REDEMPTION in HIS RAIN

April 22, 2013 By 10 Comments

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Ahh….. rain….. I so love the sound of it.  We don’t get much of it here in Colorado, so I relish it when it falls to earth.  Water in general means many different things to people.

Water can quench a thirst, it is used in baptism, and JESUS used it for a miracle at the wedding in Cana of Galilee.  Jesus washed HIS disciples’ feet with water and HE walked on it as well.

Water is used in the Old Testament as a symbol of purification in ritual cleansing. 

GOD has provided water to us as a necessity for life.  In general, I think we take water for granted even though we could not live without it.

But there is that familiar expression that “when it rains it pours” and this wording is all about our difficulties in life, and how all of it is compounded when one trial happens on top of another!  Are you in this familiar place?

I see some friends battling with physical issues, questioning GOD and HIS plan, and asking why.

I see others living with burdens I cannot imagine, some financial and some concerning family, and through it all saying they will trust.

These difficult trials cause us to ponder: why me? why them?

And just like the rain that inevitably falls after a long hot drought, GOD’S love falls and washes over us like spring GRACE…. just when we need it…. just when we are at our limit.  And just like we need water to survive, so we need GOD’S living water to sustain us whenever life’s trials rain upon us.

I certainly don’t have all the answers as to why bad things happen to good people…. I just know we are all broken…. it is the world seeping into our souls and making us dirty in all sorts of ways.  Because of our sins, we have “…forsaken GOD, the spring of living water, and have dug our own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”

JEREMIAH 2:13

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What does this say about us?  It says that when life rains on us, we cannot go it alone even though we try.  We try hard to fix situations,  and then soon realize that our going it alone only muddies the water.  We need to draw deep from GOD’S well of salvation and let HIS living water wash over us, like rain on a fresh spring morning!  Only the grace of GOD can be poured out abundantly on us in our situations if we hold fast to our faith in HIM. 

The next time it rains or you see water in a beautiful peaceful setting…. remember HIS redemption for you.  Water is all around us every day…. may we never take it for granted, and may we always remember its life-giving purpose for us.

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ISAIAH 12: 2 “Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”

 

 

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Passionate for my REDEEMER!

March 20, 2013 By 10 Comments

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As I woke up out of a deep sleep the other night, two words became vivid in my mind: HOLY PASSION.  I made a certain effort to write the two words down so I wouldn’t forget them.  As always, I come to the realization that Heaven is speaking to me with a whisper and I need to pay attention.

In JESUS LIVES, by Sarah Young, speaking about “Intimacy with HIM,” it says that GOD’S view of us, knowing our deepest desires and darkest secrets, is a view through the eyes of a passionate Lover.  It is GOD’S Holy Passion for us!

Because of HIS perfect, passionate love for me, I have to ask myself: am I just as passionate for HIM? Christ died for me in order to create a passionate flame within me that will never die out!  Do my days reflect this flame of love?

Once again I examine my heart: am I truly passionate about seeking HIM?  HE only wants a relationship with me, and HE pursues me with HIS prevenient grace, and then justifies me, even when I have remained a sinner.

Those of us in CHRIST love our LORD, but do we seek HIM with a passion every day of our lives?  I fall short on this every day!  I will admit I could do so much better in my prayer life!  Since prayer is our direct contact with our Savior, why do we tend to leave it until the last moment or just send up a quick prayer in our busy days?  My prayers sometimes seem vague and general.  Is this you too?

I recently was asked to be part of the Prayer team on another Emmaus Walk. ( You can google Emmaus Communities and see the extent of these communities in the United States!) I am situated in the Prayer Room on site and we will pray continuously throughout the weekend. 

It is interesting how my prayer life has come to the forefront and how GOD has pointed out to me that I could do a lot better in this spiritual effort.  In prayer, HE is drawing me closer to HIS heart.  I am learning to love praying for others, for their needs, and my heart breaks for what breaks HIS.  

