Growing closer to Him

For a few days now, I’ve been mulling over everything I’ve been reading.   The 27 th was about TRUST. Taking the high road and trusting God. When we don’t it’s like staying on the circuitous low path of despair. Well that’s what I’m calling it. John 14:1-2 and Prov 3:5-6 are both trusting in God and not letting our hearts be trouble or leaning on our own understanding. The 28 th was about not ignoring the truth that Jesus is with us always. He knows everything that we do and think. I think most of the time when we sin, we’re making a choice to ignore the fact that we’re not hiding anything from Him. How do we get to the point of “total focus” on Him? By concentrating on Him? By barely acknowledging Him? By ignoring His commands and His Word?  It’s by understanding that everything we do is to be done for Him. That everything we face, good, bad, or indifferent needs to be placed before Him. How that’s easier said than done. Because this week I’ve been coming to terms ...

It’s been a few days since I've written anything; however I was searching my heart for how I felt about a particular matter which happened in my family. I was still seeking the Lord, and what He revealed was that "I was to forgive and not to worry about the outcome of these two relatives. Yes, what they did was wrong, but you (me) are to honor your father and in retrospect also his mother, because she is still a mother to you even though she is a generation removed." Right about now, I’m sort of feeling like I should be in a padded room, so when He thumps me, I can at least bounce off something soft…Ha-ha, all kiddingness aside, it’s not that bad. God is forever gentle with me, even when He’s pulling the light cord for me. At other times, he’s just changing the light bulb. So for today’s reading: Deut 31:6, 1 Pet 3:4, 2 Cor 4:6-7 and 2 Cor 12:19 In Jesus Calling today, I’ve been reading basically about lightening up on myself. How many times have I been re...

Jan 16     In today’s little reading, God says to come to Him and rest in His loving presence; to stop trying to think through our difficulties and to remember that He is with us. When I first read through this, I thought “hmm, I don’t have anything bothering me today, this should be an easy one.” Like getting “t-boned” by a Mack truck, whamo! There it came. Right out of left field, a picture that triggered a memory about major self-doubt, fear of losing that which God has already given me, & insecurity. In a nut shell, when I finally got a grip, I realized I still have a couple of people I need to forgive for some past very painful hurts. I don’t want to “rehearse my troubles again.” I’ve lived through them once and some of them were bad enough. I don’t need to keep going down the same dead end path. Jesus is with me and NO ONE is going to take Him and the peace He gave me away. I’m choosing this day, whom I will serve and I choose Jesus! I choose to relax in Hi...

Jan 15 Yes!! That’s what I’m talking about! Keep shining your “Peace that transcends all understanding” down on me. I’m just so thankful right now for being His child.  It feels so good to not just know the principal of casting your cares on Him and focusing on Him, but to actually implement and put into place this very principal as well and to start receiving the fruit. Right now, I’m just overwhelmed with peace. Can you ever have to much? I don’t think so! I want to continue to bask in these rays of peace. Right now at this moment, I can tell you that my problems haven’t disappeared, they’re still right here looking at me; I’m just choosing to look upward and trust in God. He is the solution to all of them, including the financial ones. He always comes through if we allow Him the time and room to move in our lives in His own way. My way is disgusting and riddled with pot holes and at some times a sink hole appears trying to swallow me up. Not today! Not right now! ...

Jan 14  This is that amazing concept that I feel I’ve mastered until I read through it once more and the “thump of God” is right there, once again. I allow some people to think I’ve got it all put in order, when I know I’m just as messed up in some areas as others. I’m reminded of a movie that was semi-cool. I was more enthralled with the house and how it was built than I was with the gore associated with it; but when I think translucency, I think of this house. (ever see 13 Ghosts) This house was designed with glass walls, and gears that moved the walls and floors etc. It was designed to “hold” the horrors of these 13 ghosts. But it’s the intricacy of how this house works, not the horrors I think of  whenever someone uses this word in a sermon that reminds me; “that no matter how many walls, doors, traps, or other protective devices I try and throw up to protect me from the enemy or those around me, God still sees through it all. God still penetrates it all. On th...

