

Oh, there are tears, questions, reminders of loss and gain, every hour of the day and night ...that we are on an unexpected journey ...but we have a eternal, all knowing, all powerful, compassionate Partner on this path...

Thank YOU, for journeying with us, giving wisdom, giving deep abiding peace, enfolding us with your loving arms....You alone deserve honor and glory...Praise to You....help us to look to You in everything we do...

Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction,That Your word has revived me. Nasb 

Psalm 119:50 My comfort in my suffering is this:Your promise preserves my life. NIV 

Psalm 119:156 Great are Your mercies, O Lord; Revive me according to Your ordinances. 

Psalm 119:156 Your compassion, Lord, is great; preserve my life according to your laws. NIV. 

"My grief doesn't end with my comfort...." Griefshare participant , 

It goes in to comfort others...

The New Resource   A daily devotion for January 16th   From your friends at RayStedman.org     Read: John 6:16-21       A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. But he said to them, It is I; don't be afraid. (John 6:18-20)       Those are very wonderful words for us, because our Lord is saying these same things for our benefit. This whole incident of the storm and their precarious condition in their boat is designed to teach his disciples the resources they have in their risen Lord. This is why John follows immediately by saying, they were glad to take him into the boat. Their fear was immediately relieved when they realized it was indeed Jesus who was walking on the water, and he was in control of all events, so they willingly received him into the boat. Immediately there was further demonstration of the power of Jesus, for they were instantly on the other side of the lake, to where they were going. The three or four remaining miles of the journey was suddenly accomplished, and they found themselves at the dock in Capernaum. I am startled by the number of Christians who do not act upon this truth, but seem to succumb to the pressures and the problems of life and react just like a non-Christian would. They grumble and complain, feeling set upon and put upon. They despair and strike out and strike back; they rely upon worldly schemes to deliver them from difficulties. What is more amazing is how many times I have experienced the joy of Jesus' presence, freeing me from the circumstances, and yet how many times I go right back and react the same way that others do in times of pressure and danger. Yet, here indeed, is the sign of the New Covenant, the new creation: Jesus with us in the very circumstances we find ourselves; triumphant, in control, Lord of all those circumstances, the new hidden resource for life which is available to believers but which the world knows nothing about. This leaves us with really only one question: Why don't we believe this? Why are we so much like Peter, who, even in the midst of experiencing the power of God to walk above his circumstances, loses his faith and begins to sink beneath the waves? You can always tell the man or woman who does learn this secret, who does welcome the Lord into the boat of difficulty, who does hear his Word, It is I; be not afraid. When we accept that fact we will find that it reveals itself in our very countenance. People who have discovered this have a quiet peace in their eyes even when things are going wrong. They have a confidence that everything is going to finally work its way out to what God's intended purpose was. There is not a word of complaint or grumbling. They regard the circumstances as necessary to what God wants to do in their lives—which is always for their own good, for their own ultimate happiness—and they accept them. They are a joy to be around. When you go to encourage them you find they encourage you. Do you know why? It is because they have already taken Jesus into the boat. When people do that, they discover that they have already arrived at the goal toward which the rest of us are still struggling. They are already there; they have found love and joy and peace. That is why these accounts are here in the Scriptures—to teach us the hidden resource of life, the place to run to when things get overwhelming and we find ourselves pressured. And this is not something to be reserved only for the great trials of life. It is available for any time of pressure, or any degree of it. When we accept this on that level, we are discovering the new creation, a new resource the world knows nothing about. Lord, may I understand afresh the inner resources by which I can remain calm and confident in the midst of trouble and danger. Help me to manifest this, Lord, as a testimony to your presence.       Life Application   As our lives are rocked by worldwide turbulence, added to life's daily stresses - where do we go to find peace of heart and soul? Does the Prince of Peace have full occupancy in our lives?    Related Message   For more on this portion of Scripture read the message: The New Resource or listen to the audio by clicking:   Listen to Ray     Previous Devotions for January Next       Want to Subscribe?   Subscribe / Unsubscribe to this Daily Devotion by Email   Copyright © 2016 Ray Stedman Ministries — This daily devotion is from the book Immeasurably More: a year of devotions from the writings of Ray Stedman, compiled by Mark Mitchell. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice and a hyperlink to RayStedman.org if the copy is posted on the Internet.

