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Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Taste My Jesus




This was sent to me in an e-mail by my uncle. I have seen it before. I really like this story.




TASTE MY JESUS




At the University of Chicago Divinity School each year they have what is
called "Baptist Day." On this day each one is to bring a lunch to be eaten
outdoors in a grassy picnic area. Every "Baptist Day" the school would
invite one of the greatest minds to lecture in the theological education center.

One year they invited Dr. Paul Tillich.

Dr. Tillich spoke for two and one-half hours proving that the resurrection
of Jesus was false. He quoted scholar after scholar and book after book.
He concluded that since there was no such thing as the historical
resurrection the religious tradition of the church was groundless,
emotional mumbo-jumbo, because it was based on a relationship with
a risen Jesus, who, in fact never rose from the dead in any literal
sense. He then asked if there were any questions.


After about 30 seconds, an old, dark skinned preacher with a head
of short-cropped, woolly white hair stood up in the back of the
auditorium. "Docta Tillich, I got one question," he said as all
eyes turned toward him.


He reached into his sack lunch and pulled out an apple and began
eating it. "Docta Tillich.. CRUNCH, MUNCH "My question is a simple
question,... CRUNCH, MUNCH... "Now, I ain't never read them books
you read..CRUNCH, MUNCH.." and I can't recite the Scriptures in
the original Greek...CRUNCH, MUNCH ..." I don't know nothin'
about Niebuhr and Heidegger...CRUNCH, MUNCH...


He finished the apple. "All I wanna know is:
This apple I just ate, . . . was it bitter or sweet?


Dr Tillich paused for a moment and answered
in exemplary scholarly fashion: "I cannot
possibly answer that question, for I haven't
tasted your apple."


The white-haired preacher dropped the core of his apple
into his crumpled paper bag, looked up at Dr. Tillich
and said calmly, "Neither have you tasted my Jesus."


The 1,000 plus in attendance could not contain themselves.
The auditorium erupted with applause and cheers.


Dr. Tillich thanked his audience and
promptly left the platform.


Have you tasted Jesus?


"Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.
If you have, rejoice in the hope of the
resurrection that your faith in Him brings." Psalm 34:8



I remember thinking something along this line when I was in labor with my second child. The doctor told me that there was no chance for his survival. I remember thinking to myself but you don't know my God. Our child did not live but just a few hours on this earth but it was not because God was not able to keep him alive. God had other plans for our life at that moment in time. He had so much that He wanted to teach my husband & I. We thought we knew so much about God and His ways. Little did we know that God's ways are past finding out.

However He does continue to teach us if we trust Him and seek Him. It is hard to get the point that you can thank God for those hard difficult valleys in your life. I did not think I could ever thank Him for some of the ones I have been through but I have and I can. I praise Him for the things that I have learned through them. I thank Him that He was with all the way and all the time. Even when I felt so all alone He was there. He was faithful.

Come and Taste my Jesus!

coffee lovers

For those who love Starbucks coffee, here is another get to know me.




You Are a Mocha Frappuccino



Hyper and driven, you'll take your caffeine any way you can get it. Frappuccinos are good, but you'd probably chew coffee beans in a crunch!



This fits me pretty well. In the spring & summer, I will order a mocha frappucino most of the time. Just ask my daughter in love.

Faith


Our focus word this week is Faith. For more thoughts than I give on this post visit Marsha. I have been doing some thinking about faith. You can not have faith in something or someone unless that thing or someone has proven to be faithful. One thing that I have definitely found is that my God is faithful. He has never failed me yet. Oh, I have failed Him many times but He has never failed me.



One of the first verses that I think of when faith is mentioned is Hebrews 11:1&2, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony."



This is saying that faith is the reality of things that we hope for, faith is the proof of things we can not see. Because of their faith the elders had a good testimony. These verses are just the beginning of the what we call the chapter that we call the Faith Hall of Fame. I like what Beth Moore had told us in the Believing God study. She told us that at the end of chapter 11 and before chapter 12 , we could insert our name. Could you insert your name there?



Hebrews 11:6 also tells us "But without faith it impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."



