GRAPPLE YET GROW

I thanked God that he creates space where I am vulnerable allowing me to "grapple yet grow".

This is what I wrote in a 2 minute speech. Recently I prayed about this speech and I woke up on Nov. 12 at 5 am and it was time. Time to write with no edits the catch phrase, GRAPPLE YET GROW. God is so good. Amongst all the words God was helping convey this came out of no where.

Grapple-engage in a close fight or struggle without weapon; wrestle

Many of our faith founders in the bible grappled. We as believers are grappling many things at once. 

I picture it like a juggler and his colorful balls, each ball with a name on it like:

grappling with; friendships, family, health, co-workers.

Each of my balls as it gets tossed up seems to constantly be going round and stirring me up. I pray no weapon formed against me will prosper. 

I love that some answers of these come fast! Yet others continue to go around. When the answered prayer comes and that ball get tossed out of the game, don't you know another ball gets added. But like the word grapple defines, they aren't real weapons, it is a struggle.

I was praying for the chance to meet new people. It seemed for ever life was stagnant, a struggle. Can you believe my husband and I were sitting in a restaurant and the couple next to us starting talking or maybe I talked first, but anyway, we had so much in common that we have gone out for months now meeting and catching up. Wait for it! Their names are Mary and Joseph. I love saying we are meeting up with Mary and Joseph.

I found a item on marketplace FB and when I picked it up I talked with the lady and was so blessed it led to us praying for her and her husband's health. That happened all in a day that began with prayer, reflection and asking for opportunities to share. As I was driving over to pick up the item I was excited to see if God would use me. That morning I was reading that the word angel appears in the bible more than the word love. Not that we worship angels. In context it means God uses them for revealing, conveying and administering to His people. Just like He commissions us to do. God uses the testimony for His glory. 

I am writing all this to say, at the same time we are grappling, God is moving to answer prayer, grow us up in Him. It is His amazing grace that stretches us to pay attention to His word and gives us a chance to not rely on ourselves and our emotions. 

The Holy Spirit's timing is perfect. We will be able to say the things that need to be said in difficult situations if we hang in there and wait on Him.

There is so much to be said about every day living and grappling. But me telling all my stories may inspire you but it's really your journey and His leading that will grow you. Get with someone and pray about everything. 

It will open the door of love and make your path straight just as the Lord promised. Proverbs. 3:6-7

Let's pray:

Lord I am grappling with.......help me to wait on you and your opportunities where we will figure things out and grow. IN Jesus name I pray Amen.

Juggling is something that is learned and you get better with time so it is with Grapple yet Grow.

THIS IS A DAY

Sitting, Thinking, praying, being, doing the right thing, watching, listening, waiting...all things we do in a day. 

Making a cup of coffee I looked down at the tea cup with tulips, hydrangeas, and lilacs a very nice gift I recently received for my birthday. I had received a vcry pretty similar tea cup. Which should I use?

Once again another decision to make in my day. 

I could think of it as a tea cups for two. 

The world brings us to many decisions in a day. What a good problem to have two delightful tea cups.

At times I can be critical, analyzing so many things:  the news, the dress someone is wearing, my class I'm in (what went wrong, what they should have done).

Do you ever catch yourself being critical? Our family catches one another and when they do they yell, "Critical spirit or you are stirring the pot."

As I catch myself doing it, I pray Lord stop this critical spirit. 

I tell you a story. I realized while waiting to buy a cup of coffee at camp, what could I be doing right now? I was convicted asking, "What I was doing in the line of the coffee shop."

1. complaining- trying to understand why so many kids were in the line for coffee! This is what's wrong with our country. Why do parents supply the money for kids to get over $5 coffee? Why do so many kids need coffee?

2.  I feel crazy. I'm an adult I'm justified to have coffee, I should ask to move in front of them. I kept picturing myself asking to move ahead in the line.

3.  Then I stopped and in the moment remembering I'm here at camp as a student leader. This is their time. Ugh! Hit my head! (not really but really)

4.  I turned to a boy behind me and started up a conversation; where are you from, how are you liking camp, what do you like about camp. I was delighted to learn so much about him Before I knew it I was at the beginning of the line ordering my coffee with my new friend. 

Do you know every time I saw this boy around camp we connected and talked. It made camp even more than I expected.

Establish our purpose. Serve others. Care for others. Stop focusing on myself.

 I would like to add another camp story. I went to camp with sixth grade girls after hearing the gospel completely the camp speaker sent the students outside in the beauty of nature for ten minutes of quiet time. At the end of the time we went to the cabin to talk. Many of the girls were deeply considering their quiet time. 

Here is what one girl said, "I felt clean. I felt a desire to talk to God. I felt cleansed. Sin was taken out of me. I get like a second chance. I asked, "What's the feeling?" To which she replied, "It's inexplainable. I felt something come into me. I felt peace."

That declaration meant so much to me, I have been telling so many this precious commitment this young girl made. What a delight.

NEED TO HEED

 2 Timothy 3:13-17

King James Version

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Friends: I had to post this in the KJV because I was writing a note to a friend about things in this world and the words I wrote, as men "wax worse and worse." Then I looked up where is this coming from Holy Spirit and the above verse showed up.

