"We - His So Loved" - 07/31/17 - Proverbs 16-18

"but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (18:24)

There are moments, such as those yesterday, when I will sit and just drink in those about me as we are gathered together in worship to our ABBA.  My heart comes near to bursting, tears of overwhelming joy threaten to spill out, as I take in the beauty of my loved ones surrounding me.  Loved ones who have a part of my heart.  Bonded together in blood and His Blood.

 

He has filled my life with a taste of what His Love is like through His family. 

 

I am greeted with ones who love me.  Ones who delight in me.  Ones who want to share life with me.  Ones who lift me up.  Ones who encourage me.  Ones who hold me accountable.  Ones whom are His.

How He has filled my life and heart with His family whom have become my eternal brothers/sisters.  My dear friends. How my heart smiles at the thought of so many I see in my minds eye. 

 

It constantly astounds me how loved I am by so many. 

Ones who have opened up their lives and hearts and allow me the honor and blessing to become part of their lives.

 

Yes.  My life is full of immeasurable riches. 

 

I know those whom He showers love upon us through and we grow in relationship with, are a constant reminder of THE One who Loves us even more so.  THE One who unconditionally loves us more than we can imagine.  

 

They are but an inkling of The Love from THE One - who desires to become our bestest friend.

 

He has.  He does.  He will.
Our Jesus.  Our Savior. 
"THE Friend.  Who sticks closer than a brother".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"His Revenue" - 07/30/17 - Proverbs 13-15

"Where no oxen are,
the manger is clean,
But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox."(14:4)

I'm not calling our visitors oxen.  But I am thinking how much our home relates to this verse when we have persons come to stay.

Whenever visits come to an end and all head back, scattered throughout our home are reminders of how full this place is whenever someone has been here.  Just like my heart. 

The voices.  The laughter. Will always ring through my ears.  The times of being all together.  The images of each one pressed into my heart, as keepsakes between the pages of a book. 

I try to ready our home before anyone coming with putting most everything in its place, except where we are remodeling the downstairs (still).  The floors will be clean.  things will be dusted.  laundry caught up.  beds will be made with freshly washed and hung on the clothes line sheets. 

My manger will be clean.  It will be organized and ready. 

And so, so empty. 

Of life.

So much strength do I gather from those who come into this home.  their wisdom.  their unconditional love.  their delight in living life.  their sharing.  their caring.  their welcoming us into their hearts and lives.

One dear brother, Steve, would say often throughout their days of a visit, "this is a glimpse of what Heaven will be like when we are all together under one roof".  For eternity.  How much I agree with him.

"Much revenue" I have gained when our home is filled - money does not count as my wealth. 

 

"We Belong" - 07/29/17 - Proverbs 10-12

"The LORD will not allow the righteous to hunger"(10:3)


Most times, our home is very quiet as only Curt and I are living here. 

 

But then there are times when it is overflowing with voices, little and big footsteps, laughter and the sounds of people.  When furniture is full and floor space is limited.

There are times when we put all the leaves into the table, the kitchen countertops are loaded down with food, and I can feel the filling up of my heart and soul.

These are moments our ABBA is filling me up with the love from my "soul family".

These are the times we are being fed the food of love.  of joy.  and of Wisdom. 

 

How much I grow and delight in the special persons whom He has given me as part of my heart.  Just like food, He knows how my soul needs nourishment.  He knows memories being made become treasures in my heart to sustain me during times of drought.  Like a cool drink of water for a parched soul they are.

It delights me when we have people unexpectedly drop by for a visit.  Most every Wednesday night our home is filled with  members of our "soul family" as we gather to study and share fellowship, bonding, falling deeper in love with our ABBA, as we grow through His Word. 

This home.  It is His. 

 

It is His and we are blessed, honored, beyond words to use it for Him.  For His glory. 

We are blessed and honored, beyond words, to fill it up with our "soul family".  

To fill it up with those He has put into our lives. 

 

All the while, being fed by Him. 

It is the little moments that are really the grand events in life. 

