Author: livinginhisgrace

Everything in my life is an unbelievable gift from the Father above to mold and shape me into the person that He created me to be! Yes, even the difficult and hard things in my life! Having said that, life, as I see it, is all about a loving relationship with God, and loving the people He places in our lives. Perhaps the journey is all about learning to love and offer grace to those around us inspite of our differences. Today’s world fights for it’s rights and has gone beyond just making it’s opinions known to a place where differing opinions are attacked and if possible silenced. Is this the world we want for our children and grandchildren? Oh how I hope not! I would love for my children and 10 grandchildren to experience a world filled with grace, hope, love and a chance to experience joy along their journey.

Reflections

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I just love this  picture. It is so peaceful and relaxing! It brings back incredible memories of a great trip with some very amazing people. Yet when I really think about our trip and how wonderful it was, basking in the memories, I have forgotten the whole truth about those days. Our trip was not only for fun but was packed with so much more.
We had a itinerary that was fast paced and filled with lots of learning aside from wonderful sights, historical and spiritual facts that left our minds buzzing.
The last few weeks I have been feeling the need to take some time away, possibly a sabbatical of sorts. Just some time for God and me away from the day-to-day rush of life and all its distractions and busyness. Looking back on photos from the trip today that I just “happened” to run across brought back some wonderful memories.That in itself was a great blessing but it also brought a revelation! As nice as it is to run away for a time of rest and revelation or rest and recuperation, that is not really what we are called to do. Please don’t misunderstand, there is nothing wrong with those times of refreshing. However, we can experience them even in the midst of even the most hectic of days just like we did on our trip. Most days we were on the go 12 hours plus coming back, getting cleaned up, dinner and after dinner walks, laundry, etc. Still, God found many occasions to speak through the Holy Spirit, through our fellow sojourners; our guides; through nature and even the rain;and through the Land of the Bible. I also thought of the mighty rushing waters in Dan, one of the headwaters of the Jordan river. Here was one of the most peaceful places that I have ever experienced, yet the rushing waters were thunderous and the loudest I have ever heard. Still His still small voice was there and very audible.
As the day wore on, I was listening to a friend as she was speaking of how sometimes when we are working in a small or tight place, we must de-clutter and make room, then the work can actually take place! Another friend wisely said today, not knowing about my journey down memory lane or dreams of a retreat, “it is God, not the place where we are that is important”. Bottom line, God is always speaking to us either through His Word, His Holy Spirit, through the words of others. The million dollar question, will we daily de-clutter and listen?

A Couple of Keys to Prayer

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A friend recently asked me to come up with some thoughts and scriptures for a prayer group and below are some thoughts that came to mind as considered how prayer has been such a large part of my life over the years. And below a picture from one of the most peaceful places I have ever had the privilege to enter into prayer!

Prayer in it’s simplest definition is a conversation with God. As a rule, the best conversations are when we are in the presence on one we know well and with whom we feel comfortable. When we have a grasp of who a person is and a respect and trust for them, it is much easier to have great conversations!  For this reason, I personally believe one of the foundational keys to prayer is to learn what we can about who God is through His Word and through time spent with Him in prayer. The more we understand about His character and who He says we are as believers in His Word, the better our prayer life can be. Can we ever fully understand our great and marvelous God? No, we can never fully understand fully who God is but we can learn a tremendous amount about Him and His character through the Bible. We can also learn much about God’s relationship with mankind. As we learn more we find, no longer does prayer have to be a religious act, duty or obligation. prayer at it’s best is as easy and natural as sitting down and chatting with a beloved friend. This is not to say we loose perspective of God’s holiness or sovereignty but that we understand that in His great love He has granted us as beleivers a wonderful privilege to come before Him as daughters and sons of the King.

