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Thank you sweet Tati for this I needed to hear it.Here's tonight's devotional... Hand-picked by TatiOnce again it comes from the book written by Joyce Meyer.
*Gathers her Brothers and Sisters around her*
Lift Up your Eyes
But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. ~ Psalm 3:3
When you feel down, everything around you seems to fall apart, and you begin to lose your strength. Your head and hands and heart begin to droop. Even your eyes and your voice are lowered.
You are downcast because you are looking at your problems, and this only makes you feel worse. Sometimes you are tempted to say, "Oh, whats the use?" and just give up. But God is waiting for you to lift up your eyes and look to Him for help.
Life will always bring discouraging situations, but you don't have to let them get you down. Despite life's distressing circumstances, you can be confident in the Lord, the lifter of your head.
Lift up your eyes, hands, head, and heart and look not at your problems, but at the one who has promised to see you through to victory. SMILE!!!! It will lift your spirit.
I pray you all will find this encouraging and hopefully let your problems not keep you awake tonight. If you read this tomorrow, my hope is for you to SMILE more often... just try it for one day and see how much better it is. Give God your To-Do Worry list each evening and by tomorrow He'll hand you back a list of how to solve each problem. Keep it in prayer, leave it at His doorstep, and always know in your heart He will get you to heaven.
I thought before I end this to throw in a little example of the above situation to show you all it DOES happen. Sean had a few days left to register for classes this semester, then his mom drops on him that she can't pay for anything for college while she's been telling him for weeks now that she could. I sent out a prayer request that covered three Christian sites. Within 24 hours, we got news the college would give him a student loan without having to have his parents sign for it and it would cover everything he needed. I was in tears that the Lord would provide an answer so fast!!!! PRAISES TO THE LORD
Good night all!!
Crys I understand the problem with forgiving yourself for things you have done. I can only tell you this. When I was abused sexually as a child I always felt it was my fault, no matter how hard I tried I couldn't shake it . This year I said ..I did so many things that were worse in my life then what happened with the family member that abused me...so I confessed it as a sin and asked God to forgive me, and strangely enough I was able to move on. I couldn't forgive myself so by confessing it as a sin, I let God forgive me and it freed me. Think about just asking for forgiveness, if God forgives you, then it will just be covered by the precious blood of Jesus and seen no more. I love you little girl.I'm having a very hard time forgiving myself for something I did when I was younger. It haunts me til this day.. I've prayed to God and even begged Him to please forgive me but I still dont feel forgiven. There have been nights where I'd be up crying so badly because the guilt and shame was too much even to the thought of seriously wanting to just end my life. This torment has gone on for years and I just want to be OK and free of it!
Shay hon praying for dad. Gabs hugs Shay tight. We are here for you sis..I am here. Love you sweetie.Thankies for the hugs and such!! *hugs back* Tried posting here earlier, and got some nonsense about "database error" I don't even want to think about....am just so amazed at prayers lately, both asking and answered. *sighs* I'm just over being tired all the time!! I'm counting the days until I'm driving again! (Can you say 4 weeks?)
If you could please pray for something for me.....I'm waiting to hear what's going on with my dad yet again....he's switching doctors since his current one can't figure out if the cancer is back into his right lung or not......the whole situation's a bit of a mess due to that, among other things (not our relationship, which is good!).....I'm trying to cling to the promise that God is with him!
This is an awesome piece thanks my brother.A Baby Shows the Way of Love
*** WARNING TISSUES NEEDED ***
"For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life" (John 3:16, TEV).
Pastor Robinson walked back and forth in his study, and then stood for a moment by the window. A light snowfall had whitened the world outside, but the pastor hardly noticed. His thoughts were with his people. He had been their pastor for three years. He had preached and prayed and had done all he could. He knew there were definite needs among his people, but for some reason he hadn't been able to reach their hearts.
The thought came to him there by the window, "If only they could understand how much God loves them. God's love--that's it! I'll preach on John 3:16." All week he worked on his sermon. He prayed, "Please God, make a breakthrough."
