1Samuel 1:19,20

"....and the Lord remembered her. It came about in due time....."

Oh, Sweet Sovereign,
*contented, relieved sigh*
I love You, too!
J

What a Month

I get to trust. New job. Great people I'm working for! Horrible hours! Trusting God is working this all for my good and, more importantly, His glory! So MUCH HEAVY stuff on my plate in the next two to three months.... enough to make a woman with a lesser God crumble!

Psalm 35!!!!!!!!!!!

My Sweet, Perfect, Redeeming Sufficiency!
I trust! Thank You for being the One I can ALWAYS trust!
<3 JJ

Perfect Love

1John 4:17-21
17 In this, love is perfected with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; for we are as He is in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love. 19 We love because He first loved us. 20 If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And we have this command from Him: the one who loves God must also love his brother.

Let trust and thankfulness stand guard, turning back fear before it can gain a foothold. ~Sarah Young

We cannot give something we have not received. As I receive a Perfect Love, I can then without fear give it to others. If I am focused fully on the undeserved Love that is so fully and freely mine rather than the acceptance or rejection of the love I give to others then I am guarded from the devastation that comes when imperfect humans let us down or disappoint us. I then am able to think clearly and make wise decisions based on the love of Christ rather than my fear or hurt.

Sweet Wise Guide,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your Love.
I love You, too!
J

Healing!

so so so so so so busy!

blogging time is not easily found!

Just have to say Untangling Relationships by Pat Springle..... good stuff!

Healing is not easy work, but it is REALLY starting to feel good!!! <3 highly recommend whatever hard work it takes to find healing!

will try to blog more details soon.

God-Sized Hole

I was doing some catching up on "Wednesdays with Beth" - watching the last two recorded Wednesdays that I missed. I had a hunch that I should just pick up my computer and jot my notes down in my blog. I was right. Not any time today to put any of my own added comment but.... GOOOOOOD STUFF!



What is it you feel like you lack that you think would make you feel complete?
Right there in that place... you are vulnerable!
What is it you lack? Because it needs guarding!
John 1:38
38Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?"
(Interesting, don't you think, that the first words out of His mouth as He began His ministry were "what do you want?")
Gen 30:1
1 When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I'll die!" 2 Jacob became angry with her and said, "Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?"

Who is it we are holding responsible for what ONLY God can deliver.

Your enemy as well as your God is closely watching after your DESIRES! Guard them! For desire turns into desperation. Desperation does NOT make good decisions.

I have more value than that! Don't settle!!! "Even somebody crummy is better than no one." NOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!





I am a child of God


I house the Spirit of the LIVING GOD!!! Let that sink in!

Surely ___________________ will love me now.
_________ = Ron, children, parents, my church
THAT is oppression!

What could I do to make that person love me?
-sleep with him?
-lie to him?
-act just so?
-dress just so?
-more attractive?
-more successful?
-more "giving"?

Galatians 1:10
Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

God's approval is so much easier to get than man's.

Sweet Lover of my soul and Only One Worth Looking To For Approval,
I thank You for the healing You are exercising in my life and in my heart! And I thank You that You see each one for whom I pray will receive this same healing! And I thank You that YOU are praying for them with groanings I cannot even comprehend! Thank You, Sweet Jesus for Your Love!
I love You, too!
JJ

The Victory is the Lord's!

For children of God, a perfect "setup" for catastrophic defeat is also the perfect setup for miraculous victory! Beth Moore Believing God

My life has been set up for God to SHOW OFF!!!

Joshua 10

3 Therefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent [word] to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4 "Come up and help me. We will attack Gibeon, because they have made peace with Joshua and the Israelites."

BECAUSE they have made peace!!! ???
I can't deny the parallel... as I am making peace with myself and with TRUTH through the Lord!

5 So the five Amorite kings—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon—joined forces, advanced with all their armies, besieged Gibeon, and fought against it.

The enemy joined forces and fought against it!!!
I CAN'T deny the parallel!!!