To even obtain salvation we must have faith in God. God does reward us for seeking Him.



2Corinthians 5:7 tell us "For we walk by faith not by sight." Sometimes don't you think it would be so much easier if could actually see Jesus. If we could sit down and talk one on one with Him and get a direct personal answer. If we could step in His footsteps, call Him on the phone, text Him, e-mail Him, or read His daily blog. No we don't get to all those things, instead by faith, we read His Word written over 2000 years ago over a period of many years and then apply to it my life. I pray to Him each day, have faith that He hears me and will answer those prayers. Have faith that He cares for me personally.



Because God has proven to me that does care for me personally, that He does hear me and that He does answer my prayers, I have faith in Him. He has proven to be faithful. I want to prove myself faithful also. I want my Lord to be satisfied with me. I want Him to be able to say that I am a faithful servant. I want my children to be able to say that I was a faithful follower of Christ. I don't want them to say that I was perfect or that I was a good person. I want them to say that I was faithful to my Redeemer, the One who gave His life's blood for me.



Do you have faith in the faithful God of heaven and earth? If so are you faithful to Him?

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Hope verse


This week on Marsha's page the focus word is hope. She brought out that the word hope in the Bible means something different than what we usually think of. We usually think of hope meaning that we wish for something to take place. However, in the Bible it is not a wish but a certainty of knowing that it will take place.



I started with my favorite hope verse. Titus 2:13 "Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.



Isn't it wonderful that we can know for certain that our Savior will be returning for us. It is the blessed hope. Christ is our hope. 1 Timothy 1:1 "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope."

Hebrews 6:19 & 20"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast and which enters the Presence behind the veil. Where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become the High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."

Our Hope is our anchor, He has entered behind the veil and become our intercessor. Through Him we can enter the Presence of God.



Paul also speaks to having hope in Christ. Another favorite verse is 1 Cor. 15:19 " If in this life we only have hope in Christ, we are all of men most pitiable." If don't have the hope of Christ in Christ then we have no hope. Paul is saying that if we think that all we have is what is here on earth, that if Jesus didn't rise from the dead, we are just playing games and fooling our selves. But Paul has used the word hope with the meaning of knowing for a certainty.



What a comfort to know that Christ is certain, that He is coming again for certain. There are many other verses that deal with hope . I encourage to do a study of your own of some verses that deal with



Always looking for the blessed hope.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

this train



My husband does wood work. He has been working on a train. He has been wanting some pictures to go by. Our dear daughter in love's Dad sent us some pictures. He comes from a family that worked for the railroad. I thought I would share my favorite picture with you. When hubby gets his train finished I'll post it for you.

Seeing this picture made me think of the song "This Train is Bound For Glory" . I hope you enjoy the music today. I am glad that I am bound for glory. Do you know if you have a ticket for this train?
Are you ready when the conductor calls "All Aboard"?

If not, Get Your Ticket !


A. Admit that you are a sinner.


"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
"But God commendeth(demonstrated) His love toward us, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
"For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ." Romans 6:23

B. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you sins and was raised again on the third day.

"If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thine heart that God raised Him from the dead, thou shall be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:9& 10

C. Confess that you are a sinner and that Jesus is Lord. Ask him to be your Savior, your leader and become His follower.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

what is your word

Here is something else I borrowed from Marsha.


My word is hope.




Your Word is "Hope"



You see life as an opportunity for learning, growth, and bringing out the best in others.

No matter how bad things get, you always have at least a glimmer of optimism.



You are accepting and forgiving. You encourage those who have wronged you to turn over a new leaf.

And while there is a lot of ugliness in the world, you believe that almost no one is beyond redemption.





I would love to hear what your word is,

prayer request

Would you pray with me about a job? I keep the books for my husband's business. However that is not any extra income. His business is also seeing the reprecussions of this recession.Our income is going down while our expenses have gone up.



Yesterday, I saw an ad in the local paper for an office opening that I think I could do. I need to send in my resume. I have met the propietor of this business a couple of times. I believe I have made a good impression. I hope my resume stands up against others. I haven't worked professionally in the public arena in a very long time. I have volunteered for our church for many years.



