"Rejoice"

This is the day the Lord has made;
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

Every day is a new day full of possibilities.  God made the day for us to enjoy and to rejoice in the blessings of life "today", to view it as a new adventure and seize every opportunity to glorify Him through finding reasons to be glad.

There are things that can surely drag me down and sometimes I really have to purposely look for the good and remember to be grateful. Anybody else ever get the pity party going? But rather than remaining focused inwardly I pray the Lord to lift my head toward Heaven and God, to listen to the truth that makes me free from all that can bog me down. After all, He is the lifter of my head and He is faithful.

I'm glad today to finally feel a lot better after having the flu for the past two weeks.  I'm grateful to have gotten out of the house early this morning to walk my precious dog, Gideon - even in the rain!  He was  so frisky and had a blast.  Never mind the mud.  He didn't let the dreary looking day dampen his spirits and I had fun too.  He's such a happy pup and makes me smile. 

Thank You, Lord, for joy first thing this morning with my "baby" and for all of Your blessings.  Thank You for the promises found in Your word that are mine and make my heart sing, rejoice and be glad in this new day.

Scripture Meditation:

Psalm 3:3-4 - But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.  I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill.
Psalm 9:1-2 -  I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.  I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
Psalm 32:11 - Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Psalm 33:20-22 -  Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.  For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name.  Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, just as we hope in You.
Psalm 45:7 - ...Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions.
Psalm 70:4 - But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you...
Psalm 100:1-5 - Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 149:5 - Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds.
Ephesians 2:6 - ...and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus...
Philippians 4:4 - Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
1 Thessalonians 5:16 - Rejoice always...
Zephaniah 3:17 - The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.
2 Chronicles 6:41 - ...may your saints rejoice in your goodness.
Habakkuk 3:17-19 - Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls— yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.

(A page from my inspirational scrapbook)

"Purr-fect Therapy"

Anyone who lives with cats totally understands this picture which says it all...cats rule, and we'll readily give up our comfort for the sake of our feline children.

There's nothing like the peaceful feeling they bring as they curl up with us, motors running, completely content as we snuggle together.

There have been times when I've tossed and turned, unable to sleep until one of my kitties comes to visit me late in the night, lulling me to sleep with their sweet singing purrs and the feel of their soft fur.

Yes, I am a cat lover to the extreme and make no apologies for it.  They are sweet and delightful gifts from God who have often spoken to my troubled soul, soothing, comforting and helping, I believe, by God's hands to help slow down my racing thoughts as the Lord ushers in His peace.

Thank You, Lord, for all of Your awesome and most precious creatures!  Nothing is wasted with You.

(A page from my inspirational scrapbook)

"As a Child"

The Lord has appeared of old to me, 

saying: “Yes, I have loved you with
an everlasting love; therefore with
lovingkindness I have drawn you. 

Jeremiah 31:3 

When I saw this picture I just knew there was something the Lord wanted to speak through it.  Though the Lord was speaking some personal things to me, ultimately it was His perfect love I knew He wanted to express through the message of the gift of Salvation through His Son Jesus Christ that He offers to all.

As we are entering the Christmas season I am ever mindful of the true meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate.  There is nothing and will never be anything greater than the gift of God's love and His redeeming power through Christ.

There is no gift, no amount of money or anything that this life may have to offer that could equal His immeasurable love to save our dying souls as God the Father offered up His Son to pay the price for all sin.

My heart and my life belong to Him and I am forever grateful that He looked upon me and offered me redemption and a life set free in Him and that the same is offered to every man, woman and child.

My prayer is that all around the world we would hear and respond to the voice of His Holy Spirit who draws us by God's everlasting love to become the new creation in Christ Jesus He longs for us to be and that we would live our lives fresh and anew for Him.

Thank You, Heavenly Father!  May Christ truly be the center of it all, not just at Christmastime but every day of our life.

Come unto God the Father

In purity and without guile

Receive the Kingdom of Heaven

Innocent as a child.

Know the love of Jesus

Feel His warm embrace

Live a life of freedom

Victory by His grace.

Each day approach in newness

In Jesus Christ, rejoice

Garments of praise to cover

Raise holy hands and voice.

Feast on the word He's given

Let a heart be formed

That God Himself is shaping

In all that are reborn.

Trusting Him more fully

With every passing day

Grown up, His disciple

All sin washed away.

By blood that is all-sufficient

Shed by One Who paid the price

The sinless, spotless, Lamb of God

Clothed in brilliant light.

Throughout your days He'll hold you

Never to let go

For He is true and faithful

And longs for you to know

The mysteries of Heaven

The promises that await

The perfect plan He has for those

Who take His hand by faith.

Let the joy of His salvation

Permeate your life

Filling every corner

Immersed in Jesus Christ.

Scripture Meditation:
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:3 - Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. 

Matthew 18:2-3 - Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,  and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

(A page from my inspirational scrapbook)

"In Everything Give Thanks"

As we're winding down the month of November and the year I'm reflecting on all the many things for which I am grateful to God.  And though we have just ended the holiday of Thanksgiving, my prayer is that the Lord would open our eyes, that not only for a day or a month out of the year would we be thankful, but every day to purpose in our hearts to seek out, find and acknowledge the multitude of blessings that the Lord so graciously provides.

