Shout Halleluiah!!!

Just a couple of verses. It is so comforting to know that God’s mercies are new every morning and that He has clothed us in salvation and has covered us with a robe of  righteousness.

I delight greatly in the Lord;

my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation

and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.-Isaiah 61:10

 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
    his mercies never come to an end;
 they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.- Lamentations 3:22-23

Makes you want to shout Halleluiah!

WHAT WE ACCUMULATE

As my husband, Mike and I begin to clear out our home for a move I chuckle to myself as I watch my grand-daughter through this move. Every time I set something in the garage to sell  or discard she’s right behind me bringing back in what I set out.

I started thinking about her doing this and wondering why she does it. She finally told me that she loves these things and wants to keep them. Then the Lord brought to my mind the things that He tries to take away from me and I bring them right back into my life.

What I find amazing is just how  much “stuff” can accumulate. And just like my granddaughter, we sometimes have a hard time throwing  “things” away, thinking that we may “need” them someday.

But you know what? That someday usually never comes! Not only do we let “stuff" accumulate in our homes, we let it accumulate in our hearts as well ~ un-forgiveness, resentment, anger, are among some of the “things” we hold in our hearts. These are the things that we must clean up and get rid of in order for us to become the men and women that God wants us to be! It’s not easy to let go of “stuff”, but if we are willing God is faithful, and He will help us clean out all of the unwanted “stuff” in our lives.

For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.                                           Psalm 33:4

Always remember to look up!

HOPE

Hope shines brightest when the hour is darkest.
Hope motivates when discouragement comes.
Hope energizes when the body is tired.
Hope sweetens while bitterness bites.
Hope sings when all melodies are gone.
Hope believes when evidence is eliminated.
Hope listens for answers when no one is talking.
Hope climbs over obstacles when no one is helping.
Hope endures hardship when no on is caring.
Hope smiles confidently when no one is laughing.
Hope reaches for answers when no one is asking.
Hope presses toward victory when no one is encouraging.
Hope dares to give when no one is sharing.
Hope brings the victory when no one is winning.

John Maxwell from Think on These Things –

⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  Romans 5:5

"Walking With God"

I did a long distance run in Kona yesterday.  During it I walked a little too frequently.  During one of those walking spells that I started drawing parallels between that expedition I was on and our walk with the Lord.

 We receive the Lord’s salvation for our life not because it’s necessarily fun, but because we know it’s for our good. ( I signed up for the run because I thought it would be good for my physical health, not because I thought it would be fun to pound my feet on the hot Kona pavement.)

We generally start out on our journey somewhat enthusiastic.  ( Brand new Christians are often so excited.)

Along the way different emotions arise. ( Hmm, living as a Christian isn’t as, easy as I thought it would be.)

Hey, this isn’t fun right now.  Gosh, it’s a little too hot today.  (Earthly struggles can be frequent in our spiritual journey.)

I wish I was in better shape, this would be easier.  (I wish I had spent more time at His feet and in His Word, this “struggle’ would be easier to handle.)

Oh no, a long up hill and no shade.  (Eek, I’m facing a disaster; where are you, Lord?)

Oh look, a stretch of shade for a while.  (He’s helped me through my crisis and He is so awesome and comforting.)

Okay, I’d kind of like to be done with this now. (Many, many times living the Christian life doesn’t  feel too “convenient’.)

If I stop, I’ll never get back home.  (I can’t stop living for Christ, I won’t get to my heavenly home.)

Okay, I can do this, I have a strong mind. I just need to keep putting one foot out in front of the other. (“He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 1:8 “If only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” Act 20:24)

May we each walk strong in Him, moving closer to our heavenly home.

8,000 Promises

Did you know that the Bible is filled with over 8,000 promises from God? 

The following are just a few.

⁶ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1Peter 5:6-7

¹⁴ And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”  Exodus 33:14

But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord,
    I wait for God my Savior;
    my God will hear me.  Micah 7:7

²⁰ Though you have made me see troubles,
    many and bitter,
    you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
    you will again bring me up.
²¹ You will increase my honor and comfort me once more. Psalm 71:20-21

Now This May Sting a Little

I got to spend some precious time with a dear friend of mine this week and we talked about many things, she encouraged me and I hope I did the same for her.

We got on the subject about spending time with God and taking our walk to a deeper level. I told her sometimes I’m afraid to go to that deeper level because I think it’s going to hurt.

It’s like being a child whose afraid of a shot– we don’t want to take it but when it’s over– it’s over and the time it took to take the shot was shorter than the time it took to argue it.  But if we just let go of the fear, what God has for us is so much better than where we are now.

Philippians 2:13 says,  for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

And food for thought:

He is standing, He will lead, He waits for your response.  

In other words: He has a plan… :o)

Laugh

I was trying to remember the last time I laughed. I wonder how many others need the joy of laughter to fill them? I hope the following will encourage you..

One day a space shuttle crashed to the ground in the yard of a preschool.  When he finally struggled out of the wreckage, the astronaut shouted, "I'm free!  I'm free!!!" At this point, one of the little children standing there shouted back, "Big deal, I'm four!"

Six-year-old Angie and her four-year-old brother Joel were sitting together in church. 

Joel giggled, sang, and talked out loud. Finally his big sister had enough. 

"You're not supposed to talk out loud in church."
"Why?  Who's going to stop me?" Joel asked.
 Angie pointed to the back of the church and said, "See those two men standing by the door?  They're hushers."

"Your food stamps will be stopped effective March 1992 because we received notice that you passed away.  May God bless you.  You may reapply if there is a change in your       circumstances."  --Department of Social Services, Greenville, South Carolina

 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you

may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13