I want to be caught… March 31, 2008

Today is the first day back to normalcy…spring break for us is over…the staying up too late…sleeping in…doing things other than chores…you know, having fun!  We had a nice break from routine and it was a perfect balance of leisure and accomplishing a few tasks as well.

But I am ready to be back on track…ready to get up earlier again…to tackle the laundry…the clutter…I need some order once again.

Today I also realized that in about 8 weeks…my oldest will graduate from high school…I can’t even put the multitude of feelings that slosh through my being…but it is happening…and I feel a bit overwhelmed by the mere thought.

If you have a moment…will you read what I read this morning…Luke 24: 13-16:

“Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.”

 The New King James and Amplified Versions translate the above verses like this:

“Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.  And they talked together of all these things which had happened.  So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.  But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.”

“And behold, that very day two of [the disciples] were going to a village called Emmaus, [which is] about seven miles from Jerusalem.

    And they were talking with each other about all these things that had occurred.

    And while they were conversing and discussing together, Jesus Himself caught up with them and was already accompanying them.

    But their eyes were held, so that they did not recognize Him.”

This morning, I read the whole account of when Jesus walks with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus…how He teaches the twosome…He breaks bread with them…and finally they recognize Him…He appears to the other disciples…He declares peace to be with them…He allows them to feed Him…He opens their minds…they understand the Word…He is taken up from their view but not before blessing them…how they worship and are filled with great joy…they stay continually at the temple…praising God.

In fact, the Gospel of Luke ends with telling us that the disciples stayed continually at the temple, praising God…that’s what an encounter with the Risen Lord can do…it is accompanied by endless worship…JOY!

Imagine yourself today…burdened by many things…it could be high and lofty things…such as our world condition…so many that do not know our Lord…it could be things of earth…such as finances…disagreements…sin…fear…the future…a house of clutter…

Now picture that you are talking with your friend…maybe you are walking through a park…I hate to say in this day and age…you maybe driving and talking on your cell phone…you are discussing all that has happened…all that gives you pain…all that grieves your heart….and you don’t even realize that as you are talking and sharing the load…that Jesus has joined you…in the three versions it says…Jesus himself came up and walked along with them…Jesus Himself drew near and went with them…Jesus Himself caught up with them and was already accompanying them…

However…in each version, it also says that they did not know Him…recognize Him… or were kept from recognizing Him.  Why don’t we recognize or know Jesus when we see Him?  What can keep us from recognizing Him? 

I want to be caught! 

I want to know my Faithful Friend…I want to share all my cares and concerns with Him…I want to know Him and have eyes to really see Him…I want to allow Him to declare PEACE over my life…I want to be fed by Him…I want to use the gifts that are from Him to feed Him right back…I want Him to teach me…I want Him to open my eyes to His Word…I don’t want to miss His blessings…I don’t want to leave the temple…but remain…abide with complete joy…and full of worship.

I said at the beginning that I am overwhelmed by something that should only fill me with utter joy…I have not seen Jesus…I have been kept from recognizing Him by a multitude of stuff. 

Today I desire to lay down the stuff…that which keeps Jesus out of my line of sight…and ask Him what I am to pick up…what is straw…what is gold…

What keeps you from recognizing Jesus? Have you encountered Him today as you walked down your road?  Did His shoulder brush yours?  Did He lightly move the hair out of your face so you could fully take Him in?  Did your heart burn like the disciples?

Precious ones…He longs to draw near to you…let Him catch you today…won’t you?! 

It’s the ultimate game of tag…our job is to make the finding easy for Him!

The Wondrous Cross… March 20, 2008

 

May this time of reflection and celebration of our Risen Lord bring you joy beyond measure…such grace…such sacrifice…such a Savior!

