Wednesday Worship~God Bless America

Praying God's blessing on our great country and those who fight to protect her freedoms!

Monday Meditation~Memorial Day

"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." Romans 12:15 (NIV)

For every soldier that has returned home, we rejoice.

For every one who gave his life for his country, we mourn.

Lord, thank You for all of the men and women who sacrifice to honor and protect our great nation. Thank You for their willingness to be selfless...to leave the comforts of home and family, to fight on behalf of those of us that they don't even know. Lord, please give protection to those still serving. Please give strength, faith, comfort, and hope to their families at home. We thank You for all who have returned home safely. We pray Your blessing on their lives. For those who were able to return home, but carrying physical/emotional/mental scars, Lord we pray for Your ministry to them and their loved ones. And for those who gave their lives, we offer our utmost gratitude. We pray Your help and comfort for their families. Lord, we know that You understand sacrifice. We thank You for Your Son fighting the ultimate battle on our behalf. Thank You for saving us. Thank You for absolute freedom.

Remembering today.

Walking Without Contradiction

"For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight." Ephesians 1:4 (NIV)

I'm a country music fan.

I couldn't help it. Because of Scotty McCreery, I got sucked in.

I love his sound. But even more importantly, I like who he is. I love how he boldly professes Christ. I admire his steadfastness in holding to Truth and his unwillingness to compromise. I find his humility endearing.

So, because of Scotty, I frequent the local country radio station. Sometimes I keep my dial tuned there and sometimes I switch. Sometimes I just shut the radio off. Not all singers (or radio hosts) share Scotty's convictions.

A few days ago, I was enjoying the lovely springtime, cruising along in my car. I turned on the radio. (In my defense, for some crazy reason it is really difficult to get good reception of a Christian radio station in our area.) Anyway, feeling all springy and a wee bit sassy, I was in the mood for a little country.

My sassiness turned to sadness at the very first song I heard.

Why would someone want to broadcast that they were a "walking contradiction"?

And then I got even sadder when I thought how easily I...dare I say, we...stroll down that same pathway.

I am making Psalm 119:1-8 the substance of my prayers today.

Blessed are they whose ways are

blameless,

who walk according to the law of

the LORD.

Blessed are they who keep His

statutes

and seek Him with all their heart.

They do nothing wrong;

they walk in His ways.

You have laid down precepts

that are to be fully obeyed.

Oh, that my ways were steadfast

in obeying Your decrees!

Then I would not be put to shame

when I consider all your commands.

I will praise You with an upright heart

as I learn Your righteous laws.

I will obey your decrees;

do not utterly forsake me.

"When Abraham was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless." Genesis 17:1

I pray to be found obedient to God Almighty.

Lord, help me to walk before You in a faithful and blameless manner. Help me to seek You with all my heart. Help me to fully obey Your precepts. Help my words and my actions to be consistent with Your Word.Thank You for being my strength and my redeemer.



Wednesday Worship~Blessed Assurance (Festive Remix)

We're really going to mix it up today!! Enjoy the Christmas-y light show...or just close your eyes and worship the One who gives us Blessed Assurance. I just love this arrangement!

Wishing you a worshipful Wednesday!!

Monday Meditation~What Do You Hope For?

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)


Maturity and Bible translations make a difference.

I distinctly remember memorizing Hebrews 11:1 in my high school days, clinging to it as a beacon of hope. I can't put my hands on my Living Bible right this minute, but I can picture those words highlighted in neon yellow. As I recall, it said something like "Faith is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen." Hmmm. For a teenager the implication might not be what the author intended.

Other translations say that faith is the substance or assurance of things hoped for.

I just have to wonder how many people grab onto that verse regarding random "hopes". (Hoping that you get something really nice for your birthday...hoping you don't have something green in your teeth...hoping you get to meet Scotty McCreery) Is that worthy of being called faith? Feel free to ponder that on your own. That's really what Monday Meditation is designed for. smile.

Is an "in accordance with God's will" implied after the "what we hope for"?

In my Quest Study Bible, which includes "articles" beneath passages offering further explanation, I found this insight to be interesting. "The writer of Hebrews expressed faith in two directions: faith toward future things (what we hope for) and faith toward invisible things (what we do not see). When we are certain God is in control of these areas (and we live like He is in control), that's faith." Parentheses not mine. smile.

I pray that my "hopes" are in accordance with and yielding to His will and that my faith toward future things and those things I can't see is pleasing to Him.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 (NIV)

Happy Monday!

What Do You Expect?

"Now we live with great expectation...." 1 Peter 1:3b (NLT)

Do you live with great expectation?

When you hand God your loaves and fishes do you really believe that He will feed thousands?

It's a funny thing...well, not actually funny, perhaps interesting might be a better word...or oddly God-ly.

