What a beautiful day! I trust you are enjoying the sun and perfect day to work out in the yard.
We had a "ghost" mower yesterday! Our neighbor figured out our mower was not working and came right down and finished the dam for us. What a great thing to have neighbors like that. Thanks Jim!
It is a day to be content in "whatever" place you are experiencing. You could be flying all around your house, organizing and cleaning out. You could be mourning the passing of someone close, you could be mowing, getting ready for a garage sale, wondering what has happened to your family, finances, or any kind of great news. Whatever your day is today, remember that God is your Captain and He guides, teaches, leads, guards, oversees, works all things together, gives grace, mercy and walks with us in all our journeys.
Psalm 25: 4 and 5
Deut 31: 8
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
PERSONAL UPDATE!
What a week! And, I might add what a May and June. Nobody saw all these surprises coming. God did! Wow, here He is leading us across the bridge - warring angels fighting the enemy all the way across and we didn't even know it.
In the book I never have time to write, I illustrated the story of girlfriends crossing the bridge - some in fear, some slowly making their way over, and others skipping way ahead. It has been a really long crossover since May 1st, when our friends Jack and Joyce lost Jack's beloved brother Jim. It was at the Walmart store of all places, where he said goodbye and began a very arduous crossover to the other side of living without him. Then another friend became paralyzed and ended up in the hospital the end of May and is still there learning to walk again. Our neighbor down the road, a cancer survivor just contracted pneumonia. John had the surprise of his life (we did together) when they announced a 4 CM melanoma had to be removed. Surgery was last Tuesday and John came home same day. They took two lymph nodes and have pronounced them clear. Two days later, Joyce's brother (the other half of Hefty State Farm with her) became paralyzed and had to be entered into Parkview as of last night. His mass on the spine turned into Lymphoma. They could not get it all.
It reaches way beyond stepping up to the plate, and or put your big boy/girl pants on sometimes. This is where we have to cling so tightly to the Master Jesus, we can't breath. He has to do the breathing for us. He has to load us up on His back and carry us forward.
Pray with us as we hold our friends up as best we can. It took me three days to recuperate from being at Goshen and the stress of wondering - what will our day end up looking like. We all need to hold each other up. Something's cookin', wouldn't you say? We need to cross over the bridge in full assurance that God has sent all the angels necessary to guard and guide our steps.
Romans 8: 28
PS 18:33
Deut. 31: 8
In the book I never have time to write, I illustrated the story of girlfriends crossing the bridge - some in fear, some slowly making their way over, and others skipping way ahead. It has been a really long crossover since May 1st, when our friends Jack and Joyce lost Jack's beloved brother Jim. It was at the Walmart store of all places, where he said goodbye and began a very arduous crossover to the other side of living without him. Then another friend became paralyzed and ended up in the hospital the end of May and is still there learning to walk again. Our neighbor down the road, a cancer survivor just contracted pneumonia. John had the surprise of his life (we did together) when they announced a 4 CM melanoma had to be removed. Surgery was last Tuesday and John came home same day. They took two lymph nodes and have pronounced them clear. Two days later, Joyce's brother (the other half of Hefty State Farm with her) became paralyzed and had to be entered into Parkview as of last night. His mass on the spine turned into Lymphoma. They could not get it all.
It reaches way beyond stepping up to the plate, and or put your big boy/girl pants on sometimes. This is where we have to cling so tightly to the Master Jesus, we can't breath. He has to do the breathing for us. He has to load us up on His back and carry us forward.
Pray with us as we hold our friends up as best we can. It took me three days to recuperate from being at Goshen and the stress of wondering - what will our day end up looking like. We all need to hold each other up. Something's cookin', wouldn't you say? We need to cross over the bridge in full assurance that God has sent all the angels necessary to guard and guide our steps.
Romans 8: 28
PS 18:33
Deut. 31: 8
Sunday, June 12, 2011
WHERE DO YOU PLACE ASSURANCE!
Life certainly gets interesting on occasions, you must admit. Seems like I get to test that assurance thing a lot in the last several years. No need to get lax or comfortable I always say!
Thursday morning I was preparing for another tooth extraction. I have become a regular at the Dentist specialist who works on all those kinds of specialties. Have I mentioned that I am not a good patient for those "special" kind of professionals. I did ask some good friends to pray and don't you know that morning during my devotions came this "coincidental" phrase. "Rest your assurance on God's love in your heart - NOT on the fear in your mind!"
Well, that took care of any whining, or drama I could invent about the situation. So, I marched myself right in there and remembered people were praying. He was done in record time, I took 1/10 the pain medication, and no dry sockets or other complications that usually came my way from being there.
On top of that he gave me two months to make a decision about an implant or live with the double hole. On top of that, I needed my assurance in the right place as John goes to Goshen Tuesday for Sun Melanoma cancer removal. Whew! I am exercising every phrase, every scripture, and every prayer partner today. God's coincidences are so awesome are they not? We don't have to pace, fret, fuss, or stew. He is always looking out for us, so our job is what? Rest on the assurance that God is in your heart, and not on the fear in your mind.
PS 18: 33
Thursday morning I was preparing for another tooth extraction. I have become a regular at the Dentist specialist who works on all those kinds of specialties. Have I mentioned that I am not a good patient for those "special" kind of professionals. I did ask some good friends to pray and don't you know that morning during my devotions came this "coincidental" phrase. "Rest your assurance on God's love in your heart - NOT on the fear in your mind!"