Here is your warning today. As things "wax worse and worse"

ask God that you could be a watch person, you can see with His eyes and determine what to believe with Him. Please heed this warning, watch particularly what is in the heart of a person, give it time to come out of them. They appear to agree with God, morals, values, way, truth, life but then they make a decision, just one decision and it doesn't line up with God. You need to heed THIS WARNING. Be cautious then on if that will be someone you will believe or trust. 

I am talking about:

Doctors, politicians, people rising in positions, especially the elevation of women over men. Please don't think I am crazy for saying women over men, but look around...it is happening. You have to ask yourself about family, family building and the way God designed us. It is off base today and our only true north is Jesus Christ and what He says. 

Remember in John 1:1-2 it says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.

Jesus was and always was present in the beginning and He SPOKE and created all things and He is the intelligent designer of men and women and above all His words rule!

Need to Heed:

Follow Jesus; verify if he said it or some man made it up! Ask God to continue to do a inner work of your thoughts and heart so your actions follow that work.

Prayer: Lord help me to see what is going on and Holy Spirit give me the convictions to live your truth out and stop believing lies. Amen.

I AM RICH BECAUSE OF WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE FOR ME

 Why so offended so easily?

Praying about the quick triggers we get when someone snaps at us and then we react so quick to defend.

Think about when this happens and you feel down after you have responded just as bad as the accuser.

Let's pray now;  Lord give me a response if this happens again,  Holy Spirit give the words for next time.

In Jesus name I feel that you can change my response because you say I am able to be transformed. Help me. Amen

The Lord is so gracious and exceedingly abundantly wanting to help.

This is the rich life that God promises us. Not materialism but rich inner works that produce good fruit.

It's a process, give yourself a break.

I am reminded today that each verse or song that comes to my mind is from the Holy Spirit and it is so rich to go to them asap. When ever a I put a song on repeat that the Spirit led me to always and I mean always is a rich blessing. That verse emboldens me and gives me new outlook, strength. Today the song is  GIVE THANKS, by Steffany Gretzinger, Melissa Helser.

The verse, "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life." Romans 6:4 KJV 

I focused on "walking in the newness of life." A gift!

Be RICH!

Never want a humans love as much as you want the creators love. His love is perfect and unconditional. 

In EVERYTHING...give thanks

"Perhaps she thought, it was because she'd given up being a noun, and was being transformed into a verb." 

In the Mountain by Jan Karon

"Last night alone in my study, God gave me four words that Saint Paul wrote in his second letter to the church at Thessalonic. Four words that can help us enter into obedience, trust, and closer communion with God himself, made known through Jesus Christ. "Here are the four words. I pray you will inscribe them on your heart." "In Everything...give thanks! That's all that's this mornings message. It's the hook. It's the key. Everything is the word on which this whole powerful command stands and has its being. There'll be times when you wonder how you can possibly thank Him for something that turns your life upside down; certainly there will be such times for me. Let, us then, at times like these, give thanks on faith alone...obedient, trusting, hopig, believing. Perhaps you remember the young boy who was kidnapped and beaten and thrown into prison, yet rose up as Joseph the King, ruler of nations, able to say to his brothers, with a spirit of forgiveness, 'You thought evil against me, but God meant if for good, that many lives might be spared.' Better still, remember our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who suffered agonies we can't begin to imagine, fulfilling God's will that you and I might have everlasting life."

In the Mountain by Jan Karon pg. 311-312

I am reading this series by Jan Karon (14 books) for the 2nd time. I started randomly on book seven. I stopped on these pages to remind myself and the reader of this post, about this very big truth that Paul wrote. 

Simple but profound.

Friends let's pray about this EVERYTHING. God help me to remember to give thanks in everything.

Amen.

SPEAKS VOLUMES

 "I loved the way you handled your daughter", stated the woman with such compassion. I was standing in a parking lot and had to run and grab her. She wasn't really aware that a car was coming. My heart was racing and a part of me felt like screaming at her but I was able to stop and grab, hug her and explain to her what to do in a parking lot. Thus the reason the lady reacted with such a nice response.

Earlier I felt as if I'm not a good mom, having weak moments of stinking thinking. I was praying about this and what an answer to prayer. To me this was an encounter. I saw Jesus using the situation to help me see that I do handle things and that with Him I can be a good mom. These encounters are part of the emblem on my armor it speaks volumes to me. You know the saying speaks volumes, it makes an opinion, characteristic, or situation very clear, without the use of words.

God does make our path straight and clearer when He is involved in our lives.

Do you see it in your life?

Another story, my daughter had been saying her hair was not right, she wasn't happy about her image. We were checking out at a register and the cashier a young girl her age unexpectedly said, "I really like your hair it is so cute." My daughter lit up with delight. A stranger that was her age liked her hair. I call this an encounter! It spoke volumes to her. A gift to confirm that she is good the way God designed her.

Does that ever happen to you?

I'm unsure about a outfit I picked for the banquet and a person says that's a perfect outfit for today. A nudge of confidence and assurance pushed me to be ok. I believe God gives us small encounters to keep us going?

What do you think? If you haven't experienced them, pray about it! 

It helps to see the Lord in the mundane.

Some mornings I lay in bed and say, God I don't feel like getting out of bed, help me. I do my small devo and then I ask again for the Holy Spirit to lead me. Then I even say I am going to get out of bed and just lead me and guide me to what to do next.

