Peace

Ps. 29:11

The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.

I'm in the midst of a crisis!

I don't know how I'm going to make the rent AND the car payment this month.

Much less the months that follow.

I should be frantically beseeching God for provision.

Deliverance,

As I have for the last several days.

But I'm not feeling it.

I'm not feeling panic. Or feeling frantic.

I will admit to a flutter,

but God has told me I could give the problem

and all the flutters of fear to him.

Sunday, in church, I asked God if I could just rest in him.

Rest in his promise to take care of me

He's told me in his word that I can do just that.

So, I will smile and KNOW God has a plan.

And if I should slip and pick up this worry again,

I'll remember what it says in Is. 26:34...

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee

because he trusteth in thee.

Dear Heavenly Father, please take all my cares and concerns. You know them all.

Help me, Lord, to trust in you. And thank you for your love and grace. Thank you for your peace.

Guard My Thoughts

Lord, in my heart, I've questioned, what can my thoughts hurt?

If it's just me and my thoughts?

Never spoken.

Never shared.

How can they hurt me or anyone else?

Why do I have to guard my thought life?

The Answer..... Matt. 12:34-35

O generation of vipers how can ye, being evil speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things; and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

And if that isn't enough...

Prov. 4:23 says..

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. KJV

A different translation, The New Century Version puts it like this,

Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life. NCV

WOW...WOW...WOW!!!

Our actions are conceived in our thoughts.

That makes me want to hide in the bushes from God.

But....

Thank you Father! For covering me with the righteousness of Christ that makes me, not just acceptable in your presence but You desire me to be near You.

Lord, create in me a clean heart.

It's Me Again God....

Oh, how good is God! I still don't know exactly what God wants me to do in my present circumstances or when or how. But he is so good. I've said before and I'll say again, I do not believe in coincidences for Christians.

You know I've been seeking direction from God. Should I move east, or north, or to the west? Or can I stay here? I believe God has answered that question. I still don't know how I'm to do what he he says. All of it will take resources I don't have. But, of course, my Heavenly Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Ps. 50:10). Yesterday I kept asking if I was fooling myself. I know the Bible tells us to pray, but am I imagining that God is speaking to me? Am I being a drama queen? Is God listening to me? Will he answer me?

This morning, my Random Booklet of Devotions started out with “Persistence Pays”.

Luke 18:1-8 tells of a judge who didn't fear God or man.

Then Jesus used this story to teach his followers that they should

always pray and never lose hope. In a certain town there was a

judge who did not respect God or care about people. In that same

town there was a widow who kept coming to this judge, saying,

give me my rights against my enemy. For a while the judge re-

fused to help her, but afterwards he thought to himself, even though

I don't respect God or care about people, I will see that she gets

her rights. Otherwise, she will continue to bother me until I am

worn out. The Lord said, “ Listen to what the unfair judge said,

God will always give what is right to his people who cry to him

night and day, and he will not be slow to answer them. I tell you

God will help his people quickly. But when the Son of Man comes

again, will he find those on earth who believe in him?” NCV

Ok God, I'll continue to cry out to you. With faith believing that you are answering

me. That I belong to you. That you will show me the way I should go and what I

should do.

Thank you, Lord, for going with me through this journey. I'm thankful I'm not alone.

Ps. 119:105 says

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

It has recently been brought to my attention that this lamp is not a beacon shining into my future, showing where my steps will lead me, but only where to take the next step. I gotta say right now, I feel like I'm taking tiny, little, baby steps. It's either I'm just so stubborn that's all I have faith to do or a baby step of light is all God is allowing right now.

Life isn't what I expected but isn't it exciting to know that God is taking, leading me on an adventure? He told us he has a plan for us. Plans for a hope and a future. (Jer. 29:11) If I allow myself to rest in him, to have faith in him, my tomorrows aren't near as scary.

I'm His Anyway!

Check this out...
     Ps. 130:3  If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?


     Eph. 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.  Not of works, lest any man should boast.


