A new Bible...

A New Bible...

I have had to start in a new Bible this year...my old ones have each fallen in into despair..or disrepair...each have been through many periods of heartache and mountaintops of life over the years...dates and notes abound in the small spaces of blank edges...history...shared history...with others, with God, my life...

They are old friends...I know where to look for scripture, for notes, for references...breaking in a new one is like starting over with a new friend, even though the words are same, it handles differently, the pages are new, no notes to reference back to a life note, or past history written on the sides...the cover is hard, no pliable as the old...the pages are sometimes stuck together with newness and not used...it doesn't fall open two favorite places, the columns are organized differently...but it is ready to accept new notes, new dates...new life experiences...new highlighting...

I am glad I didn't have to change Bible sooner in these last few years...so many other changes have happened, that changing Bibles would have  been       Another hard change...new home, new neighbors, new life style, new acquaintances, new church, new geography, new relationships , new responsibilities, etc...was enough ...

But, the same God was there through it all...his Word illuminating the new path...walking with me, holding me, teaching me, comforting me...as He has through the past...the Words are same in the old and new Bibles as He is the same yesterday and today...thank YOU...for the newness, in your word and your love every morning ...the familiarity, and the new lessons from the ancient Word...

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Lamentations 3:22-26 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Motive....

Motive...

* "A reason for doing something, especially one that is hidden or not obvious: 
synonyms:
reason, motivation, motivating force, rationale, grounds, cause, basis, object, purpose, intention, incentive, inducement, incitement, lure, inspiration, stimulus, stimulation, spur.  ...." Yahoo definition 

The question....why do we do what we do...for self recognition or for Christ???  And then, why am I doing this?   Do I want the accolades or am I doing this for the kingdom, giving glory to God?....

Testing my motives takes me to my heart...my mind...my soul....what is really directing this act or thought...these words...?

Just reading the following scripture  portions in the two translations dig deep into motives, my motives...asking myself what and why....my humanness, my sinfulness gets in the way so many times...when I want the fore front....not giving glory to the very creator who made me the way I am...who chose me to bear his likeness and not my own...to be more and more transformed to His image and less of me...

Thank YOU that mold us to have the same motives that you do in humility of mind, heart, soul...not looking to ourselves but to your example...making your joy complete...as well as our own ...

Philippians 2:1-8 the Message.  If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.


Philippians 2:1-11 NIV Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Dreams realized...

Dreams realized...


Most of us have dreams that we fantasize over for a time, years in the making or changed, matured...

We can be  a part of a dream for others or visa versa...God leads us into an intersecting path in other people lives for help with a dream, to make it come true, to be part of the process...or even just to encourage that dream...with the resources, words, time,  your presence...

For example, growing up, I dreamed of being a wife and mother...in time that came true... I met the man  I was to marry on a computer date in college...we dated and later married,   finished our schooling, joined the work force but dreamed of a family...he dreamed of prospecting on his own and owning his own business....those dreams of family and business came to fruition in time....but different routes than we expected, but they came...
We had four wonderful children either by birth or adoption...a business which took us through lean and fruitful years...
As time went on, dreams came true and changed...supplying resources to other became part of our dreams...giving, serving a God who so blessed us became more and more important...we saw to the needs of fulfilling dreams of others ...by the resources that had been entrusted to us...

My parents saw those opportunities as well, giving of their time to teach, inform and build...my father taught how to grow and help with forestry...so he gave time and money to students whose dream it was to work in the forests..
My mother taught music and art to students  who aspired to become musicians and artists, to enjoy art and music in their lives...both through her time and later with scholarships as well...

Now, again, here my family is  having the holy privilege of helping others realize their dreams of medical clinics, schools, water wells dug, lives saved from slavery, etc., etc., churches, transportation, saving lives spiritually and physically, around the globe through the resources that He has entrusted to us...we don't know the long term effects of each decision we make...but it will be lasting...both in our lives, our children and grandchildren's lives...we are but tools in a path of life...our choice is to be useful or not ...available or not...open or closed...

