BLESSINGS
The month of November is coming to an end today, thanks and blessings no longer of concern. When we think of the month of November, Thanksgiving Day is our first thought. If you do any kind of craft, thanksgiving and blessings are the themes for November. Yet, it is so short lived, if lived at all. Most will relate Thanksgiving Day as the count down for Black Friday madness.  That is all we hear for weeks prior to this day of thanks;  "Get ready, you'll save big here!"  
     The true blessing and the big save is not found in any department store, but in the blood of Jesus. Thanksgiving is found in the love that was shed on the cross for you and I.  Everyday, I am so thankful for what Christ did for me. I live today and for everyday with no end, because He died for me. That is where true thanksgiving comes from. Let not the month of thanks end in our hearts, but may it continue everyday, all year around, thanking Jesus for what He did for you and I. True thanks will come when you begin to read His word and dwell on the passages of salvation. Here are a few to being with; John 5:24, 10:28, 3:16, 6:37, 1 John 5:13, 5:11-13, Romans 10:13, Eph. 2:8-9. 
Thank you Lord for what you did for me. Thank you for the many blessings that You bless me with daily.  May I never let a day go by without thanking you. Oh, how blessed I am. Psalm 107:1  "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."

BEING USED

For the past week, my heart has been stirred with the desire to be used by God.  All I want is to serve Him deeper, with more intensity in whatever capacity He has for me. 
This request is one that is more than how I am serving presently. Oh, I teach bible study, help with the power point and pitch in when needed, but I want more. I want to serve deeper. In searching and seeking God with this desire, as always, He is so faithful to answer! As I have cried out asking to be used by, for and of Him, He showed me a passage this morning that is the beginning of my request's journey. 
In 2 Tim. 2:20-21, God showed me that to begin my deeper journey, there is preparation that needs to take place. Verse 21 says, "If a man cleanses (sanctifies, sets apart, purges) himself from the latter, (ignoble purposes) he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work." That's my desire, to be useful to the Master, but there is a process to fulfill my desire. 
The word sanctify means to set-apart and in this case, set apart from the worlds thoughts, ways, ungodliness, purged of all unrighteousness so that purification will prevail for the Masters use. Paul was making a point that there were those in the church that were causing corruption and infecting as well affecting the truth. We are all vessels of some sort and the reference in verse 20 is vessels of gold and silver, wood and clay, noble and ignoble. The gold and silver vessels were set apart to be used to serve the master of the home, the wood and clay for lesser uses, common, inferior. Scripture tells us we are to be emptied of self, worldliness, corruption, evil, and etc. and to be filled with goodness, truth, His Word, godliness, purity, faith, wisdom, knowledge and etc. The latter for God's purposes. 
So, the process of cleansing my undesirables must begin in my heart so that things that God desires can take its place. I want to be pleasing and acceptable to the Lord, to be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy and useful to the Master and prepared to do His work. 
Lord, my prayer today is Psalms 51, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Oh Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare Your praise...."  Use me Lord, here am I.   Click below and hear the desire of my heart. http://youtu.be/0IvXA0yRDwY
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THE WHOLE STORY
In my reading today, God showed me how my ugly human side acts just like those in scripture at times in my life. But, my faithful and loving God, always offers a life lesson to learn which will turn the ugliness into Godliness.
     Let's begin with Joshua 21:43, "So the Lord gave Israel all the land He had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took possession of it and settled there." Joshua then tells the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh that they have done all that Moses and himself commanded of them and their reward was rest as the Lord had promised. So now go and enjoy it, "but be careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to Him and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul." Joshua blessed them and sent them on their way.
     The three groups were now released to start their new homes with the blessing of Joshua. Total excitement was in the air and they were grateful for their promised land. In their gratefulness, they built an altar to remind them and future generation that they served and honored the Lord, God of Israel. But, here comes that ugly human side of us all. News about this altar traveled fast among the rest of the Israelites who riled the nation of Israel with information that they had assumed. A questioning squad was formed and sent to get the scoop on this newly erected altar. 
     The questioning squad was fired up ready to deal with this disobedient group and, boy, were they in trouble. The squad arrives and immediately they blasts out, how could you, what were you thinking, why did you do this to us, now all of us are ruined. You rebelled against the Lord or against us by building an altar for your own glory and dishonored our Lord. Thanks a lot!!! 
     Say what, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh said in astonishment! What are you thinking, we wouldn't do such a thing and if we did do what you say we did, may The Mighty One, God, the Lord, the One who knows, spare us not! No! We did it for fear that some day your descendants might say to ours, 'What do you have to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? We built it to be a witness between us and you and the generations that follow, that we will worship the Lord at His sanctuary. This is a testimony of our faithfulness not of our rebellion. 
     Oh, why didn't you say that in the first place? Well, why did you assume and accuse without knowing the whole story? Oh, how many times have I done that. Way too many times! In this case, the questioning squad got the whole story and they were glad and praised God and the altar was named: A Witness Between Us that the Lord is God.

     Too many times, I have plowed in without knowing the details completely, assumed and accused with the results not so pleasant, the ending not so pretty. God's lesson in Joshua 22, is not to assume or accuse without complete details of a situation. Things aren't always what they appear to be. Most times there is a history behind a situation that needs to be understood first. Once again, my faithful and loving God showed me a better way. Find out what The Whole Story is first and then comment. 
Father, the Mighty One, God the Lord, the One who knows all, grant me wisdom and understanding of Your ways, Your truths and Your love. Grant me the compassion you showed to me so that I might have that compassion for others. Let me be that witness for the future generation that  You, my Lord, You are God!

