Good Morning from Arizona!
A little while back I asked you if you were a small business owner or have a cottage business to please tell me about your business.
This weekend I was able to add a new page to the website called Small Business Market Place.
Please take time to view this page and if you have a need for these products reach out to the owners and let them know you found them on my blog.
It’s important to me to provide you with the products and services of small businesses that are run with integrity.
This morning I have a question for you. Do you have heart trouble? Are there triggers in your life that have or are now affecting your heart?
This weekend, you know, we had a garage sale. It was fun; we got rid of some stuff and we really enjoyed talking to the different folks who came. I was surprised to learn how many of them had heart trouble.
Some had physical trouble while others had broken hearts. Then there were those who were lonely and heart sick.
Heart Trouble.
During my last annual physical the doctor and his assistant asked me about my medical history and that of my family. Lots of questions. Then there was the counselling on eating properly, getting enough exercise and plenty of rest. Must keep that heart healthy.
Well I’m here this morning with my own Rx for heart trouble. It’s guaranteed to have positive results with every patient.
““Do not let your heart be troubled. You have put your trust in God, put your trust in Me also. ” John 14:1 NLV
Jesus spoke these words to his disciples right before His crucifixion. If any thing would cause “heart trouble” for them it would be this, the death of their friend and leader. However, Jesus’ command was don’t let this trouble you.
“My son, pay attention to my words and be willing to learn; Open your ears to my sayings. 21 Do not let them escape from your sight; Keep them in the center of your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, And healing and health to all their flesh. 23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:20-23 AMP
King Solomon knew the best way to prevent “heart trouble” was to pay attention to God’s word. It provides health and healing to all who choose to live by it.
So if you are experiencing heart trouble this morning, I’m sending you to my cardiologist, He’s never lost a patient.
“But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.
27 Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]” John 14:26-27 AMP
Acknowledging God’s presence and His love will put our hearts to rest.
“I have placed the Lord always in front of me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be moved. 9 And so my heart is glad. My soul is full of joy. My body also will rest without fear.” Psalm 16:8-9 NLV
There’s always an appointment available with the Lord, no waiting. Just come and find peace and rest.
Have you ever asked yourself these questions, could God love me? Does God love me? Why?
Many times we think that love is based on us; what we do, how we look; where we live; our political leanings. The list could go on and on. And when it comes to God’s love we have a tendency to think that His love is based on our works, how good we are, how much time we spend praying or reading the Bible and how much we give.
Nothing could be farther from the truth.
“Look at it this way: At the right time, while we were still helpless, Christ died for ungodly people. 7 Finding someone who would die for a godly person is rare. Maybe someone would have the courage to die for a good person. 8 Christ died for us while we were still sinners. This demonstrates God’s love for us.
9 Since Christ’s blood has now given us God’s approval, we are even more certain that Christ will save us from God’s anger. 10 If the death of his Son restored our relationship with God while we were still his enemies, we are even more certain that, because of this restored relationship, the life of his Son will save us.” Romans 5:6-10 GW
There are so many times that I have made my list – the list of reasons why I am deserving of God’s love and also the all the times I have failed to measure up. I have even made lists on “I’m not as bad as them”. God never wants us looking back or comparing ourselves to others. He forgives our sins when we confess them and then He also chooses to forget them.
“But if we confess our sins, God will forgive us. We can trust God to do this. He always does what is right. He will make us clean from all the wrong things we have done.” I John 1:9 ERV
“This is the New Way of Worship that I will give them. When that day comes, says the Lord, I will put My Laws in their hearts. And I will write them in their minds.” Then He says, 17 “I will not remember their sins and wrong-doings anymore.” 18 No more gifts on the altar in worship are needed when our sins are forgiven.” Hebrews 10:16-18 NLV
God’s love has always been extended to us. There has never been a time that we lost His love. There has never been an action or situation that has caused Him to retract and withhold His love.
We may look at others and think it must be hard for God to love them but God never sees it that way. In God’s eyes if we sin in one small area we are as guilty as if we had broken everyone of the ten commandments and more.