8 The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them, for I have handed them over to you. Not one of them will be able to stand against you." 9 So Joshua caught them by surprise, after marching all night from Gilgal. 10 The LORD threw them into confusion before Israel. He defeated them in a great slaughter at Gibeon, chased them through the ascent of Beth-horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah. 11 As they fled before Israel, the LORD threw large hailstones on them from the sky along the descent of Beth-horon all the way to Azekah, and they died. More of them died from the hail than the Israelites killed with the sword.

after marching all night (this is one doozy of a long night)! Can you imagine how beat down and exhausted they must have felt? So, in their complete exhaustion, the LORD moved by throwing the enemy into confusion and slaughtering them with hail stones! They were in hand-to-hand, face-to-face, head-to-head combat!!!! Yet the hailstones knew which head to hit!!!! Were the Israelites ready to fight? Yes! But the LORD and His hailstones is what won the battle!

25 Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid or discouraged. Be strong and courageous, for the LORD will do this to all the enemies you fight."

the very word He gave to me some 19 months ago

40 So Joshua conquered the whole region—the hill country, the Negev, the Judean foothills, and the slopes—with all their kings, leaving no survivors. He completely destroyed every living being, as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded. 41 Joshua conquered everyone from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza, and all the land of Goshen as far as Gibeon. 42 Joshua captured all these kings and their land in one campaign, because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel. 43 Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.

leaving no survivors... nothing that was will be... when His miracle of healing for our family comes the enemy will have been COMPLETELY annihilated... only grace, mercy, love, and redemption will remain! Our Gilgal!

Sweet & Perfect On-Time God Who Is the Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever....
I trust!
I love You, too!
J

Purpose in the Wait

wow. sweet sweet night at the daniels. John 11:28-44... Jesus said to her, "Didn't I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?" There is purpose in the wait! What seems like a 'delay' to me is actually 'purpose' to God for greater glory!

Sweet Miracle Worker,
I will serve You while I'm waiting.
I love You, too!
J

His Presence

Good stuff from "Wednesdays With Beth"!!!

Psalm 139:5-18
5 You have encircled me;
You have placed Your hand on me.

6 This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me.
It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.

7 Where can I go to escape Your Spirit?
Where can I flee from Your presence?

8 If I go up to heaven, You are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.

9 If I live at the eastern horizon
or settle at the western limits,

10 even there Your hand will lead me;
Your right hand will hold on to me.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me,
and the light around me will become night" —

12 even the darkness is not dark to You.
The night shines like the day;
darkness and light are alike to You.

13 For it was You who created my inward parts;
You knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I will praise You,
because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made.
Your works are wonderful,
and I know this very well.

15 My bones were not hidden from You
when I was made in secret,
when I was formed in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless;
all my days were written in Your book and planned
before a single one of them began.

17 God, how difficult Your thoughts are
for me to comprehend;
how vast their sum is!

18 If I counted them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand;
when I wake up, I am still with You.

His Presence is a fact. We can count on the truth of that even when we don't feel it!
Your God is with you 24/7!!
It's the "with-ness" of God! I love that Beth-ism... the "with-ness" of God!

REV 3:20
Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him, and he with Me.

In that day and time.... to eat was to tarry at the table... not drive-thru fast food.

It's fellowhip that activates the feeling of divine Presence.
If we keep "driving thru" we are going to miss the "Bread of the Presence".

With a quick "heavenly pop-tart", you can get a word - maybe a very important word that you can take with you and nibble on to help sustain you thru the day... but that's not fellowship.

Sometimes, does He say, "JJ, don't read anything to me, I wish you just wouldn't even talk... just sit on the back porch with me."
I want to FEEL Him sometimes... the "with-ness" of God. I may not be able to "live" here, but I sure want to visit a whole lot!

Oh, Sweet Presence!
How I adore Your "With-ness"!
I love You, too!
JJ

Maybe Knocked Down but Not Out Forever!