I pray thank you for this bed, (I  make it), I change my clothes praying, thank you for these clothes, I wash my face and brush my teeth, thank you for water, soap, toothpaste. Each moment builds on itself and I am gaining energy. Continuing, I make a cup of coffee, put on my Christian radio 90.1 FM moody radio. MY day is off and things begin to unfold, I think I will go get ingredients to cook soup and then I move toward that. It is with peace and Holy Spirit strength I am led and I believe I am doing what the Spirit leads me. It is invigorating!

Friends do you just ask the Holy Spirit to bring you strength in the mundane?

Believe!

You are covered in the Holy Spirit all the days! Continuous prayer seals the deal!

Believe and receive this message.

Simple but true!

He is in it all!

YO-YO

Reading 1 Peter 3:15, pulling it together in the morning here, "but in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. NIV

Just the first six words gripped me, drew me in, brought a spark in my gut, a flame was to come next. It's my spiritual food, a good thing.

"But in your hearts revere Christ."

Let me back up.

Heavy emotionally from yesterday "stuff", I was struggling getting out of bed. But I knew "to go to the throne before the phone (or really anything). I felt the tug, get up, trust me, the next thing you will be prompted to do will come. Just get up. Each thing made me come alive, I get to straighten my husbands clothes, i get to make my bed and I like the bedding and cozy pillow, i get to put on the radio (Karl and crew will help me), I get to pray to my Almighty Father in heaven for guidance and direction for the things weighing heavy on my MIND.

The key to the mind, I learned this a long time ago, "Paul's sanity was protected by His certainty." The things I know for sure from the Lord will jump start my day. I read a text from a beloved friend she sent yesterday (but I really needed it today) "Good morning Jesus! Knowing You are beside me is all I need to begin my day. 

Reflection: Do I believe that is all I need?

As I write this the chick-a-dee that has been visiting me for about a month appears. When this happens to me it means, "pay attention!" Slow down, sit down, quiet down! Listen to me. What does God do to get your attention and Thank God he keeps trying and He never gives up on me. For me it is birds, deer, nature and songs (lots of songs), Christian radio. Friends I have been wanting to get to typing this message to boast about our Father in heaven. He so desperately is rescuing me from the demise of my thought life. The things that weigh me down. 

I persevered through finding a lost item (long story, long process all in a 1/2 day) but right when it was found, the chick-a-dee appeared. To me it meant perseverance, joy, energy! Zoe-life! God gets my attention.

Friends, everything matters to God, but it is our choice  on what to fix my mind on. I get caught on the negative, sometimes the smallest things. I know someone who got hit by a car he said, "The big injuries healed fast (hip, broken bones), it was my pinky finger that would not heal after months. It was all I could think about is that small finger. It distracted my joy everyday!"

 Snap out of it, God is beckoning! Two women sitting at a diner counter were singing< WE GO TOGETHER, a song fun and meaningful to their long time friendship, I discovered. Then I shared I use songs to snap me out of things also, like recently singing, "QUE SERA, SERA", with my dad fretting over moving. Or the time I was driving, fretting and the license plate on the car in front of me, "ZIPPITY Do Dah"

WHATEVER WILL BE, WILL BE, the future is not ours to see! Just as God led the faith followers, many had to move and wait for God to reveal what's next.

As I stop and reflect my encounters with Jesus are plentiful, I must take the time to put those in the front of my mind rather than the heavy weigh down of the world.

A verse came to me recently,

"Watch out! Don't let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don't let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man." Luke 21: 34-36

So the accuser says to me you are like a yo-yo, you go up and down! I take it in, "Yah, I am not an example to others, which shows the power of Christ within me."

Friends, I came upon the 1 Peter verse and God cleared that up right away by saying, "You are not a yo-yo the devil can not accuse you of being like a yo-yo, I have my hand on you and I am guiding you."

His right hand is always guiding me. "even here your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." Psalm 139:10 NIV

"Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand, You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory." Psalm 73:23-28

Lord let me hold fast to the truth that you are a protector that you care and am holding my with your right hand. Thank you for rescuing my mind today. Amen

COME DOWN vs. IT IS FINISHED

 "Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!" Mark 15:29-30 NIV

"He's the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him." Matthew 27:40

"From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice-Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? -which means, My God, my god why have you forsaken me? Matthew 27:45-46 NIV (from noon to 3p.m.)

Luke and John record the death and happenings but especially when the Jews yelled out, "Crucify Him!"

But the do not record the base of the cross and the jeering, insulting comments of the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked Him.

Friends,

Let us approach this cross and examine the attitudes of the leaders. I repeat the soldiers, romans, the Jews all mocked and hurled insults to our Savior.

We are now on the other side of the cross. Would we ask such a thing, "Come down!"

I just sit now staring at the cross with humble, complete sadness that God thought of me that He let His son die for me. He had to go to death to come to new LIFE.

We would not cry out, "Come down"!

He was the final sacrifice. Every Jew must know that sacrifice with the spotless lamb must be done yearly, but God was saying stop!, no more, my son finishes it all.

Therefore, Jesus cries out, "It is finished!"

It is finiahed!

I thank God that it is finished and we know the whole story and I live in the victory fully knowing that Christ is the Savior!

Friend right now pray:

I pray for_____who needs to understand the work of God and the finished story of the cross. His wonderful love and grace! Open the eyes of their hearts so they can see. In Jesus name!

He could not come down from the cross to show He was the son of God! They needed no more proof.

It was finished! Amen

GREEN WITH ENVY

"I'm proud to tell you my friend will be spending a month away fulfilling her life dream!", declared the post on a persons Facebook post.