Later as the pastor stood in the foyer and greeted his parishioners, he smiled and spoke to each one, but his heart was still heavy. He was preoccupied with his sermon. "If only I had an illustration of love that everyone could understand," he mused. Just then the pastor noticed the Smith family, a young couple with two children. He watched as they came in. Maybe somehow here was the illustration he needed. Baby Kathy was just six months old and looked like a doll with her beautiful smiling face. The pastor walked over to the mother and asked her if he could use Kathy as a sermon illustration that morning? The young mother nodded in agreement, then joined her family for the worship service.
After the special music Pastor Robinson stood up to speak. "I wonder how many of us have the joy of knowing we are loved? I have something to show you if you will just wait a moment." He left the platform and returned a moment later with the happy baby. He asked, "Do you think little Kathy knows she is loved? How could anyone not love such a happy little girl?" Down in the congregation the eyes of a five-year-old brother lit up when he saw his baby sister with the pastor. Love was in his eyes, but nobody noticed. All eyes were on the baby.
The pastor said, "How would you like to take this precious bundle of joy home with you today?" "No," came an immediate cry from the audience. All attention suddenly shifted from the minister to a small boy running down the aisle. He climbed the steps to the platform as quickly as he could, and put himself right in front of the minister. The eyes of the little boy were filled with fear. "No," he repeated, "if you have to give someone away, take me. She needs mommy and daddy. Please," he pleaded, as tears filled his eyes and his little chin trembled, "she's my little sister and I love her." He reached up and touched her pudgy legs, then buried his face against her and sobbed.
In the congregation the young mother and father could not believe their eyes. She leaned her head against his and began to cry softly. Here and there people were wiping their eyes as tears trickled down their faces. The pastor was speechless. He hadn't meant to frighten the boy. Tears were now running down the pastor's cheeks as well. An usher offered to take the baby back to her parents.
The pastor finally got control of himself and stepped to the pulpit. In trembling voice he said, "Oh, if only you knew how much God loves you." Slowly an elderly man, for whom the church had prayed for years, made his way to the altar with tears in his eyes. Next came Beth, a teenager who had sent her Mom to bed in tears many a night. Others followed, while in the back of the church a little boy wiped away his tears and smiled at his baby sister as she reached down to pat his cheek softly.
Yes, love was there--the whole church was filled with it! Jesus is like that little boy. He doesn't want anything to happen to even one of His precious children. So He freely gave Himself to save you and me. Now, that is real love straight from heaven!
Author Unknown
Submitted by Richard
Amin this is really beautiful and it touched my heart. Next time you will sing it for me right?I knew a man that was continually struggling with neck pain, and the Drs.
weren't doing him much good.
It's a prayer turned into a song for this man. If you think it may fit your needs,
by all means pray this song.
Lord Look Down Upon Your Children
Lord look down upon your children,
Lord oh Lord hear our silent cry,
Oh we'll always need you,
In everything we do, In our lives
oh Lord.
Lord look down upon your children,
see the hurts we try so hard to hide,
Oh lord see us thru, All the things we must do,
To become more like you, oh like you.
Lord help us to remember everyday,
It's your love that sees us thru,
And in our time of suffering,
Help us to remember what You've
been thru.
Lord look down upon your children,
Help us to know that you're by our side,
Lord look down upon your children,
Help us to know things will be alright,
Oh we'll always need you,
In everything we do,
In our lives, Lord in our lives,
We need you,,,,,,,,,,
We need you,,,,,,,,,,
We,, need ,,You.
CLS. " 91"
Thank you for understanding it ..you are so dear and special to me. Love you, really..
Gabs, how very true. We are so like those little kittens. We seek the provision but sometimes reject (through fear) the protection of the Lord. We want the material blessings but shy away if we sense that we are getting too close. Funny thing is, we KNOW we have nothing to fear unlike that little kitten. God bless you my sweet sister.
