prayer

“Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.” Colossians 4:12

“O God of the Open Ear, teach me to live by prayer as well as by providence, for myself, soul, body, children, family, church. Give me a heart frameable to Thy will; so might I live in prayer, and honour Thee, being kept from evil, known and unknown… (Valley of Vision; pp edition, p 137)

This scripture wasn’t part of my daily reading but was the focus of a devotional that I read by Sam Storm’s The Hope of Glory. Sam Storms spoke of how Paul commended Epaphras for his prayers for the Colossians. Reading both the scripture and the devotional made me yearn to STRUGGLE on behalf of my family, my friends, my church like my brother Epaphrus.

When I first was saved I prayed so much more than I do now. What happened? I’m not sure, but I realized this morning I want to live by prayer once again the way I did when I first met Jesus Christ.

So, please pray for me as I go before the Lord and ask him for the gift of struggling on behalf of others in my prayers. Can you imagine how God will answer prayers as we pray that others would stand mature and assured in ALL the will of God? Oh yes, I want to pray again like I used to, I want to pray like Epaphras. Work this in me O Lord, my God!

GOD'S WORD

Psalm 94:19

“When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.”

“O Though who hast the hearts of men in Thine hand, form my heart according to the Word, according to the image of Thy Son, so shall Christ the Word, and His Word, be my strength and comfort.” (Valley of Vision, p 17)

I love this scripture for it reminds me where real strength and comfort and consolations lay, IN CHRIST and in HIS WORD! I remember there was a time, when troubled, I would run to the nearest phone to talk to a friend or my husband to receive their consolation and their advice. Now, more times than not, I realize that it is in the scriptures where we see and hear of the mercies and love and promises of God and where we find our counsel and encouragement and this is where I run!

This is also is a reminder to me when ministering to other people, that I must minister with God’s Word not my own words!!! For it is God’s Word that brings hope and peace!

O God I love your Word!!!!

HOW GREAT ARE YOU GOD!!!!

Hebrews 4:14-16

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

God continues to remind me through His Word that as believers we no longer relate to God has our judge but as our father. I am reminded that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are FOR us not against us. As we are being sanctified God tells us to come with CONFIDENCE to his throne of grace to receive mercy and grace to help us in out time of need! As we battle sin, as we are confronted with our sin we do not have to be afraid of God’s judgement for Jesus has already paid for this sin. Instead we are told to come to God for help! For mercy! For Grace to help in time of need!
How can I not bow down and say, “HOW GREAT ARE YOU GOD!!!”

GOD BE MERCIFUL TO ME!

1 Timothy 1:12-17

I thank HIM who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because HE judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. BUT I received mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the foremost. BUT I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life. TO THE KING OF AGES, IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, THE ONLY GOD, BE HONOR AND GLORY FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN.

I just love this scripture. I use it when giving my testimony. It describes me so well. For example, I, before I received Christ would turn on the tv and watch Christian networks and mock the people and their message for fun! I was indeed a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent, the foremost of sinners, in this and oh so many more ways!!!!! And then comes one of my most favorite words … “BUT” I received mercy!!!!! How beautiful is Christ Jesus!!!!!!!! It is good to re-visit this verse to remember what I once was, so mercy and grace are all the more amazing and Jesus is even more beautiful to me!

If I could have fit it on my card the following song would have been written on it. Based on Psalm 51…

GOD BE MERCIFUL TO ME (words by Richard Redhead)

God be Merciful to me
On thy grace I rest my plea.
Plenteous in compassion Thou
Blot out my transgressions now;
Wash me make me pure within
Cleanse, O cleanse me from my sin.

My transgressions I confess
Grief and guilt my soul oppress;
I have sinned against thy grace
And provoked thee to thy face;
I confess thy judgement just
Speechless, I thy mercy trust.

Sinners then shall learn from me,
And return O God to Thee
Savior all my guilt remove,
And my tongue shall sing Thy love
Touch my silent lips O Lord,
And my mouth shall praise accord.

May my life reflect the merciful work of Jesus in my life so sinners will learn from me the kindness, compassion and mercy found in Jesus Christ!

God's Faithfulness!

Jude 24
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”

“I will glory in my Redeemer,
My life He bought,
My love He owns
I have no longings for another
I’m satisfied in Him alone.
I will glory in my Redeemer
HIS FAITHFULNESS my standing place.
Though foes are mighty
And rush upon me,
My feet are firm held by HIS grace
My feet are firm held by HIS grace”

(2001 Sovereign Grace Worship, words and music by Steve and Viki Cook)

Today, I am reminded that it is God’s faithfulness that keeps me in Him, not my faithfulness!! God, Himself,
keeps me following hard after God. God’s grace works in me and gives me the desire to love His Word, to love Him, to hate sin, etc etc. God is so faithful to complete in me what HE has begun! (Philippians 1:6). This makes me want to praise HIM!!!!

Break up the Fallow Ground!

Hosea 10:12
“Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord that He may and rain righteousness upon you.”

1 Peter 2:24
“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.”

“May I with Moses choose affliction rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin.” (Valley of Vision, p. 105; pp edition)

“Return again with showers of converting grace to a poor gospel-abusing sinner.. Help my soul to breathe after holiness.” (Valley of Vision, p. 99; pp ed)

My pastor's(Mark Mullery) sermon on Chapter 10 of the book of Hosea yesterday was like a cool drink on a hot day. He pointed out the warnings that God was giving to His people and His judgements and then in the midst of that gives us verse 10. God gives a way out and showed them how !!

How does this apply to today? God wants us to respond to his warnings of sin in our lives! I realized that sometimes I respond to sin, after the fact (in sorrow and repentance, sometimes in guilt) when instead I could have headed off the sin by responding to God’s warnings first!!!

God doesn’t just sit idly by and wait for us to fall into sin, he warns us! Oh the kindness of God in his sovereign love! In v 10 Hosea tells us to “break of your fallow ground.” My pastor told us ways that we can break up the fallow ground, the hardness of our hearts: through prayer, journaling, applying scripture and involving others.

I have used these methods immediately AFTER sinning… but I had a “duh” moment, as I realized yesterday morning, to use these methods BEFORE the sin!!! This is especially effective for an area of sin where you struggle in. I am blessed to have people in my lives who ARE involved with me and will help me battle sin. What a blessing from God!

The 1 Peter scripture reminds me of the assurance I have in Christ as I die to sin and live to righteousness. God is FOR us, not against us! I am freshly reminded of what Puritan John Owens said, “Kill sin before it kills you.” My prayer today is indeed, “Help my soul to breathe after holiness.” Amen?

Scripture for Sunday, March 9, 2008

”Your words were found and I ate them and your words became a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of Hosts.”
Jeremiah 15:16

I chose that today because I missed being in God’s Word yesterday because I was sick and I wanted to pray through and meditate on a scripture today that would help me to remember what a joy and delight God’s Word is. Also, it's a great scripture to pray through for those who you know that struggle to take time to be in God’s Word!

Happy Sunday!

