A Living and Breathing Word

I read, or at least try to read, daily from The One Year Bible. This year I am reading it in the New Living Translation. Personally I have no particular translation loyalties. I do think that certain versions are probably a little more accurate than others....but that is not what this post is about.

What this post is about is that I am so in awe of how the Word of God, from Old Testament through the New Testament is just about God reaching out to us poor sinners. In reading an Old Testament passage juxtapositioned with a New Testament passage everyday it just becomes so clear.

My readings today came from Joshua 3:1 thru 4:24, Luke14:7-35, Psalm 80:1-19 and Proverbs 12:27-28 (yes, for those of you out there who follow along diligently according to the date, I don't...I'm in April...but that's another post).

The Joshua passage is about the people of Israel passing through the Jordan into the Promised Land, the Luke passage is Jesus talking about our priorities and where they ought to lie, the Psalm is a plea for God to show mercy on a sinful nation and Proverb is a comparison between the godly and the lazy. Here are a few verses I highlighted.

Then Joshua told the people, "Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do great wonders among you."J.3:5

Today you will know that the living God is among you. J.3:10

...the Lord of all the earth. J.3:13

He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the LORD's hand is powerful, and so you might fear the LORD your God forever. J.4:24

For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. L.14:11

But don't begin until you count the cost. L.14:28

Salt is good for seasoning But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand! L.14:34

Turn us again to yourself, O God of Heaven's Armies. Make Your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved. Ps.80:7

Come back, we beg you, O God of Heaven's Armies. Look down from heaven and see our plight. Ps.80:14

The way of the godly leads to life; that path does not lead to death. Pr.12:28

I have only done this sort of thing, where I take the verses that popped out at me and wrote them down together, one other time. I was amazed then and I am amazed now at how God can speak to me in this way....I know I probably shouldn't be, but I am.

God's Word is living and breathing and it is consistent. For those who claim there are contradictions...well I beg to differ. Yes, there are things that are hard to understand. But if I served a God who I could completely understand then he would be no god worth serving. My mind is finite, His is infinite. His ways are not my ways.

What an awesome God I serve.

Fixing

I am frequently plagued by worry and anxiety. It seems to be my thorn in the flesh. In fact there are times when I feel worried and anxious and I can not pin point what it is I'm worried and anxious about. (This, I think, is related to hormones.) There are other times though that I know all too well what it is I'm stewing over. I prefer these times because then I can easily pick up that worry and hand it over to Jesus.

I sometimes take it back...but He is gracious and always lets me hand it over again.

When I can't pin point the source of my worry I'm learning to just look and fix my eyes on Jesus.

Hebrews 12:2a says, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus..." in some ways nothing more need be said. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus...and as the song goes "look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace."

All the things of this world that occupy so much of my time and attention, all those things important for carrying on life in this world are put in their proper place when my eyes are on Jesus. They are temporary, fleeting, but a vapor in comparison with the eternity I will live in and with Jesus.

When I fix my eyes on Jesus and things get put in their proper place there is no place for worry or anxiety and His peace that passes understanding floods in.

Fix, look deep into, focus alone upon Jesus. "....the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." ~Hebrews 12:2b-3

Where To Start

Heth over at From Under The Laundry Pile was mentioning that, when Spring finally bursts out in all its glory, she is hard pressed to stay inside and do inside house chores. I feel much the same way. The warm sun, the smell of rich, moist earth, are like a sirens song, strong and sweet, wooing me to them.



Yesterday I succumbed to that sweet song and began a project that I've been longing to get done since the day we moved into this house four years ago. The weather was perfect, not too hot and not too cool. I even have a tan line arm on my arms. (Note to self: wear sleeveless blouse next time!)



I'm not going to go into too much detail about the project. Basically I've been wanting to reclaim a planting bed from the over grown lawn. It involves digging up sod that's been there for who knows how long, judging from my aching muscles I'd say it's been a. long. while. On the flip side though, the sod is great for my newly established compost pile!



Anyway!....I digress...my point about all of this is that, even though I was enjoying myself outdoors and getting a lot done, I kept thinking about things like laundry, sweeping, vacuuming, dinner, messy bedrooms and dusting. (Not dishes though! I've managed to keep up with the dishes!)



I also kept thinking about all the little projects I need to get done around the house this summer like, painting, reorganizing cupboards, shampooing carpets, reorganizing Daughter's room and preparing for next school year.



