FAITH

God's message for me today.

"Walk in faith and joy and see what I do in your life."

And He did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

 Matthew 13:58

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. 

Truly I tell you, 

if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, 

you can say to this mountain, 

‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. 

Nothing will be impossible for you.”

 Matthew 17:20

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.  

“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 

‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ 

and does not doubt in their heart 

but believes that what they say will happen, 

it will be done for them.

Mark 11:22-23

I always thought that any doubt was wrong.

 I have realized that momentary doubt that leads me 

to seek His truth is not wrong.

Living with doubt hinders one from seeing God work.

Using doubt to increase my faith draws me closer to Him.

The faith I have is that in every situation God will work for my good.

It may not be what I desire but it will be what's best for my life.

I have learned that walking in faith does allow me to live joyfully.

I know that He sees and knows what I need.

I know that He always provides what I need when I need it.

I choose to walk this day in faith and joy.

I can't wait to see what He does!

 

Ponder

"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."

Luke 2:19 

 

When I read this verse this morning, 

I focused on the word ponder.

 

What does it mean to ponder?

"to consider something deeply and thoroughly; meditate"

  

 I wonder if we are too busy to ponder the things of God.

I have been pondering some things lately.

One of the reasons I'm enjoying this time in my life is because 

I'm less busy than I've ever been before. 

I have a great job that I enjoy.

It's a job I don't have to take home with me.

I'm responsible for myself and my puppy Cinnamon.

 My children are all responsible Christian adults.

I have 5 wonderful grandchildren.

I have a nice house that keeps me 

warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and dry all the time. 

I have clothes to wear, food to eat, a bed to sleep in, and a car to drive.

I am blessed beyond measure.

 

God's blessings are what I choose to hide in my heart.

The older I get, the less material things matter to me;

the more the simple joys of living touch my soul.

I am going to spend time thinking about all God has given to me.

And as I ponder these things,

I pray He will show me how to share the things I have with others.

Not just things, but ideas, comfort, joy, peace, mercy, and grace.

Just as Mary pondered the things of Jesus' birth in her heart,

I will ponder the things of God in my heart.

And I will count myself blessed.

And I will allow those blessings to spill out onto others.

Amen!

 

 

"I Have Overcome."

When God brings the same scripture to my attention 

several times during my quiet times, 

I listen.

 This morning He directed me to 

the following verse.

“I have told you these things, 

so that in me you may have peace. 

In this world you will have trouble. 

But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
 

  The phrase that jumped out at me was,
"I have overcome the world".
"Overcome"
With God's help I have overcome 
many trials and setbacks in my life.
This verse reminds me that as wonderful as this is,
Jesus has overcome the world.
I do not have to fear what the world may do to me.
My body may be affected by many troubles.
My soul and spirit cannot be touched.
I am safe because I belong to Jesus.
This give me such a blessed peace.

 

 Darkness tried to overcome the Light.

The Light overcame the darkness.

Follow the LIGHT!

My life verse has always been Jeremiah  29:11.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I have claimed this verse many times over the years and it has always brought me comfort, healing, and hope.

Knowing that God has plans for me is comforting.

I have come to understand that prospering in God's way 

is different from prospering in the world.

It is also to be greatly desired.

My hope is in Him alone.

If the only hope I had was in this world, it would be in vain.

God promises me hope and a future.

A future withe Him.

Amazing!

Lately God has led me to anther verse 

that speaks not to my future but to my here and now.

 

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Colossians 3:17 

My life is not compartmentalized.

My spiritual, physical, emotional, financial, and mental attributes

are all mixed together.

Each one affects the others.

This verse says "whatever you do".

Not just the stuff you do on Sunday.

Not just the stuff you do for the church.

"Whatever."

"Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus."

This means that when I'm driving and someone 

does something that really irritates me, 

I am to respond as Jesus would. 

I taped this verse to my steering to remind me Who I represent.

It's made a difference in my attitude when I'm driving.