 

Saved....

Saved....

http://www.coolestone.com/media/13858/Unbelievable-Animals-That-Saved-People's-Lives/#.VpeaYYhHaK2

I was watching this short video early this morning and it reminded me of fireman stories, policemen stories, and stories of others who were saved by animals and people in millions of ways throughout history...

This following is a reminder that we are guarded by so much more than another human or animal, we are guarded by the Most High and his angels until,such a time that He calls us Home...

2 Kings 6:15-17 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.

 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 

And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 

Psalm 91:11, 15 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 

He will call on me, and I will answer him;I will be with him in trouble, 

I will deliver him and honor him. 

We all want to be safe...and be saved from hurt and destruction...while these stories  tell of bodily saving, there is a much more important saving we each need and desire...

Salvation that comes for the soul..that we may have eternal life...that we have   

Dwell in the Lord's house forever...

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 

Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

 not by works, so that no one can boast. 

Acts 16:30-34 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 

At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 

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. 

Thank YOU that You Desire that we be saved and have provided a way for that Salvation....

Add to....

Add to....

I love watching my grandchildren grow and mature...they range from 14 months to 16 years...just walking to a newly licensed driver...so all are learning how to navigate, In some way, this world around them...there are ups and downs, stops and starts, step by steps, new rules of navigation...getting from point A to point B, new freedoms, and maybe some bumps and bruises, with a few scratches along the way (not too many, I hope)...and lots and lots of firsts...

Each of the older grandchildren have made a decision to ask Christ as their Savior and I pray that the younger ones will follow suit as well...I want all of my family to have a heavenly reunion, with no one missing...with their grandfather and great grandparents showing us  all around, those rooms, those Streets of gold, everything...

As I was reading these verses this morning...I prayed that each child would pick up the wisdom found in God's Word...and add to their lives the following...

2 Peter 1:3-8 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; 

and to goodness, knowledge; 

and to knowledge, self-control; 

and to self-control, perseverance; 

and to perseverance, godliness; 

and to godliness, mutual affection; 

and to mutual affection, love.

 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Galatians 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 

And these words are such a small portion...but adding them to our lives would help each the "keep in step with the Spirit" of the living God...

Thank YOU...for the qualities to add to our lives...that we may lead a godly and Spirit filled life...

Prayer letters...

Prayer letters...

I regularly receive prayer letters from Christian organizations as well as individuals involved in Christian outreach.  They read many times like the following psalm, ....thanksgiving...triumph...prayer for enemies  of God...praise for what God is doing in personal lives and through events...prayer for the injustices that are happening worldwide ...continued awareness of God and His kingdom ....

God is at work in individual lives, He is at work in the World both near and far...He is victorious ...He is to be thanked..praised...

Thank YOU that you work, have worked  and are always working in our lives...You neither sleep nor slumber ....You are a refuge...

Psalm 9:1-20 I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

 I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High. 

My enemies turn back;  they stumble and perish before you.

 For you have upheld my right and my cause, sitting enthroned as the righteous judge.

 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.

 Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies,you have uprooted their cities;even the memory of them has perished. 

The Lord reigns forever;he has established his throne for judgment. He rules the world in righteousnessand judges the peoples with equity. 

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you,for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. 

Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done. For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted. 

Lord, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death, that I may declare your praises in the gates of Daughter Zion,and there rejoice in your salvation. 

The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.

 The Lord is known by his acts of justice;the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. 

The wicked go down to the realm of the dead,all the nations that forget God. But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish. Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph; let the nations be judged in your presence. 

Strike them with terror, Lord; let the nations know they are only mortal.