“ You are doing right if you obey this law from the highest authority: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” 9 If you favor one person over another, you’re sinning, and this law convicts you of being disobedient. 10 If someone obeys all of God’s laws except one, that person is guilty of breaking all of them. ” James 2:8-10 GW
Sin is sin and God has made provision for all sin to be forgiven.
Love is not a feeling. Love is a person, God. Love is the action of choosing to act like God. Love can’t be lost, true love doesn’t give up.
This morning’s devotion idea came to me yesterday in the wee quiet hours – I sat and just thanked the Father that He loved me. I quickly started going through my list of why He shouldn’t and He told me He couldn’t remember any of those reasons. They were all covered.
“The end of everything is near. Therefore, practice self-control, and keep your minds clear so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other warmly, because love covers many sins. ” I Peter 4:7-8 GW
God has covered our sins and we are asked, no, really commanded, to love the way He does.
“So we know the love that God has for us, and we trust that love. God is love. Everyone who lives in love lives in God, and God lives in them. 17 If God’s love is made perfect in us, we can be without fear on the day when God judges the world. We will be without fear, because in this world we are like Jesus.” I John 4:16-17 ERV
Yes God really, really loves us!
Now I’m off to the garage sale – go help someone else have a love-ly day.
Are we having fun yet? Anyone remember asking your kids that or perhaps they asked you that question?
By the time you are reading this, I will be asking Dave this question or perhaps he will be asking the same of me. About every 12 to 18 months we have a garage sale. No point in hanging on to things we don’t use or need.
Today and tomorrow are those days.
We have fun doing them. We look forward to the opportunity to visit with folks. Be sure to pray that we have an opportunity to let the Father’s love shine through us.
The day wouldn’t be complete without having a blog to share with you. Today I am repurposing a post I wrote years back.
As you start each day what are your first thoughts? Do you get up dreading the schedule that’s ahead of you or on a weekend are you eager to start the day looking forward to athletic events, shopping, time with family and friends?
I will still get up early in the morning and have my quiet time with the Father but knew I wouldn’t have time to sit quietly and put my heart’s thoughts into words. You see, Dave will be out by 6 am putting up signs and I fully expect that folks will be coming by 630. So that’s why I recycled and set the delayed posting feature.
Where in your thinking do you focus on the Father and His purpose and plan? Start here first and everything else seems to fall into place. The truly successful set priorities even for their leisure – we need to keep our focus!
“What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need.” Matthew 6:33 ERV
“Always remember what is written in that book of law. Speak about that book and study it day and night. Then you can be sure to obey what is written there. If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything you do. 9 Remember, I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8-9 ERV
Words for today: Live long and prosper God’s way!
So as I’ve been sitting here with my coffee and my thoughts I had the following verse fill my heart:
“14 May my words and thoughts please you. Lord, you are my Rock—the one who rescues me.” Psalm 19:14 CEV
Words and thoughts – those two are linked together on more than one occasion in the Bible. Jesus put it this way.
” Every tree is known by the kind of fruit it produces. You won’t find figs on thorny weeds. And you can’t pick grapes from thorn bushes! 45 Good people have good things saved in their hearts. That’s why they say good things. But those who are evil have hearts full of evil, and that’s why they say things that are evil. What people say with their mouths comes from what fills their hearts.” Luke 6:44-45 ERV
I remember my first experience growing peaches. It was years back. We had moved to a home with a small peach tree in the back yard. I was so hopeful that we would have sweet juicy peaches at the end of summer. But no! It took a couple of years to see the tree really produce . All the time it was drawing nourishment from the ground, developing a strong root base and maturing. Only then did the peaches come. The first harvest it was only a few large peaches but the second harvest there were many more.
We’re like that tree. When we begin our walk with Christ we need time to take in His word, our roots spreading out deep, giving us a firm foundation. As we apply His word to our lives our thoughts and actions change. Our heart changes and we begin to produce good fruit.
Thoughts, the things we save in our heart will come out our mouths. Just like fruit grows on a tree, thoughts produce words. If we spend our time thinking on the hurts, failures, and criticism, those are things that we will produce with our words.
