God’s Purpose

 

blogspost.com

” Now my soul is troubled and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose, I came to this hour. Father glorify Your Name." John 12:27-28a (NKJV)

Here Jesus speaks to God from His humanity. His soul is troubled. He knows what lays ahead for Him, yet He fears the separation from His Father that He has to endure.

Jesus Christ knew God had led Him to this point in His ministry. He asks the question if he should ask God to save Him from that hour.

However, Jesus realized and stated that what He was about to go through was God’s plan and purpose.

Our God has plans and purposes for each of us. In researching God’s purpose for our lives, we begin to see His plan unfold for each of us.

1. Keep in touch with God through prayer.

2. Study His Word (Read the Bible)

3. Apply what you read to our hearts.

I have had a terrible time getting onto the internet this afternoon. I spent almost an hour and five phone calls to my carrier. I had to go pick up some things at the dry cleaners. I was online when I returned. We had supper and I could not get back online again. I had to switch browsers in order to get this posted. I also had to get a new password. I believe there is a message in this. At the moment, I am unsure what that message is.

Husband knows to not ask any questions or cross my path when things like this happen. I get very upset.

A Gentle and Quiet Spirit

 

                                                                                      i.pinimg.com

Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging your hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 1 Peter 3:3-4 (NKJV)

Words of the Apostle Peter to those who were dispersed into five regions of Asia Minor.

His words speak of the inner beauty of the believers of Christ. Per his thought, the inner person is what God sees and deems as our true selves.

I am concerned that our world has worshiped youthfulness, forgetting that people age. Madison Avenue (the advertising industry) has caused us to forget the fact that we are aging. Several of my lady friends have aged gracefully. I have a picture of one of them and her husband in our living room.

Now, please do not misunderstand, there are things we might need to do to our skin. However, there are things we need to do to keep our inner self presentable before God.

#Reading God’s Word

# Applying what it says to our heart

# Living out His Word to others

# Seeking His guidance through prayer

Father God, Please help each one of us to be gentle and humble as we go through our days. In Christ’s Name, I pray. Amen

A Cure for Anxiety

 

saatchiart

 

 

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and mind through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)

 

Paul gives the believers at Philippi some very astute advice in this passage.

 

 Be anxious for nothing

 

He tells them and us to not worry about anything. Some of us find that to be hard to do.

 

in everything by prayer and supplication

 

He tells his readers to pray and to petition God with our concerns. God wants to hear from us about what bothers us.

 

 with thanksgiving

 

We are to thank God for all He does for us and all He gives us. When He guides us through a difficult circumstance, we must tell Him, “Thank You.” In our earthly lives, we try to thank someone who does something we don’t expect or something that is nice.

We should do the same when God guides us through or answers a prayer.

 

let your requests be made known to God

 

When we have anxieties, fears, or concerns, we must take them to the LORD first. I recently had a concern that I felt was weighing me down. I prayed several times about the need. I texted a message to some of my prayer group. I told them I couldn’t talk about it. I received responses that told me they were praying for my need.

 

The next morning, my heart felt lighter. I found out later that the cause of the anxiety had been taken away.

 

the peace of God, which passes all understanding,

 

We will never fully understand the peace of God while we are on this earth. All I know is His peace has wondrous effects on those who receive it.

 

 will guard your hearts and mind through Christ Jesus.

 

God guards the hearts and minds of those who surrender to Him and choose to continue to live for Him whatever circumstances enter their lives.

September Reflections

 

Shining Mom

 

 Surprise, Surprise

September was a surprising month. The weather was more like July than September.

I had been patiently (?) waiting for two copies of a devotional book I ordered. They finally arrived on the 29^th. I made several calls to the publisher about them.

I received a new 5G cell phone that put me on a huge learning curve. It took a while, but I believe I have learned to navigate on it. It works somewhat differently.

 

 Medical Stuff

 

I noticed something that concerned me around one of my incision marks. I had a follow-up mammogram. I was due to have one this fall anyway, we just did it early. What I was seeing was NOT a sign of disease. For this I am thankful.

 

Writing, Journaling

 

I believe I have my word for 2022 chosen. I also have my monthly themes in mind.  I will share these in my December Reflections post.

 

I am enjoying journaling thoughts about some scriptures from “The Beauty of an Uncluttered Mind” by Carla Gasser. Here is the link to my previous post. beauty of an uncluttered mind. Each of these scriptures is related to one of the Fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5.

