New every morning

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! 

His mercies never cease. 

Great is his faithfulness; 

his mercies begin afresh each morning.

  Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT

Singing His praise with the Sunday choir at Deidra's

 

Faithful to Himself

This week Bonnie asks us - "What is one quality that attracts you to Jesus today?"

How do I choose one quality only when the One Who Is the subject of my choosing is almost beyond knowing even as He calls for us to know Him?  He Is all that is good, all that is worthy of mention.

Faithfullness.  A very particular sort of faithfullness.

I could write about His faithfullness to me, but that isn't exactly what I'm drawn to here.

It is His faithfullness to be exactly Who He says He Is, true to His Word at all times.

Among people, words are spoken freely, tossed about, falling easily from tongues.  The same words are often recanted or contradicted with scarce a second thought.

Often I have heard others, and sadly, I must admit, often I have heard myself say "Oh, I didn't really mean that"

Jesus means each and every word He says, none are false and none are wasted.  Every word is true to Who He Is.  What He says can be trusted, just as He can be trusted, now and always.  Faithful.

For Jesus doesn't change—yesterday, today, tomorrow, he's always totally himself. Hebrews 13:8 The Message

  

Joining Bonnie as we continue to unwrap love

 

Practicing in imperfection

This week in our journey through Mere Christianity we are looking at Book III Chapter 2 The "Cardinal Virtues".  These are prudence, temperance, justice and fortitude.  After describing each, C. S. Lewis writes:

We might think that the “virtues” were necessary only for this present life – that in the other world we could stop being just because there is nothing to quarrel about and stop being brave because there is no danger.  Now it is quite true that there will probably be no occasion for just or courageous acts in the next world, but there will be every occasion for being the sort of people that we can become only as the result of doing such acts here.

So these moments - days, months and years

pile one upon the other
each an opportunity, an exercise, a lesson
time and time again to learn how to live
in all our imperfection, virtuous, victorious
and when the day arrives
that we look into the face of true perfection
all striving will cease in glorious peace
when the voice we have strained to hear says
"well done, well done indeed come and enter into your rest
My good, My faithful one"

now, still in pieces, there is work to be done
lessons to be learned, and learned well
for who knows when will come our reward.

His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant Matthew 25:21a NKJV

Jason is hosting us this week at Connecting to Impact

linking also with Emily and the imperfect

Letting Go of Worry

This week's Faith Barista Jam is about letting go of worry. Instead of writing something new, I'd like to direct you to read something I posted last January called Me? Worry? Click HERE to read it.

Then stop over at Bonnie's to join in and read what others have shared.

If need be, in dying also

I'm joining my friends Jason and Sarah as they study Richard Stearn's book The Hole In Our Gospel. I was blessed to win the book in Sarah's giveaway. When it arrived yesterday I read quickly so I could catch up through Chapter 2.

Richard, who is now the President of World Vision U.S. is telling the story of how God moved him from a safe and blessed comfort zone. He admits to kicking and screaming, crying and pleading. His struggle echos those of many of us: we claim Jesus as our Savior and as our Lord, we tell Him that we surrender and we choose to follow Him, and then almost without noticing, we stuff cotton in our spiritual ears so that we can't hear Him calling:

And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, [refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also]. Luke 9:23 Amplified

Richard was asked "Are you willing to be open to God's will for your life?"

We are often quick to answer "Yes, of course!" without counting the cost. I pray that as we continue to study we will allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to us where we have been holding on and holding out. I pray that we might be bold enough, strong enough and courageous enough to free fall into His plans and purposes. May we learn well that the richest blessings come from obedience.

Blessed by obedience I long to be
blessed by obedience to Thee
blessed to stand before Your throne
trusting You and You alone
to write Your laws upon my heart
to live for only Thee
abiding in Your presence
satisfied and free


Stop by Sarah's place Living Between the Lines for more of this week's study.

Tuesdays Unwrapped - Captured moment

click on image to enlarge

Last Tuesday I was blogging about laughter and refreshing and waterfalls of rain. The Lord had said:

Step into Me for a drenching.