 I will be taking an Easter break as well as spring break and will be back on Monday March 31st and resume cover to cover…so unless inspiration strikes…I will leave you with is beautiful song…

May God richly bless you with a new revelation of His Presence and love for you…

Helen

 

Cross image: Catholic Communications

New look…great blog…wonderful verses… March 17, 2008

Sorry for all the changes in the look of my blog…I changed a week or so ago because the black background was too dramatic and bringing me down…so I switched to a Granny Smith apple background…which seems more “springy” but I am not real pleased with the type…it seems a bit difficult to see…

 So…let me know if you like this new look…I am going for a real clean simple look…something easy on the eyes…hope you like it..

While you are here…will you drop by Comfort Cafe…I  read a post yesterday called ”Feeling Confined?” that I keep thinking about…Ruth has great insight and I really love what she says about Peter sleeping…are you intrigued…then click away!

Have a blessed day…oh…I am still working on my verses from a week ago…it is a good one as we approach Easter!

“If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.

For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory.”

Colossians 1: 1-4 (AMP)

Join Memory Verse Monday here.

Week 11 March 16, 2008

 This week’s reading:  Numbers 30-36; Deuteronomy 1-11

I have loved reading these past weeks about Moses…I have developed a deep affection for him…I love his humility and to the end he was fighting for the cause of God…for God’s Name to be honored and commands followed and obeyed.  God told Moses that soon he would lay eyes on the promised land and then be gathered together with his ancestors.  How tempting it might be to lessen the intensity of your calling and pursuit?  Time was running out for him and he knew he was not  going to walk into the promised land…but in Numbers 31, Moses rebukes the people for not utterly destroying every Midianite…and Deuteronomy encompasses Moses’ final instructions to the Israelites…I loved that Moses finishes well…and that he humbly accepts the judgment of the Lord for his disobedience.

My attention was grabbed this week by this verse:

“At the LORD’s command Moses recorded the stages in their journey.  This is their journey by stages.” 

Numbers 33: 2

The majority of Numbers 33 records the various stages in their journey.  The common wording is as follows:

“They left_________and camped at________________.” 

Or

“They left the mountains and camped on the plains by the________________.”

Have you recorded the stages in your journey?  How would you fill in the blanks?

I spoke to Carl about this and we were filling in a few of our blanks..when Carl was unexpectedly laid off over 10 years ago, we might have said,

“We left apparent comfort and security and camped in the unknown and fear.”  As Carl found a job we could then say,

“We left the unknown and fear and camped in a place of provision and hope.”  Do you get the idea?  If it was important for God to tell Moses to record the stages of their journey it is equally important for us to record the many stages of our lives. 

In Deuteronomy 1: 3 it says,

“In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses proclaimed to the Israelites all that the Lord had commanded him concerning them.”

There are many stages of our lives…many ups and downs…hills and valleys…mountains and plains…all are important and have value.  It is vital that we remember all of it.  Sometimes it is easy to remember the hard times and camp there…but driving the tent stakes deeply will cut off all the good that God has done in that harsh season.  Make a record of all the stages of your life…then take a look at what God has said and  done in the midst of it….you may be surprised at what you missed or had forgotten…don’t just hang onto the struggle…cling to what the Repairer of Broken Walls has done on your behalf. 

“The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert.  There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.” 

Deuteronomy 1: 30-31

When we take a look at our journeys in segments of time, we get a chance to revisit how God carried us and enabled us to reach the place we reside today and will inhabit in the future….How did we get here you may ask…we got here because our God carried us when we were weak and feeble and perhaps had lost our vision and our way.   

“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live.  Teach them to your children and to their children after them.”

(Deuteronomy 4: 9)

Reflecting on our pilgrimage will help us not forget all the wondrous things that we have seen and  need to be remembered so we can share them with our children and the cycle will continue…bringing hope and awe to the next generations.

“Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created man on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of?  Has any other people heard the voice of God  speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived? Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by miraculous signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes.”

Deuteronomy 4: 32-35

 

“Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below.  There is no other.”

