Friday, February 4, 2011

What Is Our Routine

What is our routine in the mornings when we get up? This may seem like a crazy question to ask but let us think about it.


When we first wake up do we think; It's not time to get up yet, is it, I have got to hurry, I have so much to do, I shouldn't have slept so late, or could it possibly be thank you Lord for another day to live for you?

I know we are living in a really fast world today but the one thing we should be thinking about seems to be put on the back burner. Yes, God has given us so much and we are supposed to take care of them but how can we really take care of them in the manner God may want us to if we are putting God last?

Well, if we can't make time to put God first and talk to Him, how are we going to know how He wants us to take care of certain things. Yes, some things just come to us naturally but who do you think gave them to us? It was someone that loved us very much and wanted to make sure we knew things.

If you stop to think about it, it was God that made Adam and Eve coats out of skins to clothe them. Genesis 3:21; "Unto Adam and also to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them". At first Adam and Eve lived in a moral innocence, even though they were naked and they thought nothing about it until they ate from the forbidden tree. After they had sinned they became aware of their nakedness.

God being the Heavenly Father, He cared for His children. After Adam and Eve sinned they were aware of their nakedness and it became connected with sin and the fallen and immoral condition of humankind. God wants us to care for the children He has put in our care.

When we get up in the morning the first thing we should really think of is the Lord. To refresh ourselves we could just lay there for awhile and talk and praise Him with all our being. I will be the first to say, I am very slack at this as I usually jump out of bed and get ready to start the day but without saying a prayer or talking to God let alone praising Him. I do it sometimes but it isn't really part of my routine. I am setting here and I am so ashamed to admit to it but in my heart I know God knows I don't do it and He is the important one. Who are we wanting to please anyway? Is it each other, ourselves, or our God? I oh so want to please God more than anything else.

There are days that I can go and do nothing except talk, pray, and praise the Lord for He is Holy. I just want to feel nothing but His presence. I Samuel 2:2; "There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God".

When you go to a restaurant to eat, do you remember to say blessing over your meal or do you sort of let it slide by since your aren't sure the people around you will like it? When we go out we will always say grace over our food after all it is because of the Lord that we have this food. When Jenifer, author of Sweet Blessings was very small, Debi author of Nuggets From God, and I went out to eat one day. When we had our food it was just natural for grace to be said, we didn't care if someone didn't like, they didn't have to listen. As a man and his wife were leaving he came over to the table and told us he enjoyed seeing and hearing someone saying blessing for their food. It is good not to be ashamed of the Lord. Luke 9:26; "For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He shall come in His own glory, and in His Father's , and of the holy angels."

Everyone of us should have the Lord on our mind continually. Maybe you are already there but I am working on this and I pray that one day very soon that my mind will be consumed by thoughts of the Lord. This doesn't mean I won't be thinking of other things that have to be taken care of but it does mean the foremost thought will be the Lord in my daily routine. I want to do the will God wants me to so that He will know I am His faithful servant. Matthew 25:21; "His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant..."

Thank you for stopping by and may you know the peace of the Lord. Blessings!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Can We Give Our Cares To God

Matthew 6:25; "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?"

How many of us can say we really don't worry about what we are going to eat, drink, or what clothes we wear? I think at times we don't but other times we will. We wonder where the money is going to come from to provide these things.

The above verse does not mean it is wrong for us to make provisions for future physical needs. He does not want us to worry and have anxiety that shows a lack of faith as to God's love and care.

I Peter 5:7; "Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." We are told here God cares for His children. We have to truly give them to Him, we can't give them to Him and then take them back. This is a fault on my part. One day I gave Him my concerns and I felt so at ease but because I couldn't forget about them I started taking them back. He gently but firmly asked me "Do want me to take care of these or do you want to do it?" I really felt like I was a child again and getting the discipline that I so deserved. I immediately started praying, asking Him to forgive me and thanking the Lord for His discipline but I also gave Him praise He deserved. I then gave Him my concerns completely and let them go. I again felt relieved and He took care of it for me.

Philippians 4:6; "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Here Paul is telling us not to worry or even be anxious. Have you ever thought if you are praying that you can't be worrying? So, if we find ourselves worrying or being anxious why don't we just start praying and praising the Lord. It is amazing how calming this is. When we are praying we are renewing our trust in our Lord's faithfulness by casting our problems and anxieties upon Him. When we have this communion with the Lord the peace of God comes to guard our hearts and minds. We are strengthened by Him so that we can do the things He wants and desires us to do. God gives us help, grace and mercy in our time of need. God assures us that all things He allows to happen to us will work out for our good. There just isn't anything more that we need, God will take care of us.