 

 Prayer Requests

 

With all the upheaval in our world, we must pray for revival, for God’s hand of guidance on His children.

 

 There is a lot of heartache in this world beyond COVID. Hurricanes, Volcanoes erupting, Family Crises, Racial Tensions, Health Problems, Political Unrest, just to name a few.

 

Re-establishing Good Habits

 

I am struggling to return to some good habits in my life.  Also trying to establish some good habits. I must say that some of those bad habits are not because of COVID.

 

 My gift for my friend

 

My friend Anna now lives in an assisted living facility in southern Indiana. I made her a wreath for the door of her apartment. A gentleman from church and Anna’s cousin, also from church, went down to see her one Friday late last month. She called me late that afternoon and thanked me for it. She said it made her cry (Tears of happiness). At first she didn’t realize I had made it. She said it was the prettiest wreath on her floor.               

                                                 

 

Serving God in Small Ways

 

               

Pinterest

 

Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. Psalm 143:1 (NIV)

 

It happened on a Friday morning. My best friend called to share a prayer request with me. Her son-in-law had a difficult night. He is a cancer survivor.

 

Her daughter wanted us to pray. I prayed for them right then. My friend and I talked some more. I started to say something but found myself verbally praying again. The next day, I found out that the doctor gave them an answer for his pain and a prescription for that pain.

 

My prayer list is lengthy and grows throughout each month. We had taken a trip that week down to where my husband grew up and where our son lives. We saw Hubby’s best friend and his wife. In conversing with our friend, we learned of two other families who are going through difficult circumstances. After we got back home, we received a call from someone from down there whose wife is seriously ill and has been for a few years.

 

As I sit on my porch and type this essay. A car pulls into the driveway next door. A young man goes to the door and the new neighbor comes out. He assists her to the car, and she gets in. Her husband returns home. I heard her say she had a doctor's appointment. I met her almost a week earlier and she shared with me her physical condition. I have been praying for her when I can.

 

That week was a learning experience for me. The acts of service to the LORD can be as simple as saying a prayer, giving assistance to someone who needs it, or saying a kind word to someone who might need it. Smiling at someone who seems down.

 

All I can do for these people is pray. This might seem a small way for God to be served but He hears and answers the prayers of His people.       

He Carried Jesus’ Cross

 

Spread Jesus.org

 

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23 (NIV)

 

We read these words, but do we really pay attention to what Jesus says here? Let us look at one who carried Jesus’ cross along the road to Golgotha.

 

Who is Simon of Cyrene?  

Simon attended the Passover Feast in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion.

 

Why did he do it? 

He was ordered to by the Roman centurion in charge of the journey to Golgotha.

 

Where is Cyrene? 

Cyrene was what is now modern-day Tripoli, located on the northern coast of Libya. (Daily Bible Commentary, Gospel of Luke, William Barclay p.335)

 

Why was he in Jerusalem?

To observe the Passover. He may have saved for a long time to be able to make this pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Barclay tells us, Simon, most likely. saved for many years to make this pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Passover. The account of the Simon’s conscription for this task by Mark tells us he had two sons, Alexander, and Rufus. 

 

How did Simon feel when he was ordered to carry Jesus’ cross? 

He could have felt anger toward the Roman centurion for making him do this task against his will. Maybe he had hard feelings against Rome (for taking over the government of Jerusalem). 

 

How might he have felt when he was at Golgotha?

Was he caught up in the crowd that wanted to see Jesus crucified? He knew that crucifixion was a criminal’s death. Did he have compassion for Jesus that grew as He walked alongside Him, carrying His cross?

 How did he react to what he heard?

 “Father, forgive them.” Did Simon wonder how Jesus, a perfect man, could ask God to forgive the people for this travesty?

 “They know not what they do.” Did Simon wonder what Jesus meant by saying this? These people were causing life to end for no reason.

 “Mother, here is your son.” Jesus Christ made provisions for Mary to be taken care of in her later years of life. He voiced his wishes for everyone in the crowd to hear. Did Simon marvel at Jesus’ words?

“Here is you mother” Jesus spoke these words to John, but did Simon realize what was happening with these words? He may have had lots of time to ponder these words.

 

How did he feel when he heard that Christ had risen?

Simon must have realized that Jesus was truly the Son of God. We are told that Simon and his family became believers in Jesus. The Apostle Paul writes to the Romans they are to “Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. (Romans 16:1)

We can conclude that Simon and his family became believers because of this event at the Passover Feast. The task Simon was ordered to do was not one he would have volunteered for. Because of that task, the kingdom of God was enlarged.

