This morning I was thinking while I was getting dressed for work. Bob says my thinking can be dangerous. LOL! The Lord has put some things in my heart for the last year. I keep waiting for His direction on what I am to do next to be prepared for His plan. Well so far no great change in direction has occured. As I was praying and thinking this morning, I felt the Lord remind me to just pray for direction for today(not tomorrow or the next just today). Immediately the weight was lifted off my shoulders. You see, if I follow Him today and obey I will be ready for tomorrow and then the next day.
As I was walking back from the barn and feeding my horse this is what occurred to me. God's direction can be like a ladder. When you need to reach something you go one rung (step) at a time. If you go too high you are above what you need to reach your goal and you could fall off trying to reach for it. If you are too low you will not be able to reach it yet so you have to take more steps. If you are on the right rung you can reach the object with no problem. Your goal is there at your fingertips. The goal is to be on the exact rung or step that God has planned for us at the time He has planned for us. As it says in Matthew 6:34, " Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough troubles for today."
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Pray Without Ceasing
This is something I wrote a long time ago that applies to what we are studying in the "Power of A Praying Woman."
Philippians 4 instructs us to pray without ceasing. What does pray without ceasing mean in a practical way to me? When you get up in the morning to start your day…Pray! When you are ready to give up because you are not seeing results…Pray! When you think things couldn’t get any worse…Pray! When you are discouraged and need encouragement…Pray! When you need wisdom and discernment…Pray! When you go to bed at night…Pray! When you make bad decisions and don’t know how to fix it…Pray! Nothing is too difficult for our God!
That’s what pray without ceasing means to me. All day long our thoughts should be PRAY!
Have you prayed today??????????
Philippians 4 instructs us to pray without ceasing. What does pray without ceasing mean in a practical way to me? When you get up in the morning to start your day…Pray! When you are ready to give up because you are not seeing results…Pray! When you think things couldn’t get any worse…Pray! When you are discouraged and need encouragement…Pray! When you need wisdom and discernment…Pray! When you go to bed at night…Pray! When you make bad decisions and don’t know how to fix it…Pray! Nothing is too difficult for our God!
That’s what pray without ceasing means to me. All day long our thoughts should be PRAY!
Have you prayed today??????????
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Guard Rails
Have you ever wondered why there are consequences for behavior? I have. I am convinced that in God’s loving character, He goes to the extreme to do what’s best for us.
On Monday, my 25 year old son was in a wreck. He is fine, unhurt! His car may be totaled. He was driving in SC on the interstate going 65mph. The weather was wet, but not a full blown rain. He changed lanes and spun out of control. He spun 6 times, back and forth to each guard rail, in heavy traffic. He came at many different cars but didn’t crash miraculously! He landed in the grassy median stopped by the cable that kept him from the oncoming traffic.
First, I praise God for protecting him and thank God for His grace to my family. Second, I keep thinking about those guard rails. They are there for a reason. They keep the driver from a worse fate.
I believe God designed us to live in such a way that is good for us. Within Deut. Chapters 5 and 6, God explains His 10 commandments. In these 10 laws, He tells His people of a good and superior way to live. He even says they should live this way so it will be well with them. Well can mean many things: spiritual; emotional; or even financial wellness. God also explains that there will be consequences if they don’t obey.
I think those guard rails on the highway are like God’s commandments (boundaries of behavior). The best way is to stay within the boundaries of God’s commands. But when we don’t, we hit those guard rails. Consequently, we have a wrecked car that has to be fixed. We wont likely drive carelessly down that road again.
But aren’t we blessed ! We know a Heavenly Mechanic that does perfect body work. He offers to fix our car for free. Rom. 6:23 “For the wages which sin pays is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
On Monday, my 25 year old son was in a wreck. He is fine, unhurt! His car may be totaled. He was driving in SC on the interstate going 65mph. The weather was wet, but not a full blown rain. He changed lanes and spun out of control. He spun 6 times, back and forth to each guard rail, in heavy traffic. He came at many different cars but didn’t crash miraculously! He landed in the grassy median stopped by the cable that kept him from the oncoming traffic.
First, I praise God for protecting him and thank God for His grace to my family. Second, I keep thinking about those guard rails. They are there for a reason. They keep the driver from a worse fate.
I believe God designed us to live in such a way that is good for us. Within Deut. Chapters 5 and 6, God explains His 10 commandments. In these 10 laws, He tells His people of a good and superior way to live. He even says they should live this way so it will be well with them. Well can mean many things: spiritual; emotional; or even financial wellness. God also explains that there will be consequences if they don’t obey.
I think those guard rails on the highway are like God’s commandments (boundaries of behavior). The best way is to stay within the boundaries of God’s commands. But when we don’t, we hit those guard rails. Consequently, we have a wrecked car that has to be fixed. We wont likely drive carelessly down that road again.