Scripture for Friday, March 7, 2008

Ephesians 1:3-8

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holdy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of this will, to the praise of his glorious grace with which he blessed us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption, through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of this grace which he LAVISHED upon us in all wisdom and insight….

Today, I am simply VERY thankful… for if God had not chosen me, I would not have chosen Him. Thank you Jesus!

Scriptures and thoughts for Thursday, March 6, 2008

“when my flesh yearns for some prohibited thing,
I MUST DIE.
when called to do something I don’t want to do,
I MUST DIE.
when I wish to be selfish and serve no one,
I MUST DIE.
when shattered by hardships I despise,
I MUST DIE.
when wanting to cling to wrongs done against me,
I MUST DIE.
when enticed by the world’s allurements,
I MUST DIE.
when wishing to keep besetting sins secret,
I MUST DIE.
when wants that are borderline needs are left unmet,
I MUST DIE.
when dreams that are good seem shoved aside,
I MUST DIE.” ( Milton Vincent, The Gospel Primer, p. 41)

Galatians 2:20

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is not longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now life in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

When I read this yesterday in The Gospel Primer it resonated with my heart! We can fill in the blanks with any temptation or sin! “when I want to complain about my children, I MUST DIE! When I want to snap back at my husband, I MUST DIE! When I want to feel sorry for myself, I MUST DIE! When I want to complain about some circumstance in my life, I MUST DIE! When I am tempted to worry, I MUST DIE. ” etc etc… you get what I mean! Fill in your own blanks!

I chose this today because I want to concentrate today on Christ who lives in me and who helps me put these sins to death!

"Oh Lord, help me to die to self and live in faith and obedience to you! Thank you Lord that you are for me and are working in me to put to death the things of my flesh and helping me to live for your perfect will!"

Pray for me as I continue to daily die to self. I feel I must add that I can’t do this on my own! I need to pray to God and ask him to do this in me. I need his help to die to self. I have to remind myself, as I die to self, Romans 8:1 : Therefore there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. As God helps me die to self I must remember that Christ died for this sin! How great is that!!

Scripture for Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Mark 7:15,20-23

There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defiles him. And he (Jesus) said, what comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these things come from within and they defile a person.

“The gospel applied to our heart everyday, frees us to be brutally honest with ourselves and with God. The assurance of his total forgiveness of our sins through the blood of Christ means we don’t have to play defensive games anymore. We don’t have to rationalize and excuse our sins.. we can call sin exactly what it is, regardless of how ugly and shameful it may be because we know that Jesus bore that sin in His body on the cross. With the assurance of total forgiveness through Christ, we have no reason to hide from our sins anymore.” (Jerry Bridges, The Disciplines of Grace)

This Mark scripture was in my daily reading this morning and a great reminder to me that we can never sin and then say to ourselves, “Where did that come from?” .. we know that it comes from our heart!!!! The GOOD news is that we don’t have to hide and cower from God but as believers boldly go to the throne of grace in repentance knowing that we are forgiven and are helped to become more like Jesus! I am reminded again and again and again that God is FOR us not against us. Because of the blood of Jesus applied to our lives through God’s great mercy and grace we KNOW that God is revealing our sin to us and helping us put it to death. We don’t put it to death ourselves! We have his help! Such good news! Such GREAT news!
(I received this quote and many of the quotes I use from a blog site that posts a cross-centered, gospel centered quote every day!
http://firstimportance.org/

Have a blessed day!

COMPASSION!

Scripture for meditation: Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Mark 6:34

When he (Jesus) went ashore he saw a great crowd and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.

“When I see persons who are are materially poor, I instantly feel a kinship with them, for they are physically what I was spiritually when my heart was closed to Christ. Perhaps some of them are in their condition because of sin, but so was I. Perhaps they are unkind when I try to help them; but I , too, have been spiteful to God when he has sought to help me. Perhaps they are thankless and even abuse the kindness I show them, but how many times have I been thankless and used what God has given me to serve selfish ends? .. the gospel reminds me daily of the spiritual poverty into which I was born and also of the staggering generosity of Christ towards me. Such reminders instill in me both a felt connection to the poor and a desire to show them the save generosity that has been lavished on me.” (A Gospel Primer, Milton Vincent, pp 34-35)

Many years ago through a book, Hunger for God, by John Piper… a book I was reading with a dear friend, I began to think about how I could serve the community around me. Not just the family of God, but those outside the family of God! (we must not neglect serving the family of God in our local church.. but this is beyond that).

I don’t know why that fervor I felt years ago went away.. maybe it was because I still had young children at home.. but I have had this passion to serve the community arise again in my heart. I read the Mark scripture and was struck by the compassion of Jesus. This scripture was found in the middle of Jesus healing so many people of all their diseases. He helped them and then he taught them .

Will I be called to serve the physically poor people so they will see the grace of Jesus? I feel myself drawn to homeless people and unwed about to be single mothers. I do not know where God is leading me through this but I do know it’s going somewhere! I don’t know WHEN this will all begin to come about but I believe God is placing it on my heart as he is preparing me for some sort of service as a result of the power of the gospel growing in me.

Please pray for me that I remain open to whatever God has prepared for me. Pray I stay close to God’s Word and immerse myself with His Word so when he speaks I will hear! I long to have Christ-like compassion, not just in my thoughts and prayers but in my actions.

Love you!
diane

THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME!

1 Peter 2:10

Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Psalm 66:16

Come and hear all you who fear God, and I will tell you what He has done for my soul.

“Mercy and grace are mine, forgiven is my sin, Jesus my only hope, the Savior of the world. “Great is the Lord” we cry, God let your kingdom come, Your Word has let me see, THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME.” (written by Martin Smith, 1994, Curious? Music UK)

Yesterday’s sermon reminded me afresh of the great gift of salvation. Mark’s sermon about Hosea purchasing back Gomer, his unfaithful wife is a beautiful picture of God purchasing me and you , his unfaithful wife, the church. Hosea paid 15 shekels for Gomer, God paid with his son Jesus Christ for me. I am reminded of how GREAT GOD is!!!! Before time He chose to make me his people, he chose to give me mercy. How is it that I keep silent about this as much as I do? The Peter scripture reminds me what God has done and the Psalm scripture reminds me to tell of my salvation!

GREAT IS THE LORD!!!! THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME!!!

Here's a HAPPY 27th BIRTHDAY to my daughter Colleen!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PEEP!

Scripture to ponder on Sunday, March 2, 2008

“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus Name. On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.” (Edward Mote, 1797-1874)

1 Timothy 1:15-16

“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ may display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.”

Lord, may my life reflect the beauty of Jesus Christ in his full mercy towards me a huge sinner, the worst sinner. Lord, remind me of the gospel as I walk through my day. Remind me that my hope is built on Jesus Christ ALONE, that I trust in Jesus alone for salvation. Oh Lord help me to live, eat, breathe and walk in the light of the gospel today so that you will be glorified!

Have a blessed Lord’s day!

Gospel Truths!!!

Scriptures to ponder for March 1, 2008 : My 3x5 card for today

Romans 5:1-2

Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we exult in the hope of the glory of God.

1 John 2: 1,2

And if anyone sins we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.. and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins.

