GOD IS

 God is.

God is right here.

And He reminded me this morning.

Those old feelings wanted to creep in.  Those false notions that I am not valued, I am not respected.  Who cares?  Your opinion don't matter.  Nobody wants to hear.  You have nothing to offer.

The enemy wants to redirect me, sway me, get me to turn.

BUT God is.  He is right here.  He nudged me to "put on a praise song".  This is something I used to do every morning to start my prayer time.  I've gotten away from it because of my ears - not hearing enough, picking up too much twang, just not being right.  I'm trying to overcome my ears!  So this morning, being the old fashioned gal that I am, I open my laptop and then went to Spotify and clicked on one of my many Praise lists.  A beautiful song by Jason Lavik came on... "I Need Thee every hour, Most gracious Lord." "I Need Thee, O I Need Thee, Every Hour I Need Thee".  

This is a song that has come up in the last week.  In my devotions, in my head as I woke at 3 am, on the radio, and in church.  Yes, what a beautiful way to Praise My Father as He reminds me, HE IS right here.

I'm a routine person, so next I went to eat my small breakfast and read devotions.  The scripture was Psalm 107.  This is one of my favorite Psalms.  God has so much to say in these words.  Over and over in this Psalm people cry out to God and EVERY SINGLE TIME - He hears and delivers them.  GOD offers hope and encouragement through these words.  When "mental stress" comes and no one else is here... GOD IS.  God IS right here.

The devotional today starts in the middle of the Psalm and I am drawn to verse 30 and 31.  As I'm thinking and stressing that I should DO something to have value, DO something to be respected, have a plan to DO, DO, DO, God reminds me of the storms He has taken me through.  We got through them together and now His word says to find "a blessing in the stillness and quiet".  Another version says, "they rejoiced when the waves grew quiet", and yet another, "they were glad when it grew calm".

So this is my season of stillness, of quiet, or calmness.  And I am to rejoice, praise Him, embrace it.

SO BE STILL MY SOUL

GOD IS

GOD IS HERE.

And then the next verse says "then He guided them to the harbor they longed for (their desired haven)".

So I know - after this chapter of  stillness and quiet - there is great adventure ahead because 

GOD IS

GOD IS FAITHFUL

GOD SATISFIES.

GOD IS HERE.

IT'S MAY 2022

 Wow - I haven't written in this blog for almost 5 years!  I've been reading my old entries - and I've enjoyed reading them, smiling at the memories, amazed by God's goodness and how He can use a weak and ordinary woman to show who He is!

Perhaps I'll try again to write - and share again this normal, messed up adventurous, ordinary life,  as reading these stirs something in me.  I like to write - it brings some fresh perspective out of me.

 It's Tuesday so the week is still new - but  --

~ I called my Aunt Ardis yesterday and sang her "Happy Birthday".  She's 6 1/2 years older than me so she's always been more like a big sister.   She has a strong sense of family and I always feel accepted and loved by her.  I love this and want to convey this same sense to my family.

~I texted a friend for some information only to find out she needs my support as a friend.  It was a God connection and I encouraged her and sent her God's words!  I am thankful to God for calling me to prayer and giving me His words so I can share them.  I want to continue to do this.

~It was my son-in-laws 40th birthday!  I am so blessed to have him in my life!  He is an adventure seeker and brings so much fun into our family.  I want to have more of this adventure sense!

~Marlys is a friend who has taught me about prayer and marriage and relationships.  I called and checked in with her as I want to visit and SEE her soon.  Marlys is losing her eyesight - yet she shows me Christlike strength and confidence.  She and her hubby were at the ocean - because she wants to SEE it one more time. This attitude of embracing life and being thankful is something I want to cultivate!

~Yesterday 5 of us girlfriends went to a small coffee shop to support the owner, to have a fun drink, to get out of town, and to visit.  It was a short trip, relaxing and fun and we prayed for one of the gals who is having a lot of drama in her life.  I was intentional in asking "can we prayer for you" and then -- well, praying.  Listening, being intentional, praying for and with others -- I want to do this more.

Some people have "bucket lists" -- I think of mine more of a "stirring list".  Things that stir my soul.  Stirred by the One who created me.  

Convicted

Honesty.  Being real and raw. Living transformed.  Letting your lives be an open book.  That is what "Convicted" by Jameel McGee and Andrew Collins is all about.  These men share about their anger, revenge, corruption, mistrust, and selfishness in the chaotic world they live in.  Then they share their humility and transformation.  

This is such an inspiring story and shows that anyone can be restored and revived.  This is definitely a page turner.  It was a quick read for me because I couldn't put it down. I learned a lot about racial tensions from this book.  I learned how we are so quick to judge others and label them as guilty when they are in fact innocent, even if they don't act innocent.  It was interesting how a good guy with a dream to succeed could lose his sense of integrity by making small indiscretions that led to huge ones.