It is the many ways He feeds me.  His Word each day I take of it and chew on it throughout my days.  Constantly my eyes fall upon persons or things and His Word is brought into my thoughts.  He feeds me.  Through the love and honor from those He surrounds me with. 

 

How I delight in the food of life He gives me.
The everlasting food of His Love through the many members of His family.

Thank you my ABBA.  For knowing.  for providing.   

"The LORD will not allow the righteous to hunger"

 

"Our Fruits" - 07/28/17 - Proverbs 7-9

It's through Me, Lady Wisdom, that your life deepens, and the years of your life ripen.  
Live wisely and Wisdom will permeate your life (9:11-12)


Some years ago, it was while sitting in the service, the casket in the front of the room, hearing the words of the minister, I can still remember how it was another moment of a vivid reminder all of us will die. As I am aging, it seems there are more and more funerals we attend.  That "we are the next generation in line" is rapidly approaching. 

Curt and I find ourselves discussing our funeral plans and needing to buy a cemetery plot part of our conversation, whereas those thoughts were fleeting in the years past.  Each day brings another awareness.  From the moment of conception.  We begin the process of dying.

Often I ponder how am I using my life?  What will I be leaving behind?  What will be my legacy?


"your life deepens"


"and the years of your life ripen" 


"will permeate your life"


I love these words.  Knowing through His Love Letter, The Bible, we receive the gift of Wisdom.  I love how He has given His children the true drink of living.  How He has quenched our thirst, and no longer are we wandering on this journey, but headed with purpose on the path to Him.  With Him. 

If you look, we are able to tell much about a person at their funerals by their fruits.  By the relationships we are able to look in on.  To those whom ABBA was their life, in their fruits we see the delight of life, even through the sorrows, it shows in their smiles.  Smiles which come from their hearts, light up their eyes, and spread joy to those around them.  Even in their grief.  They never lose the hope.  the peace.  the joy. 

 I often come away from my time in His Word with questions of what kind of woman am I.  What memories and tools am I handing down.  Do I delight in life?  Does my fruit show this too? 

I come away knowing our precious ABBA is our Father.  The perfect Father.  He has given us the gift of Wisdom - one of the many perfect tools we need to bear His Fruit in our short time on this earth. 


I come away knowing what a legacy He has given us.  Passing on The Gift of Him.

"Ever Brighter" - 07/27/17 - Proverbs 4-6

"But the path of the just is like the shining sun,

that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.."(4:18)

In previous years, when questioned what was my favorite season, summer was always the one I checked off.  As I am growing older, my physical body is enjoying the season of spring.  In my spiritual growth, I am enjoying the hope each spring represents with new growth after the slumber of winter.  It seems each spring brings me a greater awareness of those about me and the passing of time.

For the past nine years we have met on Wednesday nights with part of our family. We are digging in and studying His Word.  Chewing and consuming it.  Placing it into our hearts and minds.  These persons make up my family.  His family bonded forever together through The Blood of our Savior.

 Each week I sit in wonderment of those He has blessed into my life and heart.  Our home is bursting at the seams with The Gift of Wisdom He has placed within these siblings of mine.  How much I have learned, am learning, will learn from each one of them. 

One woman, before her health started to decline and could no longer meet with us, I found I was always delighting in His words from her lips.

She isn't very big, she has lived longer on this earth and experienced more than myself or the others.  But upon reading this verse, I instantly thought of her. 

She isn't growing dimmer with the years, she is growing brighter.  The Light of our ABBA is shinning out through her eyes so brightly, they twinkle.  Her gentle smile has taken on the one from our Savior.  Her whole demeanor is filled with quiet, yet strong, grace.  Looking at her is looking at "the full light of day". 

I think about how she has lived up to the name her parents gave her.  Ruby. 
She literally sparkles, just like a rare, perfect, beautiful jewel in our ABBA's  crown.  Invaluable.

There are so many others in my life whom I delight in being around and gleaning from their life as they walk "in" His steps. 

