Beauty for Ashes

Sometimes I have those moments where words form in my mind and they just have to be written down. Last night I was reading in bed and that is what happened. I keep a notebook and pen by my bed just in case, so I wrote:

It is Jesus that took the ashes of my former life (which would be before I met Him)and He gave me of Himself...His beauty, His holiness, His righteousness, His salvation, His truth and His peace. I now live in liberty and freedom in Him. (sweet liberty) I am no more bound in "the pit" of self loathing, feeling sorry for my self or being in bondage to worldly desires. (those things not of Him) Everything I am that is "good" is found in Him. He lives in my heart and bestows His love upon me. Did I deserve it? The answer would be a big NO, but He gave me His love and His life anyway. He shed His blood at the cross for us. He always meets us right where we are and His atoning blood has cleansed us from all unrighteousness. We are in "right standing" with the Father because of what Jesus did for us. His word says because we have made Jesus the Lord of our life we have the "mind of Christ" (1 Cor. 2:16) We are able to think His thoughts and live our life in victory, when we keep His word and abide by His Commandments.

It is He that brings us:

Life
Love
Victory
Answers to Prayer
Joy
Truth
Restoration
Prosperity
Healing
Goodness
Mercy
Patience
Peace
Kingdom Living
Hope
Wholeness
Longsuffering
Desires of our heart
Quietness
Strength
Eternal Life

"The author of our life, Jesus, had a plan for us before we ever took our first breath and no other being, human or otherwise has the authority to steal it from us." (from author Dutch Sheets) The life that we live, "it is not us that lives but Jesus Christ in us". (Gal. 2:20) As we cooperate with him we are able to walk in the destiny that He has laid out before us. I say "Lord use me in any way you choose to bring the gospel of your wonderful love to others and reap a harvest of souls for Your kingdom." Amen

Where has the Time Gone?

Wow, it has been a long time since my last blog entry. Time just seems to go each day very quickly and I never seem to get all done that I would like. Anyway, I do try to do those things that God puts on my mind and heart. I was praying today or (trying to pray) but it seemed like I just couldn't find the words to get out what I wanted to say. All days are not "roses" even though I do not like to complain. I tend to want to speak positive up-lifting words most of the time. You know you pray and pray for certain things and when you don't see any results, (for a long time) you think "Okay Lord this is taking a very long time, what is going on?" I have learned from past trials and tribulations to get patience, but it seems that when I pray for the salvation of others I want it to manifest right now! God has a different timetable than we do. He is never in a hurry and he knows what it takes to bring His creation to the cross of Jesus. He knows the best way to lead them and guide them to all they can be in Him. He has an indescribable love that is hard to be explained. We take it on faith in His Word and by the power of His Holy Spirit. How do you explain the love of the Father that never "sleeps or slumbers?" He watches over His Word continually to perform it on our behalf. He gave His only Son Jesus so that we could live but it is not us that lives but Christ IN us. Who can explain a love that never leaves us nor forsakes us even when we are disobedient and disappoint Him? He continues to "woo" us by the Holy Spirit to bring us back into right standing with Him. We only need to "confess our sin and He cleanses us from all unrighteousness." He longs for a relationship with us His children. He teaches us through His Word. He brings us truth and light...in Him is no darkness at all. As we follow after Him and desire Him only we can say as did King David,

Psalm 91:2
"I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust."

Psalm 121:2-3
"My help comes from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer my foot to be moved: He that keeps me will not sleep."

Psalm 86:15
"But thou , O Lord art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth."

Psalm 145:17-19
"The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works.
The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them."

As His children we have the promise of His Holy Spirit that does the work in us. We come to Him each day in prayer expecting to receive of His grace and mercy that is "new each morning." Paul says,

Ephesians 1:3-9
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
According as He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein he has made us accepted in the beloved.
In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace;
Wherein He has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He has purposed in Himself."

I say "thank you Lord for your ongoing love for us and for upholding us by the power of your Word."

I will leave you with this, it is what I declare over myself and speak it back to the Lord---

Acts 17:2a
"For in Him we live, and move, and have our being..."

Happy New Year To All

Happy New Year to all. January 1st, 2009, a brand new year with all of it's possibilities. I always make a list in the New Year. I would not call it a list of resolutions though. I call it a list of things that God puts in my heart to work on as part of spiritual growth for the new year. It is really doing those things that keep you walking in the destiny that God has given each one of us. It is taking an inventory of those things in our life that may need some change and allowing God to change us according to His word. Growth, I like that word as it means increase and strength. 2 Peter 3:18 says:

"But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory now and forever."