Deuteronomy 4: 39

The very God that created the universe…that brought His children out of captivity in Egypt…who spoke to Moses face to face…who led His people by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night…that accomplished the miraculous…Who laid enemies out flat…this is our God…the same God…the God who is with us every step of the way on our trek…marking the mileposts…adjusting the signposts along the way…working for our good no matter the terrain…

Fill in the blanks…make a record of your journey…recount the Lord’s faithfulness along the way…write it out…declare it within hearing of younger ears…remind those who are hard of hearing…or prone to forget…

     “ Do you not know?
       Have you not heard?
       The LORD is the everlasting God,
       the Creator of the ends of the earth.
       He will not grow tired or weary,
       and his understanding no one can fathom.

       He gives strength to the weary
       and increases the power of the weak.

       Even youths grow tired and weary,
       and young men stumble and fall;

       but those who hope in the LORD
       will renew their strength.
       They will soar on wings like eagles;
       they will run and not grow weary,
       they will walk and not be faint.”

       Isaiah 40: 28-31

Keep your feet firmly on the path and an eye out for how the Lord is going to move!

“For this God is our God for ever and ever;  he will be our guide even to the end.”

Psalm 48: 14

Two dozen of us are committed to reading the Bible cover to cover chronologically this year…won’t you join us…click here to get your marching orders.

Have a blessed week as you recount the journey you have taken with the Lord,

Helen

 

Familiar Ways… March 13, 2008

I’ve always been a Martha…

You know the Martha that swept the floor, baked a cake and set the table complete with place cards all at the same time…and got a bit crabby at a certain floor dweller.

Despite dreams of living a cloistered life as a young girl, I have not often been characterized as a Mary.

The  last few years, I have wanted to be Mary…needed and longed to be Mary…wanting to rise above what I perceived as urgent to run and linger at what is vital…life giving…life changing…eternal…to sit at His feet and allow all the cares of this world to cease to matter…no longer existing in His presence.

My beloved parents came to visit for a quick overnight stay..and I slipped into the familiar…I am not sure I even blinked…I became the Helen that swept, vacuumed, dusted, rearranged and fluffing pillows all at the same time…until I fell into my bed exhausted…not before being a bit crabby.

There was a flash…a moment…where I whispered to myself…how did you get to this place…again…and I did lay some tasks aside…but not everything…

I also became the Helen that did not get up the next morning to meet with her Savior…the Helen that needed a nap when the all too soon goodbyes came.

Would my parents’ love for me diminish if they tripped over toy cars and laundry as they crossed my threshold…I can confidently say no…in fact, they would probably start folding and find the nearest toy box.

Does my Heavenly Father’s love and affection for me rise and fall on the basis of how presentable my house is?  No…I believe He would much rather me to present my heart…my mind…my life to Him…

The people in my life need more of me and less of the stuff that I think makes me worthy to be loved…Jesus needs just me…as easily as I can type that and  know it to be true…my ingrained beliefs seem to outscream the truth.

Today I surrender the comfort of the familiar to embrace the new frontier of abandonment to Jesus.  I am so weary of me…weary of my attempts to be proven acceptable…today I choose to believe what He says instead…Jesus loved Mary and Martha both…there may always be a bit of Martha in me but I want Mary to reside in me as well…balance…sweet balance.

Martha…you have helped me get a lot of things done…but Mary…help me to be undone…

“As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. “Master, don’t you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand.”

The Master said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.”

Luke 10: 38-42 (MSG)

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”

Romans 12: 1-2 (MSG)

8 in 2008 Update… March 10, 2008

 

You can read my original 8 in 2008 post with more in depth explanations here.

I forgot to post this on the 8th as I was out of town…but here is my update:

1.  Read the Bible Cover to Cover Chronologically-I am going strong and with the addition of writing a weekly post it has deepened my reading experience…the bonus is that I will have a written record of what God has revealed this year in His Word and in me.

