Ever present help and strength in trouble…. We can do this!!!

Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. 2Therefore we will not fear, though the Earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,3 though it's waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging."....10 "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the Earth. ". 11The Lord almighty is with us The God of Jacob is our fortress. "

Reading Psalm 46 today I'm reminded that no matter what I face God is bigger.  He is with me fighting for me and with me, I need not lose heart, or give into defeated thoughts.   I am more then a conqueror in Jesus Christ even when the battles promise to be tough.    My mom has been falling a lot lately, the doctors have done everything they can do.  A dear friend of mine just went through this with her father.   She is a much more patient lady, then I am.    I really don't want to deal with this.....my friend reminded me, it is a privilege to spend mom's final time with her.   This final time could be a long time.  The battle looks daunting.   Then Psalm 46.   God is my refuge and my strength, ever present help in trouble.....Be still and know that He is God!!     We all face battles we would prefer to avoid... Don't tell God you've got a big problem, tell your problem you've got a big God.  We can do all things Through Christ who gives us strength! ( Philippians 4:13).  We are never alone! ( Mathew28:20)

When I first quit drinking it seemed pretty daunting too…..one day at a time, He gives us enough for one day at a time

Training for my first Marathon, College Sports, Ironman, Chattajacks.  All seemed daunting,  all have been very doable!!

Thorns?

Mark 4:18-9"Still others, like seeds sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word making it unfruitful."  Lately, I have been preoccupied with the cares of this world.   I’ve been struggling trusting Jesus, to fill me and supply my needs.  I have been trying to "fix things" myself.  When I try to take control of ___ that "thing" or desire can be something I think of more than resting in God's promise,  to be with me always and give me life in abundance.     Focusing on the thorns, hurts my ability to rest in the peace of God.   How are you doing on fixing your eyes on Jesus? Are you able to see Him or are you looking at the thorns?

God of my choices

Zephaniah 3:17 “ The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”   

I was talking with my mom last night, I was struggling with a decision I had made.  It’s to late to change my circumstances created by my decision.    Her simple advise was STOP lingering on something that is over.      When I read this verse today, I am reminded that my relationship with God is never over and even in the middle of my poor decisions, He rejoices over me with singing.    How beautiful!!  When we are in Christ, God quiets us in His love and rejoices over us with singing.  Simply because we are His.😇❤️🙏🦅.  Live loved today and always!!! He is with you!! He loves you!!! Even in the middle of your poor choices.  Let Him be the God of your choices.   😇

Stand loved even in rejection!

Psalm 118:22 "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone."   Last weekend I was invited to tell jokes and then share the Gospel at a friends birthday party.  She was excited to have the Gospel shared with her grandchildren.  I have a skit where I do a spoof on Richard Simmons and then I talk about fleeting happiness verses the Joy of the Lord in our hearts.     Everything went well except when I did a exercise dance....a few people were offended that I danced.  They got up and left and then things got noisy and for a few minutes all I could see was rejection.    It's hard to go on in the middle of rejection.    After the presentation, I was a approached by some members of my friends family and they  told me they enjoyed the presentation and one young boy particularly, came up and said thanks for talking about what you did.  I am like that too...it was a beautiful moment for Jesus.   Jesus was rejected can you imagine what He went through for us?   Yet,  because of His suffering, because of His stripes we are healed!!   This life can feel great, and it can be very painful.   When you feel rejected, remember you are never rejected by the one who holds you for eternity.    Matthew 28:20 " Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.   He will never reject you.....don't reject Him!  James 4:7 Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and God will draw near to you."😇🙏❤️🚂🦅

Zim and zigor

 Colossians 3:23 "whatever you do work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."   Monday, Monday.... let's give it to the Lord with Zim and zigor!!

He is always with you, are you always with Him?

I look at my list relationships and see how they have been lost because of my own laziness.   If I want to maintain relationships with anyone I have to continually reach out.  Many people don't take the time to invest in their relationships.  Social visits were replaced with phone calls, phone calls with text messages, then….too busy.  When I look at my lost humane relationships it reminds me to not do the same with God.  " Matthew 6:33 "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you."   If I am feeling "lack" in my life it's usually because I am not maintaining my first relational priority.     How are you doing keeping up, on your relationship with God, He is always with you, are you always with HIM?

New every morning!

