Naps….

 Naps….

I have never really been a nap taker…I remember riding  gathering cows or checking fences with my dad as a child. We would stop at lunch time, eat our lunch, the my dad would lay back, cover his eyes with his red handkerchief, take a ten minute nap and then on we would go. I watched him, wondering how he could do that so fast while I couldn’t. He did that all of his life until his passing…quick naps…

This last year I have learned or tried to learn about that fast relaxing nap. Mine come in spurts, with this last illness, they been easier…as I have been doing some major healing…1-3 hour-long naps…not the quick ones my dad took…

The nap/rest in itself is healing…and our bodies need it…I am so thankful God gave us sleep…Jesus needed it himself when he was here on earth…

I get weary at times not just tired, but weary…then this promise of completion comes to mind…God has a plan and He will finish it in each of us…

 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Phil.1.6

 

For he delivers the needy when he calls,the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy,and saves the lives of the needy.

Ps.72.12-13

 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most Highwill abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,my God, in whom I trust.”

Ps.91.1-2

 He gives power to the faint,and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Isa.40.29

 For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.”

Jer.31.25

 The Lord your God is in your midst,a mighty one who will save;he will rejoice over you with gladness;he will quiet you by his love;he will exult over you with loud singing.

Zeph.3.17

 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary.

Rev.2.3

 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.

Gen.2.2

 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matt.11.28-29

Thank YOU…..

Come to Me….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb7hWNafr50

….comfort verses …12

 Comfort verses….12….

I have still accumulated verses that can give comfort….

Hope delayed makes the heart sick; longing fulfilled is a tree of life (Proverbs 13:12 CEB).

 

“My soul yearns, yes, even pines and is homesick for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out and sing for joy to the living God” (Psalm 84:2 AMP 

Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? (Isaiah 43:18-19a MSG)

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24 NIV). 

But I cry to you for help, Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you (Psalm 88:13 NIV).

When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it” (John 11:4 NIV).

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you (John 15:7 ESV).

Thank YOU…

Great is thy faithfulness…

https://www.desiringgod.org/great-is-thy-faithfulness

Inwards parts…

 Inward parts….

Yesterday as I was unpacking from my summer away from home, at the hospital and rehab, I found a drawing that the doctor must have made of what he did to my insides, fighting to bring about healing …he is a good doctor/surgeon who explained well and obviously drew pictures of what took place in my “inward parts”….the picture is even signed…while people prayed…

There is still some time needed for completed healing, but it has started…due to God’s design.

 For you formed my inward parts;you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.Wonderful are your works;my soul knows it very well. 

My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret,intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;in your book were written, every one of them,the days that were formed for me,when as yet there was none of them. 

Search me, O God, and know my heart!

Try me and know my thoughts! 

And see if there be any grievous way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting!

Ps.139.13-16,Ps.139.23-24

  I thought about this…as we grow in Christian life, there are times we find some of our thoughts and ways need “operated” on, cleansed , searched out to heal and be transformed more and more to be like Christ…

This is not necessarily an easy process…it may need some rehab and time to heal…we hold fast to some old habits and thought patterns…which can fester away our joy…but, God is there with his healing hand, others are there with their prayers…

 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1John.1.9

Thank YOU….

 Show me your ways…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGp3VCKkjaU 

Others are worth your time in prayer….

 Others are worth your time in prayer….….

I am sitting, waiting to go home…I left July 5 and barely remember that as I was so ill.  I got to go home for about 4 hours about a month ago, take a nap, sort mail…and then back to rehab and finally back to hospital for repair….no matter the day of the week the whole time, I heard from someone who prayed for me…I was worth their time…that is more humbling than I can imagine…and more convicting as well…

Granted the prayers could have been answered with a resounding “no” as well, but for this time, they weren’t…God has our days numbered as he say in Psalms.

Anyway, every time, I thought about going home, I cried, because I was so humbled, so thankful that people took time to pray for me…I was worth their time…which turns into…”others are worth our time to pray for them”…so simple, yet so profound…

God answers prayer…

When I put the word “pray” in the search section of my Bible program, it came up with over 300 references starting with Abraham praying…

 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children.

Gen.20.17

On through…

 “Hear my prayer, O Lord,and give ear to my cry;hold not your peace at my tears!For I am a sojourner with you,a guest, like all my fathers.

Ps.39.12

And on…to a few of my favorites …Jesus praying for us…He thought we are worth His prayers…John 17…

 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

John.17.6,John.17.7,John.17.8,John.17.9,John.17.10,John.17.11,John.17.14,John.17.17,John.17.20,John.17.21,John.17.26

Through the rest of the New Testament, praying for one another…and even when we do t k ow how to pray…

 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Rom.8.26

 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.

1Pet.4.7

Ending with…

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.

3John.1.2

We may look around at those in the spotlight for various ministries, thinking we have little to give/offer to the kingdom, but we were worth Jesus’ prayers and his love, by his declaration…and if He says so, others are worth our time in prayer for them as well…He brings those into our lives who need prayer…

are we answering the call?????