The title of today's post is part of one of my favorite songs right now. The lyrics say.... "We lose our way, we get back up again. Its never too late to get back up again. Come on! Come on! You're gonna shine again! Maybe knocked down but not out forever! This is Love calling, Love calling out to the broken. This is Love calling!"

Good Good Truth! I am so thankful that my God is the God of Love and the God of Redemption! And that He, in His Faithful Love, calls out to me!

Proverbs 3:11-12
11 Do not despise the LORD's instruction, my son,
and do not loathe His discipline;

12 for the LORD disciplines the one He loves,
just as a father, the son he delights in.

The fact is, I made some very poor choices 8 and 9 years ago. I am living out the consequences and the discipline for those choices. Another fact is, this time of deep despair has accomplished at least part of His purpose... to drive me closer and closer to Him. I can say that NOTHING is more important to me than hearing His Voice and knowing His Presence. Up until this transformation in me and the "renewal of mind" (Rom 12:2), human approval fought as a god against this Truth in my life now. And though doubt attempts to creep in, I know that this time will pass and God's mighty right arm of justice will swing and the reversal of destiny will come.


1 Peter 5:6
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time...

I don't have to put myself under the "mighty" hand of ANYONE other than God. In fact, I BETTER not!


Hebrews 12:12-13
12 Therefore strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but healed instead.

I continuously went down the path of co-dependent relationships (what was lame). Something was broken/dislocated in me and needed to be healed. I did not simply need to make some correction there... that had to be healed in me! So, I have done and am doing the hard, hard work of strengthening my tired hands and weakened knees and making straight paths for my feet in order to walk the path of healing!

Hebrews 12:11
11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it.


Galatians 6:7-8
7 Don't be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, 8 because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 4:4
4My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.

There was no escaping these consequences but because of the discipline of the Lord and my yielding to it, I can live in healed peace with my Prince of Peace! And I can trust HIM, at the proper time, to bring about the justice of those whose goal is to humiliate and annihilate me.


Psalm 5
The Refuge of the Righteous

1 Listen to my words, LORD;
consider my sighing.
2 Pay attention to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for I pray to You.

3 At daybreak, LORD, You hear my voice;
at daybreak I plead my case to You and watch expectantly.

4 For You are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil cannot lodge with You.

5 The boastful cannot stand in Your presence;
You hate all evildoers.

6 You destroy those who tell lies;
the LORD abhors a man of bloodshed and treachery.

7 But I enter Your house
by the abundance of Your faithful love;
I bow down toward Your holy temple
in reverential awe of You.

8 LORD, lead me in Your righteousness,
because of my adversaries;
make Your way straight before me.

9 For there is nothing reliable in what they say;
destruction is within them;
their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongues.

10 Punish them, God;
let them fall by their own schemes.
Drive them out because of their many crimes,
for they rebel against You.

11 But let all who take refuge in You rejoice;
let them shout for joy forever.
May You shelter them,
and may those who love Your name boast about You.

12 For You, LORD, bless the righteous one;
You surround him with favor like a shield.


Psalm 6
A Prayer for Mercy

1 LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger;
do not discipline me in Your wrath.
2 Be gracious to me, LORD, for I am weak;
heal me, LORD, for my bones are shaking;

3 my whole being is shaken with terror.
And You, LORD— how long?

4 Turn, LORD! Rescue me;
save me because of Your faithful love.

5 For there is no remembrance of You in death;
who can thank You in Sheol?

6 I am weary from my groaning;
with my tears I dampen my pillow
and drench my bed every night.

7 My eyes are swollen from grief;
they grow old because of all my enemies.

8 Depart from me, all evildoers,
for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.

9 The LORD has heard my plea for help;
the LORD accepts my prayer.

10 All my enemies will be ashamed and shake with terror;
they will turn back and suddenly be disgraced.

Sweet Father,
I trust You and
I love You, too!
J

My Identity

Psalm 34:4-5
I sought the Lord and He answered my cry and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.