However, if the meditation (thoughts) of our hearts are pleasant, loving, forgiving and kind then the fruit we produce will be gracious, loving, understanding and good!
When we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives He shows us what Jesus truly did for us – He cleansed us completely so we are able to have confidence in the Father’s presence. Confidence brings peace.
The night when Jesus was arrested He was in the Garden with His closest friends. He was still teaching them up to the very end. They came to the point where they could finally see that yes, Jesus was the Messiah. He was God’s Son.
Jesus spoke to them the words He held in His heart.
“31 Jesus answered them, Do you now believe? [Do you believe it at last?] 32 But take notice, the hour is coming, and it has arrived, when you will all be dispersed and scattered, every man to his own home, leaving Me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.
33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]” John 16:31-33 AMP
Jesus knew they would all leave him when he was arrested. Fear would overtake them. However, He spoke words of encouragement and confidence to them and to Himself. These men who had once been afraid of their own shadows would soon stand before the rulers of the land and boldly proclaim that Jesus was the Christ and they would serve Him even if it cost them their lives.
Jesus gave us this example. Don’t think about our fears, failures and heartaches but instead look at the bigness of His sacrifice. He conquered the world for us. We can live in peace and victory knowing that God has and is working everything out for us.
“We show our love for God by obeying his commandments, and they are not hard to follow.
4 Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory. 5 No one can defeat the world without having faith in Jesus as the Son of God.” I John 5:3-5 CEV
We need to fill our hearts, our minds, with memories of all the times the Lord has proven to be our defender, our strength, our joy, and our unshakable hope. When we plant those seeds of confidence we will harvest peace and rest.
Father, I want to speak gracious and loving words from a heart that’s filled with confidence in You!
I love musicals! When I was a young girl we went from Yuma to Phoenix to see Sound of Music on the big screen. It was amazing!
I became enamored with Rogers and Hammerstein’s productions; Oklahoma, Cinderella, State Fair, Carousel, South Pacific. Stories told with music were wonderful.
They still are!
But the one I remember most was when we went again to Phoenix/Mesa area and saw Fiddler on the Roof! Awww. I laughed, I cried and I had the time of my life.
Tradition, Tradition!
Traditions are important. They come from a place of family history. Traditions either mark great trumpets or they can come out of tremendous hardship.
The Jewish holidays were established to commemorate monumental things that God did for the nation of Israel. We celebrate communion as a remembrance of the Lord’s sacrifice for us.
Tradition, very meaningful tradition.
What do we pass down from generation to generation? What family stories are forefront; which recipes; which photographs or printed articles?
My mother’s mind is still pretty sharp and it’s fun to sit and talk with her about her childhood and what she remembers hearing from her parents and grandparents.
Now, what do my children and grandchildren want to learn from me? What stories are they interested in?
It’s important to me that they know how good God is and how many times I would have been overtaken by despair and discouragement if my Father God had not been my source of strength!
When there was no one else to depend on, when hope was all but gone, when situations looked disastrous He was there! When things were good and grand, when blessings were obvious, when I felt strong and at ease He was there! Times of health and healing, prosperity and lack, courage and disappointment, joy and heartbreak, purposeful direction and aimless wandering – through all He was and still is there!
“I will praise you, my God and King, and always honor your name. 2 I will praise you each day and always honor your name. 3 You are wonderful, Lord, and you deserve all praise, because you are much greater than anyone can understand. 4 Each generation will announce to the next your wonderful and powerful deeds.
5 I will keep thinking about your marvelous glory and your mighty miracles. 6 Everyone will talk about your fearsome deeds,
and I will tell all nations how great you are. 7 They will celebrate and sing about your matchless mercy and your power to save.
8 You are merciful, Lord! You are kind and patient and always loving. 9 You are good to everyone, and you take care of all your creation. 10 All creation will thank you, and your loyal people
will praise you. 11 They will tell about your marvelous kingdom
and your power. 12 Then everyone will know about the mighty things you do and your glorious kingdom.