LEGACY
A day that should have been dedicated to accomplishing a very long list of things that needed to be done, immediately was changed by the prompting of the Lord.
     Last night I missed viewing the memorial service of Pastor Chuck Smith, the founding Pastor of Calvary Chapel.  Though I missed the viewing the service, I received so many treasured blessings as the night was well spent visiting with some dear friends, sharing the Lord through tears and rejoicing in His awesome love for us. I knew that I could get on my computer and watch the service via internet when time would allow. Well, as the morning began, so did the mental list of things that needed be done, some of utmost urgency, but God had a different plan for me this morning. I prepared things to begin my days work, turned on the computer to start and prayed, "Lord begin my day with You." Little did I know that it would be through Pastor Chuck Smith. Directed to listen to those who were near and dear to the Pastor, God was specking volumes to me.  I soon began to feel like I was in the mist of  Mary and Martha with work to be done, but a message to be heard. I chose to be Mary and sat at the feet of Jesus.
    Several years ago, a wise man shared some wisdom that has spoken to me several times and here it was brought to mind once again.  This man said, "Each one of us should leave a legacy behind to be shared with others, so what will yours be?"  Recently, I have signed up for and I'm taking a writing class to learn to write my memoir and today  I was prompt to watch a three hour memorial about one mans legacy. Nothing is by coincidence, but all is by a divine plan. Legacy - Something handed down from an ancestor or a predecessor or from the past. While watching the memorial service, this thought came to mind, "Look at what Pastor Chuck has left behind for millions of people throughout the world, what is it that I am leaving behind?" Not that I will impact millions, but is my life impacting anyone? 
     Here are some of the things that I picked up as I listened to those paying tribute to this special man.

• "Take time to read, Jesus took time to bleed."
• Just yesterday, my pastor, Pastor Kenny emphasized in church, Mark 9:7, "This is my Son, whom I love, LISTEN to Him!"  I even circled it in my Bible. This was quoted again in the tribute to Pastor Chuck. God's confirmation!!!!
• In a song, these words spoke volumes, sung by Malcoml & Alwyn, "Fools Wisdom"  "I got myself some wisdom from a leather-backed book, I got myself a Savior when I took a second look".
• Here is the link to hear the song  http://youtu.be/0WpFvsQc0qM
• "Simply preach the Word, SIMPLY!"
• In an illustration of a cassette tape (if you know what those are) which has a recording of Pastor Chuck's teaching, it was pointed out that he would preach and pause and preach and pause. This pastor shared that Pastor's Chuck's passing is just a pause for us here on earth until we meet again. That is a beautiful picture of our loved ones who passed on before us. This is just a pause until we meet again.
• The final impact of the memorial service to me is this, in telling my legacy to those who will listen, I pray that my life has, is and will be telling about the Love of Jesus and that He loves us all.

We all have a story to tell about the life we live, a legacy to leave behind. So Lord, this life I am living, I pray that I am found living it for You and that others will see Your Glory.

GREETINGS
      Have you thought about your first greetings of the day, what expressions are first seen, what words first come from your mouth, what is seen by the first person you meet in your day? This morning in my quiet time, I was greeted by Peter in 2 Peter in his opening words.
"May grace and peace be yours in full measure through your knowledge of  God and of Jesus our Lord. God's divine power has given us everything we need to live a truly religious life through our knowledge of the one who called us to share in his own glory and goodness.  In this way he has given us the very great and precious gifts he promised, so that by means of these gifts you may escape from the destructive lust that is in the world, and may come to share the divine nature." 2 Peter 1:1-4
      Those words were my first greeting of my day which put a smile on my face and touched my heart with joy. Needless to say, my day began with peace, joy and love. I had to ask myself, how often do I offer warm and inviting greetings to those I see first thing in my day.  Well, it didn't take long to see that I fell short just yesterday morning. I had been up for a bit and was sipping on a delicious warm cup of coffee when my front door opened up, In no time flat, there was a clatter of tools being lined up for the days construction, the radio turned on with some rather ambitious eye opening music and the noise of some electrical tool buzzing loudly. Now mind you, I was ready for this knowing that work was ready to begin, but I still had to make my sarcastic fun loving remark and yelled down the stairs, "Let's keep the noise down, I'm trying to enjoy my morning coffee." Of course I was trying to joke a little here, but was that what was heard on the receiving end? I don't really know for sure, but knowing the person I said it to, he knew I was kidding around.  But what if his day didn't start off well, or what if he didn't get a good night sleep and was tired or what if he wasn't up to hearing my sarcastic words first thing in the morning. God has such a way of showing me His way. A lesson to be learned and He shared the lesson with me in 2 Peter. I am far from having it all together, but if I am willing to listen to what God has for me and humble myself enough to know that I can learn from my mistakes, He will show me a better way through His word. I have been given everything I need to live a righteous life as He shares His glory and goodness in the promises He has given me. They are found in His word and the only way I can know them is by reading them. 
     My goal is to do that which is pleasing in His sight. So, after reading this morning, praying and repenting, I had a much different greeting to share with those I met today. I want others to see a smile on my face that will fill their hearts with joy just as Peter shared in his letter. I will be more aware of how I greet those God puts in my path each day. The best part of my day today, was that it began with a smile of joy and it lasted all day long. 
Lord, I pray that my days will begin with peace, joy and love which is  expressed on the outside and felt from the inside.