Because of Christ's redemption, I am a new creation of infinite worth. I am deeply loved, I am completely forgiven, I am fully pleasing, I am totally accepted by God. I am absolutely complete in Christ. When my performance reflects my new identity in Christ, that reflection is dynamically unique. There has never been another person like me in the history of mankind, nor will there ever be. God has made me an original, one of a kind, really somebody! (from Search for Significance LIFE Support Edition)

It's so hard to really believe this. We can say we believe, but the truth is.... we ACT on what we truly BELIEVE. So, if I don't act like I am of "infinite worth"......... wow.......... "infinite worth"................. wow.......... do I really believe it? If my worth and identity are found in being the "perfect" mom or wife or friend or "whatever" based on the approval of others then I am not truly believing the above affirmation in its entirety. I personally can say that I truly believe that I am accepted by God. I truly believe and "get" that... but fully pleasing? complete? dynamically unique?

Sweet Loving Lord,
I believe. Help my unbelief.
I love You, too!
J

I Will Trust In You

Exodus 15:22-25

22 Then Moses led Israel on from the Red Sea, and they went out to the Wilderness of Shur. They journeyed for three days in the wilderness without finding water. 23 They came to Marah, but they could not drink the water at Marah because it was bitter—that is why it was named Marah. 24 The people grumbled to Moses, "What are we going to drink?" 25 So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he threw it into the water, the water became drinkable.

Psalm 31:9-14

9 Be gracious to me, LORD,
because I am in distress;
my eyes are worn out from angry sorrow—
my whole being as well.

10 Indeed, my life is consumed with grief,
and my years with groaning;
my strength has failed
because of my sinfulness,
and my bones waste away.

11 I am ridiculed by all my adversaries
and even by my neighbors.
I am an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street run from me.

12 I am forgotten: gone from memory
like a dead person—like broken pottery.

13 I have heard the gossip of many;
terror is on every side.
When they conspired against me,
they plotted to take my life.

14 But I trust in You, LORD;
I say, "You are my God."

My prayer (adapted from an excerpt from Jesus Calling) :

My Sweet Sovereign,
I trust You when things go well, when I see You working on my behalf. This type of trust flows readily within me, requiring no exertion of my will. When things go wrong, my trust-flow sometimes slows down and almost solidifies. I am forced to choose between trusting You intentionally or rebelling: resenting Your ways with me. This choice constitutes a fork in the road. I will stay on the path of Life with You, enjoying Your Presence. I will choose to trust You in all circumstances.
I love You, too!
J

God Began A Work In ME

"I discovered an astonishing truth: God is attracted to weakness. He can't resist those who humbly and honestly admit how desperately they need him. Our weakness, in fact, makes room for his Power." Jim Cymbala from Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire

"Let's admit our weaknesses, cease our imitations, follow good examples, and position ourselves for miracles." Beth Moore from Believing God

"I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Paul and Timothy from Philippians 1:3-6

God has created me exactly as I am for His purpose! And PRAISE BE TO HIM for this revelation of belief (and not just head knowledge)... HE is my measuring stick! I am not to measure up to what anyone else does or expects me to do. I am to measure up to the good work HE has begun in me! And daily as He is purifying me as gold, He will daily bring about the completion of that work!

Oh, Sweet Love!
I surrender to Your purifying process and Your Potter's Hand!
I love You, too!
J

No Doubt

Genesis 28:15
Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.

