The heavens proclaim the glory of God

Psalms 19:1-4 The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies proclaim his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.
There is so much speaking lately it is hard to know who to listen to. Everyone seems to have an opinion, a thought, an emotion....it can be confusing and chaotic. Who is telling the truth?  Why is everyone so angry?  How do I feel about all this?  There just doesn't seem to be any clear and concise answers anymore. No absolute truths.
I am so thankful for God's word. When life seems to be spinning out of control I can read it and be reminded that God is still in control. I can walk outside and look into the constant sky that is predictably perfect and praise Him for His magnificent work. His majestic artwork when the sun rises or sets. The awe inspiring colors before a storm rolls in. And God has done it for all to see. He hadn't hidden it for only a few chosen ones but for everyone who has the courage to gaze into it and wonder.
I have found His love is like that too. Available. For anyone who has the courage to look for it. We don't need to rely on others for opinions or thought. We can look to the one who maintains our perfect space in the universe. He's already got it under control. He wants to take our fears and anger and teach us to love one another. Truly love one another. Not just in word but in action and deed.
Instead of watching the news today or reading someone else's opinion on social media get ahold of the Bible. Have a moment of peace and ask the one who made it all your questions. Let him lead you to true love and peace. That's how we will change the world.

Blessings

Share your joy. Skillfully.

“Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.”

Psalms 33:3 NKJV

I just spent a few days with my 10 yr old daughter in the oldest city in the US on a class field trip. 

This could have gone anyway....

Fortunately it went very well.

 It is such a blessing to see your children grow up and become their own people. Their own personalities. Their own friends. Their own talents and their own way looking at things. 

It's also fun when they share a passion with you. 

On the bus ride home someone decided it would be a good idea to show the movie Frozen. Well, my daughter can sing and quote every word. Frankly so could I. We are born singers. We love music and have a difficult time keeping quiet when our favorites come on. I mean it is physically painful to keep silent. So I looked at her, pleadingly (for the poor dads who happen to be sitting nearby) to not put on a full blown, sing from your gut concert on the bus. She understood and kept it to a low tone. Whew!  

She hasn't learned yet that sometimes people don't understand you are just belting out what's in your heart. It's not to show off. It's not to entertain. It's just what's in her and she's just gotta 'let it go'...

God made us with gifts to share. He gave us joyful desires. He gave them to bless us and others. Some people find joy in writing. Some people in a game of ball, some people in art. Some people love to give. Some love to teach. Some can belt out the baritone. We should take joy in our gifts. Practice and perfect our gifts whatever they are. We all have them. They are all God given. We should use them to please Him. To honor Him. We can do this by remembering who gave us our gifts. To give him thanks for them. To enjoy them. 

I'm happy she is ok just belting it out. No matter who is around. I hope it never changes for her. 

Blessings

In the beginning

“In the beginning, God....

Genesis 1:1 

In the beginning there was God. He created. He organized. He gave instruction. 

In the beginning, God

I always pause there. 

Because sometimes life gets confusing. Sometimes life gets all out of shape. Sometimes we just need a do over. So we start at the beginning. 

We start with God. 

Not what you have been told ABOUT God. Not what YOU THINK about God but God. The one who created a perfect world for us to reside in. In the beginning. Before selfishness showed up. Before greed and want were in the picture. Before death. 

We have so much information slamming our brains every moment of the day it is hard sometimes to even form your own thought, your own opinion. We get lazy and just accept someone else's thought as our own. 

God gave us a roadmap. He gave us a book with wonderful examples in it. Both good examples and bad. Even more than that He gave us himself, born in a humble barn, sacrificed on a cross so that we can have a relationship with Him. God. 

He wants us to know Him. He wants us to seek Him. He promises us we will find Him. 

Where do we start?  In the beginning, God...

No preconceived ideas. Just you and God. He will rock your world. 

Blessings. 

Wisdom

“Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:”

Proverbs 1:20-21 ESV

http://bible.com/59/pro.1.20-21.esv

“Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: “To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man.”

Proverbs 8:1-4 ESV

http://bible.com/59/pro.8.1-4.esv

“The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way,”

Proverbs 9:13-15 ESV

http://bible.com/59/pro.9.13-15.esv

Reflection on Proverbs 8:1 – 4

Wisdom calls out to us (see Proverbs 1:20 – 21; 8:1 – 4). Apparently, so does folly (see Proverbs 9:13 – 15). Their methods of communication are similar; they sit in public places shouting their advice to all who will listen. The difference between them is in what they say and the hearts they connect with. Those who are inclined toward God — who love him and want to do his will — will hear the voice of wisdom and respond. Those who have little depth and no desire for God — who can’t see beyond themselves and the present moment — will hear the voice of folly and respond. Two voices, two kinds of hearts; as a result, two drastically different journeys.

