Your Thanksiving Holiday

Psalms 107:1 - O give thanks unto the LORD, for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.

Ephesians 5:20 - Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Yes Thanksgiving. About family but not just about family since some of us have had sadness in the family this year. Have even maybe lost a family member this year. It's about food but I think of many ( especially one) that are not even able to eat solid food because of an affliction. Or unbelievable as it may seem there are those that will go without food today even in our wonderful country. It's about relationships although many will sit at a table with painful and strained relationships. It's about making the best of circumstances but there are many they have no control over their circumstances.
No it is about the Lord and His goodness. He knows the way through the wilderness and he knows the paths of joy and sorrow. He is the same yesterday today and forever!

A Sure Path

God's desire is that we know Him, love Him above all others, and trust His guidance from day to day. Prov.3:5-9 As we do this, all else follows. If each of us had nothing but Him, and yielded to His control, it would be easy. But our struggle comes from all the other choices and options along the way that He allows us to experience.

As the earthly realm is enlarged, Satan works his ways to distract us from God's original purpose...a changed life, a truly holy life, motivated in our hearts by the great love we have for Him.  We love Him because He first loved us. We serve Him, because He first loved us. We have faith in Him because He first loved us. Complete trust is fully based on the awareness that the Lord has always loved us, loves us now, and will continue to love us. Not for what we do, but because He created us to love and be loved by Him. Our loyalty and love for Him should reign supreme in our lives, and as it does it clarifies our view and gives us the right perspective.(Rev.4:11)(Ps.119:1-4)

  In my life, knowing God's will for me is not always about knowing what I should do, in a particular circumstance. In fact, many times, as I ask for guidance, He reveals or reminds me of the things I know I shouldn't do; the things He clearly reveals in His Word to me. He does not always show me the choice to make, He often shows me a choice I shouldn't make, or a better way. This type of direction depends on a day-to-day desire to be close to Him and to please Him..(Ps.119:133)

Jesus Christ is my enduring leader. Although every human relationship is different, and every personal circumstance new, Jesus Christ is the same as He was yesterday, is today, and will be tomorrow. (Heb.13:8) The sheer wonder of such consistency and His promise!  It inspires me to trust Him to lead me through life. Circumstances of life can often seem ambiguous or confusing. He says in His word, He knows the end from the beginning. This means the Lord also knows the order of things that He planned! Therefore,  I can trust Him to lead me through to that end, can I not?(Deut.31:8) (Rev.22:13)

 Jesus is my enduring lover.  I am promised an everlasting love, not based on my character, or what I do, but on His Divine Eternal character and the Holy Spirit within me. Not only will He always lead me; He is also there with me loving me as He guides and leads me. He is my true and faithful friend above all others. I realize an awareness of His presence and His love(Jer.33:3)(Heb.13:5)(John 13:1)
 
Jesus is also my enduring example of excellence.  He embodies precept, promise and power. He is the best example I can follow. He will never falter or fail. He will never disappoint. He will always bless and accomplish His purpose through me as I obey.(John 13:15) (Matt.4:19)(Phil.2:12,13)

 In summary,My Lord is good, wise and unchanging. He knows the end from the beginning and has the wisdom and power to lead me from that beginning to that end.  He gives me the enduring promise of His undying love.


GTD2/17/14








 

The Strongest Tower

From my favorite seat in the house I see the American flag wave gently today, moving as it will with little opposition from any contrary wind outside.Yet our country, which it represents, in truth is struggling against many very boisterous and contrary winds. Breezes, gusts, gales, storms, and fronts of all types from the local, national, and international scene. Never in my lifetime have I perceived such turbulence against the Land that I Love. "The name of the LORD is a strong tower, the righteous runneth into it and is safe." Prov.18:10  from My thoughts today gtd 4/7/13

Anew You "Because He Loves Me"

--Having given a considerable amount of time to wait for input from my previous request to readers, it is now time to continue. While waiting, I have come across an opportunity which will  fan the embers of devotion in this writer's heart. One thing that I've been impressed with in the life of Jesus is that 'He went about doing the Father's will", not waiting for others to agree, or even necessarily follow. He had to do what He was called to do in devotion and obedience to the Father, and frankly, if no one followed, He walked on. He could not be distracted from the higher goal of pleasing His Father by devoted obedience.

I am weary this evening, having not slept well last night. In my insomnia, I read the first sections of "Because He Loves Me", which I acquired so easily for my android phone Kindle last night from Amazon.   The theme that has been burning in my soul is "Anew You". This book seems to be a very nice guidebook for me to find the reconstructive process necessary to "anew" especially in motive and matters of the heart. May God receive greater love from each of us as we seek to grow in grace and knowledge and yieldedness to His Indwelling loving leadership.

From my heart, in His love, by His grace,
Gail

 

ANEW!

Pondering this morning the concepts of remodeling, reconstruction, renewal etc. All are processes that can be either voluntary or involuntary. IE. by choice or by constraint. These circumstances may or may not always be under my control or timing I would choose.

Several scenarios come to mind... a shattering or sudden violent destructive occurrence, a gradual deterioration, or a desired plan to replace the present with something better...Sometimes it may start with one and involve all of the others!

(Thinking especially of the hurricane this week even though I penned the above about a month ago! Wow I marvel when God does the timing!)

In the case of a natural disaster, we think of roads, homes, businesses, and buildings and facilities of all kinds that are affected. The outreach of such devastation is unimaginable and so laborious, time-consuming, and expensive!