Thank YOU…

Talking to Jesus…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXsxw1fRHMA

 

A peacemaker…..

 Peacemakers….

The other day as I was writing “a troublemaker “, my mind was thinking about the opposite, “a peacemaker”as well… I know I have blogged about them as well while going through various Scripture portions…

And then, our pastor’s sermon drilled down on the verses in 

Romans 12:9-21…aptly titled, “Marks of a Christian”. He even included a bookmark for each person as a reminder of our character as a Christian….

Thank YOU….

Psalm 23….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo3HgtT_OiE

“Living in Community”. Pastor Brett Seigalkoff, 10/20/24

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IOR2lKu2zg

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Matt.5.9

 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,and a word in season, how good it is! 

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

Prov.15.23,28

 When a man's ways please the Lord,he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Prov.16.7

 Let love be genuine. 

Abhor what is evil; 

hold fast to what is good. 

Love one another with brotherly affection. 

Outdo one another in showing honor. 

Do not be slothful in zeal, 

be fervent in spirit, 

serve the Lord. 

Rejoice in hope, 

be patient in tribulation, 

be constant in prayer. 

Contribute to the needs of the saints and 

seek to show hospitality. 

Bless those who persecute you; 

bless and do not curse them. 

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 

Live in harmony with one another. 

Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. 

Never be wise in your own sight. 

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 

To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Rom.12.9-21

"We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ." - 2 Corinthians 10:5

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." - Philippians 4:8

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Col.3.12-17

"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger." - James 1:19

Another view from my hospital room, a world sized mural designed by our Creator….

A troublemaker….

 

A troublemaker…..

I was reminded this week, there are potentially 64 elections world over this year, which can effect at least 49% of the world’s population….some are going smoothly, while others are not…

Living in the USA, we hear mostly about our own the problems with it, the various controversies, the various issues and sides, while other countries are going through wars, similar things, similar issues with different names and faces,,,,

We are reminded to pray for our leaders no matter the culture, country…and as the times are rough, we be hooves us to do so….

“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,and I find knowledge and discretion. 

The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.

Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. 

I have counsel and sound wisdom;I have insight; 

I have strength. 

By me kings reign,and rulers decree what is just; 

by me princes rule,and nobles, all who govern justly.

Prov.8.12-16

 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

Col.1.16-18

 A troublemaker and a villain,who goes about with a corrupt mouth,     

who winks maliciously with his eye,signals with his feet and motions with his fingers,     

who plots evil with deceit in his heart—he always stirs up conflict. Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy. 

There are six things the Lord hates,seven that are detestable to him:         

haughty eyes,

a lying tongue,

hands that shed innocent blood,         

a heart that devises wicked schemes,

feet that are quick to rush into evil,         

a false witness who pours out lies and

 a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

Prov.6:12-19

Thank YOU….

Whether we are in the last days or not, we still have a job to do…pray…

days of Elijah….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j63-J0GBG5c

Sunrise from my hospital room, looking due east…nothing spectacular, but a new day regardless…

https://www.ndi.org/elections-calendar

https://time.com/6550920/world-elections-2024/

Ambushes, preparations, weddings….

 Ambushes, preparations, weddings…

There is a church adjacent to the rehab center where I am presently residing. Their landscaping includes wood chip mulch around their plantings…every time I walk by, there are little holes made by some of the local squirrel population….preparing for the winter ahead by storing their nuts in these holes dug for that purpose.

It reminds me of the ants from the Bible….

 Go to the ant, you sluggard;consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander,no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

Prov.6:6-8

Ants are creatures of little strength,yet they store up their food in the summer;

Prov.30.25

I have family and friends who are doing the same…canning, butchering, drying, freezing food for the months ahead…

Other preparations, we can sometimes make are emotional ones…and sometimes we are not prepared at all for ambushes to  

 Go to the ant, you sluggard;consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander,no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summerand gathers its food at harvest.

Prov.6:6-8

Ants are creatures of little strength,yet they store up their food in the summer;

Prov.30.25 our emotions….

I was able to attend a wedding yesterday of a friend’s daughter… it was beautiful, weather nice for the outdoor event…

But then the dancing commenced….bride and groom’s first dance, bride and father, groom and mother then finally everyone…

The one that always gets to me is the bride and father,  his 

“Little” girl leaving the nest, leaving his protection, going into the arms of another…the songs played for that dance are always poignant and cause a tear to many an eye…and as much as we try to prepare for it, it is still an ambush for tearful emotions…for both the father and daughter….daughters who have lost their fathers no matter how long ago and others…

Christ is preparing a place for us where there will not more tears…that is hard to even imagine, no tears of sorrow, remorse, joy, remembrance…but, it will be more than great…

Thank YOU…

 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

John.14.1-4

 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Rev.21.4

Butterfly Kisses…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftQVud5NUOs&list=PL8CQGojbjxe8Dx32xTPrvRC4-Joynz-Bu&index=9

Cinderella….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftQVud5NUOs&list=PL8CQGojbjxe8Dx32xTPrvRC4-Joynz-Bu&index=9