2.  Celebrate with my husband our belated 20th anniversary-I should probably clarify…we definitely celebrated and marked the occasion but the plans we had were cancelled due to my father’s sudden illness…the greatest blessing was that God spared him and gave us a miracle.  I am really tempted to take this goal off my list because I feel like I won’t have any progress on it until much later in the year…but God is showing me that I am not supposed to “scratch” this one off the list and trust that it will be accomplished…not sure how but I am believing.

3.  Eat lunch everyday-I have done much better in this area…I am more mindful to stop and eat a healthy lunch…it sounds so silly to make my 4 year old lunch and go without myself but it has been my reality…I am trying to sit down and not be rushing around doing chores.

4.  Complete the Chronicles of Narnia with Carl-still reading!

5.  Tell my testimony to someone who doesn’t know the Lord-this goal was met last month and of course will be ongoing…so I am copying Elisa and will be praying on the 8th of each month for 8 people to come to Jesus!

6.  Hike through 3 waterfalls areas here in Oregon and/or go snowshoeing-Well, x-rays results last week, revealed mild arthritis in my painful knees…oh the aging process…I will begin to slowly start walking again this week and hope that by summer time I will be up to tackling the waterfalls.  Actually this diagnosis may actually be a positive push in the right direction to not only keep exercising but stretch, strengthen and lose some of my fluff to help my knees out a bit…at least that is how I am choosing to see it.

7.  Be an active member of the 6:15 club-It is happening but closer to 6:30…but it is happening and that is a good thing!

8.  Edit my favorite posts and see where God takes them-It is very easy to push this one aside as I have some pressing projects and tasks that have an actual deadline but I know it is important as I have had a few nudges from unexpected places…my goal for next time is that I will do one a week…so I should have 4 done by April 8th.

You can still join in 8 in 2008…click here and here to learn more. I try to visit all the sites and read their 8…I must say I always come away inspired and encouraged…plus I want to steal all their goals… What goals are you working on for this year…and how are you doing?  I’d love to hear them…feel free to leave a comment and share!  No goals?  Pick one today or remind yourself of something you abandoned long ago…this year just may be the year that it is accomplished…dream big!

Be blessed,

Helen

Week 10-Words…Words…Words… March 9, 2008

This week’s reading: Numbers 11-29

This week in the Word was filled with words…words that brought pain…words that brought hope and life.

Numbers 11:

• The people complain about their hardships in God’s hearing…He consumes some of the outskirt of the camp.
• The people cry out to Moses and Moses intercedes on their behalf and God’s fire subsides.
• The people begin to crave other foods and begin to wail causing God to be exceedingly angry and Moses becomes troubled.
• Moses vents to God about needing help because of all the people’s gripes.
• God speaks words of encouragement to Moses and provides him with helpers.
• God tells the people to consecrate themselves for tomorrow they will eat meat…and eat and eat and eat.
• Seventy elders are anointed with the Spirit and prophesied…two men are not even present and they receive the Spirit and prophesied.

Numbers 12:

• Miriam and Aaron talk against Moses and his Cushite wife.
• God hears Miriam and Aaron and tells them to come to the Tent of Meeting and He comes down in a pillar of a cloud and he says, “Listen to my words:  “When a prophet of the LORD is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions; I speak to him in dreams.  But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house.  With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD .  Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” (12: 6-8)

Numbers 13:

• The Lord said to Moses, “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites.”
• 10 spies said essentially “we can’t  take this land…it’s too hard and the people are too big…just look at the fruit.”  They began to spread a bad report about the land.
• 2 spies by the names of Caleb and Joshua disagreed, silenced the people and say, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” (13: 30)

Numbers 14:

