feeling special...

Psalm 100:1-5 (NLT) 
1 Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth! 
2 Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. 
3 Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. 
5 For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation. 

Good Morning Father,

Thinking about my son Stephen, turning 21 year's old and how much as a mom I love him. A desire for his life to be full of all that is good and perfect. Reflecting that as an earthly parent who desires so much for my sons how much greater is your love and your delight. There is something wonderful about making others feel special and set apart. That has been your longing for each of your children from the beginning of time. You created everything for our enjoyment. I can only imagine the garden of Eden and all its perfections. The weather never too cold or too hot, the flowers and trees in all their glory caused no one to sneeze or have an allergic reactions. The stars danced in the moon light, the birds sang in harmony, the animals played together freely...no foe!

My mind so limited, still I stretch my imagination as far as I can and still know I have not come close to its perfections. The garden most certainly was perfect, which means Heaven is beyond the human realm of comprehension. Our soul does know, but in our flesh we can only imagine. Loving you this morning, shouting for joy, worshiping with gladness, coming before you with singing. I am but one of the sheep of your pasture. Entering the gates with thanksgiving, entering your courts with praise. Giving thanks to you alone. Declaring you are good and your unfailing love continues forever. With a promise that this faithfulness will continue to the next generation!

For the record, I Can Only Imagine, by Mercy Me-- remains one of my playlist favorites!

WE GOT IT!

Finally Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives! The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.” Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the LORD or the beautiful land of Egypt. Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram. So Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of the plain. But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the LORD. 

After Lot had gone, the LORD said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west. I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession. And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted! Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.” 
So Abram moved his camp to Hebron and settled near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. There he built another altar to the LORD.  Genesis 13:8-18 (NLT) 

Good Morning,

This story of a family dispute, which led to the parting of ways finds its way back to my remembrance. Is it because I am a daughter of Abraham, one of the descendants too numerous to count. To be one in the crowd, and yet known.(ponder this) Abraham granted his nephew the option of the best land. Lot, took full advantage of that offer and chose what he believed was the best land. Think about it, the elder surrendered to the younger; should not the younger surrender to the elder. Whatever the dynamics in any given culture-- this is what I know... Nothing is blessed unless God blesses it! Lot chose what looked blessed which ultimately led to his destruction, Abraham accepted what was left and the land flourished and was blessed and so was Abraham.

Every heart reveals itself for what it is, Abraham's heart was revealed and God continually blessed him, no good thing would he withhold from Abraham. Once again, Abraham revealed his true heart. He was willing to sacrifice his son in obedience, he so believed and trusted God that whatever the outcome-- it would be Good! The kind of abandoned faith that many seek after.

But, Abraham wasn't seeking faith, he was simply faithful with each situation that presented itself. His assurance was a trust in the one that holds the whole world in HIS hands. Isn't that enough to obey and follow. To always be about seeking after the Creator and not the created things.

This practice leads to blessings...We are a blessed people when we get this and then walk like, live like, love like... WE GOT IT!