A second key that is helpful is to know who we are In Christ. We are not a surprise to God. In Psalm 139, we find a lot of information about how God views us. Verses 13-18 tell us how He carefully and remarkably made each one of us and that ALL our days were planned and written in His book before a single one began. He knew all about us before we were ever here; everything we would ever do-either good or bad. The in Ephesians 2:10 we are told we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared ahead of time, so that we should/could walk in them.  It is no mistake the timing we are walking this planet earth! It is part of God’s great plan! This is a wonderful truth that for many is hard to grasp and this is why we need to learn who God says we are; this will help us begin to understand our individual purpose and we can begin to walk and pray in confidence of who we are in Christ.

Psalm 103:17 But from eternity to eternity the Lord’s faithful love is toward those who fear Him, and His righteousness toward their grandchildren.

Deuteronomy 7:9 Know that Yahweh, your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His gracious covenant loyalty for a thousand generations of those who love His commands.

Jeremiah 9:24 But the one who boasts should boast in Me- that I am Yahweh, showing faithful love, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for I delight in these things. This is the Lord’s declaration.

Psalm 139; 1-16

Lord, You have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I stand up;
You understand my thoughts from far away.
You observe my travels and my rest;
You are aware of all my ways.
 Before a word is on my tongue,
You know all about it, Lord.
 You have encircled me;
You have placed Your hand on me.
 This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me.
It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.

 Where can I go to escape Your Spirit?
Where can I flee from Your presence?
 If I go up to heaven, You are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.
 If I live at the eastern horizon
or settle at the western limits,
 even there Your hand will lead me;
Your right hand will hold on to me.
 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me,
and the light around me will be night”—
 even the darkness is not dark to You.
The night shines like the day;
darkness and light are alike to You.

 For it was You who created my inward parts;
You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You
because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made.
Your works are wonderful,
and I know this very well.
My bones were not hidden from You
when I was made in secret,
when I was formed in the depths of the earth.
 Your eyes saw me when I was formless;
all my days were written in Your book and planned
before a single one of them began.

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Tried, Tested…and True?

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Just thinking this afternoon about how as humans we are always looking to the next thing. Babies learn progressively from the first smile, turning over, sitting up, crawling, pulling up and finally taking steps. We adults do the same with the exception of we often do not take the time just to enjoy where we are at the moment. A few examples: when we are young we can not wait to be grown up; can’t wait to finish school, move out; get married; then, we tend to covet the freedom our single friends enjoy when we are married or the companionship our married friend enjoy when we are single. Many desire children and when they are here, we long for them to sleep through the night, out grow teething, be able to talk so they can tell us what is wrong when they feel bad, walk, start school…

Our techie world continues to teach us to not be satisfied with our phone, computer, tablet, car, TV:  the minute we purchase one it is on it’s way to being obsolete. Chances are that within 2 days to 6 months there will be a faster, better, fancier or sleeker one and many of us will be dreaming of the new best thing!  The world around us makes it hard to be content and just enjoy the moment in which we are living. This becomes even more apparent when we are in a time of trial or difficulty. Many times I find myself looking everywhere for an escape hatch when one of those times come around. Why? because I don’t like conflict, discomfort. I like choices to be easy, people to be loving and kind. The truth is life is not always easy, comfortable and neat and if it were, we would never grow or mature. Take the teething baby for example, in order for the baby to grow teeth, there is pain as the teeth push forward and break the skin. Without that pain the little baby would continue to grow but be relegated to a life of soft mushy food. Many also have used the example of a child. Children are wondrous and a blessing from God, however as they develop there is often morning sickness, stretching and discomfort at times for the mother and they are birthed through travail and pain.

Full Circle= (Remember. Reflect, Recuperate,Rededicate, Redirect)

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This morning after my S.O.A.P. reading, I found myself looking ahead to tomorrows passage just to see what was coming up and to ask the Lord to prepare my heart for what He would have me learn from it. I skimmed over the chapter and not once but twice a word jumped out at me. That word was Gilgal.  I began to think back to a time in my life when this word or maybe I should say the significance of this word became very real in my life and quite significant as well.

