Monthly Supporters
I'll Be Home for Christmas
Oh Holy Night!!
Christmas Songs
http://youtu.be/3X7ElswNlO0
Psalm 37:3-11
Psalm 37:3-11
New International Version (NIV)
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity.
Psalm 37:3-11
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity.
Timing is everything
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.-Proverbs 3:5-6
A Living Prayer
Deeper into LOVE...Jesus Calling/What the Father is Like
Here is a preview:
"I am the Author of all truth, all life. Before an event comes into being in your life I know it. I have authored it. I am the eternal One, who has planned to disclose myself to you. When you seek me earnestly, when you yearn for my presence, when you long to know me as I am in reality-it is because I am calling to your soul. Yes, I call for you, and I come to you, my beloved child, because I yearn to meet you. I await your love and childlike trust. And the more you get to know me the more you will trust me. Open your heart to me now...just like a child.
I am your Father...and your Friend...your companion on all the pathways of your life. I am never far away. I am present with you, to preserve and enrich every moment of your life. For I hold in my hand all things that concern you. I have planned...I have authored...all the circumstances of your life. All the circumstances that I authorize are intended to reveal-in the fabric of your life-that I arrange your circumstances in order to make clear to you the vast breadth of my character. I want you to know there is nothing that can happen to you that is out of my control. In everything I invite you to draw near to me. Be very sure I am near to you. And I understand you fully!"
Stand Still
With a strength not my own...
God's timing and your calling.
I had to share this devotional from the Proverbs 31 ministry. It is amazing! I pray it encourages someone today!
"May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands." Psalm 90:17 (NIV)
I stared into the frustrated eyes of my friend last week as we talked about her calling to write. She has big, big dreams, and her dreams seem to be coming true far too slowly.
I told her how much I understood. Stepping into my calling was a long time coming, too.
My specific calling is to teach, speak and write. Your calling may fall into a myriad of other categories, but every calling is equally high when it's in obedience to the Most High. We're ALL called to ministry of some sort.
My calling didn't materialize in a year. It has unfolded during the last 35 years, and each phase of that unfolding has shaped and re-determined the final product (which I know won't be final until my last breath!).
The unfolding looked kind of like this:
Becoming a passionate teacher of young children.
Marrying my best friend.
Investing years in my little boys' lives.
Teaching adults as they chased dreams that passed them by in their teens.
Volunteering in women's ministry.
Visiting home after home as the "Welcome Wagon Lady" in my new town.
Accepting invitations to speak at my church and others close by.
Joining the Proverbs 31 Ministries' speaker team.
Returning to a frustrating year of elementary school teaching.
Stepping in to my calling of equipping others in their calling.
I've look at my list many times and thought, "Wow. I wasted a lot of years." But I've come to realize it's just not true. Every relationship, every job, every opportunity has prepared me. Psalm 90:17 reminds me that God establishes the work of my hands. With each change, I've had an opportunity to view that next place as stepping into a calling. Sometimes I did. Sometimes I didn't.
Often I was irritated at the seeming meaninglessness of what I was doing, but now I see. Every diaper changed, every knee kissed, every book read, every late night listening, every dying to self, every lesson plan made, every story crafted, every presentation made, every meeting attended, every spreadsheet created, EVERY THING...
It all counted.
Every moment was an unfolding of my eventual calling. God used each stepping stone to establish the work I'm doing now.
Don't despair today when you can't see it. Obey God and trust that He is working. His timing is so rarely ours, but it is always perfect. Instead of chaffing under the seemingly mundane, embrace each task as a building block for the dreams in your heart. Don't give up hope.
I promise ... it's coming.
Dear Lord, it's been difficult waiting as the years have come and gone without stepping into my calling. Please help me appreciate each seemingly mundane task and day as a means to you establishing the work of my hands. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
He keeps us humble
"God is most glorified in us when we are most dependent on Him."- Pastor Justin Buzzard
7 'even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.' (NLT)
For a woman to enjoy relationship...
"For a woman to enjoy relationship, she must repent of her need to control and her insistence that people fill her. Fallen Eve demands that people 'come through' for her. Redeemed Eve is being met in the depths of her soul by Christ and is free to offer to others, free to desire, and willing to be disappointed. Fallen Eve has been wounded by others and withdraws in order to protect herself from further harm. Redeemed Eve knows that she has something of value to offer; that she is made for relationship. Therefore, being safe and secure in her relationship with her Lord, she can risk being vulnerable with others and offer her true self." -- Excerpt from the book, "Captivating".
Now put your name in the place of Eve. This cuts right to the heart of us women. Let's walk in the redemption and grace of Christ in us.