Romans 8:31
What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

Sweet Sovereign Lord,
Every time I have even the faintest thought that I might doubt Your promise to me, You "scream" to me through a whisper of Your Word like this! Thank You for Your Word! Thank You for being so VERY VERY clear to me that night so many many months ago as I sat in my chair desperately crying out to You for direction. No matter how hopeless my circumstances seem from time to time, You have continuously left no room for doubt that what You have promised to me YOU (no one else) WILL (not maybe) accomplish!
I love You, too!
J

Deliverance Is On Its Way

Isaiah 30

Can't seem to leave this. Such a picture of the last 10 years of my life. I can honestly say I wanted to do the right thing. I just too often looked to and leaned on the wrong thing (people). I re-acted to and through my circumstances and people in my life rather than pro-acting based on the advice from My Heavenly Father (Is. 30:2). And OH the consequences that have come from that. Yet He has continually shown me in His Word that my deliverance will come from Him and Him alone! I will not be allowed to trust in "horses". He will NOT share His glory with ANY!!! My strength will lie in quiet confidence." (Is. 30:15b) He "waits to show me mercy" at just the right time and I can be "happy as I wait patiently for Him." (Is. 30:18) I am receiving "meager bread and water during this oppression, but my Teacher will not hide Himself any longer. My eyes will see my Teacher, and whenever I turn to the right or to the left, my ears will hear this command behind me: 'This is the way. Walk in it'.... Then He will send rain for my seed that I have sown in the ground, and the food, the produce of the ground, will be rich and plentiful." (Is. 30:20,21,23) And to those who desire to annihilate me "the Lord will make the splendor of His voice heard and reveal His arm striking in angry wrath and a flame of consung fire, in driving rain, a torrent, and hailstones. Assyria will be shattered by the voice of the Lord." (Is. 30:30,31)

Oh, Sweet Rescue!
I trust! And...
I love you too!
J

John 3:16

He loves me! I was made to be loved. I was forgiven and made to be loved not rejected. Because as I receive (truly RECEIVE) that forgiveness and love, I am compelled to extend it to all of those as unworthy as I was to receive it.

Sweet Savior!
Thank you for loving me so perfectly!
I love you, too!
J

The Promise of His Presence

Not sure why but I just feel compelled to share what blessed me from Monday's lesson from a workbook I am going through called Untangling Relationships.

Psalm 139:7,8,11,12
7 I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— 12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.

Hebrews 4:15,16
15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

The exercise was to think back over the past two days and describe a moment of joy and a moment of sadness.

I had just spent the weekend with my sweet little fella, my 3 month old grandson, Braden. I had SOOOOO enjoyed him... literally just soaked him up... there was barely a moment all weekend that he wasn't in my arms... we talked together (or "cooed" together) :) and sang together and had the funnest, sweetest moment where we took turns making each other laugh. It was the cutest thing. His little laugh made me laugh which made him laugh bigger which made me laugh bigger and so on and so on! It was pure J-O-Y Joy!!!! Oh, and then to just watch him drift off to sleep... I stared at him for hours. Precious, precious, priceless moments I will never forget. It was such a sweet reprieve from "life". Yet after taking him back home to his mommy I got to come home to "life"... many, many overwhelming problems and issues to deal with and work through.... certainly enough to send anyone with a lesser God into deep depression wondering which way to go and what step to take. Yet, so Faithfully, as He always Is... this lesson was waiting to allow me to soar on eagle's wings above the storm. Following is the prayer I wrote in response to His Word to me:

Sweet Present Lord,
I thank You for the Promise of Your Presence. I thank You that You understand and even participate empathetically in my emotions. I love the thought that You were there enjoying Braden with me! And what comfort to know that You are right here agonizing with me over the feeling that God is nowhere to be found in my circumstances. I thank You that in spite of what I feel, You are ALWAYS here guiding me! Oh, how...
I love You, too!
JJ

Like Little Children

Matthew 18:1-5
At this time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greateset in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one child like this in My name welcomes Me."

New thought here on this verse... what does it mean to be "like" a little child? What is a little child "like"? Besides the normal answer (innocent and trusting) here for this verse, just think for a moment about the last time you were around small children. What were they doing? And what were they "like" when they were doing it? When this question was posed to me I began to think of my own precious children playing at the park as we had just been there earlier. The words that came to my mind were "free", "happy", "giggly", and thoughts of how they did not have one ounce of concern about how they looked or what someone else thought of them.

