Sunday in the Word

^{My friend, Becky Glenn, shared these verses with me and they are awesome so I am passing them on to you.  Wonderful truths here and such encouragement.}  

God's loyal love couldn't have run out,
   his merciful love couldn't have dried up.
They're created new every morning.
   How great your faithfulness!
I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over).
   He's all I've got left. 

 God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits,
   to the woman who diligently seeks.
It's a good thing to quietly hope,
   quietly hope for help from God.
It's a good thing when you're young
   to stick it out through the hard times.

When life is heavy and hard to take,
   go off by yourself. Enter the silence.
Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions:
   Wait for hope to appear.

Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face.
   The "worst"  is never the worst.

 Why? Because the Master won't ever
   walk out and fail to return.
If he works severely, he also works tenderly.
   His stockpiles of loyal love are immense.
He takes no pleasure in making life hard,

in throwing roadblocks in the way...

Lamentations 3:22-33 (The Message)

Great is His faithfulness indeed!

Read more...

As the Plates Twirl

I don't know how many times I've declared my life is out of balance, my priorities are off.  I've also heard many other women say the same thing but you know what?  I've never once heard a man say that.  I wonder why?


Maybe because we, as women, have more plates spinning at the same time than men.  They are more task oriented.  They pigeon hole their jobs and then leave them when done. 


It's not like you can leave a screaming baby while you finish your Bible reading in the morning.  You combine a telephone call while making supper, and at the same time you solve childish arguments and try to disengage little hands pulling at your sweat pants before those said pants bunch at your knees.  Many women also add to that a job out of the home, preparing children for childcare, getting lunches ready...  Wow!  No wonder we feel out of balance.  How do we twirl all those plates so they don't fall down and shatter?

Well, I don't have an answer.  In fact, I don't have all those responsibilities anymore, only having a 16-year-old left at home, and I still fall off the tightrope and break lots of plates.  I'm so thankful God isn't interested in my works but He's interested in my heart and my worship.  


Everything we do, we need to do it like we're doing it for the Lord.  Include Him in your life.  Talk to Him continually.  Break out in song, even if you make up words, because sometimes that can be the very best worship.  Include your little kids in a dance across the kitchen, twirling them high in the air. When we love on those around us, it's loving on God.  

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."  Mark 12:30 (NIV)

Let's worship God today by including Him in all we do. Let God help you keep those plates spinning and ask Him to help you balance out your life. 

Read more...

Unfocused and Miserable

Lately my vision's been off.  Not sure if it's because of my pressure change now or what.  It surely is irritating, though.  My bifocals are off and my reading glasses are funky.  I didn't used to have to wear my glasses at home.  Now I can't stretch my arm out long enough to read labels.  That's just plain getting old, I know.  Unfocused is a terrible way to live.

God wants us focused on what He has for us.  When we stray too far to the right or the left, we just might end up in a soggy wet ditch.  So not where I want to be.  Living unfocused is a miserable existence.


 "So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it." -- Philippians 3:15 The Message)


I hope my vision clears soon but my spiritual vision is way more important.  Praying we all stay focused and driven to do what God has for us, each and every day.

Read more...

Selah

Psalm 77

 ¹ I cried out to God for help;
       I cried out to God to hear me.

 ² When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
       at night I stretched out untiring hands
       and my soul refused to be comforted.

 ³ I remembered you, O God, and I groaned;
       I mused, and my spirit grew faint.
       Selah

 ⁴ You kept my eyes from closing;
       I was too troubled to speak.

 ⁵ I thought about the former days,
       the years of long ago;

 ⁶ I remembered my songs in the night.
       My heart mused and my spirit inquired:

 ⁷ "Will the Lord reject forever?
       Will he never show his favor again?

 ⁸ Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
       Has his promise failed for all time?

 ⁹ Has God forgotten to be merciful?
       Has he in anger withheld his compassion?"
       Selah

 ¹⁰ Then I thought, "To this I will appeal:
       the years of the right hand of the Most High."

 ¹¹ I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
       yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

 ¹² I will meditate on all your works
       and consider all your mighty deeds.

 ¹³ Your ways, O God, are holy.
       What god is so great as our God?

 ¹⁴ You are the God who performs miracles;
       you display your power among the peoples.

 ¹⁵ With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
       the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
       Selah

 ¹⁶ The waters saw you, O God,
       the waters saw you and writhed;
       the very depths were convulsed.

 ¹⁷ The clouds poured down water,
       the skies resounded with thunder;
       your arrows flashed back and forth.

 ¹⁸ Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
       your lightning lit up the world;
       the earth trembled and quaked.

 ¹⁹ Your path led through the sea,
       your way through the mighty waters,
       though your footprints were not seen.

 ²⁰ You led your people like a flock
       by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Read more...

Oh the Joy!

When I was young, I remember swinging high into the air. I thought the clouds would touch my feet if only I stretched out far enough. The wind whipped through my hair and I smiled, so happy. When tired of my fun or just because, I jumped from the swing and landed on the ground, not near as hard as it seems to be now that I'm older.


When we swing, we start down low to the ground then we pump our legs faster and faster until we're high in the air. Oh the joy!


Life is like swinging. One day we're low to the ground, we can hardly go on, and then another day or maybe another minute, we're up high in the air - our worries gone for a bit.  


I can't wait until Jesus comes to take us back, but in the meantime, we must keep each other's swings flying high in the air.  One day you might be the one on the ground pushing, another day that person gives you a good push then runs underneath as you both laugh in complete happiness. 


I pray that we can work together to lift, push, and encourage.  When we think we're alone, things are bad.  When we remember and see God working, things are so much better, and when He puts friends in our path, those friends become God's hand and feet and we can smile with hope.  

A good friend, Laura Shaw, shared a verse today in Facebook.  I'm sure she probably thinks no one notices, but we do.  Here is one that we all need to remember and hold onto:

"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord." Psalm 31:24

Feel the wind whip through your hair? Maybe that's the Holy Spirit sweeping over us, you think? When you feel the physical touch of a friend when you hurt, remember it's God's gift, to bring Himself to us in a tangible way. And those times we feel we fight alone and we're down and depressed, maybe hurting -- know for sure that God is there, holding you tight in his arms, waiting patiently until we remember and look up at Him and touch His cheek. 

Read more...