But what about the people connected to this devastation?! How will they react to a destroyed or heavily damaged home or business. Perhaps even an injury or death may occur as a direct or indirect result of this disaster. There may be a prolonged time of grieving or inconvenience that is almost unbearable!

How about those, like one I heard of, who are already in a very difficult personal situation that is out of their control? Those in the process of rebuilding their personal lives from heartache or physical illness, or financial ruin may reach the depths of despair. Or...? what is their alternative?

Amidst the overwhelming circumstances of life, there are steps to be taken. We will start here to lay out a plan for overcoming the "quitter or bitter factor" in such situations that we may face.

1. Survey the damages! LOOK at the true devastation! You may want to run away or look away or not think about it, but truly you must examine it in all its facets to know what the real situation is! You cannot make any progress toward "anewal" without this first step. Decide what is broken. No situation is without hope, but the only answer is to really look and see what needs to be removed, replaced, or repaired. Most people who cannot recover from devastation have refused to look hard at the problem and make assessments.

FACT: It is alright and actually normal to be upset about times of devastating disappointment. But it is not alright to refuse to deal with what you have personal responsibility for.

You know that I am going to remind you right now that you don't need to be alone facing your devastation whether it is intensely personal and painful, or openly revealed to others. GOD has the power to give restoration or renewal. He will help you do the things that you need to do to bring this about. His love will be revealed by guiding and giving inspiration and strength. If there is anything you need to do, you will know. And HE will never leave you or forsake the project. Because His project is You. Ask for His help. Slowly but surely you will see Him working in your life. If you don't know or trust God,this is your opportunity to become acquainted with His ways. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!!!

To be continued: Today's assignment : Survey the damages. Pray for GOD to help you through this painful task. Here's some promises:

• "Call unto me and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not!" Jer.33:3
• "Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you". I Pet. 5:7
• "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made Heaven and earth. Psalm121:1,2
• "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Phil.4:13
• "Fear thou not, for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God:I will strengthen thee; yea I will help thee; yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isa.49:10

My prayer: "Dear GOD, there are so many suffering people at this moment. They may be confused and bewildered. They may be disappointed and angry or bitter. LORD help them now to realize that you are there and wanting to help them. I think of your grief when you looked out over Jerusalem and wept, because your people would not accept your help. They were like sheep without a shepherd or chicks without their momma hen. Totally without guidance or direction and no one showing them the right way. Lord I pray right now that you will prove yourself to those that read this. May they take you at your Holy word and accept the above promises. Make you their Shepherd. Make you their Lord. Show yourself to them and may they know you as I do. A loving, wonderful, and true God that they can depend on. For those that have little faith, may they be strengthed after reading this. In Jesus Name, Amen".



Writings on My Heart

PART 1 

 

I cannot believe that I have not shared anything here since last Christmas and here we are into the autumn of our year 2012. The only way I can explain this is that perhaps I have had to put down the pen while GOD engraved some things into my own heart!

At times I have read or listened to someone try to explain something which they really did not understand themself. How frustrating for them as well as those trying to learn or at least try to get their point!

After much prayer and consideration, I will begin to share some of what GOD has been showing me these months.  Remember GOD teaches in several ways.

1.Through His Eternal Word   2.Through Life itself and our experiences  3.Through the Biblical counsel and teaching of Godly people 4.Through the guidance and leadership of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Word of God is Supreme and anything God teaches through any means will never contradict His Word. So the undergirding of all my life is the truth that God tells me in His Word.

The events that have unfolded in my life this year were not anything I could have imagined the likes of. Much was unexpected, unwanted and at times unbearable.  A wilderness, an untravelled and perplexing pathway to an unknown end. At the very beginning, the Lord reminded me of two things:
His unending love for me. And His knowledge of my circumstances. He told me from His Word in John 13:1...."Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them to the end...".   Then in Deut.2:7,  "...for the Lord Thy God knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness."  Promises of God to me!

         On the authority of the truth of God's Word I can tell you that whatever YOU are facing, HE loves you and always will. Do not doubt His love ever, whether sunshine, shade, or darkest night! Believe Him!

 

92212gtd               

 



Waiting

This is an article from an email newsletter created especially for my children a decade ago. I have been wanting to republish these so from time to time I willl share one.

9:01 AM 04/08/2001

Mom's Musings.....Thinking on Things

"And therefore, will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait upon Him." Isaiah 30:18

It seems that there is always some area in our life that we are learning to wait on the LORD. He uses this as a discipline in our lives continually. Although it is trying for us, He is a good God and withholding the answer is part of the best plan he has for us.

His ideal for us is that we would learn from each waiting experience that His way is best, and that as we are waiting, we can look forward to the conclusion with absolute confidence that His way is perfect. During the waiting times, He offers grace and peace for the asking.

As a woman, I have personally experienced what is one of the hardest experiences in life...awaiting the birth of a child. How Satan would torment me with fearful thoughts and anxiety during those months!

At that time I did not know the promises of God, so just cowered at these attacks and hoped and yes prayed that everything would turn out right! The aspect that probably bothered me most during those times was my total lack of control.

As Christians, we can face life's earthly uncertainties knowing that GOD is always at work....that He is in absolute control, and that He is withholding the conclusion to present it in His perfect timing. His way is best...He does this to prove His compassion, grace and mercy in our lives, to glorify Himself, and for other reasons to be revealed in eternity. However we can be sure that all is done with His Perfect love toward us.

No Greater Joy !!!
lll John 4

Rev.Sat.Jan 15,2010