• All the people raise their voices and wept aloud…all the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron.
• Moses and Aaron fall face-down in front of the assembly…Joshua and Caleb tear their clothes and say, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.  If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us.  Only do not rebel against the LORD.  And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up.  Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us.  Do not be afraid of them.”  (14: 6-9)
• “But the whole assembly talked about stoning them.” (14:10)
• The glory of the Lord appeared…
• God’s patience has worn thin with the Israelites…Moses intercedes again…reminding God of His promises and His character…God relents but not without punishment to the Israelites…with the exception of Caleb and Joshua.
• God gives the Israelites what they have asked for…they will die before they enter the land He has promised them.
• The ten men that grumbled and spread a bad report are struck down and die of a plague before the LORD.
• Moses shares the above event and the people mourn bitterly.
• The Israelites get up the next morning and repent to Moses and decide that now they want to go into the land.
• Moses asks them why they are disobeying God and tells them that they will not succeed because the LORD is not with them because of their disobedience.
• The people ignore Moses and are not successful in their attempt to overtake the land.

Numbers 16:

• Korah, Dathan and Abiram become insolent and rise up against Moses…they grab 250 others and speak harshly against Moses and Aaron’s leadership.
• The LORD means business and says to Moses and Aaron, “Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.”  (16: 20, 21)
• Moses and Aaron fall face-down and cry out, “O God, God of the spirits of all mankind, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?”
• God tells Moses to have the assembly move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.
• Moses instructs the assembly and tells them what is to happen…”and as soon as he finishes saying all of  this…the ground under them split apart and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their whole households and all Korah’s men and all their possessions.  They went down alive into the grave, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community.” (16: 31-33)
• The people grumble.
• The  Lord says to Moses, “Get away from the assembly so I can put an end to them at once.” (16: 45)
• Moses and Aaron hurry to make atonement for the people…Aaron literally stands between the dead and the living and the plague stops…but not before 14, 700 people perished.

Numbers 2o:

• Miriam dies and the people begin to grumble for water…they quarrel with Moses.
• The LORD gives specific instructions to Moses and Aaron about how to address the people and their need.
• Moses has been instructed to speak to the rock but Moses yells at the people and strikes the rock twice.
• The Lord says to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”  (20: 12)
• Aaron dies on top of the mountain after his garments are put on his son Eleazar…the entire community mourned for him for 30 days.  (20: 27-29)

Numbers 21:

• On their further travels, the Israelites grow impatient and speak against God and against Moses.
• God sends venomous snakes among the people.

Numbers 22-24:

• God uses a donkey to speak to Balaam to open up his eyes.
• Balaam prophesies to Balak 5 times and each time Balak rejects the word.

Numbers 27:

• The daughters of Zelophehehad ask to receive a share in the inheritance due their father that was killed as a result of Korah’s punishment but who was not apart of the uprising.
• God answers and says yes.
• God says to Moses, “Go up this mountain in the Abarim range and see the land I have given the Israelites.  After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was…”  (27: 12-13) 

As I type out all the ways words were spoken during this time depicted in the book of Numbers…I am humbled by the words that I allow at times to be uttered from my mouth…this week leaves me with many questions…perhaps you share them as well: 

• Don’t I realize that He hears every word? 
• How often do I criticize others? 
• Do I continue to complain about my hardships? 
• Do I crave for more…desiring something different than what the Lord has provided? 
• Do I take for granted His provision? 
• Do I take my venting to the Lord and let Him intervene…an example  seen so often in the psalms. 
• Do I speak behind others people’s backs?
• Do I question those in authority? 
• Do I take God at His Word…believing His promises for me…despite how impossible they appear?
• Do I speak words of faith and trust that encourages or words of fear that will cause others to fall into disbelief?
• Do I intercede for those that rise up against me?
• Am I careful to obey God’s Word?
• Will I ask God for what I need and desire?
• Do I believe that He so often says yes?
• Can I walk humbly before my God when I realize the consequences of my sin?