Romans 4:5

But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.

“The Gospel encourages me to rest in my righteous standing with God, a standing which Christ Himself has accomplished and always maintains for me.. I never have to do a moment’s labor to gain or maintain my justified status before God. Freed from the burden of such a task, I now can put my energies into enjoying God, pursuing holiness, and ministering God’s amazing grace to others.” (Milton Vincent, A Gospel Primer, p.20)

Preaching the gospel to myself again, this morning, because this former Pharisee and legalist needs to do this daily so I don’t fall into the performance mindset before God and man but instead respond to this gospel truth in surrendering to God in and for my sanctification! Pondering these Scriptures makes my soul bow down in gratitude to God’s great mercy in His provision of salvation! Alleluia! Let all the earth rejoice!

My 3x5 card for today, Friday, February 29, 2008

“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, HE SAVED US, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:3-7

“O Father who spared not Thine only Son that thou might spare me… help me to adore Thee with lips and life.. O that my every breath might be ecstatic praise.” (Valley of Vision, p 42, pp edition)

I just can’t get enough of the glorious gospel! How great and kind of God to save us according to his own mercy! Incredible! My desire is that the prayer of my lips all the days would be THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME!!! May I never grow tired of praising God with my lips and my life! I want every part of my being to walk in the gospel of Jesus Christ! Look at that first sentence of scripture! Look at what I once was! BUT… the goodness and loving kindness of the Lord appeared!!! Oh Praise Him!

Good Morning!

My 3x5 for Thursday, February 28, 2008:

Romans 12:1

“I appeal to you therefore brothers by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship.”

Take My Life and Let it Be (Frances Havergal, revised by Chris Tomlin)

Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee.
Take my voice and let me sing always, only for my king.
Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from thee.
Take my silver and my gold not a might would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use every power as you choose.

::Chorus::
Here am I, all of me. Take my life, it's all for thee.

Take my will and make it Thine it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own; it shall be thy royal throne. Take my love, my Lord I pour at your feet its treasure store
Take myself and I will be ever, only all for thee,
Take myself and I will be ever, only all for thee.

Listening to this song this morning I was reminded of how each morning I used to get up and pray for God to order my day according to HIS will and purposes. I used to ask God to use my eyes to look at what pleases Him, to use my ears to listen to others and listen to what pleases Him; to use my hands and feet for His glory, etc etc.. and somewhere along the way I stopped praying that!

A couple of weeks ago I began again, though sporadically. Today, when I heard that song I know that by God’s grace I have the desire to consecrate myself to the Lord again on a daily basis.

I did that the other day. Then, as my day began to go differently than I had anticipated and I began to complain I remembered that I had asked God to order my day! It increased my faith and encouraged me to remember that God, in His sovereignty does indeed order my day and I depend on Him to do so! God, in His sovereignty of course orders my day whether I pray about it or not, however, how much sweeter it is to have consciously dedicated my day to the Lord. I pray I continue to do so with every part of myself!!!

Scriptures and Thoughts to Ponder for: Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Here is my 3x5 card:

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves.” Phil 2:3 (NASB)

Proverbs 21:21

“…pursue.. kindness…”

Puritan writer Matthew Henry was once robbed by thieves and recorded this in his journal:

“Let me be thankful first because I was never robbed before; second, although they took my purse, they did not take my life; third, because, although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed and not someone else.”

This response from Matthew Henry particularly point #4 reflects a man who understood and lived out Philippians 2:3. He truly esteemed others as more important than himself .. in kindness for others he was GLAD it was him who was robbed and not someone else. Do I look at my misfortunes this way? Not always. When calamity falls upon myself am I thankful that it was on me and not someone else? I’m sure that I don’t wish that something bad happened to someone else instead of me, but am I openly thankful that others were spared and it was I who suffered instead? Isn’t that was Jesus did for us? He took upon himself the wrath of God and punishment for MY sin and was GLAD to do it! Hmmm… my prayer continues to be, Lord let me esteem others as more important than myself!

ps. I saw the Matthew Henry quote on this blogsite: http://www.theblazingcenter.com. The author had a different perspective on it but it caught me differently. Please go read his blog.. it's fantastic and great words of wisdom!

Do you want to be KIND? or RIGHT?

Good Morning!

“Will you choose to be kind? Or right?” (written in HUGE letters on the side of a building on Rolling Road in Burke, VA)

“As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!” (Psalm 40:11)

“…show kindness and mercy to one another.” Zech 7:9

“Cause me to be a mirror of Thy grace, to show others the joy of thy service… Let me always esteem others better than myself.” (Valley of Vision, p 136 pp edition)

God continues to teach me and speak to me about the fruit of kindness. This is an area that He wants to cultivate. As I realize (by God’s literal handwriting on the wall of this building), that lack of kindness is often the result of wanting to be “right”, being annoyed, .. bottom line? Pride and ungodliness! As God is teaching me about kindness and showing me where I lack in this area the Psalm 40:11 scripture reminds me of the gospel. God shows me my sin and makes me more like Jesus. He does not restrain his mercy from me! WOW! His steadfast love and faithfulness will ever preserve me! I want to be more mindful of his grace than my sin. I cannot outsin God’s grace, nor do I want to! I'm excited to see the fruit of kindness grow in my life!

Have a beautiful day resting in the grace, love and mercy of God!

Scriptures to ponder today, Monday, February, 25, 2008

THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME!

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked… among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind and were by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind. BUT GOD being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved- and reaised ups up with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:1, 3-7

Just reminding myself of the gospel today and singing the following song this morning:

Thank You For Saving MeThank you for saving me, what can I say?

You are my everything, I will sing your praise.

You shed your blood for me, what can I say?

You took my sin and shame,a sinner called by name.

Great is the Lord,Great is the Lord,

For we know your truth has set us free,

You've set your hope in me.

Mercy and grace are mine,

forgiven is my sin,

Jesus my only hope,

the Saviour of the world.

"Great is the Lord" we cry,

God let your kingdom come,

Your word has let me see,

thank you for saving me!

Written by Martin Smith ©1994 Curious? Music UK

See that older guy on the left? That is Dennis, my husband who I've been married to for 30 years today!!!!!!!!!!! He is the best! God has been and continues to be so faithful to us!

HAPPY 30th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TO ME AND DENNIS!

ps.. the other people in the pic are my 16 year old son, my 26 year old daughter and her husband!

RESCUED, not Right!

Scriptures on my 3x5 card today: Sunday, February 24, 2008

“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. For Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written, “the reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ as welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Romans 15:1-7

This morning as I read these scriptures I am once again reminded that I have been rescued! I am to live as one who was rescued, not one who is right. I am reminded to depend on God alone through scripture as my encouragement to live in harmony with others. It is important to remember that I have been rescued by Christ Jesus! I did not rescue myself! God Himself opened my eyes to see the beauty of His holiness! God and in HIS great mercy saved me from my sin and HIS wrath!
Oh the glories of God! How great they are!!!!! Oh Lord, help me to live in kindness and gentleness with others and bear the failings of others. Help me to live in kindness and humility. I need you Oh God!

