Luke 17:5

Luke 17:5

The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith!' 

 

A statement I frequently make in my prayers.  Please, Lord, Increase my Faith.  The thing is, what will I go through in order for that statement to be true?  The Lord's journeys are always interesting.... that is for sure! 

Matthew 24:4-5

Matthew 24:4-5

Jesus answered: 'Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. 

There have been a lot of sermons I have been listening to of late, that have been talking about this.  Saying we are being too PC and how we need to start saying what the Bible says and stop trying to let people hear what they want to hear.  Like the fact that you can't get to God without going through his son.  His son is who he sent.  His son is who he loved.  His son is who he said we must go through.  Which means you can't go through Mohammad, Buddha, or anyone else that claims they have the way. Why would he send his son and then give us ways to get to him through anything else?  It doesn't make sense. 

So watch out for the people that say there is any other way to get to God other than what He told us.  There is only one way.

John 12:25-26

John 12:25-26

The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

 

I think this is saying, if I work hard to make and keep things in this life, I will lose it, because that is not permanent.  The only permanent thing, the only everlasting thing is Him.  If I love him, then what is in this world, doesn't matter because we KNOW it will go away and we have a future with him.  I'm pretty sure I feel that way.  Most of the time, the stuff I have, I don't care about because I KNOW it doesn't matter. 

Luke 19:37-38

Luke 19:37-38

When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 'Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!'

Amos 7:7-8

Amos 7:7-8

This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in his hand. And the LORD asked me, 'What do you see, Amos?' 'A plumb line,' I replied. Then the Lord said, 'Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer. 

 

I guess this means that if we don't straighten up he will have no more mercy on us.  Again, since God does not change, it is Him showing us that he won't put up with our antics forever.  We make a choice to get in line or fall out.  I want to be "plumb" with our Lord. 

E-How's, Shelley Shaub said this: 

What Is a Plumb Bob?

"A plumb bob is a humble tool consisting of a weight at the end of a string. "Plumb" comes from the Latin term "plumbum" for the element lead, indicating a lead slug tied to a string. One end of the string is affixed at a point above the floor or ground, and the weight is allowed to hang free until it stops moving. This shows the user "true vertical." With a plumb bob, anyone can measure or draw a line parallel to Earth's gravity. Plumb bobs often have carefully machined brass or bronze weights with points on the end and cotton or water-resistant nylon string. The point represents the spot directly below the origin of the string. Aside from modern plumb bobs using newer manufactured materials, the plumb bob has not changed in millennia"

I think it interesting that we know that the plumb bob has not changed in a millennia.  How God showed Amos a plumb line and Amos knew what it was and what it was for. Therefore the symbolism stands perfectly straight.  

This is just MY opinion.

This is just MY opinion.

1. There must be something that people love about that fat faced freckled little child that has no mouth, that is the "magnolia stamp craze" but I don't see it.  I'm a huge fan of puddle jumpers and I don't stamp. I mean, I've tried to "stamp" through the years, but I'm not that good at coloring so stamping and digi-stamping are not my thing.  I love paper piecing.  I love love love my cricut.  But, I would like to love stamping too. 
2.  Praise.  We all need praise.  I need praise.  I love picking out something lovely on a project and pointing it out.  I love the cricut message boards and all the people that are starting out and looking to learn what they are doing well and what they could do better.  I'm becoming better all the time by the trial and error.  I just wish more people would take the time to praise others as much as they like getting praised.  I hardly even post over at the MB anymore, but I go there and look at others work and especially praise the  newbies.  They need it the most.  Don't get me wrong, I"M NOT a trophy to everyone kind of girl.  But praise is important to keep someone trying.
3.  I have become a politico.  I never cared much about politics until recently. I know that it is having so much time to do nothing that has led me to listen to political banter and search all the facts.  There is little balance on the news.  Even on the "Fair and Balanced" Fox network, they are not really that balanced.  I've been reading a lot lately, books like Courage and Consequence by Karl Rove and the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, by Benjamin Franklin.  I think Glenn Beck is crazy, but he has some good points.  I can't stand Bill Mahr or David Letterman.  I think that Jon Stewart is funny but sometimes to crass for my taste.  I like humor with my politics, but I also know there is more going on behind the scenes than we even think there might be.  I find myself more of an activist the older I get.  I do research.  Who would have ever guessed?!  I pray a lot for our leaders.  I dislike Obama not the man, but the policies and beliefs he stands for.  So, I pray a lot!
4.  People can choose what they want.  I love that God gave us choices.  Along with our choices though, there are consequences.  We can't say, I can do whatever I want and God will love me anyway and not condemn me.  No, that is not what God said.  He said, choose to love me, choose my ways, choose to give up what you hold dear and I will bless you.   We all sin, on a daily basis and we make choices, but the consequences of our choices are on us.  Even David, a man after God's own heart, didn't get away with the consequences of his sin.  But, he was still a man after God's own heart, he was seeking to live his life in his choice of God.  You can't have it both ways.  A choice is just that.... you choose one way or the other way.  But it IS your choice.
5.  There are so many "good" things to do out there.  For me, I discovered the cricut card fairies.  I make cards for those people on the list that need to be cheered.  I can't say enough how many blessings I feel from getting to do this work.  Most of the time I don't even know if my card made it to the intended person.  But, when I send the card and pray over my list, I feel blessed to get to do it. It brings me such joy.

