No Words

 Words make up a huge part of our existence. 

Just look at the amount of words I use every week!

Though words seem to have taken on a different look in this digital world. If texting were a job criteria many young people would be more than qualified. However, much of the "words" they use are not really words. The shorthand, slang and symbols baffle many of the older, and not so older generation!  People communicate without words!

But don't we do that sometimes anyway? with our facial expressions?  our body language?  

We can manage to communicate without words.

Sometimes we haven't the words.... in grief, tragedy, sadness we have no words to comfort others, or to cry out to God.

But it causes me to think of the verse....

📖 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. Romans 8:26

we don't need words.....

📖 Give ear to my words, O Lord;
    consider my groaning.
2 Give attention to the sound of my cry,
    my King and my God,
    for to you do I pray. Psalm 5:1-2  (ESV)

He knows what we need even without words....

📖 God knows our very hearts

would not God have discovered it,
    since he knows the secrets of the heart? Psalm 44:21

we cry out to Him in our heart, our soul.

📖 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

I love this quote:

Charles Spurgeon wrote: “There are two types of prayers: those expressed in words, and the unspoken longings of silent meditation. Words are not the essence but the garments of prayer.”

My prayer for you today;

🙏Lord, sometimes our emotions are bare and raw, and there aren't words to cover them. I am grateful that You do not require them to bring comfort, peace and stillness to our souls.  Please cover all who have no words today. Amen❤️

Peace Source

Last week I blogged about Peace Pockets (CoffeeTime With A Dear Friend Peace Pockets September 13, 2023) about being peacemakers in our own small area.

But before we can spread peace, shouldn't we HAVE peace?

I used the scripture;

📖 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

Because our peace comes from Christ. We must first and foremost have a relationship with Him, believeing that He took the punishment for my sin, for your sin, died and rose again, so that you and I can have eternal life with Him.

And many of us feel that peace

that passes all understanding. 

📖 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

..but as life moves on we have a tendency to let life push out, squash down, squeeze in peace.

So how can we have that peace that passes understanding?

Trust In Him

  📖 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, .Romans 5:1

Listen to Him

📖 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6

Follow Him

📖 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Romans 2:10

Be Filled With Him

📖  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Serve Him

📖 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives Romans 14:17

It may seem difficult,  maybe even impossible. 

But Jesus said;

📖 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

We can not create peace ourselves, that is why He came!

📖 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace. Luke 7:50

🙏My prayer is that you have faith that brings you peace that only He can give.❤️

Peace Pockets

 We are called to be peacemakers, as I said a couple weeks ago in my blog BE Attitude I believe it speaks more than of war, but of peaceful living; 

📖 Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9

{those who choose love over enmity, compassion over criticism, stillness over strife}  Coffee Time With A Dear Friend BE Attitude August 30, 2023

I am listening to a new book, a historical fiction set in WWII era, and a line from the book struck me...."remembering when the world was at peace." The first thought that popped into my head as "Has the world ever been at peace?!"

From the time Adam and Eve were banished from the garden...the world has not been a peaceful place

📖 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. Genesis 3:23

.....but there have been peaceful "pockets". Moments and places in our history as a planet that peace exists.

That led me to ponder...these pockets; we all have our own...maybe several...our families,  our communities,  our work surroundings.

So what if WE initiate, create, proliferate, peace in OUR pocket?  

📖  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18

What if each individual did the same in their pocket!?  Every "pocket" bumping into one another, over lapping, creating larger and larger pockets of peace..

Imagine!?

What a difference it would make!

📖Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. James 3:18

So instead of feeling small and insignificant, unable to make a difference in the larger world, just focus on YOUR pocket, the circle of those around you.

📖 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

📖Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.  Romans 14:19

And we don't have to muster up this peace from with-in, or figure out a way to create it...He, Jesus, GIVES us His peace!

📖 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

🙏📖 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11❤️

Blessings and Beyond

 

Some weeks I am late because I am working on a blog idea, tweaking it a bit more each day and then finally get it posted.

Sometimes I am late because inspiration seems to allude me, or I allude it!

This week I waited for something to strike me, I looked through potential ideas I have taken notes on....and all seemed silent, there didn't seem to be an idea or a seed of an idea out there for this week.

AND THEN as I sat down late Wednesday night.....from a rather hectic, running multiple places, my brain didn't seem like it had a  moment to be inspired, kind of day....God is good and He does what He says He will do and tada....Blessings and Beyond!

See Wednesday was my dad's 79th birthday....I know 80 is supposed to be a BIG milestone...but for Dad and our family....79 is a HUGE milestone....because last year we were grateful he was still among us for his 78th, we felt blessed that he was able to use his walker and navigate up the steps and into his home after just over 100 days in hospital and rehab.

In August we had just lifted praises for the fact that they were able to spend their 58th wedding anniversary how ever they wanted (not in a rehab facility!)