Maybe this verse is talking about that very same thing... maybe when we become worry-free of our status in other's eyes, we will begin to understand Christ's point here.

Just a thought! :)

Sweet One!
I want to be free and happy and giggly in You! How blessed we are to only have One to consider in matters of our performance! And how blessed I am to live in His grace! Oh how...
I love You, too!
J

Reversal of Destiny

Esther 3:13 and 4:3
13 Letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces [telling the officials] to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jewish people—young and old, women and children—and plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month.
3 There was great mourning among the Jewish people in every province where the king's command and edict came. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay on sackcloth and ashes.

Esther 8:11,12,16
11 The king's edict gave the Jews in each and every city the right to assemble and defend themselves, to destroy, kill, and annihilate every ethnic and provincial army hostile to them, including women and children, and to take their possessions as spoils of war. 12 [This would take place] on a single day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month Adar.
16 and the Jews celebrated [d] with gladness, joy and honor.

Wow! Another example of how what Satan plans for evil, God can turn around for good! He IS our Redeemer! Do you see the specific reversal of destinies here? Not only in who is victorious vs who is annihilated, but look... God's Word is SOOOO awesome in its detail! Look closely in Esther 4:3...
They...
fasted
wept
lamented
lay on sackcloth and ashes

But then look what happened in 8:16 after God was through working "behind the scenes" on behalf of His people!!!
fasting >>>was turned to>>> celebrating (with a feast!)
weeping >>>was turned to>>> gladness
lamenting >>>was turned to>>> joy
the humilation of laying on sackcloth and ashes >>>was turned to>>> honor

Again I ask... is God still the same yesterday, today, and forever???
YES!

Right now, the overall picture of my circumstances is:
painful
unfair
lonely
exhausted

Yet, I am His! My heart is fully His! He, of all, knows this! Therefore, I can expectantly wait and watch for the reversal of these...
pain >>>turning to>>> relief
unfairness >>>turning to>>> justice
lonliness >>>turning to>>> a place to "fit in"
exhaustion >>>turning to>>> energy

Everything that characterizes my (and has characterized) my life up to this point can be not just simply restored.... (That seems, at this point, to be a "limited", "in-the-box" request.) No, not just simply re-stored... but REVERSED!

Oh, Sweet Redeemer!
I believe! Help my unbelief!
I wait expectantly and...
I love You, too!
J

More on Obedience!

Check out Leviticus 9:1 - 10:3.

Why do I "do" what I do? Is it personal obedience to the calling on my life and personal direction from the Lord? Or is it simply because it "worked" for someone else? Or for the approval of someone else? Or is it maybe just ritualism... or even worse... legalism? Whoa! Is God the same yesterday, today and forever? Does He take our "going out on our own" any less seriously now than He did then? The consequences may look a little different or come a little later down the road... but none-the-less, equally destructive. How can I KNOW what it is that He wants ME (personally) to do? A personal relationship with Him!!! Everyday learning more about Him through His word and then one-on-one personal, still, quiet time listening to what He has to say to me. Prayer is not just about me lifting up my "wish-list" to Him. Its about listening.... and then... obeying.

Oh, Sweet Lord!
I want to hear Your Voice and personal direction for me. May I only step on the pavers You lay ahead of me. May I know Your Voice so well that even the slightest whisper would be my Guide - allowing me to stay within the parameters of Your plan for me!
I love You, too!
J

Obedience - Its Good!

If you'll go back and look over my posts, you'll see that there was a real theme of OBEDIENCE. This is how God so graciously IS with me. Because He knows my frailties, He is gracious to put about "themes" everywhere I turn. Complete obedience is it right now. As He began to show me the importance of complete obedience and I began to "catch on", He then gave me opportunity to put it in to action with the command of forgiving pre-offense. It works, folks! Obedience is a sweet thing. I wish it were appropriate to give more details... maybe one day I will be able to... but for today, take my word for it... it works! Obedience works and forgiveness works. Not that any circumstances have changed, but the power of the bondage to those hurtful circumstances is being released, torn apart and torn down.

