His Love

The Lord delights in those who fear him,

who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Psalm 147:11

What is love and where do we find it?  In the world we live in we say we love this and that which doesn't have anything to do with what love is.  God's Word tells us in detail what love is.  It is laying down your life for another, it is putting others needs before our own, it is steadfast, it protects, it trusts, it never fails, it is the love of Christ.  Christ's love lives in us.

Let me take us back a couple of years to 1984, a very tough year for me.  That was the year my Momma made her journey to her heavenly home at the young age of 57.  I was very angry with God and kept asking why did you have to take my Momma don't you know that we need her more than you do.  So I blamed God. 

When my sweetie and I got back to our home some 150 miles away from where my Momma and Daddy lived I had some really rough days.  It seemed I could not get beyond my grief.  Then Sunday morning came and we went to morning worship.  We were greeted with lots of hugs from our family of families.  The worship service began with the singing some of the old hymns my Momma loved so dearly.  When we started to sing the hymn "Love Lifted Me" I felt the presence of our Heavenly Father wash over me.  You see even though I had been really angry with Him and was blaming Him for taking my Momma He still loved me.  His love was there for me and would carry me through the darkest days of missing my Momma.

Father God thank you for your unfailing love.  Thank you for loving me even when I fail you.  Amen

Love Lifted me

by James Rowe

I was sinking deep in sin, Far from the peaceful shore,

Very deeply stained within, Sinking to rise no more;

But the Master of the sea Heard my despairing cry,

From the waters lifted me, No safe am I.

All my heart to Him I give, Ever to Him I'll cling,

In His blessed presence live, Every His praises sing;

Love so mighty and so true Merits my soul's best songs;

Faithful, living service, too, To Him belongs.

Souls in danger, look above, Jesus completely saves; 

He will lift you by His love Out of the angry waves;

He's the Master of the sea, Billows His will obey;

He your Savior wants to be, Be saved today.

Love lifted me!  Love lifted me!

When nothing else could help, Love lifted me

Love lifted me, Love lifted me!

When nothing else could help, Love lifted me.

Gardening With God

The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

John 20:20

I have gardening on the mind this week.  Our weather has been absolutely crazy.  We have been cooped up in the house, since we have had lots of snow and rain, that the prospect of getting out and digging in the dirt will be like therapy for me.  I can't wait to get my hands dirty!  This year my sweetie and I plan to build some raised gardening beds and actually plant a few vegetables and tomatoes.  I am also excited to get a start on my "secret garden", a place where I can have my morning coffee and spend some time with our Heavenly Father.  My memory garden really needs a lot of work this year as the winter has really taken a toll on it.  I can't wait to see the Lilacs come to life as all the miniature roses start to bloom in all their wonderful colors.  

Working in the garden is a special time for me as it gives me time to commune one on one with our Heavenly Father.  Seeing a area covered by weeds come alive with color is inspiring.  Makes me stop and think of how God removes all the weeds from my life and makes it beautiful.

Father God thank you for removing the weeds from my life.  Thank you for blessing me with a loving family that makes the garden of my life beautiful.  Amen

In the Garden

by C. Austin Miles

I come to the garden alone, 

While the dew is still on the roses;

And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,

The Son of God discloses.

He speaks and the sound of His voice

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing

And the melody that He gave to me

Within my heart is ringing.

I'd stay in the garden with Him

Tho the night around me be falling;

But He bids me go thru the voice of woe,

His voice to me is calling.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own;

And the joy we share as we tarry there

None other has ever known.

Quiet Rest

It is good to be near God.

Psalm 73:28

My sister has this wonderful place in her garden, a place where you can sit and relax in the quietness that surrounds you.  A place where you can sit on the bench and commune one on one with God as you take in the beauty of His Majesty.  This year my sweetie and I hope to establish a place like this in our yard.  A place where we can sit and listen to the still small quiet voice of our Heavenly Father.

Psalm 46:10 tell us "to be still and know that I am God."  If you are like me in this busy world we live in we don't always take the time to just sit and wait on God.  We come to Him and lay our needs before Him and not take the time for Him to speak to our heart, to listen to what path He would like for us to take as we journey through life.

