Days of Our Lives

“And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” –Psalm 139:16 New King James Version

My days were planned
Before I began,
Each one prepared for me.
So let me walk
In my todays,
Living life, Lord, for Thee.
Amen.

Free from the Pit–Part 2

I need to “watch and pray” so I won’t enter into temptation (Luke 22:46). I must be on the alert because my adversary the devil roams around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). I’ve let him devour me far too many times by listening to the thoughts he wedges in—thoughts of guilt, failure, regret, anger, and disappointment to name a few. Before long, I’m down in a bog of hopelessness.
I could get out of the bog quicker if I’d remember things like God’s mercies being new every morning and God’s unfailing, eternal love for me and other good things before the evil thoughts start building on themselves.
“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” –2 Corinthians 10:5 New American Standard Updated

God Is Good

When I think of Your goodness and all You’ve done for me,
I will speak and sing and shout my praise to Thee.

When I recall Your mercy, Your lovingkindness and Your grace,
I’m filled with longing to forever gaze upon Your face.

When I remember Your love and the greatness of Your power,
Though the enemy oppresses, I know that You are my strong tower.

Free from the Pit

“For the enemy has persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground; He has made me dwell in darkness…” (Psalm 143:3). And he has pulled me into his pit of anger, resentment, criticism, and self-pity which lead into and feed the depression I’m prone to.
Romans 12:2 tells me to change the way I think from my old way or the world’s way to God’s kingdom way. God will help me and give me grace to turn away from the enemy’s, kind of thinking. Then I can work at putting Psalm 143:5-6 into practice. It says, “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands.  I spread out my hands to You; My soul longs for You like a thirsty land.”
I’ll remember “days of old” —and how God has always been with me and had His hand on me no matter what. I’ll muse and meditate on what God has done and on the wonders of creation. I can choose to think about good and praiseworthy things, like God’s goodness to each one of us, His love for every individual, and our right-standing with Himself which He purchased with the blood of His own Son. Then I’ll seek to draw nearer to Him so He can satisfy my thirsty soul with His presence.
“For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness” (Psalm 107:9).
(Scripture quotes are New King James Version.) (Picture by Darrell Creswell–please take a look at his blog at http://darrellcreswell.wordpress.com/)

Focus!

    “Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.” (Proverbs 17:24) I do want to be sensible and keep my eyes glued on wisdom. O Holy Spirit, please keep reminding me!
“Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:8) I learned this Bible verse years ago, but I still have trouble putting it into practice. Help, Lord!
I’ve heard many times that change is part of life, but I guess I thought it was true for everyone but me. For too long I’ve clung to what once was and won’t be again. If I keep wishing for what used to be, I’ll miss out on life today. Paul focused on forgetting the past, looking ahead, and then pressing on toward the end of the race so he could receive the heavenly prize for which God calls us through Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 3:13-14). Only God and His Word remain forever. He never changes. Lord, You are always faithful. I want to let go of the past and also to hold loosely to the present. Because of Your grace, I can, and I will. Please show me more of how to keep my mind anchored in You and keep my eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith. Amen. (See Isaiah 26:3 and Hebrews 12:2)
“A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.” (Proverbs 24:3-4)
 Dear Father, please help me build my spiritual house with wisdom on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ. Let me strengthen it with the good sense to focus on You and go Your way, not mine. And may I fill its rooms with valuables by getting to know You better and better. Amen.

(Scripture quotes are from the New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.)

Is Jesus the reason for YOUR season?

Tanya expresses some excellent thoughts about Christmas.

God Speaks I Listen

Is the season the reason for your celebration?

Has this turned into a season without a reason?

Such questions to ponder….

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Jesus Christ commands us to celebrate one thing and that was to always remember His sacrifice on the cross.  There is no command to celebrate Christmas or a specific birth date.   I know that God does not mind that we do celebrate Christmas because it brings glory to the name of Jesus.   Even though historical evidence points to another time of the year for Jesus birth, I feel it’s OK that we celebrate it on December 25^th.  No bah hum-bug here!   We  Christians do celebrate Christmas and we’re just so excited that Jesus Christ came to save mankind!

