Category Archives: Personal Growth

Grab On

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“Is my Master satisfied with me?” Does everything I think, do, and say reflect my El Elyon (Most High God) to the world around me?

How I wish I could say yes. Unfortunately we fall into the ‘sin pit’ to easily. However, by reading and studying His Word (to know Him), praying (keeping open the lines of communication with Him), and worshipping (putting our focus on Him) we are able to focus on Him and not on whatever we let put us in the pit in the first place. 

Psalm 60:2 tells us, “Save us and help us with Your right hand, that those You love may be delivered.”David knew God so well that he could depend Him and know without question that God would come to his rescue. We, too, can reach up and grab the hand that is always there to pull us out. Grab on!!!

My El Elyon,  Creator of all that is, was, and is to come give us the courage to grab on…not just when we should but because we can.  Open our hearts to Your Word, our souls to worship, and our thoughts to constant communication,  with You.  I lift this request in the Precious Name of Jesus      Make it so!

God Is Not Ashamed

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Reading Hebrews 11 and discovering new truths about faith led me to these thoughts. First, because of my faith God is not ashamed to be my God. This thoughtful jewel is found within vs. 16. There are other verses in the Bible that talk about me not being ashamed of Him or the Word (Romans 1:16-17, Psalm 25:2-3)but this is the only one I could find that outright says God is not ashamed to call me His own. That’s an absolutely profound thought. All it takes is faith in Him. Nothing more, nothing less.
 
Secondly, earlier on in the chapter in vs. 6 it says ‘He rewards those who seek Him’. How do we seek Him? In the same way we experience Him, through prayer, the Word, worship, other Christians, and circumstances. What is the reward? The promise of eternal life because we have faith.
 
The whole chapter is many examples that reinforce vs. 1. My paraphrase – – “My faith gives me the conviction that what I hope for, heaven and eternal life with my Savior, even though I cannot see it, is really there.”
 
HE knows me.  HE cares about me.  HE has my name written on His hand.  HE loves me.
 
Ah, Lord, God, You are my One and Only, my Savior, the giver of Eternal Life.  What an honor to be among those You are not ashamed to call Your own.  Oh, Lord, help me never to be ashamed to call You my own.  Make it so!

I’m Praying for You

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Dear Sisters in Christ,

Today I’m praying for you.  I may not know you personally or you may be among my group of besties but I AM PRAYING for you.  Here are the requests I am making before the Throne:

Father in Heaven, grant every woman the ability to know You more and more.  Open hearts, minds, and souls to Your incredible love for each of us.  Make us aware that in Your Word we were not only created by You but created in Your image. (Genesis 1:27)

Creator of all that is, was, and is to come, help us know the great value You place in each of us.  Help us understand deeply in every cell of our bodies that You take great joy in Your daughters.  You are the Redeemer of not only our souls, but our lives, our future.  You have seen us during our times of deepest fear.  Help us know and understand Your great love for us.  (Psalm 31:7)

Abba, Father, I know You hear each of us.  You hear our praise. You hear our needs. You hear our nearly silent pleas for mercy. You hear us when we regret our sins. You hear us when we have no one but You.  Oh, Lord, hear this prayer.  Grant each of us the ability to totally trust in You. (I Chronicles 5:20)

I lift this prayer before the Throne of Grace, in the Precious Name of Jesus, my Lord, my Provider, my Savior…     Make it so!

 

Do This; Not That

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Ten Commandments

Ten Commandments (Photo credit: glen edelson)

I have often wanted a concise list of what God wants of me and I want it to be straight from the mouth of Jesus.  You, too?  There are actually several in the Bible like the Ten Commandments, The Beatitudes, Phil. 4:8 (I call it the ‘whatevers’), The Fruit of the Spirit,…  But notice I said concise.  Guess what?  There is actually a ‘Do this, not that’ list, and all the others seem to fall into this categorically. Check out Luke 12.

ESTEEM GOD; NOT PEOPLE

Verses 1-7.  Jesus is talking to the disciples and tells them that they may be persecuted for their belief, they may be tempted to fake their faith, they may even be martyred for it.  They are to own God, to treat Him with great awe.  We, too, are to be always aware of Him, in every thing we think, do, and say.  We cannot afford to be posers, there is too much at stake. 

SPEAK UP; DO NOT BE SILENT 

Verses 8-12.  To deny Him can be forgiven. When we say “I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God” and then speak against the Holy Spirit, by not proclaiming Him, there is no forgiveness.  Also, if we say, like Moses, I cannot speak well, we are to ask Him and the Spirit will provide the words.  Remember if we do not proclaim the rocks will.

SEEK GOD; NOT THE WORLD

In verses 13-21 He uses the parable of the rich fool to help us understand the dangers of making the world our god.  Already a greedy and wealthy man the ‘rich fool’ determines he needs more.   After he achieves his goal of getting more than enough, he dies.  And that’s the end of the story for him because at no point in his earthly life did he lay aside any heavenly treasures…always thinking of himself.

An interesting side-story is in verse 19.  The rich fool thinks if he has more he will be able to eat, drink and party for the rest of his life.  The way I see it the more one has, the more there is to take care of, which, in turn, requires more work.  As my mom always said…there is no rest for the wicked.

DON’T WORRY; SEEK GOD

Verses 22-34  Once again we are told to keep our thoughts on God and His Kingdom.  He provides all we need and in abundance.  We need only ask.  Let’s break out of Luke for a moment and turn over to 1 John 5:14-15.  We can ask for ‘anything’ and that which is in His will is provided.  These two passages fit very nicely together.  To know God we must know His Word.  To ask within His Will we must know His Word.  He has it all and wants to give it all to us.  What is really holding us back?

So, there’s the list.  Much shorter than the others but including all of them.  Let me say this again….Knowing the Word is to know God and then we can know what He wants.

Heavenly Father, help me know You through Your Word.  Keep me constantly desiring to know You more.  Forgive me when I get lazy about sharing, caring, and knowing You.  Put the words in my mouth and hands Father.  In Jesus’ name I lift this prayer.  Make it so!

40 Years

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Ray and I will be married 40 years soon.  I’ve given some though to that number and realized there are a lot of biblical applications for it. 

Moses had 3 sets of the number 40 during his life.  First he spent 40 years learning all he needed to know to be a prince of Egypt (Exodus 2:1-15).  Then he spent 40 years outside of Egypt banished for killing another Egyptian(Exodus 2:16-4.  He spent his last 40 years wandering in the desert yet, heading toward the Promised Land because God had said no one that had grumbled against Him would see Canaan (Numbers 22-23).

Jesus spent 40 days fasting in seclusion, preparing himself for the ministry ahead.  During that time he was tempted by satan 3 times.  He was offered the very things He already had.  By simply quoting the scripture back to the evil one he thwarted the plan.  (John 4:1-11)

So how do these apply to our marriage?  Although neither of us is an official member of Egyptian royalty we are a definite part of the Royal Priesthood.  These 40 years for us have been a time of ‘heading toward the Promised Land’.  Jesus’ 40 days of fasting included temptation from satan.  The evil one has tempted us many times but by spending our married lives reading, studying, and yes, even memorizing parts of it we have been able to keep his legions at bay.  We are not perfect but we certainly know Who is in control.

Praise God for this incredible span of time together.

Abba thank You for these 40 years, for allowing us to walk this journey with You, for giving us such joy and for the miracles you have done in our lives.  Guide us through the next 40.  Give us enough laughter and sorrow to keep us always mindful that You are God and You are in control.    Make it so!