Thank YOU...for dreams...those of others to fulfill, my own which You built into my life and fulfilled...those of future generations...

( way out of context, but still apropos ) Genesis 37:19 “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other.

Psalm 37:4-5 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:

It is a blessing to hear how God uses you in other people's lives not to puff up our esteem but to give glory to the Giver...to see how He weaves each of us into another's life...see the miracles that only God can perform...Praise...thank YOU again and again...

ANDRAE CROUCH
To God Be The Glory Lyrics


How can I say thanks
for the things you have done for me
Things so undeserved
Yet you give to prove your love for me
The voices of a million angels
Cannot express my gratitude
All that I am or ever hope to be
I owe it all to Thee

(Chorus)
To God be the glory
To God be the glory
To God be the glory
For the things He has done
With His blood, He has saved me
And with His power, He has raised me.
To God be the glory
For the things he has done

(Bridge)
Just let me live my life
And let it be pleasing, Lord to Thee
And should I gain any praise,
Let it go to Calvary.

With His blood, He has saved me
And with His power, He has raised me.
To God be the glory
For the things he has done

It is windy...l

It is windy...

Last night and still this morning, the wind is blowing and blowing.  One of my roof vents rattles and rattles when the wind is blowing...so the noise is annoying...but you can hear the wind, your can feel the wind, see the results of the wind, but cannot see it...it moves snow, dust, trees, buildings,....scours the rocks with sans in certain areas, dries out the moisture, or brings moisture in the clouds...

God sent wind to  Noah to dry out the land after the flood...to the dream of Pharoh...to Moses the part the sea, to send meat to feed the millions of people...tearing the mountains apart with Elijah...causing the death of Job's children...plus many illustrations in Job, the psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastics, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, the minor prophets,

Places that reference  wind seem to speaks of judgment, bringing provision, weather, amazement, God's sovereignty, ...the Holy Spirit...
All the way from Genesis to the last book of Revelation...wind is spoken of....so as even the wind blows, it is a reminder in the noisy night to the light  of the day of God's creation, his power, his use of all things...
Thank YOU...

God is pictured riding the "wings of the wind"...2 Samuel 22:11 He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind.

Genesis 8:1 But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.

Genesis 41:23 After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind.

Exodus 14:21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided,

1 Kings 19:11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.

Job 1:19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

Proverbs 11:29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.

Ecclesiastes 1:6, 14 The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course.
I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Isaiah 29:6 the Lord Almighty will come with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with windstorm and tempest and flames of a devouring fire.

Jeremiah 5:13 The prophets are but wind and the word is not in them; so let what they say be done to them.”

Ezekiel 1:4 I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal,

Matthew 8:27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

John 3:8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Revelation 7:1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree.

Jesus in Spanish....

Jesus in Spansh....

Early this morning I was  downloading the Story of Jesus in Spanish onto my iPad...I couldn't understand a word of it, but "Jesus"...

The App from the Jesus Film Project lets anyone download any Jesus film that is translated. 1300+ languages, short films, the Jesus Story for adults or children, Magdelena-a story for women, plus lots of other interesting things...

I was reminded to do this downloading as I was reading Mark 4, hiding the light under the bushel...we have such technology and I hadn't made use of it...if you have wifi, you can watch the movies without downloading, but If you have it downloaded you can watch it any time as long as your power holds...I just hadn't taken time to do it...hiding my "light" due to inconvenience...
Lord willing, I will be in at least three different Spanish speaking countries in the next 6 months with some opportunities to be with children, adults...I don't know what those times hold...but this morning I was obedient to the voice saying "download, download"...

Mark 4:21-25 He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?
For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.
If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”
"Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”

Thank YOU for the reminder this morning in this particular instance not to keep what I have been freely given hidden away...but to take the opportunity to let your Word speak to those with whom I may have contact...

Sleep, stress and weight loss...

Sleep, weight loss and stress...

