Awed By His Provision

praiseAs I consider all that I am thankful for I am awed by the provision of Jehovah Jirah, My Provider.  There has never been a time that I was without food, clothing, shelter or Him.  Even through the darkest times of my life He has been a constant presence.  Oh, How He Loves You and Me!!!

Daniel’s words say thanks so beautifully:

“Praise the name of God forever and ever, for He alone has all wisdom and power.  He determines the course of world events; He removes kings and sets others on the throne.  He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars.  He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though He Himself is surrounded by light.  I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors, for You have given me wisdom and strength.”  (Daniel 2:20-23)

Can we say the same.  Yes, we can!   Just like this…

Praise the name of God Most High!  He alone knows all and gives all.  He knows the plans He has for my life.  He charts everything that happens all around the world every second of every day.  He gives the perfect gifts and talents to each person.  He knows everything, every second, everywhere.  He knows what we want to hide and His Glory shines on every secret.  He alone, and no other god, is worthy of my constant praise.

My alphabet of thanks!  Thank You, LORD, for:

America, Bible, Cats, Dee and Deb, Eternity, Family and Friends, Goodness, Home, Imagination, Jesus and Joyce, Kindness, Life, Music, Nature, Opportunities, Parents, Quiet, Ray (Ruth, Rick, Robin) , Stella, Technology, Unity, Victory, Words, X (standing alone can be Christ or Christian), You, Zeal

Now it’s your turn.  Have some fun doing an alphabet for what you are thankful for!

May you be blessed, during this season of Thanksgiving, with the wonder and amazement of all you’ve been given.  Oh, How He Loves Us!

Ancient Words

When Michael Smith released Ancient Words he spoke right into my heart.  (Click on the blue title words to listen to the song.)

AncientWordsVerse1

Thy WordDavid’s words in Psalm 119:11 tell us to hide God’s word in our heart’s.  How do we do that?  By memorizing them.  When we take time to memorize the Word we have all we need to make decisions, to deal with the ups and downs of life, and to help those around us who need to hear them.

AncientWordsVerse2

Jehovah Jireh, my Provider, has given us 774,746 words that will change our lives when we choose to live by them.  Words of life, read John 3:16.  Words of hope, read Jeremiah 29:11.  Words of strength, Joshua 1:9.  (Did you know fear not appears in the Word 365 times.) Words for coping, Psalm 46:10.

AncientWordsVerse3

Take the time to read, read, and reread Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts and Revelation.  Use a red-letter edition.  His words are as timely now and they were then.

AncientWordsChorus

Ah, Lord God, you have breathed Your word on to the pages of my Bible and into the nooks and crannies of my heart!  Keep me always mindful that You breathed those words into existence so I would have the answers.  Thank you, Lord!

This post was written for the Weekly Writing Challenge: Moved By Music

A Promise Kept

Do you believe that God’s Promises are real?  That He can do what He says He can do?  It’s so easy, in a world of broken promises, to get a very jaded attitude about this subject.  Promises are made and broken with such regularity it’s what we expect to happen.  In the story of Abram and Sarai we are given a glimpse into a Promise Kept.

Wikipedia

Wikipedia

I’m sure you know the story…God told Abram to pick up his family, flocks and possessions and move from Ur to where ever He told him to stop.  God’s promise was that Abram’s offspring would number more than the stars in the sky and the sand on the beach.  So Abram said sure, I can do that and he began walking.  He got side-tracked a bit when they stopped in Haran to visit his father.  During the lengthy visit his father died and he remembered what God had promised so off he went again.

Abram and Sarai seemed to like doing things themselves rather than waiting on God.  (How much like us is that?)  During their journey Abram passed off Sarai as his sister to protect themselves.  (BTW she really was his half-sister.  It was very common to marry within the family at that time because there weren’t a lot of options.)  Sarai got tired of waiting for this promised heir, so she gave Abram Hagar to have a child with.   The child was conceived, born and caused no end of envy in Sarai’s heart.  Abraham got so tired of her constant nagging that he told her to do whatever she wanted with Hagar.  That nearly cost Hagar and Ismael their lives, but God intervened and promised a great heritage to them, also.  We are still seeing the impact of Sarai’s misguided decision today–Isaacs descendants are, of course, the Israelites and Ishmail’s are the Arabs…need I say more on that?

