Welcome to Thankful Thursday, a day to praise God and thank Him for all He has done in our lives! I have a GREAT story about a GREAT God that I want to share this week.
I was walking/driving home from school with the kids. Because we live SEVERAL blocks from the kids' school, I drive part of the way and then walk the remainder. It's too far for Abigail, so I bring the stroller for her to ride in.
Well, when we had reached the van and was packing up the stroller, three kids got my attention from across the street. They held up a black item and yelled over, "Do you know who this camera belongs too?"
As I squinted to get a better look, I realized it was MINE!
It had been in the stroller from a school activity the day before and I had forgotten all about it. It must have fallen out of the stroller when I had unpacked it and put Abigail in. I had not even noticed that it fell out!!!!!!
So, excitedly, I screamed, "Yes! It's mine!!!!!"
Oh......I was THANKING God! He had been looking out for ME! I wouldn't even known where to begin looking for the camera if/when I realized it was missing. The kids were so honest. I know it was God who prompted them to ask me. They didn't even know me! Oh, how GOOD our God is!
He is an "EVER-PRESENT HELP"! Please scroll down and read the next post that celebrates how God helps us in our times of trouble...
and please visit my very good friend Lynn for more THANKFULNESS!
Thankful Thursday....lost and found.
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God's love,
Thankful Thursday
Is the earth shaking?!
“God is our refuge and strength (mighty and impenetrable to temptation), an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” – Psalm 46:1-3
Wow! This psalm says so much, and we could so easily skim right over it, reading it without giving it much thought. But, let's ponder it together....
Have you ever felt like life was crashing in around you? Have you felt like the earth was “giving way” under your feet? Have you ever felt like mountains were going to fall down all around you? Have you heard waters roar in your life? Has it seemed like life was falling apart? Have you felt afraid, unsure, stressed, attacked, or that life seems too difficult? This is exactly what the psalmist is talking about.
But, he has an answer for us.
Verse 1 says, “God is our refuge.” Don’t miss the first point- God is OUR refuge. This is personal. He is not someone else’s, but MY refuge. I can claim this for myself!
What is a refuge? It is “a place of shelter, protection from danger or difficulty, a place of safety, a safe retreat.” GOD is those things to us- He is our safe place- our protection from danger and difficulty.
God is also my strength. The Amplified Bible says “mighty and impenetrable to temptation.”
God is mighty- able to defeat any temptation or trouble that would come my way. Strength is “the state or quality of being strong, the power to resist strain, stress, and the power to resist attack.” This verse doesn’t say that I am my strength- it says “God is my strength.” I don’t have to draw upon my own strength and power, thankfully, because my strength always falls short! I am never strong enough, but God is.
Then, the psalm says that God is “ever-present.” He never leaves! He is ALWAYS here with us (even when we don’t “feel” like He is here, the Truth is that He is always, ever present). Psalm 121 says God is always watching over us. “He who watches over you will not slumber nor sleep (you don’t have to “lose sleep” with worrying, God is NOT sleeping). He watches over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” So, God is always with us, ever-present.
Well, not only is God always present, but He is an “ever-present HELP in trouble.” Sometimes we may have people in our lives that are always there in times of trouble, but they are not a help. God is a HELP. He is full of wisdom, He knows how to help. He sees the whole picture of your life, not just what you are going through at the time. He knows what we need even more than we ourselves do. And, “He works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.” Sometimes, God is the only One who can help and we can trust and know that He has a perfect plan.
The next verse says “THEREFORE (therefore, because He is our refuge and our strength and is an ever-present HELP in times of trouble), we will not fear.”