Keeping you in prayer Nance. Love and hugs for you.Hi Mary, I'm doing ok. The doctors office called today wanting to know when I wanted those tests done. I couldn't give them an answer being as I don't have an insurance card yet. I'm still praying over this though. Thak you so much for asking.
Gabs hugsThanks for the prayers! I may know more at the end of the week! I'm praying for ya'll as well! I'm trying to wrap myself around the posts I've been reading today, and can only sit here in tears for their truths.
I understand this...it is why I have chosen to obey no matter what it costs me. It gets harder everyday and there is more and more to sacrifice as He gave the ultimate sacrifice, but the more I give up the closer I feel. I understand and know the struggle.The heart of man can never experience a love quite like our Lords. Gods' love is so great it carries with it the sacrifice of His son for you and me. How much greater could a love be. Yet, we misuse it, we shy away from sometimes in public. We at times lift earthly things above where God should be.
Sometimes I just want to say to God: Why Lord, Why. Why do i always get things wrong.
The magnitude of what you've done for us is so often not reflected in our lives.
Yet,,,What do you do when we come crawling back to you when we have a moment sanity???
You dear Lord forgive us, Because your love for us is so unlike any other we could even imagine. Lord what blessings and honor you deserve. Yeah, we say Lord forgive me, I'll do better next time, I love you so much. Yet we carry these feelings for just a short time, and forget what God has just done for us.
We make one mistake after another, and yet God is so loving, of which i can't see a reason why He should be. Then His forgivness of which there is none equal,
Comes upon us once again.
Do we really realize what took place on that cross?
When Christ was on the cross,,, He took all our sin. Past, Present, and Future,
and took it into and upon Himself that He would suffer such pain that we wouldn 't have to.
Forgivness, do we take it seriously, or
lightly? I think if i had a question I could ask Christ it would be; How serious was the pain you endured for me?
Salvation thru forgivness, because of Gods' Sons' obedience to the Father.
It leaves me shaking my head at my feeble attempt to obey God.
Forgivness~~~~At what price?
I liked this entry alot.. it was very encouraging!Once again I decided to double post as I feel something happening inside of me and I know I am going to start a journal and I want to share what I am hearing God say for those who do not read my blog.
Day 158 NY Time 1:18 pm
I am in an interesting space today.
I woke up and ran out of the house to do some work at the office, and something occurred as I walked out of the door from my house, that made me think of my relationship with God and Gods relationship with others.
I know this will sound strange...I think some of you remember my incident this past November with being bitten by a kitten and having to go thru the rabies shots series.
Well I still care for those kittens, two are gone, one I know is dead...hit by a car and two little ones stay in close proximity to my house, knowing I feed them and that they can always count on me to come home and tend to their needs.
The mom does not come around much anymore, they desert their young after a while, she would let me pet her and the little ones saw that but they will not let me get too close. They run to my house when they see me, knowing I have food for them and eat it but I can't get too close. The weird thing is...it saddens me. I say to them why are you afraid of me....why won't you let me hold you and comfort you and protect you...and then I saw it, the analogy God and us, God and me. How humans are so similar. We know what God has to offer, we know he cares for us and loves us and will shelter us and feed us and yet we sit on the outside keeping our distance, afraid to allow him to come closer.
I saw it so clearly, they don't trust me yet they know I am there for them and I can't for the love of me figure out why. And then I thought it is their primal need to survive. It is engrained in them. When I tried to pick that little one up that day and hold it close it bit me...not because it wanted to hurt me, but it wanted to survive and knew nothing else. Yet now it comes back for food and care.
Are we like those kittens...yes, I was....it is a reporgramming we need....as I said to a friend last night...something causes that computer glitch in our brain that keeps sending us back to the beginning...not letting us get past the incident that holds us back.
And we know like those kittens what we need but our fear lets us walk no further.
I know I have walked past the fear and am trusting and I can only tell you it is an amazing journey.
