JULY Went By...

Nearing the end of July 2015, I must say that it was basically a usual July, yet specifically there were some atypical aspects. Personally, and not typically, I seem to have gained a resergence of physical energy! I have attributed this to my loving, powerful and prayer-answering God! I deeply praise Him and am daily trying to determine the best use of this precious commodity, so that prior goals yet incomplete, can be achieved and new ones can be sought.
However, even the healthiest version of me has never been able to abide the extreme summer heat, especially if mingled with a high percentage of humidity! Alas, I have therefore not accomplished as much as I expected. Praying for guidance, I remembered the blog and here I am.
Having been blocked from travels by a medical crisis in May and June, I knew it was unlikely the trip could be made in July, but my bags remain packed.
I look to the future with true hope, backed by the promises of God.  Even when days are difficult, as I focus on the comforting presence of the Lord and all He means to me and think about His plan for my life l am always inspired and encouraged. I love the scripture that comes to mind...

Psalms  71:16 I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.  71:17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.  71:18 Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.  71:19 Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!  71:20 Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.  71:21 Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

Grateful for our SC Governor!

I thank God for Governor Nikki Haley who has promoted and organized a great meeting for our citizens according to the top priority in her life. her love of God and her realization that without him we can do nothing. Thank You Governor Haley for putting a platform together for true believers to call out to God. repenting of their sins and praying to God to help us to take a stand but mostly that He would just turn our country around and begin with us. Thank you for being as a Christian believer the example that other Christians and leaders in this country can follow. I have been participating by live stream since 10 a.m. with many others not able to be there. Also grateful this airing was arranged ....what a blessing to agree with other believers about God's ability to restore our fellowship and work as a corporate body with Him to influence our state, nation and world!

WHAT GRANDMOTHERS PRAY

1. Each grandkid will be Healthy, Holy, and Happy.
2. Their grandkids will genuinely seek, accept, love and be obedient to God by receiving Jesus Christ. That they will love His Word, live by it, and if necessary defend Its truth and die for it.
3. Their grandkids will make right choices, even when it is difficult or involves pain or sacrifice. That they will learn from hearing about and seeing the results of others mistakes, sins and failures.
4.Their grandkids will find their God-given talents and develop and use them in a way that will please God and benefit mankind.
5.Their grandkids will realize  all choices have consequences and that wrong choices cannot produce right results. To pray daily and follow God's guidance.
6.Their grandkids will realize they are never alone (even in loneliness) or forsaken from the time they accept Christ into their heart and life. HE will truly be their "guide unto death".

Psalms  78:3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.  78:6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:  78:7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: 
78:8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

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








 

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               

 



Thinking on Things January 2011

Do you make lists? I tend to do that, especially as I get older. It does help me to not forget what needs to be accomplished, or attained. Somehow I am impressed to go toward a simple list for this New Year. I believe this list will guide me in the days ahead to remain focused on what is important. To assess things of true (value) it is necessary to judge by THE TRUTH, God's Holy Word to me.

1.Recognize my purpose: To love God, to be devoted to Him. He wanted someone to love and be loved by Him. He loves me because I am His child. What I do is noted by Him, but that is not why He loves me. He has goals for me, but that is not why He created me. If I love God the way He desires to be loved I will be fulfilling the desire of His heart! It will lead to the acts of love and obedience that my being is equipped by God for.

Revelation 4:11 "Thou art worthy O Lord, to receive Glory (praise and adoration), and Honour (respectful obedience) and power (my strength and ability): for Thou hast created all things and for Thy pleasure they are and were created."

2.Recognize the plan: To love the Lord with all my heart, soul, and mind. It is an intentional, fervent love, that will involve my emotions, my physical body, and the submission of my will (willing to, wanting to) do the things of His good pleasure. This is a constant,trusting love that He actually develops in me as our relationship grows. This is a wonderful, mysterious love unlike any earthly relationship, since it is built on trusting my all-perfect and truthful God Who will never break a promise to His child!

Luke 10:27 "Thou shalt love the LORD thy GOD with all thy heat, with all thy with all thy soul,; and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself."

3.Recognize the priorities: Next, to impart His love to others. Only by developing my relationship with Him, will I then love and help others the way He wants them to be loved. Unconditionally. In this sharing of my beloved, I cannot hold myself back. My motive will be love. Jesus personified this example for us.

John 17:26 "And I have declared unto them Thy name, and will declare it, that the love wherewith Thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them."

4.Recognize His presence and power: God Himself is ever-present with me as the Holy Spirit. He is within and without. He guides,leads,and empowers me. How I thrill as I write this because God alone knows the path ahead this year. It may be a dark path that He will enlighten, or a steep path that is hard and rocky. It may be that He will need to carry me. His loving care for me will never fail.

Ephesians 4:30 " And grieve not the Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." "What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God and ye are not your own,? Ye are bought with a price...therefore glorify God in your body and in your Spirit, which are God's." "...for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God and they shall be my people.
" I Corinthians 6:19,20,2 Corinthians 6:16 "Greater is He that isin you than he that is in the world."I John 4:4