Encouragement & worship
Billy Graham's Prayer for our Nation
Billy Graham's (age 93) Prayer For Our Nation
'Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable... We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from sin and Set us free. Amen!'
With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we once again can be called 'One nation under God!'
Administer Mercy
Into Her Pain - Proverbs 31 Ministries
"A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man'scondition, his heart went out to him." Luke 10:33 (MSG)
We inhaled the muggy evening shrouding the back porch, too warm to even rockin our chairs. Not a slight breeze of mercy murmured. The quiet moment urgedme to be still. Listen. Administer mercy.
Knees kissed her chin, her eyes pleaded, "I need someone to crawl in my pitwith me. Someone to help me out of the pain."
A lump in my throat responded to her grief. Circumstances had beaten herdown; left her half-dead on the side of life's road. Uncomfortable empathywarned, press the escape hatch quick, before awkward mercy takes over.Obvious quick fixes lunged at me:
Time heals all wounds.
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
God's timing is perfect.
To everything there is a season.
I wouldn't disrespect her loss with a walk-by. Wouldn't slap thoughtlesswords into her pit as I stepped over her pain. A word aptly withheld is oftenbetter than a word care-lessly tossed. Be still. Listen. Administer mercy.
I try not to deal in slick mercy if possible. You see, slick things don'tstick. Instead I plastered a cast of mercy on her broken heart. Comfortdoesn't come in clichés. It is delivered in a still presence, a listeningear, a merciful hand. Comfort ushers in healing when the truth of the Word iscoupled with merciful deeds. Into the pit we're called. Into silence we wade.Be still. Listen. Administer mercy.
He gave him first aid,
disinfecting and bandaging his wounds.
Then he lifted him onto his donkey,
led him to an inn,
and made him comfortable. (vs. 34 MSG)
The Good Samaritan did more than throw a nickel, blanket or splash of water. He leaned into, learned of the need, loved the broken with what resources hehad. He was the first in a line of others who attended to the man, aided himin getting up and getting well. The Good Samaritan stopped, stooped andsecured additional help.
That humid night with my friend, her journey of healing began. I didn't havemuch, but a meager offering from a willing heart: it is capable of greatthings. My arm lingered still, touching hers-a reminder life begets life. Listened to her hope levels, refilling when low. Administered mercifulpossibilities of trusting again, believing once more. Others counseled,covered in prayer, spoke truths. We tucked arms under my friend, lifted her up and out. Onward to healing.
In the morning he took out two silver coins
and gave them to the innkeeper, saying,
'Take good care of him. If it costs any more,
put it on my bill-
I'll pay you on my way back.' (vs. 35 MSG)
Years later, my heart cracked open, pieces clattered out like marbles from ajar. Flailing about, I slipped headlong into my pain.
My friend crossed the road to me, leaving convenient clichés of "chin up" and"better to have loved and lost" on the other side. Toward my pain she leaned;still, listening, administering mercy. One temperate morning on the same backporch, the breeze stirred slightly. The only thing between us, two mugs ofcoffee.
"You'll be whole again, you'll heal. Once more you'll believe He's alwaysbeen good; has plans, a future; never left you."
With a wink my friend glimmered, "Someone once told me that and she wasright. I believe again; I trust." Mercy nodded at her and together, theywrapped their arms on either side of me. Ascending out of my pain. Time to leave; time to heal.
"Now which of these three would you say
was a neighbor to the man who was
attacked by bandits?" Jesus asked.
The man replied, "The one who
showed him mercy."
Then Jesus said, "Yes, now go
and do the same."(vv. 36-37 NLT)
Dear Lord, thank You for Your healing mercy. Thank You for sharing inmy pain when You died on the cross. Please give me eyes to see those hurtingaround me, and teach me to be still, to listen, and to administer mercy. InJesus' Name, Amen."
Writing and learning, learning and writing
Perspective. Thank You God!
Me (in a tizzy) : God, can I ask you something?
GOD: Sure.
Me: Promise you won't get mad?
GOD: I promise.
Me (frustrated): Why did you let so much stuff happen to me today?
GOD: What do you mean?
Me: Well I woke up late,
GOD: Yes
Me: My car took forever to start,
GOD: Okay....
Me (growling): At lunch, they made my sandwich wrong and I had to wait
GOD: Hmmmm..
Me: On the way home, my phone went dead, just as I picked up a call
GOD: All right
Me (loudly): And to top it all off, when I got home, I just wanted to soak my feet in my foot massager and relax, but it wouldn't work. Nothing went right today! Why did you do that?