It has always been difficult for me to read that Moses and Aaron would not enter the Promised Land.  God is holy and He is true to His Word (Numbers 23: 19)…how tender that the Lord allowed his eyes to behold the sight…and I read a few weeks ago about Moses final moments and it brought me to tears at the sweetness of our Father…

There is so much to ponder and pray about from this past week of reading…now let us remember the words in James:

“My dear brothers, take note of this:  Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.  Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.  Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does.  If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.  “

James 1: 19-26

Thanks so much for journeying through this week with me…until next week…join other here and please pray for Bev, our fearless leader…she broken her big toe this past weekend…and as the tongue is small but mighty…toes are small but have a big impact on the body…she would appreciate your prayers!

And they said it couldn’t be done… March 7, 2008

Alright…I know this picture looks a bit goofy…if you have read my 100 things…which commemorated my 100th post…then you may have stumbled onto the fact that I have had a struggle with consistently hard boiling an egg!  I was so relieved that my friend Susan has this challenge as well…so just when I thought that we might need to begin a support group…I got the notion to make potato salad today and of course needed a couple of hard boiled eggs…I took a deep breath…pulled out the Fanny Farmer and carefully followed the instructions with the exception of poking a hole in the top of the egg….

Courtney and I were silent as I cut the egg open and it revealed such a nice shade of sunshiny yellow…hooray!

 Funny the small thing assigned today at Home Sanctuary was to do some thing “bad”…you will have to click here to see what that means…I thought that I would boil my eggs badly but I ended up doing them well!

What is something that seems so trivial yet you  just can’t seem to  master…I’d love to hear!

I think my potato salad is going to taste extra good tonight!

Daily Light… March 7, 2008

 

Your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is His name.

This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

You shall no longer be termed Forsaken,…but you shall be called Hephzibah [My Delight in Her],…for the LORD delights in you.  As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.~ He has sent Me…to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,…as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in loving-kindness and mercy.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

ISA. 54: 5; Eph, 5: 32; Isa. 62: 4-5; Isa. 61: 10; Hos. 2: 19; Rom. 8: 35

***From Daily Light Morning Reading for March 7

Have a blessed day and weekend…take some time to reflect on Your Maker…who loves you…delights in you…rejoices over you.

I will be traveling this weekend…so until Monday…get some extra rest as we anticipate losing an hour…

Helen

Bubbling over to gain things above… March 4, 2008

Last week’s verse continued to give me such a lift…in fact, I may forever term it as one of those little verses that could!

As a reminder:

“May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.”

Romans 15: 13 (AMP)

Hey great…that was without looking!  Don’t you love how Paul says…the God of our hope and because of this hope that we are filled with joy and peace!  The part of the verse that I really loved is that “in believing” which is through the experience of our faith…a faith that is comprised of all the ups and downs of life…because of God we can live a life that is described as abounding…overflowing…bubbling over with hope all through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Doesn’t it just make you want to skip down the street?  Who doesn’t want to live a life that is described as overflowing…The God of our hope fills us up with Himself so that we can walk a faith life that is bubbling over with hope!

I want to live a life that God can fill to overflowing…so I want to clear out that which would not allow Him room…

I have felt the wrinkles of discontentment seeping into my life lately…my couch is so old…I need to paint…I don’t have enough time…why does everything cost so much…oh, I like that________better than my_______…

So in order to make room for His endless supply, allowing the overflow to bubble over to those around me… I want to focus on these verses:

“If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.

For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory.”

Colossians 1: 1-4 (AMP)

Find Memory Verse Monday here.

Oh…a little postscript…this may just be me and the way that I think…and if so, then just sigh and pray for me…

It tickled me when I read last week…”May the God of your hope SO fill you…”

It reminded me of how it is very common today for people to say…

“Oh, I am SO going to see that movie…”  or

“I SO love that cake…”

I haven’t always felt that was proper grammar and I haven’t investigated whether it is or not…it is said that there is nothing new under the sun…so regardless….I so love that verse!