Father God thank you for always being there for me and forgiving me when I don't take the time to listen to you.  Thank you Father God for the blessings of Your beauty I encounter on a daily basis.  Father God I ask that you draw me ever nearer your heart each day as you direct my path as I strive to walk the walk you have for me here on this earth.  Amen

Near To The Heart Of God

by Cleland B. McAfee

There is a place of quiet rest Near to the heart of God,

A place where sin cannot molest, Near to the heart of God.

There is a place of comfort sweet Near to the heart of God,

A place where we our Savior meet, Near to the heart of God.

There is a place of full release Near to the heart of God,

A place where all is joy and peace, Near to the heart of God.

O Jesus, blest Redeemer, Sent from the from the heart of God,

Hold us who wait before Thee Near to the heart of God.

Commandments or Suggestions

"You shall consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am the Lord your God.  And you shall keep My statutes and practice them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you..."

Leviticus 20:7-8

When God gave the written law to Moses they were craved in stone.  That means that we can not change them to suit us.  A lie is a lie and murder is murder.  We cannot justify what we do by rewriting God's Word, it just doesn't work that way.

I know we say that there is no way we can keep these commandments or suggestions as many like to refer to them.  Yes we can!  We keep them by placing our faith and trust in our heavenly Father just as Abraham, Issac, and Jacob did.  God has given each of a free will.  Jesus Christ paid the cost for our sin and our hope lies in that fact.  When we confess our sin to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us (1 John 1:9).  I choose to believe Christ.  I choose to ask for His forgiveness.  I choose to walk in His footsteps daily as I travel the path He has set before me.

Father God I know that my relationship with You is the only way I can keep your commandments.  Help me to relinquish control of my life and will to you.  Thank you Father God for sending Your Son to pay the price I could not pay.  Amen

Take Time To Be Holy

by William D. Longstaff

Take time to be holy, Speak often with God;

Find rest in Him always And feed on His Word.  

Make friends of God's children; Help those who are weak,

Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

Take time to be holy, The world rushes on;

Much time spend in secret With Jesus alone.

By looking to Jesus, Like Him thou shalt be;

Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

Take time to be holy, Let Him by thy guide,

And run not before Him, Whatever betide.

In joy or in sorrow, Still follow thy Lord,

And, looking to Jesus, Still trust in His Word.  Amen

Morning Has Broken

Awake, my soul!

Awake, harp and lyre!

I will awaken the dawn.

I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;

I will sing of you among the peoples.

Psalm 57:8-9

Each day my Heavenly Father gives me a new chance.  A new chance to be what He knows I can be.  A new chance to do the things He has for me to do.  A new chance to live the life He has chose for me.

Father God thank you for loving me, even when I fall short.  Thank You for the new chance I receive each morning for Your mercy and grace are there for me.  Amen

Morning Has Broken

by Eleanor Farjeon

Morning has broken like the first morning,

Blackbird has spoken like the first bird.

Praise for the singing!  Praise for the morning!

Praise for them springing fresh from the Word!

Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven

Like the first dew fall on the first grass

Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,

Sprung in completeness where His feet pass.

Mine is the sunlight!  Mine is the morning,

Born of the one light Eden saw play!

Praise with elation, praise every morning,

God's recreation of the new day!

Broken but Renewed

Yet you, Lord, are our Father.

We are the clay, you are the potter;

we are all the work of your hand.

Isaiah 64:8

Have you ever felt like you needed to take a step back from everything you were doing?  That is how I was feeling earlier this week.  I have taken a step back from ministry responsibilities as my heart just was not in them.  I felt God was saying to me, "you need to step back and re-evaluate the ministries you are involved in, are you doing these things for me or for you and others?"   So I have done that.  This past week I step down from ladies ministry, welcome team, accounting team and office ministry.  

I have been praying and seeking God's will for my life and I know He has a special ministry out there for me.  I so want to be like the broken pot above, that I will have cracks and God's presence can't help but flow through me so others will see Christ living in me.

Have Thine Own Way, Lord

by Adelaide A. Pollard

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!

Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.

