Need encouraged? Stay in the Word!

Sometimes I have moments where I think I am slipping, slipping away from God. Those times when the world seems to be pulling me off in a direction I should not be going. When I feel my failures are bigger than my victories but then the Lord gives me His scripture, this truth, this truth that is for me and for you all we have to do is accept Him.

1 John 4: 4 

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them (false spirits) 

because greater is He (Jesus) who is in you than he who is in the world.

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My List....

I woke up this morning with a million things to do...ok that may be an exaggeration but you know what I mean, that list of the every day ordinary stuff that has to be done because, well, frankly, I was down to one roll of toilet paper and 4 eggs....I had let my cupboard go bare...I had, for too long, put off the shopping, the cleaning, the errands and well there you have it, that "list".

I woke later than I like but needed the rest so I wasn't beating myself up about that, but I wanted to hit the road running, checking things off the list, getting things done but then I was reminded of breakfast, the most important meal of the day, the best breakfast ever...stop and sit with the LORD.

Bible, journal, devotional and Jackson (my cat) all gathered together on the balcony, I sit and pray and read His word and give Him this day...as I was there I had to confess to Him that my "list" was distracting me, I almost caved in and hit the road.  Then I was reminded of something good that happened and I began to write and thank Him and we began to talk and I began to relax.  The time was wonderful, I prayed for calm and help and you know what? During this time, my cupboard was filled, oh, not the pantry but my soul, with peace.

Now the time had come and the list had to be reordered due to time commitments. And together He and I hit the road running, the "list" got done in record time, I actually had a good time at Trader Joe's (the happiest place for adults, so that is normal), Walmart, and Costco, I am home, the list is much smaller, the day is much lighter.

Makes sense though, a day with Him would be a day Lighter.

"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days."  Psalm 90:14 (NIV)

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Trending ... love

Trending

Since the recent tragedy in an Oregon School there is a cartoon ‘trending’ in social media, 2 panels.  The first is someone asking why God doesn’t stop the school shootings, the second a companion answers that God isn’t allowed in schools. 

Last night as I was reading the book of Deuteronomy (and that cartoon lingered in my head) a thought came to me.  Reading the recap of Moses to the people…summing it up, if you obey God’s commandments and guidelines there will be blessings and if you disobey there will be curses.

God our Father realized (actually He always knew) that no way we could pull all that off, not only is it tough to read, it is tough to remember and even tougher (impossible) to meet all those guidelines - we’re prone to wonder, attracted to shiny objects. 

And so He sent His Son, Jesus, and during His ministry here on earth He simplified it all for us, the Most Important Command, we’ll pick it up at Matthew 22:34-40 (NIV): 34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Want God to put it a stop to the bad? We must start again to love, love Him, love each other.
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Sometimes I sit and think . . .

When I was little one of my cousins had a poster of a gorilla on her wall.  It had a top caption that read “Sometime I sit and think…” another below that read, “sometimes I just sit”.

I enjoy sitting out on the balcony of my apartment in the morning, in my devotions and reading and journaling sometime the morning is gone in a flash.  Of late it seems to just be whizzing by me and it astonished me that I don’t really know what time the sun rises.  I’m out there, it’s coming up, but I’m so engrossed in what I’m doing its dark one second and then it’s time to head off to work…when did the sun rise? 

We’re told when we’re young, “once you’re out of school the times goes so fast”.  They were right, how did I get to 51 so quickly when getting to 21 took so long?  Entrenched in the day to day of life, it seems at time that I miss the days.  The schedules get packed full thinking we’ll experience more and in the process we miss more.  It’s an imbalance of quantity over quality. 

One morning this week I woke very much awake and focused, into reading and journaling, a quick walk to refill the coffee cup and continue yet my eye caught a sparkle. The sun was just beginning to peak through the leaves of the trees.  I didn’t think to look at the clock but I did think this is something to see.

Books, journals, lists aside, coffee cup cradled in my hands, I stopped and watched the sun rise.  It was so peaceful, beautiful and relaxing I did it again the next two mornings and hope to do it again this weekend. 

Most mornings I sit and think and I do love it!  

But sometimes, I just need to sit.

Psalm 19:1

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

The beauty of the still moment with Him, by Him.

