Things Not Yet Seen . . .

In July, I received a "Notice of Award" letter from the Social Security Administration.  The letter explained the benefits that I am to receive now that I am eligible for disability.  The letter indicated in detail the amount of money that I should expect to be deposited into my account for retroactive pay from the following year.  However, the letter did not indicate the exact date that I will be receiving these funds.  So with great anticipation, I daily check my bank account to hopefully find these funds deposited.  As of today there is no evidence of this promised deposit.  I choose not to get discouraged because with full assurance in my heart, I believe I will receive the amount that has been promised to me.

                                                                         Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
                                                        
                                                                         Hebrews 6:12
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Daily we can embrace God's Word, which is full of wonderful promises to those who believe.  We must not become discouraged when we do not see the evidence of these promises in our lives.  By faith and patience we can anticipate with full assurance that we will receive all that God has promised to us. 

                                                                          Morning Prayer
Dear Lord,
    Sometimes I do get discouraged because I am not seeing the evidence of Your promises fulfilled in my life.  Some days my faith account just comes up empty and I question where You are?  Oh Lord, help me to cling to Your promises to me in Your Word and strengthen my heart with faith and patience to continue to believe in the evidence of things not yet seen.  Amen ~



                                                                          

"Pink Piggy Bank". . .

Early Friday morning the grandchildren and I were searching for lunch money for school.  Little Nick who is seven came to me with a hand full of change.  "Grandma, I want you to keep this money."  I gasped because this was pretty much all he had in his bank!  "Oh Nick!  I can't take your money!  Honey, you keep it in your bank."  He was insistent... "No Grandma I want you to have it!"  So reluctantly I put it in my wallet.  I was tempted to just put it back in his little bank, but something told me that would be wrong.  Here we are wanting to teach our children to be kind and loving and giving and then discourage them?

Sunday morning at church I spotted our "Pink Piggy Bank" that is for collecting money for the children's church supplies.  After the service I called Nick.  "Nick, guess what you did with the money you gave me?  I put it in the "Pink Piggy Bank" at church.  You gave to the children at church for their craft supplies.  Nick, today you gave to God!"  This really pleased him . . .

                                                                   Matthew 25:40
In as much as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.

                                                                    2 Corinth. 9:7
Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Nick runs from me when I want to give him "Grandma kisses", but I knew this little gift to me was his way of expressing his love for me and my heart was so touched!  I wanted to take this love gesture and let him know that when he gave to me .... he also gave to God!

                                                                    Morning Prayer
Dear God,
   Just like a little child, from a loving heart, may I be a cheerful giver.  Please bring to my remembrance that when I give to others, I am really giving to You!  Amen~ 

The "Rich & Beautiful"

The most beautiful sound in my ears is the pounding thunder of the ocean waves!  This is music to my soul and I can hear God speaking to me so clearly!  I just close my eyes and listen with my heart.  The most "Rich & Beautiful" people you will see with your eyes are on the beach!  Johnny and I walked hand in hand with our eyes bugging out of our heads and our jaws dropping!  Their sculptured tan bodies on their bicycles, skateboards and skates were quickly passing us by!  Hey!  I have wheels too!  Mine are just attached to an oxygen machine!  We looked at them and then at each other and couldn't  help but laugh!  We hardly appear to be the "Rich & Beautiful" people of the world. 

On our walks I could hear the Lord speaking into my heart, encouraging me that I no longer walk in fear of what people are saying about my physical image.  He truly has healed my heart from emotional disturbance that comes from comparing myself to others.  My home may not be on the beach, but He dwells with me and that makes my  home beautiful.  My heart no longer envies the "Rich and Beautiful" people of this world.  In the fullness of His joy I could fully celebrate His life in me!

                                                                       Psalm 65:7
(The Lord) who stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves and the tumult (emotional disturbance) of the people.  

                                                                       2 Corinthians 10:12
For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves; but they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

                                                                       Morning Prayer
Dear Lord,
    Thank you that I am "Rich & Beautiful".  Rich in Your love and Beautiful because of the Holiness of Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives inside of me.  Amen ~ 

The Love We Shared. . .

