My Poor Neglected Blog

Oh my how I have neglected this blog. I am not sure exactly why I haven't started up posting again. I think it is because it is easier to do everyday posting than to post about spiritual things. It's not that I can't find a lot to talk about concerning God and His Word and I am always excited to teach His Word to others but it seems to me that people don't always feel comfortable  hearing spiritual truth from the Word. Having said that it is not a good excuse not to write more often than I do. So that will be my goal. James  informed me that he has been working on his writing about what he learned from God as he went through his illness before the healing. I so look forward to reading it and using it here. Have a blessed day.

So Busy

Well, it seems I have been so busy trying to get a my new blog up and running that I have ignored this one. I really am going to try to get this one in better form. And then I have plans to write about James' healing that came from the Lord after having a chronic illness for 17 years of his life. It is a long story so it will be probably be written over time. It will be the testimony of what God did for James and for our entire family. It is nothing short of a miracle and I will be forever grateful for it. I also asked James to write about what God taught him through it all...and if he okays it, I will include that here as well. It really will be more a story of the faithfulness of God and how He keeps His promises to us....always.

New Year 2010

Well, it has been a long time since I have written. I tried to write more often but some how it didn't happen like I wanted it too. I am thinking of starting a new blog and keep this one also. The new one will be chit-chat, family photos, sharing my crafts, and things that the Lord is doing in my life. This one I will leave for writing about the things that the Lord puts on my heart as I still feel led to have a separate one for just that. I guess I will just have to try it and see what happens. I have met some new friends through blogging and on the Proverbs 31 website. One of those friends is Ellen from Canada. She has been my "swap sister" for exchanging little gifts. She and her husband love the Lord and my sense is that they are sold out to Him. They have an adorable little boy named Elial. He is a real cutie with such expressive eyes. I would very much like to connect with others via blogging. I love to encourage and speak of the goodness of God and talking crafts doesn't hurt either. :) So I will soon take the time to create a new blog, but I am one who learns from trial and error. I eventually "get it" but sometimes it takes awhile. So I will watch some tutorials and see what I can come up with. God is so good to all of us and I wish everyone a blessed New Year. :)

He is our ever present help in times of trouble.

I have been reading a Bible study book by Elizabeth George called "Quiet Confidence for a Woman's Heart." I will be leading a study of this book soon for a small group of my friends. The book takes you through 12 life-changing truths God wants us to know from the twenty third Psalm.

David loved and trusted God right where he was at, as a shepherd boy that killed Goliath with a sling shot and finally as King of Israel. God was faithful to David and met him right where he was at. Psalms 25: 20-21 says:

"O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.

Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee."

This is just two of many verses penned by David as he walked in relationship each day with God. Where are you today? What is your station in life? Are you married, single, a mother, or grandmother? Do you work in an office, a factory, drive a bus, or is your title "stay at home mom"? Where ever you might be right now...God loves you with an everlasting love. The Bible says in Hebrews 13:5-6

"...for He hath said, I will never leave thee or forsake thee.

So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I shall not fear what man shall do unto me."

Psalms 23:4 says:

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

"I will fear no evil." Why...because our loving Shepherd is ever near and watchful. Jeremiah 1:12 says:

"Then said the Lord unto me, thou hast well seen: for I will hasten My Word to perform it."

This means, that God watches over , looks after, protects, and stands behind His Word to bring it to pass. God meets us and is with us in every trial and tribulation that we go through. Psalms 34:19 says,

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all."

He is the great I AM. He says, "I AM everything that you will ever need. I do not leave you defenseless." God the Father sent His only Son Jesus to die on the cross for us. Before He died He spoke the words, "It is finished." The original Greek word "teleo" in the Strong's concordance means, "to end, complete, execute, conclude, discharge (a debt)- accomplish, make an end, expire, fill up, finish, pay, and perform." Satan was defeated forevermore. It is our responsibility, as children of God, to enforce that defeat over him, by our prayers, our praises to God, and speaking God's Word out of our mouths, in faith. We have the Holy Spirit that is our Helper, and Comforter. He speaks wisdom and knowledge to our hearts and minds. He shows us the way to go in any given situation.

Psalms 23:3
"He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake."

Psalms 119:105
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."

Psalms 119:130
"The entrance of thy words gives light; it gives understanding unto the simple."

There is a song written in 1939 by E. M. Bartlett, called "Victory in Jesus". The chorus reads:

O Victory in Jesus
My Savior forever
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood.
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.

I Corinthians 15:57
"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

I say, "be it unto me as He has said." Amen.