Well, that took care of any whining, or drama I could invent about the situation. So, I marched myself right in there and remembered people were praying. He was done in record time, I took 1/10 the pain medication, and no dry sockets or other complications that usually came my way from being there.
On top of that he gave me two months to make a decision about an implant or live with the double hole. On top of that, I needed my assurance in the right place as John goes to Goshen Tuesday for Sun Melanoma cancer removal. Whew! I am exercising every phrase, every scripture, and every prayer partner today. God's coincidences are so awesome are they not? We don't have to pace, fret, fuss, or stew. He is always looking out for us, so our job is what? Rest on the assurance that God is in your heart, and not on the fear in your mind.
PS 18: 33
Sunday, June 5, 2011
GETTING TO THOSE HIGH PLACES!
Sometime you will just have to take time and read ALL of Psalm 18. It is about how God sees the crisis or high stress decisions we get involved with. And, what does He do? He comes ROARING down on the scene. It reminds me of an Eagle who just saw someone messing with the newborns in their nest. You can hear the ROAR, envision the FIRE-BREATHING nostrils, and swoosh; the scene has been saved, fixed, and protected. In particular, I use Psalm 18: 33. Amplified version. "He makes my feet like hinds feet (able to stand firmly or make progress on the dangerous heights of testing and trouble); He sets me securely upon my high places."
Couldn't have said it better myself. I remember back many, many years ago when I felt that God was pointing out Psalm 18 to me before we went on vacation that spring. My question was, "Why are you pointing out a rescue here, what is going to happen?" Then I dismissed it and when we arrived home, safe and sound I breathed a sigh of relief. "Not so fast, Shirley!" Monday night after John's first day back at work, I saw it front and center. There was a faction out to unseat my husband at his career then. I went to Chapter 18, re-read it, and prayed. "God, I will trust that you knew this, you came, and you conquered." By Thursday, it was over and God answered me prayer about "Just give us ten more years." The spring of 05, John retired.
I tie that together with many other verses, but this morning I wrapped my head around John 15: 4 "Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. (Live in me, and I will live in you.) Just as no branch an bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in me."
THE VITALLY UNITED IS OUR KEY ISSUE HERE. Be absorbed in the Word, Trust in His Word, Fall back or fall forward into His Promises. He will rescue you, He does see everything. He will work all things together for good for us. I believe that. So, then when I need a High Place, I know He will lift me there, I will Hide under His wing until it is safe.
I have learned so much since I had to take of my parents and manage their lives until the end. I got a PhD when John had cancer. So, when we got to have a year and some months off from Pet-scans, I didn't mind, John didn't mind. Should we have called and asked why we haven't been there following up? Yes? But we didn't. We didn't trust did we? So when I was prompted of the Holy Spirit to write Dr. Doug, I did. He remembered that John's last doctor had moved to another location. In one week, he had seen to John's scheduling, and a new doctor to take his place (as he is moving to Indy). And, how did God work Ps 18 here again? Dr. Doug called us before the appointment and told us everything was clear. He knew we would be anxious. What doctor do you know who would do that? God prompted him and then it all worked out to see him and get hugs all the way around before his departure.
Hinds feet are good. God gives them to us when we ask.
John 15: 7. "If you live in Me (abide vitally united to Me) and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you."
Holy Spirit - rain on us - guide and show us how to live with Hinds Feet for High Places.
Couldn't have said it better myself. I remember back many, many years ago when I felt that God was pointing out Psalm 18 to me before we went on vacation that spring. My question was, "Why are you pointing out a rescue here, what is going to happen?" Then I dismissed it and when we arrived home, safe and sound I breathed a sigh of relief. "Not so fast, Shirley!" Monday night after John's first day back at work, I saw it front and center. There was a faction out to unseat my husband at his career then. I went to Chapter 18, re-read it, and prayed. "God, I will trust that you knew this, you came, and you conquered." By Thursday, it was over and God answered me prayer about "Just give us ten more years." The spring of 05, John retired.
I tie that together with many other verses, but this morning I wrapped my head around John 15: 4 "Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. (Live in me, and I will live in you.) Just as no branch an bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in me."
THE VITALLY UNITED IS OUR KEY ISSUE HERE. Be absorbed in the Word, Trust in His Word, Fall back or fall forward into His Promises. He will rescue you, He does see everything. He will work all things together for good for us. I believe that. So, then when I need a High Place, I know He will lift me there, I will Hide under His wing until it is safe.
I have learned so much since I had to take of my parents and manage their lives until the end. I got a PhD when John had cancer. So, when we got to have a year and some months off from Pet-scans, I didn't mind, John didn't mind. Should we have called and asked why we haven't been there following up? Yes? But we didn't. We didn't trust did we? So when I was prompted of the Holy Spirit to write Dr. Doug, I did. He remembered that John's last doctor had moved to another location. In one week, he had seen to John's scheduling, and a new doctor to take his place (as he is moving to Indy). And, how did God work Ps 18 here again? Dr. Doug called us before the appointment and told us everything was clear. He knew we would be anxious. What doctor do you know who would do that? God prompted him and then it all worked out to see him and get hugs all the way around before his departure.
Hinds feet are good. God gives them to us when we ask.
John 15: 7. "If you live in Me (abide vitally united to Me) and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you."
Holy Spirit - rain on us - guide and show us how to live with Hinds Feet for High Places.
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