Philippians 4:6-7

⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 62:5-8

⁵ Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
    for my hope is in him.
⁶ He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress where I will not be shaken.
⁷ My victory and honor come from God alone.
    He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
⁸ O my people, trust in him at all times.
    Pour out your heart to him,
    for God is our refuge.

Anxiety and fear....those are some bad things.  A lot of the time we are anxious and fearful because we don't know what's going to happen in a certain situation.  When you are struggling with those things you need to remember that God is in control of your life....completely. 

This week has been hard in so many ways and I have let fear and anxiety get in and mess with me.  I know that God is telling me, through His Word tonight, to talk to Him about it.  Put all my trust in Him. Don't let this stuff shake me.  Stay strong because....God's strong right hand holds me securely and He won't let me down! 

My Soul Longs For You

My soul longs for You Lord.  When I don't even know what's going on inside....when I don't understand the feeling of emptiness....it's You Lord that I am missing.  You Lord that I need to hear from....that I need to touch....that I need to touch me....You Lord.  Please reach down and take my hand.  Wrap Your arms around me and hold on....never let me go.  That's what I long for sometimes Lord....all the time really. 

In the middle of the night when sleep won't come....when the stillness is just too quiet....come and comfort me Lord.  Let me know that You are near....right beside me.  Let me know that no matter how I feel....lonely....afraid....sick....tired....restless....You Lord are here with me.  Always. 

Then....when I finally sleep....when rest falls on me....comfort me.  Let me feel Your presence wash over me and linger....like the dew on the grass.  Help me to feel Your love and grace....Your mercy....as I sleep. 

When I awake in the morning....help me to know that it's a new day....and all I need for the day is You Lord.  Give me peace and hope to walk through my day....knowing that every thing will be alright as long as I take you with me....into each moment. 

Lamentations 3:22

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.

3:25

The Lord is good to those who depend on Him,
to those who search for Him.

Oh Lord, please....help me to always depend on You! 


"until we see JESUS....face to face....

Fundamentals

Have there been some Sundays when you have just really needed to hear a good sermon....and it didn't happen?  There are times when I do and today was one of those times....and it didn't happen.  In fact....I didn't hear a sermon at all....it was one endless announcement.  Am I complaining....probably a bit.  The funny thing is it all kind of ties in to something I read before going to church.

I was reading about football....the Packers and 49er's game.  They were saying how it was going to be really cold and the players would have many challenges to face with the weather conditions.  They said the players would have to go back, focus and be extremely detailed doing the fundamentals they had learned.  When I read this that sentence jumped off the page!

I believe God let me read that this morning because it's what He has told me I need to do this year....refocus.  Go back....retrace my steps and do the things I used to do on a consistent basis.  Be detailed about doing the fundamentals I learned in the beginning!  So when challenges like today come along....just step back and refocus.

Psalms 46:10a
Be still and know that I am GOD.

John 3:30
He must become greater and greater,
and I must become less and less.

These verses remind me that GOD is in control....not me.  I just need to focus on HIM and what HE has for me.  Let HIM become the number ONE in my life.  What I want doesn't matter....only GOD and HIS plan for my life. 

"until we see JESUS....face to face"

   

Time To Refocus

Last week I was thinking about what my new "one word" would be for 2014.  What first came to my mind was that I needed to go back and start at the beginning.  "Recapture"....if you will....a little of my drive to learn all I could about God, the Bible and basically living the Christian life....developing a better understanding of all I didn't know.  The more I thought of all of this the word "listen" came to mind.  Still, not being sure, I asked God is that it...."listen?"  I knew that it certainly couldn't hurt me to do more of that!  Immediately the word "refocus" came to me.  I knew that was it.  Somehow to me, "refocus" tied all of what I knew I needed to do this year together.  So that's my "one word" for 2014...."Refocus".  I believe it is what the Lord wants me to do.

Refocus....

My definition of  "refocus" for what I need in 2014. 

