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. 

Phone calls...

Phone calls...

I can think of only a handful of good early morning or late night phone calls...most have had bad news...I thought of that early this morning as the phone rang when I was just awakening...to tell me about a refrigerator delivery across the country ...(not mine)... He apologized...random...but it got my adrenaline moving...

I love the good ones....a new baby is coming, early morning birthday or Christmas wishes, just to say "I love you" calls...something good...

But, those late night ones are hard and usually sleep depriving with prayer...and maybe some tears...

I am so glad that God is always awake, always present, always listening, always available to lean into, listen, comfort, to hold...He is there for the good phone calls and the bad...He rejoices with us during the good calls and holds us when we cry through the bad.. 

Plus, He wants us to "phone" Him more often just to talk ...and listen to His words of wisdom, advice, direction... Even to thank Him for the moment...praise Him for the time...

Thank YOU for the good and bad phone calls....thank YOU that You are willing to answer/listen anytime day or night...time is not a problem for You...

Matthew 28:20b  .....And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

Psalm 73:25-26 Whom have I in heaven but you?And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 

My flesh and my heart may fail,but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 

John 14:18, 27 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 

Without regret....

Without regret....

"101 things to get rid of without Regret--declutter today..."

 "New Years resolutions that are worth keeping..."

Detox for the New Year...

Exercises to continue for the New Year....

1001 places to visit...

Read your Bible in a year....

The New Year is here...we are one week into it...the new model sales have started, the "to do" lists have appeared...tax season has reopened its yearly data accumulation file...diets and exercise machines are being advertised...a year of "new"... 

So many choices, what is important and what is not..I did read each one of these articles..each had pertinent information that I hope to use..there are things I need to get rid of, resolutions that are worth keeping, the smoothie recipes are good-I have tried some, I want to continue the exercises, I have started on the places to visit and the Bible is more than worth reading again ...to name a few...

We each get the chance to choose what is important to change, throw away, keep and remain the same...but we need to get to end of the year "without regret"...  in our decisions...so we need to choose wisely...being ready for God's intervention as well...as His plans for our new year may vary with our own....

There are hugs to bestow, thank yous to be said, words of encouragement to be sent, smiles to be shared, gifts to be used ...add these to the lists and the new year may be brighter and without regrets...

Psalm 90:6 In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered. 

It made me think of this verse in psalms...this speaks of a new day..but I put for a year...we are given this piece of time..and I don't want to get to end of this year thinking my choices  making it a "dry and withered" year...but something with new joys, new understandings, wiser, good choices...

Thank YOU for your plans, Your new days...help me rejoice in each one....without regrets...

Taking for granted...

Taking for granted....

I love to take photos. I am not good with photos of people, usually...but details of flowers, scenery, ...I Iike that the most...it is amazing to see a bush filled with flowers and then get up close and personal and see the detail of each petal, each leaf...the ice crystals that form on the side walk in the snow, the birds, eating or drinking at the bird feeder, the hermit crab skittering across the sand, the howler monkey mothering her baby, a tiny baby's fingers and toes, the magic of a cloud formation or a rainbow across the sky, etc, etc,etc,...

It reminds me of the Mary Poppins' song, "Raindrops on roses" when I start listing out "my favorite things"...

There are many details I dislike, bookkeeping for instance....it is beyond me with all those numbers, checks and balances...I know it is very important and so appreciate those who think in those terms....thank you so much...

Reading about the ordinary water which Jesus turned into the best wine...Jesus did it with detail, telling the steward just what to do ...and it happened...something "everyday" to something special...like raindrops on roses may be everyday to some, but becomes special when the detail is observed...beauty .....

He does that with our lives as well, using them to His glory...each of us is special, even when we think we are ordinary...acts of service, prayer, words spoken to encourage, parenting, and so much more...God can use them for His ultimate purpose...Thank YOU...

"Our Lord is able to take the humdrum, commonplace, ordinary events of any life and with his touch make them full of flavor, fragrance, strength and beauty; to turn them into wine. He will do this with any of us as we faithfully walk with him, follow him, and believe in him. Jesus, please take my ordinary life and through your great power change it into something full of joy, beauty and strength.

Are we learning to observe and appreciate God's awesome, transforming work in even simple and commonplace events and circumstances of our lives?" Ray Stedman, water to wine

use me for your Glory...

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

"This is Jesus"...

"This is Jesus"....

Four years ago I wrote this...

"This is Jesus, counselor, the righteous One, the Living Word....

This is Jesus, the Son of man, the Son of God, Emmanuel....

This is Jesus, Redeemer, the compassionate One, The Lord of all...

This is Jesus, Teacher, faithful, gentle...

This is Jesus, the Lamb of God, the Lion of Judah, the Prince of peace...

This is Jesus, prayerful One, Alpha, Omega..

This is Jesus,  refuge, fortress, strength, shield ...this is Jesus, 

Beloved, Messiah, healer and friend...

The Light, the Vine, the Bread Of all, ....this is Jesus...

THere was a tune...., I have forgotten it and it came with my "songs in the night" that God gave when I was caring for my terminally ill husband...but it rang over and over in my head at the time...

I occasionally read my few scribbled notes in my journal at the time...I was so tired, so desperate, so clinging to Jesus' hand and strength....everyday was a gift and a torture ...bittersweet...to have time, but to see him fade away...to see our expectations, our dreams, our lives change so drastically...to see our children watch their father die was almost unbearable...they were such troopers....

There were friends who stood by us, visited, encouraged...came to express their condolences...those who prayed from far  and near...who dropped by with food, words of wisdom, but Jesus stood with us all the time-day and night....

Thank YOU for "songs in the night"... The Words You spoke and still speak...Your comfort, Your presence, ...."This is Jesus "....

Psalm 119:76 May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.