Blessings and beyond..is what came to mind....first of all, some of the scenerios we were given at the hospital didn't seem like blessings, and though milestones were celebrated and deemed blessings, there was much more work to be done.

BUT God was/IS giving blessings!

Are we in the frame of mind to see them?  or are we looking for something else?  something bigger?, something, that in our limited scope, is the "blessing" we think we should be seeing?

But He knows far better than we do!

📖 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows James 1:17

Because in all those "little" blessings God could see beyond; to full health, restoration, back to "normal", back to life!

📖 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3

It is important that we look for ALL the blessings God gives us....but know that they are just the beginning of what He has for us....He sees beyond today...

📖 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

🙏Lord thank you for today's blessings, help us to see them and appreciate them, live in them and trust You have more....blessings and beyond!❤️

📖 “‘“The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’ Numbers 6:24-26

🎵I'm So Blessed Cain

BE Attitude

 Our message this past Sunday at church (thank you Terry Goodrich) was from Matthew 5 and what is known as the Beatitudes.

However, I looked at the word differently, 

These should BE our ATTITUDE....

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,  

{Those humble in spirit, those with the attitude of Christ}

📖Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:  Philippians 2:3-5

 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, 

{those who grieve not only over loss, but over injustice, inhumanity}

 📖 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. . Romans 12:14-15  

📖Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:3-5

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

{those who are gentle, non confrontational}

📖 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited. Romans 12:16      

 for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

{those who seek the Bread of Life and the Living Water}

📖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

📖 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. John 6:35

for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, 

{those who treat others, not as they might deserve, but as Christ would}

📖Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ... 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone Romans 12:14 +17

for they will be shown mercy. 

Blessed are the pure in heart, 

{those whose motives are pure, as a child, aligned with Christ's}

📖 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3-4

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

{those who choose love over enmity, compassion over criticism, stillness over strife}

📖 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18

for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

{Those who are vulnerable in their service for the Lord, regardless of personal comfort or even safety}

📖 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:19-21                

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 

📖 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. Matthew 10:32-33

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

📖 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.  If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.  However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And,

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
    what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. 1 Peter 4:12-19

🙏I pray that Christ's commands and attitudes can BE our ATTITUDES.  That we continue to do good and serve Him❤️

A Comfy Place

 We all have them, that one spot we love to fall back into, that one chair on the porch, that certain spot on the couch, that perfect corner where we can close our eyes and be at peace, if only for a moment. 

For some of us it is a place we go daily for our quiet time, our time to recharge, to "center", to motivate for the day to come or decompress from the one we just had.

 

For some it isn't as much the place as much as it is Who we meet there.

Anywhere can be our comfy place when our intention is to spend that time with Christ.

He is our quiet time

📖 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

Our recharge

📖   Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:30-31

Our center

📖 Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight Proverbs 3:5-6

He is our motivation for the day ahead

📖 In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;

    in the morning I lay my requests before you

    and wait expectantly Psalm 5:3

and Who we can decompress with 

📖 Evening and morning and at noon

I will pray, and cry aloud,
And He shall hear my voice. 

He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me,
For there were many against me. Psalm 55:is-18 (NKJV)

Jesus is my comfy place....I can fall back into Him, nestle down in and feel at peace....IF I take the time to! 

📖 He will cover you with his feathers,

 and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day, 

nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,

nor the plague that destroys at midday. Psalm 91:4-6

🙏Lord I pray we all find You as our place of rest and peace today!❤️

I Would Rather

 There is a statement "I would rather be anywhere but here...."

"anywhere but here"....wishing we were in another circumstance. 

but sometimes the circumstances we are in can be one of learning, leaning, longevity. 

Learning patience as we wait upon the Lord

📖 Wait for the Lord;

    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

📖But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Galatians 5:22 (ESV)

wait for direction, or we wait and be still 

📖He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 47:10

Just spending time with Him, learning all we can.

Leaning. It may be a time that we practice relying on Him, growing our faith and trust in His plan and power. 

📖  Trust in the Lord with all your heart

in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Drawing from Him all we need

📖And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Leaning on His everlasting arms.

Longevity....perseverance 

📖 Not only so, but we  also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5

Coming to that deep understanding that God has the whole picture, He holds our future.

📖For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

We have the perseverance to stick it out, stick with it, see it through, trusting God is with us through it...and He is at the end!

📖 So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

 📖 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

📖 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

I want to be anywhere God places me...because I know He is with me everywhere. 

📖 “I am a God who is everywhere and not in one place only. No one can hide where I cannot see them. Do you not know that I am everywhere in heaven and on earth? Jeremiah 23:23-24 (GNT)

Always 

📖Trust in the Lord forever,
    for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26:4

🙏Lord today I pray we all are IN  the place You want us to be. That we can learn to lean on You for the duration. That You will see us through the circumstances we are in. Amen❤️