I also taped it to my keyboard at work to remind me for 

Whom I am working.

"Giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

Giving thanks for the good things?

Giving thanks for the blessings?

Giving thanks when I feel like it?

No!

Again, "whatever".

Give Him thanks for all things.

I am just learning to do this.

I realize that the hard things,

the pain, suffering, wounds this world inflicts,

are the very acts that draw me to Him.

So I am truly thankful for them.

It's so amazing to me that He really has placed 

a joy unspeakable in my heart.

"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, 

though now ye see him not, yet believing, 

ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:"

1 Peter 1:8

Praise God!

Restoration

"Now the God of all grace, 

who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, 

will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you 

after you have suffered a little."

1 Peter 5:10

This morning during my quiet time, 

God reminded me that He is restoring me day by day.

It is not a snap of His finger and voila, I am restored.

It is an often slow, steady process with ups and downs.

I lost myself for many years.

It is now amazing to me to look back and see 

how even in those lost years, God was working.

I see His hand of provision and protection 

throughout my life.

Even more amazing is the restoration 

He has done in my life over the past eight years.

When I read the last part of this verse, it convicts me.

You see, too often I think I suffered much.

Then I look around me and see so much suffering among God's people.

But even that pales in comparison when 

I remember what Jesus did.

It's not just the physical and emotional pain 

He suffered for me on the cross.

It's not the pain of being abandoned by the very ones 

He had taught, healed, served, and loved.

There was a worse pain to endure on that cross for me.

 

 Have you ever really been forsaken by God?

I have felt that one once or twice in my life.

But as soon as I called out to Him, He was there.

His word promises that He will never forsake His child.

But for His children, 

He had to forsake His Only Begotten Son!

No one else has ever experienced that.

Just Jesus.

Thankfully this was, 

as the song says,

"The End of the Beginning".

Jesus was restored to life.

A new life that gives hope to His child.

One day my restoration too will be complete.

I will receive a new body.

Meanwhile, I bask in the knowledge that 

He is working in my life day by day.

I live with the hope of eternity with Him 

while marveling at the work He's doing in my life today.

Life with Him is sweet.

Hope in eternity with Him is sweeter!

I cannot wait!

 

I have a vase of pink flowers on my desk.

They came from Kroger.

Nothing expensive, just a pretty bouquet.

I  have a lavender & vanilla candle burning on my desk.

I have butterflies of all kinds scattered around my office.

I have green plants growing.

I have tried to make my office a welcoming place for those who enter.

However, 

the most important welcome people receive is the one I give.

If I smile and use a friendly voice, 

the first impression for our church will be positive.

 If I act like I'm being interrupted from 

doing something that is more important, 

the first impression of our church will be negative.

There are days Ginny doesn't feel like being friendly.

Too bad for Ginny.

It has amazed me how I can arrive at work 

feeling blue or sad or upset or angry, 

yet all I have to do is whisper a prayer 

and God lifts my spirits and enables me 

to be the witness for Him I need to be.

 I am to be Christlike.

It's amazing how the more time I spend with Him,

the more like Him I become.

Not me, not by my own strength.

but through the power and blessing of His Spirit.

 

"and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. 

The life I now live in the flesh, 

I live by faith in the Son of God, 

who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Galatians 2:20

Live as He lives.

Love as He loves.

We will be welcomed Home by Him one day 

with a smile and a hug.

Amen!

 My Psalm

Sing praises to the Lord!

He alone is worthy of praise.

May my life and my actions bring glory and honor to Him.

I desire for people to see Jesus, not me.

Forgive me when I get in the way.

Remind me to call on Your Name when I am weak.

Remind me to call on Your Name when I face trials and temptations.

Thank You for the pain & disappointments that have drawn me to You.

Thank You for the blessings and joy You shower on me each day.

Fill this broken vessel with Your love and grace.

Let this love and grace spill out to a seeking world.

Sing praises to the Lord!

Hallelujah!