 

Ones who live so opposite of those who have decided to sit back, waiting for their time here on earth to end and have decided to make living all about themselves.  Missing out on the many Divine Appointments due to continually looking inward and not outward. 

 As His child we don't want to be the dim light of the sun just before it slips below the horizon.  We need to truly live. Allowing Him to shine through us "shining ever brighter till the full light of day". No matter our age. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"His Gift of Wisdom Given Through His Word" - 07/26/17 - Proverbs 1-3

 

 

 

"My child,

If you will receive My Words And treasure My commandments within you,

Make your ear attentive to Wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding;
For if you cry for Discernment, Lift your voice for Understanding;

If you seek Her as silver And search for Her as for hidden treasures;

Then you will discern the fear of The LORD And discover the knowledge of God.

For The LORD gives Wisdom;
From His mouth come Knowledge and Understanding.

He stores up sound Wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones.

Then you will discern Righteousness and Justice
And equity and every good course.

For Wisdom will enter your heart And Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;

Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you,
To deliver you from the way of evil,

 

From the man who speaks perverse things;
From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness;
Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil;
Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways;

To deliver you from the strange woman, From the adulteress who flatters with her words;
That leaves the companion of her youth
And forgets the covenant of her God;

For her house sinks down to death And her tracks lead to the dead;

None who go to her return again,
Nor do they reach the paths of life.

So you will walk in the way of good men And keep to the paths of the righteous.

For the upright will live in the land

And the blameless will remain in it;

But the wicked will be cut off from the land

And the treacherous will be uprooted from it."

 (Chapter 2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Everything That Has Breath" - 07/25/17 - Psalms 146-150

"Let everything that has breath praise The LORD. 

 Praise

 The LORD." (150:6)



A few years ago,  I couldn’t help but smile, as I watched them. 

Kids.

Of all ages. 

Parents swinging and dipping their babies toes down into it.  Little ones running, screaming, laughing as they ran through it, on that first warm day of spring.  I was sitting on a bench in the heart of Chicago at the fountains.  Watching how different God has made each of us, not only in our looks, but our temperament. 

A beautiful little girl reminded me of a duck.  She was following another  little girl, mimicking her every move.  Even in holding up her “skirt”, while not wearing a skirt.  Never did that little hand unclasp the hem of her short tee shirt.  Wherever her leader went, she went also.  Whatever action, she was a perfect copy. 

The little boy made his way about the waters on his own.  Splashing whomever happened to be in his way.   Running through the water falls and squealing with delight, as he came through the other side completely soaked.  His mom soon joined in.  Not caring at all what she looked like to others.  They were in their own little world – delighting in it.

Four sisters ran from one end to the other, until the youngest one was completely soaked.  When they came over to their mom, who was sitting right beside me, the little girl's excitement quickly fizzled out.  Her mom was reprimanding her for “not thinking long term” and getting soaked.  She would have to ride in the car like that.  I wanted so badly to say, “Please pick your battles.  Your child will most likely remember getting “shoulded”, instead of the giggles, screams, and laughter the four of them had – getting soaked”.  I kept my mouth shut and prayed.

And continued to pray for all I was watching.    

 

Wondering how many of them share an intimate relationship with God or even know His name. 

I so want my fellow man to know Him. 

All the thousands of persons I saw that day, I wondered.  I prayed as I walk down the streets over them.  I may not have personally met them face to face, but I believe my Divine Appointment that day was to pray over them.  

I cannot contain my love for Him. 

 
Later, as I was sitting in Union Station waiting on my train, I looked across the room.  There was a woman with two books in her lap, she was writing and turning pages back and forth.  One of those books was her Bible.  Another woman sitting two seats down from her, also studying her Bible.

There in the middle of the city -  In the middle of the crowds - He is.

I continue to pray for those about me

"Let everything that has breath praise The LORD.

Praise

The LORD."

 

 

 

 

 

"Parts of My Heart" - 07/24/17 - Psalms 140-145

"Make our sons in their prime
    like sturdy oak trees,

Our daughters as shapely and bright
    as fields of wildflowers.