WARMTH FOR THE DAY
     There is a definite chill of Fall in the air this morning. As I look out my window watching the sun melt the glistening layer of a mild frost off the hillside, I think it might be time to turn the heater on to warm up my studio in the early hours of the morning. There is one place where true warmth can be found that will warm my inner most being any hour, any season and that is in the midst of God's Word.
     My faithful body alarm went off at the usual time this morning and the thought of removing myself from the toasty warm feeling of my covers and stepping out onto a cool floor, just wasn't how I wanted to begin my day.  But the thought of the needful things that were on my agenda, forced me to make that initial chilling venture into the "today" mode. Once out and ready to settle into the warmest spot in my world, I opened my quiet "spot" and entered into the warmth of my Lord. Turning to 1 Peter, I read, "Grace and peace be yours in abundance." My chilled body immediately began warming up with those greeting words and continued through verses three through five. I praise my God, Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, for He has given me great mercy of a new birth with a living hope and an inheritance that will never perish, spoil or fade away and it is waiting for me in heaven. Now if that isn't something that will warm anyone's heart, I don't know what will! Just those few sentences will keep me warm through out this Fallish day, for sure.
     Thank you Lord for Your mercies that are new every morning, for Your promises that are written in Your love letter to me, for the preparation of grandeur that awaits my arrival, for Your love that warms my inner most being, which is summarized into, "WARMTH FOR THE DAY".

Hurtful Words

But the things that come out of a person's mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.
Matt. 15:18
"As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man." Prov. 27:19
Some days, do you ever wish that you were either deaf or not present when someone wants to lash out at you. Waking up to unkind words is just not fun. God has some things to say about that. He shares very profound thoughts that should be pondered on in the verses above. 
What comes out of our mouths is exactly what we are feeling within our hearts. If the words are ugly and harsh, mean and thoughtless, degrading and cruel, then that is the condition of our heart. How sad is that! Stop and think about that for a moment and then pick apart each word above; ugly, harsh, mean, thoughtless, degrading and cruel. That is one sick heart that is in desperate need of a transplant. The replacement of that kind of heart can't be found in any hospital, but only within the healing hands of Jesus. 
"And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart." Ezekiel 36:26
Things haven't changed, our hearts are no better today then they were thousands of years ago. Unless a heart is given to the Lord to mold and shape, renew and restore to His image and His will our hearts change. Spiritual renewal comes from God alone but needs to start with us desiring Him to do it. 
"Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me." Ps. 51:10

What we say can either be hurtful or uplifting, positive or negative. It is not only the words, but the tone, the body language and the meaning behind the message that will leave a lifetime impression, good or bad. We have been given a choice on how we will deliver a message to others. Our choice is whether we will use it for His glory and His praise or a choice that will be hurtful.
"Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Ps. 34:13
"Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me."
Psalm 103:1-2
So, the bottom line is this; wake up in the morning praise the Lord, speak of His Glory and goodness, meditate on things above which will cause your heart to be glad and to rejoice. Starting the day with the Lord will create your heart to overflow with His love which will touch those you will encounter during your day. That's the kind of day I want to dwell in and share with others.
"Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction!" "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." Prov. 4:1, 23

Thinking of Others
As you look back on your day and evaluate how you treated others, what do you see? Was your day an "others" day or was it a "me" day?  We live in a time of selfishness, a time when one thinks and acts for him or her self only. In doing that, we as believers, are acting no better than those that live in the world who are unsaved. Ouch!
First of all, we really should be living our lives every day in a "Christ" day manner which ultimately will result into an "others" day because that is how Christ lived. He lived His life for you and me.
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,  and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45
What exactly is an "others" day?  Well, did you pray for those you encountered today or at least let someone know that your are praying for them?  Did God give you an opportunity to do something special for someone that meant you had to stop doing your thing?  Did you think of the other person before you thought of your own convenience first. Did you do something today that made someone stop and think, "Wow, he didn't have to do that for me, but thanks for thinking of me". 
Or, was your day consumed with "me"?  As you went about your business today, did you just make everything convenient for you no matter how it effected someone else?  Did you go ahead and do it your way when you have been asked not to? Were your plans for the day void of thoughtfulness for someone else? Did you even consider the other person and what might please them?
If we are living our lives for the Lord, we will be placing others before ourselves. We will be occupied in the investment of others rather than being preoccupied in ourselves. Life is too short and so unpredictable to be wasting it when we could be redeeming the God given moments that are available to us all day long. 
"Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests,  but also for the interests of others. Phil. 2:4
"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above ourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord."  Rom. 12:10-11
"No one should seek his own good, but the good of others" 1 Cor. 10:24
IN CLOSING....
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another, By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35