HIS Holy Passion for us asks us to love HIM, to seek HIM, and to know HIM with all of our hearts.  Prayer is commanded of us, gives glory to GOD, and gives answers! 

And so we, LORD, as your loving people observing LENT, pray today:

Thank YOU LORD, for the power of prayer…

We first pray for YOUR glory and YOUR kingdom…

We passionately pray that many hearts may be won by YOUR passionate love for us…

LORD help us to do YOUR will…and to passionately seek YOU…

May our daily lives prove that YOU are LORD of our hearts…

Since YOU are Sovereign, YOU touch our every written word, action and deed, and help us to know this deeply…

May our Christian body here, be passionate lovers of YOU and passionate lovers of each other.

Allow your HOLY PASSION to wash over us.

And let YOUR flame of love burn bright and deep within us, now and forever!

IN YOUR SON’S NAME, JESUS OUR REDEEMER, AMEN.

Ladies as you go through your day, pray for MUST LOVE GOD and all that happens here on each page.  If we only touch one soul with HIS love, then we are living passionately for HIM and through HIM.  Let HIS flame burn bright and deep within us for all to see!

PSALM 42:8 “By day the LORD commands HIS steadfast love, and at night HIS song is with me, a prayer to the GOD of my life.” ESV

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Gratitude, One Word, Spiritual, Thought for Today Tagged With: , , , 10 Comments

THE REDEEMING RACE

February 22, 2013 By 4 Comments

 

Sometimes I feel as if I am in a rat race… when I am out and about and all of humanity is rushing around me, I tend to rush too.  But what are we all rushing towards?  And why?  It would appear to someone as if we are all in a race together to see who finishes first!  Who gets married first… which one of us buys our first house… who has their first child… and it goes on and on.

As GOD’S wisdom seeps into our souls, however, we begin to understand that all of the rushing, and achievements, and attaining stuff is really a waste of time overall. The only true, pure and right goal in our lives is living for our GOD and finishing the race strong with HIM!   

Ecclesiastes 4: 4 says: “Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor.  This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.”

All this racing around does not make us happy…. it is as if we are chasing after the wind.

I don’t know about you, but I often feel the world pressing against me, and I tend to press back with my private time with my GOD.  HE has me on HIS path anyway…. HE is in control…. I take comfort in letting HIM drive the car, so to speak!  When I do, HE takes me through beautiful fields, with blooming flowers and blessings.  HE also drives skillfully through those valleys and carefully up mountaintops. 

If I am caught up in the continuous rat race around me, then I miss looking out the window!

I have realized that in my day, I must STOP…. STOP to feel and know of HIS presence. This takes a conscious effort until it becomes a habit.   Some days are more difficult than others to do this, but even in that, HE gives me perseverance in HIS grace.  And I do believe this whole business of perseverance is the hardest thing to deal with as a Christian.

How many of us, in our hearts, just want to give up?  It is easy to say persevere, but how do we do that?

So many of my friends are going through their days against great difficulty…. but continuing to move forward towards that finish line where CHRIST awaits us is our daily perseverance in a life filled with HIS grace and mercy. 

We cannot persevere alone…. we are just not made that way!  And HE gives us just enough light for the day we are on…. if we peer ahead, we peer into darkness.  So this one day at a time existence and living in the present is how we persevere!

Sometimes I feel as if I will never make it through a day…. do you?  And then, before I realize it, the day is done, and I have survived it.  I call those “marathon” days.  Those are the days where I need to hang on to HIS presence with all my might.  Let’s not forget…. HE never lets us go!  We are the ones who forget to reach for our Savior!

Isn’t it wonderful then, that in this race, and in our days, we are REDEEMED?  CHRIST’S blood is our redemption, and because HE died for us on that tree…. we will finish the race strong and loved by HIM.