Fill our barns with great harvest,
    fill our fields with huge flocks;
Protect us from invasion and exile—
    eliminate the crime in our streets.

How blessed the people who have all this!
How blessed the people who have God for God!"(144:12-15)

 

 

 

While painting the front porch last evening I heard a noise in the drive, but there was nothing there when I turned to look.  Thinking it was our flag flapping in the breeze I went back to painting.  A few minutes later the front door opened up and I could see our Adam's feet from my position in the cherry picker. 

 

My heart smiled. 

 

He began teasing me for not seeing him as he rode right behind me on his bike. 

 

My heart laughed.

 

He and Ashley had gotten home earlier in the day and slept after being up for 24 hours.  It was so wonderful to just sit and listen to him share about their trip.  Their time with Nichalas and Amber, Brandon and Jessica and their kids.  How Nichalas was surprised Adam had grown a beard with him beginning the day they started their hike.  How Nichalas was a bit jealous because Adam has better facial hair.  All the sights they took in, places they ate, the people, the scenery, and other little bits of info he wanted to share. 

 

There were moments when I could feel tears of joy come to the surface while listening to him share about his time spent with persons so important to him.  Who he is so in love with.  I whispered up thanksgiving that both of our sons are sharing life with their wives.  Making memories.  Together.  The four of them.

 

I love knowing how close this next generation is.  How their children will grow up sharing life. With God as their center.   

 

The one thing I asked for was a picture of the four of them.  It seems as though my eyes can never get enough of them. 

 

So full is my heart of them. 

 

"How blessed the people who have all this!
How blessed the people who have God for God!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

"We - His Treasure" - 07/23/17 - Psalm 133-139

"Who makes lightnings for the rain; Who brings forth the wind from His treasuries."
Psalm 135:7

I love the wind - I love storms - When I was young, I would sneak out and watch from our porch the magic in the sky.

I love the days when the wind is blowing so hard the plants are all bowing low to the ground.  The kind of day it doesn't pay to do your hair. Once when Adam and Nichalas were younger, we took an old water ski, added some old mower wheels, a pole with a sheet on it and went wind sailing on the road in front of our house. I am sure the neighbors were wondering - but we had a blast. All be it our design had some major faults, it was a day we put into our "treasure chest" - our hearts.

On days when I am very hot and sweaty, and I feel the wind caressingly touch my face - I drink it in as a kiss from our Daddy. That He is there with me in my work, watching over me, leading me, keeping me.   

 

It seems as though we haven't had too many days this year without the wind. It has hindered my spraying, causing some drift damage, or not being able to spray at all. And yet, because of Him, I am okay with that. He has helped me remove "my" schedule and accept His. That instead of looking at it as a day of getting behind, it is a day to see His power and glory.

 

So often, He has helped us with the wind in our work. Many days we do not have to blow the clippings from the walks - He does. There are often times while trimming trees - He removes the leaves we would normally have to rake up. Or this spring when the grass was so tall, His mighty wind blew it so far out from our mowers there wasn't much laying on the lawns.

 

There are times when the wind reminds me of when I am walking to "self" and not Him, those are the moments when I am all wind and no blow.

 

That only when He is our God - is there any real Power.

I think about this verse often when I am out working - "He brings forth the wind from His treasuries".

His treasuries.

That He considers the wind a treasure. I am amazed at all He finds a treasure.

 

Particularly when I think about me. That He holds me as one of His most prized treasures.

That He holds me.  That He holds you.  That He holds each and every one of us.

In His "Treasure Chest"

His heart.

What an awesome Daddy we have.

 

"For Always" - 07/22/17 - Psalm 120-132

"I look up to the mountains;
    does my strength come from mountains?

No, my strength comes from God,
    
Who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

He won’t let you stumble,
    your Guardian God won’t fall asleep.

Not on your life! Israel’s
    Guardian will never doze or sleep.

 

God’s your Guardian,

right at your side to protect you—
Shielding you from sunstroke,
    sheltering you from moonstroke.

 

God guards you from every evil,

 

He guards your very life.