KINDNESS

Scriptures on my 3x5 today: February 23, 2008

Good morning!

Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Proverbs 21:21
Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness and honor.

Proverbs 31:26
She opens her mouth with wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Zechariah 7:9
Thus says the Lord of host, render true judgements, show kindness and mercy to one another.

Galatians 6:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness…

Last night I had the joy and privilege of watching one of our pastors display kindness about a situation. Once again, I am stunned and in awe at how easily kindness flows from the people in my church and it is modeled by the pastors.

For me, kindness is often an afterthought.. it is an “oops, this is how I could have shown kindness”..

I am going to follow the proverbs scripture and pursue kindness! I long to be kind with a kindness that is an overflow of my time with and intimacy with Jesus. This only comes from immersing oneself in the Word of God.

My prayer is that God would work in me and help me to show kindess, that the teaching of kindness would be on my tongue, that I would relentlessly pursue kindness that I would consistently show kindness and mercy to others.

When I first began attending Sovereign Grace Church I was stunned at the kindness of the people.. at first there were times I was even suspicious of this kindness.. thinking that perhaps I just “caught them on a good day!” ha! But of course, time revealed that this kindness is genuine and modeled and desired in my church and is evidence of grace and the Holy Spirit’s work from the top, down.

I have seen and been the recipient of this kindness over and over and over again and I long for it. Although these scriptures are on today’s 3x5 card I expect to meditate and ponder and pray about these scriptures long after today is gone.

Salvation Belongs to our God!

http://www.growingchristians.org/mfgc/delivered/Salvatio.html

Scripture meditation for today: My 3x5 card for Friday, February 22, 2008

Here is my 3x5 card today:

Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5

May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “GOD IS GREAT!” Psalm 70:4

The theme from yesterday continues in my heart as I ponder thankfully the salvation of my God! I want to be every thankful and bless His Holy name for God’s great mercy in CAUSING me to be born again! It is not of me, was never of me.. it was all God!! I included the Psalm 70:4 scripture again today because I just love that it says that those who love the salvation of God WILL say FOREVER that God is Great!!! I want to have that on my heart and lips at all times…

Lord, help me to constantly be thankful for your salvation and to think in my heart, sing with my voice and say with my lips, and with my deeds that You are great O GOD!

GREAT IS THE LORD!

Scriptures for today: My 3x5 card for Thursday, February 21, 2008

Good Morning!!!! How are you today? Here is my 3x5 today!

“Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say forever more, “GREAT IS THE LORD,” who delights in the welfare of his servant. Psalm 35:7

“But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation, say continually, “GREAT IS THE LORD!” psalm 40:16

“May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “GOD IS GREAT!” psalm 70:4

“Oh magnify the Lord me, and let us exalt his name together.” Psalm 34:3

GREAT ARE YOU LORD!

I think my choices today are self explanatory. I am simply reveling in the greatness of God today!

What’s on your card today?

Scriptures to Ponder for today: My 3x5 card for February 20, 2008



Give Thanks! And it's not even Thanksgiving Day!!!! :)







“Let the Word of Christ dwell in your richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him… You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:16,17, 24b

“But God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.. by grace you have been saved… Ephesians 2:4-5

Lord, give me a thankful and grateful heart for everything!

In my Wednesday night bible study that I do with a few ladies, we are studying Jerry Bridge’s book, Respectable Sins, Confronting the Sins We Tolerate. This week's lessons were about the sins of ungodliness and unthankfulness.



These Scriptures remind me to be thankful for EVERYTHING! The very breath I breathe, every beat of my heart, every time something good comes out of my mouth, every good work .. SALVATION! In EVERYTHING I must give thanks! In great circumstances, in poor ones.. I want to thank God for we know that God works all things for good for those who love him and are called according to His purpose! He is making us more like Christ through every thing in our lives, good and bad!! This is worthy of thanks!!!!



We need God for every little thing in our lives. For this we should be thankful and express this to God. As we walk in thankfulness and remember God and give glory to Him, we will walk KNOWING we are in the sight of God! My desire and prayer for today and as a habit of my life is that I would walk in thankfulness to God for everything! I have sinned by taking things for granted. I want to have a thankful heart!

Scriptures to Ponder For Today: My 3x5 card for February 19, 2008

Matthew 6:5-6
And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

2Cor9:7-8
Each one must give as has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

My card is full today to include a prayer for God’s help as our new season of Alpha/ESL begins today! In listening to a sermon online by CJ Mahaney this morning he said something which struck a cord with me: Pride would be serving in ministry to impress, humility would serve in ministry to “Serve” (my paraphrase).

The Matthew scripture, although speaking of prayer, reminds me that I must not serve to impress or to be seen but to serve the Lord! The 2 Corinthian scripture reminds me today to serve with joy, to serve cheerfully.

In the past as the sessions of Alpha go into the 6th and 7th weeks I often begin complaining, sometimes aloud, sometimes inwardly about being busy every Tuesday night. Ugh! I am deeply aware today that my complaints are sinful and I need God’s help, I need God’s grace so that I may abound in every good work in serving the Lord by serving the Alpha and ESL attendees tonight and EVERY Tuesday night.

My desire is that MANY, that ALL would, as a result of hearing the gospel, turn to the Lord in faith and repentance and be saved! I pray that these 2 Scriptures would remind me today of the BIG picture of serving God and not myself and serving with cheer and joy by the grace of God who is able to make ALL grace abound to me!!! Amen?

Last December I read on the Girl Talk blog ( http://girltalk.blogs.com/ ) a hint of how to keep God's Word before you during the busy holiday season. Carolyn Mahaney, one of the writers of the blog, told of how, in the morning, she writes a scripture, or a prayer, or a quote or something that she wants to ponder on for the rest of the day, on a 3x5 card and carries it around with her throughout the day! I thought it was a great idea!

I started around mid December doing this and decided to carry this out on a daily basis.

So, I purchased a pretty leather 3x5 card holder that holds the current day's card on the outside and previous days cards on the inside. You can see the picture above this entry.

I carry it in my purse when I go out, from room to room in the house...when I have a free moment I look at it, pray through it, meditate on the scripture, pray through the scripture etc.. It's been working great!!!

I realize everyone has a unique way to keep God's Word before them during the day, this one works for me. I will be posting my 3x5 card everyday..to share with you the thought, prayer or scripture of the day.

I pray it serves you and draws your eyes to the cross.

My 3x5 card today:

"Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whome the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit... You are a hiding place for me, you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance!"

Psalm 32: 1, 2, 7

"Through grace let my will respond to Thee, knowing that power to obey is not in me, but that Thy free love enables me to serve Thee." (Valley of Vision, p 117, paperback edition)

Have a blessed day! Walk free in the grace and love our of our Lord!

With great joy and thankfulness to my God for bringing my son Pat home safely from Iraq I want to publically declare God's steadfast love and faithfulness to us!

"Blessed be the Lord!
For He has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
My heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to Him."
Psalm 28:6-7

Here is a working link to the article I just told you all about at Purple Cellar!