I know for some this isn't the easiest thing to do but praying about it and asking the Lord to give you the strength to do this is the best way to be able to do it. Never forget to praise the Lord and give Him thanks continually.

God will provide all our needs (material and spiritual) as we hand them over to Him. When we are in union with the Lord and in fellowship with Him is when we can experience the provision God gives us. This is a wonderful feeling to experience. Yes, you can feel the closeness and peace this gives us.

Gratification or contentment is realizing God has given to us in our present circumstances everything we need to remain victorious in Christ. We need to be dependent on Christ at all times, sometimes we really have to work on this but it is well worth the effort of learning to have dependence on Him and we will feel the love He so freely gives us.

Let us always feel safe and rejoice in the Lord for He loves and cares for us.

Thank you for stopping by and may you know the peace of the Lord. Blessings!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Clicks or Groups

How many of us have ever belonged to a 'click or a special group?' When I was going to school we always called them 'click' but then I got to thinking maybe that isn't what they are called now. If we are truthful, I believe all of us will have to say at one time or another we have. I believe it is hard for some of us to admit to this. How many of us are still involved in a 'click'? There are probably more of us than not that don't want to admit this to anyone.

I wonder why we have these clicks. Is it because we feel more secure, is it because we know where we stand, do we know these people are our friends, is it because we know they are behind us no matter what, are we are afraid we won't be accepted by anyone else or does it seem this person is not to well dressed, perhaps they don't seem to be outstanding, they don't have a lot of money,? I am sure there are many more reasons but these are the ones I can think of right now.

We have these clicks in our schools, neighborhoods, work place, and yes, we even have them in our churches. Looking around we can see them everywhere. Some of us will say, I have my friends but I am not in a click and some of you aren't but what about the ones that are?

Are you willing to step away from your friends just to make someone feel they are welcome to the neighborhood, work place, or church or do you need someone to go with you? Are you able to step away from your friends to chat with someone, I mean to really chat with them. Asking them some questions about their lives and telling them you are glad to have them around. Are you able to make them feel welcome? Stop to look back at who you have been talking to. Is it the same people all of the time? Yes, it is easier to chat with someone you know, after all you know everything about them and they know everything about you. What about that person standing or setting alone?

That person standing alone may be waiting for someone to come along and greet them. Yes, they could step out but perhaps this is someone new in the school and they have no idea what the kids and teaches are like (are they friendly or what), or this new person in the neighborhood, they have no idea what goes on in the neighborhood. Maybe someone has just started working at this new job, they have no idea who is friendly and nice. It may be the first time this person has been in your church, it may really be hard for them to start talking to someone they don't know and they don't want to bother them as they are talking with a group of people.

We need to take a look at what James has said about this. James 2:1-4; "My Brethren, have we not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. v.2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; v.3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: v.4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?"

From those verses we can learn a lot. It tells us that if we pay special attention or favoritism toward a person that seems to be more wealthy, in a better position, or better clothing, this is wrong. It displeases God, we know God looks on the inside or the heart and not the outward appearance. When we do this it shows that we are not motivated by genuine love for everyone. We are not honoring the Lord with glory and are not accepting them on the basis of their faith in Jesus, it shows that we are showing favoritism to the wealthy or influential in the world. We can learn from the above verses also that God wants us to treat everyone equal and to be nice to everyone. When we do this and especially if we are Christians it can and does show glory to the Lord as He wants us to love everyone not just the ones that we know.  If we don't do this it take the glory away from Him.  Which do you want to do?  I want the glory to shine on the Lord.

I am one of those people that can talk a person's leg off of them, over the phone but I get so tongue-tied when in person it is hard for me to talk them. Well, just before Christmas I decided that I was going to talk to this woman at church so I went over and started up a conversation with her. I found out that she is wonderful person and loves to talk. I am so glad I finally went over to her and talked to her. Another little secret, the Holy Spirit is the one that got me to go over to her, I couldn't have done it without the Holy Spirit and I thank Him for doing this for me. If I would go to someone new every week I could meet at least 52 more people in just a year.

Maybe if all of us would just go talk to one person that we haven't talked to or very seldom talk, we might just meet a person that was in need or that will become a great friend. Why don't we try this for awhile and if you would want to you can report back and let me know how you did and I will do the same.