Which voice will we choose to trust? The question is more complicated than it seems: It doesn’t involve just a single choice but rather a series of choices every day, and sometimes folly imitates wisdom. But prayer, patience and a commitment to truth will reveal the difference and give us the discipline and courage to choose well. Hearts that crave wisdom will choose the right voice.

I'm reading the @YouVersion plan '7 Days Of Wisdom In Proverbs'. Check it out here:

http://bible.com/r/Xz

Purposeful and Present

I never seek out the words that are going to be my focus for the year. I never even think about them or ponder what they might be. They just come to me. I can't remember what mine where last year, but I know by the end of the year it was something like insane and crazed!!!!

So I found it interesting when these words came to me. Purposeful. Present. Yes. I had became a boat in a sea of waves going this way and that. Just blowing in the stormy winds. I began to think 'maybe this is the way we are suppose to live' ,'live for the day' they say... 

I am an only child and ultimately desire calm, quiet, and peacefulness. I had none of that. We ran from one thing to the next. We ate out constantly because I couldn't even think to plan.  Spent wasted time because I couldn't make a decision.  Christmas Break was well needed. 

I don't know what happened because our lives haven't stopped being any busier really, but somehow God has stepped in and given me these words and reminded me that He is my purpose and that He has placed people around me and I need to be present for them. I can't treat them like schedules or tasks. They are people I love. My life is most full when I am around them.  We grow and learn together. They are what is important. If I am not purposeful and present my life begins to look like a bunch of tasks that never end. 

Somehow just putting things back in the right order has made all the difference. God is amazing. He always rescues those lost in the storm, tossing about in the waves. He brings us to a beautiful place of peace and rest. Rest for our souls even if our bodies still move about at a rapid pace. 

My prayer is that January 7, 2017 I will remember these words and they will be an important part of my year. 

“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.”

Psalm 107:28-32 ESV

http://bible.com/59/psa.107.28-32.esv

Blessings

Busy, Busy, Busy

““Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!””

Psalm 46:10 ESV

http://bible.com/59/psa.46.10.esv

Be still?!?!?!?

Is that even a possibility this time of year? 

Still is a strange concept. It can mean so may things. Some might call it laziness, some may call it Godliness, some might call it...Impossible!  

When I think of Jesus and His time here on earth I think of peacefulness. He never seemed caught off guard or rushed or perplexed. He always seemed peaceful. The opposite of stressful. He was busy though. Preaching to 100s of people, healing, teaching...no laziness there. 

What was his secret?  Well other than He was God in human flesh of course. 

Jesus trusted God's plan. He trusted that God would complete the plan He had for His life. And He trusted that the plan was good. Maybe not always comfortable, but always good. He wasn't running around trying to figure out the plan, He wasn't panicking about the plan. He just trusted. 

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might...

Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV

http://bible.com/59/ecc.9.10.esv

God has not called us to laziness either. He has plans for us. He will make them happen. Let's be willing participants and spend less time complaining, worrying, fussing and fretting. Do what God has placed in front of you today with joy as if serving the Lord and give him you worries and concerns about tomorrow. Trust in His path, pray, read His word and allow God to do great things through you today. 

Blessings

Praises to God

“Then King David went in, sat in the Lord’s presence, and said, Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house that You have brought me this far?”

2 Samuel 7:18 HCSB

David was amazed at the LORDS goodness in his life. He was overwhelmed by the blessings bestowed upon him by God. He sang praises to the LORD and we get to hear it all these years later.

Have you ever looked back on your own life and all the ways you have been blessed by God?  Take the time to do that today. See all the times He has His mighty hand on your life. The times He has spared you from choices in front of you. The times He has protected you from injury. The times He has helped you make the right choice. Praise Him today for all His mighty works in your life today and rejoice in His goodness just like king David. Read his song of praise below. 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+7%3A18-29&version=NIV

Blessings

Continue On

“Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.”

I Samuel 30:6 NKJV

Yesterday was a long day. A lot of my days are long right now. It is, as I like to call it, my busy season. Sometimes I am not sure God has really called me to all the things I have going on but either way here I am. Busy. 

I love all the things I get to do. They all involve serving people that I really care about. But sometimes I get tired. And then I get distressed. So I love this verse I read this morning. 'David strengthened himself in the Lord'!  

