Week 4 June 2022

 It's Your Breath

June 21, 2022

  "It's Your breath in our lungs, we pour out our praise to you"

The line is from a song Great Are You Lord, written by Songwriters: Jason David Ingram / Leslie Anne Jordan / David Alan Leonard

And right now, "breath in our lungs" is something that is very prevalent on my mind;

From remembering my sister (and others) whose cancer returns attacking their lungs, to my grandchildren (as well as many others) with upper respiratory sicknesses, me with asthma wreaking havoc, and of course my dad, who is having a machine bringing breath in and out of his lungs.

With every breath in we take in life, 

God gave the first breath

📖 Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2 :7

And He knows when the last one will be

📖 A person’s days are determined;

    you have decreed the number of his months
    and have set limits he cannot exceed. Job 14:5

But all the ones in between need to be praises to Him.

We breathe in life, but mingled with it can be; the sadness, fear, anxiety, hatred, bitterness, pride, self-righteousness, anger, rage, despair, complacency, worry, emptiness, that swirls around us, bangs up against us, wanting a way in.

Don't let it, with every breath take in Him, allow Him to filter all of that out BEFORE it gets in and fills the spaces.

So that every breath that comes back out is Praise, 

with every breath from our lungs we cry Great Are You Lord!

You give life, You are love
You bring light to the darkness
You give hope and You restore
Every heart that is broken

It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
We pour out our praise

🎵 Great Are You Lord - Casting Crowns

🙏I pray today that with every breath He gives you you breathe back praises to Him❤

Week 3 June 2021

Purchasing a Title

June 22, 2021

 Our gift for Mother's Day/Fathers Day...was to become a Lord and a Lady!

Our daughter purchased us property in Glencoe Wood, Highland, Scotland...and even though it is only one square foot each...we now can hold the titles Lord Kevin and Lady Tracey!  You laugh!  We laughed!  How neat!  A very sweet and thoughtful gift...as Kevin's family line traces back to Scotland!

But it got me thinking...

About receiving a title....

📖  But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

We have royal blood if we have accepted Christ as our savior.

📖  Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.  John 1:12

📖  Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.    Romans 8:17

But what did we have to pay or purchase to be able to call ourselves "Child of the one true King",  "heirs of the King"

Our cost....nothing!

The price was already paid for us!

Unlike Rachel, who paid money to the nature concervency that does this very neat project....the price for our "title" was paid with Christ's blood, with His life. 

📖  God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— Romans 3:25

📖 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:12-14

Someday Kevin and I may get to make the trip to see our two square feet of Scotland, maybe.

But I know for sure we will one day walk those streets of gold and enter the mansion prepared especially for us.

📖 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:1-3

📖 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass. Revelation 21:21

We have many names attached to ours once He is our King.

📖  which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords..1 Timothy 6:15

Created

Redeemed

Protected

Precious

Honored

Loved

Witness

Servant

Saved 

📖 But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
    Cush and Seba in your stead.
4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
    and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
    nations in exchange for your life.
5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; Isaiah 43:1-5a

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,
    “and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
    and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
    nor will there be one after me.
11 I, even I, am the Lord,
    and apart from me there is no savior.
12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
    I, and not some foreign god among you.
You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God. Isaiah 43:10-12 

"Lord" and "Lady" are fun...but these are eternal!

🙏I pray today that you have recieved a title....you can claim you are a saved and precious child of the one true King!❤ 🤴 👑 

A side note....our gift from our other daughter: 😉🤣

Week 2 June 2021

When You Feel You Can't Pray Enough

June 14, 2021

Don't worry about how you are praying or how much you are praying.....just cry out...

📖  In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Romans 8:26-27

Jesus cried out:

📖 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Mark 14:35-36

📖 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”When he had said this, he breathed his last. Luke 23:46

If we haven't the words pray the words Jesus taught;

📖  “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts 

As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6:8-13

If we feel we have nothing left...not enough faith..

It can be the tiniest bit that pushes your prayer.

📖  He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

No matter how small you feel it is...how weak...

He will hear..

HE WILL SEE

📖 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you  Matthew 6:6

🎵 Cry Out To Jesus Third Day

❤🙏

Week 1 June 2021

Comfort Food

June 8, 2021

We all have our "go-to-comfort food"

Chocolate,

mac n cheese (or any pasta)

Donuts (or any carb)

Coffee, tea, coco (any warm drink)

Did I say Chocolate?

Etc etc etc

Something we tend to gravitate toward when we are stressed or sad or angry or hurting or all of the above.

Something that when we put it to the lips and tongue something inside just starts to soften....and there is an internal "aahhhh",  sometimes external!

It is not necessarily a bad thing....however if our moments of stress go on for a long period of time...which they sometimes do, and our comfort food of choice isn't overly healthy, which they rarely are...then it can be a bad thing...

and once we consume the food, it is gone and most of the time what ever is making us want the comfort food is still there...a vicious cycle,

BUT what if there was a "comfort food"  that was good for us!?  that was ok to need everyday?! and that can make a difference with the stuff that is bothering us?!

THERE IS!!!

📖  Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. John 6:57-58

Jesus is our comfort "food".  He can quench that insatiable thirst.

📖  Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14

When this "Comfort Food" passes your lips and touches your tongue your soul will sigh "aaahhhh"

📖  John 6

27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”.....32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. ........ 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

Enjoy that piece of cake, chocolate or otherwise.....but let the Lord be that "Comfort Food" and it will be all that we need....we don't NEED anything else to calm our soul, sooth the wound, ease the ache.  

📖  Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”  John 14:8

❤🙏

🎵 Draw Me Close Micheal W. Smith

Week 4, May 2020

 May 25, 2020

Bucket Full Of Grace

Well, here I am again....using my link from yesterday.  I hope you don't mind!

BUT I have to say...this was a blog originally!
I just happened to share it with church first!

Bucket Full of Grace

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 1:7b

Week 3 May 2020

I apologize for the delay this week! Time got away from me. But God’s Word is relevant any time!

Not My Words

May 19, 2020

📖 Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24

📖 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:29-32

📖 Create in me a pure heart, O God,  and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

🎵As the Deer

📖As the deer pants for streams of water, 
           so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God
When can I go and meet with God?  Psalm 42:1-2

📖 My soul yearns, even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God. Psalm 84:2

📖 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. Psalm 28:7

📖 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” John 18:37

📖 So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?  2 Corinthians 12:15

📖 Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:15b

📖 So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. Hebrews 2:11b

📖 Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold,  Psalm 119:127

📖 Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Proverbs 7:2

🙏Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”♥️

 2 Chronicles 16:36

Week 2 May 2020

 I wasn't sure if I was going to post...but decided this is what the next post to come up...so I am just going with what is next!

Things were a bit different that Mother'sDay, but the message is still important and pertinent.  

Less reading, and I hope the video link works

Enjoy!

Our Cup Our Portion 

May 10, 2020

I said a couple weeks ago..it was "the first time, and maybe the last I shared" that way....
Well.......😁
I am doing it again!  Sharing the link to what I shared with our congregation today!
I hope you don't mind!
Love and prayers for each of you!

Our Cup and Our Portion