Thank you very much for stopping by and may you know the peace of the Lord. Blessings!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Something Bothering Me

I would like to talk about something that has bothered me for sometime. I pray that you perhaps will have a comment to this subject that will help someone, even if it just one.

I really worry about the people that does not know the Lord. As Christians we know where the people will go if they don't ask Jesus into their heart and to be there Lord and Savior but I really don't think people that don't know the Lord realizes where they will actually be going. God wants everyone to go to heaven, He doesn't want anyone to go the fiery pit.

The reason this has really hit me again is because Dave and I met a man when we were going to cardiac rehab and we found out later that he went to the same church as we go to. He wasn't always there so we didn't see him for awhile. He had asked the Lord into his heart and asked Him to be his Savior. I praise the Lord for that. This man was called home, oh to be home where everything is perfect. Anyway this has caused me to think about the ones that have never known the Lord and the ones that have and appear to have walked away from our loving Lord Jesus Christ more than usual.

There are people that say they just don't have the time to give their self to the Lord and ask Jesus to be their Savior. I say; "You don't have the time not to." We never know when our time will be to leave earth, I know where I am going and I praise the Lord that my eternal home is in heaven with the Father. I certainly don't want to be anyplace else but in heaven.

Then there are the people that say there is no fun being a Christian. I am here to tell them that being a Christian is more fun than you can imagine. A Christian has so much love, compassion, understanding, forgiveness, happiness, and joy that they could spread it around the whole world, they could share it with everyone. When you are a Christian you have so much joy and laughter. Yes, there will be times when it gets really rough and even sometimes a person might feel like giving up but all we have to do is go down on our knees and talk to the Lord and give it all to Him. That is what being a Christian is all about. We have someone to talk to and to give our problems to, we don't have to go it alone, praise the Lord He is there for us.

Jesus said in John 14:21; "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." We have to be obedient to Christ although it will never be perfect we still have to do our very best to be obedient. When we realize we have not been obedient we must talk to the Lord and ask for forgiveness and ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I feel the more disobedient to the Lord and not talking to Him and asking for His forgiveness and guidance may cause a person to walk away from Him completely (this is my feeling) and this would be worse for us than if we had never known before. I Peter 2:20-21; "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning." vv.21 "For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them."

As I am concerned about the ones not knowing Jesus I am also concerned about the ones that have known Him and then appears to have walked away from Him and forfeited salvation. We can usually tell by their actions and words they say that they have walked away. I Peter 2:22; "But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."

We need to be ready at all times and be working for the time when it does come. We can't just do it now and then. We not only need to pray for our loved ones, ourselves, but for everyone that doesn't know the Lord or the ones that appear to have walked away.

I am asking all of you to join me in praying for these people. If our prayers saves just one person, it was well worth the time we have spent in prayer.

Thank you very much for stopping by and may you know the peace of the Lord. Blessings!

Monday, January 31, 2011

The Quilt Holes

Matthew 6:21; "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

This was sent to me by a very dear friend and I found it to be very touching so I wanted to share it with you. I hope it touches you as it did me.


As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls.

Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles; an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.

But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares were. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in every day life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.

I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.

My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air.

Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose; each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me and nodded for me to rise.

My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.

And now, I had to face the truth.. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was. I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes.

Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, "Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you."

May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through!


Sometimes it is hard to hand over our troubles to the Lord but if we do, we can certainly be assured everything will work out for us and for the glory of the Lord.

The Word of the Lord tells everyone of us that we will have tribulations in our life. He didn't promise us that everything was going to be easy and He didn't promise us there would be no sadness. If we allow Jesus to help us through our rough times it will be much easier and less painful but we have to give it to Him, don't take it back.

There isn't a thing wrong with money (we have to have it to survive) or to have expensive things, the trouble comes in when you let those things become more important in your life instead of Jesus Christ. Money and materialistic things will not get you into heaven nor will they help you when you are in need.

Matthew 6:20; "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break in and steal." The Word of God tells us just how we should live and you know when we realize He is at our side every step of the way it makes it easier for us to handle all the things that come our way. Now this doesn't mean we won't have trials and tribulations in our lives BUT it does mean our life will be easier as we have God to help us through them.

When there is nothing left but God, that is when you find out that God is all you need.

Thanks for stopping by and may you always know the peace of the Lord. Blessings!