To adjust the lens until I get a clear and sharply defined picture of a person....a clear image.  To focus in until what I see in my eye....my mind....and my heart is clear.  No obstructions....not blurry....a sharp image.  I want to see clearly....and know without any doubts!  I want the Lord to be my focal point for the year....actually for my entire life.

My vision....my path....at times in 2013 got a little obscured.  Life happened a lot.  I didn't go back to my old ways but I also didn't always stay true to how the Lord wants me to be.  Thankfully, He is always willing to forgive.  He shows us mercy and grace whenever we ask Him to forgive us....as long as we are sincere.

I want to know Him fully and unobscured....as completely as I can.  I don't want anything in my relationship with the Lord to be blurred.  When I see Him....face to face....I want to stand there knowing that I have done all I can to know Him as fully and completely as was possible here on earth.

It's always nice to have a verse to go along with your "word".  I didn't have one until I got about half way through writing this post....

1 Corinthians 13:12

¹² For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [by God].

"until we see JESUS....face to face...."

JESUS JOY

Today I pray for you to have joy....JESUS Joy!  JESUS is the one that brought joy to the world.  In fact....

                                                                        JESUS is Joy.

Without the birth of JESUS we wouldn't know real joy.  Why?  Because real joy is on the inside of us....in our hearts and souls.  I call it JESUS Joy!  When we accepted JESUS as our SAVIOR, HIS Joy was placed inside of us.  It's a joy that those who don't know HIM don't have.  It's a joy that only believers have inside their hearts.  JESUS Joy!  We may go through many things in our lives that are hard but we can still have a joy inside of us that only other believers in JESUS have.  A deep abiding joy....

                                                                         JESUS Joy

I am thankful today that JESUS came to earth and was born to be our SAVIOR.  If at times you feel you have nothing to be thankful for remember this verse....

Luke 2:11

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a SAVIOR, 

          which is CHRIST the LORD.

Prayer Request For Lisa

I wanted to put out a prayer request for Lisa (Never Forsaken).  She blogs at My Hearts Home. The link is http://theheartandhome.blogspot.com/.  Lisa just found out she has breast cancer and will have a double mastectomy on December 26. This is a little of what she wrote to me on 12/15 after her biopsy appointment.

I am almost strangely calm and peaceful...though we know that is the Lord Jesus and His amazing grace and peace.

Throughout the whole thing I kept reciting:

The joy of the Lord is my strength...and In His presence is fullness of joy!

Even the nurse who held my hand kept saying how warm her hand felt...and that she never had warm hands like that.

Today Lisa received some good news. Here is the comment she left on her blog.

A thousand thank you's are not enough to express my heartful of gratitude to my dear friends who are praying, and sharing scripture with me!
Brenda, those scriptures are only confirmation of what the Lord has been telling me since day one of this!

I have to Praise Jesus today....My x-ray and blood work came back...everything is normal including liver function and clear chest...This is big since this cancer usually goes after the liver...and into the chest wall!
I was so worried about that because I saw my chest x-ray and thought I saw spots on it (when I had it done)...and so I called the doctor today and they checked everything for me. This has eased my mind, and I am ready to go forward again!
Jesus still has me safe in His embrace...sometimes He carries me.
Blessings & Love!
I will keep you updated..here in the comments section.
I promise I won't make this blog all about cancer...It is all about Jesus and me!

Please remember Lisa's husband Jeff, daughters and rest of the family as they walk through this together. 

A Morning Prayer

This morning Lord we surrender all to You
Draw us close to You I pray and never....ever....let us go!
You are our all in all
Jesus....Lord Jesus....
Fill us up with You this morning and throughout the day
Keep us coming back to You when we need strength
Help us to call out Your name when things get tough....
Jesus we cry out to You for Your strength....Your peace....Your protection
Send Your healing oil down to cover all of our sicknesses
Remind us to praise You Lord no matter what may come our way today
Help us to keep You in the forefront of our thoughts
Shine Your light through us so that others may see just how good You really are
We love You Lord Jesus and we thank You for all You have done
Especially for saving us and giving us Your promise of life with You
Thank You....Thank You....Thank You....for everything!
I come before You with all of this in Your name Jesus
Amen