We have the same opportunity as David to get our strength for the things God has given us to do. He will refresh us, encourage us, give us the Hope to continue on. He will give us the direction we need to continue on. He will give us the desire to continue on in the things He has layed before us. 

I encourage you to find His strength today. Read His word and quietly spend time talking to Him. Let Him fill you with all that you need to continue on. 

Blessings. 

Quiet in the fight.

"But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation He will provide for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you must be quiet.””

Exodus 14:13-14 HCSB

Summer is over. School begins Monday. Sports, homework, lesson planning, activities, choir, band....

Don't get me wrong. I love all the opportunities we have. I love our school. I love where I work. I love all the people in my life. I am blessed. I am a homebody though. I am. I admit it. I love the stillness. I love the quietness. I love not driving over the bridge at least 4 times a day. 😉. 

God reminded me today about one of my favorite verses. The Lord is with me. I must be quiet. I can be quiet. Even in my business. In this verse the Isrealites were fighting a great battle!  God tells them to be quiet!  

I can be quiet in the morning and read His word. I can be quiet and not complain (even inside myself where most of my complaining happens). I can be quiet and look for those times of blessings instead of focusing on all I have to do. I can be quiet. Even in my busyness. God says I can. If the Isrealites could be quiet in battle well so can I!!!

What is your battle today?  Can you quietly trust that God is fighting for you too?  He is. Trust Him. He's got this. 

And summer is right around the corner again. 😀

Blessings.  

Love one another.

““For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16 HCSB

“Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and His love is perfected in us.”

1 John 4:11-12 HCSB

““I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.””

John 13:34-35 HCSB

God tells us to love one another as He has loved us. Let's do that today and see if we can make a difference. 

Blessings. 

Courage like A young shepherd boy.

“David spoke to the men who were standing with him: “What will be done for the man who kills that Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God? ””

1 Samuel 17:26 HCSB

All the Isrealite armies where terrified of this bold Philistine named Goliath. He was big. He was loud. He kept insulting the Isrealite army. It seemed a lost hope. 

Then came David. A young Shepherd who had courage only given by God. He was after all a man after Gods own heart. He was shocked that these Isrealites were fearful of this man. After all hadn't God rescued them all time after time?  But fear had set in.

Fear is a tricky little visitor. Often he sneaks in when things are just rolling along smoothly then Wham! Comes some news, or something that throws us off our normal. Our brains start thinking...'this could be bad..' Our friends get in on the action and we all start talking about it...'I don't know if we are going to get out of this one this time...it's bad...'  The enemy seems pretty undefeatable.  

Then comes David. He hasn't been around all the chatter. He has been with God in the fields. David has been singing praises and trusting God to keep him and his sheep from the wild beasts. He remembers all the great things God has done. 

That gives him courage. 

So, you know the rest. David uses his sling shot and takes out this enemy with one try! 

Don't we have a great God!!!

Instead of listening to the chatter today, if it's with others or yourself, let's focus on God and all He has done. Read the Psalms, David wrote a lot of them, and rejoice with him about all the great things our God has done. THAT will give you courage. 

Blessings

Peace

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable — if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise — dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4:4-9 HCSB

Peace. It is a treasure. What good can come from anything without peace. God gives us perfect peace. Not peace from an addiction. Not peace from a sinful desire but pure, perfect peace. 

I have experienced this peace in trials and difficulty. That is how I know it is possible. I am no more special than any other who has trials so I know this peace is for anyone who wants it. Gods gift. So take this peace today. 

'whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable — if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise — dwell on these things'

Let your mind praise the Lord. Sing hymns. Hum Psalms. Pray and praise the God who offers this gift. It's yours for the taking. 

Blessings. 

A future and a hope.

1 Samuel 15:24

.."I have sinned. I violated the Lords command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people so I gave in to them."  

Saul was once a humble new king, for a very short time. When Samuel first anointed Saul king he was hiding behind the luggage. God gave Saul the courage to lead His people. It wasn't long before Saul forgot to trust God and started listening to his own reasoning and apparently others. Maybe someone close to him said "You're the king!  Why do you have to keep waiting on that Samuel fellow?"  Saul began to believe his own hype. 

It's easy to listen to all the chatter around us. It's easy to think we need to keep up with everyone around us. Go all the places they go. Do all the things they do. Have all the stuff they do. But, God has a plan too. 

A better plan. 

Sometimes we might be anxious and not want to wait on whatever our 'Samuel' is. We can think, 'I am the king of my life'. We can give in to others ideas, or even our own. 