I am praying for the Lord's will to be done in this matter. He knows what is best for our lives. I appreciate any and all prayer support.

blessings,
Linda

Thursday, January 15, 2009

He will perform it

Today is the 15th. It is time for another memory verse. I have chosen Philippians 1:6 in KJV . "Being confident of this very thing, that He which began a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."



I am still chewing on this verse. Paul says that he is confident of this very thing.

1. God has began a good work in us.

2. That he will perform it until...



That makes it sound like an ongoing process to me. Does it you? He is still working on me with this good work He began.

Italic

3. until the day of Jesus Christ.



That is when this work will be complete. Let's never forget that the Christian life is a process that begins when we accept Christ as our Savior and continues until we are at home with Him. This is called sanctification. The continually cleansing in our lives is to make us more like Him. Romans 8 :28& 29 tell us "all things work together for good to them that love God , to them who are the called according to His purpose," vs. 29 says "to be conformed to the image of His Son."



Pray for one another this week. as we each continue on this journey. Realize that God is still performing His perfect work in each of us.



Blessings,

Linda

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Wilder Mtn

Some of you have asked about my header picture. The picture is of Wilder Mountain in the northern part of Tennessee. The road that you see in the picture is one I traveled everyday in a yellow bus all during my jr. high and high school years.



My dad is a home missionary. This was the first mission field that we were on. Actually the only one that I was on. He was called to the mission field when I was 10. We actually went to the field when I was 12 after 2 yrs. of deputation. I met my husband there. He actually lived probably less than 2 miles from where this picture was shot.



So although I don't care to move back there, it holds a special place in my heart. Wilder at that time was a very poverty stricken area. It had been a boom town in the 1920's. It was a coalmining area. Some of those people had never heard of Christ Jesus. We saw many people come to know Jesus as their Savior. My husband was one of them.



When we were back on that road a couple of years ago, it was much more treacherous than when I was growing up. The mountain keeps sliding and there are some places that are just barely passable. However, the back roads that were once gravel roads are now paved. Many things have changed there like they have everywhere.

Peace

Today the focus word is peace. Check out Marsha's Legacy Moments. I thank her for giving us a word each week to focus upon. She asks for one to share a verse on each focus word. You may do the same here.

The first verse that came to my mind was John 14:27 where Jesus is talking to his disciples. "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you, not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Isn't that wonderful. Jesus gives us peace. It is not this false peace that the world offers. He gives us His peace. So we know that it is perfect peace.

Have you thought about the meaning of peace? I looked up the definition of peace. There are a few:
  1. the absence of war.
  2. the absence of mental stress or anxiety
  3. harmonious relations, freedom from disputes
  4. to agree/pact
  5. state of tranquility/security
  6. freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts

The verse I posted on Marsha's sight was Romans 5:1 "Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ."

With these 2 verses we have the peace of God and peace with God.
When we obtain peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, we can also obtain the peace of God. Jesus says that He gives His peace but we do need to take advantage of it.

How do we do that? In Philippians 4:6&7, we are instructed to "Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

We ask for what we need. He has told us we have not because we ask not. It maybe that we don't have peace because we are not going to him with whatever problem we have. Are you trying to take care of it yourself? Why should we be doing that when He has told us He will take care of our need?
Philippians 4:19 "And my God shall supply all your need, according to His riches glory by Christ Jesus."

Praise His name. He is going to supply all my need. He is the richest person I know. He is the most Powerful person I know. He is the most Intelligent Person I know. Why would I not turn to the Master of the Universe, who reigns supreme, the Most High God? He is also my Father. I am His daughter.

What do I need to fear? If God is for me who can be against me?
I pray that you have made peace with God so that you may experience the peace of God.

blessings,
Linda

Sunday, January 11, 2009

The House of the Lord

I can say along with the Psalmist David " I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go unto the House of the Lord." It was such a pleasure to attend church this morning.

We attended a small country church this morning.. I was asked to play the piano for the morning worship service. I gladly consented. We do not presently have a home church. We have been searching for 6 mos.