So, I just had those few things I wanted to say out loud today.  I don't get to say much out loud since I'm by myself most of the time.  But, this is a way of saying something out loud I guess.  It is my opinion and no one else has to read it or listen to it, but I needed to say it.

Mark 6:14-15

Mark 6:14-15

King Herod heard about this, for Jesus' name had become well known. Some were saying, 'John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.' Others said, 'He is Elijah.' And still others claimed, 'He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.'

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I think they are talking about John the Baptist preaching Jesus' name here.  That John the Baptist was like the prophets of old.  This made me wonder, what happened to the Prophets between the old testament and the new?  There was a time when there were no prophets.  It is interesting to point this out because I just thought there were prophets right up until the time that Jesus was born.  But the time had already begun to change to the search for the messiah.  It's probably not important to me that there was a time without prophets, we don't have them now like they did in the old testament.  I'm grateful that the Messiah came, lived and died and that I can believe without wondering when he will come.  I only have to think about the wonderful day that He will come again.  But it is interesting to think about the people of that time.  In reality, they are absolutely no different than us now. 
Interesting thoughts for today.

Luke 9:43-44

Luke 9:43-44

And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, 'Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.' 

 

How could that be? How could God be betrayed by man? They stand before him amazed at the greatness of God.  I know the outcome and I can completely understand their dismay.

John 6:28-29

John 6:28-29

Then they asked him, 'What must we do to do the works God requires?' Jesus answered, 'The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.' 

 

To believe.  That's so easy.  I do believe.  Then to believe is to see the example of the work that Jesus did and believe in that too.  Caring for the sick, the infirmed, the ailing, comforting the hurt, hugging the outcast, listening, asking questions.... walking a lot.  Always being around other people.

Today I am going to push myself out of the box of my apartment and go to the Library.  This will require some Italian conversation on my part.  I'm pushing myself even writing this.  It's scary, but I must go.  I cannot get around other people if I keep staying in my apartment and limiting myself to the non-people touching of the computer.  While that is good in and of itself.  It is not people contact and Jesus always had people contact. It scares me to death, my hands are sweating just thinking about it.  But, I'm going to go. I believe Jesus was scared and went anyway too. 

Here I go.

James 5:7

James 5:7

Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 

 

Patience in his plan and not trying to PUSH to make it happen myself.  Boy is that difficult.  Boy oh boy!  How do we make a life day in and day out wondering if it will rain, or wondering if it will be too dry?  I guess that is called worry.  We aren't to worry.  We are to work and be in him.  The farmer has to work the land, but has to wait for rain and harvest.  But, he's still working at what he can do. 

 

Thank you God for this verse.  It was eye opening this morning. 

Ecclesiastes 1:10

Ecclesiastes 1:10

Is there anything of which one can say, 'Look! This is something new'? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time. 

 

I have actually thought about this during the week.  I have so much trouble sleeping.  I pray a lot when I wake up in the middle of the night, or before I go to sleep.  Recently on a show called "medicine hunber," there have been a lot of herbs they have shown that help with sleep.  They've been used for hundreds of years.  I've noticed a lot of people going back to using herbs and things that the Indians or the Chinese used for health.  Our modern healthcare system is what WE think is modern.  For years the health people told us not to eat eggs for cholesterol sake.  Now,, they tell us, eat eggs, it has the good cholesterol and protein.  For years, don't drink too much coffee, now DRINK coffee at least two cups a day for your heart.  Don't take aspirin, now TAKE an aspirin every day. Whatever wisdom we think we know, whatever wisdom we thought we gained has been wisdom by some other in the past.  God knew it, saw it, deemed it, granted it, and gave it.   It is these very things that put me in awe of God and doubt our so called "conventional" wisdom.  