But aren’t we blessed ! We know a Heavenly Mechanic that does perfect body work. He offers to fix our car for free. Rom. 6:23 “For the wages which sin pays is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Are You Ready To Celebrate The Lord?
Good Tuesday to you!
On the way to work this morning I was just a singing. I love Hillsong and I had my Hillsong CD in and a song came on and he said at the beginning "Are you ready to celebrate the Lord? " Everybody said yeah! I love to sing to the Lord. I remember when I was a little girl and my mom used to make me sing for her. Then we would go down to my grandmother's and I would have to sing for her. You know, music just to me is one of the greatest things God has given us. The Lord has shown me that praise and worship music is a weapon that we have been given to defeat the enemy. It says in Psalms that "Praise was ordained on the mouths of babes to silence the avenger and the foe." We all face the avenger and the foe daily don't we? Whether it is through an illness, job layoff, crazy teen age kids, insecurities, attitudes, whatever. Some days are worse than others but right in the midst of our battle we need to stand and sing, worship Him, who is in control of it all. Just like Jephsophat did when the enemy was surrounding him on every side and he said to the Lord, "I don't know what to do but my eyes are on you." Then the Lord told him to go out into battle and begin to praise. Wow! Not exactly what you would think of doing in the midst of war, is it? Well...that's just what he did and when Jehosphat and the people of Israel began to praise the Lord, it says that their enemies turned on eachother. This shows us here one of the greatest ways in triumphing over our enemy is to lift up our souls to our defender, our redeemer, our stronghold, our hiding place and begin to exalt who He is over our situation and not exalt our situation over who He is. Satan so wants us looking at our circumstances, hardships, heartaches, sicknesses, etc., because he wants the attention on him. He does all of this to get our attention. However, when we "lift our eyes to the hills", when we "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, then and only then can we say, that no matter what we are facing, "It is well with my soul!" You know, because all we see is Him and in Him, in His presence there s fullness of joy and at His right hand pleasures forevermore. So...I want you to sing with me right now that old hymn we learned when we were growing up...
On the way to work this morning I was just a singing. I love Hillsong and I had my Hillsong CD in and a song came on and he said at the beginning "Are you ready to celebrate the Lord? " Everybody said yeah! I love to sing to the Lord. I remember when I was a little girl and my mom used to make me sing for her. Then we would go down to my grandmother's and I would have to sing for her. You know, music just to me is one of the greatest things God has given us. The Lord has shown me that praise and worship music is a weapon that we have been given to defeat the enemy. It says in Psalms that "Praise was ordained on the mouths of babes to silence the avenger and the foe." We all face the avenger and the foe daily don't we? Whether it is through an illness, job layoff, crazy teen age kids, insecurities, attitudes, whatever. Some days are worse than others but right in the midst of our battle we need to stand and sing, worship Him, who is in control of it all. Just like Jephsophat did when the enemy was surrounding him on every side and he said to the Lord, "I don't know what to do but my eyes are on you." Then the Lord told him to go out into battle and begin to praise. Wow! Not exactly what you would think of doing in the midst of war, is it? Well...that's just what he did and when Jehosphat and the people of Israel began to praise the Lord, it says that their enemies turned on eachother. This shows us here one of the greatest ways in triumphing over our enemy is to lift up our souls to our defender, our redeemer, our stronghold, our hiding place and begin to exalt who He is over our situation and not exalt our situation over who He is. Satan so wants us looking at our circumstances, hardships, heartaches, sicknesses, etc., because he wants the attention on him. He does all of this to get our attention. However, when we "lift our eyes to the hills", when we "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, then and only then can we say, that no matter what we are facing, "It is well with my soul!" You know, because all we see is Him and in Him, in His presence there s fullness of joy and at His right hand pleasures forevermore. So...I want you to sing with me right now that old hymn we learned when we were growing up...
"When peace, like a river, attendenth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, it is well, with my soul, with my soul
It is well, It is well
With my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpess estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
"It is well, it is well, with my soul, with my soul
It is well, It is well
With my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
It is well, it is well, with my soul, with my soul
It is well, It is well
With my soul!
Woo Hoo!
Blessings To You Today!
Marty
Friday, September 25, 2009
This morning I was having my quiet time with the Lord enjoying the beautiful scenery the Lord has blessed me with at my house. We have a pond in the back yard that is full of fish. There are bass, talapia, and brim. Bob and I love to watch the fish come up to the top of the water and feed.
We also have a crane that comes to visit our pond. He loves the fish too but for a different reason. He wants to EAT our fish. The nerve of that crane! Bob and the crane have an ongoing battle. It is hilarious. Bob will see the crane run get his pellet gun and proceed to the back door to try and shoot AROUND the bird. Bob doesn't want to hurt the bird just scare it. It amazes us how the bird knows when Bob is serious or not. Sometimes Bob will go to the back door and open the door without his gun thinking the bird will fly away and leave his fish safe and unharmed. The crane LOOKS at Bob and continues to go about looking for food as if Bob were not there. When Bob actually gets his WEAPON the bird knows he is serious and flies off and leaves Bob's fish alone.