We went to this church 6 mos. ago, when we first left our previous church. The worship leader is a friend of ours and knew that we would possibly be leaving due to the dissolving of the body of believers. He had asked if I would come fill in for the regular pianist whose mother was ill.



Rebbecca's(the reg. pianist) mother has cancer. Rebbecca said last Sunday when we visited that the cancer is back and that she would need to be with her mother again. Her mother lives out of town. Pray for Rebbecca and her family as they deal with this crisis in their lives.



It seems as if God keeps drawing us back to this small country church. My husband seems to be more comfortable there than anywhere else we have visited. He has a few friends there. My youngest son attends there also. He is not very regular but when does go this is where he attends. He went with us today.



It was a joy for us to worship together as a family. My son is trying to do what is right and to serve the Lord. Please pray for him. There is so much going on in his life right now that I can not get into here.



I am thankful that God chose to use me today. I am not used to warming a pew. He has never allowed me to do that for long. I have always done something whether it was play the piano, teach Sunday School, type the bulletin or whatever. If he calls me to sit in the pew, I will do that and be a pray warrior.



I pray that you are enjoying this Lord's Day. I pray that you had a chance to enter His House and worship Him together with your brothers and sisters in Christ.



Love your sister in Christ,

Linda

Saturday, January 10, 2009

I am a violet.

I am a
Violet

What Flower
Are You?




Marsha took a flower quiz today. She invited others to take it also. I took it and found out I am a violet. It was pretty accurate.

"You have a shy personality. You tend to hesitate before trying new things or meeting new people. But once people get to know you, you open up and show the world what you are really all about."

That pretty much describes me. I am shy. However once I get to know you, I do tend to open up. I know in high school people thought I was stuck up. That was not the case. I just was shy and had a hard time getting to know people.

I don't think I am as shy as I was in school. I talk to people I don't know standing in line at the grocery store or Walmart. I think I have come a long way. Besides we are told in Proverbs that in order to have friends a person must first show himself to be friendly.

How about you? What kind of flower do you think you are? Do you show yourself to be friendly?

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Tuckered Out

Today started early for me. I heard my son's alarm go off around 5:30 a.m. I knew he didn' t plan to go to work that early. He had an appt. with the oral surgeon, first thing this morning. I had promised to go with him.



He didn't get up that early but I did so I could have a little quite time. Also so I could get ready before anyone else needed the hot water for their shower.

We needed to leave by 8 a.m. We did. His appt. went well. He is scheduled to get his 4 wisdom teeth taken out Jan. 23rd.



Came back and had to deal with insurance things again. Having an accident is not so cut and dry. The man that was involved in the accident with me needed more information. It was not on the accident report. Then I had to go to city hall and pick up my copy of the accident report. In Tennessee if you don't send in proof of financial responsibilty within 20 days, the state will suspend your license. Filled out the form sent, sent it in by registered mail.



I also had to stop by oldest son's new insurance carrier and provide them with proof that he had been covered on our policy. He was covered until he took out his own policy last week. This is just auto insurance.



It just about the time of the year, that I have to start dealing with our health insurance policy. The premiums always increase. They are already more than we can afford. Being self employed makes it so unreasonable without having 2 preexisting conditions. Yet God has always provided. Our agent called on Monday saying that he would be sending out some new application forms for me to fill out. (I look forward to that!! Not!!)



That it is enough whining for today. I am thankful that God has always provided for us. That my husband and I are still well. That we have 2 wonderful sons who make us proud. That God loads us up daily with benefits. That His mercies are new every morning.



Hope you are having a great day.

Linda

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Get to Know ME

I borrowed this meme from Adrienne at fuzzytop. She posted it today. I like it and you might also. The instructions are below.

Jenni at One Thing had this meme posted today, and it is fun! But I did tweak it a little…. If you like it, please feel free to copy it at your own place and leave a comment!Just boldface the items that you HAVE done, and leave the rest normal….

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Lived in another country

7. Been to Disneyland/world

8. Climbed a mountain.

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29 Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Walked on a glacier

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41 Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business ( with my husband, rather it is his, i just take care of the book work)

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (…and the 2009 GS Cookie sales start next week!)