God is the alpha and the omega.  The beginning and the end, who is and was and is to come.  May He impart that wisdom to me on a daily basis. 

Psalm 122:6-7

Psalm 122:6-7

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.' 

 

So since my mind has been on the politics of the U.S. health care debate, I have been praying a lot for our leaders and our country.  I have prayed that God's will be done.  I have prayed for my peace of mind in knowing that God is in control.  And then today's verse comes along and I'm reminded again!!  Pray for peace of your country, pray for security, pray for peace in your walls and all the way down to the citadels or our families.  Never stop talking to God about what is troubling you and then accept the peace that he offers.  It is a very restful place to be in the arms of God. 

Nehemiah 4:15-16

Nehemiah 4:15-16

When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work. From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah

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After this full week of being frustrated to the point of hatred with our politicians and general malaise in my life it is comforting to read that God is aware and frustrates plots.  I don't know what the mind of God since the Bible clearly says that his thoughts and His ways are higher than my thoughts and my ways.  Thank goodness, Lord, that they are!  Thank you for knowing what needs to be frustrated and what doesn't.  I will go back to work on my work and leave the big picture of things to you so that you will watch over me with the your higher thoughts and ways.  I should work and be prepared.  Thank you for reminding me God.

Psalm 34:10

Psalm 34:10

The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. 

 

It's the perfect verse for today.  I feel angry.  I feel angry about what is happening in our U.S. congress, I feel angry about the erosion of American rights.  I feel angry at President Obama.

I don't recall being this angry about politics before and I fear for our government and way of life. 

So, I needed to be reminded that God is in charge.  God is in charge!  That He is who I follow regardless of what is happening in the world.  All that roaring and stomping about matters little when God is in charge.  

 

Thank you for reminding me God.  

Psalm 34:1

Psalm 34:1

I will extol the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. 

 

What can I say about this verse, except, "Let it be, Lord, oh, Let it be!"

Matthew 7:28-29

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. 

 

What must that have sounded like?  To be amazed by the sound of his teaching because he taught as one of authority and not as the teachers of the law?  My idea of the teachers of the law are those of a pious nature.  When I imagine them as the Bible has described, they are full of self-righteousness,  hands in the air, giving for show people.  So when Jesus talked with authority and the only authority they had known up until that time were those teachers of the law, how was it that he talked?  Was it magical?  The sound of his voice, I mean?  What does speaking as one who had authority sound like?  How does it sound when one talks in such a way that it touches the very depth of your soul.  How wonderful it must have been to hear God speak.

Matthew 6:22

Matthew 6:22

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 

Remember that song we sang as kids, "Be careful little eyes what you see."  This is exactly what this verse is talking about.  If you keep your eyes viewing what is good in his site then you will be full of His light.  How do you do that then, and see those that need help, that need love..... the poor, the dirty, the sinners?  Because everything is viewed through Christ.  If I view these things through Him, then I see the wonder that he can do in a life... fill it full of light.  If I shine the light into darkness, there is no more darkness.  But I have to beware to always look at the light that He is shining.

Be careful little eyes what you see.

Matthew 5:14-16

Matthew 5:14-16

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

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This is one of my favorite verses..... given my last name how could it not be.  That aside, I want to walk around as a light.  God has blessed me with an ability to be an encouragement to others.  I try to use it to the best of my ability and His light does shine when I'm looking to him for the words and the help, he shines right through.  Anytime I think it is ME doing the shining though, it is dull, limp and has no long-lasting effect. 

It is a good reminder that you may be the light post on the end of a dark street and you are placed there to shine God's light and help someone through the darkness.  You may not be the light in their life all the time, but you are the joy of the Lord to shine when He needs you.

I must remember that all the time. 

Psalm 138:2

Psalm 138:2

I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. 

 

Bowing down is something I don't do near enough.  To really offer honor and praise is to assume a position of giving honor. So many traditions in history of bowing to offer honor and praise.  Why have we lost those traditions? 

Revelation 4:8

Revelation 4:8

Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.' 

Aww, Revelation, that mysterious book that has easier explanations than what most people want to believe.  None the less, this scripture to never stop saying, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.  The perfect mantra for everything, every day, all day long. 

"Holy, holy holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is and is to come."

Saying it, thinking it, repeating it. 

