Super Sunday

Today I am joining Peggy for Super Sunday. Be sure to stop by and visit Peggy. Her post today is awesome and inspiring. Maybe you'd even like to join in today!

I've been staying away from blogging lately, and I've received several e-mails and comments asking me if everything is okay--I've not been heard from lately. I thank you for thinking of me, and I would appreciate prayers for my family and also the little one that will be born in November.

So, I decided today to share a little with you. I'm not going into a lot of details because they are very personal and private.

But, I need you to know that all three of my children have reached an impasse in their lives--a time when they are experiencing hurts and pains from their past. I have shared some of this past previously, and each of them are suffering in their own way--one with anger, one with total confusion and one facing consequences from poor decisions of their own.

To say that this has been a difficult time for me is stating this mildly. There has been a great deal of dissension in my household, a lot of crying, and a total feeling of my life swirling out of control.

Yes, it is out of my control--but it is in God's control.

I have been healed from these hurts through the power of God's love, the ability given to me through Him to forgive. My children have not yet experienced this forgiveness in themselves, and they are coming to me with all of their various hurts, pains and sufferings.

Is this bringing up the past haunting me and bringing me new hurts and pains? Yes, it is. I am hurting for my children--for all we have been through and the fact that they cannot see the present because of the past clouding their view.

But, I have been praying, seeking the counsel of members of my spiritual family, and I know through prayer and the wisdom of others that God does His greatest works through times of crisis. His truths and promises allow me to know that I do have hope, joy and love in my life. He WILL bring my children to Him to fill them with the love that only He can impart. He WILL heal them and lead them to seek forgiveness.

I will not let the enemy take me down through this. I am standing strong in the power of God's love, might and strength.

A wonderful friend of mine, knowing that God often speaks to me through music, sent me this song. I have listened to this many times over the past week--soaking in the words--letting God take control of this entire situation--allowing Him to lead me through the storm.

This song is a very old song--originally written in 1875. The lyrics are by Fanny Crosby and the music composed by Dr. Robert Lowry.

Chris Tomlin has updated the song a little, and yes, this song--though very old--still stands as true today as it did in 1875.

My Savior is leading me as I fall back into His arms for His comfort--allowing Him to carry me--for I cannot stand on my own.

Beth

POWER of YOUR LOVE

"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."    (1 John 3:16)

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." (John 15:13)

Why do people give up on Jesus so easily when He didn’t even allow death to keep Him from loving us?

Weekly Memory Verse

It's Monday again!! I don't know where the week goes, but they certainly seem to fly by!! Here we are, the beginning of the week again and time for our new memory verse. Last week's memory verse:

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path ..... Psalm 119:105 (NASB)

That was pretty easy since I knew it from before. For reflections on this verse, please go read @ Amazing Grace ~ Mazes, Messes, Miracles and be sure to share how you did & your thoughts on your blog & link here. 

Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth (B.I.B.L.E.) Weekly Memory Verse format:

We were to memorize this verse, then come back next week and comment on how God spoke to you through this verse and then move on to a new verse. Each week while you are memorizing, allow God to speak to you personally & share a little of what you learn or receive on each verse the following week, when you type it by memory. It's fine to just be accountable and share your progress but it becomes more meaningful when we share about the verse together or apply it to ourselves of what we think.

We are moving into Week 13 with our memory work from "Embracing the Word". We have finished the Aces, Kings, & Queens of each suit so this week we start with the Jack of Spades. The new verse, is one that we all probably know:

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, 

that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

 

 John 3:16  (NASB)

Since many of you may already know this one, feel free to select a different verse. I'm going to do something a little different. I will be posting the entire set of jacks: spade, club, heart, diamond.

These are the ones that follow John 3:16 (week 13) so that you do not choose one of them.

Week 14(club) John 8:12

Week 15 (heart) Exodus 20:8

Week 16 (diamond) Matthew 22:37-39

What are your thoughts on this verse from Psalm 119:105? I really would like to read what you have thought about this week while memorizing this verse. 

Then next week let's share about John 3:16 or whichever verse you choose. Might I suggest 1 John 3:16 if you already know John 3:16. Trust me if you look at this one, you'll see why. It's a good companion.

If you're participating in the "Weekly Memory Verse", please post and then link up to Mr. Linky with your name & URL of that post.  Thank you!!!

HOW TO PLANT YOUR GARDEN

Beth received this in her email from Paula & passed it on to me! So we want to help you since it's spring time (just in case you have not seen this or don't know how)

How To Plant Your Garden 

First, you  Come to the garden alone,

While the dew

                     is still on

                                     the roses....

FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING, 

PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS: 



1. Peace of mind
               2. Peace of heart
                                3. Peace of  soul 
 
 
PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH: 

1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness 
 

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE: 

1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another 
 

NO GARDEN IS WITHOUT TURNIPS: 


1. Turnip for meetings
                  2. Turnip for service
                              3. Turnip to help one another

TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME: 


1. Thyme for each other
                  2.. Thyme for family
                              3. Thyme for friends 
 
 
WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE..   THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU  SOW.  NOT BAD, HUH?! 

Weekly Memory Verse

It's Monday again!! I don't know where the week goes, but they certainly seem to fly by!! Here we are, the beginning of the week again and time for our new memory verse.

Let's see how well I did with last week's verse:

All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him......Isaiah 53:6 (NASB)

Well, I have to admit that this was a fairly simple verse for me to memorize because I had already committed it to memory some time ago--just in the NIV version rather than the NASB.

In fact, I have a fascination with sheep and shepherds--relating them to myself and Jesus. I've done several posts in the past about this which you might want to stop by and read them here
and here.

Yes, we all have gone astray from time to time, each seeking our own way and not the Lord's way. But, did God just leave us there--leave us there in our state of sinfulness?

No, He sent Jesus Christ to us--the Lamb of God, His only Son--so that we may see and have a living example of God in the flesh.

Do you remember being a small child and doing something that you knew you weren't supposed to do--deliberately doing something that went against your parents (or someone else) specific instructions? I know that I do.

Do you remember the guilt that you felt after not obeying? I know that I do.

Now, I take my own guilt and imagine that multiplied times the sins of everyone in the world. I can't even begin to tell you how many sins that would be or the weight of all that guilt pressing upon me.

But, Jesus took all of this upon Himself by being sacrificed--crucified for us--taking the entire weight of all the sin of all mankind. Hanging on a cross--sinless Himself--yet He loved us enough to take our sin and literally stamp it "PAID IN FULL".

Our debt has been "paid in full" by one who had no debt--a debt we could never afford to pay ourselves.

Our sin all fell upon Jesus. He paid the price for our going astray--seeking our own way and not God's way.

Sheep are not the most intelligent of animals. That is why they need a shepherd--to guide them along, keep them safe from harm. I just recently learned an interesting fact about sheep from someone in my Small Group:

Sometimes there may be a sheep or two in a flock that is rebellious--just doesn't want to listen or follow the shepherd's direction no matter what. The shepherd, after trying many times to discipline and teach these sheep to follow his direction, then has no choice.

The shepherd will actually break one of the sheep's front legs so it can no longer be rebellious and go its own way. The sheep is disabled to the point that it cannot walk, cannot carry its own weight.

What happens to this sheep that can no longer be active, no longer rebellious, not able to care for itself due to its brokenness?

The shepherd puts the sheep across his back and carries it--just like our Lord carries us from time to time--those times when we feel lost, alone and helpless--broken.

I thank God today for carrying me many times--times when I felt that I couldn't find my way, times when I could only see the negative in a situation, times when I almost lost my hope.

God didn't leave me there--He met me where I was, picked me up and carried me.

And I have to ask you today--

Has God carried you sometimes? Have you thanked Him for carrying you and paying your debt in full?

Let's move on to next week's verse. Oh, it is very easy!! I just looked and we're going to be working on the Queen of Diamonds from the "Embracing the Word" cards:

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.....Psalm 119:105 (NASB)

We'll again by using Mr. Linky. So, if you're participating in the "Weekly Memory Verse", please post and then link up!!

Beth

Thank You

I'm joining with Peggy for Super Sunday. If you get the chance today or sometime this week, stop by and visit her. You'll find that it is well worth your time.

Last night I was trying to pray. I say trying because I couldn't seem to form the thoughts that were in my mind into sentences.

I finally gave up on the "sentence feature" of my prayer and just started saying words to My Lord. I know that He knows all that is in my life, all that is in my heart and mind. I left it up to Him to form my single words and phrases into prayer.

Here's just some of the single words I offered to God:

job

stress

crying

don't want to go there

sleeplessness

no energy

anxiety

sleeping too much

children

disappointment

discouragement

sad

where

what

help

encourage

lift

empower me

strength

love

hope

carry me

carry me

carry me

thank you

Beth

Saturday Steps of Faith

Today I am joining Lisa at My Passionate Pursuit for "Saturday Steps of Faith". Please stop by and visit Lisa. Maybe you'd like to join in and share:

What are you believing God for today?

My life has been somewhat hectic lately--stress at work, stress at home, many things happening and occurring which could have the capability of leading me to a path where my peace and calmness are nearly gone.

I have lived this life of stress and feeling somewhat chaotic inside for too many years prior to coming to Christ to go back to this lifestyle. I need to maintain my joy in Him, my peace in Him, my hope in Him. I need to remember that God is in control of this situation, not me.

Today I am believing that God has placed everyone and everything that is occurring in my life at this given moment to fulfill His plans and purposes for them and me.

Beth