Perfect Peace
Perfect peace, just what is that and oh, how I desire to have it!  Do you feel the same way? Is your desire to have peace in your life your foremost thought for the day, especially with all that is going on around us? It's yours for the taking and if truth be known, you already have it. God has a lot to say about peace, so lets take a look.The day you accepted Jesus Christ into your heart, trusted Him with your life and wholeheartedly submitted all of you to Him, peace entered in.   "You will keep in Perfect Peace, him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in You"
Isaiah 26:3
If I am walking in the light as He is in the light, why is peace so difficult to hold on to sometimes? There is so much out there in the world that is wrong, evil and disturbing. We read it in the news, we see it on TV and we experience it within our own lives. Families are torn apart, relationships are disposed of in a blink of an eye and lives are in total despair. But, I love you Lord and my mind is stayed on you, why is there not peace in my heart, why am I feeling the way I do?   "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 
This time in our lives when blatant sin is rampant and it is stealing our peace, we must remember and hold on to what we know, like that which we just read above. This is a temporary home in which we live and God is in control of it. We are promised a deliverance from the world's despair and that deliverance is soon to come. Meanwhile, God's word, His truth, will give us the peace we are seeking. "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all this is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man." Luke 21:34-36
When we engage in the Word of God, we will find His peace written on every page. Wisdom, understanding and knowledge are found when we seek it with a right heart. When we receive wisdom, understanding and knowledge of our Lord God, we receive peace. "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our LORD" 2 Peter 1:2
Perfect Peace, what is it we ask? The answer is God, and God alone. Perfect Peace comes when we are walking in the Spirit, reading God's word and praying without ceasing. "The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray." 1 Peter 4:7 Lord, may those who are seeking peace today in this seemingly peace-less world, be found walking alongside You, getting to know You and praying to You. Lord, may we be found rejoicing in You always knowing that You are near. May we not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, presenting our requests to You knowing that Your peace which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. I pray this in Your Son's most precious name, Jesus Christ. Amen
"Peace I leave with you , My peace I give unto you." John 14:27
Click on the link below and experience Perfect Peace http://youtu.be/7UpfatdyFtY

Tears of joy are flowing right now because of what God does for us just at the right moment with such simple things that mean so much.  We lost a very special person in our lives not long ago and the ache in our hearts is still there. But for my teenage granddaughter, the pain is sometimes more that she wants to experience.  That is exactly when God shows up to ease her pain. He places smiley faces in the clouds to reminder her that He loves her. He gives her a song that is not only right on time but right in tune with what she needs to hear. He placed not the loved one but his name in the front cover of her American History book which she will carry every day for the rest of the school year. How awesome is our God!!!!  Thank you Lord for hearing my prayer and watching over my special little girl. Thank you being real to her in her time of need when confusion and heartache are so great. Thank you for holding her heart in Your loving hands. Thank you for being the Father of compassion. Thank you for being there every minute of her life. Thank you Lord for everything.
http://youtu.be/P7IbQyG9PL4

THE NEXT...
God is good all the time!  All the time God is good! I love that saying and say it frequently. This morning I am declaring it, God is good all the time! Life has a funny way of living sometimes, doesn't it.  Most of the time life is a puzzle with misfitting pieces and sometimes lost pieces. One day you're on top of the mountain and the next you're at the bottom in the valley. Some days the sun is shining bright and you're feeling the warmth, but then there are those days when the clouds are heavy and things are cold all around you.  Then there are times when you are sailing through life with the wind against your face and open space to enjoy. Then there are times when you're boxed in, closed up and no where to turn. Let's see if we can figure this life thing out. If life is looking like a puzzle to you, do you have a clue why? What are the pieces in your life that aren't fitting?  Is it a relationship, is it a habit, is it disobedience, what isn't working for you? The lost pieces, are they something you have ignored for a period of time, is it something you purposely put away and now can't seem to find it even if you tried, or is it something you have run from and is now no where to be found? What about this mountain thing?  Are you on top saying, "Yeah, I did it, I'm good, I mastered that and it is all good and I'm am camping out here?" Are you on the bottom saying, "Why am I here, I failed, I'm not good at this, I can't even do that right?" Are you like a temperature gauge needle swinging hot one day because, I did just what they wanted me to do and they like me," or are you feeling a little deserted and cold because you didn't quite meet the expectations?"  Sailing through life, no cares to be had, nothing to worry about or care about, until reality sets in and you hit the brick wall of "hello, what do you mean you didn't care about that?" Wow, here we go again, that self-evaluation thing. Is there a better way or does life really have to be a puzzle with misfitting pieces or lost pieces?  There is a better way and it requires right choices which will lead to the very presence of God, a relationship with Jesus, wisdom, knowledge and an abundant and eternal life.

• "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."    John 14:6
• "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture."  John 10:9
• "And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray." Isa 35:8

Things don't just happen, you have to do your part, like putting one foot in front of the other, taking that first step, getting on the right path and walking in the right direction. There has to be a desire to want to follow the One who is leading, a commitment to stay by His side, a dedication to the Truth  and a loyalty to the Almighty, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ.

So the next time I feel like life is not fitting together or I think I have lost a piece to the puzzle, I will turn to the One who has all the pieces and who makes them fit together just right. I will never have things totally figured out nor do I want to take on that responsibility, but what I do want is to know the One who does know and to know Him more each day.