For days the air had been heavy and humid, holding moisture that would not release. While I prayed that clear skies would continue over fields and crops that needed to be dry, I was also asking that our garden and flowers would get the rain they were thirsting for.

Ever faithful, later that same day, the Lord gave me a perfect unwrappable moment, to capture an image of His healing upon the petals of a lily, drops that quivered like silver, displaying His love.

While you stop by and visit Emily at Chatting at the Sky for more unwrapped gifts, will you also take a moment to pray in agreement with our farmers that God will bring the harvest He desires in this year of difficult weathers?

Word Filled Wednesday - Faithful

To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless 2 Samuel 22:26 NIV

Come join us at Internet Cafe Devotions for more Word images!

Scattered surprises

I choose flower seeds

in late winter months

images of blooms

bringing life

to grey, cold, prairie reality

My beloved digs in

scatters the promises

when the ground finally softens

the risk of frost

diminished

Things look harsh

barren, empty

faith in what is to come

fades

and we add greenhouse plants

Our God, however

is faithful

His promises true

these mid-summer days

bring

a colour riot

of surprise and delight

You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. Joshua 23:14b NIV

A High Calling

From the time I was a young girl words have delighted me; the look of them, the sound of them, the ways I could fit them together like puzzle pieces. I cannot remember a time when I did not have the desire to write. As a reader, I would cherish books not merely for content but for the way the words played off each other.

During all the years that I walked without knowing the Lord's hand was upon me, I used my words to serve my flesh and the world. With incredible patience, He called and waited and called again. When I stopped running from His voice and surrendered I knew He would have a use for my words, and that He would be the One Who would provide them.

I remember the day I received Christ, driving alone in my car, confessing out loud "Lord, if you want me to write about this journey, give me the words. If You do not, I will be silent."

He Was and Is as always, faithful, and the words continue to come.

My desire has been to use the gifts He has given for Kingdom purposes, indeed a High Calling.

I began blogging in January of 2008 to share moments of the short-term mission trip we took to Uganda. I have connected with many in the family of faith through Christian sites, writing for Exemplify Online and Internet Cafe Devotions. Through it all, His call remains, to glorify His name.

When 2010 began the Lord told me this would be for me a year of acceleration and a year to break free of the fear of man. I knew He was asking me to continue to speak out for Him without worrying about who might want to read the words. We are more than halfway through this year, and He has led me to join The High Calling Blogs Network. I felt at home immediately, among many I already know and others I look forward to meeting. Together we can support, encourage and remind each other that as scribes we are surrendered to the One Who never stops calling.

May it be said of us:

My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Psalm 45:1 NKJV

In my journaling time this morning, this is what my Lord shared with me:

Thank you for standing for Me - even when your flesh would rather run. Can you see, little one, how this indeed is helping you walk out of the prison of "the fear of man"?

I told you this would be the year, and I Am true to My words.

Continue to stretch out your wings, for when you are truly free in Me, nothing will be able to hold you.

Continue to surrender your wings to Me as I shape you into a vessel prefected for My purposes.

Continue to spread out your wings to touch others with the words I give you, spoken or written - you are a pen in My hand.

Continue to have those wings in a ready position p for when the currents and winds of My Spirit flow beneath you - you will fly, child, wait and see how you will fly.

Free in Me - free to be
giving up all - to gain all
to live like an eagle
unafraid of falling
created to see
surrendered to Me
released from the bondage
of sin and flesh
free

A place of rest

In late 2007 Rick and I went to Kampala, Uganda to be part of a Global build team for Watoto Childcare Ministries. Neither of us had ever travelled such a distance. After an 8 hour overnight flight from Toronto to London and a 12 hour wait, we were on our final leg, another 8 hour overnight flight, from London to Entebbe. I had not slept since leaving home, and restlessly envied Rick's ability to sleep.

I was feeling quite sick and tired but still unable to sleep. I was turned a bit sideways and leaned into the seat, trying to imagine myself finding God’s chest for comfort. I sensed He wanted me to stretch myself full out upon Him, for I was very small compared to His greatness, so I turned again, leaning straight back into my seat.