Gilgal is first mentioned in the Bible in Deuteronomy 11 where God is describing the Promised land that He will be giving His people. Interestingly enough, it is contains the declaration of God to the Israelites, 26 Today I’m giving you the choice of a blessing or a curse. 27 You’ll be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I’m giving you today. 28 You’ll be cursed if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God, if you turn from the way I’m commanding you to live today, and if you worship other gods you never knew. 29 When the Lord your God brings you into the land you’re about to enter, recite the blessing from Mount Gerizim and the curse from Mount Ebal. 

I find that very interesting, considering the topic of my last entry was about choosing blessing or cursing, life or death, so this is the result of something I believe the Lord is trying to say to me or teach me. If it is helpful to someone else that is great, but most of the things I write about are things that I am learning or that I feel the Holy Spirit is teaching me.  This is my outlet and if you will since we are talking about Gilgal…my memorial stone to help me remember.

Back to Gilgal.  One of the most known and important times in Gilgal is found in Joshua when the Israelites have been instructed to cross the Jordan River to enter the promised land. Here the Lord parts the waters of the river for all the people following cross the river on dry ground while the priests stand in the middle with the ark of the covenant . God instructed Joshua that one man from each tribe be assigned to select one stone from the middle of the river where the priests had stood and take it to the place the Israelites would camp that night. As they did what God asked, Joshua explained, “4:21 He said to the people of Israel, “In the future when children ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 the children should be told that Israel crossed the Jordan River on dry ground.23 The Lord your God dried up the Jordan ahead of you until you had crossed, as he did to the Red Sea until we had crossed. 24 The Lord did this so that everyone in the world would know his mighty power and that you would fear the Lord your God every day of your life.”  

In chapter 5, at this same time, all the men who were born in the wilderness were circumcised at Gilgal. Circumcision was a sign to them that they were set apart unto the Lord.  Here they remained in this new land until they were healed.  Also, at Gilgal, the Lord declared in Joshua 5:

9 The Lord then said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the disgrace of Egypt from you.” Therefore, that place is called Gilgal to this day.

What does all this mean?  For me, I am sensing that Gilgal is the place where Israel has come full circle, it is a reminder of God’s salvation of Israel from Egyptian slavery, from the wrath of the Egyptians who were chasing them and were swallowed by the Red Sea; a reminder of His protection and provision for their 40 years of wandering in the desert, where they always had food and water and their clothes and shoes never wore out; it was a place of laying aside the flesh and consecrating themselves to God; laying down false beliefs and false gods that they were exposed to during slavery and being rededicated to the one True God. I believe Gilgal was a fresh start, a clean slate. It was also a great monument and reminder because of the twelve memorial stones. Human beings tend to over time forget or allow all that our God has done for us become a distant memory. These stones stood and still stand as a reminder of God’s faithfulness to the Israelites, we would do well to note and remember all God has done for us! What a stabalizing factor and comforting peace we could enjoy when the storms of life come blowing us over, if we take time to set up remembrances of the times He has seen us through hardships and difficulties or rescued us from them. When we regularly celebrate His presence and provision in our lives we are much calmer and peaceful when the storms of life blow over us, sometimes blowing us over.  I want to come full circle, celebrating fresh starts, rededicating myself to Him, remembering His presence and provision in my life, letting go of the difficulties and pain of the past but remembering His faithfulness and love as a reminder not to return there; choosing life and blessing over death and the curse!

Which Mountain Will You Choose?

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Have you ever experienced a period of time where it seems everywhere you turn the same word or phrase keeps turning up?  Lately the words life, blessing, focus and the phrase “choose life”  seem to keep turning up and sometimes in the most unexpected places and at most unusual times. This has been going on for some time now and it is beginning to come together with some understanding.