Beauty for Ashes

Sometimes I have those moments where words form in my mind and they just have to be written down. Last night I was reading in bed and that is what happened. I keep a notebook and pen by my bed just in case, so I wrote:

It is Jesus that took the ashes of my former life (which would be before I met Him)and He gave me of Himself...His beauty, His holiness, His righteousness, His salvation, His truth and His peace. I now live in liberty and freedom in Him. (sweet liberty) I am no more bound in "the pit" of self loathing, feeling sorry for my self or being in bondage to worldly desires. (those things not of Him) Everything I am that is "good" is found in Him. He lives in my heart and bestows His love upon me. Did I deserve it? The answer would be a big NO, but He gave me His love and His life anyway. He shed His blood at the cross for us. He always meets us right where we are and His atoning blood has cleansed us from all unrighteousness. We are in "right standing" with the Father because of what Jesus did for us. His word says because we have made Jesus the Lord of our life we have the "mind of Christ" (1 Cor. 2:16) We are able to think His thoughts and live our life in victory, when we keep His word and abide by His Commandments.

It is He that brings us:

Life
Love
Victory
Answers to Prayer
Joy
Truth
Restoration
Prosperity
Healing
Goodness
Mercy
Patience
Peace
Kingdom Living
Hope
Wholeness
Longsuffering
Desires of our heart
Quietness
Strength
Eternal Life

"The author of our life, Jesus, had a plan for us before we ever took our first breath and no other being, human or otherwise has the authority to steal it from us." (from author Dutch Sheets) The life that we live, "it is not us that lives but Jesus Christ in us". (Gal. 2:20) As we cooperate with him we are able to walk in the destiny that He has laid out before us. I say "Lord use me in any way you choose to bring the gospel of your wonderful love to others and reap a harvest of souls for Your kingdom." Amen

Where has the Time Gone?

Wow, it has been a long time since my last blog entry. Time just seems to go each day very quickly and I never seem to get all done that I would like. Anyway, I do try to do those things that God puts on my mind and heart. I was praying today or (trying to pray) but it seemed like I just couldn't find the words to get out what I wanted to say. All days are not "roses" even though I do not like to complain. I tend to want to speak positive up-lifting words most of the time. You know you pray and pray for certain things and when you don't see any results, (for a long time) you think "Okay Lord this is taking a very long time, what is going on?" I have learned from past trials and tribulations to get patience, but it seems that when I pray for the salvation of others I want it to manifest right now! God has a different timetable than we do. He is never in a hurry and he knows what it takes to bring His creation to the cross of Jesus. He knows the best way to lead them and guide them to all they can be in Him. He has an indescribable love that is hard to be explained. We take it on faith in His Word and by the power of His Holy Spirit. How do you explain the love of the Father that never "sleeps or slumbers?" He watches over His Word continually to perform it on our behalf. He gave His only Son Jesus so that we could live but it is not us that lives but Christ IN us. Who can explain a love that never leaves us nor forsakes us even when we are disobedient and disappoint Him? He continues to "woo" us by the Holy Spirit to bring us back into right standing with Him. We only need to "confess our sin and He cleanses us from all unrighteousness." He longs for a relationship with us His children. He teaches us through His Word. He brings us truth and light...in Him is no darkness at all. As we follow after Him and desire Him only we can say as did King David,

Psalm 91:2
"I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust."

Psalm 121:2-3
"My help comes from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer my foot to be moved: He that keeps me will not sleep."

Psalm 86:15
"But thou , O Lord art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth."

Psalm 145:17-19
"The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works.
The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them."

As His children we have the promise of His Holy Spirit that does the work in us. We come to Him each day in prayer expecting to receive of His grace and mercy that is "new each morning." Paul says,

Ephesians 1:3-9
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
According as He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein he has made us accepted in the beloved.
In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace;
Wherein He has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He has purposed in Himself."

I say "thank you Lord for your ongoing love for us and for upholding us by the power of your Word."

I will leave you with this, it is what I declare over myself and speak it back to the Lord---

Acts 17:2a
"For in Him we live, and move, and have our being..."

Happy New Year To All

Happy New Year to all. January 1st, 2009, a brand new year with all of it's possibilities. I always make a list in the New Year. I would not call it a list of resolutions though. I call it a list of things that God puts in my heart to work on as part of spiritual growth for the new year. It is really doing those things that keep you walking in the destiny that God has given each one of us. It is taking an inventory of those things in our life that may need some change and allowing God to change us according to His word. Growth, I like that word as it means increase and strength. 2 Peter 3:18 says:

"But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory now and forever."

Proverbs 24:3-5 says:

"Through wisdom is a house builded; and by understanding it is established: and by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong; yes a man of knowledge increaseth strength."

We are not to be "wise in our own eyes" but use the word of God as our standard on how to live our lives every day. As we walk in the Holy Spirit daily He leads us and guides us into all truth." Author John Ortberg says "God can't use an empty vessel. We must be full of Him to be used. When we are full of Him then He can pour out His goodness and anointing out of us to a dying world." That is so true because we can't give away what we don't have. So in this new year 2009 my plan is to:

Show the love of God more
Give more
Praise more
Show more kindness
Listen more
Smile more
Sing more
Dance more
More peace
More wisdom
More knowledge
More thankful
Count my blessings more
Step out in faith more
Be more obedient to Him
Be more like Him

2009 is all about more; walking in the steps of Jesus.
Thank you Lord, for making all things new. (Rev. 21:5)