Oh, Sweet Redeemer!
How I look forward to seeing all the ways that Your behind-the-scenes-working will manifest itself in my life and the lives of my loved ones. Thank You for allowing me sweet victories over the evil one whose goal is to discourage and debilitate my confidence and my effectiveness. Sweet Sovereign One pour forth Your Spirit on me and on each person that is on my heart right now. (I LOVE that you already know who they are!) Lord, pour it forth and let that have its perfect result in each of our lives!
I love You, too!
J

Forgiveness

John 13
Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet
1 Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. (A) Having loved His own who were in the world, (B) He loved them to the end. [a]
2 Now by the time of supper, the Devil (C) had already put it into the heart of Judas, (D) Simon Iscariot's son, to betray (E) Him. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into His hands, (F) that He had come from God, (G) and that He was going back to God. (H) 4 So He got up from supper, laid aside His robe, (I) took a towel, and tied it around Himself. (J) 5 Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him.


Ya know how God shows you something you know... and in that, lets you KNOW it? Mmmhmmm. Aha moment! That's what I've just had!
This revelation came from reading a "note" of the husband of an old friend I have reconnected with on Facebook unexpectedly. God is SO timely isn't He? (sing it Ms. Patty!!!)

Anyway the particular section of the note that really hightened my understanding was the section of the note that talks about Jesus washing the feet of those who were ABOUT to "hurt" Him. So many times I think, "It would be so much easier to forgive if the offense from that person wasn't daily. If it were just something from the past that didn't keep on happening and hurting me on a daily basis, I could forgive a little more quickly and easily." PSHHHHH!!!! Jesus forgave and served KNOWING the offense was ABOUT to happen. If I forgive PRIOR to the offense (knowing full well its coming)... could it maybe even take a little of the sting out of the hurtful offense? Just a thought.... one I shall ponder tonight as I drift off to sleep.

I Wait and Trust!

Isaiah 30:18

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him.

If I am having to wait on God's justice, there IS purpose because He is longing just like I am!!!! He has great desire (to the point of rising) to be gracious to me, to show me compassion and His justice. So if he has that type of longing I know that He who "knows how to rescue the godly from trials" (2Pet. 2:9) is working in ways that I cannot yet see to bring about the result that will bring Him insane amounts of glory... which is what I have prayed... that my life will bring Him glory (show a correct estimation of Who HE Is!)!

Oh, Sweet Guide!
Like a driver on one of these back FM country roads with the big curves that feel like you're making a 180, I sense that You are bringing me through this curve.... slowly and in complete control (by You) into a new view. I wait... and... I trust... and...
I love You, too!
J

Tearing Down Idols

2Kings 23: 1-25

I have God's Word.
I have everything I need pertaining to Life.
Now... what will I do?
Will I participate "in covenant" with Christ? Or will I continue to bow down to the idols that have been raised up in my "world"? For me, the idol of "approval" must be torn down! This "temple" must be rid of such idols! Completely... leaving nothing of its resemblance. How will I ever find confidence to LIVE without complete obedience to complete annihilation of idols such as this in my mind? I CAN do all things (including "move" without the approval of others) through Christ Who strengthens me! I CAN overachieve in taking down this and every other idol that raises up against the knowledge of Christ! I CAN follow Him with my whole heart, soul, mind and strength! I CAN and will celebrate the beauty of His redemption in my life!

Oh Sweet Redeemer!
You indeed have beauty for ashes for me as I follow You with all of me!
Lord, make me an overachiever that brings You Glory (which is nothing more and nothing less than my life showing a correct estimation of Who YOU are!)
I love You, too!
J

A Kept Woman

Isaiah 42:16

I do not have to know every detail of the path ahead because He does! I don't have to be afraid of what I cannot see around the corner because He already has it covered! I do not have to be afraid of "the dark" because He is the Light and guides my every step as if all these harrowing rocky roads are level ground! And I can trust Him to keep me... ALWAYS!!!!