I, like my Heavenly Father will keep trying to let those kittens trust me, and will keep putting out food whether they come or not. I will lovingly talk to them and reach out my arms whether they come or not.
If they wait too long for shelter the winter snows might cause them to perish, or maybe one of them will also get hit by a car just like their poor sibling.
Are we not the same, if we wait too long to answer Gods call the world might suck us up in the chaos and pain.
I urge you all to open your hearts today and if something is holding you back walk thru it as I have.
I am no better than you...I am only in a different space then some of you...can't explain it...can only tell you it is freeing beyond your wildest imagination.
Your loving Father will never stop putting the food out...he will never stop reaching out his arms all you need to do is walk into them and be sheltered and held for the rest of your life...how precious is this gift.
God Bless
G
Back at ya honPookaboo Gabs I see you!!
Thank you sweetie mommy loves you.I liked this entry alot.. it was very encouraging!
Thanks mom but even though I have been forgiven by God and the one I hurt I feel I can't let it go even when I try because in a way I feel I deserve to be punished and this torment has been my punishment indeed but again thanks for helping me by telling me your experience and what u did to get free. I love u!Thank you sweet Tati for this I needed to hear it.
Hugs for you dear sis.
Crys I understand the problem with forgiving yourself for things you have done. I can only tell you this. When I was abused sexually as a child I always felt it was my fault, no matter how hard I tried I couldn't shake it . This year I said ..I did so many things that were worse in my life then what happened with the family member that abused me...so I confessed it as a sin and asked God to forgive me, and strangely enough I was able to move on. I couldn't forgive myself so by confessing it as a sin, I let God forgive me and it freed me. Think about just asking for forgiveness, if God forgives you, then it will just be covered by the precious blood of Jesus and seen no more. I love you little girl.
Shay hon praying for dad. Gabs hugs Shay tight. We are here for you sis..I am here. Love you sweetie.
This is an awesome piece thanks my brother.
Amin this is really beautiful and it touched my heart. Next time you will sing it for me right?Hugs to you my brother with the little G clef
Thank you for understanding it ..you are so dear and special to me. Love you, really.
hugsg
Keeping you in prayer Nance. Love and hugs for you.
Gabs hugs Shay again let it out we are here to love you.
Next couple of weeks are very busy so excuse me if I am not around as much.
It is that time again and cancer tests are in a ten days. Mammo, bloods and they will be scanning that nodule in my lung to see if it grew so prayer would be appreciated. I am not worried just busy. I have my interview for Church ministry the same week and techie and dress rehearsal week at work for the show in Feb 2nd week so a lot to do. We had a flood last night at work and our office is trashed but the studio is ok..but again stuff to do.
With all that said you are all loved and in my heart and prayers.
G
I miss talking to uBack at ya hongetting off soon have to get up real early.
Thank you sweetie mommy loves you.
Crystal we all deserve punishment...that is a fact, God knew that way before we were conceived...but the point is He choose to give us a way out...by believing in His Son that He sent to take the punishment for us.Thanks mom but even though I have been forgiven by God and the one I hurt I feel I can't let it go even when I try because in a way I feel I deserve to be punished and this torment has been my punishment indeed but again thanks for helping me by telling me your experience and what u did to get free. I love u!
Wow.. that was very encouraging.. thanks so much!awww AP! **gives her a big hug** You know, feelings are just that, feelings. They aren't fact. You know that when you ask God for His forgiveness that it is given, and forgotten. Whether you "feel" forgiven or not, you ARE! You must claim it, and stand on that fact, even though you feel otherwise. The enemy will continue to throw that at you time and again, to try to make you feel guilt, but you need to do what Christ did in the face of temptation - He quoted Scripture.
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace
Isa 43:25 "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
Claim it my sister, for it is Truth! He has forgiven you, so you must forgive yourself, and cling to the fact that you are pure in His eyes, through Christ. Don't let the enemy have a foothold! Say the Scripture until you feel it.
