A Grateful Heart

I am grateful for:
My LORD Jesus
My Family
My Family of Faith
God's Daily Provisions
Friends
Beauty of HIS Creation

NO FEAR

BELIEVE THIS GINI!

FOCUS

 

"Keep your focus on Me. I have gifted you with amazing freedom, including the ability to choose the focal point of your mind. Whenever your mind wanders, lasso those thoughts and bring them into My Presence. In My radiant Light, anxious thoughts shrink and shrivel away. Judgmental thoughts are unmasked as you bask in My unconditional Love. Confused ideas are untangled while you rest in the simplicity of My Peace. I will guard you and keep you in constant Peace, as you focus your mind on Me."
- Jesus Calling, January 29

He Is Coming...

Comfort From The Psalms

                 "For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
              for my hope is from Him."   Psalm 62:5

Together With My Spiritual Family

My Heavenly Father

Abundant Grace

But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!
—2 Corinthians 12:9 amp

Taking Breaks to Heal

"I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."  John 15:5

Forgiveness

My anger makes my insides raw and edgy

RELEASE

(From 2003 letter to Brian)

...from our conversation about knowing God's plan for our lives, what He wants us to do in different circumstances and relationships.

I think as each of us grow in our "walk through life" this is the biggest question, if we want to live as He wants us to:  What is God's plan for my life?   The more I think about it, the more I believe knowing what to do begins with an action: an action of release.  It reminds me of bungee jumping.  I've never done it and don't know what the experience is like--what it feels like, what my surroundings would look like as I did it and what changes it would bring to me (like being more adventuresome, etc).  Yet, I know that bungee jumping is real.  I've seen people do it and I've heard people talk about it.  But those people had to come to a point in time of RELEASE--letting go.  I don't think it is intellectual.  If it were they probably wouldn't do it!  Somehow the person decides to trust the process/experience. 

Everyone I have talked to about releasing their life to God has some way of describing it differently, and yet they all say something that is the same: that the feeling of peace is overwhelming.  I think the answers you seek, Brian won't come until you make a decision to let go of your life.  We, who love you, can't say what is right for you.  Only God.  But, I don't think He is going to drop little pieces of His will your way, like crumbs dropped on the ground for hungry birds, to just satisfy you temporarily.  I can say one thing, without a doubt and with total assurance: when you let go, and turn completely to Him, you will experience the most AMAZING PEACE of your life.  And the journey will begin.

His Peace

                                                     

In Honor of Sharmon Going Home To Jesus

"We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in the newness of life."  Romans 6:4

Our Focus in Crisis

Even when life around us is burned away, 
HIS cross reminds us of HIS presence and comfort - 



                                                

NO MATTER WHAT

                     GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD,
                               FOR HE IS GOOD.
                   HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER.

                                                     -PSALM 136:1

Come To Me

"Come to Me and rest in My loving Presence. 

You know that this day will bring difficulties, 

and you are trying to think your way through 

those trials.

 

Come to Me, and relax in My Peace. 

I will strengthen you and prepare you for this day, 

transforming your fear into confident trust."
- Jesus Calling, January 16

Attentive Waiting

In God's Thoughts

I AM IN AWE.
GOD THOUGHT OF
THUNDER, WIND, OCEANS, ECLIPSES, AURORAS,
CONTINENTS, ICE CAPS, 
STARS, MOON, 
THE UNIVERSE, 
AND ME.
  - Paul E. Murrel (Houston, Texas)

"Try to view each day as an adventure, carefully planned out by your Guide."
- Jesus Calling, January 13

LORD, what do you want from me?

Have you ever asked yourself, “What is it that God really wants from me?” If you have you are not alone.
And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’” – Matthew 22:37-39

Sufficient

Arriving fresh every morning
from God's overflowing storehouse,
generous portions 
of HIS faithfulness,

God's perfect love expressed
by the promise of HIS presence,
and prepared just for me;

Sufficient mercy
for my every need;
God's boundless grace,
always enough.
   -Viola Jacobson Berg

My Response

God's Part:
HE brings Conviction...HE offers an Invitation...and HE delivers Reconciliation 

My Part:
Obedience

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge HIM 
And HE will make your paths straight.
Psalm 3:5-6

TRUST

The Refiner's Fire

He sat by the fire of seven-fold heat,
As He watched by the precious ore.
And closer He bent with a searching gaze
As He heated it more and more. 

He knew He had ore that could stand the test
And He wanted the finest gold,
To mold as a crown for the King to wear,
Set with gems of price untold.

So He laid our gold in the burning fire,
Though we fain would have said Him, "Nay."
And He watched the dross that we had not seen,
As it melted and passed away.

And the gold grew brighter, and yet more bright
And our eyes were so dim with tears,
As we saw the fire, not the Master's hand,
And questioned with anxious fear.

Yet our gold shone out with a richer glow,
As it mirrored a Form above
That bent o'er the fire, though unseen by us
With a look of infinite love.

Can we think that it pleases His loving heart
To cause a moment of pain?
Ah, no, but He saw through the present cross
The bliss of eternal gain.

So He waited there with a watchful eye,
With a love that is strong and sure,
And His gold did not suffer a bit more heat
Than was needed to make it pure!

Author Unknown

Even from Eternity

"Even from eternity I am HE; 
and there is none who can deliver out of My hand;
I act and who can reverse it?"
Isaiah 43:13

Song:

JESUS, REMEMBER ME WHEN YOU COME 
INTO YOUR KINGDOM.
JESUS, REMEMBER ME WHEN YOU COME 
INTO YOUR KINGDOM.

Thankfulness in ALL Things

"When you thank Me for the many pleasures I provide, you affirm that I am God, from whom all blessings flow. When adversity strikes and you thank me anyway, your trust in My sovereignty is a showpiece to invisible realms. Fill up the spare moments of your life with praise and thanksgiving. This joyous discipline will help you live in the intimacy of My Presence."
- Jesus Calling, January 7

Ask Him

"And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him."  1 John 5:14-15

Song:  There Is A Longing

There is a longing in our hearts,
O Lord, for you to reveal yourself to us.
There is  longing in our hearts 
For love we only find in you, our God.
For justice, for freedom, for mercy
Hear our prayer.
In sorrow, in grief...be near, hear our prayer, O God.

My Value

"I am infinitely important because Jesus Died for me"

SONG: BENEATH THE CROSS OF JESUS

Upon the cross of Jesus
My eyes at times can see
The very dying form of One
Who suffered there for me.
And from my contrite heart, with tears
Two wonders I confess:
The wonder of His glorious love AND my unworthiness.

How can I thank you enough for all you have done?

Fresh Breezes Of Renewal

"Abide in Christ; cultivate a close, intimate acquaintance with Him.  Make Him your nearest, dearest and most intimate friend"

                                     As A Deer

As the deer panteth for the water, 
so my soul longeth after Thee.
You alone are my heart's desire 
and I long to worship Thee.

You're my Friend and You are my Brother, 
even though you are a king.
I love you more than any other, 
so much more than any thing.

You alone are my strength, my shield; 
To You alone may my spirit yield.
You alone are my heart's desire 
and I long to worship Thee.

Setting My Priorities To Begin A New Year

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  
Psalm 51:10


Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation.  Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God; for unto thee will I pray.  My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
Psalm 5:1-3


Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  
Lamentations 3:22-23

 

Looking Forward

Beginning A New Year

BEGINNING A NEW YEAR...


For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. Happy new year! 
Isaiah 43:19