62. Gone whale watching

63. Gotten flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check (sadly, yes)

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. visited the White House (Well I saw the outside on my senior trip, We had tickets to go in but the line was so long. The driver told us the gate would probably shut before we could get in.)

(87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating .

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life ( my son, Keith from drowning0

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous (according who you consider famous)

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a lawsuit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee and a few of my own additions....

100. Ridden an elephant

101. Hiked over the Continental Divide

102. Toured an underground copper mine

a few of my own

103. seen a coal mine

104. eaten vension

105. play a musical instrument

Weeping & Rejoicing

Dear Friends,



Today, I weep and rejoice. I have 2 really good friends. However they are both are in different places in their lives. One tragically lost her only living son in a motorcycle accident 8 mos. ago. The other is finally getting to visit her daughter, who is in the Air Force and stationed in England.

The Bible tells in Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep."

So, today as I spend time with my friend M. I will weep with her for her loss. She is in the midst of such deep sorrow. Pray for her and myself. Pray that God will give me the words to minister to her. She has lost so much family in the 18 yrs that I have known her. She has only 1 brother left and she was the oldest of 6. She had 2 sons and both are gone in tragic circumstances.

I rejoice with my friend S. because she is getting to spend time with her oldest daughter. She is also getting to travel which I know she has longed to do. She has only spent one short 24 hour period with her daughter in the last 2 years. She was so excited when she left on Sunday. I am so excited for her.

Can you weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice?
I have been having a hard time getting past the fact that I have friends who could weep with our friend but could not rejoice with me this past summer.
My oldest son was married this past July. I invited many friends who I thought would love to rejoice with me even though we don't attend the same church anymore.

They chose to ignore this opportunity. I was really hurt by this. It really put a blight on that day for me. It has taken me sometime to process this. I choose to forgive and go on. I choose grace. I realize that most of these people do not realize that I even felt slighted.

I have heard preachers preach on this verse of scripture say that most of the time it is easier to weep with someone than to rejoice with someone. I have found that to be so. Do we find hard to rejoice over someone else's blessings? Do we feel like maybe we should be the one receiving the blessing or at least why not me too?

God's word also tell us that we are all part of the same body. We all are as believers part of the body of Christ. In 1 Cor. 12: 26 it says "And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it: or if one member is honored, all members rejoice with it."

My friends remember to weep and rejoice with our sisters and brothers in Christ.

Much Love
Linda

Monday, January 5, 2009

Joy Verse

Good afternoon friends.

I have been busy this morning making phone calls taking care of the insurance from the accident last week, and catching up on laundry.

Laundry is never ending at my house. I thought once the boys were grown it would get less. Boy, was I fooled. One has even left the nest. He was married this summer. However, I seem to always to be doing laundry.I also have a roast in the oven for dinner.


In addition to memorizing scripture with Beth I have decided to follow Marsha at http://marshahmusings.blogspot.com . She is doing a theme for verses each week. This week she has chosen Joy as the theme.

I have chosen


Psalm 16:11 "You will show me the path of life. In Your presence is fullness of Joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.


Just think God will show me the path for my life. If I will listen to Him and obey Him. I will find fullness of Joy. I will be at His right hand and there I find pleasures forevermore.

Have you considered the right hand of God. You find David speaking of God's right hand numerous times in the Psalms. I know one thing that when God holds you by the right hand you are blessed. You are also protected. The other thing I know that God's left hand is the one he uses for judgement.

Because of that I always want God to hold me by the right hand. Do you have Joy in your life today? I pray that you do.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Bless the Lord

The Lord woke me early this morning around 4 a.m. I was trying to go over the scripture in my head that I am memorizing Psalm 134:1& 2. However, all I could remember was "Behold, Bless the Lord." I could not even remember the next word or phrase. As I lay there, I began to ponder what it meant to Bless the Lord.

We all know what it means for the Lord to bless us but do we know how to bless the Lord. Did we know that He wants to be Blessed? I got up with my Bible to see research what it actually means to Bless the Lord.