This morning as I spent some time in prayer, I held my hands out (literally) and offered God my "loaves and fish". I actually used those words.

Later today, a friend posted this quote by Horace Bushnell on her Facebook wall. "Trust God for great things; with your five loaves and two fishes, He will show you a way to feed thousands."

That caused me to consider my expectations of what God might do with my offering. Could it really be "great"?

Later I read a fabulous blog post by Chance Scoggins that further challenged me to be brave...to yield even my imperfections...to "fly without a net" and to expect great things when I take a step of faith.

So what about you? What are you offering Him? Do you have great expectations of what He will do with your gift?

Consider these verses:
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)

"Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days-You would not believe if you were told." Habakkuk 1:5 (NASB)

Let's expect great things together!

Wednesday Worship~Call On Jesus

Whatever your need is today, there is One who can meet it. Jesus. Call on Him.

Lord, You know our need today. We believe You when You say that nothing is impossible with You. Help us in our unbelief. Hear our prayer. Meet us where we are. We love You.

Monday Meditation~Nothing is Impossible

"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" Matthew 19:26

Is there something in your life that feels impossible? Do you need hope?

Our hope is found in Jesus. As the old hymn says, "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus Name."

What do you need hope for?

He knows you. He knows your need. He knows your hopes. He knows your dreams. Give that hope, that dream, that desire, that need to Him.

If you know Jesus, you have access to His power. That's not just any old power, but resurrection power...power that can raise the dead!

Jesus, You know the depths of our need. Help us to seek You as the answer and the fulfillment. Help us to believe in the "possibles" that are ours in You. We love You.

Wednesday Worship~Sing to the King

Come let us sing a song, a song declaring we belong to Jesus.

Yes, He is all we need.

I'm praying that your day is full of praise to the King!

Book Give-Away in Time for Mother's Day!!

Hi!
I've never done this before...have a book give-away on my blog! I must admit, it's got my hands all sweaty.

I'm really excited about the opportunity to bless you or someone you love!

The book is Life Lessons from Moms, compiled by Suzanne Williams and Tracy Ruckman and published by Write Integrity Press. It is a beautiful gift book and sweet tribute to Moms. The opportunity to honor my sweet Mama in this book is a testimony to God's goodness. See, my Mama is facing her first Mother's Day without her Mom. Receiving her book brought joy during a time of loss and sadness. (No, I couldn't wait until Mother's Day to give it to her!)

So, here's how you might win!

• Leave a comment that includes your email address so that I can contact you and get your mailing address. (If Google is being persnickety or thinks you're a robot, you may comment on my Facebook page.)
• I hope you'll take time to browse around. If you should decide to become a "follower", I'll throw your name in the hat twice! (In your comment, state that you did so.) I hope you will check back soon as I plan to add a Speaker page with information for booking for your women's events, MOPS groups, or writer's conferences.

Now, the deadline is tonight at 10:00, so don't delay. I want to be sure that your gift arrives in time for Mother's Day.

I pray that your day is blessed beyond measure!

Monday Meditation~Are You Singing His Praise Today?

Psalm 47

Clap your hands, all you nations;

shout to God with cries of joy.

How awesome is the LORD Most High,

the great King over all the earth!

He subdued nations under us,

peoples under our feet.

He chose our inheritance for us,

the pride of Jacob, whom He loved.

God has ascended amid shouts of joy,

the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.

Sing praises to God, sing praises;

sing praises to our King, sing praises.

For God is the King of all the earth;

sing to Him a psalm of praise.

God reigns over the nations;

God is seated on His holy throne.

The nobles of the nations assemble

as the people of the God of Abraham,

for the kings of the earth belong to God;

he is greatly exalted.



Lord, we lift songs of praise to You today! We praise You for being our maker, our sustainer, our help, our refuge, our strength, and our portion! You are the very song we sing! Oh, how we love You!

Outlast, Outlove, Outreign

Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies. Psalm 36:5 (NIV)

There's that word again.

Outlast.

We've heard it year after year on Survivor...you know, Outwit, Outlast, Outplay.

Today I read it on my new antiperspirant/deodorant.

Now, on the container, antiperspirant is listed first and deodorant second. Naturally I assumed that their claim applied to both. No. Upon closer inspection, it's just the odor protection that is supposed to "outlast" my day.

I felt a little mislead and disappointed. For a moment anyway.

Then I was flooded with thoughts of the only One who promises anything that truly Outlasts.  This verse immediately came to mind.

For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:5


God and God alone outlasts, outloves, and outreigns! Let's put our trust in Him.

He's the true "invisible solid"!

Teach me Your way, LORD, that I may rely on Your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your Name. Psalm 86:11

That's my prayer today.

Wednesday Worship~People Get Ready!

People get ready! Jesus is coming! Do you know Him? Do you know Him well?