Last night at Bible Study our topic was John 10:10, one that has been key in my life for the last several years. Before talking about it, we went back chapter 8 and began reading to get the full context of what was going on around this time.  In chapter 8 we see the story of the woman caught in adultery and Jesus telling her accusers, “whoever is without sin, cast the first stone.” One by one they all walked away because Jesus was the only on qualified as without sin. Jesus did just what His Father would have Him do. He said to her, ” I don’t condemn you either. Go! From now on, don’t sin.” Next Jesus speaks to the Pharisees about His Father. There is a good bit of contrast between the religious practices of the Pharisees and those things that are truly important to God and that are modeled by Jesus.  He points out the differences in what the Pharisees practice and the true desires of His Father for those who want to be His disciples. This debate or exchange of ideas which are opposed to each other leads to anger and the threat by some to stone Jesus but He slips away safely. As chapter nine unfolds Jesus heals a man born blind and an inquisition ensues. First Jesus is questioned, then the blind man, both tell the truth and their stories are the same. That is not good enough to satisfy the curious minds so the parents of the blind man are brought in. Fearing the repercussions of their words, they would only reveal: yes this is our son, and yes he was born blind. Then they told the people that he was an adult and could answer for himself. They inquire of the previously blind man again and when he answers him the same, he is thrown out of the synagogue. In His compassion of this man, Jesus reveals Himself to him and explains that:

39 Then Jesus said, “I have come into this world to judge: Blind people will be given sight, and those who can see will become blind.”GWT

The Pharasiees responded:

40 Some Pharisees who were with Jesus heard this. So they asked him, “Do you think we’re blind?”GWT

Jesus went on to explain:

41 Jesus told them, “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be sinners. But now you say, ‘We see,’ so you continue to be sinners.GWT

Next we see the story where Jesus explains His role as Shepperd and how to tell the true Shepperd from an impostor. This is were John 10:10 comes into play; “10 A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came so that my sheep will have life and so that they will have everything they need.’ GWT

Now the Bible makes it clear that Satan is our enemy and that he is the father of lies. Here we see his purpose is always to steal, kill and destroy. Whether it is our joy and peace or our very life, he is out to wreak havoc and destroy (bring about destruction and death) but Jesus came to bring life and every thing that we need for life! What a great assurance! Now as I am pondering the wonder of this once again the phrase “Choose life” returns to me and my thoughts go to the Old Testament and the discussions of the blessings and cursings discussed with the Israelites in the later chapters of Deuteronomy and God’s declaration:

Deuteronomy 30:15 See, today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and adversity. 16 For I am commanding you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commands, statutes, and ordinances, so that you may live[ and multiply, and the Lord your God may bless you in the land you are entering to possess.(HCSB)

     From the both the old covenant and the new covenant expressed by Jesus Christ, we can see that God has given us a choice. In every wonderful event and in every tragedy, even in the most mundane things in our life we have a choice to make. We can choose life or we can choose death, we can choose blessing or we can choose cursing. We can not necessarily choose our circumstances but we can choose how we respond to them. When we choose life and blessing we always win in the long run!  My friend Katie Brown put it this way earlier today, “There are two mountains, only two, and we get to choose which one we will spend our time on. We want to choose life. If we find ourself on the wrong mountain, it is time to move!”  So the question I am pondering now is how will life be different if I make a decision to weigh every situation or circumstance on this scale before responding or reacting to it? Is it an accurate statement to say that when I respond, I am choosing life and when I react I am choosing death?
    I will bring these thoughts to a close by sharing my S.O.A.P. verse for today:
Mark 4;24 He went on to say, “Pay attention to what you’re listening to! Knowledge will be measured out to you by the measure of attention you give. This is the way knowledge increases. 25 Those who understand these mysteries will be given more knowledge. However, some people don’t understand these mysteries. Even what they understand will be taken away from them.”