13 Your kingdom will never end, and you will rule forever. Our Lord, you keep your word and do everything you say. 14 When someone stumbles or falls, you give a helping hand. 15 Everyone depends on you, and when the time is right, you provide them with food. 16 By your own hand you satisfy the desires of all who live.
17 Our Lord, everything you do is kind and thoughtful, 18 and you are near to everyone whose prayers are sincere. 19 You satisfy the desires of all your worshipers, and you come to save them when they ask for help. 20 You take care of everyone who loves you, but you destroy the wicked.
21 I will praise you, Lord, and everyone will respect
your holy name forever.” Psalm 145 CEV
It’s never too late to start a tradition. Ask the Lord to show you how and when to have special times of remembrance, and let those in your world see that God is good!
Do you know what the word amplified means?
According to the Merriam-Webster 1828 Dictionary this is the definition of amplify:
1 : to expand (something, such as a statement) by the use of detail or illustration or by closer analysis
2a : to make larger or greater (as in amount, importance, or intensity) : increase
b : to increase the strength or amount of especially : to make louder
Hearing aids are amplifiers, they increase the strength of sound.
We’ll all driven up next to someone at a stop sign or light and heard the sound amplification coming from their stereo speakers.
I’m sure you can think of other examples or illustrations to go along with mine and that too would be amplification.
When I first began studying, I mean really studying, the Bible I got an amplified translation and began to read it for greater comprehension.
Today I want to share a few of my favorite verses with you from the Amplified Bible. I praise God for those who have been called to the work of translating the Bible, not just in foreign languages, but into versions that make it easier for us to use and understand.
These verses have really helped me and I hope that there are one or two that provide what you need!
HE WILL NEVER LEAVE ME OR LET ME DOWN!
“Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]” Hebrews 13:5 AMP
WHEN CHRIST RULES, PEACE REIGNS
“And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].” Colossians 3:15 AMP
HE CARES FOR ME
“Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” I Peter 5:7 AMP
I HAVE AN OVERFLOWING LIFE
“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” John 10:10 AMP
MOSES AND I HAVE THE SAME GOD, THE GREAT I AM!
“And when that time comes, you will ask nothing of Me [you will need to ask Me no questions]. I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that My Father will grant you whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I Am].
24 Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as presenting all that I Am]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete.” John 16:23-24 AMP
MY FATHER’S WORD GIVES ME CONFIDENCE
“And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.
15 And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.” I John 5:14-15 AMP
These verses when read from the Amplified show the depth of intensity that other translations don’t.
When Moses saw the burning bush in the desert God spoke and told Moses that He was I AM. This meant whatever Moses needed he could count on God to be I AM. Jesus went on to tell his disciples that He was I AM. He told them that when they come to God with a request in His name that they are counting on Him being the I AM just like Moses did.
The same holds true for us when we come to the Father in Jesus name.
For those who are just new to reading the Bible I suggest you get an Easy To Read (ERV) or Contemporary English Version (CEV) but for those of you would want to have a more intensity and depth I recommend the Amplified Version.
Really, it all comes down to finding a version that we can understand and apply personally. Pray about it and God will direct you to the right version.
Let God’s word give light to your path and understanding to your heart.
It’s Monday! Yes, the weekend passed quickly and it’s time for a new week beginning now.
I must admit I was tempted to head back to bed after I finished my first cup of coffee. But then who would write the blog…
Did you see last night’s moon? I don’t know what it looked like where you are but here it is almost full and the sky was filled with lots of cotton puff clouds. It was that way this morning too.
Each new day reminds me that the Lord is into new beginnings. The sun always rising and setting – the tide always bringing the waves in and out – our God always was, is and always will be. He promises that each morning He will have new ways to show us His love and His mercy.
“We are still alive because the Lord’s faithful love never ends. 23 Every morning he shows it in new ways! You are so very true and loyal!” Lamentations 3:22-23 ERV
Everything on earth has a beginning and an end. There is only One who is eternal. He has no beginning and no end and He is ever present – always there, when we call upon Him and when we ignore Him, He is present. The Bible starts with “In the beginning GOD” and it ends the same way.