     Thirty nine years ago, as a young teen-ager, I gave my heart to the Lord.  You'd think the last four decades as a Christian would see me as a mature Christian today.  With some wisdom.  Discernment.  Faith.
      I think I'm more stubborn than most.  I can look back and see that I went through phases in my Christian walk.  In my early teens I was pious and full of righteous indignation on behalf of God, at times.  As a young mother, I took God for granted most of the time.  And other times in my life, I was too ashamed to speak to him or I came to him only when I needed rescue. 



Thank you Father that you love me because ….well, because you love me. Thank you that when you look at me you see your perfect son and that through him I can be saved. Even though I know I must try your patience at times. Father, guide me to know you better. To be more like you and to show your love. I ask, Lord, that when others look at me, they see you.



Readers,

God loves you and wants you to be with him forever, through out eternity. This blog is an inside peek into the journey through life, it's trials and victories that I'm taking but I want you to know how to find God.

In the New Century Version, Romans 3:23 says “All have sinned and are not good enough for
God's glory.”
Chapter 5:12 says, “Sin came into the world because of what one man did, and with sin came death. This is why everyone must die—because everyone sinned.”
Chapter 6:23 “When people sin, they earn what sin pays—death.”
Back to 5, verse 8 “But God shows his great love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we were still sinners.”
10:13 “as the scripture says, anyone who calls on the Lord will be saved.”
Then chapter 10:9-11 says, “If you use your mouth to say, Jesus is Lord and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved. We believe with our hearts and so we are made right with God. And we use our mouths to say that we believe, and so we are saved. As the scripture says, anyone who trusts in him will never be disappointed.”

It is my prayer that you walk down this Romans' Road to Salvation and ask Jesus into your heart. You will never be disappointed. There's a link at the top of this blog where you can email me. Please do so and let me know you've decided to follow his lead or if you have any questions. I obviously don't have a lot of answers but I know the answer man. The one who created it all.

Tomorrows...

Throughout the day, yesterday, as my thoughts turned back to the scriptures I had read I thought, if I do go to the “desert”, I can imagine what it'll be like to say goodbye to this home and friends (or one in particular) here. Putting distance between me and what I'd hoped would be.

I'm certain there'll be tears (but then, I cry at the drop of a hat sometimes). I'll mourn what may be the loss of my heart's dream.

My devotion today, (you know, that random booklet of devotions) was titled, “When You're Sorrowful”. (Y'all have got to get one of these booklets.) now, when I first read the title, I thought this one wasn't one of those that God was gonna talk to me through. I had forgotten about my thoughts of saying goodbye. Until I read the text. Coincidentally, (Ha!) it picks up where it stopped yesterday....Is. 35:5-10.
Then the blind people will see again, and the deaf will hear. Crippled
people will jump like deer, and those who can't talk will shout with joy.
Water will flow in the desert, and streams will flow in the dry land. The
burning desert will have pools of water and dry ground will have springs.
Where wild dogs once lived, grass and water plants will grow. (So far it
just seems like an elaboration of yesterday. Then.....)
A road will be there; this highway will be called “THE ROAD TO BEING
HOLY”. (grunt!!! I almost choked on my bagel.) Evil people will not

be allowed to walk on it. Only good people will walk on it. No fools

will go on it. No lions will be there, nor will dangerous animals be on

that road. They will not be found there. That road will be for the people

God saves; the people the Lord has freed will return there. They will enter

Jerusalem with joy and their happiness will last forever. Their gladness

and joy will fill them completely; and sorrow and sadness will go far away.

(I so want to find a home I can rest in. To finally rest..)

I was taken a back. Shocked, when I read v. 8, ...this highway will be called “the Road to Being Holy”. It jumped out at me, since my journey and conversations with God recently are about being holy. And I was sure the name of the road was even capitalized. How odd, I thought, that those words would be. I reread that verse. It isn't in capital letters, but that's what it looked like as I read it the first time.

These scriptures do elaborate on yesterday's verses. Today's scriptures tell me I'll be made whole in areas I've been crippled.

I'll be refreshed.

They tell me I'll be protected.