I had been good about blocking out Facebook, but sometimes I have to go on and then I saw the above post, I was green with envy. I felt it hit my gut and my own imagination of dreams came to the forefront of my mind.

OCD, obsessive comparison disorder, It's a Snare to Compare, the cute sayings I always passing on to others, comes to my mind. "Do not envy", a biblical truth. I ran to Jesus. 

Lord can I ask you to help me with this reaction. I don't want to loose my joy and what you are doing in my life. 

I'm in my own personal time out! Asking God to restore, renew, help me.

I find a worship song! Hallelujah Our King by Jordan Feliz. 

My grateful cry for this song and the worship of  Spirit and truth this song brings. 

My commitment to the Lord is real. My walk Lord define.

Only God, only God can grab, change, open, restore.

My heart is His.

Focus on the here and now I hear in my head.

A verse, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Does that mean a trip, a high paying job, an adventure. I don't have that answer.

In Nehemiah 6 some mean were trying to distract Nehemiah by wanting to meet with him. They gave some story of why they should meet. Nehemiah being a leader knew what God had him doing at the time of this request and he felt inside that meeting with these men was not a good enough reason to take time out to stop doing what God had given him to do. (build the wall) Four times he told these men that and they persisted to try and get him to stop. Their motives were not genuine. It was tempting for Nehemiah to stop but he finally, directly said to the men, "Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head."

These men were jealous trying to get Nehemiah off track. But Nehemiah prayed, "Now strengthen my hands."

Friends when we see a post that is a status and we react to it, we must go to the Lord and ask Him about it. 

What are we doing with our time, talents?

Lord give me some assurance. As I looked up the word imagine the Nehemiah 6:8 popped up so I renewed my mind with this story. I originally was looking for the verse, "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV

Let's go to prayer:

Lord forgive me for reacting, Lord thank you for helping me to hear from you. Now strenghten my hands just as the Lord did for Nehemiah. What a good prayer. Help me. Amen.

REPLACEMENT THERAPY

 Another, Another, and there is another!

Therapy clinics line up along the major roads as I drive down the main street near my home.

Many Children therapy clinics have popped open recently. I use the word popped, it's just so many since covid. I know the increase of anxiety, depression, stress, burnt out, overload, and exhaustion. It's all real but I have to say, I myself in my twenties, thirties have been twisted up with the above.

The word therapy an approved service that clinics are have waitlists to get into. My mom born in 1938 lived in times where therapy was possibly a bad word. Life was so full of secrets and keeping hush about it the way of the world.

I am not writing this to debate the effectiveness of therapy. I have seen the greatness of both sides of therapy. 

I am writing from my own personal journey where my life has been transformed by replacement therapy, a termed that I blurted out while chatting with friends about my experience.

replacement; the action or process of renewal.

I referring to my thought life. When I really began to THINK ABOUT WHAT I AM THINKING.

John 14:26 states, "But the Counselor (capital C) the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."

I poured out my heart and asked God to help me with my anxious thoughts, panic attacks. I heard the whisper in my soul as I was sitting at the kitchen table. "You will be healed, you won't know how long it will take, but learn as much as you can along the way." So the time to heal began and with God I was determined to see it through.

 

SOMEONE SAVED MY LIFE TONIGHT

It's four o'clock in the morning damn it, listen to me good!

I really woke up at that time and heard this old Elton John song in my head.

I hadn't heart this song since my high school years. What the1

Then more lyrics perfectly from this song.

And someone saved my life tonight, sugar bear.

You almost had your hooks in my, didn't you dear, you nearly had me roped and tied

hypnotized sweet freedom whispered in my ears, your a butterfly and butterflies are free to fly, fly away, high away., bye-bye.

Chorus repeat.

Someone saved, someone saved my life to night (ooh whoo)

Someone saved

someone saved

someone saved 

someone saved my life tonight. Tonight!

Lord does this have meaning from you to me?

It played strongly through the night. And in the morning I looked it up. Elton John's meaning was a commitment he was going to make to someone and realized he could not do that. He was saved from making a bad decision.

But for me. It meant evil tried to take me down another path at some point in my life, but Jesus won. He opened my eyes to the truth and my life charged down another path. This was my butterfly moment. I was a new creation in Christ. I realized my need for a Savior.

It almost had its hooks in me. 

But now I fly away from that, high away, bye-bye. No more gripping me.

I thank God for his good news. His reason for being.

I thank Him for showing me this interpretation of this song over me.

It made me feel Free! SWEET FREEDOM WHISPERED IN MY EAR!

LET IT BE

The world...

Giving up...

lost dreams...

or what we thought were dreams...

the aura of  art, creativity lost...

I left her with a prayer...asking God where did the aura of creativity go. "I had it before the kids were born, never got it back. Now I'm 80 and they are grown and gone. I don't know where it went, I never got it back", with sincerity my friend stated. This made me sad. As an artist myself I get the ups and downs of blocked creativity from writing and drawing.

Lord restore what stopped, bring it back. If it is your will have mercy., my prayer.

Friends, some of you may be experiencing what I'm talking about with my friend. A ceasing, a feeling of being cancelled. I know living in a season of cancel culture this is happening all around us.

But we don't have to except it when we are brought into awareness. Awareness is the beginning of prayer and then restoration. Her awareness is it was there and now it's not, an aura.