As I thought about this scripture, I realized the more I pay attention to the Word without allowing other thoughts, worries, concerns or any other intruder to interrupt or distract me, the more God will speak to me through it and the better I will be equipped  with what I need to manage well and thrive in life. It will enable me to choose life. Wisdom and knowledge are in the Word and the Holy Spirit brings the understanding, but if I am burdened down by distractions, questions, concerns, etc.; I will miss out on part or all of what He is trying to teach me. Therefore, I must learn to set aside all the cares of this world when spending time with Jesus  and in the Word; hand them over to Him! Then I can focus on the whole of what He has for me each day! The choice between life and death is a gift from Him. We get to choose! Distractions are from the enemy and diminish our peace, our joy, our contentment, and our fruit! May the Lord teach us to choose life, laying down all those things that lead to death and destruction and allowing the mind of Christ to dwell richly in each of our lives!

Welcoming 2013

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You crown the year with Your goodness; Your ways overflow with plenty. (Psalms 65:11 HCSB)
 
  Every 365 ( 366 in Leap Years) we begin again. For some of us, there is time spent reflecting on our previous year and asking ourselves what went well and what we want to see different as we reach this mile stone each year. For others, one year just seems to blend or fade into the next.  Some can not wait to put a difficult year behind them yet others prefer to cling to by-gone  days because they are unsure of or fear the future.  
    This morning, as 2013 dawns fresh and new, I found myself in Psalm 65. What a great reminder for the beginning of an new year!  
 
You are praised with silence in Zion, O God, and vows made to You must be kept.  You are the one who hears prayers. Everyone will come to You.  Various sins overwhelm me. You are the one who forgives our rebellious acts.    Blessed is the person You choose and invite to live with You in Your courtyards.  We will be filled with good food from Your house, from Your holy temple.    You answer us with awe-inspiring acts done in righteousness, O God, our saviour, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the most distant sea,    the One who set the mountains in place with his strength, the One who is clothed with power,    the One who calms the roar of the seas, their crashing waves,and the uproar of the nations.    Those who live at the ends of the earth are in awe of Your miraculous signs. The lands of the morning sunrise and evening sunset sing joyfully.    You take care of the earth, and You water it.  You make it much richer than it was.(The river of God is filled with water.) You provide grain for them.  Indeed, You even prepare the ground.    You drench plowed fields with rain and level their clumps of soil. You soften them with showers and bless what grows in them.    You crown the year with Your goodness, and richness overflows wherever You are.    The pastures in the desert overflow with richness. The hills are surrounded with joy.    The pastures are covered with flocks. The valleys are carpeted with grain. All of them shout triumphantly. Indeed, they sing.        (Psalm 65:1-13 GWT)
 
     Everything we could ever need or desire is found in God. He is the Creator; the Provider; the All-sufficient One; the One who Sees; He is The Healer; the Sanctifier; the Shepherd; the Lord; our Peace; our Rescuer and Saviour; our Righteousness and our Redeemer! These are just a few of the descriptive words that begin to describe who God is to me. I would be hard pressed to choose just one to describe Him since at one time or another He has shown Himself in each of these ways to me personally. 
 
    For today’s purpose, I believe would have to focus on Redeemer because no matter what we are trying to leave behind as this new year dawns, no matter the trials that may try to trip us up in the new year we can find redemption in trusting Him to get us through. There is much talk about a fiscal cliff, terrible tax increases, huge debt in our nation. Many people and businesses are fearful at worst and deeply concerned at best because of continued problems with the economy, problems with illness or broken relationships. You do not have to look far to see signs of this! We search for answers and for complicated solutions to the problems that surround us. We search both high and low, sometimes trying solutions that even to ourselves seem absurd. The answer is so simple and yet we complicate it, even a child can understand yet we resist.
The Redeemer wants a relationship with us be cause He loves us. He wants to take the problems and hurts in our lives and redeem them for good; to heal them so that we can help and serve others; He wants to heal and comfort us so that we can be His hands and feet and comfort others with the comfort we have first received from Him.
 