THE POWER OF HIS LOVE
     The power of His love, that of Jesus, was brought to my attention in a different way yesterday as I listened intently to my Pastor's lesson. He shared Mark 6:30-44 of Jesus feeding the multitudes. Like you, I have read and heard the story many times, but for some reason it was different yesterday. I love the way God speaks to us individually and specifically through His word, don't you!
     What was going through my mind, was how willing Jesus was to reach out to those who wanted to hear what He had to say. Thousand gathered and surround this man of such wisdom, desperately needing to hear every word that He spoke. They traveled miles on water and land hauling children, encouraging the elderly and toting necessities just to sit at his feet. With that in mind, it caused me to think of how far I would travel, how determined would I be if I had to carry my children just to hear a man speak. The people saw the extraordinary in this man and Jesus saw the need to tend to this flock that followed Him. One was needing and One was giving. Scripture tells us that, "Jesus had compassion on them".  Would I have compassion for someone that followed me?
     Two questions are presented here, the first being, would I go to that extent to listen. They went miles and for me, it is a jaunt down the stairs to my quiet place to listen and sadly to say, some days that seems like miles away. How sad is that!  And the worst part of it all is, that I had a good night sleep the night before compared to the long and tiring day Jesus and His apostles had just had. Yet, Jesus stopped what He was doing, tired and hungry, to offer a teaching that they longed hear. This portion of scripture showed me that I want even more to be like those that traveled miles, driven with a burning desire just to hear what Jesus has to say. I want to hunger and thirst for His word.  Matt. 5:6, Isa. 55:1, John 4:14, Rev. 22:17
     The second question that was asked, "Would I have compassion for someone that followed me?" Mercy is not my love language, nor my gifting, so I feel a struggle coming on.  Yet, I was created in His image, I am told to be holy as He is Holy and I am to do unto others as I would like them to do unto me. I am told to me Christ Like! The question before me, is how many times have I walked away from the opportunity to share the love of God to someone who needed to hear that? Did I pass up a chance to show the compassion Jesus has for His lost flock? I am an ambassador, one who should be ready with every breath of my life to share who Jesus is. Gen. 1:27, 1 Peter 1:16, Matt. 7:12, 2 Tim. 4:2
Lord, my prayer today is that I would have a burning desire to be with you no matter how or where and to have compassion for those I encounter along the way who want to know you. I pray this in Your Son's most precious name, Jesus Amen  

CLEANING HOUSE
At the moment, my house is under full remodeling construction. I am so excited about all that is taking place as I have been waiting for years for this to happen. Things are being taken down, torn out, rebuilt, replaced and all things made new. I am in awe by the wonderful work being done by that of a faithful servant. But in the process, there is the inevitable presence of construction mess, fine forever flying dust. No matter, the precautions in trying to prevent it, it has found its way into most everything. The clean up will come once the remodeling is done. The blessing in the mess, is that things are being cleaned up, thrown out and re-thought. Isn't it amazing how we can just stuff things away thinking that someday we will use it and there it sits. Or, I treasure that, yeah, ten years ago, but why do I now!  How about this one, wow, I forgot I had that, I don't even embrace that anymore. 
Conclusion, time to clean house. That is exactly what Josiah did once he heard the lost Book of the Law and realized what detestable things had been collected and practiced for years. He torn his robe and wept because of the dishonoring that was and had been taking place against his Lord. He ordered all that was against the written Law of the Lord, that which was detestable to the Lord, to be burned, removed and to be never more. Once cleaned, Josiah celebrated the refreshment, the restoration and the renewal. 
Now, as I'm cleaning things out, room by room, getting rid of the uselessness, and refreshing the existing, I am now getting ready to do the same in my spiritual home, my inner most self. After reading the story of Josiah again in 2 Chronicles, some self-evaluation is taking place. What am I collecting in my thoughts, my heart and my being that is detestable to my Lord? What am I stuffing in the closet that has no place in being there? What dust is accumulating on the shelf of my heart that needs to be cleared away? Oh my gosh, how long has all this been sitting there? Spiritual house cleaning is a must from time to time. If it is not done, things pile up, they get stuff in deep corners and they become useless and sometimes harmful. As Josiah did, we must get rid of the detestable, the unwanted and the unnecessary and replace it with the pure, the true and the good of the Lord.
Lord, thank you for Your Word, for the truth and for gently showing me that which needs tending to. Please give me eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart that is willing to rid myself of anything that is detestable in Your sight. Help me to clean that which needs cleaning and refresh my spiritual home. Thank you Father for reminding me that it's time to clean my room.! In Your Son's most precious name, Jesus Christ I pray,  Amen

The Quiet of the Morning
"Be Still and know that I am God" Ps. 46:10
In the quiet of the morning, looking out my open patio door, this is what I see and hear.
Oh what a Beautiful Morning....
     Taking a deep breath, I am greeted by the smell of the air that has been freshly cleansed from the rains of the night before. On the grass, the pedals of the flowers and the grounds little puddles, I see glistening gems of rain drops sparkling as the morning sunlight brings them to life. My ears hear music softly playing from a nearby wind chime, early birds singing praises and the whispering of waving leaves because of the a slight breeze stirring in the air. In the beyond, is the sight of fluffy clouds nestled into the crevices of the surrounding mountains, shadows and sun rays coming and going as the they move on their way, and the promise of nourishment to the land in the hours to come. As I meditate on all that is before me, I feel the peace and serenity of the presence of the Lord stilling and warming my heart. With a bowed head in reverence before the Almighty, I speak words of praise and thanksgiving for all I am blessed with and pray for blessings for those whom He has placed on my heart.
Oh, what a Beautiful Morning.... Thank you Lord!