The word He gave to me was:

I will hold you and I will heal you. As you lay upon my chest, in My arms you will find rest

What I felt and pictured was His arms around me - one hand washing me and the other anointing wounds with oil. I wanted to know what I was being anointed for but instead surrendered and said:

"I don't need to know, as long as You know."

The word and vision carried me through the ordeal of jet lag and illness, teaching me that rest, true rest, is found only in Him.

This was written as a part of Ann Voskamp's Walk With Him Wednesday

Word Filled Wednesday - New Every Morning

This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. “ The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “ Therefore I hope in Him!”  The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the LORD.
Lamentations 3:21-26 NKJV

Join us at the Cafe for more....

Word Filled Wednesday - his Master

Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn Genesis 24:49 NIV

Click on image to enlarge.

Join us at Internet Cafe Devotions for more Word Filled Wednesday posts

Flashback Friday - Washed and forgiven

Today I'm taking a trip back to a time when I wandered down a slippery slope and needed to return to the love and cleansing only Jesus could provide.

The need to be wanted shouted strongly in my head and heart, so loudly, in fact, that as a new born Christian it still lead me to do foolish things.

I went back to a habit of chatting with strangers on the computer and even on the telephone. I was able to convince myself that it was okay to play with them, even sexual type games, as long as it never became real. I rationalized that doing so would keep me from seeking out true physical pleasure. I even told these men that I was a Christian and would not become sexually involved with anyone but the man who would be my husband, and then only after we had married.

One of them, a twenty nine year old who lived in Las Vegas called himself sincity as a screen name. That should have been enough to send me running in the opposite direction, but instead I was drawn to his dominating style. I was still longing to be submissive to something greater than myself, and this got confused in my mind as the need for a man who would take control of me.

We lived out a fantasy via keyboard and telephone, although with God's hand protecting me even then, I would only pretend to do some of the things he would ask of me. I found myself more anxious to get home to his phone calls than I was to read my bible. Though I knew I was walking a dangerous line, following down a road that felt wrong, I never stopped attending church or the Tuesday bible study.

We spoke about meeting in real life. I could go there for a visit. Perhaps we would marry for that would have been my preference. There would be no physical contact until that time. Plans for traveling were discussed, words of love were exchanged and the games continued.

One night he was angry that I had not obeyed him and called at exactly the time he had asked me to. Then he said that it would never work between us, for he would eventually want children and I did not. My heart was broken once again, and I found myself begging him to reconsider. His silence was like sticks and stones cast open my open wounds.

I would call but he would not answer. One morning, he finally picked up the phone.

“When you have a broken heart, you go talk to your best friend” I said to him. “What am I supposed to do since you're my best friend, but also the very one who broke my heart.”

What he said in reply was the wisest advice he could have offered, and it must have been the Holy Spirit speaking through him, so unlike him were the words.

“Go talk with the women at your bible study. Tell them everything. They will help you.”

“I can't” I answered. “I feel dirty and ugly and wrong. How could I? I can't.”

“Yes, you can.” he said firmly “and you will.” With that, he hung up the phone. Those were the last words I ever heard him speak.

I knew I had to do as he had said. And I realized with a start that it was Tuesday. That very day I would have to face my friends and admit to the games I had been playing in secret. I was dirty and had to ask God again to wash me clean. Had I gone too far from His forgiveness?

I walked into the room where the women met for bible study, pale, and with dark circles rimming eyes that were swollen and red. I didn't have to say anything at all for them to know something was wrong, terribly wrong.

“I need to talk to you all.” I began. “I need your help.” I began to weep and could not continue as sobs moved through my entire being. The women gathered closer around me. They passed the box of tissues. They rested hands upon my shoulders. They waited. I cried. They waited, with great patience, never once saying the “get on with it.” I would have expected. They waited and prayed quietly in various tongues. They waited.

“I feel” I began again “so dirty and so wrong and so far away from God. And I know I have to tell you and I hate myself right now.”

“Go on, we're listening.” said Rebecca.

I told them about the games I had been playing, how I tried to convince myself it was okay, how my heart had been broken.

“What feels the worst is that I turned my back on God and what I know is right, and that I kept it all a secret. I kept coming to church and meeting with you, but never said a word about what I was doing. I think I knew all along that it was wrong.” I began sobbing again, but could feel that much of the pain had already decreased.