Mold me and make me after Thy will,

While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have Thine own way, Lord!  Have Thine own way!

Search me and try me, Master, today!

Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,

As in Thy presence humbly I bow.

Have Thine own way, Lord!  Have Thine own way!

Wounded and weary, help me , I pray!

Power, all power, surely is Thine!

Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!

Have Thine own way, Lord!  Have Thine own way!

Hold over my being absolute sway!

Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see

Christ only, always, living in me!  Amen

Remember The Sabbath

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.  Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work."  Exodus 20:8-10

As a youngster growing up nothing was open on Sunday.  Sunday was a day of rest, a day to spend in worship with our Father and a day to spend with family.  I also remember waking up on those Sunday mornings to heavenly smells filling the house as Mom had gotten up early and started our Sunday meal.  The meal was left in the oven so it would be ready to eat when we got home from church, Mom and Dad always invited someone home for Sunday dinner.  I miss those days for now it seems we are so busy that we don't set aside Sunday as a day of rest much less invite someone to have Sunday dinner with us. 

So this next Sunday make the choice to spend some time with our Heavenly Father and your brothers and sisters in Christ.  Maybe, just maybe, invite someone home to have dinner with your family.

Family of God

by Bill & Gloria Gaither

I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,

I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!

Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,

For I'm part of the family, The Family of God.

You will notice we say "brother and sister" around here,

Its because we're a family and these are so near;

When one has a heartache, we all share the tears,

And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.

From the door of an orphanage to the house of the King,

No longer an outcast, a new song I sing;

From rags unto riches, from the weak to the strong,

I'm not worthy to be here, but praise God I belong!

I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,

I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!

Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,

For I'm part of the family, the Family of God.

An Invitation To Dine

"The Kingdom of heaven may be compared to a kin, who gave a wedding feast for his son.  And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come."  Matthew 22:2-3

You have worked all day in the kitchen preparing a meal fit for a king only to have your guest cancel at the last minute.  Do you get a little angry?  If you are like me that answer would be yes.  Their excuse, if they have one, is feeble and carries little weight with you.

Imagine how God felt when He sent His Son to earth and invited all of us to attend the feast.  Those who accepted the invitation became part of the Church, the bride of Christ.  But there are many who have not accepted and offer feeble excuses.  

I am so glad I can say that I accepted the invitation and one day when Christ, the Bridegroom, returns I am ready to attend the banquet. Here on this earth I clothed in His righteousness but at the feat I will receive wedding clothes.

Father God You've invited me to dine with You.  Let me graciously accept my wedding clothes.

Is That Wedding Music I Hear?

by Ernie Haase & Signature Sound

Is that wedding music  I hear?

The bride's adorned and ready to appear

There's Heavenly preparation for the wedding celebration

Is that wedding music that I hear?

The family is preparing for a wedding

All have been invited to attend

The bride is standing ready, waiting for the signal

When the Groom say, "Rise, my children, come on in"

Is that wedding music I hear?

The bride's adorned and ready to appear

There's Heavenly preparation for the wedding celebration

Is that wedding music I hear?

Soon we'll rise to leave this land of sorrow

For that ceremony in the air

The Father then will lead us through the holy land of splendor

Have you made your preparation to go there?

There's Heavenly preparation for the wedding celebration

Is that wedding music

Oh, is that wedding music that I hear?

Precious Promises

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

2 Peter 1:3-4

Aren't you glad God has given us everything we need for a godly life.  We no longer have to look to the world for the things we need to live our life here on this earth.  God has promised us an abundant life as we place our faith and trust in Him.  Live for Him daily, trust your life to Him, share the good news of His Son, and let others see Christ in you.

Standing on the Promises

by R. Kelso Carter

Standing on the promises of Christ my King,

Through eternal ages let His praises ring;

Glory in the highest, I will shout and sin,

Standing on the the promises of God.

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,

When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,

By the living Word of God I shall prevail,

Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,

Bound to Him eternally by love's strong cord,

Overcoming daily with the Spirit's sword,

Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises I cannot fall,

Listening every moment to the Spirit's call,

Resting in my Savior as my all in all,

Standing on the promises of God.