Then my thoughts turned to all the projects that need to done on the outside of the house. Painting, building a chicken coop (yep, we changed our minds about that), gardening, stacking wood, etc., etc., etc. I should mention that I do not have to do all this alone, but as keeper of the home I do feel it is my duty to keep things moving along.



Oh where to begin, where to begin, where to begin?



How do I get it all done?



Can I get it all done?



I hadn't really prayed about all this except to send up a quick prayer asking the Lord how I was going to get it all done.



Then this morning I read Heth's blog and was encouraged that I'm not the only one who faces such conundrums.



Finally, the Lord spoke directly and specifically in my morning Bible reading:

Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.

~Proverbs 24:27 (NIV)



That was pretty straight forward... and I was once again in awe of my Lord. He cares so deeply about every aspect of our lives. He cares that I need help in organizing my life and He is faithful to answer when I ask for help. I've probably read that passage more than once or twice in my life and thought nothing of it, but today it was specifically for me.



Wow.

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Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it." Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.

~Isaiah 30:21 (NKJV)

Because a Chicken is a Wondrous Thing....

I needed to post something fun because...well...all I've got running around in my brain right now are these really serious subjects having to do with truth, freedom of speech and Ben Stein. That and we are seriously thinking of adding chickens to our way of life.

We were sitting at supper last evening when Husband says, "I really want to keep chickens!"

"Okay!" says I.

"Oh yes Daddy! Please!" says Daughter.

"WHAT?!?!?!" says Son. His main concern was that this would in some way mean more work for him. Which indeed it very well may. He needs more work. He needs to know that work is good. But that's another post.

After supper Husband started surfing the web about chickens. WOW. There is a. lot. of information out there. We found a couple of sites that were interesting. Even if you never want to keep chickens you ought to check these out. The site we actually bookmarked was Keeping Chickens In Your Backyard. We signed up for the newsletter and also received a free on-line book about getting your chickens to lay 200 eggs a day.

I don't really want my chickens to lay 200 eggs a day. But hey...it was free!

I should mention that we live within city limits. From what we've heard from others we can keep four chickens without a rooster. They, of course, would be "pets" and if one happens to die and end up on our dinner table...well...you know... it gave it's life for a good cause.

Well, that's my post on chickens. Don't be surprised if there are more to come.

Because a chicken is a wondrous thing.

The End of My Winter Reading

The Winter Reading Challenge over at A Joyful Heart is almost over. She extended it another week because of her own busy schedule and I was grateful because this is the first chance I've had to sit down and write any sort of post.

I feel I did pretty well on my list. Some other books crept in and since I have a tendency to have more than one book going at a time there are a couple on my list still unfinished. I think I've started them all but there are some that still have a chapter or two waiting to be read.

So here below are the books I planned to read with some brief thoughts on their content, enjoyability and/or usefulness.

Passionate Housewives Desperate For God - I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was challenged by it's call to selflessness and servanthood. I wrote a whole post about it here. This is a book I will be definitely picking up again in order to spur me on toward being that Titus 2 woman I really want to be.

The Hermit of Eyton Forest (A Brother Cadfael Mystery) - I must admit to enjoying a good mystery novel. Sit me down in a cozy chair with a steaming mug of coffee and a cozy mystery novel and why, it's sheer bliss. I enjoy this particular series because it is also historical. (Although I don't particularly enjoy historical novels, just ask my Mom. She's been trying to get me to read them for years!) The author, Ellis Peters, writes not only a great mystery but includes insights into the social structure of Medieval England and the civil war that existed at that time in history. (The 1100's.)

The Mysterious Disappearance of Leon (I Mean Noel) - This book is in the "juvenile" section of our library. I picked it up because I had so enjoyed The Westing Game by the same author (Ellen Raskin). They are both labeled mysteries but what they really are are elaborate word puzzles. A great, fun and challenging read.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - I missed this one as a kid. Probably because I saw the movie first which, of course, it bears little resemblance to. (This is why Son can not see the Lord of the Rings trilogy uneil he's read the books.) Even so, I found the book just as delightful as the movie. This was a read-aloud and my kids hated to have me put it down. That's a pretty good vote in favor of it, I think.