I rarely sleep past 4:30 or 5 a.m. My mind wakes up, starts processing the days past or the day ahead...remembering to pray for this or that, this person or another, then on to Bible studies, devotionals and finally assimilating what is being said to me personally and what I need to write down either for myself or to share in blog form...not each day is the same, but similar...

I would like to sleep later, those around me do...even if I go to bed later, my internal alarm still awakes me early...then I am just more tired the following day...
 Of course, I would love to attribute my overweightness to lack of sleep...I will take any excuse for that, especially if I don't have to take the real responsibility for just plain overeating...those hormones just kick in...
But, even as I have been losing weight, I still awake early...so go figure...

So stress must account for early morning wakefulness, weight gain...i say to myself..."studies" prove that...and sometimes it may be so...

But, really, for me, I think it is God calling...to hear His word..to listen, to read, to think, to remember, to study, to ponder, to personalize, to write, to assimilate..to be still... Whether in the parables, the psalms, the proverbs, or any book we are working through..He has a word, a lesson for my soul and mind...

We as believers, are all called to do different things in life, follow different paths that God has chosen...but following, leaning on Christ as our Savior...

Thank YOU for the early mornings...continue to work in my life through your Word as it reveals truth...

Mark 4:9 Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

James 1:25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Psalm 46:10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

1 Corinthians 2:9 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him—

"Ever noticed how hard it seems to get the sleep you need?  Whether it's insomnia or those never-ending lists of things we wanted to accomplish, as a society we're simply not getting the sleep we used to.  Over the same years that we've had more trouble keeping the weight off, we've been sleeping less.  What's the connection?" Ideal you...


"February 2 I AM YOUR EVER-PRESENT HELP. Many people stumble out of bed in the morning and head straight for the coffee pot. Though they are not yet thinking clearly, they are awake enough to move toward something that will help unscramble their thoughts. I perform a similar function for you when your mind stumbles in My direction. Ask Me to clear out the confusion so you can communicate deeply with Me. You have this amazing capacity because I created you in My own image.
As you wait in My Presence, I not only unscramble your thoughts, I straighten your path through the day. I am sovereign over every aspect of your life, so opening up the way before you is no problem for Me. Some people assume they don’t have time to begin their day with Me. They don’t realize how much I can facilitate their activities—removing obstacles and giving insights that save time. When you spend precious moments with Me, I compensate you generously: I clarify your thinking and smooth out the circumstances of your life...Jesus Always, by Sarah Young...

Struggling....

Struggling...

When I read the following quote early this morning, I wondered what the rest of my devotional time would bring...

"When we're in the middle of a difficult time, it's easy to think that we're failing...that we're simply not going to make it. The truth is that the struggle itself is sometimes the very thing that we need." Ideal You..quote

Like many people I know, I struggle with too much weight on my body, too many decisions, good versus bad judgments, use of time, speed limits, politics ...etc., etc....

So my first reading in the Word was Mark 4 about the farmer sowing seeds...and lamps..
Are my ears hearing the Word and is it penetrating my heart?  Am I good soil? Or am I struggling with the bad soils with no production? Do I really want to be good soil or just plod along In life with no direction, no fruit?
Do I want to be a lamp, light to others...or hide what has been shown to me in my life from others...

Mark 4:24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.

Then my next spot to land was Proverbs 4, struggling between right and wrong, the ramifications of right and wrong thinking, wisdom and no wisdom ...
-listen
-get wisdom, understanding
-do not forget
-hold on to instruction
-guard
-keep
-fix
-esteem
-embrace
-do not swerve
-etc., etc.

"Struggle, strive for wisdom " my quote...make right choices...be that good soil..be that lamp..."consider carefully..." This is no easy path without struggles...

Proverbs 4:20-22, 26 My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.
Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;
for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.

Oh, no doubt there will be struggles...we live in a world battleground...good and bad..
But, God is on our side ...He is victorious...He bears our burdens when we lay them at His feet... He is with us in our struggles...He helps us transform...He gives light...

Result....Proverbs 4:18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

Thank YOU even in the struggles ...I do need them...whether I like them or not... You light the path through them...M