I will be praying for you !
Thanks mom.. I do love Him just have a issue with surrendering.. but I'm sure you understand right? why does it seem ur so much more harder on me than every1 else LOL I think I know but not sure..Crystal we all deserve punishment...that is a fact, God knew that way before we were conceived...but the point is He choose to give us a way out...by believing in His Son that He sent to take the punishment for us.
Now if you tell me you are a Christian and believe in Jesus and you believe He died for our sins why why would you not please Your Heavenly Father by accepting His grace and forgiveness. I know you love Him here is your chance to make it right by accepting his free gift of forgiveness. He will be pleased and pleasing your Heavenly Father will please and make you happy I know this for fact. There is nothing in this world that cannot be forgiven. Trust me. God said it I believe it and that's that.
Love you sweetie.
Mom I thought ur cancer was all gone?? why do u need the tests?? I'll def be praying for ya! take it easy and slow down.. ur always so busy!!Thank you sweet Tati for this I needed to hear it.
Hugs for you dear sis.
Crys I understand the problem with forgiving yourself for things you have done. I can only tell you this. When I was abused sexually as a child I always felt it was my fault, no matter how hard I tried I couldn't shake it . This year I said ..I did so many things that were worse in my life then what happened with the family member that abused me...so I confessed it as a sin and asked God to forgive me, and strangely enough I was able to move on. I couldn't forgive myself so by confessing it as a sin, I let God forgive me and it freed me. Think about just asking for forgiveness, if God forgives you, then it will just be covered by the precious blood of Jesus and seen no more. I love you little girl.
Shay hon praying for dad. Gabs hugs Shay tight. We are here for you sis..I am here. Love you sweetie.
This is an awesome piece thanks my brother.
Amin this is really beautiful and it touched my heart. Next time you will sing it for me right?Hugs to you my brother with the little G clef
Thank you for understanding it ..you are so dear and special to me. Love you, really.
hugsg
Keeping you in prayer Nance. Love and hugs for you.
Gabs hugs Shay again let it out we are here to love you.
Next couple of weeks are very busy so excuse me if I am not around as much.
It is that time again and cancer tests are in a ten days. Mammo, bloods and they will be scanning that nodule in my lung to see if it grew so prayer would be appreciated. I am not worried just busy. I have my interview for Church ministry the same week and techie and dress rehearsal week at work for the show in Feb 2nd week so a lot to do. We had a flood last night at work and our office is trashed but the studio is ok..but again stuff to do.
With all that said you are all loved and in my heart and prayers.
G
Awww gn momma.. sweet dreams!! I love u!! sleep well tonight ok?Well family I need sleep desperately, so I am going...I watched American Idol tonight...they were in
Minnesota,that accent I heard it, and it made me think of a person dear to my heart I could here their voice and it brought to my eyes. Oh well, God answers prayers and I pray that person is safe, happy and loved.
I hate waxing sentimental but it needed to be said,
The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away ........maybe one day healing will replace pain and Gods love and forgiveness will reign.
Goodnight family of Christ thanks for listening, you warm my heart.
Well if you think you know then you don't have to ask. I am hard on you....I was you 20+ years ago...learn from my mistakes and don't waste your life....not surrendering. Grow in Him and take the love He is sending you in those who are around you. We are here to make the ride a little less bumpy. I love you Sweetie.Thanks mom.. I do love Him just have a issue with surrendering..
Yes I knowbut I'm sure you understand right? Yes I do. why does it seem ur so much more harder on me than every1 else LOL I think I know but not sure..
Thanks.. I will do just that and not waste my life anymore than I already have so that I can grow in Him and recieve love and give it freely!Well if you think you know then you don't have to ask. I am hard on you....I was you 20+ years ago...learn from my mistakes and don't waste your life....not surrendering. Grow in Him and take the love He is sending you in those who are around you. We are here to make the ride a little less bumpy. I love you Sweetie.
Tough love.....MOM!
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