God often says 'wait'. So let's wait and see what wonderful things He has in store for us. It might take a while. God never seems to be in a hurry.   He already knows the plans He has for us. No need to rush. Let us just focus on the things He has told us to do, read Gods word, prayer, fellowship with other believers, share Gods message of Grace. I know He will take care of the rest. 

“For I know the plans I have for you” — this is the Lord’s declaration — “plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Jeremiah 29:11

Blessings

Waiting

1 Samuel 12 & 13

1Samuel 13:13

"You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, He would have established your kingdom over Isreal for all time."

Waiting on the Lord can really frusterate our human flesh. We are people of instant gratification. We think it, we want it, we make it happen. We have all the good reasons for not waiting, just like Saul, but we lack wisdom and patience, and ultimately trust. Will God come through?  

God always comes through. 

It's just usually not how and when we think it needs to be done. So why is that?  God is capable, God loves me, God wants what is good for me....

That must be it!  God wants what is BEST for me. He alone knows what is best. We can't see it with our "I want it now' flesh, only when we rest in the Lord can we truly see what Gods best is for us. 

God has never let me down And I  have realized that usually it is me that God is changing, it is me He is working on. It is me He is growing so that I can become closer to Him. 

We can face anything in our lives if we just stay close to the Lord, our comforter, our wisdom, our strength. He will guide us. He will lead us. 

Let us be wise and not act on our own foolishness so that God will establish His kingdom through us for all time. 

Blessings 

Wisdom

For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:6 HCSB)

I love this story I read today at 'she reads truth' ( you can like and follow on Facebook) it is a great view on the story of Esther and how God works all things out for His (and thankfully our) purpose. 

Gods wisdom far exceeds ours. Trust in Him today. 

http://shereadstruth.com/2015/07/03/vashti/

God's presence is enough.

Genesis 28:15

I am with you wherever you go,and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. 

Sometimes all we can rely on are God's promises and His presence. We can feel alone in the great bigness of our lives. We may not understand our circumstances. It may scare us or confuse us. God may ask us to only trust and believe Him and just to rest in the promise of His presence. 

There are things in our lives we are powerless to fix. We must at that time pray and lean on the Lord. 

Thank you Lord that I am not God and that I don't have to figure out my tough circumstances in my own. 

Blessings

The truth about boasting

John 2:15-17

"...for everything in the world, the cravings of sinful man, the lust in his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world. 

This is a great reminder and confession point for me. We should only boast of what God has done for us. Period. No grey area here. 

But why?

I believe it keeps us humbled before the one whom all good blessings flow. If we are a child of God (or really even if we are not) every good and perfect gift comes from God. It is all a gift from Him. No matter how hard we worked to get here it is still all a gift from God. No matter how much time, energy, effort we put into it all that time, energy and effort was from God as well. 

It is really simple. It ALL comes from God

It all belongs to God. We only persevere through it all by the help of the Lord. Truly boasting about anything is foolishness. Let's praise Him from whom all blessings flow. Boast on all His mighty works. That is the truth and the truth will set you free from your chains. 

Blessings

Connected to God

1Samuel 2:13

For I told him that I would judge his family forever because if the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible and he failed to restrain them. 

My child is beginning to enter those wonderful teen years. I love watching him turn into his own individual, becoming independent, growing in courage. I desperately want him to grow in the Lord. I know what is ahead of him; decisions, temptations, struggles and opportunity. I want him to know that only by following God, reading His Word and prayer will he be able to navigate this season of His life successfully. 

This verse reminds me that it is also important that I stay connected to God-in His Word and prayer-to help him navigate and be his boundaries for this season of his life. Only God can help me do this. I can only see this tiny picture of our lives, however I know a great God who can see the whole big picture why not trust in Him to guide us both?

I think this is a good reminder for any season of our lives. 

Blessings

Tell your story

Tell your story. 

God has put in you a story. You have many ups, you have many downs. God has chosen you to reside in so that the world might know Him. We don't have to be perfect or really even pleasant, pleasing or anything!  God made us all to tell our story-several stories-many stories!  Stories of tradegy. Stories of struggles. Stories of great victory. Tell your story. If you are filled with the Holy Spirit your story will point back to Gods amazing Grace. No need to rehearse it. God has got this!  Trust Him who pulled you from the pit and placed you beside the streams of cool water. He wants to shine through you!  Just tell your story. 

God is always the victor. The Lord deserves all the Glory!!!