HEBREWS 12: 1 “…. let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

 

 

 

 

 

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HIS WORD CHOICE FOR ME

January 18, 2013 By 4 Comments

 

Here I sit at my desk with my coffee…  another morning to start with glorifying my GOD… another New Year with many possibilities and opportunities. My word last year, which I learned much about and embraced, was the word GLORIFY. I do thank GOD often for all that HE has given me. However, to glorify HIM in any and all circumstances was a challenge. But in doing so, when those difficult circumstances arose, I found myself actually content in whatever life threw at me. That contentment grew from my continual trust in HIM.

I won’t say goodbye to the word GLORIFY because I will continue to do just that. My understanding now of how to GLORIFY my GOD is so heartfelt. And when I GLORIFY with all my heart, I do feel joy!

This past December another word was revealed to me over and over. It popped up in scripture, in songs, and in devotions, so much so, that I couldn’t ignore it. And that one word was:  REDEEM.

The dictionary says much about redemption. It says it means to pay off, to ransom, to deliver from sin, to make amends or to atone, and to restore. I say we all need a redeemer every day. I say I need to stop with the guilt. Guilt over past sins… guilt over past failures.

And I know my REDEEMER LIVES…  and HE IS CHRIST!  This year I want to live my life as a redeemed daughter of CHRIST.

PSALM 130:7 “For with the LORD there is mercy, and with HIM is abundant redemption.”

 

 

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LOVE in a Manger

December 14, 2012 By Leave a Comment

With Christmas upon us once again, many are rushing around to purchase the perfect gift for family or friends.  We spend much time on these special gifts of the season.  I don’t know about you, but I would rather give than receive.  It is fun to watch someone’s face light up when opening that perfect gift.

I have always been intrigued by the gifts the Magi brought the baby KING… how did they know what to bring and why?  The gold is obvious to me, but what about the frankincense and myrrh? 

Isn’t it wonderful too, that the bright star in the East led those Magi to the cradle of love called Immanuel?  Love came down that wondrous night in the form of a baby called Jesus… a love beyond our human understanding… a love for all mankind… a Savior of peace.

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; HE is CHRIST the LORD.” Luke 2:11

This love given to us by the Babe of Bethlehem was, and is, a glorious love that only a Holy GOD in heaven can give.  We don’t need to wonder the where, or the why of it… we just need to accept it as a gift of grace.  Only a GOD of grace, would send us a sweet Savior on a star- filled night in a manger surrounded by straw and animals!  Only a GOD of love, would keep that night in history a simple one, but in so doing, make it an extraordinary night like no other! 

How is it that this GOD of love knew that we needed an extraordinary HOPE?  And how is it that this GOD of love knew that we couldn’t live without HIM?

“An angel of the LORD suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the LORD shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.” Luke 2:9

The divine act of love that came down on that starry night was a gift for you and a gift for me… we just need to humbly receive it… and never forget it. 

So the next time your fingers open a beautiful package given to you by the ones who love you, remember that wondrous night when CHRIST came, and how much HE loves you.  The best gift of all, was from HIM!

“… and they fell to the ground and worshiped HIM.”  Matthew 2:11

May all of us this Christmas come to adore HIM, in all HIS glory… in all HIS splendor… and in all of HIS love.  Let us thank our LORD for HIS indescribable gift!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

 

 

 

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The Glory of Gratitude

November 14, 2012 By 2 Comments

The past three weeks have found me taking care of a wonderful 6 month old puppy named Cinder, for Freedom Service Dogs.  She is a double – doodle which means both parents were labradoodles!  Anyway, I was asked to foster her because her foster dad was out of the country.  Since I lost my own dog Charlie, in May, I jumped at the chance of having another dog in my house.  And I was extremely grateful for the opportunity!

Nothing soothes the soul like the love of an animal – my heart was broken in grief from losing my dog of 11 years from an unexpected illness.  Each day I spent with Cinder was a gift… a gift of love… a gift of unconditional grace!

My first week with her showed me how quickly she learned our routine, along with many friends who came to visit her.  Cinder’s  calm demeanor was a welcome to all who came to the door.  Immediately you noticed her kind brown eyes looking intently at you… the wag of her tail told you she was excited to see you.  Her curly black fur was soft to the touch and there was a richness in it, so much so, that you could not help but run your fingers through, over and over!

