Thank You God Our Father

One only has to be a parent to fully understand the sacrifice that God has made for us. To sit back and allow your child to suffer is hard to imagine, yet God knew the ending, as he does in all of our lives.

Is it possible for us to endure even a portion of hardship with a similar understanding that our temporary pain is not the end of the story? We are called to serve, yet in that serving we will suffer hardship as Christ also suffered, but greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world! Don't you just love those buts! I know the "rest" of the story and with that can endure whatever comes my way, by faith.

 Living intentional, purposeful, faith filled lives, daily.What does that look like for you? Are you taking steps daily to show your faith?

I have dedicated this post to a loving, faith filled older couple who is taking the next step into the unknown, as they step into full time missionary work for the first time in Ozamiz City, in the Philippines. Please keep them in your prayers for blessing and protection as they go to serve.

Song. "Blessed Redeemer" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYUm_YxSUG0

Running Your Race

If you are like me, it is easy to  get off course when we look at others and take our eyes off of our mission. It often takes reflection and reviewing our goals, checking our coordinates, values and listening to our heart's cry and not the external pressures.

Questions that help me recalibrate are: What are my gifts, talents and passions? Am I using them in a meaningful way that is lasting? How am I spending my time and money? If today was my last, would I have regrets? How can I make today better for myself and those in my sphere of influence? Am I growing as a Christian? Am I leaving a legacy that is meaningful? Hmmm.....

I don't know about you, but my run has slowed to a run/walk literally and figuratively as I have gotten older, with a desire to be more productive and purposeful in my daily journey. I am learning to be more reflective, numbering my days, intentional living, with an understanding that I have fewer marbles in my jar, and wasted time and energy is not an option.

If we keep our eyes and ears on the Lord, our course is set for us. How long it takes us, will depend on our willingness to be led? I am learning to surrender my will, my desires, to my Creator, daily. How about you?

Proverbs Ch.3: 5-6:

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct our paths."

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iTInN6FH9I

Love Your Enemies

Love your enemies, bless them that curse you and do good to them that hate you. I don't know about you, but these are hard words to for me to swallow. How can I do that? That sounds like abuse! Why would I set myself up like that? That defies good judgment. Surely there is a misunderstanding, but yet I read again and it says just that. Hmmm..... Can I take scripture that is easy for me and yet dismiss the hard parts? I know the answer even before I write.

 Matthew 4:44-48."But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you. That you may be children of your Father which is in heaven, for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust. For if we love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect".

Lord, your word says that we are to do this, but in ourselves we cannot! Help us today to reflect your love, not that of the world, that we may indeed shine bright as your children, in Jesus name I pray.

Song. Brandon Heath, "Your Love",  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfc9y7X3zog

This Mountain Shall Be Removed

Lookout Mountain

Having lived in the Appalachians for a few years, gave me a sense of mountains for a MS. girl, but at a maximum of around 2,000 feet locals would say they were but foothills. Regardless of the size or perspective of what one calls mountains in our lives, there is none that is too high for God. He can move the largest or the smallest, depending on our perspective, they are all but foothills to him. Rest in his promises today, trusting and believing that faith moves mountains, and that all things are possible with God.

Matthew 21:21-22. "Jesus answered and said unto them. Verily I say unto you, if ye have faith and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed and be cast into the sea; it shall be done. 22 And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."

Whatever your "mountain" is, our God is more than able. Keep the faith and keep pressing on!
Song. "Not by Might, nor by Power" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVcBye7-WFQ

Love Is.....

Ask a child what love is and I dare say your heart will be pricked. Our actions are a reflection of our heart and God is the ultimate judge of each of ours. Kids are a close second in my opinion. If you are anything less than authentic, a kid will sense it even though they may not fully understand it.

Matthew 9:13. "But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Matthew 12:7 "But if you had known what this means, 'I desire compassion and not sacrifice', you would not have condemned the innocent".

In Matthew 12, Jesus is confronted by the Pharisees for the work that his disciples are doing on the Sabbath. They are quick to accuse him of being unlawful, but Jesus easily puts them in their place. In his explanation to them there are five simple words that stick out in my head, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” God doesn’t call us to merely follow laws, he calls us to love. He doesn’t call us to give up a week of our time because we feel it is our duty to sacrifice. Instead, he desires that we would feel such compassion for the world around us that we would have a deep desire to do something. Jesus calls for our hearts, not simply for the sacrificial work of our hands.

Song. "Give It Away" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc55Y1KqLYw

From The Inside Out!