I went first to the passage I am trying to memorize. The next words are "all you servants of the Lord." I believe that may be why I could not remember anymore this morning, God was talking directly to me not everyone else last night. Because I could remember verse 2 "Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and Bless the Lord."

So first off we know to bless the Lord is to Praise the Lord. I then began to crossrference Bless the Lord. The next scripture I came to was Psalm 34:1 where we are told to "Bless the Lord at all times." That means no matter what I am doing my life should bless the Lord. The verse also tell me that His praise should continually be in my mouth. Verse 3 of the same Psalm tells me to magnify the Lord and to exalt Him.

I should be quick to give the Lord praise. He should be magnified in every situation. What does magnify mean? If we think about a magnifying glass, it makes the thing larger or prominent. We should make the Lord prominent in our lives. If we exalt something, we raise it up. We should lift the Lord up, so the world can see that is first in our lives.

I then went to Psalm 63:4 " I will Bless You while I live." Why ? The preceding verses and the ones to follow tell us because :

1. He satisfies my thirst.

2. He satisfies my longing.

3 I have seen His power and His glory.

4. His loving kindness is better than life.

5. He is my help

6.His right hand upholds me.


Then lastly I went to Psalm 103:1 where I am instructed to "Bless His Holy Name." Here are some of the blessings that He has bestowed upon us and all the more reason to Bless Him. Forget not all His benefits

1. He has healed all my diseases

2 He has redeemed my life from destruction

3. He has crowned me with loving kindness and tender mercies.

4. He has satisfied my mouth with good things.

5. He executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.

6. He makes His ways known to His people.

7. He is merciful and gracious.

8. He is slow to anger and abundant in mercy.



I praise the Lord for all His benefits to me. His tender mercies and loving kindness, His protection, His provision of salvation, His redemption. I appreciate the fact that He has made His ways known to me through His Word. Would you join with me in Blessing the Lord?

Friday, January 2, 2009

Eyes On the Road

Well, today has been another day for our dear Lord to teach me again. We all know that we are supposed to keep our eyes on the road. We are not supposed to look off , be changing radio stations, or be picking things up out of the floor.

Guess what I did today. Yes, I took my eyes off the road. I just left home to go the bank . I was slowing down for the light. My bank deposit fell in the floor. I bent over to pick it up. All of the sudden, I felt and heard crunch. I had hit the back of the SUV in front of me.

My first thoughts were "Oh no!". Then "Maybe it didn't do much damage." It didn't do much to the vehicle that I hit but you should see mine. When I saw that my hood had started folding in on itself. I knew that my husband would be upset.You see we only have liablity on a 14 yr. old vehicle. So now we are going to have to fix this vehicle or get another one. Really don't want to start making car payments.

The gentleman that I hit was really nice. He said that all that mattered is that no one was hurt. I am so glad that he had this attitude. I was afraid that when he got out of his vehicle that he would be very angry . He was in fact one of my husband's customers. My husband repairs transmissions.

I have been trying to meditate more on God's Word and learn from the things that happen in my life. I was thinking about what I could learn spiritually from what happened to me today. I thought about the fact in the last few months, I have been taking my eyes off the road. If I continue to do that , I am going get involved in a crash that may involve more than material goods.

The Lord also brought to remembrance the scripture .

Philippians 3:14

" I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Have I taken my eyes off the goal and the prize? I think God is redirecting me back on the road and my attention back to the goal and the prize.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Welcome

Welcome to my blog.
Today is my first blog. I have named my blog Thy grace is sufficient. Because God's grace is truly sufficient. He has proven that over and over again to me through the years. As we get to know each other I will share the many ways that God has shown His grace to me.

Today on the Living Proof Blog, Beth has asked us to start scripture memorization. My scripture for Jan. 1, 2009 is Psalm 134:1&2.

"Behold, bless the Lord, All of you servants of the Lord, Who by night stand in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and bless the Lord."

I asked the Lord what scripture He had for me this morning. This is what He led me to. I am going to memorize it and meditate on it for the next 15 days. I heard James Kennedy on the radio yesterday speaking on meditating on the Word. I intend to that into practice more this year.

I pray that everyone has a blessed New Year.