Black Ships Before Troy - We are about halfway through this one. It is also a read-aloud. Son is enjoying every minute it. Daughter, at six years old, not so much. This retelling of the Iliad by Homer is quite engaging and readable. (Where, I would like to know, was it when I was slogging through the original in Humanities 101 twenty some years ago?) We actually read the Aenead for Boys and Girls just before this. A little out of order I know. Don't worry, I keep reminding the kids this is the prequil to that.

Archimedes and the Door of Science - WOW! You could do a whole semester of science using this book. We haven't finished it yet but even when it gets a little abstract in talking about geometry the kids have enjoyed it. Each chapter explains in an understandable way just what Archimedes discoveries were and how important they are to us today. I highly recommend this book!

HTML, XHTML & CSS: Visual Quickstart Guide - After the first few chapters this is really a "how to" book. I am not finshed with it yet. It's one of those books that, for myself at least, I need to read and do. I haven't had a lot of time to practice "doing", hence the reading isn't happening either. However, what I've read so far is clear and easy to understand.

Age of Opportunity - This is a must have, must get, must, must use parenting book for parents of pre-teens and teens. Paul David Tripp is the brother of Tedd Tripp who wrote Shepherding A Child's Heart. They must have had some awesome parents. I've been telling friends that Paul's book is the sequel to Tedd's book. It is insightful, convicting and practical. For a more indepth review, check out this over at Amazon.

The Borrower's - I love this book. I loved it as a child and I loved reading it to my children. This was another one they would have been happy if I would have just read it straight through. My daughter spent days looking around our 1970's ranch-style house in search of holes where a Borrower might live. (It's a slab foundation and no holes were forthcoming.) She's now been checking for evidence outside. This is another one I recommend.

The One-Year Bible - Well, what can you say about the most awesome book of all time. I try to read through the Bible using this format every year. I don't follow the January to December format exactly. I usually get back to Genesis sometime in August. So, I've been at it this time since last August. I just finished up Esther in the Old Testament and did you know that the Jews celebrate Purim tomorrow!? God is so awesome in how He arranges our lives. I, of course, am not Jewish and don't celebrate Purim but it was neat to look at the calendar and know what that holiday was that was listed there.

Well, there it is. My winter reading list. So I think having completed five out of nine books is pretty good. Especially when a few were read-alouds to my kids. (Giggle) I would tell you what is on tap for the spring but there is another reading challenge over at Callapidder Days and that means a different post. I hope you enjoyed this and will maybe pick up some of these books!

A Winter Challenge

I usually stumble on things.


I'm not just talking about my own feet here. I mean I'm kind of one of those people who have a tendency not to notice something until I trip over it. Whether that is my own feet or less literally, great ideas and opportunities.

So last Wednesday I was wondering around the Works For Me postings at Rocks in My Dryer and I happened upon a lovely blog called A Joyful Heart . Don't you just love the name...A Joyful Heart. Anyway I love it and it made me want to stay and see what all she had going on over there. Of course one of the first things I noticed was the banner you see here. Winter Reading Challenge.

Now, I have to back track a little here because I need to explain that I not only "stumble" a lot, but I'm also a little slow to catch on sometimes.

When I encountered my first bloggy carnival I was, um, kind of confused. A carnival? On a blog? Where's the ferris wheel? Where's the cotton candy? Where's the sideshow? Then, after "stumbling around" a bit, I got it. It's a gathering. A place to meet others and exchange ideas, encouragement, recipes or ...well anyway....I got it.

So last Fall, as I stumbled around the bloggy world, I noticed at a few blogs there were people participating in a reading challenge. Huh? Didn't get it and moved on.

Then, as I said before, last Wednesday I wandered over to A Joyful Heart and the light bulb went on! I got it. A "carnival" of sorts to challenge myself in my reading, be sort of accountable and also find some great books.

And I've needed some challenging of late. Oh, I've been reading, but it's been mostly fluff. Not that there's anything wrong with that but, just like cotton candy, it's not very filling and you find yourself craving more.