Genuine Wisdom       Is your wisdom genuine or is it hindered by "You"? Take an inventory of your week, reflecting on how you went about your daily encounters with yourself and others. The question to ask is, what were your motives in what you did or didn't do? Were things done because it was all about you, what you wanted? Was there a thought about anyone else and how they might feel? Was there wisdom in how you handled things or was it foolishness which was hurtful to someone?      Um! Wisdom is a word in scripture that is mentioned 222 times. I would say that there is something to take note of here. I want to look at what James has to say about wisdom. James gives us an example of two kinds of wisdom. One kind comes from me, myself and I and the other kind comes from heaven. James is known for asking questions, makes you self-evaluate to see if you are what God created you to be. So, he starts out asking, who among you thinks you're wise or has any understanding? He says if you are wise, then there should be some evidence like "humility". On the other hand, if there was any bitterness, envy or selfish ambitions in your heart, well, so sorry but  you failed the "genuine wisdom" test and passed with flying colors in the earthly, unspiritual and that of the devil test. Not exactly something to be proud of, to boast about or deny the truth in the matter. What it did for you was cause grief, disorder and every kind of evil practice.  Not a pretty picture. Not something to write home about. Sad thing is, we are guilty of doing just that, hurting someone due to our lack of Godly wisdom. If we are a child of God, we do possess that Godly wisdom, we just need to get "self" out of the way and stop hurting others and causing disorder.      We know that the God we serve loves us so much that He provides a better way for us. If we stop doing that earthly thing, being envious or having selfish ambitions, but rather seek that which is pure, peace-loving considerate, submissive, merciful and of good fruit, impartial and sincere, then we will have genuine wisdom from heaven. The good fruit of doing what God created us to do will cause us to be peacemakers who sow in peace raising a harvest of righteousness.        Father, let us start new and fresh today, living the day with genuine wisdom that comes from above. Help us Lord to rid ourselves of ourselves and put on others. Please help us to remove any bitterness, envy or selfish ambitions and replace them with consideration, submissiveness, mercy and sincerity. Father teach us to be peacemakers, loving others and seeking genuine wisdom from above. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen

OPPOSITION Opposition, such an offensive word, especially when trying to accomplish something good!
In the Book of Nehemiah, we see the heart of God's faithful servant, Nehemiah, the king's cup-bearer. Having an honored position and one that was close to the king, Nehemiah had an "in" on the happenings of the area and people, mainly his people, the Israelite's. Being a man of God, "he sat down and wept, mourned and fasted and prayed to God of heaven."  Nehemiah, sought God first asking for favor to address the king. When the opportunity arose, the door opened for Nehemiah to ask for permission to take some time off from work to rebuild the broken down wall of Jerusalem and the gates that had been burned with fire. He also asked for  security guards and credentials  and building materials. "And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests." The restoration of the wall of Jerusalem was now underway. Unfortunately, so was opposition.
Nehemiah, organized the building project and work began on the foundation of the wall. Midway, the the ridicule of the Jews began and trouble started brewing. The Israelite's became concerned, but they knew where to turn to for help. They gave their concerns to God and posted guards day and night to meet the threats of the opposition. Nehemiah, being the project manager, exhibited his leadership and assured the people not to be afraid. This is what he said, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes. When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work." Guess what, God saw to it that the wall would be completed in His time.

Have you ever been in a position of rebuilding something in your life and the enemy is at work just as hard as you are?  Prayerfully, the plans of the project have been put before our Lord first, and that work doesn't begin until God signs the contract. "Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Prov. 19:21  "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord established their steps." Prov. 16:9  Nehemiah gave us the perfect example of how to begin a project. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matt. 6:33 In the example that is given to us in Nehemiah, we see obedience to what God calls us to do. Because there was obedience, God honored the request. Even though there is often opposition, if we would operate in obedience, "Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome" and practice what He commands us to do,  He will honor our request and complete the work in His time and according to His will.
Lord, let us not begin a project, a rebuilding, a restoration, until our hearts have sought You first. Let our requests be laid at the foot of the cross and with patience, help us to wait upon You. Then and only then, will You consider the request and if You grant it, things will be right, perfect and complete. Thank you  Lord for Your word that we might know how to walk in Your ways, step by step. In Your Sons most precious Name, Jesus Amen 

OBEDIENCE TO OUR FATHER
Obedience, a word of command, authority and consequences.  Obedience is taught before we can even pronounce it, let alone spell it. It is demanded of us through love and concern for our well-being. When not carried out, there is a repercussion of unpleasantness.  So, with our human intelligence, why is it so hard to walk and live in obedience, especially when it is commanded through love?  

How many times daily do you slip over the edge of obedience into the rut of disobedience?  Disobedience in our thoughts, our actions, our speech, our looks, even the blatant "not going to happen" attitude. Wow, not sure I want to recap that one!  And yet, the highly intelligent beings we are, knowing that we sin because of disobedience and reap the unpleasant consequences, we still continue to do it anyways. Why is that?  I don't know other than that wonderful "Me" encouraged by the enemy appears and gets into our head and hearts. 

But, as always, God has given us examples in His word to encourage us and show us that there is always a better way, His way.  In Jeremiah 35 there were a people called the Recabites. This was a family who lived in obedience and didn't have unpleasant consequences to face, quite the contrary, they were blessed because they obeyed.