“Listen, I am coming soon! I will bring rewards with me. I will repay everyone for what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Revelation 22:12-13 ERV
When we enter through those “pearly” gates we will have life eternal and we will live forever in heaven with Almighty God. Jesus tells us that “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father but by me.”
And
“for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Those of us who believe in Christ as Savior have already started living the eternal life. There is so much more to our lives than this physical existence and it is our life in Christ. An abundant life where we draw from God’s love, mercy, grace and goodness each and every day.
Yes, today is Monday and maybe you don’t want to go back to work or school, just remember that the giver of life, abundant life, eternal life, has filled us with that life today and we can be victorious over every work of the enemy.
We can also bring life to those we work with because we take the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Enjoy this day, it’s a new beginning!
I love babies!!
They are so pure and so hungry. They eat all the time and make no apology for it. They have a God-given instinct to know that they must eat and they let the world know.
“Stop being hateful! Quit trying to fool people, and start being sincere. Don’t be jealous or say cruel things about others. 2 Be like newborn babies who are thirsty for the pure spiritual milk that will help you grow and be saved. 3 You have already found out how good the Lord really is.” I Peter 2:1-3 CEV
We need to be like babies – sincere, innocent with an overwhelming desire to grow – to drink spiritual milk (the Word) and learn of the Lord’s goodness.
And as we feast on milk, we grow and come to a point where we can feast on solid food. Growing is natural, it’s good, it is proof that we are healthy and strong.
“And the teaching I gave you was like milk, not solid food. I did this because you were not ready for solid food. And even now you are not ready.” I Corinthians 3:2 ERV
But babies also get thirsty and sometimes just need a drink of water and not a feeding of milk. Keeps them hydrated and all their organs working well.
We too need to come for the living water that only Christ can give.
” Jesus answered, “You don’t know what God can give you. And you don’t know who I am, the one who asked you for a drink. If you knew, you would have asked me, and I would have given you living water.”
11 The woman said, “Sir, where will you get that living water?…
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. 14 But anyone who drinks the water I give will never be thirsty again. The water I give people will be like a spring flowing inside them. It will bring them eternal life.”
15 The woman said to Jesus, “Sir, give me this water. Then I will never be thirsty again and won’t have to come back here to get more water.” John 4:10-15 ERV
What do babies do when they need to eat? They wake up and cry!
When was the last time we cried because we were hungry for the sincere milk of God’s word or the living water that only He can give?
I hope you have a healthy appetite because feasting on God’s word will make us grow big and strong.
Recently we have replaced several light bulbs in the house. It’s amazing!
Dave is very handy and he has built a number of the lights in our home. He built a light to go over the bar from an old double tree. It’s one of my favorite things in the house! Has four bulbs. We bought some of those indoor flood style bulbs – only 65w each but man, they light up the whole room.
A while back we replaced one of the bulbs in the microwave. It’s a built in microwave above the stove and one of the bulbs burned out. It made it hard to see what I was cooking on the burners. After that was replaced I realized how dim the other one was. It was grease coated and very little light was getting through. That bulb got replaced as well.
What a difference! The old bulb in the microwave was dingy and covered with grime. The bulbs that had been in the double tree had been larger watts but their light was less effective because of the way the bulb was constructed.
Sitting here this morning enjoying the bright light from the double tree I had to ask myself, “How much light am I giving to the world?”
Am I dingy, having picked up a lot of grime or am I under utilizing the power flowing through me because I have molded my life after the world’s design and not God’s?
I’ll be pondering that today. Letting the Holy Spirit brighten my bulb and even upgrade/transform my shape so that I am a brighter representative of the power source, the Father, that flows through me!
“You are the light that shines for the world to see. You are like a city built on a hill that cannot be hidden. 15 People don’t hide a lamp under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand. Then the light shines for everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 ERV
Lord, I desire to be shining brightly.
This little light of mine. I’m gonna let it shine…