Proverbs 24:3-5 says:

"Through wisdom is a house builded; and by understanding it is established: and by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong; yes a man of knowledge increaseth strength."

We are not to be "wise in our own eyes" but use the word of God as our standard on how to live our lives every day. As we walk in the Holy Spirit daily He leads us and guides us into all truth." Author John Ortberg says "God can't use an empty vessel. We must be full of Him to be used. When we are full of Him then He can pour out His goodness and anointing out of us to a dying world." That is so true because we can't give away what we don't have. So in this new year 2009 my plan is to:

Show the love of God more
Give more
Praise more
Show more kindness
Listen more
Smile more
Sing more
Dance more
More peace
More wisdom
More knowledge
More thankful
Count my blessings more
Step out in faith more
Be more obedient to Him
Be more like Him

2009 is all about more; walking in the steps of Jesus.
Thank you Lord, for making all things new. (Rev. 21:5)

Cleaning and Organizing

Well, today Mike had to work a double shift so I had lots of time to clean. I worked in the craft room today. I love it when things are cleaned up and really love it when I have put every thing in its place. Clutter stifles my creativity and can make me grouchy. I am more creative when I have simplicity around me. Simplicity, I like that word. God has been dealing with me the past few months to simplify my life. It is not hard to understand because He is a God of order. Psalm 37:23 says,

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delights in his way."

Also in 1 Corinthians 14:33 says,

"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace..."

Peace, another good word, and it is even better when peace reigns in your heart. Walking in the "love of God" keeps peace in our hearts. Peace is a deep knowing that He who has promised is faithful to us always. When we are tempted to walk outside the boundaries of the word, God gives us an escape route. (1 Corinthians 10:13) His word has an answer to every problem we will ever face and His love is unconditional. Jesus said in Luke 11:9-13,

" And I say unto you, Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For everyone that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish give him a serpent?
Or if he ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
If you then, being evil know how yo give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?"

Thank you Lord for faith, hope, love and peace. It sustains me day by day.
I will say of the Lord, He is my hope and my salvation.

Still isn't easy.

Well, I have posted a few times and it isn't any easier to do. As I have said previously, I have notebooks (many, many) full of things I have written. I have Bible notes and sermons, thankful lists, make life better lists, journal writings to my grand-daughters, poetry I have written and other things. It is never a problem to write a few lines. But writing in a blog is not so easy for me to do. For one thing I'm not sure if anything I have to say is interesting to anyone else but me. (maybe that is the key it should be written for me.) Having said that I know that other people will be reading it. My purpose for blogging has been to be an encouragement to others.We all need encouragement and kind words spoken. In Proverbs 25:11 God says,

"A word fitly spoken and in due season is like apples of gold in settings of silver."

Ephesians 4:31 instructs us to,

"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you."

And in Proverbs 15:1 King Solomon says,

"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."

When we pattern our lives after Jesus and walk with Him we can live in love and peace. We all want to be loved and we all want to live our lives in peace. In Him we have it all.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures." (James 1:17-18)

You can't change anything by worry.

Worry, we all have done it and some of us are better at it than others. There was an article written in Decision magazine once that said "You can't change the past, but you can ruin a perfectly good present by worrying about the future." So what is wrong with worry? Well, it is the opposite of faith. You can't have worry and walk in faith. In Matthew 6:25-34 we read what Jesus says about worry:

"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than clothing?
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they?
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
And why take you thought for clothes? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things.
But seek you first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow; for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

When we are consistent every day to spend time in God's word and put it in our heart it gets easier not to worry, as we trust Him and in trusting we know that He takes care of us. It doesn't make sense to spend precious time worrying about things that most times never come to pass in our lives.


The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:7---

"Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you."

Also in Matthew 11: 28-30, Jesus says---

"Come unto Me, all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Quiet your mind and trust God.

Thank you Lord for your promise of being with us every day of our lives.

Favorite Verses

James called today. It was good to hear from him as it always is. God has been so faithful to him everyday and even though James has suffered many struggles with CVS in the past, he has been faithful to God, always looking to Him to meet his needs. We were talking about our favorite verses from the Bible. My favorites verses are in Romans 8:35-39. Paul says:

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerers through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

I love these verses. Nothing will separate us from God's love. Also He doesn't just say we are conquerers, but we are more than conquerers...and this should be our confession. Paul says, in Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." God doesn't ask us to do anything that he doesn't give us all the tools we need to get the job done. He doesn't send us out with our own strength but with His strength. We are to be obedient to His word and he performs His word on our behalf. (Isaiah 56:11) "Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might." (Ephesians 6:10) When we follow Him that "knows the beginning to the end" we can say as King David said, "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)

Lord, I will frame my world with Your word.