Be Still

Kitchen cleaned

Laundry folded

Bedroom vacuumed

Supper cooking

I have a million things more to do, but....

I'm learning again, to take time to listen

So now for some more quiet time

As I reflect on God's goodness

And his great plans and purposes for 2010!

Have a blessed day! :))

xoxo

Shelly

"Be still and know that I am God..... "Ps 46:10a

Take time to see.

Nature reflects God's beauty.

Nestled in the trees.

Arriving in the wind.

I feel His presence.

I know He's here.

Breathe in His goodness.

Jesus, lover of my soul.

A Heavy Heart

As I sit here this morning, the day after Christmas, I sit with mixed emotions. First, I am so thankful for and overwhelmed by the love of Christ.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace" Isaiah 9:6.

He is truly wonderful, ......my counsellor, ......my God ... my heavenly Father, and from whom all my peace comes. And He is the reason for this season and the true meaning of Christmas. He is the reason I am here today. Without Him, I am nothing. Without Him, I am incomplete and life has no meaning. Because He was born, because He died, and because He lives today, I have hope and love and the promise that no matter what tomorrow may hold, my future is secure.

But there are so many who do not know Him.

For so many, this Christmas, the greatest gift of all is left unopened.

Deceived and fooled by the temporary pleasures of this world, people reject and push away their only hope for true happiness and eternal salvation. They reject the One who loves them more than anyone else, the One who will never leave them, the One who knew them before they were even born, the One who gave everything so that they might live.

My heart grieves for the lost today.

Family and friends.

Young and Old.

And those whose names I do not know.

My heart grieves for those who are deceived today.

Grieves for those who have accepted the lies as truth.

Grieves for those who have chosen the temporary in place of the eternal.

Grieves for those who are searching in all the wrong places and will never find what they are looking for.

Grieves for those who have left the greatest gift they will ever receive, unopened.

As one who loves to give gifts, I cannot imagine how Jesus must feel. It gives me so much joy in giving someone a present and watching them receive it, open it, and know that they truly love it! A gift that cost me a little time, money and effort. But to give your life, everything you have, and to be rejected. My heart breaks.

So today, I pray.

I pray for those who God has placed on my heart, those who I love and those who He loves even more. And I remain thankful for all that He has already done and all that He said He would do.

And though my heart is heavy, my soul sings.

Sings of His goodness and faithfulness.

Of His mercy and lovingkindness.

Of His Grace.

Thank you, Jesus, for all the gifts that You have given me.

Thank you for those you have called me to pray for and who will one day cry out to you and accept your gift of salvation.

Your love is amazing.

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16:24-26

As I sit and stare at my neglected blog (sigh....), I am reminded of the reason I started it in the first place. Then, I see my title and subtitle, and realize how they reflect where I am today.

Is That You, Lord?

....Hearing His Voice Above All the Noise

I can't tell you how many times lately I have questioned whether what I was hearing was God or not God. Wondered if I heard Him speak, or if it was just me.

How many times will I travel this road?

How many times will I find myself parked in this same spot?

Same mountain, different hiking boots.

Stop.

Take a drink.

Listen.

Yes, Lord.

How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord! (Ps. 84:1)

Forgive me for replacing my time with You with things, personal goals, to do lists, appointments, etc etc....

Teach me Your way, Lord, and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart. (Ps. 86:11)

As I was reading one of my books tonight, a prayer by Lysa Terkeurst became my own....

Lord, may nothing separate me from You today. Teach me how to choose only Your way today so that each step will lead me closer to You. Help me walk by the truth today and not my feelings.

Help me keep my heart pure and undivided. Protect me from my own careless thoughts, words, and actions. And keep me from being distracted by MY desires, MY thoughts on how things should be.

Help me to embrace what comes my way as an opportunity....rather than a personal inconvenience.

And finally, help me to rest in the truth of Psalm 86:13, "Great is Your love toward me."

You already see all the many ways I will surely fall short and mess up. But right now, I consciously tuck Your whisper of absolute love for me into the deepest part of my heart. I recognize Your love for me is not based on performance. You love me, warts and all.

Have mercy, that's amazing.

But what's most amazing is that the God of the universe, the Savior of the world, would desire a few minutes with me today. Lord, help me to remember what a gift it is to sit with You like this.

FAITH - Part 1

It has been a while since I last posted! I have started back to school this semester, so not a lot of time to blog!

I have recently started going through a bible study course on Faith by Kenneth Hagin so I thought I would post a few scriptures and paragraphs from my first lesson.


But without faith, it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. ~ Hebrews 11:6

Notice particularly the first part of Hebrews 11:6: "But without faith it is impossible to please him..." If God demands that I have faith when it is impossible for me to have faith, then I have a right to challenge His justice. But if He places within my hands the means whereby faith can be produced, then the responsibility rests with me whether or not I have faith.

God has told us that without faith it is impossible to please Him, but He has also told us how to get faith. If we don't have faith, God is not to blame. To blame God for our lack of faith is nothing but ignorance. If we lack faith, we are to blame.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. ~ Romans 10:17


In every gospel of Jesus Christ, there is provision for every need - salvation, deliverance, safety, preservation, healing, and soundness. Whatever need you have, the faith to receive your answer comes from hearing the Word of God. As you determine to feed upon the Word continually, you will see your faith grow to be able to receive the wonderful promises God has provided for His children.

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