So I made a decision to find some more nourishing fare. And here is what I decided on. Some I have already started. And a couple I'll be reading to my kids. Here it is, my Winter Reading List:

The Hermit of Eyton Forest by Ellis Peters (because I like a good medeivel mystery)

The Borrowers by Mary Norton (this one is for the kiddos)

HTML,XHTML & CSS by Elizabeth Castro (because I'm determined to understand how all this web stuff works and how I can make it work)

The Mysterious Disappearance of Leon(I mean Noel) by Ellen Raskin (I loved The Westing Game by the same author)

Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming (I've only ever seen the movie and I wanted to read it to the kids too)

(Not pictured and on order from Amazon):

Black Ships Before Troy by Rosemary Sutcliff (Homer's Illiad for kids; it has 5 - star reviews over at Amazon)

Archimedes and the Door of Science by Jeanne Bendick (this is another one to read to the kids)

(Also on order from Amazon and for ... ahem... growth and developement purposes):

Passionate Housewives Desperate for God by Jennie Chancey and Stacy McDonald (I can hardly wait for this one to come, I've read sooo many good recommendations)

Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens 2nd Edition by Paul David Tripp (this one is because in about eleven months we will have an official teenager living in our house)

The One-Year Bible by God (I have been reading this since last August so this is a more of a just keep going read)

There it is, what I am going to try and read between now and March 17th. With the weather being what it is in my part of the world that really shouldn't be too hard because it looks like this:

And if I'm lucky and it stops looking so snowy on our roof I'll also have a nice wood stove to sit by while I read. (The man can't put the wood stove in until the snow melts off our roof.) In the meantime I'll curl up underneath my electric blanket and read away the cold winter evenings!

Blips On My Radar Screen

I have a confession to make. My life is not perfect.

That probably doesn't come as any big surprise, few, if any of us lead perfect lives. (And if you do, I really don't want to hear about it.)

I've alluded to the fact in past posts that this year has been one that could safely be characterized as a bit of an on-going trial. The trial, in and of itself is not horrendous. There was no awful event that set it off. It has been more in the nature of small events (barely blips on the radar screen of life) that are challenging me to walk faithfully in the footsteps of my Lord. Events that ask me if I trust Him to work things out for the best.

So, that is the big question. Do I trust my Savior? The One who created me, bled and died for me, forgives me and loves me unconditionally?

Well , when I ask myself the question like that (and I frequently do), the answer is yes. But if I just stare at the circumstance in front of me, instead of being the mole hill that it is, it becomes a huge mountain and it's easy to think, "no."

I am a big picture sort of gal. I like to know all that is going on. I like to know what my destination is. I like to anticipate pitfalls that I might trip over, mountains that might require extra equipment. But sometimes that is not what God gives me. He doesn't always give me the big picture. He just shows me the next step and tells me, "Don't worry, I can see the big picture and that is all that is necessary." So it comes down to trust. Do I trust my Savior?

Yes.

Even when I get overwhelmed by my immediate mole hill. Even when I don't know the big picture. Because I serve a big God. A God who loves me and is more than worthy of all my trust, love, honor, devotion and praise. And He cares about the blips on my radar screen.

Christmas Focus

The turkey is nearly forgotten but the fellowship with family still lingers in the air. My Christmas tree is up and decorated as is the rest of the house. I really had no intention of getting my decorating done this early but Husband gently and wisely nudged me to do it.

There is still shopping to do but I think I am going to try and do most of it on-line and since the budget is very tight this year there really isn't much to do.

I'm debating about whether to send cards or not. I hope I don't sound scroogy. I have noticed in the past few years that we don't receive as many as we used to. I did a little mental math the other day and figured if I made my own postcards, for forty or fifty cards it is still around forty dollars. I can reduce that by recycling old cards but postage still makes it a chunk of change. Sigh. It's not like I don't want to send cards, it's just an expense I'm not sure we should incure this year. Would you be offended at not receiving a card from a friend or relative one year?

I will do a little holiday baking this year but I am not going overboard as I have done in past years. I will make a double batch of bonbons I've become famous with friends and family for and a batch of sugar cut-outs for the kiddos to decorate but that's where that ends.

Are you noticing a theme in my holiday to-do list? I'm downsizing. There have been years when I have practically killed myself trying to do every little holiday tradition ever thought of. And you know what? It didn't make for a very merry or a very meaningful Christmas. I was left feeling empty and exhausted and a little grinchy.

This year my goal is simplicity and a focus on the Savior. It's easy to give lip service to Him this time of year by saying things like, "Jesus is the reason for the season," or "Let's remember He is the true meaning of Christmas," and then go kill ourselves trying to make Christmas look and feel like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting.

Don't misunderstand me. I love having all my decorations out and listening to Christmas carols until my kids scream for something else or Husband just changes every CD in the stereo himself. I watch White Christmas, It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story not to mention all the Rankin/Bass Christmas specials and A Charlie Brown Christmas every year without fail. But they are distractions. They distract from Jesus.