Grappling with reality of things myself, I got it what she was saying!

As I parted with her this song pops in my head, Let it Be!

Why that song I haven't heard it in years? Never heard it recently. I got in my car and searched Spotify for the Beatles song. Checking out the lyrics this spoke some truth for me and my Christian faith.

My truth

Let it be, Let it be, there will be an answer, Let it be. Let it be, let it be, whisper words of wisdom, let it be. When I find myself in trouble, Jesus comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

And when the night is cloudy there is still a light that shines on me shinin' until tomorrow, let it be, I wake up to the sound of music, Jesus comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

This is my Christ view and truth...I will LET IT BE for now.

There will be an answer, LET IT BE.

GREENLIGHT

"I guess I have the "Greenlight", said in an upbeat positive tone!

Let me explain.

I was sitting in a coffee shop with a friend. Across from my table their was a young thirtysomething girl reading a book called GREENLIGHT by Matthew McConaughey. I had just recently looked him up on Wikipedia, so I was curious. I turned to the girl and asked hesitantly, "Excuse me, but I was wondering how you are liking that book?" 

Looking up at me she replied very nicely and openly, "I just got it, but it is talking about his childhood and moving along in life he wrote this book using his diary and stories. Each story has situations where he got the greenlight to move forward." Honesty of the success and failures which are yellow or red lights that eventually turn to GREENLIGHTS. 

Conversation took a turn to becoming deeper. I can't write it all it would be to long because I am sure the conversation was for a couple of hours. After giving her the reason for Jesus birth, death, resurrection-he sacrificial way He rescued us from death and brought us to life eternally.

 Sharing continued explaining choose life or death. God has given us eternal life and this life is in the son, he who has the son has life, he who does not have the son does not have life. Simple. No working toiling toward forgiveness, because Jesus came to set us from from works and brought us into a new life by believing and receiving Jesus Christ. 

We gave her a bible and she opened her heart to the understanding of what she had told her mom the week before meeting us, "Mom, I have been dreaming and thinking that we need to get back to our faith." Now she knows in a deeper sense of what Jesus was opening her heart to understand, we were the witness to confirm it, with a resounding, YES! YES! Choose life! Let the reading of the word wash over you and renew your mind, it is the instruction and food we need more than bread alone. We become new when we follow Him. With tears in her eyes we parted. She knew she had an encounter with the living Jesus who wanted to show her hope and love, I got to witness this eye opening experience. Her final words, "I guess I got the GREELIGHT!"

Go, go into the word.. Don't yellow, don't red, but green! Let the light guide you from this day forward. Let the Holy Spirit give you clarity. We prayed. It was so exciting to see my friend and my lunch prayer answered. Lunch prayer = Thank you for our food, bless this coffee shop and when people walk in they will sense the Spirit and desire the things of Jesus. Amen.

We gave her verses.

Psalm 139 which will confirm His direct attention God gives to those he created and wanted to be born. He just wants us to listen and see this truth.

Matthew 11:28 Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will show you real rest for your soul. Come walk with me, talk with me, learn from me for I am gentle and humble at heart. And you will find rest for your soul.

John 14:6 I am the way the truth and life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John the whole gospel.

Proverbs 2 seek the Lord like you would seek silver or gold (like a treasure) and then you will know the wisdom and understanding of God.

I am fully convinced God had her so ready to hear these truths and receive them.

Lord I pray for my new friend guide her protect, do not let the enemy have any way in her life or her families life. Guide her with your truth. Amen. ...

Friend open your heart to this truth and be set free from the tyranny of this world.

WAITING ROOM

 

Think of yourself in the waiting room and what do you do with your time?

I usually get me fingers going and taking in the blue light on my social media. But what "if" us believers were more intentional on a grander scale using our whole life, metaphorically, as being in the waiting room till Jesus returns.-

   so when a situation arises what do we do?

recently on Dec. 9 i got a mole checked and my Dr. was alarmed and said, "I don't like the look of that!"

She gave me a name of a dermatologist. I called from the Dr. office and the number was disconnected. I went to the nurse to inform her the Dr. she gave me was not available. I prayed what will happen now I feel she scared me and I needed to be seen quickly. She went to the Dr. and within an hour my primary Dr. said she would shave biopsy it on Jan. 11. I had to wait. I prayed God not sooner. Then within 24 hours I met others with a cancer diagnosis on their skin, they quickly reassured me God is in control and if I needed to get in soon that He would make it happen. It was not happening, so I calmed down and said what do I do in the waiting.

I did exactly what I was trained to do in 1997 when I had panic and anxiety attacks. The Lord back then had all my attention. I made a list of all that's going on. Being very honest of every thought I have had in a day. Even if I thought about a relationship, one of my prayer request from a friend. even a concern of a child. Everything! That gets every real thing down and I'm looking at it. Even my what "if's"

Like what if I don't get an answer of what this is that week? What if it grows bigger and worse?

Next I remember the very important verses that warn me about this "what if" kind of thoughts!

Stinking Thinking!

2 Cor. 10:5 "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." NIV

2 COR. 10:5 "We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ." THE MSG

WHAT type of thoughts

Think about what you are thinking: all thoughts captive to Christ.