    I suppose in all my rambling what I am trying to say on the threshold of this new year is: I would like nothing more than to see 2013 be fondly remembered this time next year as a year of sunshine and roses, happy days without stress or sorrows but no matter what comes in this beautiful new year, I will rest in the knowledge that His promises are true, though often conditional and His desire is always for my good. He can bring about good from the fiercest storm and form a beautiful diamond from a dark lump of coal and though not all things are good, however “Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. (Romans 8:26-28 MSG)
Just like this year, we are all pregnant with potential and purpose. We get to choose our response. Coal used in it’s raw form is valuable for heating radiating life-saving warmth or producing valuable energy ; left in the earth and under pressure and placed then in the hands of master craftsman it will become an exquisite gem with many facets which reflect beautifully to all those around.  So are our lives! We all have different functions but in His eyes are all equally beautiful and equally valuable!  
                                                     Happy New Year! May He:
“crown the year with His goodness; His  ways overflow with plenty. (Psalms 65:11 HCSB)”
                                                         as we live in His Grace

Homesick

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In today’s world, I believe I am an oddity. It was not odd one hundred years ago for a person to live their whole life in a close parameter of their place of birth but it is much more unusual in our day and age, yet I live within 40 miles of my birth place and always have. I have traveled over much of the United States in my life and have seen beautiful vistas and lovely places! A few years back I spent a couple of weeks in Germany, a beautiful country. Recently had  the blessing of spending ten days in Israel and seeing a bit of Vienna in the travel process. I have enjoyed seeing many beautiful sights but have never felt a pull or drawing to any place other than the area in which I grew up! Though there is a beautiful world out there to explore, the only place that has ever felt like home and held my heart was Georgia and the hope of my Heavenly home to come.

This recent trip was different. I have had a life-long desire to see Israel and this fall the desire became a reality. I have spent years longing to see the land of the Bible, where Jesus walked, the land of Abraham, Moses; to get an idea of the culture and land where men and women of great faith resided. I was not prepared for the depth of emotion or the great love for this land that the trip would stir within me. I missed my family and longed to see them and share this experience with them; I was not prepared for the depth of desire to remain there or the pull to return again.

I have searched my heart to attempt to answer the mystery of why this journey had such an unexpected effect on me. I have discussed it at length with my husband who also feels this same magnetism. We have many theories of what contributes to the tugging at our heart but no tangible conclusion. Perhaps it is one of life’s mysteries that we are not meant to understand or possibly we haven’t processed fully what we have experienced. Could it be that the timing is just not right for us to understand? Could it have to do with God choosing Jerusalem as His chosen city or that a land a little smaller than our state of Florida seems to catch the world’s attention and many countries attempt to determine what they do about Israel? Is it the convergence of many faiths in close proximity, the hospitality and acceptance of the people? Maybe it isn’t really important to understand or define, maybe the point is more about experiencing the land, the people, and God in the land! Maybe the real treasure is more than walking where Jesus, the Disciples and Patriarchs walked and experiencing the Bible in the actual land of Promise. Could it be more than  learning about the our Savior and His Jewish roots and seeing the Word of God in a whole new light? Perhaps it is seeing a people group who has been scattered world-wide come back together in the nation God promised them and watch prophecy fulfilled before our eyes… I am betting it is all of this and so much more. It was a life changing and a trip of a lifetime and the only thing I can say for sure is that I highly recommend the trip and I hope to return at least a few more times if the Lord wills and should He tarry in His return!! It is a trip that taken for the right reason and with great guides will most assuredly change your life forever!!!