Our vacation last week was nothing at all like we had originally planned.  Our Lord had His own plans for us and as always they were for our good.  Johnny and I spent 3 days in San Diego just the two of us.  My original plan was to spend hours sitting on the beach drawing closer to God. However, God's plan was for me to spend hours sitting with my husband and drawing closer to him.  This was the first vacation for my husband in ten years. . . I just wanted him to have a wonderful time.  Johnny knew how much I wanted to go to the ocean and all he wanted was for me to have a wonderful time.  So our hearts were bent towards one another, caring more for the other than for ourselves.     

The Lord blessed us with such a lovely little place to stay and the weather was perfect!  Everyone we met was so friendly and courteous.  We found a great place to eat and the shops were fun to browse.  Nothing at all could have been more perfect!  However, the love we shared with one another will always be the utmost and forever in my memory. 

                                                                     John 13:34
A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

                                                                    Morning Prayer
Dear God,
    Thank you Lord, that your heart is always bent towards watching your children show love for one another.  You take such pleasure in this!  As our love grows for You, our love will continue to grow for one another.  Amen ~    

We can surely know......

It's been ten years since Johnny and I spent time with our close friends at some beach front property in California.  I remember not feeling very well and within a couple weeks was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis.  On Monday we will be returning to the same location with the same friends, however I am surely not the same.  I can't begin to share with you how God has truly blessed me, in spite of many trials these last ten years.  He has fulfilled His promises to me in every single way.  My heart overflows with thanksgiving to my precious Lord.  I'm so eager to sit quietly with Him by the ocean and pour out my praises to Him for all His goodness to me these last ten years.

                                                                       Isaiah 43:12
Fear not; for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.  When thou passest through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.  

We never know what trials we will be facing in our future.  But we can surely know this one thing!  God calls us by name and we are His.  He will not allow us to be overtaken by our troubles.  He will take care of us!

                                                                       Deuteronomy 31:8
And the Lord, He it is who doth go before thee; He will be with thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee; fear not, neither be dismayed. 

                                                                        Morning Prayer
Dear God,
    We can face our tomorrows with a knowing in our hearts that You will never leave us or forsake us.  Each day, You will draw us closer to Your side and show us Your love and faithfulness.  Thank you God.  Amen ~  

The Words that I Speak....

                                 "Who's words have made the most impact on your life?" 

If your answer to this question is, "my own words" then you have answered this question correctly.  Yes, you can be influenced by the words of others however, until those words become your words, they have little impact upon your life.  What we speak influences our own soul even for all eternity.  

                                                                   Romans 10:9,10
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

If I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God who came to pay the penalty of my sins and sits on the right hand of God interceding for me ..... I will speak it and the impact on my life will be for all eternity.

                                                                   Matthew 10:32,33
                                                                    (Jesus speaking)
Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father, who is in heaven.  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father, who is in heaven.

                                                                   Morning Prayer
Dear Lord,
    Give to me ears to hear the words that I speak as they influence what I believe in my heart.  I pray Your praises will continually be in my mouth.  Amen

Turn Your Eyes.....

                                                          Turn your eyes upon Jesus
                                                          Look full into His wonderful face
                                                          And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
                                                          In the light of His glory and grace.

Four nights in a row during my sleep.... as I rolled over and my eyes momentarily opened, I could see the moon shining in my window and reflecting it's light upon my face.  My heart smiled and I was filled with His peace, knowing that God watches over me even in my sleep.  When my eyes are opened and I am looking into His face . . . there is such a sweet presence of His glory and grace.

                                                                             Psalm 33:18
Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear him, upon those who hope in his mercy.  To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.  Our soul waiteth for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.  For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.

                                                                     Morning Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
    I will turn my eyes towards You and I will look fully into Your wonderful face and the troubles in my heart will grow strangely dim because of Your glory and Your grace and Your love for me.  Amen ~ 

Birthing Pains....