This is a bold statement. It doesn’t say we shouldn’t fear, or that we don’t have to fear, maybe we won’t fear, but is a confident faith statement WE WILL NOT FEAR. I will make the choice to NOT fear, but instead to trust God because He is ever present and never leaves me, because He is my refuge, my safe place, and He is my power, my strength to resist stress and attack. Even though my circumstances may be awful- the mountains are falling down around me and I am in an earthquake of life- I am going to CHOOSE to trust in God. I am going to encourage myself in the Truth. I am going to resist fear and keep my eyes set on the One who can save me. I am going to believe this Word and live it, no matter how I may “feel.” I am going to repeat over and over to my heart that “God is my refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.” I am going to declare this Truth and choose to believe it.
This psalm ends with a verse you may be familiar with, “Be still and know that I am God.” Let’s quiet our hearts and our minds and KNOW in our hearts and minds that He is God. He is Creator of the Universe. He is Creator of each one of us. He is the Alpha and Omega- the Beginning and End. He is our Father, our Savior, our Friend. He is our refuge and strength and ever-present help.
Father, we praise You. We love You. We know that You are God. We stand in awe and amazement of Your love and Your power and Your glory. We thank You that You are our safe place, our strength. We thank You that You take our burdens- You are strong enough. You help us in times of trouble and we need not fear. Lord, I pray for anyone that is experiencing an “earthquake” of life, they feel the earth giving way beneath them. Come to them, Lord Jesus. Remind them that they are not alone. Whisper to them that You are here, waiting for them to lean back upon You, to depend on You. Make it reality to them of who You are. Praise You, God! In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
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God is our refuge,
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Word- Filled Wednesday....Seasons
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
…He has made everything beautiful in its time.” –Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 11
Have you noticed the trees starting to turn the beautiful colors of autumn? I love the fall; it is my favorite season! I began thinking about seasons…..how we have different seasons in our lives.
For instance, several years ago I had an in-home daycare and took care of several little ones including my own. In 2000, God placed on my heart the desire to “do” daycare in my home. My kids were all very young. I know it was God who placed this desire in my heart because I never was excited to wipe yucky noses of OTHER people’s children! (And the many other ways a mother serves her children!) But, God gave me the ability to truly LOVE these children as my own. And, it turned out to be a precious time in my life. I am thankful for the years of serving, singing bible songs, teaching bible stories, and just LOVING on these precious ones.
As a mom, I remind myself that this time, too, is just a season. My children will only be this young once. They are growing up. Sometimes, I can get frustrated because I want to do more.....There are things I desire to do for "me." God has planted many dreams and desires in my heart, but, I remind myself to be patient and wait for His timing. I have to remember that season has not yet come.
Father, I praise You. Thank You for Your infinite wisdom. Thank You that You know when a season has come to an end. I may try to hold on, kicking and screaming, but I surrender to You. Thank You, God, that make everything beautiful in its time, in Your time. Help me to be patient, Lord, when I am in season that is difficult. Remind me that is a SEASON, and “this too shall pass.” Thank You for Your harvest season! I love You, Lord! Praise You, Jesus! In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
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fall devotions,
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Word-filled Wednesday
In Other Words....Living Differently
"Christians make a difference in this world by being different from this world;they don't make a difference by being the same."from Unfashionable by Tullian Tchividjian
I LOVE this quote!
Jesus told us that we are "the light of the world." He said, "A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:13-16
When we were out in the desert in Arizona, we were staying at a remote resort outside of Phoenix. At night we could go out on the balcony and look out into the darkness. It is so DARK in the desert. But, when we turned towards Phoenix, the city was a shining light in the darkness. It was BRIGHT and could be seen for miles and miles and miles. Jesus says WE are to be that light.....
The world is HUNGRY for something different. The world is lost and hungry and suffering and debilitated and ailing......it is darkness. Flip channels to any variety of reality shows and watch for a few minutes and you will see people who are empty...searching....needing...
The world looks to the Church to be DIFFERENT. Yes, the world is quick to condemn us as Christians. But, usually it is because we are hypocritical....saying one thing and doing another.... If they were honest, they would tell us that they WANT us to be DIFFERENT.
