Arroggance vs Confidence

Often in life we look ahead and ponder what God has in store.  With Him giving me the little book, "Round Eyes" to write, I was so afraid of people thinking I am something I am not.  God gave it, and He knew long ago, when we adopted our son, that there was more to come.
Beth Moore says to 'flee from arrogance, but whatever you do, hold tightly to the confidence you have in Christ'.  In other words, if Christ tells you to do something, it is in Him that you can do it anyway, be confident in it.
The enemy will try to steal your joy and devour the glory for God.  Be aware of those who allow the darkness to use them.
Hebrews 10:35-36 "Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will.  Then you will receive all the He has promised." 
How can God continue to trust us to do anything if we are afraid to move forward with Him?
Be still, listen...what is God telling you to do?  Are you afraid of what someone will say? Are you afraid you are not qualified? Remember, if God is with you, who can be against you?

Be encouraged that He is with you all the way.
Paul said it like this in 1 Cor. 15:10  " Whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out His special favor on me...and not without results.  For I have worked hard than any of the other apostle; yet it was not I but Go who was working through me by His grace. "

Bragging? No! Paul was giving God the glory, honor and praise. SO...I tell you now...Listen and do what He is calling you to do...

Blessings from beyond....

While sitting and thinking about all God has blessed me personally with...I also look around me at my surroundings.  How often do we drive down the road and don't even slow our minds (much less our vehicle) down to look at the mountains or the rivers and creeks we are passing.  I often look up (when hubby is driving) and still look at the clouds as I did as a young girl, thinking about what is beyond. 

Well, "beyond" is actually where the love and blessings come from...Heavenly Places.  God created earth for his children.  Our son recently just built a new house.  We want the best for him and his family, we are proud of their new country home.  I think God is proud of the beauty He has created for us, His children. 

If we just give Him the moment in time to look at the beauty...for us, surely we can saw 'thank You', even in a small whisper. 

Stop what you are doing right now, reading this, and look around you.  You home maybe, your family, whatever you see, be thankful and whisper to Him.  Let Him know you realize He gave them to you.  He loves us so much, we can feel it when we give Him glory.  Give the love back our heavenly Father, who is in Heavenly Places. 

Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”

God sent us a son! Here's the story..."Round Eyes"

It is official! I am now a published author...my book went on sale today at Crossbook.org and Amazon.  God gave me the story, because He gave us a son.. Jamie.  "Round Eyes" is the title of the book. 

The book is a colorful children's book, illustrated by my dear friend Tracey Applewhite Broome, of when we realized Jamie recognized he was different.  Jamie came to us from South Korea through Holt Adoption Agency.  (A Christian adoption agency, same one Dale and Roy Rogers used) 

But, God was the orchestrator of both the adoption and the story.  He so lovingly placed Jamie in our home and now it is a story for the world to read. 

It is once more... God giving to us...and a son.  No, this story ends in laughter and love, not like the sacrifice of the Son of God.  But all in all, it is about His love...we cannot understand how He can be so giving and loving, but we do know that He is all those things.  He is our Father...we are adopted into His family by the blood of Christ and we love Him very much. 

And Jamie, we are so blessed that God sent you to our home to be our son.  We love you very much and are proud of the man of God, husband and father you have become. 

Devestation and Pain vs Peace and Comfort

This week I was speaking with a friend who had just been diagnosed with cancer.  The peace of moving forward with whatever happens is from the Lord.  But, the endurance of the physical pain she is facing is a challenge. 

Also, this week we heard of the Colorado fires on the news, this reminds me of them last year.  We were sent there with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team to give hope in the midst of the burnt ashes.  Then, before we left CO, the Aurora shooting happened.  The pain...in the hearts for those who had lost homes and everything they owned and then the ones who had lost their loved ones or injured at the theater. 

The pain of this world hurts so badly sometimes, we ache physically.  We ask, "How can we make it this time?"  We wonder what the news will be on tv, only to hear more pain.  We live in a world of pain and suffering, disease and death, hurt and loss. 