Imagination, arguments of the fight and what you could and could not say (these thoughts keep wanting you to pick up the phone and keep that unproductive work going), impulsive loose thoughts (thoughts can come from nowhere and fly out of your mouth, where are they from you, evil, or God), truth, lies, 

The list puts them in front of your eyes and now you go through them asking:

is this true, is it a lie, where did the thought come from (me, God, evil one), the true vs. lie test fits for all thoughts impulsive, loose, imagination. We need the hard cold facts, pray!

Distinguish, act on now, later, never. 

You see I am asking for the opportunity to grow through this waiting process or trial. 

Opportunity vs. depression, anxiety, worry.

What else does God have to say about these things?

Matt. 6:24 Don't worry about tomorrow.

Phil. 4:6-7 Do not be anxious for anything. Thru prayer and petition and thanksgiving (emphasis added) present your requests to God and He will guard your MIND AND HEART in Christ our Lord.

Whose in control?

Psalm 139 - God knows you so well. In the end of this psalm is an examination of your heart. Search me and know me see if there is anything in me. God reveal it.

Waiting, listening, hearing. In the story of the transfiguration my greatest take away, God says, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him."

Question:

Slow down, sit down, quiet down. Are you seeing and listening that this is best for you right now. 

I memorized Psalm 139. yes! Put it on index cards and took it with me everywhere. Others I memorized all the 5 verses of assurance (find them google Navigator 5 assurance verses for memorizing. click on quizlet, a least that's at the top of my google search. Front page is flash cards with the 5), Is. 23:6 "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you., 

Phil. 1:6 "He who began a work in you will carry it on to completion.", 

Phil. 4:8 Whatever is true, noble, right, pure lovely, admirable, trustworthy, excellent, praiseworthy think on such things., 

Galatians 5:22 fruits of the spirit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (pray for these), 

Col 1:9-12 (memorized the elements from the prayer, which states if we desire God and want to glorify and please Him (that is my reason for living following His will)) we can ask for and expect, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, bearing fruit, strength, power, endurance, patience-giving joyful thanks to the Father, (get this) who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light (wow!), 2 Tim. 1:7 "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (remember it this way God gives us P.LS.) I read through the Psalms.

You are probably like: What! Huh! This is a lot, but wait let me explain. This is a more comprehensive list that I have learned over years. What's your list? Compiling a list of works in your waiting room is what is important. Your list. What is working to allow you to feel the peace and joy that Jesus wanted to leave us? A mode of hearing from God.

At the end of the waiting room and you are on the other side of a circumstance it's important to have your story ready to glorify God.

 Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose." NIV

I maybe sounding to perky here right now. Like the result of your waiting room is all good news. When my mom died I felt the weight of it all and when I got on the other side of it (timing is different for everyone) I was and still missing my mom. But I could say stories of God's guiding hand helping me get through it, seeing Him, hearing Him supporting me comforting me. Things like I can't do this. I can't see her dead or I can't get through were not able to come out of me because I prayed and I was guided to, Elaine you can do all things with me who strengthens you Phil. 4:13.,

 "Blessed are those who are grieving for they will be comforted." My response, but how God, how, Help me. The pain was so great! From knowing what God says about death helped me to navigate this difficult time.

" Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 1 Thess. 4:13" We grieve differently with the hope.

Getting now finally to:  This past week I concentrated on Phil. 4:8, Gal. 5:22, Col. 1:9-12, Rememorizing Ps. 139. 

Also the day of my surgery which was now Feb. 1,2024. I really had waited, but I woke up that morning with this. My devotion for the exact day was;

Driving to the hospital that song is my only thing on my mind. A nurse walks me back to my room and I pass a big window with I woke up to this glorious revelation! I'm having my procedure at 1250ish. My devo says the title "Praying for Healing". How great that this devo coincides with this procedure day and my circumstance. Coincidence? Oh no!! The reading on prayer is very insightful! What a mighty God we serve comes on my mind! I think of the children's  song and quickly find it on you tube, filling my mind with this playful fun song. 

the sun shining through. I say what a beautiful day, what a blessing. He responds well to that so I say this brings up what I have been singing all morning and I sing the stanza, "What a might God we serve, what a mighty God we serve, angels go before Him, heaven and earth adore Him, what a mighty God we serve." He says yes. I say I try to focus on the important things looking upward, heavenly. He said, "I teach my kids that each morning to get up and do the same."

I say, "Can I ask are you a Christian?" He says, "Yes, can you tell?" I say I was wondering and guessing you would say yes, Next he says, "My wife and I love to tell her testimony. I tell it as much as I can for God." Here's the story:

His wife when she was 15 years old was working with butter all over hands in the kitchen, when a friend called her to the balcony outside to tell her something. When she went out her hands were still slippery. The friend talked a couple of balconies away and suddenly as his wife leaned forward she fell over down 3 stories. She crack her head, bled out from her nose and ear and fell into unconsciousness. They rushed her to the hospital and did a scan on her brain and found damage. The village were all praying for her. For some reason hours later they redid the scan and they miraculously saw no damage. She was completely healed. A miracle. Someone pointed out the spot where she fell is the place where they come together once a week to pray. He said from that day she would never doubt that Jesus is real. 

I took a prayer request from another nurse. I just asked after she took such good care of me, "If you don't mind I would like to pray for you, what could I ask of the Lord?" She looked up surprised and was like as a matter of fact, "Yes! I am newly married and within the year we will be starting a family and buying a house and I would like it to be close to this hospital." I said "I would ask God to give her a sign and don't settle for just any house make a list." My surgeon came in and my husband I talked with her for about a 1/2 hour. She looked at my book and asked, "What are you reading." We got into a discussion and I found out she knew the Narnia books and C.S. Lewis. It was a delight because my surgery was delayed for 1/2 hour. 