Struggling with fatigue of late, this morning I was wonderfully surprised to wake on time, before the sun, and sit out on the balcony with all my regular quiet time things ~ the Large Print Bible, the daily devotion, journal, coffee, and Jackson.  And I dig into the Word, praising Him for waking me on time and that I actually feel awake, it felt so very good.

I prayed and read and wrote when something (I truly don’t remember what) happened and my gaze left the pages and went to the sky and there it was - a cloud.

Something about it grabbed my attention, first the color and the light caught my eye, it had those bright white and pale pinks mixed together in a bit of a swirl…it reminded me of a dolphin rolling in the ocean, smooth skin and rounded…as I looked there was even a touch of blue-grey in its hues.  It made me stop.

Bible, devotion and journal aside, Jackson in the opposite chair, coffee mug now resting in my hands, poised to take a sip, I breathe deeply.  I sigh and think of God…how amazing He is and how amazing that everything single molecule of that moment, of every moment, is resting in His hands. 

Psalm 57: 9-10

I’m thanking you, God, out loud in the streets,
    singing your praises in town and country.
The deeper your love, the higher it goes;
    every cloud is a flag to your faithfulness.

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WAIT!

There are times in life when waiting is just not what we want to do – something somewhere inside us wants to move, make a change, or a decision yet we don’t know where to move, what to change or which decision is best, so we wait and it can be most frustrating.  Or we move too soon and that can be devastating.

As we enter into a relationship with and come to know Jesus better, as we read and study the Word of God the more we discern rightly when these things are of Him and His will or just the ramblings of a perhaps discontent mind.  

The apostle Paul tells that he had to learn to be content, (Phil. 4:11), and that he learned the secret of contentment, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:13). Even wait.  When these ramblings come barreling in it is best to lay them at the Lord’s feet prayerfully and yes, wait.  Waiting for that yes, no, not now or whatever the truth may be, yet better wait than rush.

In my life I’ve taken steps too soon and gotten ahead of my Guide and gotten lost, off track and most likely even missed some easier steps.  So now, when the ramblings are rolling, I am still and listen … and hear:

We’ll Advance In Time

Isaiah 40:28-31 ~ NET

Do you know know?  

Have you not heard?  

The LORD is an eternal God, the creator of the whole earth.  

He does not get tired or weary; there is no limit to his wisdom.  

He gives strength to those who are tired; to the ones who lack power, he gives renewed energy.  

Even youths get tired and weary; even strong young men clumsily stumble.   

But those who wait for the LORD's help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles' wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired.  

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A simple loaf of banana bread, that's all I wanted....

I was making banana bread - it's the easiest and best recipe that I know of and I have made it for YEARS!  Well, this one the electric mixer kinda got away from me and the batter splattered all over the place...  I began to clean it off the cabinet door above me and then of course realized that all the cabinet doors needed cleaned (clean one you see how the others need it).  2 hours and 1/2 can of comet and some scrubbing bubbles later... I sat at the table and remembered ~~~ I'm weird.  (but in a good harmless way).

I missed two of the bottom doors so you know what I'll be doing today....

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Bitter Sweet

Just now I closed out the study of the book of Daniel, the teacher told us from the beginning we were “in for the ride of our lives” and it didn’t disappoint.  As the final session closed and the realization that the end was here, my eyes welled up, my soul trembled.  Sweet yet bitter, the work is done, but the ride is over.

Quite an intense study, there were days I just did not understand and in the end I see words of Daniel himself, “I heard but I did not understand”.  Oh I love God that he would let us know that at times even his prophets didn’t understand…that He would send us onward anyway.  Go your way to the end, rest and rise …

From the beginning of the book to the end of the book of Daniel I was amazed, I was taught, I was shaking my head YES and tilting my head HUH?  As I stood during the closing prayer, hands lifted, praising our God the Father, praying, Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven, my heart strangely jumping in my chest.  Praise You Father, praise You for Your Words, for taking me this far.

Bitter, the study is done, sweet the reminder of the teacher, Beth Moore, STAY IN THE WORD!!  Done with this particular study but far from done of our studying.   I echo her words, Sisters and Brothers, STAY IN THE WORD!  J


2 Timothy 3:15-17

All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

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