Jan 12 & 13 God wants to prepare me for today. He knows what lies ahead of me, where as I have a vague idea based on what I would like to get accomplished. Instead of making my list and venturing out about my day, He wants me to spend time with Him. Seeking Him, and waiting for Him and spending quality time with Him. I need to start the day focused on him, and as I go about my day, through every step that’s taken, I need to redirect my thoughts on Him; to continually keep Him on my mind and by the end of the day, I will have walked with Him. “His abiding presence is the best road map available. My Saturday didn’t go anyway that I thought it was going to go when I woke up. I had planned a few things to do and was detoured with a friend to head to a rather large mall, about an hour from us. We were there for about 3 hours but away from home for about 5, so needless to say, I was able to get 2 of my 4 items done that day. Normally, I would have really fretted over not getting ...

Hello my friends, I'm hoping this day is finding you well and hopefully on the right way to a more peaceful and contented self. Today's Lil devotion is on Trusting God and relinquishing control into His hands.  Psalm 46:10 NASB "cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." I've looked up 4 different translations and they pretty much say the same. NASB is "cease striving" and ESV, NKJV, & NIV are "be still". Hmm, another command so to speak, telling me to "LET IT GO!!" Give it to Him and rest easy. I need to stop trying to solve the problem, and allow Him to solve it. I may not like the results but a negative result, given from God is probably for my best interest. That's one way to look at it and another way to look at it is, to stop trying to be a better, closer, caring, compassionate Christian and to DO what I need. In other words, I need to stay in His word...

My main reading was Matt 6:20-21 Where is talks about storing "up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." NASB However, as I kept reading I thought this was just as important as the two scriptures I had just read. This is about storing our TRUST in God. This is  more than just a national motto. The more we "deposit" into the Lord, the more he gives back to us. I guess there's a new meaning to "In God We Trust". Hmm, maybe we need to be looking at God like a bank. The more we "trust in him" and make our deposits of trust in Him, then the more He stores up and returns to us His ABUNDANT BLESSINGS!! Matt 6:24-34 clearly states that we are not to serve two masters! We'll hate one and love the other, be devoted to one and despise the other, and we cannot serve God and Wealth. (In the literal sense) How tr...

So I was reading on the 7th the following: Psalm 22:3 Psalm 146:1-2 I Thess 5:18 Honestly, I never thought about whether or not I could or couldn't praise or thank God enough. However, since this question was brought up, then we know the obvious answer is NO. God is infinite. Therefore our praises and thankfullness can be infinite as well. That is, in theory. We are finite people with infinite souls, therefore our praises and thankfullness will go on for eternity, if we are truly following Him. It's just another way of looking at things. Our missionary to Pakistan, Jonah, said that if we are truly walking with God then we will never have to worry about "disrespect". What he meant was more of a humbling nature. If we are truly walking with God then we'll never have to worry about, the "entitlement" we think we should be getting. It was just the way Jonah was looking at that made sense. As American's we don't necessarily look at it in the w...

I'm not a disciplined person, when it comes to being consistant with creating a schedule for the things that matter the most. Why is that? Is it, that I think my little endeavors of, paying bills, taking kids to and fro and working on crocheting are more important than picking up my Bible and pressing into the very arms of God? Hmmm...that's a question that has been tugging at me, saying "you need to make more time for God” and “no, you do enough for God". Well if that isn't the truth either! It's my human nature than any other thing I can put my finger on. I find myself so "busy" doing things, that I don't etch out the time I need with God. It's not till weeks or months later when I'm in the hole or hanging on to the side of wall for dear life that I realize, I've put way to much in front of what's really important in my life. Worshipping God is important to me! Now that I've shouted that from the roof top...okay, okay, fr...