The Purple Cellar: Life Lessons from a Toothbrush

Perspective... interesting word... the definition from Miriam Webster online dictionary is, "Aids in the vision of"....

I'm sure you've had those moments of perspective thinking... for example.. I am having a horrible day, nothing is going right and then i remember my son, and all our soldiers, risking life and limb in Iraq and Afganistan and then I realize that my day isn't so bad after all. Remembering what my son in Iraq is going through "aids in the vision" of how my day really isn't quite so bad!

Lydia, over at the Purple Cellar blog wrote a great article today about perspective. You may have to copy and paste the link. Here is the link:

http://purplecellar.blogspot.com/2007/10/life-lessons-from-toothbrush.html

I highly recommend you go and read it.

May God give you HIS perspective today. No matter what else is going on in your life ask yourself this, "Is it well with my soul today?"

Blessings to you! Go and read Lydia's blog!

I am so encouraged this morning! I am encouraged because I was at church yesterday! I have not been at my church for 2 Sundays due to travel. It was SO good to be back with my church family. It was GOOD to sing songs proclaiming the gospel and thanking God and worshiping Him through song! It was GOOD to be taught from God's Word! I wrote an email to some women that I am in bible study with this morning and thought I would post this email on this blog to encourage whomever might stroll by and read it today! May it encourage you as we treasure Jesus together!

Good Morning friends,

How are you today? I hope that the songs of worship yesterday, as we sang about the glories of the gospel, served to encourage you and boost your confidence in the faithfulness of God!

I just finished listening to one of Piper's sermons from this weekend (There was a huge Desiring God conference this weekend and videos of all the speakers are online) and I am so encouraged to FIGHT for delight in Christ.. to treasure HIM above all things.. above health, above family, above worldly possessions and worldly promises and wordly expectations...etc etc... and I just wanted to pass that along to you today..

At whatever time you read this email I trust that you will be encouraged to switch your mind and your heart from whatever is occupying its thoughts to the glories of God as found in Christ Jesus! That you would treasure Jesus above all things.. Nothing but Jesus is worth anything! So, delight in HIM today and glorify Him by delighting in Him! Magnify him by delighting in Him! That is my prayer for myself today.. may it be yours as well.

Romans 8:31-39
31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36As it is written,

"For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

With a promise like this how can we not delight in Jesus!? May God's Word give you joy today!

love,
diane

My dear friend Carrie's husband, Will Pavone, is about to release a new CD at the end of this month! God has given him a great gift and talent that he uses to bless and glorify God and encourage the body of Christ! Go to his Myspace and listen to some of his songs! They will direct your eyes to the cross and the mercy of God!

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=45784740&MyToken=336e6ece-fa53-472f-9606-3cfd748b7c33

I encourage you to visit one of my new favorite blogs!

The Shepherd's Scrapbook a Cross-centered blog

http://spurgeon.wordpress.com/

You will not be disappointed!

Blessings my friends! Keep your eyes on the cross!

We have great sin but we have a greater Savior!

This is a MUST READ at Challies.com:

http://www.challies.com/archives/articles/emergent-church/the-gospel-conventional-versus-emerging.php

My son Patrick has been in Iraq for over a year now. God has been so merciful to us, to him, to his fiancee... we have moments of worry and then God builds up our faith in his great kindness and mercy. In one of my "mommy" moments I wrote the following poem. I had a day of reminiscing and then wrote what was on my heart...needless to say I am very proud of my son. May God bless him and all those soldiers who sacrifice their lives, hearts and minds for what God has called them to do.

MY Hero

a little boy
pudgy
so cute
JI JOE!

"MERICAN HEWO"!

a growing boy
moving to va
crying
sad
new friends!
phil
josh
matt
mark
doug
nells
play war
paint gun wars
a college boy
rotc
twin towers
pentagon
"I must help"!
"let me give blood"!
NO!
too dangerous downtown
today
a
MAN
a
SOLDIER
airborne
iraq
a
war
no!
too dangerous!
"I must go"
"I must help"
a
war
a soldier
my
son
my
American Hero!

This morning I sit here amazed yet again at God's incredible mercy and grace. I just finished reading a devotion from Spurgeon's Morning and Evening book where he discusses the gravestone heading for William Carey (known as the Father of Modern Missions, died in 1834)... He wrote in his will that he desired the following on his gravestone:

William Carey, Born August 17th, 1761; Died-
"A wretched, poor, and helpless worm
On Thy kind arms I fall."

WOW! He understood his helpless estate. Here is a man who as a christian "did" many great works.. and still he understood that even His best works needed the blood of Jesus and the grace of God upon them.

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about John Piper's response to Rabbi Kushner (see my August 7 blog entry) and that Dr. Piper understood that even his own righteous anger at biblical truth being compromised was stained with sin.

It is good for us to remember that for all of life in all we do, think and say we need the grace of God. Oh how wonderful it is for christians that we fall into the everlasting arms of our God. It is good that we remember it is not on our own works that we rely on. We do not rely on our works before we are saved and we still do not rely on our works after we are saved. It is on Christ and Christ alone on whom we depend to bring us safely home. He alone is sufficient to save and sanctify. There is nothing we can add to our salvation.
Our hope is always in Christ alone.. not anything we do. Even our obedience that results from salvation is a work of God in us.

It is good that we remember that it is onto God's kind and everlasting arms we fall.

"The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms."
Deuteronomy 33:27


I love the following song from Sovereign Grace Ministries which reminds me of the surety of God's promise to complete what he has begun in me:

Jesus, My Only Hope
Item # M4005-01-51

Words and music by Mark Altrogge
As recorded on All We Long to See


Listen to song sample


Lyrics

I come into Your presence
With nothing in my hands
I only bring thanksgiving
For Jesus, God, and Man
I cast myself on mercy
I cast myself on love
I trust Your gracious promise
To wash me with Your blood

I will not fear Your judgment
For me no wrath I dread
For it was spent on Jesus
Poured out upon His head
When Satan’s accusations
Make my poor heart afraid
I hear my King declaring
“Father, that debt is paid!”

Jesus my only hope
My only plea
My righteousness
My Great High Priest
Who intercedes for me
Before the throne
Jesus, I trust in You alone

Though I am poor and naked
Your prodigal come home
You place Your robe upon me
Your holiness alone
Though I be dry and barren
By grace this love springs forth
Love for You and Your Kingdom
Joy in Your glory, Lord


© 2002 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI).
Format: MP3 download

May you be encouraged and amazed today by the reminder of JESUS who is our only hope and plea before God. May you be encouraged and amazed, as you surrender it all to Jesus, that underneath us are God's everlasting arms. His mercies and grace are greater than all our sin! May we spurred on to love and obedience as we press into God and His Word. My prayer today is that we be captured by the beauty of Jesus Christ. He is good.

Quotes from my Pastor's (Steve Whitacre) sermon yesterday:

"The Son of God bears the wrath of God for the people of God."

"The anger of God was poured out for every sin of every person that Jesus came to save."

"For the Christian, every sin was punished. Every sin is forgiven. This should bring great joy!"

"It is finished... if you are a christian there is no more wrath left for you."