We got used to walking together… she was good on the leash, walking beside me, always looking up at me.  We walked together around all the paths available to me in my neighborhood and I watched Cinder watching bunnies, squirrels, people, cars, leaves, and anything that moved.  I saw and noticed everything she did, as if I were looking at life for the first time through her eyes.   I was grateful for each step, each walk, each potty break. 

She became my silent friend, always following my lead, and always listening to anything I had to say.  She accepted me fully, all with love and no judgement.  We spent so much time together that  in the house she never left my side.  If I got up to leave the room, she followed.

Cinder’s unconditional love for me was a blessing… her devotion and love was a reminder to me of GOD’S love for me as well.  I am grateful every day that HE loves me for who I am… my constant companion, who knows every hair on my head, knows my thoughts and my heart.   HIS love is unconditional, so is HIS grace and mercy… we should be thankful for that… thankful that we are part of HIS family… that we are HIS daughters in CHRIST!

In this month of November let us all find many things to be grateful for each and every day… our world is so in tune with the “give me’s”… when we look up at our LORD, we should look at what we can give back to each other.  Did you get out of bed this morning, with two legs and a happy heart?  Be grateful for that alone… that GOD has given you another day to live for HIM!  Be grateful and GIVE:

Give someone a hug

Give someone your smile

Give someone your time

Give someone a call

And as for my Cinder, I did GIVE her back to her foster Dad.  I gave her away with love, knowing that someday she will be a wonderful Service dog to someone in great need.   I am grateful for my small contribution to her training.  And I thank my GOD every day for that opportunity!

1 Corinthians 15: 57 “But thanks be to GOD! HE gives us the victory through our LORD JESUS CHRIST.”

 

 

 

Filed Under: Emotional, Friendship, Gratitude, Loss, Spiritual Tagged With: , , , , , 2 Comments

Fall Harvest and Hope

October 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I can feel it… a small change in the air!  Just when I think I have had enough of the hot summer weather, the morning air rises with me, and I notice it.  The subtle change tells me that Fall will be coming soon enough, and the lazy, easy days of summer will be gone. 

Some of us have had a wonderful summer… others have had quite a difficult one. 

Here in Colorado we dealt with devastating forest fires and a loss of life in a theater shooting.  Our state seemed to be in the national news all summer long.  We are hurting here, and there are many who began their summer not knowing they would lose their home or a loved one.  I have seen the burnt out sides of a mountain and memorials with flowers, candles, and stuffed animals.  It all hurts my heart, and I have prayed daily for our state and its people. Others elsewhere are also dealing with devastating floods.  Our nation right now seems so fragile… we are in need of change.

But with the change of seasons, comes the realization that nothing stays the same whether it be our emotions or our surroundings.  Even our bodies are changing daily… this is just a part of HIS creation.  And if we realize that change is an everyday part of our lives, then we will never lose HOPE.  No matter how bleak our circumstances, HOPE is just a change away… just a heartbeat away… just a moment away for any of us! 

If we are steadfast and patient in our daily sufferings or problems, and we all have them, then we will see this hope clearly when we look through the lens of GOD, or when we study HIS word.  If we are in tune with our GOD, then we realize that HE put this hope within us.  It is part of our makeup.  Our GOD is the GOD of HOPE.  When all else fails, and we are at the end of ourselves… HE is our GOD of HOPE…our only answer!

Sometimes it is hard to get up and put one foot in front of another… when we wake, we have 24 hours to live in GOD’S  hope! We can “be joyful in hope, patient in affliction.” Romans 12:12.  And it is CHRIST that gives us this hope for a future, and for our heavenly home.  This hope should be an anchor for our souls each and every day.

I don’t know about you, but Fall is my favorite time of year… the start of school, the color change, the holidays around the corner… all give me a sense of hope!  My Shepherd in Christ, went before me, died on the cross for me, to give me this hope I feel and understand today.