 

Sometimes in our Christian walk, we will be faced with a task we really do not want to do. We find ourselves doing it because we feel we must. Later, we find that we have grown from the experience. God uses even the tasks we find distasteful to enlarge His kingdom.

The Gift of Faith

 

               

                 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 

                                                                                                                Hebrews 11:1-2 NIV

 

                The writer of Hebrews gives us an interesting concept of the meaning of faith.

He says that it is our being sure of what we hope for. Does this mean that when we are sure that something will happen as we want it to? Or does it mean that we must believe that the thing we want will transpire according to God’s desire and plan?

 

When our faith is in God, we can be sure that His Will is the most important and is what will transpire.

 

When we feel God’s presence around us, we can be certain that He is there, and He will guide us through the issues we face in this fallen world.

 

Several years ago, I heard a neat acrostic for the word faith:

                        Forsaking

                        All

                        In

                        Trusting

                        Him.

 

The writer of Hebrews says it best: “And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

 

For further reading:

Hebrews 3:6

2 Corinthians 4:18

Hebrews 11

Spiritual Gifts

 

 

Snow aftermath in late April

                Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is in prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith, if it is in serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.   Romans 12:7-8 (NIV)

Have you ever met someone who helped make life easier for you? I am speaking of when we are in difficult circumstances.

In dealing with nurses, I decided a long time ago they are called by God and given special gifts to perform their many tasks.

The Apostle Paul gives us a picture of the attitude with which a person needs to practice his or her gift. Have you ever been around someone who did not seem to be in the right position for their makeup? I have had that experience in several situations of my life. It was not a fun place to be.

On April 21, I had an appointment for my third day of radiation treatments. (I had two a day.) About 20 minutes before my appointed time, the phone rang. It was the nurse from the Cancer Care Building. Overnight, our state was hit with a very-late-season snowstorm. The place lost power due to the heaviness of that snow. This caused the scanning machine they used on me not to work properly. They needed me to come 30 minutes later for my morning session.

 

The whole time I was in treatment that morning, I felt cared about as well as cared for. They did not seem to know when the problem would be remedied. We were all in this together. They exercised their gifts to help me through that week. They had to use a different machine on me for two days (four treatments).

 

I learned several years ago that Spiritual gifts were given to us by the Holy Spirit for our employees, not our enjoyment. I believe we followers of Jesus should learn to use our gifts for the sake of the Kingdom every day.

 

God is My Strength

  

crumc/quiet spirit

Though the fig tree does not bud
 and there are no grapes on the vines,

 though the olive crop fails 

 and the fields produce no food, 

though there are no sheep in the pen

 and no cattle in the stalls, 

yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

 I will be joyful in God my Savior. 

 The Sovereign Lord is my strength; 

 he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, 

 he enables me to tread on the heights. 

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (ESV)

 The prophet Habakkuk rejoiced in the LORD despite some extremely difficult times. The fruit was not maturing; those trees were not able to blossom. The olive crop failed. These were hard times for the Israelite nation. 

 Yet, Habakkuk chose to rejoice in the LORD. He would find joy in the small things that God did for him. He claims God as his strength, knowing God keeps his feet steady and secure. 

 In our world today, we see the worldwide and national pandemic numbers rising to heights that cause grave concern. We have seen forest fires rage through our western states, hurricanes pelter our southern and eastern states, the advent of killer bees. This past summer, we saw civil unrest move across our nation. Even now, after our presidential election, we still have uncertainty. 

 Whatever side you believe is right in this uncertainty about the election’s outcome, we must realize that God has this and all other issues under His control. We must find some things in our lives in which to rejoice and for which to thank God. 

 We must trust God without reservation, for all that comes into our lives. Abraham left his homeland not knowing where God was leading him. Moses led the Israelite people out of bondage, trusting God as the Israelite people grumbled and complained about everything. Ruth left her native land to accompany Naomi as she went back to her homeland. Ruth did not know if they would make it to Naomi’s homeland or how she would be received by Naomi’s people. 

 Yes, God is our strength. Like Habakkuk, we must believe that no matter what we face.

May Reflections

Etsy

Another month of sheltering in place. I was able to be out a few times, always wearing a mask the few times I have been out.

Being a Shepherd

I enjoy staying in touch with those people from church on my shepherd list. Most of them I text. One does not have that capability, so I call her.

