Category Archives: Faith

All God’s Children

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While we were waiting for church to start this morning Taylor asked if I had some paper so she could draw. I watched her draw a cross and underneath she wrote Jesus’s cross. Next to the cross she drew Jesus . He was holding Taylor’s hand, she was holding Marlee’s hand & she was holding Morgan’s hand… Then she told me it was hers & Morgan’s job to help teach Marlee about Jesus & to let her know that He is always holding their hands. She then drew a picture of Bro. Kenny preaching to the congregation … her mommy, Morgan, Taylor, Nana & Pawpaw. It is amazing how much they learn & how quickly they pick it up. My girls are so bright, caring & loving especially to Marlee. I love these girls so much.

This beautiful word picture was painted by a dear friend in Alabama.  I loved it when she posted it on Facebook and have her permission to share it in this blog.  (The picture above is not the one the girls drew.)

It is so easy to read Matthew 19:13-15 and think I’m no longer a child.  That’s really not true.  We are all God’s children.  He wants us to come to Him regularly and learn from Him.  We tend, as adults, to become so independent that trusting anyone but ourselves is a rarity.  Proverbs 3:5 says, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding’.  That’s what Jesus is saying to ALL His children, trust Me, count on Me, lean on Me, I AM what you are searching for, I will hold your hands anytime you need Me.

Heavenly Father as I lift these words in the Name of Jesus, keep me constantly aware that I am Your child.  Throughout this day help me to trust You, to lean on You, to hold Your always extended hand.  Your awesomeness thrills me.  YOU ARE!

Staying Power

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Luke 15:4  “Remain in Me, and I in you.”  Remain, stay, abide, survive, (to) last.  These words reflect the power in the concept of this verse.  When I am connected to my Jesus, He is connected to me.  While I am waiting on Him, He is waiting with me.

A beautiful, old hymn says this very well:                                                         Abide with me, fast falls the eventide;                                                            The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.                                                   When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,                                                       Help of the helpless, O abide with me.                                                              I need Thy presence every passing hour;                                                         What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?                                     Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?                                             Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.

Stay with God…through dishes, dust, and laundry…and watch the Spirit show up.                                                                                                           Stay with God…through hurts, losses, cruel words, and sadness of this world…and watch the Spirit show up.                                                            Stay with God…when there is not enough time to do it all…and watch the Spirit show up.                                                                                                 Stay with God…                                                                                       Heavenly, glorious Father, I want to stay with You no matter what.  Walk with me and teach me, guide me, forgive me, and make me more like You.  Make me aware of the Spirit throughout this day.  Keep me totally focused on You, my God and my King.  I lift this prayer in Jesus name…Make it so!

A BIBLE’S DIARY

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God’s word is God’s guide book for every minute, hour, day, situation, and celebration.

2 Timothy 3:16 says:

 

All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training and righteousness so that the man of God is thoroughly equipped for every good work.

English: The Bible

Psalm 119:105 says:

 

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my

Old lamp

path.

 

Psalm 119:11 says:

 

Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin

English: Cross, anchor, and heart for Faith, H...

against God.

I hope as you read the Bible Diary below that yours is marked up, ragged, used, and loved.  I pray that you are using the Word for more than a table top decoration.

 

A BIBLE’S DIARY

 

JANUARY–a busy time for me.  Most of the family decided to read me through this.  They kept me busy for two weeks.  The have forgotten me now.

 

FEBRUARY–My owner used me for a few minutes last week.  He had an argument and was looking up a reference point to prove his point.

 

MARCH–Grandpa visited us.  He kept me on his lap for an hour as he read 1 Corinthians 13.  I was used a lot by Grandpa.

 

APRIL–I had one busy day.  My owner was appointed leader of some project at church, so he used me.  Got to go to church service for the first time this year…on Easter.

 

MAY–I have a few green stains on my pages.  Some early flowers were pressed in me.

 

JUNE–I look like a scrapbook.  They have me full of clippings from the newspaper.  One of the girls got married.