Whatever you are experiencing this time in your life, I do hope that you will find this coming Fall as a time to harvest a new hope!  Christ’s HOPE is like none other… it is eternal… it is everlasting… it is for you, and it is for me!

HEBREWS 6:19 “This HOPE we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast…”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Glory of Comfort in My Own Skin

August 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

My husband and I had the honor of speaking with a Navy veteran this past weekend.  We both were waiting for our food at a burger restaurant.  This nice gentleman came and sat by us for a short time and we were able to ask him all sorts of questions.  He was quite sure of himself, being that he was 74 years old.  He looked physically fit, said he went to the gym regularly, and kept himself busy with various projects.  You could just tell he was quite comfortable in his own skin… years of living created a grace and self-assurance within.

Meeting him got me thinking as to what it means to be comfortable in my own skin, and how and when does this occur?  Does years of living create this comfort or can I realize it now?

I have a couple of girlfriends that told me they feel most comfortable in their own skin when those around them accept them and don’t judge.  Those type of friends are usually lifelong friends… those who know almost everything possible about you, have seen you at your worst and best.  These friends seem to know you better than you know yourself, and have walked through many life situations with you.  They know your true heart, and yet love you unconditionally.  

Isn’t that how GOD loves us?  When there is no wall or barrier between myself and GOD, then HE knows me, my faults and all!  Ahh yes!  There IS a comfort there with HIM.  When GOD is my everything, and I can do all things through HIM, then I am confident and comfortable within myself… I am more confident before HIS throne of grace, and my life path is more certain before me.  I can rest comfortably in HIS love.

Psalm 139 has always given me great comfort… how wonderful to know that HE created me and knew me before I was born!  A trust is developed when you realize that GOD knows all about you, knows every hair on your head!  My thoughts, decisions, and all of my soul are acceptable to HIM!  My FATHER in Heaven embraces my inmost being that HE sees as beautiful, even when I can’t see it!  And that beauty is there because HE created me!  HE gives me that ultimate comfort I am looking for in my own skin… no one else can ever love me that way.  No one else sees me the way HE does.  And no one else deserves the Glory! 

So the next time you are down on yourself or just wonder who the heck you are… look to GOD.  HE will embrace you, love you, and lift you up in a way no one else ever will!

ISAIAH 51:12 “I, even I, am HE who comforts.”

 

 

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FREEDOM IN THE GLORY OF OUR LORD

July 18, 2012 By 2 Comments

If you find as I do that every day is an adventure with our GOD, then you understand what it means to be free!  This month we celebrated, on the 4th of July, our freedom in the United States, but what about the freedom in our souls?

There are many many circumstances of this earth that can hold us in chains… small or big problems can place us in a state of guilt, worry, or lying to ourselves in a big way.  Realizing however, that our GOD is bigger than anything we encounter on this earth is a beginning of our understanding of why CHRIST died to set us free.

If we realize that CHRIST loves in the same way our earthly fathers love, then we will understand that HIS true will for us is that we live in HIS unfailing love all our lives.

If you have been following the news as of late, you’ve probably seen the horrific fires we have had here in our beautiful state of Colorado.  Those of us who live here, love those gorgeous mountains.  When I look around, I see GOD’S hand in them.  I have been in touch with friends that live close to the fire as well, sending them my love and prayers.   

There was one picture in particular that caught my breath as I looked at  it, and it remains in my memory.  Someone entitled it “Pure Hell”.  Yes we do live in the “valley of the shadow of death” every day, and what goes on around us may seem like hell.  But with Christ, our hope and our salvation, no matter what life brings us, should be our focus.   I have listened to families on the news who have lost everything, with their homes burned down to the foundation, and they are still keeping their hope alive because of their faith.  