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ImageNovember 16, 2012

Shalom,

It is with many emotions today that I leave Israel.  I am  flooded with gratitude to God  for this incredible opportunity! I have  missed our family very much and I  am grateful to be very close to seeing them again but also I am  overwhelmed with the desire to extend my stay in this land. I never imagined I would feel so at home here, be hit with such a depth of desire to stay here, nor did I realize the tears that I would shed because it was time to go!  What an exceptional group of people we have been blessed to travel with! Not only those from our Lifegate family, but also those who traveled from around the states to be with us and those who planned and executed our trip, especially our excellent driver. No one can maneuver a bus like Ami does.  It has been amazing to experience the Holy Land with such knowledgable and passionate guides. Huge gratitude to both Marc and Ilan!! The insight and understanding you brought to us was priceless. It is as Moshe  said when he spoke with us in his shop, ” None come to Israel unless it is by God’s hand.”  I am sure now more than ever, the longing to come here that I have carried for all these years was God given. I also believe the it was His perfect plan that this was the proper time for us to go. I don’t know that I will ever be able to fully express my gratitude for the ability to take this trip nor my perceptions in the land, but I will surely attempt to give it my best effort over time and it will forever change my understanding when I read God’s Word.  I can not wait to return.  Not only  have I left a large portion of my heart in Israel, I will forever carry a love for  Israel and it’s people in my heart!! As my wonderful friend Don says, ” This will change your life forever!”

November 20, 2012

The above was written at the airport last Friday. By the time we landed stateside, the attacks on Israel had escalated and continue to increase. This is a country surrounded but those who want to see it destroyed! Despite constant attacks, they use restraint in their defenses and as a rule only strike back when there are Israelis injured or killed.  This is a beautiful land with beautiful and diverse citizens who dwell together in peace. The attacks are coming at the hands of terrorist groups that want to see Israel and the Jewish people destroyed, please join me in praying for the peace of Jerusalem, Israel, and it’s people!

Psalm 122:5-7. Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:  “May those who love you prosper; 7 may there be peace within your walls, prosperity within your fortresses.”

My Quick Journey through the Biblical Land of Dan

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November 10, 2012

 
Shalom! You don’t have to go far into the park until you see and hear rushing waters from the spring @ Dan. Mid-way we reach the strongest and fastest rushing water, the roar is louder than the roar of the ocean. These are living waters, here it is very different from both the desert and the wilderness areas that we have visited, this is a lush area full of life. It is very much like a sub- tropical area covered with lush green vegetation. We are asked to listen and absorb the sound and in absolute silence, we did. I will never forget the intensity of the sound, the absolute beauty of the surroundings. It is in this area that David wrote:
 
PSALM 42-LONGING FOR GOD
 
1 As a deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for You, God.
2 I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
while all day long people say to me,
“Where is your God?”
4 I remember this as I pour out my heart:
how I walked with many,
leading the festive procession to the house of God,
with joyful and thankful shouts.
 
5 Why am I so depressed?
Why this turmoil within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him,
my Savior and my God.
6 I[a] am deeply depressed;
therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan
and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls;
all Your breakers and Your billows have swept over me.
8 The Lord will send His faithful love by day;
His song will be with me in the night—
a prayer to the God of my life.
 
9 I will say to God, my rock,
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why must I go about in sorrow
because of the enemy’s oppression?”
10 My adversaries taunt me,
as if crushing my bones,
while all day long they say to me,
“Where is your God?”
11 Why am I so depressed?
Why this turmoil within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him,
my Savior and my God.
 
 David was at a crucial time of life when he was desperate for God. He was struggling to hear from God, seemingly depressed and maybe even despairing. 
 
How interesting to come here on this day, the day I buried my Mom (16 years ago) It was a great reminder how God hears and answers us. He hears the cries of His beloved, not only does God hear His children but He is moved by our cries. He will answer. It may not be the answer we want to hear, but God is faithful and He is with us always, in the darkest of times as well as the joyful times! He hears us and He answers our cries! It was a great reminder of how He heard my cries on that day that now seems so long ago and many days that followed. We may not get the answer we want to hear, but we can be assured that He answers and because His ways are higher than ours His answers are for our good, no our best! Only in Him, through Jesus can we find the life sustaining living waters that we all need to grow and flourish like a well-watered garden! It is in Him alone that we can find abundant life, satisfaction and the greatest love ever known.  Is He for us, yes! Can we trust Him, absolutely! Will we still have difficult times, almost assuredly…but in the end, with faith, obedience and our cooperation we will become more than conquerors in Christ who has exceedingly, abundantly, above and beyond all we can ask or imagine planned for those who choose to walk with Him thru this life.