When you are in the dark, what is it that you stumble around for? What is it that you are searching for? What is it that you desire more than anything else?
LIGHT
Are we shining? Are we shining the Light of Christ?
Or...are focused on BEING LIKE THE WORLD? Are we allowing the world to seep in...little by little...so that the lines are blurred and we can't be distinguished from the world?
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor....In your anger do not sin. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, vulgar talk or coarse joking, which are of out of place, but rather thanksgiving.....
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. (Ephesians 4 and 5)
Lord, may I be a Light shining for You. When the world looks at me, may they see something different....holy, set apart, separate. Lord, be big in me. Lord, I choose to put ON YOU. I love You, Lord.
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being a Light,
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In other words,
Sin
Gathering at the Well
Good morning, Sisters! As we gather together this morning, drinking deeply from the Living Water of Jesus and His Word, Deb from One Single Minute has asked us to ponder a very thought-provoking topic: Living in an Evil World.
She asks: Do you find yourself taking part in godless living and sinful pleasures?
If so....What steps are you going to take to gain strength in wisdom, righteousness and devotion to God?
It's a heart issue! As I continue to ponder the question and going back to the scripture passage...my mind keeps going back to the "health" of my heart.
Am I pained when I sin?
Do I continue to ask God, "Get my heart right, God!"
Am I grieved when I fall?
Do I seek purity?
Or.....
Have I become "immune" to my sin?
Do I even notice it anymore?
Do I keep "moving the line" a little more...a little more.....a little more....?
Joyce Meyer said something this morning that really resonated with me:
Compromise is when "you go a little below what you know what is right."
Have we, especially as a generation, as the Church, gone a little below what we know is right? Have we let a little more and little more and little more creep in slowly?
Sin is crouching at our door, waiting to devour us.
It begins "small"....watching unwholesome TV or movies (Desperate Housewives, anyone?), listening to unwholesome music, reading "just the headlines" of the gossip magazines in the checkout line....
And before we know it, sin escalates into an affair, living with a boyfriend, pornography.....
We have compromised a little...allowed just a little below what we know is right....and then, a little more....a little more...
So, what do I do?
PRAY!
REPENT!
SEEK JESUS!
READ THE WORD!
I know that the answer has to be seeking Jesus, falling on Him, declaring that I can't do anything without Him, turning AWAY from sin and TO faith, reading the Word so that I know the difference between lies and Truth, and continue to pray for God to purify my thoughts, my motives, my heart....
Jesus died so that we could live a life FREE from sin and death! Jesus told the woman in John 8 to "go and sin no more." He can tell that to her because HE GIVES THE GRACE TO BE ABLE TO DO IT!
Jesus wasn't saying, "You better not mess up again or you'll be on the rock pile tomorrow!" He was saying, "I have given you FREEDOM so that you no longer are a slave to sin!"
The very next words of Jesus after freeing this woman are: "I am the Light of the World! Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)
In the REALITY of life, it means I must make some choices.
I have to CHOOSE to turn off the TV (or talk radio, or the computer). For me, it is turning ON Christian teaching- either radio, TV, DVDs (check your church library- they are a great resource!), or Christian blogs. I also have the Bible on CD. When I am working around the house, doing chores, I CHOOSE to turn on things that will renew my mind.
"Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but instead be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- His good, pleasing, and perfect will." Romans 12:2
"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you were living in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy." 1Peter1:13-16
I want God to reveal to me areas of my heart that are not following Him. I want Him to purify me. I don't want to try to do it in my strength (because that is when I fail!). I want Him to SHINE through me. I continue to PRAY this every day.
.Father God, I love You! I thank You for all You have done! Thank You for Jesus! Thank You that You have given us FREEDOM through Christ! Help us, Lord, to walk in this freedom. Purify our hearts and minds, Lord. Father, show us areas of our lives where we are taking part in godless living and sinful desires. God, get my heart right! Lord, purify Your Church. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
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At the Well,
Sin