ZIP-A-DEE-DOO-DAH

Singing, "ZIP-A-DEE-DOO-DAH  my, oh, my, what a wonderful day plenty of sunshine headin' my way!"

Let me explain.

Oh my those impulsive, imagination thoughts, cra cra!

Stop in the name of Jesus! 

Suddenly a car pulls up in front of me and the license plate says ZIPPY...the song comes to mind and there it is a rescue. I live by this verse.

Zephaniah. 3:17

The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
    but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Songs over me all the time. This is the first secular one but hey, why not! It has been buzzing in my head since and it loosens the anxiety and I give God all the glory!

He tickles me pink! I like pink!

Anyway I reflect now on the beauty and sovereignty of God!

I can imagine: The Lord your God is with you,

    the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
    but will rejoice over you with singing.”

He IS WITH ME.

HE SAVED ME (such a big deal how He caught my attention).

HE DELIGHTS IN ME (AW that's amazing, I ponder that in my heart).

HE DOES NOT REBUKE ME.

HE REJOICES OVER ME WITH SINGING (for me a song plays 24/7).

It's Him! It's all Him! He is there! I must choose to listen. His rescue!

He gave me today Romans 15:13 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.

By the power of the Holy Spirit may I overflow! I'm overflowing with the knowledge that God wants to overflow me with HOPE!

Pay attention to His message.

There is one flowing all the time.

Tune in.

Like you would a radio!

Choose Him!

Safety Act

 "My safe place, my hide away, my constant, my shelter, my oxygen", is part of the lyrics in Lauren Daigle's new song just released.

"Where would I be if I don't know you? Thank God I do!", the chorus in the song, Thank God I do.

It causes me to to reflect. At least that is what the song is doing to me. It's exposing my inner self, raw, vulnerable part and it resonates with me to yell out, "Yes, Lauren I agree! Thank God I Do!

Yes to all the times this blog has shared my God sightings. Walking and talking  with the Lord is the best choice. 

Yesterday I wrote, "Run for the Hills". I have been rereading a great allegory called, "Hinds Feet On High Places"

Much Afraid, the main character, walks a winding, ascending, descending, twisting, complicated road to get to a place on a mountain where she finally senses a confidence in the Good Shepherd, the lesson to be learned.

I remember reading the book for the first time. My insides identified with Much Afraid, the people, relatives, nature, everything she encountered on the journey. Beautiful! So beautiful! Hard, yes!, but so worth it.

Jesus is better than any food says King David (by the way I agree with David), better than any job I have (being a wife and mom is high up there! But I'm not talking about works that come by faith), better than talking with a therapist and venting. All of this is temporary. Lasting is Jesus. Reading a passage of His words really does accomplish. Accomplish, peace, calmness, rest, assurance. Remember God can be interrupted at any moment 24/7. I believer that is glorious and I am so thankful. I can be taxing!

RUN FOR THE HILLS

 englishstockexchange.com 1889 Johnstown PA, when a dam burst causing one of the deadliest floods in the U.S. history. 

They yelled run for the hills! They also said, "Run for your lives!'

If you are defending territory, it's usually better to be on high ground.

Trying to get people out of the path of the flood, which naturally followed the valley.

I have been known to state, "Go to the throne before the phone." But I also want to include, "Go to the throne before every bit of advice, social media, person."

I guess this day and age the phone includes contacting people, social media and pretty much any bit of information at your fingertip.

But I have heard we go for advice and the advice back is reading a book.

Friends, if we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, why can't we pray about parenting, marriage, relationship issues, grief etc. and find comfort from Jesus? 

Advice is quick! It's like a band-aid. Quick-fix!

I can't say it from experience enough, getting to know Jesus, walk and talk and learn from gentle, humble Jesus is best. It takes time. Truly I say to you that I have learned it takes time clarifying. Clarity is scripture, experience and filtering the difference in voices. Good vs. bad. Did that voice come from truth or impulsive, imagination? All good questions when trying to clarify or get clarity.

Bless you friends!

Pray I am running to you Jesus. Help me to clarify! Amen.

Read Psalm 121!

WINDSHIELD WIPERS

The rain was pelting the windshield and the wipers were ferociously trying to keep up as I drove to school. As I set up my classroom the chaplain came in to pray for our day,  he prayed, "God you got this day. I am reminded today as the rain was pelting down on my window yet the were keeping up so I can I liken that to you Lord. You are like the windshield wipers that helps me see in life. We need you Jesus so we can see and respond like you. Amen."

It comes to my mind everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial.

Meaning that when we learn things like boundaries, love languages, personalities, enneagrams, codependent no more, amygdala/brain processing patterns, social intelligence, being vulnerable/authentic is not all beneficial unless it is put against the word of God.

Sayings like speak your mind, follow your heart, stick up for yourself all have to be in context of the of what Jesus taught. 

I am finding many of us who call ourselves Christians being more concerned about learning these things. 

Recently I heard someone asking about teaching their children to obey them and wanting them to have relationship with friends. If a child is not taught from OT to NT what God said to pass down and teach while we walk and talk with our children they won't understand how to do these things.

They won't know the answer to the question are relationships important, how many, what constitutes a good friendship. I have seen us race to a book and what did she or he say about parenting or teaching our kids friendships. What about just starting with a prayer like God you gave me these children, guide me with your wisdom of how to parent them. What do you want me to read in the bible? How important are relationships with my children and other children. Stop, listen. Ask God to show you in scripture what to read to your children.

How about 1 Samuel 17- David's dad, Jesse, sends him to give food to his brothers. That gives evidence that if Jesse did not instruct David, David would not have gone to kill Goliath. Read on to see that David had built inside of himself experiences with God that gave him the courage to not listen to his rude brothers making fun of him instead He listened to God. If he let people get to him, he would not have killed Goliath. What are we directing our kids to build inside of them. Friendships with the world or Jesus? Folly creates folly. Same as underdeveloped minds talking to underdeveloped minds may not be very beneficial. They need you parents, they need know what Jesus opinions of them and that it  matters. Show them how to find God's will for their lives. Read Psalm 139, Romans 12:1-3, Proverbs 3:5-7. Do word studies, where is the word children in the bible-Moses taught the Israelites what to say to their children. Leave markers of God sightings by writing stories in their diaries or journals. Have them pray about the will of God in obedience and friendships. Teach them to be present with the Lord. Impress the importance of what Jesus says if they do these things they will be directed which way to go. 

There is so much to teach them from the bible.