A few weeks ago I prayed that I would hear his voice like Is. 30:21 says. “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” (KJV..King James sounds so pretty, so poetic.) That's what v. 8 was like. Go here, this way leads to the highway called The Road to Being Holy. If I wrote everything that's going through my head, you'd think I'm crazier than you do already.

But know this...God is so good.

He loves me. Loves me enough to talk, specifically, to Renata.

And he loves you that much, too.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, that you hold my tomorrows. Tomorrows
scare me, Lord, but you've told me you have good plans for me, not plans
to hurt me, but plans for hope and a good future (Jer. 29:11). Help me,
Lord, to trust you with my tomorrows and my fears.

Scared Spitless

This morning, I opened my eyes and my first thought was, “Lord, I'm scared spitless". I continued talking to God as I readied for the day ahead. My under-employment for the last 9 months doesn't seem to be changing anytime soon; so I need direction from God.  Literally.  Do I go north, east, west or stay here?

My folks are to the east, in Arkansas and would love for me to go stay with them until I get on my feet.

My son and his family are a little to the north, here in Texas.  They have 3 children who would like nothing better than for Grandma to come stay with them.

The west is where my other 2 children live.  My best friend has a room ready for me there.

As I talked to God this morning and pondered these options, all with pros and cons, I complained that flowers won't grow in the desert to the west and I crave a garden again.

I asked God to direct me. Lead me. Give me a sign.

My devotion this morning was titled, “When You're Afraid”.  Now, I'm no longer really surprised by God reaching or bending down to speak to me. This booklet of seemingly random devotions, given to me by a friend has on more occasions than not spoken to me the words I need, at precisely the time I need to hear them.

The text was Isaiah 35, verses 1 through 4. I pulled my New Century Version translation toward me. ( I've been reading through the book of Isaiah and this translation makes it more understandable to me.) The text for this random devotion begins....

The desert and dry land will become happy; the desert will be glad

and will produce flowers. (no joke, look it up yourself. New Century Version)

Like a flower it will have many blooms. It will show it's happiness,

as if it were shouting with joy. It will be beautiful like the forest of

Lebanon, as beautiful as the hills of Sharon. Everyone will see the

glory of the Lord and the splendor of our God. Make the weak hands

strong and the weak knees steady (have I mentioned I've started wear-

ing a knee brace everyday? Haha. I just thought it was funny.) Say

to the people who are frightened “Be strong, don't be afraid. Look,

your God will come, and he will punish your enemies. He will make

them pay for the wrong they did

But he will save you.

Oh Father, I don't believe in coincidences when it comes to you. But, here I am again, asking, 

“Are you talking to me?!?”

You know my heart...better than I know it myself,

...well, to be honest I don't have a clue what my heart wants anymore. 

Father, as I continue to seek you, please guide me, 

and like Gideon, not quite convinced with the first supernatural miracle of your communication, please talk to me again.

Show me, Lord, (preferably without buckling my knees) what I should do.

He's in control and He has a plan!

Isaiah 55:8-13

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways saith the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven and returneth not thither, but

watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and

bread to the eater.

So shall my word that goeth fort out of my mouth it shall not return into me void, but

it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the things whereto I sent it.

For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills

shall break forth before into singing and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Instead of the thorn shall come up the fig tree, and instead of the brier shall come up

the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be

cut off.

WOW!!! What I see in verse 13 is that where we expect to see thorns or wasteland in our lives, God will cause a fruitful fig or a beautiful myrtle tree to grow instead!!! I see HOPE.

My devotion today suggested I make a list of questions I have for God and questions about my life.

1. I keep getting life wrong. Why am I still here?
   Am I being prepared for your kingdom?
2. Lord, can I have a home, with no more roaming?
3. Can my heart find roots?
   Ok, God, I recognize the eternal answer to these questions, but they're regarding my earthly life.
4. I read something by Max Lucado, I think, that my spiritual gift can be found at the intersection of my heart's desire and Your will. I don't understand. So my question is... Huh?

Father, regardless of my cluelessness; thank you for being in control; for having a

hope and a plan for me.