“You just did the right thing” said Peggy, another of the ladies who had been guiding me, mentoring me. “When we confess to God and to each other, He is faithful to forgive us. I'll bet you are already starting to feel better, right?”

I had to agree. “How did you know?” I asked.

“We all fall short of what God wants from us” Peggy said. “All of us, in one way or another. You're not as alone as you think you are.”

They all placed a hand upon me and prayed that I would feel the forgiveness of the Lord. They prayed for strength for me to remain pure in His sight. They prayed that I would continue to seek His will, and His will alone. Only then did they begin their scheduled lesson for the day.

My journal entry that night began:

“Dear Father, let me not be too proud to admit when I have made a mistake. I can only be in error when I have stepped away from Your will. When I handle things the wrong way, it's from bad choices I've made, and the blame is mine. Let me remember that, and not be disappointed in You. My connection with you seemed broken, not by Your hand but mine. You don't turn away, ever present. But you allow me the power to choose and I chose to step down a slippery path. Faster and faster I slid, each step moving farther in the wrong direction. You watched. How much did that hurt You? How can I say I'm sorry, Lord? As You welcome me back to Your arms.”

I truly did feel cleansed by the tears and confession and my sleep that night was deep and warm, wrapped in the love of the forgiveness of God.

"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. Isaiah 1:18 NIV

Join us at Together For Good and share one of your own flashbacks!

Prayer of promise

I wrote the following words this morning to a farming family who are very dear to us. May all of you who are trusting the Lord and the soil receive this prayer for yourselves as well.

So another season's promise is in the ground, out of your hands and into His.

He will water, pour down light, offer shade from scorching heat and protect what will bring Him glory.

I pray for supernatural multiplication and favour upon all your hands have sown, that the world might know that God alone has done this.

I pray for an increase in patience and faith and trust as the season unfolds according to His plans, the One Who's ways are higher than ours.

May you all grow, as the crops grow, until the time of rejoicing in the harvest.

Then will He give you rain for the seed with which you sow the soil, and bread grain from the produce of the ground, and it will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will feed in large pastures. Isaiah 30:23 Amplified

Tuesdays Unwrapped - His placement

This is what home used to look like -- flat, concrete and steel, shades of gray.

This is what home looks like now -- prairie life, open space, greens and golds and brilliant blue. Mountains surround our region of Manitoba, setting us apart from the usual flatlands.

It is the hand of God that has directed my steps and as I submit to Him I am filled with the peace of knowing I am placed where He desires, whether for a season or a lifetime.

His heart led us to journey to Africa, and it will be by His direction that we return there -- or perhaps He has a totally different plan that He has not yet revealed. I am unwrapping the blessing of His divine placement. Let me take root in His house, wherever He chooses to plant me.

But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. Psalm 92:12-14 NLT

Join Emily at Chatting at the Sky and let us know what you've unwrapped today

My Valentine

Today I sing praise to my God and King
He orchestrated a love beyond any I could imagine.
He knew what I needed and in His faithfullness brought Rick into my life.

I thought I'd want a valentine who would write for me
fancy poetry and prose
instead I have Rick who never fails to say he loves me
plain and simple and true
every day

I thought I'd want a valentine who would buy me flowers
instead I have Rick
who plants me a garden full

I thought I'd want a valentine for a season
instead I have Rick
for a lifetime

He is solid and loyal and strong in the Lord, the place my heart has found its home.

He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love [for love waved as a protecting and comforting banner over my head when I was near him].
Song of Solomon 2:4 Amplified

Ephesians 6:18 Saturdays - Thanksgiving

Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people). Ephesians 6:18 Amplified

As I promised last week, I am devoting the next few months of Saturdays to the study of different types of prayer.

This week I begin where we should begin all of our prayer times - with prayers of thanksgiving.

We can't pray effectively if we are far from the One we are praying to. Thanksgiving is the key that brings us into the presence of the Lord.

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! Psalm 95:2 Amplified

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name! Psalm 100:4 Amplified

or as The Message Bible so clearly says: Enter with the password: "Thank you!"

