Back again

It's been close to a year since I've been able to blog. My computer crashed last May. With a new one, I have a different email. Whenever I would try to come to my blog it wouldn't let me. Somehow it is now working so I will try again. My last post was written quite a while ago but I just posted it. Thank you for checking back again.

Under His Wings

I love this picture. It is so beautiful and meaningful. I wish I could find out who the photographer was. What a great shot.

It's been a trying year. My back
injury kept me out of work for 7 weeks.At the same time, my husband had a stroke, my mother passed away andhusband back in the hospital with severe bleeding. Through it all, though, there has been thepeace that passes understanding and healing for our bodies and souls.

This morning, I heard the words to a song
that spoke to me :"Know His strenth in quietness and trust." I thought of the chicks in the picture. Not trying to flap around trying to"fix" or "control" things, just snuggled under mama's
strong and comfy wings, trusting in her strength and love to care for them. Great "aha" moment.

Quote of the Day

"The Christian life is less a matter of what we do than than what we are and about being sensitive to God’s Spirit rather than being wise in our own introspection."
Bob Mumford

His hands and feet.

Still thinking of the crucified life. When I see Jesus on the cross, I don’t focus on the nailed hands or feet. But everything has meaning in the Word and I feel like the Lord showed me that piercing the hands and feet means a couple of things.

As humans, we are proud of the “work of our hands”. Even as Christians, we can be proud of the things God does through us even though the power came through Him. Especially as Christians, we can be proud of our “walk” in Him. But it is all flesh and has to die.

Our hands help us to protect ourselves from danger, our feet to run speedily away. But He is our protection. Our hands and feet help us to provide for ourselves. But He is Jehovah Jireh. Our hands provide comfort to others and even ourselves. (Have you ever stubbed your toe? Your hand goes immediately to minister to it.) But He is the Comforter.

If we let Him, He will work in us and thru us to be HIS hands and feet. This is the crucified life.

Quote of the Day

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

How to Die

About 40 years ago, I came across an anonymous poem that deeply touched me. Over the years, I somehow lost it. Recently, someone actually posted the whole thing on facebook. I was ecstatic and want to share it here;

§ When you are forgotten, neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don't sting or hurt with the oversight, but your heart is happy being counted worthy to suffer for Christ; That is dying to self.

§ When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinion ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient, loving silence; That is dying to self......ng to s

§ When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any annoyance; when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility, and endure it as Jesus did; That is dying to self.

§ When you are content with any food, and offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude, any interruption by the will of God; That is dying to self.

§ When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation or record your own good works , when you can truly love to be unknown; That is dying to self.

§ When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met, and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and you are in desperate circumstances; That is dying to self....

I have a long way to go. How about you?

Lesson learned...for now.

As an addendum to my last post, I learned something more. The day after I wrote it was one of my worst. I was trying to put into practice this great revelation, take no thought, casting all my care upon Him, etc. but I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t get my peace back; I was cranky and did not want to forgive the people that were upsetting me. By the time I got home from work, I was a mess. I went to bed and talked to the Lord for a long time. I guess I should say, I questioned the Lord. What the heck was that! No answer.

The next morning, during my quiet time, I looked up the parable of the sowers. Matthew, Mark and Luke all have their perspectives but what I noticed was Matthew 13:20: “The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. “

When Joseph had his dreams about everyone bowing to him, it didn’t happen overnight. Psalms 105:19 says: “Till the time when his word came true; he was tested by the word of the Lord.” The word of the Lord tested him. When trouble and persecution came because of his dreams, he didn’t fall away. He struggled some but in the end the word of God became flesh in his life. My big revelation here is that the word God gives us MAY bring trouble with it to test us. Duh. Our job is not to fall away, hang tough in Him and allow the word to work in us. Joseph would say it’s not going to be easy. But it sure wasn’t easy for Jesus either.

Quote of the Day

"But it was our pain he took, and our diseases were put on him..."
Isaiah 53:4a

Cares of this Life

The crown of thorns that the Roman soldiers placed on Jesus head was something that never even crossed my mind. Yes, it was a "mock" crown, but I learned this week that there is actually a meaning behind it.

Matthew 8:17 says that Jesus "took and bore" our sicknesses and diseases. He didn't just take them from us and throw them away. He bore the brunt of it on His own body, and part of that was the mental anguish that comes with the cares of this life.

In the parable of the sower, the cares of this life are symbolized by thorns. The thorns choke God's word in our lives. It is significant that the thorns were place on Jesus' head, where all our thoughts come and go. I believe this means that He has also made provision for our mental well being. He tells us "Take no thought...." because He already "bore" it.

We can't control what thoughts come into our minds but we can control what we "take" and dwell on. It is the first step in believing His word.

Quote of the Day

"A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle."
Anon.

Seeking a Word

I’m amazed at how we humans are so curious to know our future. Some read their “horror”scopes, some may even get their palms read or crystal ball. As Christians, we may not do these types of things, but if we knew a “prophet” was coming to town, we may want to go see what he/she had to say. I know I love it when someone gives me a word from God. But we don’t have to seek out a word. We have the very Word of God living in us. Heb. 1:12 says “In the past, God spoke to our ancestors thru the prophets…BUT NOW, in these last days, God has spoken to us thru His Son.” ‘Nuff said.

Quote for the Day

Faith is to believe what we do not see; and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe. -

Saint Aurelius Augustine (Augustine of Hippo)

All that I have is yours

I have to chuckle after reading my last post. I guess I'm still walking in economic faith.

A few weeks ago, I heard in my spirit very clearly, "All that I have is yours". I always like those wonderfully positive words from God but I also know that when He makes a specific promise stand out, I usually get tested on it. It's His way. Promise-Problem-Principle-Provision. We get a promise from God's word. Then a problem ensues to make us want to give up on the promise. We see in His word how to walk by faith while waiting on God to do what He said, then the provision comes in. Sounds simple?

For the last 3 weeks Bill hasn't had work. We just took all but $15 out of savings to pay our mortgage, and the rest of the bills that were due. We have $30 left in checking for groceries. Sounds awful. But...I have His peace. All bills are paid, we won't starve and God has provided even with only one paycheck.

The test is knowing that ALL that He has IS ours. He doesn't have to give it to us in one lump some. We wouldn't know how to handle it. But we must enter into His rest, knowing He's got our back and standing on the most sure foundation: His word!

Quote of the Day

"Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you".
Matthew 6:33

God's Kingdom Economy

All my Christian life I have heard the phrase “You can’t out give God”. It sounded good. I’ve always been a tither and God has ALWAYS taken care of me and my family. Never missed a meal (although some were quite interesting.)

This year we have seen this in relation to vacations. There was a season when the kids were young that we didn’t have money for vacations. We didn’t die. We just came up with things locally to do for fun. The beach was a favorite since it was free.

Now that the kids are grown there is time and money for such, but the Lord led us to give our vacation week to someone else. A few weeks later, we were given a free week at a friend’s mountain cabin. And now, at the end of summer, we’ve been given a free week at the beach. I marvel at God and His kingdom economy. Here we are in a very tight, slow season for Bill’s work, and God is sending us on a free vacation. God is not about the American dollar. He is about providing for His kids. He is not worried about economic downturns and He doesn’t want us worrying about them either. His supply never ends and even though a vacation is not necessary for survival, it sure is nice, especially when you know it comes from His hand.