Optimism...

Optimism is in the air.  The ways of the Lord are always best, the best made plans are ordered by Him.

Something incredible is happening. The Lord, is ordering the steps of  His people. We cannot see around the corner, behind us, or over us. But like the eagle, there is nothing unseen or unknown by the Lord. There is such comfort in this truth, yet the wisdom of not throwing off restraint when clearly the Lord is saying "no" to certain areas of our life. He too is saying "yes" to other areas. Helping us to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. If something does not sit right in us, let us trust it, let us trust God. To wait or not be too anxious if need be. Yet, "READY" Whatever is good, pure, praise worthy. If it builds us up and if it builds others. The answer is YES! Get ready...set...Great Things for 2016!

#Pro-Love!

What if we were PRO-LOVE?

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

1John4:7-12

Recycled Giver!

I love reading "Chicken Soup" Books. The stories are always heart felt.

This is my Chicken Soup Story about a dear friend...

Sister Nette. Recycled Giver! Her spiritual gift is most certainly Generosity and Mercy. She seeks after those who are suffering and hurting. You will see her surrounded by people she can help. Which is what we are called to do as followers of Jesus. Today, she will attempt to visit a sister she heard is suffering from cancer. As her friend, I see her downcast so often, I am amazed that she is drawn to suffering to such a degree when her own heart is so often overwhelmed. She gives what she lacks. She hasn't worked or brought income for years and yet she always has something to give. I suppose its because she is a giver. Everything she receives she gives it away and since all she gives...even more comes back to her, she just keeps the cycle going. With that said. Thank you for my Sister Nette..."Recycled Giver!"

There is a "Golden Rule" here. Do you see it?

 

Are you listening?

For the record: you will see many entries addressed to the Father/Lord... What he does through me, he does to me first:) I don't know the number of my days but I know I want to LIVE them ALL.

It's summer time, I see many young people sitting around, watching TV, playing video games, Texting, Tweeting, following someone or something. To a parent these acts seem like a waste of time and life. And yet, historically many have past time in similar ways. Sometimes families just sat around a fire, sat on a porch, read the paper, listen to the radio, took a walk...simple pleasures. There is so much pressure to be doing something, doing nothing is consider unproductive. We put pressure on our children and we put pressure on ourselves and we wonder why we are so stressed out. Many of the dis-eases that affect our body can be traced to our busyness.

After all, we are to be producing, building, engaging...doing something...THERE MUST BE A BALANCE! We cannot get so busy that the GIVER OF LIFE is hidden from our view. Because when we see Him, when we know that all that we are is found in Him, when we know that everything good and perfect comes from Him. There is a stillness, a quietness within our heart that makes us anxious for nothing. To be still for many is to think on things that torment, many cannot be alone with their own thoughts they run to and fro busy hiding from the inner lies within. What if we listen for the Lord's voice and replace the lies with the truth and know that we can TRUST HIM AND TRULY LIVE!

ARE YOU LISTENING?

John 10:27

A Satisfied Appetite

Proverbs 13:25 (ESV)
²⁵ The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want.

Reading passages of wisdom this morning. The Proverbs written for our instructions. To follow after righteousness is always the best traveled path. I woke up anxious. I know I am to be anxious for nothing. You know the matters rising in me, the this and that concerns. How am I going to do this and that? The list waking me much earlier than usual, interrupted sleep. The scripture above says that the righteous has enough and will be satisfied, the writer concluded that it is a wick thing to suffer want.

 

It's our own error when we suffered to want, you invite us to freely come and take all that is needed. I knew this in my Spirit, that is why I rush into your presence this morning, freely partaking in all you have for me. I know my desires are settle in this truth. At this very moment a blue jay takes a seat on my fence, once again reminding me that you take care of everything that concerns your creation, the question is will we accept your provision? You suffer us not to want, to simply come a take our fill. A desire fulfilled is indeed sweet. All the desires of my heart has and will always be satisfied in YOU. Every promise is mind, every gift I freely receive by faith. Lord, there is not a word breathe wasted on me, not an object of nature unnoticed. Thank you for pointing me back, leading me to every promise you have for me. I adore YOU!

I love to journal...

Every time I watch the movie Julia & Julia, the story of two Julia's. Julia Child & Julia Powell. Two women in search of their purpose. I realize that I too am in search of something. There is a line in the movie, where Julie Child is seeking to fill her life with something meaningful. At a time when women didn't work outside the home.  I remember the laughter, when Julia's husband asked her what she likes to do. She said "I love to eat!" I am told that many people discover their purpose in the things they are most passionate about.

With that said, I am passionate about journaling. I don't know if that classifies me as a writer. Yet, I have been writing on the pages of my journal for over 30 years. My journaling became conversation between me and God. He is truly my passion. He loves me with an everlasting love and I cannot wait to come into his presence every morning.  The earlier the better, which is ironic in itself since I have a reputation of not being a morning person.

I have a confession, I have been pondering blogging for quite sometime. The difference between blogging and journaling is that one is public and the other very private. I wasn't certain I was ready to be so transparent, to allow "unknown" persons into some very private thoughts, revelations and conversations.  Yet, I have been the recipient of the sharing of others. This movie alone motivated me to action. Perhaps the things I share in this BLOG will do the same for someone.

With that said...TODAY IS DAY ONE OF MY COMMITMENT TO A PUBLIC BLOG SPOT.

wind storm, earth quake, fire, whisper

1 Kings 19:11-13 (NLT) 
11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the LORD told him. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 
12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 
13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 

Father, I have read the story of Elijah and Elisha many times. The way they recount the wind storm, the earth quake, the fire...it is stated that you were not in any of these acts of nature that you presented yourself in a gentle whisper. Well, permit me a little creative reflection, you are the God of all creation, certainly you were in all these presentations of nature it probably took all those things to happen to render yourself in such an intimate way as a gentle whisper with your son Elijah. Truth be told, I believe there were spiritual forces opposing your visit with Elijah. I have read that our answers to prayers are released at the point of prayer but often buffet by the works of darkness. No one can stop what you are doing, but certainly there is a war of delay. Unfortunately, its in that delay that many surrender their hope of deliverance... of course the declaration is this... the Lord may not come when you need him but he is always on time. The wisdom of the ages have left us with this truth!

A word of wisdom, don't fear the delay.