Oh, Sweet Sovereign Father!
How thankful I am to You that I am a Kept Woman!
I love You, too!
J

Sad About Sin

2Kings 22:11-20

He tore his clothes??? Is this my response when God shows me how I am missing His Way in His Word? Am I this aware of the result of sin? Do I truly believe God and what His Word says about sowing and reaping?

Sweet Saviour!
May I see my sin as You see it... Repulsive... so that I mourn deeply and repent immediately. Thank You for providing a way to live in Your Grace - Forgiven and Free to Live according to Your Perfect Word! I thank You that You have promised that if I lack wisdom, all I have to do is ask with right motives and You will give generously.
I love You, too!
J

Obedience

2Kings 22:2

He did [accomplished, produced, worked, attended to , put in order] what was right [straight, upright, correct, level, pleasing, just, fitting, proper APPROVED] in the Lord's sight and walked [to live,die/manner of life, to lead, bring, carry] in all [totality] the ways [road, distance, journey, manner, direction, HABIT, course of life] of his ancestor David; he did not turn [depart, to be removed, to put aside, leave undone] to the right or to the left.

What has He asked me to accomplish? to produce? to attend to? to put in order?

Is what I am doing approved? upright? correct? pleasing? fitting?

Is my walk a representation of these approved things I am accomplishing? Do I live and die according to this manner of life?

Does it include all? the totality of God's way? His direction? His road? His course for my life?

Sweet Sovereign God,
May I never turn from, remove myself, put aside or leave undone what You have called me to do!
I love You, too!
J

What has God Commanded of Me?

1Kings 13

What has God commanded of me? Am I His sheep that knows His voice so well that I cannot be deterred by temptation or deception even by/thru another "well-meaning" (or maybe not-so-well-meaning) Christian? God has given me His Word and His Holy Spirit to help me to determine His specific direction for my life. Make no mistake, there is no escape from the consequences of disobedience. There is no room for blaming someone else. The responsibility of hearing and adhering (i.e. obedience) to His call and direction for my life sits squarely on my own shoulders. I will listen. I will trust. I will obey.... even when someone else maybe misunderstands or disapproves.

Sweet Shepherd,
How grateful I am that You are teaching me to hear and trust Your Voice thru Your Word and Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for strengthening me and my understanding to follow Your lead!
I love you, too!
J

Trash or Treasure

Heb 10:35-39

Memorize it!

If I am being hit (with doubt) in the areas of my effectiveness, I AM BEING ATTACKED!!!

I DEMAND, in Jesus' Name, for you, Satan, to give my confidence back! When God is done with me I'll be dead!!!

I am trashing some things I need to pull out of the can and I am treasuring some things I need to trash!

My confidence in Christ is my right! BECAUSE... it is CHRIST that is my confidence, NOT my past or my track record!

WHO am I believing? After all, I act on what I TRULY BELIEVE, not on what I say I believe! I, through the Spirit of Christ, have RESURRECTION power! Rom 8:9-11


Rom 5:3-5
I will lift my trials up in praise!
2Cor 12:9-10

Sweet Holy Spirit,
Thank you for being my Helper!
I love you, too!
J

Obedience

1Kings 13 and 2Kings 22-23

In God's Sovereignty, to the humble and repentant, God's Word brings powerful conviction and convicting power to follow Him with my whole heart, soul, mind and strength and to never return to the way which led to destruction in the first place. Yet that humble servant can never force another to truly follow with heart, soul, mind and strength. One can only lead by example. It is an individual choice and decision - obedience.

Sweet Lord,
Open up Your Word and pour Yourself in to me. Thank you that You desire to speak to me and make Your Wisdom available to me. Teach me Your Way that I may follow in obedience with my whole heart, soul, mind and strength!
I love you, too!
J