In Psalm 139 the Psalmist says, "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways."

He knows! He knows friend what you are going through. The bible says he knows yesterday, today and tomorrow. Friend give it to him and fix your eyes on what He gives you each day. Ask Him what do you want me to read today. I am no one special. What he did for me He will help guide you and get you through also. 

Let's pray:

Lord here is my list__________(go thru it with Him). Help me. What should I read, memorize or forgive? Forgive me for the times I did not listen or see, guide me. Thank you Father the promise of knowing me and showing me. Amen.

Giving makes me feel like I'm living, says...Author Mitch Albom

If you do not know Jesus personally and want to start to learn how to just Pray, Jesus I want to know you. Amen.

you must know....with Easter as our next Holy day...Jesus died and rose from death to paid for our sin. (we all fall short of the glorious plan of God, We are all born with a condition of separation from God) God has paid for us the penalty we deserve. He did this by dying on the cross. He is risen. We know can have full access to Him through His death and resurrection. This new life is forgiveness of sin and life eternally with Christ. This new life can only be find in Jesus. Jesus rose and went to heaven seated at the right hand of the Father. He did not leave us alone. He said the Holy Spirit will be our guide. 

Say to the Father you believe, thank Him for his plan and thank Him for the Holy Spirit who now resides in you. I now turn from going my way and I want to follow you from this day forward. Amen. 

Find a good bible believing church and stay powered up in prayer. Jesus loves you and wants to hold your hand to guide you. Do not let the evil one take this prayer away from you and try to say, "This is false and didn't happen." Find people who will reassure you of this truth. 

 

THE WAITING ROOM

Think of yourself in the waiting room and what do you do with your time?

I usually get me fingers going and taking in the blue light on my social media. But what "if" us believers were more intentional on a grander scale using our whole life, metaphorically, as being in the waiting room till Jesus returns.-

   so when a situation arises what do we do?

recently on Dec. 9 i got a mole checked and my Dr. was alarmed and said, "I don't like the look of that!"

She gave me a name of a dermatologist. I called from the Dr. office and the number was disconnected. I went to the nurse to inform her the Dr. she gave me was not available. I prayed what will happen now I feel she scared me and I needed to be seen quickly. She went to the Dr. and within an hour my primary Dr. said she would shave biopsy it on Jan. 11. I had to wait. I prayed God not sooner. Then within 24 hours I met others with a cancer diagnosis on their skin, they quickly reassured me God is in control and if I needed to get in soon that He would make it happen. It was not happening, so I calmed down and said what do I do in the waiting.

I did exactly what I was trained to do in 1997 when I had panic and anxiety attacks. The Lord back then had all my attention. I made a list of all that's going on. Being very honest of every thought I have had in a day. Even if I thought about a relationship, one of my prayer request from a friend. even a concern of a child. Everything! That gets every real thing down and I'm looking at it. Even my what "if's"

Like what if I don't get an answer of what this is that week? What if it grows bigger and worse?

Next I remember the very important verses that warn me about this "what if" kind of thoughts!

Stinking Thinking!

2 Cor. 10:5 "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." NIV

2 COR. 10:5 "We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ." THE MSG

WHAT type of thoughts

Think about what you are thinking: all thoughts captive to Christ.

Imagination, arguments of the fight and what you could and could not say (these thoughts keep wanting you to pick up the phone and keep that unproductive work going), impulsive loose thoughts (thoughts can come from nowhere and fly out of your mouth, where are they from you, evil, or God), truth, lies, 

The list puts them in front of your eyes and now you go through them asking:

is this true, is it a lie, where did the thought come from (me, God, evil one), the true vs. lie test fits for all thoughts impulsive, loose, imagination. We need the hard cold facts, pray!

Distinguish, act on now, later, never. 

You see I am asking for the opportunity to grow through this waiting process or trial. 

Opportunity vs. depression, anxiety, worry.

What else does God have to say about these things?

Matt. 6:24 Don't worry about tomorrow.

Phil. 4:6-7 Do not be anxious for anything. Thru prayer and petition and thanksgiving (emphasis added) present your requests to God and He will guard your MIND AND HEART in Christ our Lord.

Whose in control?

Psalm 139 - God knows you so well. In the end of this psalm is an examination of your heart. Search me and know me see if there is anything in me. God reveal it.

Waiting, listening, hearing. In the story of the transfiguration my greatest take away, God says, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him."

Question:

Slow down, sit down, quiet down. Are you seeing and listening that this is best for you right now. 

I memorized Psalm 139. yes! Put it on index cards and took it with me everywhere. Others I memorized all the 5 verses of assurance (find them google Navigator 5 assurance verses for memorizing. click on quizlet, a least that's at the top of my google search. Front page is flash cards with the 5), Is. 23:6 "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you., 

Phil. 1:6 "He who began a work in you will carry it on to completion.", 

Phil. 4:8 Whatever is true, noble, right, pure lovely, admirable, trustworthy, excellent, praiseworthy think on such things., 

Galatians 5:22 fruits of the spirit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (pray for these), 

Col 1:9-12 (memorized the elements from the prayer, which states if we desire God and want to glorify and please Him (that is my reason for living following His will)) we can ask for and expect, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, bearing fruit, strength, power, endurance, patience-giving joyful thanks to the Father, (get this) who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light (wow!), 2 Tim. 1:7 "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (remember it this way God gives us P.LS.) I read through the Psalms.