He guards you when you leave and when you return,
  

He guards you now,

He guards you always." (121)

 

"Growing Faith" - 07/21/17 - Psalm 119:89-176

 

"What you say goes, God, and stays, as permanent as the heavens.

Your truth never goes out of fashion; it's as up-to-date as the earth when the sun comes up.

Your Word and Truth are dependable as ever; that's what You ordered - You set the earth going.

                        
If Your revelation hadn't delighted me so, I would have given up when the hard times came.                            

But I'll never forget the advice You gave me; You saved my life with those wise words.

Save me! I'm all Yours. I look high and low for Your words of Wisdom.

The wicked lie in ambush to destroy me,
but I'm only concerned with Your plans for me.  
                          
I see the limits to everything human, but the horizons can't contain Your commands!                            

Oh, how I love all You've revealed; I reverently ponder it all the day long."(89-97)

 

 

 

His reminder.  His comfort.  His Truth. 

 

Right there - first Words I read this morning. 


He is I AM.

 

 

Comparing myself to how I was in my yesterdays, I have improved greatly.  There are still moments when I fail and fall back into an old habit.  When I allow the whispers coming from the enemy to draw my attention off of our ABBA.

My g'ma Dorothy used to tell me, "it's like a rocking chair.  Even though you rock and rock, you're never getting anywhere".

 

She was referring to "worry". 

 

I have been striving to eradicate it from my life by depending and believing in all - all - He has written to me in my love letter from Him - His Word.  I have been striving to lean on The Holy Spirit and draw from His Wisdom which I receive from digging into His Word.  I continually strive in becoming more intimate with our ABBA, desiring more than just a superficial relationship. 

 

And for the most part, He has helped me overcome the noise of the whispers.

 

This week there are six very important parts of my heart away from the normal routine.  Charles and Ella are in Oklahoma with their dad.  And the other four are presently out west.  Today is the day Adam and Ashley will be meeting up with Nichalas and Amber to spend time together.  I am so excited for them.  It has been seven months since they have been face to face and know there will be some happy hearts creating more memories.  

 

I am so thankful for all the prayers being lifted up for them.  I am so thankful knowing our ABBA is right there in the center of them.  When we dropped Adam and Ashley off at the airport a couple of days ago, I only shed a few tears.  I haven't had too many anxious moments thinking about Nichalas and Amber on the trail.  Even when Nichalas shared the "we shouldn't have made it mom" moments or seeing their first bear. 

 

Our ABBA is having me realize I am not becoming "cocky", but my faith is growing.  At times it feels strange not worrying, since it has always been my first go to reaction.  He is opening my eyes to seeing the not worrying is my faith growing "in" Him.     

 

It has been bittersweet having our sons become grown men and leave the "nest".  There have been, and most likely will be more of those moments when my heart physically aches from the days which accumulate between all of us being together.  How I delight in Adam being back and living here with our Ashley, Charlie and Ella.   To spend time with them.  Just to hear their voice in person and see their faces on a regular basis. 

One of my greatest joys has become just sitting and looking, watching our kids. 
His beauty within and outside of them, continually takes my breath away. 

"Marvelous are His works". 

 

And again, as He reassures me during the attack of satan's arrows, the whispers trying to get into my head, we are but sojourners here on this earth.  Picking up and journeying through the dangers and potholes of this world, towards our place at "Home" in which our Christ has went and prepared for us. 

He continually reassures me the all of our ABBA is as permanent as the heavens. 
In Him, He is as the air we breathe, surrounding us and within.  No matter where we journey.   

 

Every moment, He knows  I need to "hear" He is in complete control. 

 

"What you say goes, God, and stays, as permanent as the heavens.

Your truth never goes out of fashion; it's as up-to-date as the earth when the sun comes up.

Your Word and Truth are dependable as ever; that's what You ordered - You set the earth going.

                        
If Your revelation hadn't delighted me so, I would have given up when the hard times came.                            

But I'll never forget the advice You gave me; You saved my life with those wise words.

Save me! I'm all Yours. I look high and low for Your words of Wisdom.

