Dear Lord, in the midst of today's fast-paced society, help me to slow down lest I miss all that You have for me. ... There are moments when Your creation crosses my path -- a bird's song, a new rose bud after a dry summer, a clear view of the mountains, a child's laughter, a friend's greeting, a stranger's smile -- but is my mind on other things? ... Have I missed these moments that You have provided for my enjoyment, my renewal, or my opportunity? Have I neglected to recognize another's need -- an encouraging word, a helping hand? ... Have I missed the right time to tell someone about You when I failed to point out that it was not "luck," but You, Lord, when a prayer was answered? Have I forgotten to encourage or express my love to a spouse, an offspring, or a friend? ... Help me to recognize and seize these precious moments that will not come again.
In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.
Taken from a prayer email
Monday, August 30, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
God's Daily Provision
"When you have nothing left but God, you become aware that He is enough." Author Unknown
Exodus 16:11-16 describes how God gave the Israelites quail and manna. Day by day God provided for the needs of His people as they marched through the wilderness. God hasn't changed! He still provides for His people-you and me-day by day. But like the Israelites, we can easily fall into a habit of grumbling and despair, especially when life isn't going smoothly or we don't know what the future holds.
We must make a deliberate choice to turn to God and trust Him for our daily needs. God wants to show us that He is our Lord and our provider, just as He showed the grumbling Israelites. Don't let despair take over your emotions! Instead, with faith, look to God for help and provision for this day. He can be trusted!
Choices to claim this week:
*This week I will choose to turn to prayer instead of despair.
*This week I will choose to trust God to provide for my daily needs.
*This week I will choose to praise God for being my protector & provider!
For further reading: Exodus 16:1-36; 17:1-7
"When you have accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace; God is awake." Victor Hugo
Taken from The Power of a Positive Woman Devotional Book by Karol Ladd
Exodus 16:11-16 describes how God gave the Israelites quail and manna. Day by day God provided for the needs of His people as they marched through the wilderness. God hasn't changed! He still provides for His people-you and me-day by day. But like the Israelites, we can easily fall into a habit of grumbling and despair, especially when life isn't going smoothly or we don't know what the future holds.
We must make a deliberate choice to turn to God and trust Him for our daily needs. God wants to show us that He is our Lord and our provider, just as He showed the grumbling Israelites. Don't let despair take over your emotions! Instead, with faith, look to God for help and provision for this day. He can be trusted!
Choices to claim this week:
*This week I will choose to turn to prayer instead of despair.
*This week I will choose to trust God to provide for my daily needs.
*This week I will choose to praise God for being my protector & provider!
For further reading: Exodus 16:1-36; 17:1-7
"When you have accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace; God is awake." Victor Hugo
Taken from The Power of a Positive Woman Devotional Book by Karol Ladd
Friday, August 13, 2010
Blind Faith
As I was reading an online devotional...... (www.heartlight.com) I came across something that brought me a great sense if peace. I personally try to CONTROL EVERYTHING and in order to do that I feel the need to UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING..... So naturally having FAITH in things unseen is a tough one for me. But read the following taken from Heartlight and I feel & pray that it touches you as well.
From Heartlight....
[Jesus continued] “The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can't tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can't explain how people are born of the Spirit."
"How are these things possible?" Nicodemus asked.
— John 3:8 tniv
Thought
As a young boy, I remember taking apart an old clock radio to figure out how it worked. I learned a great deal -- including the importance of unplugging something like that before taking it apart! But, I can't figure out the way the Spirit works on the hearts of men and women to bring them to Jesus and to give them new birth. I can see the changes in a person's life. I can hear their confession of faith. I can watch them be baptized. But these are all the evidence of the greater reality that I cannot fully comprehend or explain -- the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives to open their hearts to Jesus, surrender to him as Lord, to cleanse them of their sin, to live inside of them, and to include them in the family of God. However, I am thankful of two things in this regard: first that Jesus said I couldn't fully comprehend this, and second, I have repeatedly seen the Spirit make incredible differences in the lives of people. While you might not be able to teach an old dog new tricks, I know that the Holy Spirit can give anyone, young or old, new life!