The Lord's mercies are new every morning and His compassions they fail not.  Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me, and reason enough to sing Your praises every day!

Link to the hymn, "Great is Thy Faithfulness" 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI_3KqWQ6OA

(A page from my  inspirational scrapbook)

"No Worries"

This is a page from my inspirational scrapbook that I continue to work on.  After I create enough pages I'll have them bound into a book.  What a fun and great way to meditate on the precious promises of God and other encouraging thoughts.  

(Click on the picture for a full-sized view)

"Sleeping on the Stairs"

Here's my silly little Lucy Lu who decided to sleep on the stairs since that's where the sun was shining in.  I took this picture as I was preparing to leave for work one morning and felt so bad that I had to close the door and take away her prime sleeping spot.

"Partakers of Holiness"

Life is quite often a challenge.  Much of the time we don’t know what may be around the bend.  The things that have taken place over the past several months, along with just all of the every day daily stuff, at times have seemed nothing short of overwhelming.  My patience some days has been stretched beyond measure and my faith has been tried once again during difficult times in a battle that has seemed unending and where everything seems to be going wrong.

It’s in times like these that I find myself wanting to withdrawal.  But what I’m really sensing is God’s call to come aside to be alone with Him, to be transformed more into His image; to understand His perfect will and to be more fully equipped for the destiny that He has planned and that He is unfolding in and through my life.

He reminds me I’m not alone but that the same sufferings are experienced by others.  It may be a little different with each one of us, but don’t we all go through our own “stuff”?  

In the book of Hebrews, 12:1-13 it talks about the chastening of the Lord…OUCH!  It doesn’t feel good as we’re going through and honestly sometimes we feel confused, discouraged, depressed, maybe angry or lost and wonder where God has gone; it just doesn’t seem to make sense.  But He’s bringing us into the place of holiness as He strengthens our faith and teaches us to let go of the things that bog us down and to turn from the sin and compromise that traps us and causes us to take our eyes off of Him.   The Lord is teaching us to endure and move forward in Christ, no matter what.  

Though the poem is one I wrote several weeks ago it wasn't until recently as I continued to reflect on some additional Scripture, that the Lord helped me to hear and understand more clearly.  And so, I ask Him to forgive me in every place I have sinned against Him and have compromised, and to set my feet on solid ground.  I thank Him for His release to me in some areas and His continued work in each one of us to perfect and mature.  I'm grateful for the healing that He brings into our lives as we wait on Him, enabling us to walk the straight path He has placed before us and into the higher call of God in Christ Jesus.

  I have learned I’m not immune

From challenges I must face

That cause me to look upward

To gaze upon a face

That loves me beyond measure

That will not let me go

Who speaks to me so sweetly

All of me He knows.

Tenderly God holds me

I will not fall apart

For the Living Word, it echoes

Deep within my heart

A reassuring sound

Reminding me I’m safe

In the arms of Christ, my Savior

No one from me can take.

The promises He’s made me

I trust that they are sure

For His word will stand forever

I’ve walked through the Door.

He steadies me when all seems shaken

So I will not be moved

The temporal is as nothing

But the eternal God has proved

That even in desert places

He is my steady stream
Watering a soul that’s thirsty

In one He’s called redeemed.

His blood is all-sufficient

Coursing through my veins

My confidence is in Christ alone

Who gave me life and saved.

One day I will see Him

But until then I will serve

Willingly, my Master

And pray the lessons learned

Will glorify Christ Jesus

Lifting up the Name

That is above all others

And ushers in His change.

He takes a heart, imperfect

And makes holiness arise

Asking, Father, teach me,

To follow where You guide.

Help me to maintain my focus

Fill my mouth to sing Your praise

Give me grace and Your momentum

This life to You to raise.

Every day, surrendered

Father, fully Yours

To only make Your choices

Where weak, made strong, transformed.

Abiding in Your presence

Set this heart ablaze

Shed light where I've been darkened

Give faith where I’m afraid.

And I lift up my brothers and sisters

Who have troubles of their own

Draw each nearer to Your heart

Make Your presence known.

I remember those around me

Going through difficult times

Hold each one together

Help them, Your heart to find.

Give to each one clarity

Fill them with Your hope

The kind that is enduring

To do more than just to cope. 

But an overcoming spirit

Within them to arise

For the Living Word has spoken

Bringing new life to revive.

Come and touch the lame, Lord

One word from God to heal

All that has been stolen

I pray, restore and reveal

The will of God, most perfect

Stable upon Your path

In the destiny You've chosen

Your hand to firmly grasp.

Held by a grace You have given

The despondent, I ask fill with Your joy

Yielded, bowed before You

Spoiled, every enemy ploy.

I declare Your victory

To those in such great need

The truth of God perfecting

That establishes, strengthens and frees.

Here we are, alive but a sacrifice

Those whom You have proved

I pray You find acceptable

This worship You are due.

We cannot do it alone, Lord

We don't have what it takes

But truth to us You've spoken

And so I know a way You'll make.

 

Scripture Meditation:

1 Peter 5:8-11 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.   Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.  But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.  To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever.  Amen.
Hebrews 12:1-13 - Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.  You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.   And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:  “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.”   If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.  Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect.  Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?  For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.   Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.  Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
Romans 12:1-2 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.   And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.