The wicked lie in ambush to destroy me,
but I'm only concerned with Your plans for me.  
                          
I see the limits to everything human, but the horizons can't contain Your commands!                            

Oh, how I love all You've revealed; I reverently ponder it all the day long."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Heart Free" - 07/20/17 - Psalm 119:1-88

"I run in the path of Your commands, for You have set my heart free".(32)

I love all His days given to me, but I love storms.  I love rainy days. 

I love the coziness that comes from being on the inside looking out through the windows, knowing I am safe and warm inside.  I love the memories tucked into my heart.  One I treasure most is when the boys were young, after a downpour, along with Jacob and Lucas, we went outside and played in the water running down the street on its way to the river.  We made little boats out of paper and sticks to have races.  We were soaked to the bones from the splashing.  Laughter filled the air. 

I love the refreshment which comes from the warm, gentle summer popup showers, pouring down upon me, hot and sweaty from working outside.  I love dodging through the big fat drops, trying to take cover before the solid sheet of water I see in the horizon meets me face to face. 

I love water. 

An essential physical life source.  As are His commands. 

I love how His Word transforms our heart, as the rains transform a plant drooped over in dryness into one standing firm and tall, refreshed. 
I love how His Word gives us the promises and Truth deep within our heart, as the rains penetrate into this earth. 
I love how His Word tells us we are covered with His Grace and Mercy through the Blood of our Savior, as the rains pouring down. 

I love how His Word has given us a new way of living.  Just as the rains.

Our dearest ABBA,

I love to run in the path of Your commands, as I love running in the depths of the waters, making its journey to the rivers, seas, and oceans after a hard rain.

I love drinking You in, as I taste the coolness of Your pure water raining down upon my upturned face. 

I love You have set my heart free in Your Love, as the rains coming down from the heavens.

I love we are Your Beloved.

"How Much He Loves Thee" - 07/19/17 - Psalm 115-118

 "I love The LORD ,
because He hears My voice and my supplications.

"Because He has inclined His ear to me,
Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live.

The cords of death encompassed me And the terrors of Sheol came upon me;
I found distress and sorrow.

Then I called upon the name of The LORD : "O LORD , I beseech You, save my life!"

Gracious is The LORD , and righteous;

Yes, our God is compassionate.

The LORD preserves the simple;
I was brought low, and He saved me.

Return to your rest, O my soul, For The LORD has dealt bountifully with you.

For You have rescued my soul from death,
My eyes from tears,
My feet from stumbling.

I shall walk before The LORD In the land of the living."(116:1-9)   

"70 x 7" - 07/18/17 - Psalms 108-114

 "For Your Mercy is great above the heavens.  And Your Truth reaches to the clouds."(108:4)

There are often times when reading the Psalms I breath a sigh of relief.  Many times the curses the psalmist wants to call down on his enemies seem very harsh and unforgiving.  Only because of our Christ, I have never came to this place of wanting any type of vengeance upon those who have hurt me.  Sometimes it is hard to understand how we should take this kind of language in the different Psalms in the face of Christ's teaching about loving our enemies and doing good to those who hurt us. 

However, two important points are clear:  the psalmist left vengeance in The Hand of The Lord, and he also clearly understood the reality of wickedness.  We must remember that forgiveness is not saying, "It wasn't really bad."  True forgiveness does not pretend that sin did not happen; it recognizes evil, and then releases the desire for vengeance into God's hands.  God has promised that He will judge the wicked in the end. 

How I rejoice in knowing we have such an ABBA.  In knowing, no matter our sins.  Or when they have and do occur.  When "in" Christ", all sins are forgiven.  We live life standing on and in His Truth.  His Truth which transforms our heart and gives us such freedom. 

In the end,  it is only because of His Grace we will not be judged as "wicked".  We instantly became covered by The Blood of our Savior from the moment we accepted Him into our heart.  His gifts of Grace, Mercy and Forgiveness begin transforming our heart, causing us to pray for "all" to have an intimacy with Him.  And for some - those prayers are from afar. 