                                         (scene captured by photographer, Scotty Lisenbe)

A beautiful song by" Hillsong", that captures the essence of our purpose here on earth. May this be our hearts cry everyday, as it seems to be these dolphins!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ-fghqc8Oo

Lifting Up in Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, in Jesus name, I lift up my daughter and friends in college and pray for your hand of wisdom and protection as they continue on their journey. Open their eyes to your way, your will, your still small voice. Put someone in their path to encourage and guide them through times of loneliness and hardship. Help them to continue growing in your likeness and become more like you each passing day. Give them a peace that passes understanding, in the midst of their storms.

I  know we serve a loving God who sees us right where we are, in good times and hard times. He is ever present, and I count it a privilege to take these needs of family and friends to the Lord in prayer.

"What a Friend We Have in Jesus", is a song that comes to mind. God is never too busy, he is our heavenly father who is always with us, keeping, protecting, guiding and directing us in and through our hardships.

Below is a link to the ole time hymn. Listen and be encouraged in whatever circumstances you may find yourself in today, and take it to the Lord in prayer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Me9791AfsPU

Faith of a Child

Proverbs 16:9 " A man's heart devises his way, but the Lord directs his steps."

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with our whole heart. Lean not unto our own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct thy paths."

Listen to the following song and be encouraged.

Song by Tenth Avenue North. "By Your Side". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J95rAr0gOFU

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God Is Love!

God's love letter to us is his word. Listen and remember how much he loves you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggGwDrxrC2k

"It's How You Live"

This song says it all, and better than I ever could. Take note and live.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qQm8283qsg

On Your Shoulders I Can See

Here in the South, at the many Mardi Gras parades, parents will lift up their child and put them on their shoulders so that they can see the parade? Much like parents, Jesus desires good things for his children and wants them to be able to see what he sees. He desires to give us a loving and caring heart when viewing the world.

To have Christ's view and understand his ways, that are so much higher than our ways. Taste and see, wait, hope, faith as a child. Numerous scriptures throughout the bible encourage us as his children to look up, trust and believe.

Faith in action, hopeful expectation, like that of a child that knows their parent is going to help them, no matter the situation or difficulty. What a privilege to be his child and have access to his promises. It is like having a front seat pass that is ours for the asking. Psalm 34:8 "Taste and see that the Lord is good;blessed is the man who takes refuge in him".

Are you settling today for less than you should, worrying about the future, the unknown and fretting about the storms all around? His word says peace I give you, not as the world gives. John 14:27

Trust him today with your all, and see that the Lord is good!
Song: "I Raise You Up"    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqtwZWvXux8

God is Faithful!

 Exactly what does "faithful" mean? According to the dictionary, it means loyal, constant and steadfast.

According to the bible, it says God will never let us walk alone and states that he is faithful. Oftentimes we don't even know it, yet he is always there, never leaving or forsaking us. What a promise and a privilege to be God's child. 

Det. 31:66 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Whatever your struggle or hardship today, be comforted in the knowledge that God is faithful, to you his child. Rest in his promises knowing without a shadow of a doubt that he will never leave or forsake you. "Yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, the Lord thy God is with me." Psalms 23.

Song by Chris Tomlin. Faithful:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJFlY0mwFks

Let Faith Arise

Today I write with a heavy heart, but with peace as well. We are not always called to understand the "whys" in this world, but we know who holds our hand. We found out last night that the young mother  from the US that went missing in Istanbul was found, but not alive. At least not in this world anymore, and that leaves a very sad family behind, not to mention the people on both continents that were praying for her.

So let faith arise.....but how in the midst of such pain is that possible? In my earlier posts I reflected about us being on God's "set" if you will, and that good and evil exists. We have a job to do here, but it is his way, not mine, his time, for he knows what I do not. "Faith, the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen."

It was apparent in church this morning, as the pastor prayed, that many in the church were following and I am sure praying for this young mother as well. What we do not know though is "why" was she allowed to die? Good question that I am sure comes to all of us at one point or another. Yet the bible does give us hope, in the midst of our pain. "To be absent from this world is to be present with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:8

Proverbs 14:32 When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous have a refuge. As the chorus to this song goes. When troubles come and we do not know "why", let faith arise, let faith arise.... Listen to the song and be encouraged in your struggles, today. "I Lift My Hands Up" by Toby Keith:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbNK50T35wY

I Turn to You Jesus, I Turn to You...

The chorus to this song plays in my head. "What else can I do Jesus, I turn to you". I find it interesting that songs will come to me each morning, almost like the mana in the desert. Enough for today, encouragement for my soul and others out there, that need that word of encouragement.

Interesting thing is back in the states that was also true, but I have now been in Turkey for  6 months and I  have NOT had any music played, because everything is in Turkish and I don't understand, yet it is there, daily.  God knows where I am and what I need to share. Just that thought makes me smile, even as I write. Thank you Lord for always being there, in big and small ways, allowing me to be used of you. Amen....

Song, "I Turn To You Jesus by Todd Smith" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq-EddBdJBI