Lamentations 3:22 “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.”   This is a beautiful day!!! I’m overlooking green grass, just witnessed the "Son Rise".  Later it's supposed to rain but for now...Amazing!! ( The rain bring the green grass).  Life  is here there and everywhere.  Through it all, we can chosen to have joy and hope in the Lord.  Today see what’s right! Be thankful for it😇❤️🙏✝️💃🦅

My food is to do my Fathers will

John 4:34 " My Food", Jesus said, "is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work."   Seeing, doing Gods work as food for my soul is motivating.   I know when I walk in service work it helps me.   Random acts of kindness is the simplest form of service work I do.   A random act of kindness can be as simple as using the check out persons name and thanking them for helping me  get my groceries.  Find something you like about someone and tell them.    It’s easy to do kind things.  It takes practice for random acts of kindness, to flow from us naturally.    Be inspired to intentionally go and do !😇❤️🙏✝️🦅

God sees your heart

 God sees your ❤️ heart.     When I was a Fire Fighter I was on a call where a car hit a pedestrian crossing in the cross walk.  It was at night and the person crossing wore dark clothes.  The driver of the car, didn't see him, it was not a time a day where there was pedestrian traffic.   He was so upset about his part in the accident and his concern for the now patient that he was shaking and visibly in deep distress.  I pulled him aside and told him, "God see your heart, He knows you didn't do this on purpose.   God sees your heart!"   He immediately calmed down.   It is only in a moment of time that our lives can change, because of our actions or inactions devastation can take hold and last forever.   STOP!    We all mess up, God sees our hearts.   Repent, move forward in Christ and keep trying.   Accept the forgiveness Jesus died to give you and live in your right standing with God. Knowing you will stumble but your mistakes even if traffic do not define you.  Who you are in Jesus; defines you, washes you clean and makes you new...    Keep trying with a pure heart.❤️ Christ esteem not self eateem.  Be encouraged to see yourself as God sees you. If you are in Christ see He's you in right standing!! Go forth and live a life with your head up regardless of the past.   ( 5 minutes ago is just as over as 50 years ago).  Philippians 3:13 " Brothers I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." 

Moon … a faithful witness

Psalm 89:37” it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky”

Psalm 62:1”My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. 2He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”   

Last night the moon shinned so brightly in my room it’s moonbeams went right through the window and pierced my heart.   A friend of mine told me, he could see the moon from his bed. Since then I have I have always wanted to, but I started to think it wasn’t possible from my windows then last night…. Glorious.    Sometimes things we hope for seem so impossible, then God, then amazing !!   Our God is able to supply all our needs, even provide simple pleasures along the way.😇🙏❤️✝️🦅

Simple salvation

Romans 10;9 " That is you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved."  So simple, so true, no need to complicate our salvation.   Simply TRUST😇  live loved and saved!!

Happy Easter! Son day is here!!

Habakkuk 2:3 " Though it linger, wait for it."   Can you imagine the glory of the first Easter morning? They waited three days and WOW!! The Resurrected  King!!   Be patient and kind in your waiting, The Son has risen, His light now shines in You!!  😇🙏❤️☀️.  Happy happy Easter!!!

GREAT Friday!!

 “Let Jesus Christ come into your life and change you to be the person you really want to be.” Dr . David Jeremiah.   2Corinthians 5:17 “ Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”   This is a joyful message on a Good Friday.   The bleakness of this day, as Jesus died for us was followed by a newness that was unimaginable.  God is able to do the unimaginable!!! Believe and Trust Him He’s got this! God wants us well, By His stripes we are healed!   Walk in your newness of life!   Let go of the things that ensnare you, (we each have sin that hurts us) go forward in Jesus.  Let Him break the chains!!  That is why He suffered and died for us on Good Friday! He died so we can be New, forgiven and made right! That is good!!! I think it’s great….., maybe today should be called GREAT Friday!! ✝️🪨☀️😇🙏

Servants heart?

Philippians 2:7 "but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man He humbled Himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross!"    Can you imagine loving someone so very much that you leave your palace and humble yourself to serve and die for a person who is not even that nice to you?   That's our Jesus!!! While we were yet sinners, He gave up everything, became a servant, suffered and died so we can have right standing with God.   That's amazing love.    I have a tough time humbling myself.   Let alone stand in someone else’s shoes and take their deserved punishment for them.    These verses are helping me look at my heart.   Do I truly have a loving servants heart?

Choose to be love, regardless of how you feel.

1 Corinthians 13:4 "Love  is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth.  7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."   I was listening to Dr David Jeremiah this morning and he said, love is a verb. We are to choose to love. I get that.    As a child I thought love was a feeling.   It is, but feelings are temporary, feelings come and go.    True Love is a continual choice.   As I read these verses in Corinthians, I can see how short I fall,  being true love.   Today I will try harder to be love!❤️Philippians 4:13 " I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength "

Walk by faith😇

Hebrews 11:1 " Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."    Walk by faith not by sight!   TRUST He Loves you and your loved ones more then you can imagine.  He is at work! 😇🙏❤️🦅

Sin leads to confussion

Proverbs 3:5 " Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."   Life is full of choices, when we choose sin over trusting God confusion grows.  Sin is alluring.  We get the temporary gratification immediately but of course then comes the long term pain.   Jesus understands.    He leaves the 99 sheep to rescue one.    You're the one He loves!    Let Him rescue you😇❤️🦅🙏

I don't know the sin you are struggling with , God does.   Let Him give you real peace.   Confess and repent from your sin.  Trust that He died on the cross to pay the penalty for that sin.  Trust that He rose from the grave.  Trust He gives you complete forgiveness and in exchange His righteousness so you too, will rise!!!😇❤️🙏🦅it’s the powerful gift of Jesus just believe!!