We are instructed no matter the actions of others, we must forgive.  (This doesn't mean "forgetting" and subjecting yourself to the mistreatment.)  Our ABBA knows, it is only through the forgiving of others, we then overcome feelings of anger, bitterness, or revenge. Forgiveness can heal spiritual wounds and bring the peace and love only our God can give.  It enables us to view "all" through the eyes of our Savior. 

"All".  Whom are made in His image. 

To the world, it totally doesn't make sense to be as Christ.  The world will look upon this act as a weakness.  In reality, it takes super God strength to forgive and extend mercy and grace.  To live going against the grain - shining His Light into the darkness.

Just as He has done with the darkness of our hearts in the act of forgiveness. 

 

"His Living Waters" - 07/17/17 - Psalm 106-107

"Then He changed the wasteland into fresh pools of water, and earth into springs of water," (107:35)


I smile as the image of Jed Clampit from the Beverly Hillbillies, discovers "black gold - oil that is", comes into my mind as I read this verse.  How it represents my life, before and after, I gave it to our ABBA.

So many times throughout my life He has protected me, actually saved me from harm.  I shake my head in wonderment knowing, there are many instances I am completely unaware of. 

Quite a few years ago while mowing atop of a steep hill, my mower hit wet grass and started to slide down towards the 8 ft tall wall at the bottom. In my panic, my next reaction was trying to put my foot out in front of the mower to try and stop it - the blades still running. My foot, thankfully, never touched the ground. It was a small 2ft wide bed with blue rug growing in it that our ABBA used to stop it.  I can remember sitting there looking down over the drive offering up a prayer of thank you to Him.  He was the only reason I didn't fly over the wall. 

Looking back at that day, I realized how easily my life could have ended.  I realized the stupid things we end up doing, trying to "save ourselves" when we allow fear to take over.  He also gave me insight to prepare for the "next time" I have to mow in a situation like that.  How to maneuver the terrain in a way that keeps me from the edge. 


Just like my life. 


Up until the point of having Adam 32 years ago, my life was a wasteland.  I was stumbling through life, living for "self", living in fear, living life on the edge.  My "fruits" were all about the world. 


How He transformed my life at the point of Adam.  He took the wasteland and it has become lush from the fresh waters.  He has taken the fruits of our sons and daughter-in-loves, our grandchildren and making them into springs of water.  He is using me and mine to lead others to "living water" so their lives are eternally refreshed. 


He has shown us when in Him, we no longer have to live life in the wasteland full of fear and doubt.  He teaches us when in situations outside our comfort zone not to "put our foot out in front of running blades".  We can stand back and allow our ABBA to be our protector.  We are living in the refreshment of His "living springs".  Drinking in His Promises and great LOVE. 

  

"Our Christ - The Living Word" - 07/16/17 Psalms 103-105

This past March 07 I was sitting in a darkened room beside a bed.  My grandmother lay in it taking her last steps on this earth. It was during her last hours I found comfort and peace through the reading of The Psalms on my phone. 

We would have celebrated her 96th birthday two days ago.  Time.  Although it passes, there are still constant reminders of those we share life with.  Reminders of what has been.  where we have walked.  Whom we have walked with. 

There are many being lifted up in prayer by His Warriors each and every day.  While on this earth we shall be taking steps through the valley.  over the mountain tops. 

Wherever your steps are, I am praying His Words will bring you what is needed as you are walking through this world towards Heaven.  Our eternal home with Him.  Where there are no more tears.  no more pain.  no more death.

His Word.
His Living Word.

"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.
We have seen His Glory,
The Glory of The One and only Son, who came from The Father, full of Grace and Truth"(John 1:14).

Our Hope.  May it be tucked into your heart and lived through each of your steps. 


"O my soul, bless God.
    From head to toe, I’ll bless His Holy Name!

O my soul, bless God,
    don’t forget a single blessing!

 

He forgives your sins—every one.
    

He heals your diseases—every one.
    

He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
    

He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
    

He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
    

He renews your youth—you’re always young in His presence.