Abraham and the Three Angels by J.Tissot

Abraham and the Three Angels by J.Tissot

There is another part to this story that tells us Sarai had pretty much given up on the Promise.  When the three men came to visit Abram in Shechem (the fulfillment of the land part of the Promise) they told Abram they would visit again in a year and at that time he would have a son.  Sarai, who was standing in the tent listening, thought to herself–Yeah!  Right! Not gonna happen. I’m to old.  Ha! Ha!  When asked why she laughed she said I didn’t.  The man said, yes, you did!  Genesis 18 verses 1 and 2 tell us who these visitors were.  Abram addresses Him as LORD (It’s capitalized in every  translation I read which means a direct reference to Yahwah!)  Sarai’s denial of laughter makes sense when we realize that God was the One who ‘heard’ her.

God followed through and Isaac was born.  Not only Isaac but three more sons and two daughters.  When Isaac was 37 years old Sarah went to her reward.  In her lifetime she learned a very important concept…God keeps His promises.

Heavenly Father, Lord of all,  help me realize and recognize Your Promises.  I give You thanks for all You’ve given me!  I ask that You make me constantly aware of You and Your blessings.  I lift this prayer in the Precious Name of Jesus.  Make it so!

The story of Abraham and Sarah can be found in the following scripture:

Genesis 11 – 21

Covenant

Several years ago the Spirit Sisters did a Bible study that asked us to write a covenant with God.  I did that, put it in my Bible, and forgot to open it at the end of the class.  Recently, I came across it again.  It has some powerful, convicting words in it that I can honestly say I haven’t really pursued.  That does not change my desire to do them or God’s desire to have me do them.

A covenant is a permanent agreement between people or groups that involves promises to each other.  God made covenants with Abraham, Noah, David, Solomon, Samson, and many others in the Word.  Daniel, Gideon, Paul, Ruth…made covenants with God.  Either way the words were meant to influence and last throughout time…and they have.

I hope you will read the one I wrote and that it will motivate you to a closer relationship with Jesus, the One and Only.  In fact, write one of your own!

Father, I am making this ‘covenant’ with You.

thumbnailCAW5ZPKYI will love You!

Fruit of the Spirit colorsI will let the Fruit grow and bear Fruit.

Jesus prayingI will honor You with my words and ways.

listeningI will listen for Your voice and obey.

serveI will serve You by serving others.

Thy WordI will put Your Words in my heart.

followingI will follow You!

Oh, LORD, give me the strength to go where You want me to go, to be what You want me to be, the courage to share You with others, and the wisdom to know how to reflect You in each life situation that comes my way.     (Signed–Marie, April 2, 2007)

Recall Notice

Sometimes I wonder if God would just like to RECALL the whole project.  I know He loves Go and sin no more!us more than anything but I really think He gets tired of it all.  Don’t you?  A dear friend sent me this and I thought it would be good for all of us to read.

Dear Human.

The Maker of all human beings (GOD) is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart.This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype unit’s code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units.  This defect has been identified as “Subsequently Internal Non-morality”, more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed.  Some of the symptoms include but are not limit to:

Loss of direction…Foul vocal emissions…Amnesia of origin…Lack of peace and joy…Selfish or violent behavior…Depression or confusion…Fearfulness…Idolatry…Rebellion

The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory-authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this defect.  The Repair Technician, JESUS, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs.  There is no additional fee required.

Duerer_praying_handsThe number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R.  Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure.  Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component.  No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.  Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the use of these fixes.

WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems to numerous to list, and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded.  For free emergency service, call on Jesus.

Fiery FurnaceDANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace.  The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility.

 

God Letter Closing

 

P.S. Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice, and you may contact the Father any time by ‘Knee Mail’!