This morning I was thinking about Satan and how he is like the crane. Satan knows when we are serious about fighting him and when we are not. Sometimes we go into battle with him with half our armor. You know, fighting WIMPEE style. You heard me, we are all bark and no bite! He also knows when we have on the FULL ARMOR OF GOD Ephesians 6:13-19! That is when we mean business.
The fish story isn't over. You see, the bird comes back to the pond almost every day!!!! He is there to kill, steal, and destroy. He wants to EAT ALL our fish. He is not happy with one or two. He wants them all! He just doesn't give up. Even though Bob has the gun the crane knows there is still a chance he can get a fish. That is how Satan is with us. He is there to kill, steal, and destroy John 10:10. He will come back as many time as necessary to try and take your joy, peace, children, marriage, contentment, your testimony!
Here is the GREAT part of John 10:10: Jesus says, "I came that you might have life, and might have it abundantly!" Jesus is there to fight the battle for you, but you must put on the Full armor of God. Don't fight WIMPEE! Fight HUGE AND FULL! DON'T GIVE UP! Enjoy ABUNDANT LIFE today!
Praying for you today!
Feleda
We also have a crane that comes to visit our pond. He loves the fish too but for a different reason. He wants to EAT our fish. The nerve of that crane! Bob and the crane have an ongoing battle. It is hilarious. Bob will see the crane run get his pellet gun and proceed to the back door to try and shoot AROUND the bird. Bob doesn't want to hurt the bird just scare it. It amazes us how the bird knows when Bob is serious or not. Sometimes Bob will go to the back door and open the door without his gun thinking the bird will fly away and leave his fish safe and unharmed. The crane LOOKS at Bob and continues to go about looking for food as if Bob were not there. When Bob actually gets his WEAPON the bird knows he is serious and flies off and leaves Bob's fish alone.
This morning I was thinking about Satan and how he is like the crane. Satan knows when we are serious about fighting him and when we are not. Sometimes we go into battle with him with half our armor. You know, fighting WIMPEE style. You heard me, we are all bark and no bite! He also knows when we have on the FULL ARMOR OF GOD Ephesians 6:13-19! That is when we mean business.
The fish story isn't over. You see, the bird comes back to the pond almost every day!!!! He is there to kill, steal, and destroy. He wants to EAT ALL our fish. He is not happy with one or two. He wants them all! He just doesn't give up. Even though Bob has the gun the crane knows there is still a chance he can get a fish. That is how Satan is with us. He is there to kill, steal, and destroy John 10:10. He will come back as many time as necessary to try and take your joy, peace, children, marriage, contentment, your testimony!
Here is the GREAT part of John 10:10: Jesus says, "I came that you might have life, and might have it abundantly!" Jesus is there to fight the battle for you, but you must put on the Full armor of God. Don't fight WIMPEE! Fight HUGE AND FULL! DON'T GIVE UP! Enjoy ABUNDANT LIFE today!
Praying for you today!
Feleda
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Have you ever heard the old saying, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks?" Well I am here to say you can try to teach an older lady(okay middle lady) new tricks. Marty encouraged me several weeks (maybe months) ago to start a blog for WOW. I gave her the look. You know, the one where it reads, Have you lost your mind? I am not the most techno savvy. I run from new technology. It is not that I don't like it. I am just afraid of it. What if I can't do it? Even better, I am not a good writer. To me writing is like going to the dentist, it is necessary but that doesn't mean I have to LIKE IT!
Our spiritual lives can be like that too! We can learn new ways (tricks) of doing things. It is necessary but it doesn't mean you have to LIKE IT! There are things in our lives that we need to learn new ways of being and doing. It is hard in the beginning and unpleasant. In the long run it helps us to be better and do better. We benefit, our families, friends, acquaintances, and the people we work with benefit in the long run. The best reason is because Christ calls us to keep on learning new tricks.
Don't be afraid! Try a new trick today. Keep on trying that new trick. Who knows you may be like me today, and learn quicker than you think.
Our spiritual lives can be like that too! We can learn new ways (tricks) of doing things. It is necessary but it doesn't mean you have to LIKE IT! There are things in our lives that we need to learn new ways of being and doing. It is hard in the beginning and unpleasant. In the long run it helps us to be better and do better. We benefit, our families, friends, acquaintances, and the people we work with benefit in the long run. The best reason is because Christ calls us to keep on learning new tricks.
Don't be afraid! Try a new trick today. Keep on trying that new trick. Who knows you may be like me today, and learn quicker than you think.
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