I remember asking the nurse during my labor, "Are the pains going to get harder than this?"  So far I knew the pain I was going through was bearable, but I didn't know how much more I would be able to tolerate?  I thought to myself, "If only I could know what was around the corner for me?"  Well that was thirty-seven years ago and I not only survived those birthing pains with my first child Kelly, but later gave birth to Kimberly and Kathleen.  As I matured, I learned with my last two deliveries not to focus on the pain, but to focus on something else and not fight the suffering.  What a huge difference that made the whole experience!  And I praise God for the fruit of my womb! 

Today in our suffering and pain, we may ask the Lord, "Is this situation going to get worse?  What are we going to do next month?  Where is all this all going to end?  I don't know how much more I can tolerate!"  We are not only experiencing the pain of this day, but taking on the pain of our future.  We feel so out of control of our tomorrows.  If only we would learn to focus on the Lord and trust Him for His faithfulness and His good purposes  in our lives.  We will someday praise God for the fruit produced from our times of difficulty.  

                                                               Matthew 6:33-34
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.

                                                                  Isaiah 50:7
For the Lord God will help me;  therefore shall I set my face like a flint and I know that I shall not be ashamed.   

                                                                 Don't try to escape your suffering .....
                                                                 Try to learn from it.
                                                                 Don't pray it away....
                                                                 Pray that you receive the full value!

                                                                 Morning Prayer
Dear Lord,
    Help me to focus on You and not my trials and pain.  I want to fully trust and obey You in these difficult times and receive the full value of Your will in my life!  Have Your own way with me Lord.  Amen ~ 

Grace....

                      Grace:  Divine influence acting in man.
                      Gracious:  Having a showing of kindness, courtesy, mercy, compassion.  

When I met Naomi Wright, thirty five years ago, she was truly an example of a gracious woman.  The divine influence (Holy Spirit) living and acting in her made such an impact in my life!  She was so loving, kind, humble, gentle, compassionate and merciful.  Honestly, she took my breath away.  I was so forever inflenced by her example of the love of Jesus Christ.  

Each morning when we open our eyes . . . little do we know and understand that Jesus Christ is right there by our side waiting to be gracious unto us.  He longs for us to fully know the fullness of His love... His kindness.... His humble heart.... His gentle ways.... His compassion.... His forgiveness for our sins.  

Oh that we would know His grace and become a divine influence to others.

                                                                      Ephesians 3:19-20
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that we might be filled with all the fullness of God.  Now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

                                                                     Morning Prayer
Dear Lord,
    Thank you Lord for your grace extended to me.  May I be mindful today of extending that same grace to others....  May your divine influence be evident in me today.  Amen ~


 

Even The Smallest of Details......

Last week I promised my sister-in-law that I would take her to run errands on Thursday.  This week has turned out to be very busy for me and my energy level just hasn't been up to par.  I have wrestled back and forth if I should call her and break my commitment to help her.  However, I just wasn't feeling right about doing that because I want to be a woman of my word.  I prayed to God that He would help guide me and that I would trust Him for the right outcome.  "Lord, please work this out according to Your will for me."

                                                                   Psalm 62:8
Trust in Him at all times, ye people, pour out your heart before Him.  God is a refuge for us.  Selah

Early this morning my phone was ringing.... it was my sister-in-law. "Debbie, I have been thinking about Thursday and I'm going to have my granddaughter take me to run errands.  I'm not at peace about you doing that with all that you have going on right now."

                                 The Lord spoke to her heart on behalf of me.  Wow!

                                                                   Psalm 71:1-3
In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion.  Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape; incline thine ear unto me, and save me.  Be thou my strong habitation, where unto I may continually resort.

                                                                   Morning Prayer
Dear Lord,
       Wow!  Thank you Lord, that no concern of ours is too small for Your concern.  No burden that we lay at Your feet will escape Your thoughtful consideration.  You take such delight in revealing Your love to us even in the smallest of details.  You are our Lord who we may continually resort.  Amen ~