When we begin to thank God for all that He Is and all He has done we begin to build a track record in our spirits, we see a history of His faithfullness. We are drawn closer to Him and need not worry about sharing our needs with Him.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6 NLT

Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude. Colossians 4:2 The Message

Share your thoughts on the key of thankfullness. If someone was coming to visit you and ask for favours, would you be more inclined to allow them in if they showed gratitude for the invitiation? Doesn't our awesome and mighty God deserve that and more?

If you feel comfortable, please share a prayer of thanksgiving in the comments. And come back next week to explore prayers of adoration.

Father God, my heart is filled to overflowing with gratitude for all that You Are. Thank You, Lord God for allowing me, even calling me to come into Your presence. There is nothing in my life more precious than time spent with You. Help me, Lord, to hunger and thirst after the things of You and Your Kingdom, that the world around me would grow pale and lose flavour. Thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit, Who convicts me to pray. I love You and cherish my time in fellowship with You. May my words be acceptable in Your sight, in Jesus name.

Becoming More

For the last 3 years Rick has bought me a fuchsia plant to hang in a basket just outside our bedroom window. They are one of the most striking flowers I have ever seen and I enjoy watching the blooms change in their process of becoming what they are.

At first the blooms look like pale little lanterns, showing little clue as to what they hide within. At this point I need patience to wait for them to begin opening.

The secrets inside begin to unfold. At this stage, the blossoms are unique and colourful. One could be content to have such a flower. Still I know that I must water and wait.. and wait.. and wait, for I know what is yet to be.

Now at last, at the end of July, my fuschia has blooms that have totally developed and unfurled, revealing all of the potential I knew they possessed.

Our loving God looks upon us in a similar fashion. He know who and what He created us to be. He is able to see what we cannot. As we journey on the road to becoming Christ-like He watches and guides us with impossible patience. He loves us beyond measure, but will not let us remain as we are. When we become more than we ever thought we could be, it is to the glory of His Name.

"And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you." Philippians 1:6 Amplified

Have you ever thought that you had arrived at your final destination only to find there were miles yet to travel? Can you remember a time when you settled for less than God's best for yourself? I know that I have.

Today, Lord God I choose to allow You to complete the good work You have begun in me. Today I choose to submit to Your design, allowing You to decide when Your work is completed. Let my life be a testimony to Your patience and love, in Jesus name.

My Ten Things for Tuesday May 5th

It has been far too long since I have a written a "10 Things for Tuesday" post, and I'm happy to be back, anxious to enter my Lord's gates with thanksgiving and praise!

1. I'm thankful that Xbox Wife has found some time to be back online with us. We've missed you Jill!
2. I'm thankful that the possibilities of snow are diminishing with each passing day. Yes, it can and has still snowed here in the Manitoba Parklands as late as June!
3. I'm thankful for the movie Fireproof and how churches are using it as an effective outreach tool.
4. I am thankful that Rick and I have made a choice (before trouble ever comes) to fight for our marriage, believing that there is no plan B.
5. I am thankful that God is for us! "What, then, can we say about all of this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31
6. I am thankful that when Rick went out to check the lawn mowers Sunday afternoon both of them started with no problem.
7. I am thankful that I should be able to start the endless cycle of grass cutting this week. Though it often seems like a thankless job I find that I am able to spend quality time with my Lord as I circle the yard again and again and again and no one else can hear me singing as my voice is covered by the sound of the lawn tractor motor!
8. I would like to say that I'm thankful for wood ticks, but after seeing my first of the season this morning I am feeling itchy and crawly. From the time the snow melts until mid-summer we have these nagging pests wandering through the grass. I AM however thankful for the Preventic spray we can drench Faith in to keep her protected.
9. I am thankful for the garlic that is already up in the garden, and for all the peas Rick was able to plant yesterday. More seeds will go in the ground this evening. Thank God for days that grow increasingly longer giving Rick more time to accomplish his planting after work.
10. I am thankful that though I do not have a clue what's around the next corner, God does!
    "I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope." Jeremiah 29:11

What are you thankful for this week? Join Mrs. Brownstone at Xbox Wife and share your chorus of thanksigving.