GOD: Well let me see..... the death angel was at your bed this morning and I had to send one of the other angels to battle him for your life. I let you sleep through that.
Me (humbled): Oh...
GOD: I didn't let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your route that might have hit you if you were on the road
Me (ashamed): ............
GOD: The first person who made your sandwich today was sick and I didn't want you to catch what they have, I knew you couldn't afford to miss work
Me (embarrassed): Oh.....
GOD: Your phone went dead because the person that was calling was going to give a false witness about what you said on that call, I didn't even let you talk to them so you would be covered
Me (softly): I see God
GOD: Oh and that foot massager, it had a short that was going to throw out all of the power in your house tonight. I didn't think you wanted to be in the dark.
Me: I'm sorry God.
GOD: Don't be sorry, just learn to trust me.........in all things, the good and the bad
Me: I WILL trust you God
GOD: And don't doubt that my plan for your day is always better than your plan
Me: I won't God. And let me just tell you God, thank you for everything today.
GOD: You're welcome child. It was just another day being your God and I love looking after my children.Scriptural References: II Samuel 22:31, Proverbs 3:5, Hebrews 2:13
felt encouraged to share!
My Obsession
Are my intentions pure, in love with you for who you are?
My obsession is your beauty, your heart
Just the mention is overwhelming, your beautiful
Does my compassion show honesty and purity?
Will my existence be known for simplicity?
My obsession is your beauty, your heart
Just the mention is overwhelming, your beautiful
Are all my intentions pure? In love with you for all you are?
Does my compassion feel honest and real?
My obsession is your beauty, your heart
Just the mention is overwhelming, your beautiful
I hope you see Him, not me
Instead of blinded eyes
Instead of shame
Instead of all my lies
Instead of an orphan without a name
I hope you see Jesus
Instead of anger
Instead of unbelief
Instead of weakness
In the heart of me
Instead of a wounded soul
I hope you see Jesus
I hope you see Jesus
Standing in my place
Bearing all my shame
I hope you see Jesus
Instead of voices
In a faceless crowd
Instead of prophets crying out
From behind a shrowd
Instead of fingers pointing out the blame
I hope you see Jesus
I hope you see love
I hope you see love
I hope you see love
Oh, my God when you look at us
A broken people who have turned from love
Instead of words we throw
And the wars we wage
I hope You forgive us
I hope you see Jesus
I hope you see Jesus
I hope you see Jesus
Standing in our place
Bearing all our shame
I hope you see Jesus
"You are For Me"-Worship at Mountain Top
Worship in Cracker Barrell :))
Barbie Bandaids...
How to spot False Teaching-
There are only TWO Religions
This is from my Pastor's Blog www.buzzardblog.com and I just had to share it. My thoughts follow his. He shared this quote with us yesterday at church and it totally hit the nail on the head.
Question: "There are literally thousands of religions, how do we know which is true?"
'Well, before we can get into the question of which one is true, we need to clarify something. There are not thousands of religions. There are not even hundreds of religions. There are only two: one which tells you that salvation comes as a reward for what you have done, and one which tells you that salvation comes by what somebody else does for you. That’s Christianity. All the rest fit under the other. And if you think you can get your salvation by your own efforts, then Christianity has nothing to say to you. But if you know you need to be saved, then you are a candidate.'"-Dale Ironside
Wow! Jesus is the non-religious religion. He breaks the mold. He is the only ONE who comes to save us. Not by our own religious efforts, our own "holiness", strength or power. For we have learned (sometimes the hard way) that we cannot save ourselves. That grace cannot be earned, that righteousness is in Christ alone. He paid it all, once and for ALL. Grace is opposed to merit. See we cannot take any credit for grace because it is a gift from God, freely given, not earned. Merit is all about earning, striving, proving, justifying ourselves AND taking the credit for it. But Grace is free, therefor ALL the glory and credit and merit goes to it's rightful owner-God. So by receiving grace, we are honoring and glorifying God. It is easy to fall under the other category on a daily basis, trying to prove myself, work harder, fix myself...it is so hard-wired in our individualistic, prideful culture. But Jesus' Kingdom is the upside down Kingdom. Down is the way up. "God gives GRACE to the humble, and opposes the PROUD."-James 4:6
So God is well pleased when we come to Him humbly; imperfect and knowing that we NEED a power greater than ourselves to save us.
"God wants your obedience to be driven by passionate love. Obedience driven by DELIGHT, not duty."
"For GOD is working in you, giving you the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him."-Phil.2:13
Here is the link to his blog:
http://www.buzzardblog.com/2012/01/09/there-are-only-two-religions/