Showing posts with label Beauty In His Grip. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beauty In His Grip. Show all posts

Saturday, January 3, 2015

2015 - The Seasons of Life

Another year has begun and I find myself reading many posts of other bloggers who have chosen different ways to prepare their hearts for the new year. Some used the same old plan..choose a word...set goals...plan to make certain changes. Others have been quite unique and different. I personally have found it a challenge to do any specific planning or goal-setting. I think that may have to do with how things went for me in 2014. Nothing seemed to go as hoped or planned. Even the word I chose for the year, "fervent" seemed to fade from my focus about halfway through the year. If I learned anything last year, it was that God is in control and He will take us where He wants to take us. I learned that prayer is vital, but not to just get what I want or ask for, but more to help me grow in my relationship with Him. I learned that life is really a journey and as long as we let the Lord be our Navigator, we will be o.k., even along the bumpy, curved, chuck-hole paths. I learned that there is  joy in the journey, but we have to be aware of and not miss those "joy" moments....being grateful for the small things, instead of just waiting for the big things to happen. Each season of our lives takes us down different roads...some are much more difficult than others, and sometimes we make unwise choices, because of our own selfish desires. But God is faithful and true! We can always trust in His promises to us. 

 This year, I'm not choosing just "one word" for the whole year! I'm choosing many words (and verses) that will help navigate me where I am able to focus during different seasons of my life (not literal seasons of the year.)

 Winter - A time to rest and wait and listen
Contemplate; ponder; treasure up
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:19)

 Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord. (Psalm 107:43)

 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.(Matt. 11:28)

Spring - A time to start fresh and anew
Renewed; 
in attitude of mind (Eph. 4:23; Ro 12:1-3); 
as a new creation, in knowledge (Galatians 6:15); 
renewed like an eagle (Psa. 103:5); 
in strength (Is. 40:31);  
day by day...
 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.(2 Corinthians 4:16)

Summer - A time of hardship, loss, lonliness, and drought
Thirst; 
In soul/spirit (to thirst after God.) 
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness.(Matthew 5:6)

 Isaiah 26:9; Psalm 73:25 Psalm 63:1, Psalm 107:9,  Revelation 22:17

 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? (Psalm 42:2)

Autumn - A time to seek after Him 
A time to seek;
But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.(Deuteronomy 4:29)

 1 Chronicles 16:11, Psalm 14:2, Psalm 34:14, Psalm 63:1. Lamentations 3:25, Matthew 6:33


May the Lord also guide you and be your purpose in each and every season of this year and all of your life!!


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Tuesday, July 15, 2014

God's Promises - Let Hope Rise

As Christians, our lives are built around promise...
promise of: 
- salvation
 - eternal life
 - heaven
 - forgiveness
and the list goes on...
In everything, I have learned that - 
God's Promises

"For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the Divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world ..." 2 Peter 1:4
What is Divine Promise ?
An assurance given by God that He will or will not perform a certain act. God has made 2 kinds of promises: 
1.    Conditional (when He's willing to do something under certain circumstances - Romans 10:9-10) 
and 
2.    Unconditional.(Genesis 12:1- there many unconditional promises in the Bible)

God’s Precious Promises

How wonderful it is that in these unsettled times we have a promise that is far more sure than anything we’ve ever had our hands on. Here are some of God's "Divine" promises to us! 
  1. That God is with me wherever I go – Joshua 1:9
  2. If I keep my mind on Him, I’ll have that perfect peace – Isaiah 26:3
  3. He’ll never leave us or forsakes us!  - Hebrews 13:5
  4. His peace will pass all understanding – Philippians 4:7
  5. He cares for me – I Peter 5:7
  6. All things work together for my good – Romans 8:28
  7. In this world I’ll have trouble, but in Christ we have victory over it or through it– John 16:33
  8. I can escape temptation – 1 Corinthians 10:13
  9. God will supply all my needs – Philippians 4:19
  10. If I ask for wisdom God will supply it – James 1:6
  11. I’m forgiven of all – 1 John 1:9
  12. I will have eternal life – I John 5:11
source

 I may not always feel it, but I know it!

 Why I can know that God will keep His promises:
  • because He is truthful, faithful(1 Cor. 1:9), immutable(doesn't change-Malachi 3:6), and loving.
  • He has the 2 things that are important to trust someone who makes a promise...His:
  1. Charactor, which He has proven to be pure and noble throughout the Bible and in our lives.
  2. Abiliby to carry His promises out.
SO...