Forgiveness is a major theme of this book and not because these two men are so tough and strong; but because they are willing to turn from their own ways and live for Christ and His way.   A very moving story worth reading.

I received this book from Waterbrook Press for my honest review.

REACHING OUT & WALKING BY HIS SIDE

HEARTACHE, CONFUSION, FRUSTRATION, BROKEN HEARTS, BAD NEWS, JUST ONE BURDEN AFTER ANOTHER AS WE WALK THROUGH THIS LIFE.  THIS WORLD IS A HARD PLACE TO LIVE.

LAST YEAR I ASKED THE LORD TO HELP ME WALK CLOSELY AND TO SEE THROUGH DIFFERENT EYES.  NOW I'M ASKING FOR SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING.  TO SEE WHAT I CAN'T SEE.  OR TO BELIEVE WHAT I CAN'T SEE OR TOUCH OR KNOW.  IT'S WALKING BY A FAITH THAT IS FIRM AND SUSTAINS AND LIFTS AND CARRIES ME; ONE THAT CAN ONLY BE GOD, BECAUSE IT'S WAY BEYOND ME.

JUST TODAY I FOUND THIS OLD SONG. "REACH OUT TO JESUS".  I'M AN OLD ELVIS PRESLEY FAN AND THIS IS ONE OF HIS GOSPEL SONGS.

I LOVE SONG LYRICS SO HERE THEY ARE:

Is your burden heavy as you bear it all alone?
Does the road you travel, harbor dangers yet unknown?
Are you growin' weary in the struggle of it all?
Jesus will help you with all His name you call

He's always there hearing every prayer, faithful and true
Walking by our side, in his love we hide all the day through
When you get discouraged just remember what to do
Reach out to Jesus, he's reaching out to you

Is the life you're living filled with sorrow and dispair?
Does the future press you with its worry and its scare?
Are you tired and jealous, have you almost your way?
Jesus will help you, just talk to him today

My favorite author, Stormie Omartian in her book "Led to Follow God"  says we are "Led to Follow God to an Intimate Day-by-Day Walk with HIm.  She goes on to say:  "Everyday the Holy Spirit will lead you to an intimate walk with Him.  And He will work on you so that your heart is clean before Him.  You don't have to be perfect, but your heart must be right.  You can't live your life doing what you want, when you want, you must be submitted to the leading of the Holy Spirit."  "When you live by God's laws and walk day by day, you will always be headed in the right direction.  And it is not difficult, because He does all the heavy lifting."  "HE BECOMES YOUR STRENGTH WHEN YOU HAVE NONE" HE IS YOUR GUIDE WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.  HE IS YOUR COMFORTER WHEN YOU ARE HURTING AND DISTRESSED."  "We all have a tendency to bring suffering upon ourselves needlessly because we want to take complete control of our lives and not allow the Holy Spirit to perfect us."

"God wants us to live a life we cannot possibly live without Him."

"WE CAN FALL OFF THE PATH GOD HAS FOR US 

IF WE DON'T MAKE A DELIBERATE EFFORT 

TO WALK CLOSELY WITH HIM EVERY DAY."

"BE CAREFUL HOW YOU WALK."

"WALK SO CLOSELY THAT YOU HEAR HIS HEARTBEAT!"

REVIVING

This song was going thru my head this morning.  

I'm singing it for my family and friends.   

Oh, how we need Jesus.

HE IS OUR GREAT FORGIVER.

GRACIOUS AND COMPASSIONATE.

SLOW TO ANGER.

ABOUNDING IN LOVE.

HIS  KINDNESS TO US IS SO GREAT 

EVEN WHEN WE TRY TO RETURN TO OUR BONDAGES.

NEHEMIAH 9:17-21 

 17 They refused to obey and did not remember the miracles you had done for them. Instead, they became stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to their slavery in Egypt. BUT you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them, 18 even when they made an idol shaped like a calf and said, ‘This is your god who brought you out of Egypt!’ They committed terrible blasphemies.

19 “But in your great mercy you did not abandon them to die in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud still led them forward by day, and the pillar of fire showed them the way through the night. 20 You sent your good Spirit to instruct them, and you did not stop giving them manna from heaven or water for their thirst.21 For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell!

LORD,

~HELP US TO OBEY

~RECALL TO OUR MINDS THE WONDERS 

YOU HAVE DONE IN OUR LIVES

~DO NOT LET US HARDEN OUR NECKS

~HELP US DESTROY OUR IDOLS 

NOT HAVE THEM DESTROY US

~MAY WE SERVE ONLY YOU, OUR LIVING GOD