Entwined ....

Entwined...

Outside my door at the mountain retreat, there stands two aspen trees entwined with one another. In their center branches, sits a bird nest, lovingly held . No birds reside there as fall weather hits. But,  I just imagine earlier this year a pair of birds painstakingly wove bits and pieces of sticks, feathers, threads, twine into a beginning home for their little family. Eggs were laid, warmed, hatched and babies nurtured until they at last flew off into their own lives.

As I look at this tree each time I go by, the whole retreat fits this picture as well...a hundred plus people from all over the United States, Central America,  South America entwined with one another with their love for Jesus, their love for teens, their care for one another, their common goals...
Each meeting of hearts and souls grows them closer together...building that "nest" to nurture one another til they fly away to their lives in different lands...but still entwined at the heart...

Thank YOU....for your entwining care, love...You pull us to grow with you...entwined with brothers and sisters in the Lord...no matter where in the world they may be....

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:10-11

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Ephesians 4:16

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
1 Peter 1:22

Exalted...?

Exalted....?

http://mvotd.com/mobile/watch.php?vid=d32720a09

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Luke 18:9-14

How humbling....I watched the video referenced above...after reading today's scripture selection...how humbling...

How would the church I attend do in this situation?   How do I do?  My fears rise when I pass someone on the street ....but, it is not just the homeless person, it is the neighbor next door, the teen selling fruit for their team, the Salvation Army red bucket soon to appear, the woman holding a sign at the stop light, the pregnant young girl, the abused child, the countless pieces of mail arriving daily asking for funds with sad pictures attached....the world outside my sheltered life...

Am I the Pharisee, thanking God that I am not like those "others" or the tax collector, "standing at a distance", humbled in the very presence of the Almighty God, asking for mercy...? Do I exalt myself in front of others or am I humbled ?  Are your plans, my plans or do I rush into life ahead what you desire, basically saying, " come on God, follow me"? What is my heart attitude, really deep in my soul???

Thank YOU for the check in my spirit...the reminder to come into your presence only acknowledging You...exalting You...Your grace is sufficient ...

"Did I not tell you...."

Am humbled to be at a conference of Christian leaders from Mexico south through South America . I am just an observer..and here to give a friend a traveling partner...but....

We are among to trees of the high mountains of Colorado...the aspens have lost their leaves, the air is crisp, fall is in the air...the mountains rise above us,  snow dusting the craggy rock slopes...the forests  hiding a multitude of homes of all shapes and sizes...people living day to day lives...some aware of the call of Jesus, while others are oblivious to the Great God who has surrounded them with his creation...

The Glory presented in the beauty, the nature around us....as beautiful,as it is ....nothing compares to glory of the Lord...that belief brings ...the salvation of someone's soul...that eternity waiting...face to face with our Savior

...
Thank YOU...

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
John 11:40

“You are my witnesses, ” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses, ” declares the Lord, “that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?”
Isaiah 43:10-13

16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Mark 16:16

Where can I go....

Where could I go...

There are times during a life that the world seems to shut down, darkness enshrouds the soul and we are left reeling from pain, misery or blackness...when it seems the tiniest light can't break through...

The psalmist must have felt this way as he penned this psalm...the song writer the following song...

We can come into God's presence, knowing that he is still in control......he never really left us...thank YOU...


I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.
I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble.
When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me.
Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge; no one cares for my life. I cry to you, Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”
Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me.
Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.
Psalm 142:1-7


Where could I go but to the Lord....
https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/1038569

Isn't God amazing?...

 Isn't God amazing....

http://mvotd.com/mobile/watch.php?vid=e3f179659

Apparently turning 70 is a big deal!!! As friends and family far and near gathered together to celebrate my upcoming 70th birthday...I don't feel like I am 70 most of the time ( or what does 70 feel like?). In the past, that age was wayyyyy out there...or something "old" people  turn...but, no, it is really me!!!

Isn't it  amazing our perspective as we age.....?

Thank YOU that you have numbered my years...thank YOU for a family and friends who care, who celebrate life while we have it...how precious, gracious, kind, encouraging...

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/renee-fisher/turning-70_b_9589846.html

https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-09-2012/what-to-expect-in-your-70s-and-beyond.html

https://70candles.com

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-wonders-of-being-70/2011/05/06/AFWx47BG_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.46aaecc39018

https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Life-Expectancy,-Today

Prayer requests...

Prayer requests ....

I have finally joined a women's Bible study again after a year of none. While not involved with a group, I have been studying the books which my former group have been going through ...(accountability is good).  But, I have missed the people interaction and fellowship, plus hearing  others' comments and concerns...so purposed to get out and about to do new things in this new area..
So even though I don't speak up much, it fills a void in my life...it is hard to believe I once was involved in a group of writing these studies...or later writing them on my own....or facilitating groups all the time for years...lots of changes...

Listening to prayer requests, writing them down even though I don't really know many of these new women...my mind wanders into wondering about their life stories... Each one has one as do I...their families, friends, their health, their desire for salvation for friends and family...

Requests I have heard  a multitude of times over the years from a multitude of people ....what has happened  with all those requests over the years..."what is the rest of the story?"

Times when we each feel that others are praying for us, upholding us in times of need...God ordained events...His touch of healing...because of prayer...His answers in His time...His orchestrating life circumstances to bring about salvation, awareness of Himself...
Times when the world seems to be collapsing around us...and He sends a rainbow to brighten our path or a piece of scripture to encourage, a song or someone knocks at the door with a simple smile or casserole...

In the closeness of our homes to the farest reaches of the world...nothing is too small or too great for His care and concern...He hears those requests ...and has for century upon century...He is the God of yesterday, today and tomorrow...thank YOU...

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:
Psalm 37:4-5

Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”....
Nehemiah 1:11a

I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.
Psalm 17:6

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. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12

John 17

Two paths...

Two paths...

I am doing a study of David Jeremiah's, "The God You May Not Know"...

Today's portion included the verses in Matthew about the wide and narrow gates in relationship to his topic, " God's Goodness is seen in the path He chooses for us".

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matthew 7:13-14

I don't know about others, but sometimes I blow through portions of scripture without sitting down and really taking them in...I know what they say...but I haven't meditated on them...or maybe another portion has spoken deeply that day/time and that is where I light...

Today it is this portion...
Two gates-wide and small
Two roads-broad and narrow
Two groups of people-large group, a few
Two destinations-destruction and life...

Choices we each get to chose from...paths we can take...do we join the crowd? Or walk with the few? Do we weigh the end results? Do we want the easy or difficult?
Do we try to please men or God? Do we rely on God's guidance or our own merry way ? What do we really want to find, comfortable or eternal?
Dailey, we have the opportunity to make choices...easier sounds better a lot of the time...but, it may not be prudent ...or right...what does my mind dwell on ? Where do my thoughts wander? What passes my sight? What channel do I choose? What books? What places do I go?

In my heart of hearts, I want the path that God chooses for me...blessings abound there, His presence goes there, He holds my hand, He gives life...thank YOU...