"Remember your word to your servant,
    for You have given me hope.
My comfort in my suffering is this:

    Your promise preserves my life." Psalm 119:49-50


"Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— the LORD, who remains faithful forever.”
Psalm 146:5-6

“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

"...in the HOPE of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, but at the proper time manifested... "Titus 1:2-3

A message from Sheila Walsh and a book I want to get for my personal library...
God has been SO gracious and kind! I continue in my pursuit of grateful sharing at "Multitudes on Mondays", as I  Dare to Share the gifts He gives!
1,733 - Attending a beautiful Christian wedding (a second cousin of my hubby's) and seeing God's love in their lives.
1,734 - Getting to spend the weekend with our good friends from Ohio.
1,735 - The freedom to worship together on Sunday morning!
1,736 - The sad ending of an awesome weekend...but the assurance of seeing one another again, soon! (Our friend's daughter is attending our local Christian college in the fall.)
1,737 - Blueberry picking season!
1,738 - Having a few days of cooler weather.(60s and 70s)
1,739 - God's promises, that give us all hope!!
1,740 - Singing this song in worship and praise, with hope, because I know He keeps His promises!



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Monday, July 1, 2013

God's Amazing Grace

 
In church on Sunday, we sang Chris Tomlin's version of "Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone." But we sang the original lyrics, which I didn't realize he had changed in his version of the song. 

Of course the first few verses most of us know:
Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I'm found.
Was blind, but now, I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
 
Then the original lyrics are:
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come
'Tis grace that brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home
(I love this!! There have been many dangers in my life and especially in my son's life this past week. Someone had broken into his apartment and stole some of his roommates things. Nothing of his was taken and he was not at home. He also had a couple of accidents, one at work and one at home, that weren't serious, but could have been. Through all these situations, God brought my son "safe thus far", just as this verse says. I am so very thankful for His care and protection!)

When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we first be- gun

I also love this verse, which Tomlin changes in his version. I think of heaven and no time limits and pure sun! My favorite time of year is summer and I love it when the sun is shining, so this gives me great comfort.

I like the lyrics that Tomlin wrote, especially the chorus. . .
 My chains are gone, I've been set free.
My God, my Savior has ransomed me.
And like a flood, His mercy rains.
Unending love, amazing grace.
 
But I wish he had kept the original verses. They have such true meaning and depth for me. 

As we go through the week and many of us celebrate the independence of our nation, may we remember His wonderful grace upon us!! Where would we be without it?
 
Continuing to count my blessings, one by one at   "Multitude on Mondays".
1,391 - An awesome day with my best friend from college days.
1,392 - My ladies Bible study group. Such lovely, fun women!
1,393 - Some very gloomy, rainy weather for several days.
1,394 - A few rough days, but the Lord got me through.
1,395 - Attending a 2-day Christian music festival.
 1,396 - Being blessed by musicians, like Kari Jobe and TobyMac.
1,397 - Fresh strawberries that made a delicious shortcake.
1,398 -  Catching a 16 inch bass off of our pier!
1,399 -  A nice, relaxing weekend.  
1,400 - God, protecting my son from any great harm this past week.
1,401 - A great sermon on the subject of grace at church this past Sunday.

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Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Capture and Savor Each Moment

"I'm convinced that the whole world is better when we,
as individuals,
capture and savor each moment as the gift that it is,
embrace the challenge or joy of it,
and thereby transform it
with the magic of creative posibility.
Life, for the most part, is what we make of it.
We have been given a responsibility
to live it fully, joyfully, completely,
and richly
in whatever span of time God grants us
on this earth."
(Luci Swindoll)
Continuing to count my blessings, one by one at   "Multitude on Mondays".
1,381 - The moments I find to take a picture almost every day of God's creation.
1,382 - Enjoying all the different animals that I get to see daily, now that we are living on a lake.
1,383 - Fishing has been good.
1,384 - The weather has been, for the most part, really nice, too!
1,385 - Learning to not let daily occurrences get me down, but, just like the Luci Swindoll quote above, remember that "Life, for the most part, is what we make of it."
1,386 - Watching my dog chase the neighborhood squirrel up a tree, and then the squirrel getting bold and chattering down at him.

1,387 - It almost looks like they are carrying on a conversation (maybe more of an argument)!


1,388 - Finally, my dog hears me calling him and gives up the fight to "get the squirrel." Looks like the squirrel won! LOL!!

1,389 - A wonderful new coffee shop opening up near my house!!
1,390 - We FINALLY officially can drive our new pontoon boat out on the water! We purchased it before Memorial Day, but have had many issues! I definitely learned patience the past few weeks!




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Everything is Blooming!!

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