Celebrating a Blessing

Published on by livinginhisgrace1 Comment

  Bless the Lord, oh my soul and all that is within me Bless His holy name!! For Lord, there is nothing too big for You! You never leave or forsake us and Your ways are always good!  You have a purpose and a plan, a reason for everything that You do and it is always for our good and for our best!

   This morning I awoke from an unusual dream. I am not sure why but in the context of the dream I was very anxious and alone standing near a doorway. A strong yet ethereal hand reached out and drew me toward and then through the doorway and I hesitantly took hold and followed. At the other end of that arm was what I presume to be my Savior… the presence of total and complete love, like no earthly love was all around and overwhelming. It was a place of perfect peace, joy and total well-being, like nothing I have ever experienced. This sense carried over into my waking moments.

    As I carried on my morning, within about an hour, I received a phone call from an Emory phone number. It was my doctor with the results of a CT scan I had yesterday. A little back story, in May my primary physician had me have a test to access my heart because my parents both died from sudden heart attacks at a fairly young age.  This test resulted in finding an aortic enlargement. The finding knocked the breath out of me; I knew instinctively that this was actually what is known as an aneurysm. I also, was very aware how dangerous and life threatening this condition could be and a specialist should be consulted. I did and had additional testing which lead to the repeat CT yesterday and this morning’s phone call.       

     In the meantime, we have been praying for healing and many have joined us!  Before I go any further in my story, I want to explain my thoughts on healing and the Healer. I believe in a Sovereign God, the Creator of all that exists. He is all-knowing, all-sufficient and again Sovereign. He knows best. I fully believe He heals and not always in the same way. Sometimes it is instant, other times progressive. I believe He uses doctors if He desires and in some cases, our healing may be to enter His presence and our heavenly reward if we are His children.  I don’t believe illness is His desire for us but a result of a fallen and broken world because when Jesus walked the earth, He went about healing all who were sick and oppressed.  He desire is for our wholeness: spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally!! He came to set us free and restore what was lost because of the entrance of sin into the earth and we have a choice to make, simply to accept what He offers or reject it. He sets before us life and death, blessing and cursing and asks us to choose life. (Isaiah 61-1-3)(Deuteronomy 13:19)           

     Today, my doctor is puzzled at the differences in the two scans. Based on his words to me, I doubt they normally see the decreasing of an enlarged aorta, but I am rejoicing. My CT results, according to the report, show the aorta at 3.8cm at its greatest dimension which he said was considered normal in some people.  I am standing on the belief that the Lord, Himself is healing this and that what began as a reading of 4.2cm has reduced to 3.8 and will continue until the artery is exactly the size it should be whether that is right as it is or a lesser measurement! I am so grateful for faithful prayer warriors who have lifted and continue to lift me up before the throne of Grace, for evidence of answered prayer and most of all to my faithful and gracious God- Father, Son and Holy Spirit; for the One who never leaves or forsakes us; goes before us; walks with us; and who is our rear guard!

     Would I feel the same had the news been different? I believe I would. Why? Because He is able to do exceeding, abundantly above and beyond all we can ask or imagine. Would I still believe in His goodness, absolutely! Why? Because He provides the availability of medical management of this problem and surgical repair options. Besides, as much as I love my family and friends and  as much as I enjoy living, loving, and serving in this life; I know Who holds my future  and life as we know it here on earth is but a shadow of the real life that awaits in His everlasting Kingdom!!