It is my desire and goal this season to reflect daily on the priceless gift of my Heavenly Father daily. To reflect on how much He loves this world in spite of all the ugliness and sin that pervade it. He loves it so much He sent His one and only Son to live here among us, as one of us. Jesus knows what it is like to be hungry, frustrated, tired, angry, and happy. He lived as one of us yet did it perfectly. And then gave His life to cover all our sin and imperfection. He came to earth with that goal in mind. To save us from sin and ourselves.

That is where I am at this Christmas season. I'm trying to keep it simple. I'm downsizing. I'm focusing on Jesus.

Just Go With It

I would like to say thank you to our Veterans out there who have given their time and their lives so that I can enjoy freedom of speech, freedom to worship as I choose, freedom to educate my children as my husband and I see fit and the miriad of other freedoms that we all too often take for granted but were fought for with a price.

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So I had this blog all thought out about how my son is getting older and it's all happening so fast, etc., etc. Maybe I'll blog about it soon but as nothing, and I mean nothing, in my day has gone according to plan I thought I would just go with it. God has shown me something very important today, actually a couple of things.

1 - "We make our plans and God laughs." I don't think He laughs maliciously, I imagine it as more of a loving chuckle. A chuckle and then He says, "Yes dear one, I know that's what you want to do today but I need this to happen today to teach you, to show you I love you, so that you can show someone else love so that I can grow you up and closer to Me and My image."

2 - Prayer should be the first move not the only option left. Of all the scripture I read this morning this is the verse that hit home for me today, "I tested you at the waters of Meribah." (Psalm 81:7b NIV) I had to go back and look up what happened at Meribah. It was the one of the first times the Israelites complained to God about being brought out into the desert to die because there was no water for the people. Moses went to God about what to do and God told Moses to strike the rock and water would flow. (Exodus 17:1 -7)

My notes in my Bible for this portion of scripture say this, "Again the people compained about their problem instead of praying. Some problems can be solved by careful thought or by rearranging our priorities. Some can be solved by discussion and good counsel. But some problems can be solved only by prayer. We should make a determined effort to pray when we feel like complaining, because complaining only raises our level of stress. Prayer quiets our thoughts and emotions and prepares us to listen."*

3 - We need to have our brothers and sisters in Christ to help carry our burdens. "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2) I'm so thankful for my sister in Christ that God sent to my house today to help me bear a burden and then take it to the Lord in prayer.

I'm so thankful for today, for the way God changed it and brought blessing and fulfillment to me. Sometimes it's good to just "go with it".

*I use the Life Application Bible, New King James Version, Tyndale House Publishers (c) 1996

Priorities

Yet I am always with You; You hold me by me right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from You will perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all Your deeds.

Psalm 73:23-28

I like blogging. I mean I really enjoy reading all the neat blogs out there AND writing my own. BUT, I've been putting it before my time with God. I don't sense that God is telling me to quit blogging...just that I need to put Him first. The first fruits of my day need to go to Him, then I can blog later in my day.

This will require some discipline on my part. Lately, the first thing I do is make the coffee then head over to the computer to check my e-mail and my blogs. What I intend to just spend a few minutes on ends up taking an hour or more. By then the kids are up and it's time to get dressed and start our school day. Result...no time with my Lord.

But He has been so gentle with me. He just keeps gently leading me to scripture and using a friend to remind me that my time with Him needs to come first.

Honestly, unless I have time with Him each day I am not a very patient or gracious person. I'm far too apt to let the little things get to me and before I know it I'm yelling at the kids and kicking the dog. ( Okay, for you animal lovers out there, I don't really kick the dog.)

So this morning, I stayed away from the computer, had breakfast and did my devotions first. It is my desire to do this every morning. It will require prayer and discipline to do it. My desire is for Him and I long to obey His call.

The Real Life

If you read my last post you will know that I made a list of things I hope to accomplish this summer. The first item on my list is daily devotion to the Lord. I referenced I Timothy 4:7b-8, which says, "...and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come."

I like the term Paul uses in this verse, exercise. We need to exercise ourselves toward godliness, it doesn't just happen. We need to exercise toward it. It isn't something you get all at once, we have to move toward it.

Paul goes on in verse eight and points out that, "bodily exercise profits a little". From my own personal experience I'd say Paul hit the nail on the head when he said that. The older I get, the harder I have to work to sort of maintain this earthly tent.