It was a tremendous event….Jesus Christ the Son of…

View original post 400 more words

Thanksgiving Day Reblog

Yes, how wonderful that we Americans do have Thanksgiving Day set aside to thank the Lord who has heaped blessings upon blessings on us. Unfortunately, much of Thanksgiving is now overshadowed by focus on financial gain or getting the best deals, to wit, Black Friday to Cyber Monday, starting the sales Thanksgiving morning or even the week before and ending some time around New Year’s Day. Nevertheless, for those of us who still remember that Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks to God and that Jesus is the reason for the Season, these days acknowledged are great reminders of the One from whom everything good comes. Thanks Anne for this excellent post.

Freedomborn

One Thanksgiving Day a family was seated around their table, looking at the annual holiday Turkey. From the oldest to the youngest, they were to express their praise.When they came to the 8-year-old in the family, he began by looking at the turkey and expressing his thanks to the turkey, saying although he had not tasted it he knew it would be good.After that rather novel expression of thanksgiving, he began with a more predictable line of credits, thanking his mother for cooking the turkey and his father for buying the turkey. But then he went beyond that. He joined together a whole hidden multitude of benefactors, linking them with cause and effect.He said, “I thank you for the Checker at the grocery store who checked out the turkey. I thank you for the grocery store people who put it on the shelf. I thank you for…

View original post 174 more words

Set Me Free from the Snare!

     “Many people, including some of the Jewish leaders, believed in him. But they wouldn’t admit it to anyone because of their fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue.” — John 12:42*
“The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.” –Proverbs 29:25 New King James Version

Maybe “fear of man” snares me because it gets my mind off of God and onto me. Then I start leaning on my own understanding instead of trusting God with all my heart. And I become deceitful—hiding what I’m doing, thinking- planning–for fear of people’s rejection.

“The Lord is my helper, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”– Hebrews 13:6*
What can people do to me? They can fire me from my job, make my work more difficult, or get angry with me and say ugly things. They can ignore, dislike, or even hate me. They could cause me physical or emotional pain. In the past, I’ve let these threats tie me in knots of deception, misery, and strained and broken relationships.

Now my prayer is, “Thank You, Father for pointing this out. I confess my “fear of man” as sin and thank You for Your promise of forgiveness (1 John 1:9). Please help me catch myself the next time I start to fear people (and the next, and the next, etc.)! Let me learn that none of what people can do really matters because You’re with me, accomplishing Your purposes in each situation. You’re the one to be feared, and by Your grace I’ll trust in You. Amen.”

“But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love.”–Psalm 33:18*

*New Living Translation

Link to Loving The World…

Loving The World…. Good post by Robin at Christian Coffee Shop. Take a look.

WHERE IS YOUR HOPE?

WHERE IS YOUR HOPE?. An excellent, solid Biblical reminder for everyone, especially in the U.S. at this time.

 

Joy of Connection/Loving God

The Joy of Connection

At age 8, my granddaughter entertains herself easily. So during the first day or two of her brief stay with us this summer, I tended to get busy with routine things of life instead of taking time to connect with her. Finally I came to my senses and thought about how much I enjoy that connection. Then I made the effort to spend time with her, doing what she likes.

In the same way, I want to remember to put aside everyday life more so I can spend time with our heavenly Father, talking with Him about what pleases Him and doing the things He chooses for me to do. My joy is completed as I connect with God.

“You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence…. (Psalm 16:11*)”  “When you obey me [Jesus], you remain in my love…. I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy…. (John 15:10-11*)”

Loving God with All I Am

Lord Jesus, I want to be yielded to You

In all that I think or say or do,

For You are my helper, my strength and my shield.

You are soul-satisfier and all that I need.

Let all of my thoughts, Lord, be pleasing to You,

Thinking what’s lovely and good and true.

Then all my actions will follow in kind.

Yes, I will love You with all of my mind.

From out of our hearts, our mouths will speak.

Please work in me Lord. Make me pure and clean.

Teach me to love You with all that I am

That I may bring glory to Your great, precious name.

Each day as I live, in all that I do

Let me bring honor, Lord, unto You.

As I obey You, Your joy fills my soul!

Living for You, Jesus, I become whole.

Today, Lord, I want to fit into Your plans,

For there’s nothing anywhere that’s out of Your hands.

The things and those people I thought I had to control

Are best left to You, Lord. This truth I now know.

Mark 12:29-30 “Jesus replied, ‘The most important commandment is this: “Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord.  And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.”’” *

*New Living Translation