Light at the end of the tunnel

Philippians 2:14 " Do everything without complaining  or arguing. ".    Philippians 4:11" I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."    We all have things in our life we'd like to grumble and complain about.    What good is that? No good!!   Proverbs 23:7 "whatever  a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."   If we commiserate with each other about how bad things are then that is what we see.  Be careful to speak life over all things.   Yes in this world we will have trouble, but take heart!! Jesus has over come the world and we can too.   When we put on our faith and simply believe!!   No need to go down the pit of despair when we have a light at the end of the tunnel!!!😇

Praise in the hard

Psalm 150:4 Praise Him with tambourines and dancing, praise Him with strings and flute."    Praise the Lord, in the middle of the mess.  Exodus 15:2  " The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation.  He is my God, and I will praise Him, my fathers God and I will exalt him."    When I find praise in my heart in the middle of my mess it helps me focus on what is right not what is wrong.       Sing a praise song over your problems. Dance for the Joy you have in Jesus!    It feels weird at first but I promise it helps😇🙏❤️🦅💃🕺

Don’t be wise in your own eyes.

Romans 12:3"For by the grace given me I say to everyone of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you."   ....Don't be wise in your own eyes!    I'm guilty of this.   I had dinner with my kids the other day.  I love how they are able to help me see things I do and say, Which I need to re-examine.   Recently, a dear friend of mine pointed out an area I need to re-examine.  As a single person, I don't actively have a team mate to help me with this.   I do have the greatest team mate; JESUS!    When I read His word I do get convicted of my own short comings and also encouraged; He is working all things out for His glory.   In AA we look at resentments we have toward others and then we look at the part we play in that.  It's a beautiful way to see yourself clearly.   Likely, if I'm in conflict with someone, I have much to do with it.😇

Build them up!!!

Ephesians 4:29-32 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  32 Be kind and compassionate to one an other, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."  1Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because live covers over a multitude of sins.”   Some Bible verses just hit you!    No explanation needed.    😇 Today, when I’m tempted to grumble I will choose to praise and lift others up even if they are not present.    I will lift them up with thanksgiving with sincerity of ❤️ heart.🙏🌸🦅😇

Cancel Culture?

Galatians 4:16 "Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?"   Paul wrote this to the Galatians when they were straying from the truth of the Gospel.   Isn't that true today? If we take a stand for something , often people who are on the opposite opinion can decide to hate us.    I too feel passionately about subjects.  I usually try to just feel passion about the subject, not against the person that has the opposing view.  Sometimes it’s a hard line to recognize.    We are now all to familiar with the term “Cancel culture”.  We used to intentionally try to agree to disagree.  Now, in our present culture when people disagree, they are encouraged to cancel the person.     It’s always best to try to see someone else’s point of view.   We all come to our decisions through our personal experiences.   We each have our own unique past that forms who we are in this moment.   We become more educated in our opinions when we take the time to listen to the opposing view with and open mind and loving heart.    😇🙏❤️🌸🦅 Today be encouraged to gaurd your heart from hate or cancel even if you feel passionately.

Humane rejection hurts

Humane rejection hurts.   I've had a lot of that lately especially by people I love.  That hurts even more.  Humane love is like that.   It's easy to love someone when you like things about them. True Christ like love is loving people in the middle of disagreeing with them, if they say the wrong thing, or do something you perceive as hurtful.   People are sinners we all sin and fall short of the glory of God. Christ love is choosing to love others in the middle of not liking them or their actions.   The Bible tells us not to take offense in the first place.   People mess up!    When they do, don't take it personally, forgive and let it go.  I'm not saying to tolerate abusive behaviors.   You can have loving thoughts toward people and not be active in their lives.    Hurting people hurt others.    Today, let's love others as Jesus loves us!    He sees our hearts, He sees the pain in our hearts, He is with us loving us through each and every moment, no matter how badly we mess up.   When teaching an infant to walk the child falls a lot, parents don't love the child less when they fall, they usually have more compassion, pick them up and help them try again.   They certainly don't take offense😇 we all fall!! Look up to get up!! Knowing you are deeply loved by Jesus the one who made you just the way you are on purpose for His purpose😇🙏🌸🦅❤️ Galatians 6:9 " Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up."   Romans 5:8 “ But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”❤️