 

And so when life throws the tough stuff at us, GOD wants us to embrace it, not run from it, ignore it, or live in the past.  HIS will is that we face the present, with all our being, no matter how difficult it is.  HE wants us to live in absolute freedom from this world and all its captivity… to be free from all that burdens us.   As Christians, we really do have the key to the kingdom and we should all be living that way.  As some would think, all is not lost here… because there is a better place.   All is not ugly here… because there is a better place.  All does not come to an end here… because there is a better place! 

I pray when you read this that you will continue to pray for my state.  I know GOD is here, and GOD is good.  I have seen many neighbors helping neighbors, some opening their homes to those who have no home to go to.  There are many food drives and people going down to the Springs with car loads of supplies.  GOD is watching as we freely give to each other.

If we keep GOD close, and HE will come near to us, if we come near to HIM… then we should feel free to love, work, play and serve each other, as we bask in HIS grace for us.  All our pain and grief will be lifted when we place all our wordly burdens on HIM.  The enemy will be defeated and all will be glorious!  Let us live in that freedom… freedom from wordly and spiritual chains that burden us.

ONLY our CHRIST can set us FREE!  Let’s live with a free spirit for the rest of the days given to each of us on this earth.

2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

 

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LEARNING TO LET GO

June 2, 2012 By 10 Comments

Now that school is out and summer almost here, most of us look forward to taking a vacation… or just a much-needed rest.  Learning one way or another produces within, a passion for life in general.  Learning something new excites and rejuvenates.

I love learning about the WORD and figuring out what GOD is teaching me.  But what about when GOD is teaching you something you were not ready for, like saying goodbye?

As of this writing today, we just put our beloved yellow lab named Charlie down.  A week ago he was riddled with pain, and a rush to the vet gave us the answers.  My companion was suffering from a tumor and also lymphoma.  It was a shock because we had just been on a long walk together the day before and he was himself up until that vet visit.  Our veterinarian suggested putting him to sleep at that time, but my heart told me there was more time together.  I spent a sleepless night going over it all with GOD and HE said we had more days with our loyal friend.  Always with a pet, the “right time” is hard to know.  But after much prayer I was certain we were doing the right thing bringing him home for a short time.

And so, with pain medication in hand, the next day we brought Charlie home and he was eager to be there.   We did have some wonderful days together… much slower walks, much-needed hugs, and looking into each other’s eyes with love.  Some will say it’s just a dog, but those of us who have owned one, realize what GOD’S idea of unconditional love is… you see it in those sweet brown eyes! 

So with each day, I saw a little more slipping away… I of course tried to hold on tighter.  There were a few pain episodes, and one seizure.   I began to take walks by myself,  just to get used to the idea.  My hands felt so empty without a leash to hold.   I started to grieve with each passing day, and with the realization that my constant shadow of 11 years would soon be gone.

And so here I sit, without my friend at my feet and my heart aches.  The house is very quiet now.  Charlie’s unconditional love for me I will experience no more. 

But praise GOD, how wonderful HIS unconditional love is for us! 

I have HIS love, mercy, and grace every single day… it has gone before me and will continue after.  HIS love is unchanging and in this letting go, I am leaning in on my GOD with all I’ve  got… looking for HIM to heal my grief.

Letting go is hard, but I need to LET GOD.  I am certain in my heart that HIS unconditional love will be a salve on my wound… HIS word, a restorative pill so to speak that I need to take every single day.  If I let go, HE will catch me into HIS arms; HE will love me and guide me, and forever remain by my side, a side that is empty now without my beloved dog.

  I “see” Charlie out of the corner of my eye everywhere I turn, and I miss hearing his sweet nails on our wood floor when he would run to greet me.   My pain is gut wrenching at this time… and GOD says: “ let it all go, and I will heal you”.   I am learning, and leaning… one day at a time.

LAMENTATIONS 3:32 “ THOUGH HE BRINGS GRIEF, HE WILL SHOW COMPASSION, SO GREAT IS HIS UNFAILING LOVE.”

 

 

Filed Under: Emotional, Friendship, Spiritual, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , 10 Comments
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