My Lord and my God! Thank you for your death on the cross. Thank you for drinking the cup of God's wrath for my sin! Thank you Jesus that because you did bear the wrath of God for my sin, I will never bear the wrath of God. Thank you that because you willingly went to the cross for my sin I do not have to cower in fear of God when I sin, but I can go to Him with confidence of receiving grace. Oh Lord, thank you for capturing my heart with the beauty of Christ. Lord, may my response be increased love and affection for you and help me bear the fruit of obedience. I need Thee every hour! My Lord and My God. Thank you.

The following article by Tim Challies is an absolute must read!!!

http://www.challies.com/archives/articles/the-weight-of-hell.php

This is where I am today.. meditating on and praying through Psalm 91.. may it also be an encouragement to the readers of this Psalm today.

Psalm 91
My Refuge and My Fortress
1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."
3For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
4He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

7A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.

9Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge—
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
12On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

14"Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
16With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation."

I was reading John Pipers blog this morning, specifically his response to a radio interview he heard with Rabbi Kushner. http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/750_response_to_rabbi_kushner/

The following sentance written by Piper provoked me to think of the severity of my sin and God's great mercy.

The most astonishing thing is that God’s grace is so great neither the Rabbi nor I was struck dead by God during the interview—he, because of his blasphemous belittlings of God, and I, because of my contaminated anger at what he said.

I was struck by John Piper's humility and understanding that even his righteous anger at the remarks made by Rabbi Kushner were contaminated by sin. Surely we should be righeously outraged at the remarks made by the Rabbi!! And yes, we should be.. but we must also understand that even our most righteous anger at wickedness and sin is contaminated by our own sin! THUS, the need of a Redeemer and Savior!

Oh how I long to have an even deeper awareness and understanding of my own sin.

CJ Mahaney spoke at my church this Sunday about "the cup" that Jesus had to drink. I was reminded that Jesus drank the cup of God's wrath so I could drink the cup of salvation!!! Oh Lord, thank you!!!!

In reading Piper's blog I am reminded of total depravity.. not that I sin to the most extreme all the time but that ALL my life and all parts of it are tainted by sin. This rememberance makes me all the more grateful that Jesus drank the cup of God's wrath that I was supposed to drink.

Oh Jesus! Thank you so much for drinking the cup of God's wrath that is deservingly mine so that I could drink the cup of salvation. May my life be worthy of the calling. Work in me oh Lord to make me more like you! Thank you for refreshing in me the joy of Thy salvation!

Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God"

My son Patrick is a soldier in Iraq and has been there for over a year and will be there for a while more. God has been so merciful in blessing me with a faith to trust in HIM and be at peace about Pat being at war. There have been moments where my heart was not at rest but those times have been few and far between.
Today is one of those days when I have to press into my Savior and God and pray extra hard for my son and pray for my faith to increase.

My mother's heart is sad that my son has to endure the rigors of war and all that war entails. Yet, I KNOW that God is sovereign in all things.. in war and in my son's life both physical and spiritual.

I have been thinking about King David this morning. He was a warrior! He was a soldier's soldier! He was a mighty mighty warrior! YET, he was a man after God's heart. What a precious picture that is to me.. of this manly man, this soldier in battle with a tender, precious, surrendered heart to God. I pray that this is how God will work in my son.

All morning long the following hymn has been running through my mind. As you read the words may God direct your gaze to the cross. Whatever your "trouble" is today, whether it is a job change, a move across the country, a troubled marriage or friendship, ill health or a wayward child.... sing this hymn and meditate on:

Psalm 46:10: BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD!

BE STILL MY SOUL by Katharina A. von Schlegel (1752) http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh534.sht

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.

Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

Following is a prayer from the book of Puritan Prayers, Valley of Vision:

GOD OF MY END,
It is my greatest, noblest pleasure
to be acquainted with thee
and with my rational, immortal soul;
It is sweet and entertaining
to look into my being
when all my powers and passions
are united and engaged in pursuit of thee,
when my soul longs and passionately breathes
after conformity to thee
and the full enjoyment of thee;
No hours pass away with so much pleasure
as those spent in communion with thee
and with my heart.
O how desirable, how profitable to the Christian life
is a spirit of holy watchfulness
and godly jealousy over myself.
when my soul is afraid of nothing
except grieving and offending thee, the blessed God,
my Father and friend,
whom I then love and long to please,
rather than be happy in myself!
Knowing as I do, that this is the pious temper,
worthy of the highest ambition, and closest pursuit
of intelligent creatures adn holy Christians,
may my joy derive from glorifying and delighting thee.
I love to fill my time for thee,
whether at home or in the way;
to place all my concerns in thy hands;
to be entirely at they disposal,
having no will or interest of my own.
Help me to live to thee forever,
to make thee my last and only end,
so that I may never more in on instance love my sinful self.

Okay, so this is a little gross but hear me out. :)

Let's see, about 10 years ago my husband was stationed with the Army in Korea and I was at home in Virginia with our 4 children. It was a long year but a great year as God worked in both Dennis and I to depend on HIM more and ourselves less.

Anyways, it was the day before Dennis was coming home... honestly, I do not remember if he was coming home on leave or for good... but I was "preparing" for him to come home... getting the house cleaned up, getting myself cleaned up... doing all the things I could to welcome him home. That day I was at my church for a bible study and as I was leaving my dear friend, Jill (who is now at home with Jesus, she finished the race well), stopped me and asked about my preparations for Dennis's arrival. We talked about how excited the whole family was. There were other women with us as she was talking to me. Then she looked at me closely and said, "You have a looooong hair on your chin.. you better get that out before Dennis comes home."
hahahaha.. funny now.. but at the moment I was embarassed and offended.
She must have picked up on it because when we had a moment alone she asked me if she offended me and I said yes that I was embarassed in front of the other women. She quickly apologized and all was forgotten. Until today.

I was getting ready to go out this morning and sure enough saw one of those loooooong hairs that us women in our 50's have to contend with.(Oh Lord, give me grace as I age :) ) ... I quickly plucked that little offender and then remembered Jill being so kind to point out my "stray hair" those many years ago.

Did you notice I used the word "kind"? God has given me a different perspective now. He has shown me how it was indeed kind of her to show me that hair, that my dear sister was assisting me in preparing for the return of my husband. She, in her kindness, wanted me to look absolutely radiant for him, not one "hair" out of place.
Then I was offended.. but now I see the grace and the loving kindness in her pointing that out to me.

Christian, we as believers are waiting for our husband to return! JESUS is coming again! He is coming for His BRIDE! He is coming for His church! That's us!!!!! Are you ready? Do you bristle when a dear sister or brother in Christ points out your stray hairs? Your sin? Are you aware of the kindness that brother or sister in Christ is doing for you? Or do you turn away in your pride feeling offended and judged? Do you shout "legalism" or do you humbly see the love behind the one who observes your sin and shows you?