 

God makes everything come out right;
    He puts victims back on their feet.

He showed Moses how He went about His work,
    opened up His plans to all Israel.

God is sheer mercy and grace;
    not easily angered, He’s rich in love.

He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold,
    nor hold grudges forever.

He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve,
    nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.

As high as heaven is over the earth,
    so strong is His Love to those who love Him.
And as far as sunrise is from sunset,
    He has separated us from our sins.

As parents feel for their children,
    God feels for those who love Him.

He knows us inside and out,
    keeps in mind that we’re made of mud.
Men and women don’t live very long;
    like wildflowers they spring up and blossom,
But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly,
    leaving nothing to show they were here.

God’s Love, though, is ever and always,

eternally present to all who love Him,

Making everything right for them and their children
    as they follow His Covenant ways
    and remember to do whatever He said.

 

God has set His Throne in Heaven;
    He rules over us all. He’s The King!

So bless God, you angels,
    ready and able to fly at His bidding,
    quick to hear and do what He says.
Bless God, all you armies of angels,
    alert to respond to whatever He wills.
Bless God, all creatures, wherever you are—
    everything and everyone made by God.

 

And you, O my soul, bless God!"(103)

 

 

 

"REJOICE!" - 07/15/17 - Psalms 96-102

 

 

 

"Sing to The LORD a new song,
for He has done marvelous things;
His right hand and His Holy arm have worked salvation for Him.

The LORD has made His salvation known and revealed His righteousness to the nations.

He has remembered His love and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Shout for joy to The LORD,

all the earth,

burst into jubilant song with music;
make music to The LORD
with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn--
 shout for joy before The LORD,

The King.

Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.
Let the rivers clap their hands,
let the mountains sing together for joy; 
let them sing before The LORD,

for He comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.(98)

 

When it rains, I can hear the rain hitting the tin roof and wonder does His Word seep into my all?

I can hear the birds outside, singing nonstop and wonder does my heart sing also?

Everywhere I look, I can see the grandness of His nature and wonder do my eyes take for granted all He gives?

I can feel the elements of nature, all under His control, and wonder do I Trust in His control of my life? 

I can look back and see the places where He has brought me through and wonder how is my faith for days ahead.

I can watch the hands on the clock ticking by and wonder if I am utilizing each moment for His glory.
If I am living for Him and not self.

I can see the beauty in the faces of those He has placed into my heart and life and wonder if I take them for granted.  Or do I fill my days caught up in the "to do list" of life and not the lives of those about me.

We can read this psalm and wonder, "is my heart near to bursting in my love for Him in such a way I am unable to contain it?" 

 

Do we sing?  Do we dance?  Do we leap for joy?  All because we can not help our "self".  Because His love runs through the all of us? 

We need to remember we are given only one life, one moment, one second, one chance - to live as He desires.  Rejoicing.  To be so full of Him we are near to bursting.

 

Are we?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"24/7 - 365 - Eternally" - 07/14/17 - Psalms 90-95

Say this: “God, You’re my refuge.

    I trust in you and I’m safe!”

That’s right—He rescues you from hidden traps,
    shields you from deadly hazards.

His huge outstretched arms protect you—

    under them you’re perfectly safe;
    His arms fend off all harm.

Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night,
    not flying arrows in the day,
Not disease that prowls through the darkness,
    not disaster that erupts at high noon.

Even though others succumb all around,
    drop like flies right and left,
    no harm will even graze you.

You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,
    watch the wicked turn into corpses.

Yes, because God’s your Refuge,
    the High God your very own home,

Evil can’t get close to you,
    harm can’t get through the door.

He ordered His angels
    to guard you wherever you go.

If you stumble, they’ll catch you;
    their job is to keep you from falling.

You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,
    and kick young lions and serpents from the path.

 “If you’ll hold on to Me for dear life,” says God,
    “I’ll get you out of any trouble.

I’ll give you the best of care
    if you’ll only get to know and trust ME.

Call ME and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times;
    I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party.

I’ll give you a long life,
    give you a long drink of salvation!”(91:2-16)