Books

I am making some progress in getting back on some sort of writing activity. I have a book review ready to post. I ordered a book on writing. Write Like the Masters, by William Cane 

I ordered and finally received a Christian Writer’s Marketing Guide. I have spent some time searching through it.

I also received a copy of a book from Bethany House Publishers for me to review.

31 Days of Prayer Experience

For the month of May, I have been using a 31-Days of Prayer format. One part of the system is a printed page containing a target. Four concentric circles with terms like Thanksgiving, Wisdom, and Spiritual Insight, Forgiveness, Praise and worship, Confession of Sin, Renewal and Revival. Poor and Oppressed, World Leaders, National Government, Global Church, World Missions, Education, Current Events, Local Government, Global Church, World Missions, Local Church, Friends, Community. In the center of the target we are to pray for Home and Family. I have truly benefitted from doing this.

Also, there is a page of Scripture verses, one for each day. I have been led to journal about these verses. This exercise keeps me in practice to write something each day.

In April, I read and studies Psalm 119.

Looking Ahead

We understand that our church will be able to open on June 14. We know that our worship service will look different than before.

I have chosen not to bother the Activity Director at the nursing home to find out when they will be able to have outside people bring in readings and lessons to the residents. Likewise, I have not tried to call the retirement community. I intend to call those places early in June to see where they are in opening.

This month, my hairstylist chose to “officially retire”. She has had some health issues these past few years. Her husband had heart issues. Her dad who lives with them also has a heart condition.  She has her salon up for sale Please pray for her as she gets that salon sold and she enters a new phase of her life.

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

Pinterest

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:1 (NIV)

What does Jesus mean when He says this?

I know a woman and two of her sisters who are poor by the standards of society, but I have heard of this Christian woman going out of her way to help others who had less. I also witnessed this same Christian woman console one of her sisters at a memorial service for one of their brothers.

           

I read of a Christian speaker and author tell of preparing to speak at a writer’s conference as he recovered from cancer treatment. He sent up a prayer to God saying, “Lord, I can’t do this.” The answer he received was simply, “You can’t, but now I can.”

As I compose this essay, I am reminded of times when I have ventured out ahead of the LORD and then got into trouble. Was that being poor in spirit? Definitely not.

Being poor in spirit simply means that we realize that we can’t do anything without the LORD guiding us.

As we await the time for re-opening our local church, some of us are hearing from different sources of information giving us conflicting dates. Some of us have decided we need to leave that decision up to the LORD.

 

How many times have we felt that we were in control and could do something without the LORD’s guidance? I know I have thought this and acted like I knew what I was doing. Only, my ‘plans’ failed.            

All our plans must go through God. It is His decision that is paramount in all our lives.

Rest and Guidance

Pinterest

 He makes me lie down in green pastures,

He leads me beside quiet waters.

 Psalm 23:2 (NIV)

What does this verse mean to us who live in the 21^st Century?

He makes me lie down

 God allows us time to rest and recover from those times when we have suffered loss or have been harmed. When a family loses a loved one, Our Father allows them to grieve the loss.

 in green pastures

As children, we may have laid down in our yards and watched the clouds in the sky. I remember rolling down an embankment of grass and squealing with delight that it was a fun thing to do.

 what He can do for us.

 he leads me beside quiet waters.

God takes us, as He took David, into calming settings in order to talk to us. Have you ever watched fish in an aquarium?

When my stepmother underwent radiation therapy, the lobby of that area had two fish tanks built into the walls. I found it peaceful to watch as I waited for her daily treatment to be completed.

As we wait for the stay-at-home orders to be lifted, we must listen to God’s voice as He guides us through each of our days.

Blessed

erniebufflo.com 

,

Blessed are those who mourn,

For they shall be comforted.

Matthew 5:4 (NIV)

These words, spoken by Jesus, bring comfort to many people who grieve the loss of a loved one.

When a person goes into mourning, Jesus stands beside him or her, and brings comfort. He wraps His arms of love around each of them, draws them close, and whispers needed words into his or her ear.

This scripture speaks volumes to people in our nation during this time of the pandemic.

Those who mourn during these days could not be with their loved ones during their final hours on earth. This adds to their grief.

We don’t know how this Coronavirus got such a hold on our world. Another addition to their grief.

Many of those who lost their lives were elderly and unable to ‘fight back’. I find this personal. I lost a cousin to this disease. I have a couple of friends who each have mothers who are in the same health care facility.

Whatever the source of grief those who are mourning, may they find comfort in these ten words spoken by our LORD Jesus Christ.

Who Is like the Lord Our God? Corrected Copy

Praise the Lord!