Let me share a couple of Scriptures with you:

Revelations 19:6-8

6Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

"Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
7Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
8it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure"--
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

James 5:19-20

19My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Oh fellow Christian! Do not be offended when a brother or sister points out a sin in your life... He is helping you to make yourself ready for your Bridegroom! Do not be embarassed or offended but receive their observations with love and turn to Jesus in faith and repentance!

Lord God, I thank you for the local church! I thank you for dear brothers and sisters in Christ who humbly come alongside and cheer us on in our walk with You! Give us humble hearts when someone points out that "stray hair".. that SIN in our lives! Help us to receive this kindness and turn away from our sin! And Lord, keep me humble. If ever I must confront someone in their sin help me to do so humbly and in love with grace and compassion for You have treated me with the ultimate grace and mercy and compassion. You are worthy of all glory and honor and praise oh Lord!
Make me ready! Prepare this bride to receive her Bridegroom, Jesus. Amen.

The following selection was written by myself almost two years ago on an old blog of mine! I decided to republish because it is a lesson I continue to need to learn! :)


God's lessons through my Puppy

So we have a new puppy, we named him Rufus! Rufus is a chihuahua mix... He weighs about 14 pounds ...He's absolutely adorable! I can't take any personal credit for the selection of our pup.. all blame, I mean all credit goes to my husband and youngest son! One Saturday morning they went to the local Petsmart to their "adoption day." No sooner did they get out of the car when Sam spotted and fell in love with Rufus!

As they were going through the process of completing the paperwork the woman who was handling the process said, "now, I have to warn you, this dog has resource guarding issues." In other words Rufus's philosophy in his thus far 4 months of life was this, "EVERYTHING IS MINE! IT ALL BELONGS TO ME." haha! oh boy this was going to be fun! Sure enough once Rufus was home he snapped and growled and protected everything from his food, to his toys, my son's bed, he even started protecting certain rooms, not letting us near those things he decided were his! I did some quick internet research on chihuahua behavior.

Apparently resource guarding is very typical behavior for a chihuahua. I found out the way to fix this behavior is to teach the chihuahua that NOTHING belongs to him and that EVERYTHING comes from his master, you must train the dog that his very life depends on his master. The way it's done is for 2 weeks you only let the dog ear a few nibbles at a time ONLY from your hand. After 2 weeks you let the dog watch you put the food in his bowl and you keep your hand near the bowl... Eventually the dog learns that his sustenance comes from the master and this transfers to other things that the dog regarded as hisown. IT WORKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In just 2 weeks Rufus learned to stop growling and snapping.. He began to trust me and the other members of the family ... he realized that we have his best interest at heart and we will provide all he needs.

I thought to myself, "wow! in just 2 weeks my Rufus learned what God still tries to teach me!!!!" I think of how peaceful and at rest my puppy is now... how muchmore so are we, as believers, at rest when we trust inour Lord and Master Jesus!? How must more at peace I am when I realize that nothing is mine! Not my house, my work, my husband, my children, my car, my ministry, my friends, my health, my LIFE!!! How much more content are we when we realize and live out daily the truth that our God provides for our every need, our very sustenance and to let him have HIS way in our life!

God took care of our biggest problem, which was our sin by sending Jesus to live, to die as payment for our sin and then be raised up from the dead! If He took care of our biggest problem won't God take care of our lesser problems? Of course he will! I know that when I walk by grace and trust in the full promises of God I am not "growly and snappy" like Rufus! Most of all , when I walk in trust, satisfied that at all that I have is not my own but from God's hand and when I am satisified in Jesus alone as my highest treasure GOD is glorified!!!

How kind of God to give my a puppy to teach me lessonsof His Kingdom!

An update on Rufus: He has been with us for almost 2 years now and he is the sweetest dog ever! He is affectionate and loyal.. yea, he barks alot but he's a sweetie. We can even let him out the front door and he won't bolt! I guess he realizes that it's best and safest near his master. Do you realize that today?

Blessings Christian. May God remind you and me that it's best to stay near to Him.

James 4:8 "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded."

Jesus
on a
colt
on cloaks
on a
road
to Jerusalem
HOSANNA!
The King has come!
to die for our
sins.
Blessed is HE who comes
in the name
of
the
LORD!
He has come
To die.
Jesus
on a
colt
on
cloaks
with
branches
on
the
road.
A King has come!
to die
on the
Cross.
A King has come!
prepare
the
way.
Jesus
on a
colt
on
cloaks
on the road
to the
temple.
Jesus at the temple!
NOW
God with us!!
IMMANUEL!
Hosanna to our
KING
He has come!
Jesus
THE
KING
has come!
blessed is HE
Who comes
in the name
of the
LORD!
Jesus
God
With
Us
IMMANUEL! (written by: diane)
(Mark 11:1-11 .. based on a sermon given by my pastor, Steve, this morning)

Our family has had the blessing of watching God at work in the lives of a little bird family. We watched as a mom and dad bird built a nest in between the screen and the window of my daughter's room. We saw them gather grass, twigs and anything else which makes for a good and safe nest and then they built this incredibly intricately beautiful home.

How do they know what to get and where to get it?

We watched as the birds settled into their new home. We watched as the mommy bird took care of her eggs. Before we knew it there was the joyful squawking of newborn baby birds!! (Much to my daughter's chagrine, their "joyful" squawking was not necessarily music to her ears at 6 AM every morning)!!! :) I was in awe as I watched the mommy and daddy birds bring food to their babies. We watched as the mom and dad birds looked to the right, to the left, up and down assessing whether danger lurked any where before they flew to get the food.

How did they know to be cautiously looking out for danger before they ventured out into the world?

How did they know where to go and get the worms, bugs, slugs and other nasty things that birds eat? How did they know when they came back to the nest which of all these wide open mouths crying out for food did they already feed?

Then one evening my son, who has avidly been watching these birds, came running downstairs all excited because the baby birds were learning how to fly. It was so incredible! They would fly up the window in between the screen and window.. so if they fell they fell unto their soft nest instead of plummetting to the ground. We were entertained for quite some time as we saw them perfect the art of flying.

The next day our little family of birds were gone. What a beautiful gift God gave us as we watched the cycle of life of this bird family!

I thought of the following Scriptures as I watched these birds:

Matthew 6:25-27 "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, not about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?"

and

Matthew 10: 28-31 "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs on your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows."

These Scriptures answered all the questions I posed above... My Father God takes care of these little birds. He made them so they KNOW where to go and get the food, and He made them so they KNOW how to build their nests and watch for danger before they fly away from their safe haven. The Scriptures tell us that not one of these little birds fall to the ground apart from the Father's will. AND, we are of more value than these birds to our Father and look at the meticulous care He gives to them! How much more does He promise us!!!??

Oh Christian, why do we waste our time in the sin of fear? Trust God! Are you fearful of a new job? Moving to a new home? Lost your job? Are you sick? Are you fearful of man? Whatever it is that we fear the answer is the same, trust in God for we are of more value than the many sparrows that God cares for.