But in Psalms 23, He promises to be with us in the valley, His rod and staff they will comfort us.  He will be with us, even when we are surrounded by the Enemy, He will take care of us.  Psalms 23 is a scripture I had to memorized in 4th grade, in a public school!  This scripture is still close to my heart, because we can rely on it during good or hard times. 

Yes, we go thru this world, but we are only travelers...we are not home yet!  We also have the best Guide that a traveler can have..Jesus Christ.  Lean on Him and let Him carry you through whatever you are going through. 

Pslam 23 NASB

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want,

He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters.

He restores my soul, He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; 

Your rod and staff comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You have anointed my head with oil, my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the 

Lord forever

Walking in this world....

Wow! A few days ago I was doing my devotional and listening to a man on tv doing a bible study.  I am sorry I do not remember his name, but he was from Arkansas.  Anyway, he was teaching in the book of Jude and went off on a rabbit trail...just for me.  He strayed from Jude to the book of John beginning with chapter thirteen and I will just start with verse 8, where Jesus was going to wash Peter's feet. 

Now, I must admit, if Jesus were to say to me, let me wash your feet, I would be just like Peter and say "No way!"  But, Jesus goes on, when Peter then asked for Him to bathe him, to explain that Peter was already cleansed, but his feet were dirty.

The thoughts that were opened up to me were truly an awakening.....this could clearly be the way we are as spirit and flesh on this earth.   We are forgiven, we have been cleansed (by the washing of our sin, by the blood of Jesus), but we continue to walk in this dusty (sinful) world and our feet (sins) need to be washed everyday. 

Lord, help me to never keep the dust on my feet, but allow you to wash them clean everyday.  Thank you for Who you are and giving of yourself to die for me....to give me the Living Water that washes over me. 

Giving God Glory
gs

Seek Him with All Your Heart

Sometime you just need to take a spell and focus on God.  We are in the middle of the mountains, at the Billy Graham Training Center "The Cove", and His presence has been felt, heard, and seen this week.  I cannot imagine how glorious Heaven will be! 
Jesus took time away from the crowds and separated Himself from the 'needs' to refill His tank (so to speak).  Some of us need to do this more often than sitting in church on Sundays.  We heard Richard Blackaby speak on "Going to the next level with God" and we can only do that when we spend time with Him. 
What are ways we can change our time with Him? Meet Him in a different 'closet' of our lives, meet in His nature, see Him in your daily walks, listen to Him.  We often don't take time to 'listen' to God, only to pour out our requests.  Be Still and know I AM.  He has great and mighty things, beyond anything we could  imagine, for us to see and do...to Glorify Him. 
There are two things God wants from us:
   1. Fellowship (with Him)
   2. Give Him Glory

How can we begin to do those things?  Nudge up closer to the Father, let Him know you are ready to do whatever and wherever He leads you to do.  Be prepared, He may take you on the journey of your life!! But it will be a BLESSED journey!!

Jeremiah 29:13

Give Him Glory!!
GS

Sunhine or storms?

This week we have seen the beauty of God's creation in the Carolinas.  We have seen the mountain tops, the oceans, the valleys.....the sunshine, the storms and even a rainbow. 

This is the way life is as we take our journey.  We cannot be on vacation in our lives and forget Who we serve.  Nor can we always see the mountain tops, the vast oceans or the deep valleys.  We must journey one day at a time, and at the end of each day, there awaits our rainbow....God's promise to us....He will never forsake or forget us....He will be with us each day and in the darkest of night.  He walks with us on the heights of the mountains and the depths of the oceans of life.  I think He even smiles when we serve Him and He knows that the Plan was there all along on the pathway of life, this is when He receives Glory.  I am not sure I even understand His gift to me, that I am all I am made to be....to give Him glory. 
 
But, what I do know is that He loves us so much, when we seek Him, He is there for us.  Our God is a mighty God, Who sent His Son, and now we have the Holy Spirit to guide our ways.  Do we look to Him, do we try to live life ourselves?  Why?  Enjoy life in Him and let Him be glorified!

Giving God Glory!
GS