Lets recap this chapter, as it is the example we should be following. God spoke to Jeremiah, giving him the instructions to invite the Recabite family to sip some wine. The invitation went forth and the family accepted graciously. I mean, who is going to turn down an invitation from Jeremiah. They were seated and cups of wine were placed in front of the men of the family. I'm sure they smiled and politely said, "We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jonadab son of Recab gave us this command: 'Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine. Also, you must never build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards; you must never have any of these things, but must always live in tents. Then you will live a long time in the land where you are nomads.'" Speaking of commands, there are a few for you. While reading this, how many of you are thinking, those are some tough commands to follow and be obedient to. Well, lets see if they did obey these commands.
The men of the Recabite family replied, "We have obeyed everything our forefather Jonadab son of Recab commanded us. Neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters have ever drunk wine or built houses to live in or had vineyards, fields or crops. We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed everything our forefather Jonadab commanded us."
Now lets see what God has to say about all of this!  God spoke again to Jeremiah, telling him to go to the men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem and share this bit of information with them.  Say to them, "Will you not learn a lesson and obey my words?"  "Jonadab son of Recab ordered his sons not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather's command. But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not obeyed me."  I highlighted some key words and I think you might be getting my drift here.
God doesn't stop there, He carries His message a bit further. Here comes a command, not a suggestion. He says, "Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them." Thought I would highlight some more key words for you once again, just for some emphasis. 
Again, God reminds them, "But you have not paid attention or listened to me. The descendants of Jonadab son of Recab have carried out the command their forefather gave them, but these people have not obeyed me.' Here comes that word "therefore". "Therefore, this is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, (just in case you forgot who He is) says: 'Listen! I am going to bring on Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem every disaster I pronounced against them.. I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer.'" God doesn't mess around with disobedience.
There are consequences to our disobedience, but there are blessings as we obey that which is spoken to us. God didn't forget the Recabite family, on the contrary He says, "You have obeyed the command of your forefather Jonadab and have followed all his instructions and have done everything he ordered.' Therefore, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Jonadab son of Recab will never fail to have a man to serve me.'"  Would you not agree with me that obedience pays off!
Father, help us to be listening and obeying Your word. Help us to turn from our wicked ways, to reform our actions and not be following other gods to serve them. Let our lives be of and for You only, following You and living as You have planned for us. Let us have hearts that seek after You only. Father, do a work in our lives so that we will have 
OBEDIENCE TO OUR FATHER
Amen

RAGING STORMS

The wind is blowing with gusting strength, the headwind is pressing in hard,  the waves are slamming relentlessly which are nearly drowning all that is in its path.
I came home yesterday to find my back door blown wide open and a severe force of wind blowing in a pelleting blast of rain which quickly flooded the room. All this in a matter of a few minutes.  Then I spent the next several minutes mopping up the mess and praying that there is no  damage to the wood floor. Though there was no sin involved in this situation, it got me to think how quickly sin can blow through my life, cause havoc and then leave potential damage.  Meanwhile, I try my hardest to mop up the mess.
Is there a storm in your life? Is the blowing wind of the situation sending things in a whirlwind? Is the headwind of circumstances causing unnecessary pressure? Is there slamming and crashing of life's choices over taking all?
"The word of the Lord came to Jonah... But Jonah ran away from the Lord... "Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose  that the ship threatened to break up" Jonah 1:1,3,4
If there is a storm in your life, are you not listening, are you running from the Lord as Jonah did? I know for myself, there have been many times that I just didn't want to hear the truth and then I would start running in the opposite direction only to find myself lost and alone, thankfully, not in the belly of a great fish! Sin enters into the equation, causing a separation from the only one who can help in time of need, God.  Go figure, how smart is that.  It is not smart, but it is "self" that rears it's ugly head.

"But since you refuse to listen when I call
    and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,
²⁵ since you disregard all my advice
    and do not accept my rebuke,
²⁶ I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you;
    I will mock when calamity overtakes you—
²⁷ when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
    when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
    when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

²⁸ “Then they will call to me but I will not answer;
    they will look for me but will not find me,
²⁹ since they hated knowledge
    and did not choose to fear the Lord.
³⁰ Since they would not accept my advice
    and spurned my rebuke,
³¹ they will eat the fruit of their ways
    and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.
³² For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
³³ but whoever listens to me will live in safety
    and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

Prov. 1:24-33

The storm mostly likely is the consequences of the choices we have made. A storm caused from the result of rejection, refusal and/or rebellion, sin! We complain, a self-centered denial, and then we face the discipline of the Lord. But, there is a warning here as a believer, that we are never to think that the discipline of the Lord is anything but loving and gracious.  The enemy would have us believe otherwise thinking that the disciple is a cold-hearted punishment. Remember, His word speaks the truth.
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son" Heb. 12:5-11
The Lord disciplines us because He loves us.  Discipline should cause us to understand that, to repent and renew a relationship with Him. He wants us to succeed, to be holy as He is Holy so that our lives will reflect Him and His grace for us. Through the testings,trials and temptations, the circumstances, situations and life in general, the Lord is there with an open door to receive, repent and renew. 

“As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived 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’"

1 Peter 1:15-16).

Lord, may the Raging Storms of our lives be calmed by the peace of a repenting heart.

When I look into your holiness

THE SONSHINE
Sunshine in the midst of clouds and clouds in the midst of sunshine.
The warmth and brightness of the sun, makes for a comfortable place, a welcoming, a feel good feeling.  The cool and darkness of a cloud cover, makes for eeriness, uncertainty and a dreary feeling.  How do and how can these two mix and intertwine in a life?
When life is rolling along, good things are all around and that feel good feeling is a welcome to the day, the clouds above are just an added fluff of comfort.
But when life is bumpy, full of potholes, troubled things are weighing the day down with a heavy feeling and the sun is no where to be seen, causing an overcast feeling.
Our emotions are dictated by what we feel and see. So how are we to keep those emotions where the Lord would have them be so that our lives would be engulfed in peace and comfort regardless of what the surrounding circumstances are.
As we look above to see sunshine or clouds,  God's word tells us to do exactly the same,  Look above to see the Son.
"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things" Col. 3:2
Paul tells us in Philippians,
"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure  whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do,  and the God of peace will be with you." Phil. 4:8-9
Things, people, circumstances, situations and just life in general, can and do set our day in motion. We can roll along just fine or we can stumble and fall. Either way, when we look up, let us look beyond the sunshine and clouds and gaze upon the  SON, Jesus Christ.