A few years ago I joined a women's fitness club with the intention of losing a few pounds and getting in shape. I was pre-forty at the time and with discipline and diligence I did manage to do just that. I really enjoyed that club (it was not a franchise of the one you hear so much about) and I looked forward to maintaining my fitness level at this club. Then, the owner sold and the new owner wasn't able to keep the club open. I was bummed out and didn't really want to go anywhere else to maintain. Within a few months everything that I had worked so hard for went south (literally). So I went ahead and joined the nationally known women's fitness club. Now I'm post-forty and I need to work even harder to get back to where I was. Bodily exercise isn't something you do once and wha-la you're done, it's something that you have to keep at and as you get older it seems to take a little more effort.

The question I ask myself though is how much does all that bodily exercise really profit me in the long run. I may get a couple of extra years to live but I have no control over that. It's in the Lord's hands anyway. Okay, my clothes do fit better and my physical quality of life is maybe better than most. But statistics show that 10 out of 10 people eventually meet their demise. If that's the case then the really important things I need to be concerned about is where I'm moving to when I do meet my demise and how am I doing in knowing the Lord while I'm still here.

Paul tells us that "godliness is profitable for all things." It is profitable in how I think, in what I choose to spend my time on, in my relationships with others and particularly my relationships with my husband and family. It is profitable in how I spend money, in how I serve the body of believers and in what I choose to read and watch. The list goes on and on. Godliness has the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. Life now and life to come hold promise when we exercise ourselves toward godliness. I think it is because when we are exercising toward godliness we are building our relationship with the God who saves us. We are learning daily more and more about Him, who He is and how much He loves us. When you know the author of life then the life He authored (yours and mine) holds promise. Promise of deep down joy that does not disappoint. Promise of peace that passes understanding especially in the midst of trial. It is the real life. The one every person hopes for and that those who place their trust in the author of life find.

I hope that you who are reading this have found this real life. The one that is real and filled with promise. Jesus told us He is the way, the truth and the life and that no man can come to the Father except by Him. If you haven't already, I hope you will pray a simple prayer that puts your life in the hands of the author of life. It doesn't have to be a fancy prayer. Here is an example of one below.

Dear Jesus, I put my life in your hands today. Please forgive me for
my sins. I turn from them today. I believe in you Jesus. Please help
me in this new life with you. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen

If you prayed this prayer, please let me know so that I can be holding you up in prayer as you walk in your new life with Him.

My Life Verse

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." --Romans 8:28

My mother gave me this verse as I lay on a gurney in an emergency room after my first (and only) serious accident. (I have had a few fender benders since then but PTL, I was not seriously injured). I'm not sure that 19 year old girl really believed her at the time. In fact, there would be a lot more situations in the next few years in which she would give me that verse. But, being the headstrong, rebellious young woman that I was, it would take still many more years to see how God took all the things that happened and worked them for good and continues to work them for good AND give me beauty for ashes.

As the years go by there are different words in that verse that have new meaning for me. In the beginning the words that resonated for me were "things work together for good". I must admit to thinking it was some sort of magical formula that only God knew and somehow he took all the things that happened to me and made them good. It never occured to me that some of the things "happening to me" might actually be a result of my own sin. Don't worry He cleared that up for me and He used my experiences to help others who were venturing down the same wide path.

Later, when I felt deep remorse for my sins and repented for the things I had done He showed me that He would take "ALL things" and work them for good. He is still teaching me new things from those years and working good from them. Once more, He gives beauty for ashes.

Lately the words "the called according to his purpose" and "those who love God" are what I meditate on. THE called. Not just plain called. Many are called but not all respond. That little word "the" carries a lot of meaning with it. THE called. Those who respond to His call and surrender their lives to His purpose. Those for whom He can work out His purpose. He has a purpose for us all, the question is will we surrender to it? It's always good. Never second best, or sorta good. And the surrender, if I love Him won't I do that? He sacrificed His Son and all He desires from me is to love Him. To surrender to Him so that He can do ALL the good He desires for me.

God is so good (all the time!). Good seems like a highly inadequate word to describe what He does for this poor sinner. When I look at my life thus far I am amazed at His protection, provision, comfort, mercy, grace, and most of all His great love for me. He takes "all things and works them for good to those who love God, to the called according to His purpose." I'm so glad that when He called I answered. And I'm so glad He called.