Morning Has Broken!

Morning has broken

Like the first morning,

Black bird has spoken

Like the first bird.

Praise the singing!

Praise for the morning!

Praise for them springing

Fresh from the Word!

Mine is the sunlight!

Mine is the morning.

Born of the one light

Eden saw play!

Praise with elation,

Praise ev’ry morning,

God’s recreation

Of the newday!

Irish Folk Song

This morning as I headed out for my walk it was a cool crisp 48 degrees.  The sun was just beginning to peek above the Sierra Nevada mountains and it was absolutely gorgeous.  As I was walking along and talking with God the above song came to my mind.  Isn't it wonderful that we get to start each new day fresh as God gives us another chance to live for Him to the fullest and tell others about His Son Jesus Christ.

Trust in the Lord!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

Proverbs 3:5-6

When we are told that God, who is our dwelling place, is also our fortress, it can only mean one thing, and that is if we will but live in our dwelling place, we shall be perfectly safe and secure.

God is Love!

 O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
 You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
 You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
 You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
 You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!

Psalm 139:1-6

Everything God does is love, even when we do not understand Him.

Basilea Schlink

Plans

In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Proverbs 16:7

God specializes in things fresh and firsthand.  His plans for you today may outshine those of the past.

Joni Eareckson Tada

Be Still

Be still, and know that I am God!

Psalm 46:10

In solitude we are the least alone, for it is the place where we can hear the Spirit's clear quiet voice.

Fill My Cup Lord!

I spread out my hands to you, my soul thirst for you like a parched land.

Psalm 143:6

Music speaks to my soul.  Here are the words to a song that says it all:

Fill My Cup

Like the woman at the well I was seeking
For things that could not satisfy;
And then I heard my Savior speaking:
"Draw from my well that never shall run dry".

Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more.
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!

There are millions in this world who are craving
The pleasures earthly things afford.
But none can match the wondrous treasure
That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord.

Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more.
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!

So, my brother, if the things this world gave you
Leave hungers that won't pass away,
My blessed Lord will come and save you,
If you kneel to Him and humbly pray:

Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more.
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!

Richard E. Blanchard, Sr.

Choices!!!

Love's Promise Rose

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16

Christ came into to this world for us.  He took our sins upon himself and paid the ultimate price.  He loved me before I was even born and as He hung on that cross I was on His mind. 

Last night at Celebrate Recovery we sang Amazing Love, a song that I dearly love and it talks about the love Christ has for us.  Our teaching lesson last night was on stumbling blocks and how we set the trap with these stumbling blocks to let the enemy into our lives.  In other words we fail to see the truth because we are so consumed with self. 

As I was walking this morning and communing with God this song kept repeating in my mind and I found myself singing it as I walked.  I also pray as I walk and ask God what He  would like for me to write about and this morning the word choices popped into my head.  So here is what I feel about choices. 

One of my stumbling blocks is choices.  I fret and worry over choices that I make and choices that others make, especially when they affect me.  The only choices that I have control over are the ones I make.  When I start worrying about the choices of others I am setting myself up for failure.  I am far from being perfect and in my life time I have made some good choices and I have made some really bad choices.  The bad choices I've made have hurt people and I have asked for forgiveness for the hurt I have caused others.  The really hard part is forgiving others when the choices they make hurt me and those that I love.  But I am working on that issue at CR and with God's help that forgiveness will come too. 

So starting today with God's guidance and leadership I am going to break the vicious cycle of entrapment.  I am choosing to put God first in my life, my husband Gary will be second and our daughter Marianne and her family will be third.  As God tells us in His Word, Gary is the head of this household and I am to be submissive to his leadership.  Does that mean that I am his slave and at his beckon call?  No!  It means that together with God's guidance and leadership we will make the decisions and rules for our home.

I am choosing to use my stumbling blocks as stepping stones to live a full and complete life in Christ!

But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Joshua 24:15b