Oh mighty, generous and gracious Father. Thank you. Thank you for the great care you give to me daily. Thank you that you provide for all that I need. Thank you for your faithfulness! You are WORTHY to be trusted. Lord, You took care of my worst problem... my sin. You sent Jesus to live a perfect life, to die for my sins, to take the wrath and punishment that is due to me for my great sin upon Himself, You raised him from the dead and now he lives at Your right hand !! AND He will come again!!! You brought me to faith and repentance and now You work in me to make me more like Jesus everyday! OH Lord, such care you give to me!!! You saved me to live with You eternally .. how easy for You, then, to see to my daily needs and care for these! Lord, help me to keep this perspective as You keep my eyes on the cross, as you keep my eyes on Jesus. Oh Lord God thank You for Your gracious care of me! Amen.

"One day He got into a boat with His disciples, and He said to them, "Let us go across to the other side of the like." So they set out, and as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke Him saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And He awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that He commands even winds and water, and they obey Him?"

Luke 8:22-25



I read this scripture this morning and wondered to myself, "Why did I read this and not marvel?" Sometimes I read scripture and just pass over it like it isn't anything marvelous! Do you? And then I began to think, "How CAN I just pass over a sentance like, "And He awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm" and NOT marvel!!!!??? It is a fantastic thing to be able to rebuke the winds and calm the raging waves. Can you imagine being present and watching Jesus do this? I imagine jaws dropping and hitting the deck of the boat.. how long was it before they could speak? Did they stammer and stutter as they asked the question, "Who then is this?" ? Oh, how I want to marvel at things Jesus did! He walked on water, He calmed the seas, He healed the lame and the blind... Are you starting to get it? WE SHOULD BE in AWE of these things...



BUT.. even MORE amazing is this:

"but God shows His love for us in that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

how about this:

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

one more:

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."



Do reading these Scriptures cause you to marvel!? Are you AMAZED by grace? Jesus bore the wrath of God and took the punishment for your sins and mine!!!! Oh christian, be amazed!! Marvel at God's great grace!





Are you amazed yet? I am now indeed amazed this morning but I confess that there are some mornings that I simply am not. I'm too busy, or my heart is too hard. Join me in prayer....



My Lord and my God, I come to you this particular morning amazed and I marvel at Your great deeds, yet I confess that I am not always amazed. I often take your gifts of grace for granted ... Lord, my prayer this morning is that you would change my heart so that I am always at amazed at your grace and the great gift of salvation! I am even amazed as I think how your grace is what causes me to marvel and be amazed!!!! Oh Lord, I want more, please give me more of your grace for it is the only way I will love you more, it is the only way I will remain amazed. Increase my affections for You, increase my love for Your Word. Oh Lord, help me to walk through this day amazed by Your Word, by Jesus, by Your great gift of grace!!! Amen.

PRIDE
rears it's ugly head
it's just there
result of what is in my heart
lofty thoughts of
MYSELF
that belong for only
God
Yet I steal them
claim them for
MYSELF

CARELESS WORDS
quickly spoken
in the air now
like pollen floating around
can't take them back

Did they they harm?
Did they pierce?
the heart of the listener?

Oh the sorrow
please forgive
the pride of my heart
Oh please remove
lofty thoughts of
myself
careless words from
myself

Please replace with
humility
and
lofty thoughts of
YOU oh GOD!
with careful words from
YOU oh LORD

Grace abounds
I receive
FORGIVENESS
from
YOU oh LORD

Be exalted
Be glorified
Amen.

by

diane boucher

"Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:5-7

My Lord and my God, I come to you on this day of celebration of America's Independance. Most gracious God please have mercy on our nation. You have been so generous and so kind in your dealings with America. Lord, how I long for you to be glorified by this nation. Lord, how I long to glorify your name. I pray Lord for you to open the eyes of those who do not know their need of a Savior. Help them to see their depravity and respond to You with faith and repentance. Lord, please protect our soldiers as they serve in Iraq and Afganistan. Lord, may these soldiers serve YOU as they serve their country. There are many soldiers who do not know you Lord through Jesus Christ. May these soldiers hear the gospel and respond to the gospel.
Lord, I pray that we in this country would turn from our sin and turn to you. I pray Lord that the politcal pundits on both sides of our democratic process would use words of kindness rather than cutting words of sarcastic barbs. Lord, I pray for Republicans and Democrats ... that you would reveal to them that no law or legislation will change a heart, but only Jesus Christ! Oh Lord, help our nation!
Thank you that we can freely worship you in this country! May you be glorified this day as we celebrate Independence day. In Jesus precious name I pray .. Amen.

Psalm 119:28-29
"You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;you are my God; I will extol You. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever."

Although I had intentionally started this blog for prayer I would like to use today to thank God for giving me 2 great friends.

Within a 5 day period God called home to heaven two godly women, Katherine Hubner and Jill Brandt, who I have had the privilege to know and love, Jill for many years, Katherine for about 1 year....
Both memorial services were on the same day... Oh how I wish I could have been in two places at once!

If I may, I'd like to share with you what Katherine and Jill have in common besides Jesus! :)

This passed year at my church, Sovereign Grace Church of Fairfax, we had several women's ministry meetings. I believe it was when Carolyn Mahaney spoke that she recommended that we write a note to a woman or women who have influenced us in our walk with our Lord. I immediately thought of both Katherine and Jill.

Jill mentored me many many years ago and taught me what it looked like to love my husband. She directed my gaze to Jesus and through example and teaching showed me how to respect and love my husband. (I'm STILL learning.) and to love the Word of God and how to persevere in prayer.

Katherine and I were both a part of Alpha, an evangelistic outreach ... I watched her serve Jesus and our church with enthusiasm and joy! She would escort her friend Mrs. Hinders (who needed help to get around) and she also would serve food to the hungry Alpha attendees and volunteers. She was obviously "older" and I admired how she did not sit around the house being old but she served God and the local church in any way she could! I also had the privilege of training her this summer to work in the bookstore! Also, when Katherine found out my son Patrick would be going to Iraq she promised to pray for him and for his relationship with Jesus. Faithfully, every Sunday Katherine would ask me how Patrick was doing and assured me she was praying for him. How precious to a mother's heart are those who pray for their children!

I didn't obey Carolyn's charge to the letter.. I didn't write notes to Jill and Katherine, but I spoke to each one personally.

Jill had been battling an aggressive cancer for a very long time. I had the joy and privilege of being able to sit at her bedside many times and either hold her hand, rub her feet, read scriptures, cry, laugh.. or just sit. On one of these visits I told her about Carolyn's charge and I was able to let Jill know how much she encouraged me in my faith and in my role as a wife and mother. Jill went home to the Lord one week ago on Sunday, October 8.

I saw Katherine every week at Alpha and one Tuesday I told her how she had influenced me by her example and that when I grow up I want to be like her.
She was so humble in her response to me...further cementing my desire to imitate her example. Katherine went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, October 12.

So yes, within a 5 day period, Jesus called to heaven two women that I admire and love greatly. As sad as I am that my time in friendships with both Jill and Katherine have passed I am filled with joy and hope because both of these godly women walked by faith and NOW they walk by sight! This overwhelms me!

Praise be unto God who is faithful and worthy of all our praise! The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, BLESSED be the name of the Lord.

in Christ.. for HIS glory,
diane