 

JULY–they put me in a suitcase today.  I guess we are off on a vacation.  I wish I could stay hame because I know I’ll be in this dark thing for the whole time.

 

AUGUST–I’m still in the suitcase.

 

SEPTEMBER–Back home again in my old place.  Have lots of company.  Two romance novels and four comic books are on top of me.  I wish I could get the attention they get.

 

OCTOBER–They used me a little today.  One of them is very sick.  At this moment I’m shined up and on the middle of the coffee table.  The pastor must be coming.

 

NOVEMBER–I’m back in my old place.

 

DECEMBER–They are getting me ready for Christmas.  I’ll be cover with wrapping paper and presents.  Well, I always have the New Year to look forward to.

 

He Is Head Over Heals In Love With Us

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I’ve recently been giving a lot of thought to God’s love for us.  It must be something He wants me to do because I’ve seen books, reading articles, and listening to other Christians expound on the subject.  Why do I (we) think He can’t possibly mean me (us), even though He assures me (us) repeatedly in His Word.
In Genesis 1:27 we are told that we are created in His image.  Men and women look like God.  Think about it.  Don’t we all sometimes want to look like someone else?  Well, how about God.  Rather than comparing ourselves to others how about comparing ourselves to the One who loved us so much He gave His Son for us.

In Psalms 139:14 the writer is giving praise because he is aware of God’s love through being ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’.  He is in awe of the One who cares more about our well-being than anything else.God protects and sustains us from the time we are born until we have many gray hairs.  It’s truly something He wants to do. Don’t we want to protect and sustain those we love?  Of course we do.  It’s God’s love for us showing through us. (Isaiah 46:4)

Siescape-fetus

Siescape-fetus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Let’s look at the book of Hosea.  The cycle is repeated over and over.  Hosea marries Gomer, they have a child, she cheats on him and has two more, he continues to forgive her and take her back.  So like God’s love for us; we sin, He saves us, we sin, He forgives, and the cycle goes on and on and on…

The Painting entitled "Jesus Blessing the...

The Painting entitled “Jesus Blessing the Children” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

John 1:12 says when we receive Him, believe in Him, and trust Him because of His name He makes us His children.  Don’t we make the choice from the moment of conception to love our children even when they are sometimes unlovable?  God does too.We are God’s chosen and dearly loved.  Like all who love others He has expectations for us.  We are to show compassion, kindness, and forgiveness (see Colossians 3:12-14 for the list).  Over all we are to wear a cloak of love.  A Japanese translation says it like this, “Love binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
He wants to love us.  Let Him!
Ah, Lord God, my King, my Shelter, my One and Only I do not deserve to be loved by You, yet You do!  You see my insides and my ‘out-sides’, You know my strongholds, my sins, my every part, yet You still love me.  Oh, Lord, help me to be loving to others, help me to love like You do, with compassion, kindness, and without thought to what it will ‘cost’ me.  What a Mighty God You are.     Make it so!

Conquering Fear

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Walking on Water Hajdudorog

Walking on Water Hajdudorog (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

We often become frightened by the unknowns around us. Things like what will happen tomorrow, health issues, age issues, family issues, world issues…All of these and more cause us to fear the unknown. What are we to do?When the disciples feared what they thought was a ghost walking toward them on the water He (Jesus) said to them, “Take courage, it is I”. (See Matt. 14:25-32) When Joshua was appointed to take Moses’ place (after his death) and lead the Israelites into the Promised Land God said to him, “Be strong and courageous”. (See Joshua 1:6-9) So why should we not become frightened in any of life’s challenges? When Jesus said ‘it is I’ he meant that He is there for us, have faith in His presence. To Joshua God went on to say, “Don’t be frightened. I AM with you”. Embedded in both the Father and the Son’s response is trust Me. I AM. I will. I can.
 
Heavenly father, You know my fears, my hurts, my heart.  He me grab on and hold on.  Make it so.