You are probably like: What! Huh! This is a lot, but wait let me explain. This is a more comprehensive list that I have learned over years. What's your list? Compiling a list of works in your waiting room is what is important. Your list. What is working to allow you to feel the peace and joy that Jesus wanted to leave us? A mode of hearing from God.

At the end of the waiting room and you are on the other side of a circumstance it's important to have your story ready to glorify God.

 Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose." NIV

I maybe sounding to perky here right now. Like the result of your waiting room is all good news. When my mom died I felt the weight of it all and when I got on the other side of it (timing is different for everyone) I was and still missing my mom. But I could say stories of God's guiding hand helping me get through it, seeing Him, hearing Him supporting me comforting me. Things like I can't do this. I can't see her dead or I can't get through were not able to come out of me because I prayed and I was guided to, Elaine you can do all things with me who strengthens you Phil. 4:13.,

 "Blessed are those who are grieving for they will be comforted." My response, but how God, how, Help me. The pain was so great! From knowing what God says about death helped me to navigate this difficult time.

" Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 1 Thess. 4:13" We grieve differently with the hope.

Getting now finally to:  This past week I concentrated on Phil. 4:8, Gal. 5:22, Col. 1:9-12, Rememorizing Ps. 139. 

Also the day of my surgery which was now Feb. 1,2024. I really had waited, but I woke up that morning with this. My devotion for the exact day was;

I woke up to this glorious revelation! I'm having my procedure at 1250ish. My devo says the title "Praying for Healing". How great that this devo coincides with this procedure day and my circumstance. Coincidence? Oh no!! The reading on prayer is very insightful! What a mighty God we serve comes on my mind! I think of the children's  song and quickly find it on you tube, filling my mind with this playful fun song. 

Driving to the hospital that song is my only thing on my mind. A nurse walks me back to my room and I pass a big window with the sun shining through. I say what a beautiful day, what a blessing. He responds well to that so I say this brings up what I have been singing all morning and I sing the stanza, "What a might God we serve, what a mighty God we serve, angels go before Him, heaven and earth adore Him, what a mighty God we serve." He says yes. I say I try to focus on the important things looking upward, heavenly. He said, "I teach my kids that each morning to get up and do the same."

I say, "Can I ask are you a Christian?" He says, "Yes, can you tell?" I say I was wondering and guessing you would say yes, Next he says, "My wife and I love to tell her testimony. I tell it as much as I can for God." Here's the story:

His wife when she was 15 years old was working with butter all over hands in the kitchen, when a friend called her to the balcony outside to tell her something. When she went out her hands were still slippery. The friend talked a couple of balconies away and suddenly as his wife leaned forward she fell over down 3 stories. She crack her head, bled out from her nose and ear and fell into unconsciousness. They rushed her to the hospital and did a scan on her brain and found damage. The village were all praying for her. For some reason hours later they redid the scan and they miraculously saw no damage. She was completely healed. A miracle. Someone pointed out the spot where she fell is the place where they come together once a week to pray. He said from that day she would never doubt that Jesus is real. 

I took a prayer request from another nurse. I just asked after she took such good care of me, "If you don't mind I would like to pray for you, what could I ask of the Lord?" She looked up surprised and was like as a matter of fact, "Yes! I am newly married and within the year we will be starting a family and buying a house and I would like it to be close to this hospital." I said "I would ask God to give her a sign and don't settle for just any house make a list." My surgeon came in and my husband I talked with her for about a 1/2 hour. She looked at my book and asked, "What are you reading." We got into a discussion and I found out she knew the Narnia books and C.S. Lewis. It was a delight because my surgery was delayed for 1/2 hour. 

In Psalm 139 the Psalmist says, "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways."

He knows! He knows friend what you are going through. The bible says he knows yesterday, today and tomorrow. Friend give it to him and fix your eyes on what He gives you each day. Ask Him what do you want me to read today. I am no one special. What he did for me He will help guide you and get you through also. 

Let's pray:

Lord here is my list__________(go thru it with Him). Help me. What should I read, memorize or forgive? Forgive me for the times I did not listen or see, guide me. Thank you Father the promise of knowing me and showing me. Amen.

Giving makes me feel like I'm living, says...Author Mitch Albom

If you do not know Jesus personally and want to start to learn how to just Pray, Jesus I want to know you. Amen.

you must know....with Easter as our next Holy day...Jesus died and rose from death to paid for our sin. (we all fall short of the glorious plan of God, We are all born with a condition of separation from God) God has paid for us the penalty we deserve. He did this by dying on the cross. He is risen. We know can have full access to Him through His death and resurrection. This new life is forgiveness of sin and life eternally with Christ. This new life can only be find in Jesus. Jesus rose and went to heaven seated at the right hand of the Father. He did not leave us alone. He said the Holy Spirit will be our guide. 

Say to the Father you believe, thank Him for his plan and thank Him for the Holy Spirit who now resides in you. I now turn from going my way and I want to follow you from this day forward. Amen. 

Find a good bible believing church and stay powered up in prayer. Jesus loves you and wants to hold your hand to guide you. Do not let the evil one take this prayer away from you and try to say, "This is false and didn't happen." Find people who will reassure you of this truth.