This is the Day the Lord has Made

For This Is The Day...        Good day to all.  God says, for this is the day that I have made for you.  I say, Thank you Lord. This day which has been given to me, I ask,  "what do I do with it, where do I begin in it and how will I end it?
"This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. ...  This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. ..." Ps. 118:24
       My day began seeking the Lord, praising Him, asking for blessings for those in my life and receiving His grace and His peace which passes all understanding. His peace is what I felt as I got up and prepared myself to face this day which has been given to me.        A day in our eyes is 24 hours long. Is a day in the eyes of the Lord the same, because His time is not the same as ours.  2 Peter 3:8 tells us, 
"With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." 
So really, how long, how many hours, how many minutes do I have? Better yet, what will I, what will you, what will we do with what has been given? I, personally, so want to be on fire for Jesus, giving Him my all every minute of the day.  Can I do that?  Yes, in His power and with His grace all things are possible.
""With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." ...

Mark 10:27

I want to stand on the mountain top and shout His name for all He has done for me!

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.
Serve the LORD with gladness;
  Come before Him with joyful singing.
Know that the LORD Himself is God;
  It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
  We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving
  And His courts with praise.
  Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
  His lovingkindness is everlasting
  And His faithfulness to all generations

Ps. 100

I want to give and I want to receive, Lord, I want to be a servant to all.

 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, 

and to give his life a ransom for many”

Mark 10:45 

“Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, 

but the interests of others as well”

Phil. 1:4

There are a lot of  "I wants" in this posting, but as I am growing and knowing who I am, a child of God, then I can have the confidence and assurance knowing that I can come boldly before Him and lay down my petitions and requests. His word is full of promises for me and you. If I am responsible with His promises and with this day that has been given me, I will be given the desires of my heart.

"Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shall you dwell in the land, and truly you shall be fed. Delight yourself also in the LORD: and he shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."

Ps. 37:3-5 

For This Is The Day.....

Do You See What I See?

Do You See What I See?

Sounds like a Christmas song in July, doesn't it.  Rest assured that I am not promoting the Christmas season today, especially as the world see's it. Although, Christmas really should be promoted everyday celebrating Jesus. But, that is not what I want to elaborate on today.
The story begins with an excited trip to the store to purchase a dress for a special occasion. The thought in this one's little heart was that she would have a cute dress to wear and enjoy the day in it. As it turned out, the one that was decided for her was not what she had in mind. Actually, her heart was crushed. The others thought it looked great on her, went well with her features and complimented her. But that wasn't what she saw.  She saw unattractive, not appealing and just not her.   Don't you see what I see?  It's not pretty on me, I don't look good in it, I don't like it.
How many times have I felt the same way. How many times have I thought I'm not pretty. It has taken a lot of years feeling that way until I diligently searched the  Word and found what God sees. In doing so, I now see differently. 
The first thing that I meditated on and got a hold of was,  Ps. 139:14 "I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; You works are wonderful"  If I doubt that, I doubt the ability of my Creator, I doubt His workmanship, I doubt who He is. The fact is, He is God and He makes no mistakes.
Second, was  1 Sam. 16:7 "But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have  rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." My true beauty is that which radiates from my heart.
 Third is, Pro. 31:30 "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Humility and reverence is wisdom.
Fourth, 1 Peter 3:3-4 "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." It is not all about me, rather it is all about Him.
And lastly,  Gen. 1:27,31 "God, created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." "God saw all that He had made, and it was very good." I am a child of God, created just the way I am because He loves me.
His Word is assuring and comforting. Each day that He gives me, I want to grow in that assurance and comfort and I want to be able to share that with others who haven't yet gotten a hold of it yet. I want to flip the thought of that precious little one's heart from  "Don't you see what I see" to "Look and see what God sees"
My prayer for her and for myself is this, 
Father God, search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.  In His most precious name, my Lord and Savior,  Jesus Christ
"

COMPLETION

Peace and Joy

 

Peace and Joy, that's the heading in my Bible in Romans 5. Peace and Joy are the very things that I experience early in the morning hours as I sit down with a cup of coffee in hand, look around at what I am blessed with and quiet my being so to hear His voice. I bow down before Him seeking His face, giving Him praise and asking for peace and joy in the day He has given me. And I wait expectantly as my day begins! "In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning  I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Ps. 5:3 Have you read Romans 5:1-11 lately? In those verses, "we have" is written seven times, the number of completion. I love how the Word wraps itself around verse after verse. I'll explain further down, but for now, let's see just what it does say "we have". #1   -    we have been justified through faith #2   -   we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ #3   -   we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand through Jesus #4   -   we have the ability to rejoice in our sufferings because of God's love for us #5   -   we have the Holy Spirit who dwells within us #6   -   we have been justified by the blood of Jesus #7   -    we have been reconciled  Wow, what don't we have!!!!! Okay, now for the Word of God and how it wraps itself. I pointed out that there were seven things mentioned that "we have" and that seven is the number of completion.   In Rom. 5:3, it says,  "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance....".   Here is the wrapping, in James 1:2-4, God tells us, 
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
"being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phil. 1:6
Completion! After reading His word, "we should for sure have" Peace and Joy!
Thank you Lord for Your word, for Your peace and joy which surpasses all understanding, for loving us first. Thank you for showing us how precious Your word is. Teach us Lord how to walk in Your Peace and Joy all the days of our lives. Amen