Praise, O servants of the Lord,

praise the name of the Lord!

2 Blessed be the name of the Lord

from this time forth and forevermore!

3 From the rising of the sun to its setting,

the name of the Lord is to be praised!

4 The Lord is high above all nations,

and his glory above the heavens!

5 Who is like the Lord our God,

who is seated on high,

6 who looks far down

on the heavens and the earth?

7 He raises the poor from the dust

and lifts the needy from the ash heap,

8 to make them sit with princes,

with the princes of his people.

9 He gives the barren woman a home,

making her the joyous mother of children.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 113

Faith is The Foundation

netny.tv

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds. For you know the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-3 (ESV)

I must admit; I have misread this verse for a long time. In planning my posts for this month, I chose this one because it speaks of faith. I read it and reread it and couldn’t figure out why it read differently until I realized what it said, ‘meet trials.’ It doesn’t say ‘have trials’ Another translation says, “Face trials’ ⁽¹⁾

Jesus tells us “In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Many times, I have found comfort in these words. We can follow James’ prescription for facing the vexing events of life when we remember Christ’s words.

James speaks of faith leading to steadfastness which leads to perfection and completeness in which we will lack nothing. This tells me that our faith is a foundation on which God builds as He makes us into the person, He desires us to be.

An evangelist we all used to enjoy hearing once gave a formula for getting through the trials of life. He told us to face those trials, then place those trials (at Jesus’ feet), then let Him erase those trials.

(1)   Life Application Bible (NIV), Tyndale House Inc., Zondervan Publishing House, ©1991 Page 2244.

May Reflections

 

 May began with the usual busy first week. Our Friends Luncheon was a lovely time 

                

 .

We had two ladies from our church to lose a son to death. My friend Martha and I went to the calling time for the first family. This viewing and service was on Thursday right before Mother’s Day. About that same time, the second lady’s son had a severe asthma attack and spent ten days in ICU.His family had a graveside service for him this past Saturday.

Our son was with us for four days for Mother’s Day. He asked me what I wanted for Mother’s Day. I told him flowers and then I corrected myself and said, “Cut flowers.” 

My Hubby bought me a birdbath for our back yard and a new pair of house slippers. He threw in a bag of Lindor White Chocolate Truffles because he knows I like them.

I have been reading Experiencing God by Henry and Richard Blackaby. I am a little over three fourths through it. He breaks down concepts about our faith into small chunks that allow the reader to think about what he presents. It’s interactive with questions at the end of each chapter.

One day, I had a burst of energy and changed out my winter clothes for spring and summer garments. And then the temperature dropped, as usual. I even got some things ready for a rummage sale at church. I have two lap-blankets to get cleaned and ready for our church denomination’s annual conference. They are collecting them for nursing home patients.

We did have four days in a row of wonderful weather. I made use of my front porch. On another day, I went out there in the morning. I felt God calling me to change my place of reading.

Our pastor has retired from our denomination. This past Sunday was his last Sunday in the pulpit. On his next to last Sunday, we had a baptism service. Eleven people chose to be immersed. Two sisters, two brothers, two cousins of those brothers, a teenage boy, a man and his wife, and two women.

I volunteered to lead Prayer Meeting/Bible Study on one Wednesday night in June. Our incoming pastor won’t be preaching until the first Sunday in July. I have a topic in mind, in one of my bursts of ‘energy’, I thought I had finished the presentation I plan on giving. Then, Experiencing God expanded on some of the same things I chose to bring out. I have to decide how to incorporate this new information or if I am supposed to.

I am looking forward to June and all the blessings God has in store for me. How about you?

Let Me Hear

Let me hear in the morning of your

steadfast love,

for in you, I trust.

Make me know the way I should go,

for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8 (ESV)

David, the shepherd king, penned these words. He asks the Father to speak to him in the mornings. David desires to hear of God’s steadfast love.  He tells God that he trusts Him.

David also asks for the Father’s guidance. Again, he speaks of his trusting God with his very being.

I have learned it is important to spend time in prayer and devotional/Bible reading when I am most alert. For me, that is in the morning. Some people function better later in the day. The main thing is to find some time to spend with God.

When we spend time with God, we learn of Him and we begin to trust Him with more and more of our lives. God will guide us when he knows we sincerely spend time with Him in prayer.

Dear Father God: Please allow me to schedule my time with You. I need Your guidance each day. I want to know the way to live that pleases You. I can only know this if I commune with You each day. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen