Complaining or Thanking?

 In Psalm 78:52 the Bible says, "But He brought His people out like a flock, He lead them like sheep through the wilderness.


When we look back at the Israelites leaving Egypt we can see why the scripture compares them to sheep. He did lead them, protected them, and provided for them day and night. Yet after all He had done, they grumbled and whined.

I had to ask myself how often do I do that. With all the Lord does for me daily, do I still complain that it isn't enough? 

Lord, forgive me for my complaining. I thank you for all you have done for me. For my salvation, for eternal life with you, for your healing, and for your provisions while here on earth. Help me each day to start my day thanking you for all you do for me.

Blessings!

A Brief Rest

God said, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28




God is so gracious to us. He knows when we need rest. Several weeks ago, I had

retina surgery and rested my eye. It is healing and I am doing well. During this time

I followed the Lord's words and rested.

Looking forward to being back within a few days.




God blessings to all!

God's Words Are Our Covenant

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12 (KJV)

Sometimes we seem to have trouble understanding that when we are reading the Bible we are reading words to help us in our everday lives.


Andrew Womack said, "God’s Word is living and alive. His Word is health unto all of your flesh and life to them that find it. He sent His Word to heal and deliver from destruction and more. And for those who will place His words in their hearts and allow those seeds to conceive, they will in time see the manifestation of what they believe and speak."

Blessings!

Opening Up!

 

"How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?

How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?


"Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.


"But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me."

King David, a mightking, a rich ruler,bowed down to by all. Yet this mighty king, had an intimate relationship with God. He bowed down to God Almighty. He worshiped God with a deep abiding love in his heart for God.

Is our relationship with God this loving?

Reading the words of David enables us to see into their relationship. Do you sense the intensity of it? His connection to God was emotionally and spiritually close. God was many things to David. He was his friend, helper, comforter, protector, provider, companion, avenger and his Father. He was everything to David. He talked to God as if he could see God sitting there. He was honest with God and told him his feelings, worries, concerns, fears, problems and asked God when was He going to help him.  This is one of the reasons David had a close relationship with God. He was open with God.

Maybe, we should open our hearts up and share with God the way David did. Our relationship would then be as close to God as David's was.

Blessings!

The Palm of His Hand

 

"I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Psalms 16:8"


In my devotion this week I was studying communing with God. During this time of quietness, these words came to me: "Keep your focus on God".

I had to wonder how often during the day do I keep my focus on God. My mind is focused on things I do around the house, errands to run, and family. If you are working outside the home, you have all sorts of things going on around you. I had to confess I wasn't focusing on God during my day.

This quickly reminded me; I miss wonderful opportunities to talk to God and to listen to Him. I am repentant that I have not kept my focus on Him throughout my days. Even when I am busy doing other things, I can still say a quick prayer, or thank Him for an opportunity or a blessing.

When our focus is on Him and not the world, we can have the peace He gives us. We can have calmness because of Him. It is like being in the palm of His hand.

 

Have You Shared His Gift With Others?

 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20

Not only did Jesus tell His disciples to do this, but he has told us this is our commission to.

Colossians 3:16 says, "Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts."

Jesus has called all those who believe in Him, who live for Him, to be His hands and feet. To reach out to others and share the good news with them. The good news is how much He loves them and because of His love He died for us. He took our sins upon Himself at the cross and died in our place giving us forgiveness and eternal life with Him.

That is quite a gift. Don't you want to share that with others, to let them know Christ has a wonderful gift for them?


Blessings!

Growing In The Garden

"...and I will bring my people Israel back from exile.“They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit." Amos 9:14

God did create the first garden, the Garden of Eden. From everything we read, it must have been beautiful. I for one cannot begin to imagine just how beautiful. You see, I think of the prettiest garden I have seen, and know, that God's garden was prettier than it.

In Amos 9:14 God says when He brings His people back from exile they will rebuild the ruined cities and there they will live.

Along with the rebuilt cities, He wants them to plant vineyards and to create gardens.

I think one of the reasons God wants gardens created is so he can walk with us in the beauty not only of the colors and smells but because we will be in the midst of growth, not just the garden but us too.

Blessings!

It Is Friday~The Day Christ Was Crucified

  We know Jesus died Friday, but praise God the grave could not hold Him!

Let us remember why.

All for us.

Our Children Can Have Peace

“Parents, pray that God may crown your home with grace and mercy.” Billy Graham

One of the things I remember is the scripture from above when I pray for my adult children, grandchildren. I look at this promise from God that He will teach my children and great will be their peace.

But I also remember that the example I set for my children is important. Children are a wonderful gift from God and we are to teach them about God so as they grow they will make good decisions.

This doesn't mean they will be perfect, on the contrary, they will probably make mistakes, just like we did growing up. But another promise I remember from God is to "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

Blessings!

Praying For Our Children

"May the Lord bless and protect you; may the Lord’s face radiate with joy because of you; may he be gracious to you, show you his favor, and give you his peace." Numbers 6:24-26

Every loving parent wants to protect their children~to keep them safe all their lives. That is why parents pray and ask for God to bless them and protect them.

Not a morning begins or a night ends that I do not pray for my children, their spouses, and their children. They are precious to me.

But I also know how precious my children are to God too. He was gracious to loan me these beautiful children. I am ever so grateful. I want to be sure that even though they are grown,  I still lift them up to the Lord day and night for protection and blessings.

Blessings to you and your children!

Do You Let Your Child Know You Love Them?

 

“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.”Psalm 127:3

Do you treat your children like they are a gift from the Lord?

I hear fathers at football games hollering at their child if they make a mistake whle they are on the field. I always turn to look at that father, wondering if he has any idea how he is hurting his son and their relationship. Without knowing it, hopefully the father doesn't do it deliberately, he is tearing down his son's confidence. He is also embarrasing his son. And He is treating the child as an object.

You see, children want to make their parents proud. But when you are tearing them down, you are saying to them you can only be proud of them if they are doing great in the game.

Evidently you don't look at your child as a gift from God. Take a good look at your child. He/She  needs love and guidance from you. 

Put your arms around them. Tell them how much you love them and how proud you  are of them and that they are your children. That will do more for your child than if they won a thousand games.

Blessings!

Love Your Children As God Loves You

“All your children shall be taught by the Lord and great shall be peace of your children.” Isaiah 54:13

Our children need our love. To nurture and love them is such a privilege God has given us.

Last night, my nephew and his wife had a baby girl. My sister sent me a picture of my newest grand-niece.

She makes my sixth grand-niece. I also have six grand nephews.

She was only a few minutes old. When I saw her picture, I thought how wonderful babies are. Only God could give such a beautiful gift of pure love. 

How could you not love a baby? I thought back to my own mother and family when I was little, and how much love they gave me. Growing up in a house where you are loved and feel loved is one of the greatest blessings you can have. And if you are fortunate enough that they teach you about God and His love then you are double blessed.

Our job is to raise them to love, to know right from wrong, be respectful, and then the solid base of them knowing our Lord and Savior gives them everything they need in life to move forward in growing so they will be a blessing to others and have the life they were created for.

Blessings!

Darkness and Light!

 

"Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord." Ephesians 5:7-10

Tim Kight, said, "The contrast in this passage is between light and darkness. Light in scripture refers to truth and righteousness. Darkness refers to falsehood and evil. To live as children of light means to be directed by what is good and right and true." https://www.acalltoexcellence.com/

It seems today, people are telling us "Things we know to be bad are good, and things we know to be good are bad."

Maybe before we believe what we are being told, we would be smart to read God's word and confirm what He says is good and what He says is bad before we go off following those who may not be following Christ. 

This reminds me of the serpent in the Garden of Eden, telling Adam and Eve what was bad was good and what was good was bad.

We can not allow others to put us down into their rabbit holes.

"Lord, give us discernment in what we hear from others; courage to stand with you, and protection from being led astray."Susan Reichert

Like A Lion Is The Word

 

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

God's word is alive and it is active. To know His will, know His words in scripture. And then pray those words. What ever is going on in your life, find the scripture that relates to that and speak God's word to the situation.

Blessings!

One Power Needed

"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." Isaiah 55:11

Power! People all over the world may want power. But there is only one power that can help us in our daily journey. Everything we experience on our journey can be exciting or devasting. There is only one person who is always with us and never leaves our side and that is our Lord, Jesus Christ. And He sees us through.

We walk in His power and in His words that are hidden in our hearts. No power on earth is greater than His.

That is why He tells us to not fear. He is with us.

Blessings

Who Do You Walk With?

 

Psalms 1:1-3

"Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers."

Having read this many times, I often wonder why it is so hard to walk with the Lord in our daily lives. These words in Psalm are so plain. Wouldn't we want to walk with the Lord daily and be blessed by Him?

The contrast of the two ways to walk is so dramatic. I pray the Lord will help me walk with Him daily on the path that He chooses for me.

Blessings!

What Path Are you On?

"And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."" Isaiah 30:21

The Lord says He will speak to us and tell us the way to go. He says it many times in scripture. 

"In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:6

I think the question becomes, "Will we listen"? Not if He will help us and show us the path. He has already said He would.

But God is not a genie. You don't rub His belly and expect the poof!

Read His word, see what He says to you about the path you should walk. He is full of mercy and grace and He has a path for us to walk. It is a good path.

Blessings!

His Lettersr To You

 

"Great blessings belong to the person who reads the words of this message from God and to those who hear this message and do what is written in it. There is not much time left." Revelation 1:3

This was the final mention in the Bible concerning reading the Bible.

Many times I have heard people say, "Well, it is so hard to read." Others say, "I don't understand it." Or "It takes too long."

Let me ask you a question. If your dad wrote you a letter, would you read it?

This is considered God's letters to us, showing us how much He loves us. Giving us important information on how to live our lives and receive His blessings. That alone, is worth reading, don't you think?

You see God blesses those who read His word, listen to His word and obey His word.

I personally want God's blessing in and on my life. There is so much going on in the world today and so many things that can be confusing, that I need to know how to operate in this world.


I need to know that He loves me and is eager to help me on this journey. Knowing He has a plan for my life gives me assurance of who I am and that I am important to Him.


Reading the Bible consistenly has benefits for each one of us. We get to see God's character.and how He is holy, faithful, full of mercy and how much He loves each of us. By reading the Bible you come to know Him as your Father in heaven.

Blessings to you!

A New Year! Who Will Direct Your Path

 

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.The old has passed away; behold

the new as come." 2 Corinthians 5:17

Restoration! Created new. 

Today, begins a New Year. A new month and a new day. A clean slate. What will we choose to begin? What will we choose to become? 

Those are important questions for us. Many will be making "new" lists for the New Year. Some will even try to follow those lists, for a while. But life gets busy, and many will put the list aside or forget it until the next new year.

For those who belong to Christ, He has made us a new creation. Our old ways He has replaced with new ones. We won't be making a list; we will come to Him requesting He lead and guide us each day so we will be pleasing unto Him. He knows the way on the path He has for us, and if we follow Him we will complete our journey.

May God's Blessings flow over your life this year. Surrender your ways to Him and He will direct your path.

Blessings in 2024