Prayer
Thank you, dear God, for things beyond my ability to fully comprehend -- things like your holiness, your grace, and your love. I am thankful today for the work of the Holy Spirit to bring new birth into the lives of people. I confess that I do not fully comprehend how all of this happens, but I do believe the Holy Spirit makes it happen. So thank you! Thank you for your mysteries and thank you for your gift of the Spirit. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
From Heartlight....
[Jesus continued] “The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can't tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can't explain how people are born of the Spirit."
"How are these things possible?" Nicodemus asked.
— John 3:8 tniv
Thought
As a young boy, I remember taking apart an old clock radio to figure out how it worked. I learned a great deal -- including the importance of unplugging something like that before taking it apart! But, I can't figure out the way the Spirit works on the hearts of men and women to bring them to Jesus and to give them new birth. I can see the changes in a person's life. I can hear their confession of faith. I can watch them be baptized. But these are all the evidence of the greater reality that I cannot fully comprehend or explain -- the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives to open their hearts to Jesus, surrender to him as Lord, to cleanse them of their sin, to live inside of them, and to include them in the family of God. However, I am thankful of two things in this regard: first that Jesus said I couldn't fully comprehend this, and second, I have repeatedly seen the Spirit make incredible differences in the lives of people. While you might not be able to teach an old dog new tricks, I know that the Holy Spirit can give anyone, young or old, new life!
Prayer
Thank you, dear God, for things beyond my ability to fully comprehend -- things like your holiness, your grace, and your love. I am thankful today for the work of the Holy Spirit to bring new birth into the lives of people. I confess that I do not fully comprehend how all of this happens, but I do believe the Holy Spirit makes it happen. So thank you! Thank you for your mysteries and thank you for your gift of the Spirit. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
1 PETER 5:10-11
To each of you LADIES who opened up and shared what was on your heart last night... THANK YOU! I truly feel as if GOD has placed this Bible study in my life for a reason! Last night I was REALLY feeling it!
This scripture was shared last night and was brought to my attention again today by a sweet sweet sister :)
I always enjoy reading from various translations... Maybe that is because I have a hard time grasping things from time to time and quite possibly because I need to hear things multiple times before they sink in....
So here it is in just a few different translations:
1 Peter 5:10-11
NIV
10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
THE MESSAGE
He Gets the Last Word
8-11Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.
(LOVE THIS..... HE GETS LAST WORD: YES!! HE DOES!!)
THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE
10And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you.
11To Him be the dominion (power, authority, rule) forever and ever. Amen (so be it).
NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11 All power to him forever! Amen.
CEV (CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH VERSION)
10But God shows undeserved kindness to everyone. That's why he appointed Christ Jesus to choose you to share in his eternal glory. You will suffer for a while, but God will make you complete, steady, strong, and firm. 11God will be in control forever! Amen
I know that you may be a strictly "NIV kind of girl".........but I found it REALLY powerful and reaffirming to hear this message AGAIN and AGAIN in different translations... they ultimately mean the same thing! WOW! Powerful stuff!
This scripture was shared last night and was brought to my attention again today by a sweet sweet sister :)
I always enjoy reading from various translations... Maybe that is because I have a hard time grasping things from time to time and quite possibly because I need to hear things multiple times before they sink in....
So here it is in just a few different translations:
1 Peter 5:10-11
NIV
10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
THE MESSAGE
He Gets the Last Word
8-11Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.
(LOVE THIS..... HE GETS LAST WORD: YES!! HE DOES!!)
THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE
10And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you.
11To Him be the dominion (power, authority, rule) forever and ever. Amen (so be it).
NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11 All power to him forever! Amen.
CEV (CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH VERSION)
10But God shows undeserved kindness to everyone. That's why he appointed Christ Jesus to choose you to share in his eternal glory. You will suffer for a while, but God will make you complete, steady, strong, and firm. 11God will be in control forever! Amen
I know that you may be a strictly "NIV kind of girl".........but I found it REALLY powerful and reaffirming to hear this message AGAIN and AGAIN in different translations... they ultimately mean the same thing! WOW! Powerful stuff!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Lately, my 4 year old has been singing songs during the week that she hears during worship or in bible class and it makes me praise GOD. Yesterday, I asked Isabelle, who our "Heavenly Father" was
and she responds by saying at the top of her lungs GOD! I LOVE our heavenly Daddy so much!
and she responds by saying at the top of her lungs GOD! I LOVE our heavenly Daddy so much!
Verse of the day
“You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”- Psalm 119:114
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