"Holy, holy holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is and is to come."
It brings such humility, honor, pride, praise. To be in Him to repeat this statement....
"Holy, holy holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is and is to come."
To be His child while saying it with joy......
"Holy, holy holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is and is to come."
To honor Him in this way brings honor to me in a humble way to be able to sing these praises to Him. 

It is honor to praise.  It is honor to sing.  It is honor to praise the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!

Matthew 4:18-20

Matthew 4:18-20

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.' At once they left their nets and followed him. 

 

I have often tried to imagine how this might work for me.  If I saw Jesus coming would I go?  Was there something extraordinary about him as the man that your soul would instinctively know to follow him?   I was raised to believe in Christ and I think I would go, but I'm such a "rule" follower. Would I go?  Would I be Martha instead of Mary?  I'm so grateful that Peter and Andrew went.  They have provided some excellent examples for how I should and shouldn't be.  That I might say, "yes" now.

Philippians 2:3-4

Philippians 2:3-4

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

I wonder if I do this enough?  I do it sometimes and sometimes I am selfish.  I think back on the years that I KNOW I did things out of selfish ambition.  I tried to act like I wasn't, but I was manipulating the whole situation to get what I wanted.  I pray God does not hold those things against me.  

Looking to the needs of others has always seemed easy for me, which usually means that I'm not looking hard enough if I find it easy.  God usually doesn't want you to do what's easy for you, He picks things he gave you a talent for and then pushes beyond the boundaries.  I don't like being pushed beyond my boundaries usually.  Oy, I am convicted by this verse.

Ecclesiastes 10:12

Ecclesiastes 10:12

Words from a wise man's mouth are gracious, but a fool is consumed by his own lips.

 

When wise means to just be quiet and let someone else talk themselves into understanding, do I be quiet?  Can I be quiet and listen?  Listen for God's wisdom?  Do I flap my lips just to hear myself supposedly speak wisely?  I do sometimes, yes, I do. :0(  I don't want to be labeled a fool, but here I am.  

God I pray that you will give me the wisdom to speak when you want me to speak and to do so with YOUR grace. 

1 Corinthians 13:3

1 Corinthians 13:3

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

 

This entire chapter is often used in marriage ceremonies, the love chapter of the Bible.  It has taken me much longer to truly learn about how love works than I would have wanted it to.  To understand God's all encompassing love is a difficult one.  How can he love me and hate my sin when my sin has become such a deep part of me?  How can I love so completely that I can look beyond someone's sins and teach them that God loves them, that I love them through God? .... but still disapprove of the sin?   If I don't love that way, I gain nothing!

Love is being able to speak the truth in such a way that the person may hate you for what you say, but know that you weren't speaking it in hate, but through the love of God.  Love for God is knowing him so well, that I would give whatever he asked of me so that His word and love would get through.   

 

To learn this principle is the key to being his child.  Oh that my love would increase. 

Philippians 4:12-13

Philippians 4:12-13

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

 

 

I'd like to say I know what it is like to be really in want.  But, being an American, I can't even begin to compare myself with people that are in Haiti right now, enduring so much devastation.  I do know what it is like to be morally wanting.  I know what it is like to have plenty to share and to share it.  I know what it is like to want to have His strength to endure. I know that the secret to being as Paul has described is to KNOW that God is ready to help you through whatever it is if you are HIS.  And that is what gives peace no matter what the situation. 

Matthew 26:31-33

Matthew 26:31-33

Then Jesus told them, 'This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: ''I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.' Peter replied, 'Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.' 

 

Oh the sorrow Peter must have felt. I don't even have the physical look of Christ's disappointment to look me in the eye as Peter did. And yet, he does look at me and he sees beyond the physical.  Right into my heart, into my soul.  I feel the sorrow of him looking at me when I do something that he wouldn't like.  When I don't corral a thought or when I don't do something I should.   I'm so glad he has arisen!  

Isaiah 54:10

Isaiah 54:10

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you. 

 

In these days of earthquakes and tsunami's this is great comfort!  Nothing can move God from his love for me.  Nothing I can do will remove his love from me.  I may move from him, I may make bad choices, I might shake my world to the core, but I choose to do those things.  He doesn't remove his love or compassion from me. I do.  

One of my favorite quotes from a movie is, "Some things are true whether you choose to believe them or not."  Nicolas Cage says that in the movie City of Angels.  I have it on my facebook page.  Another similar quote from the recently cancelled TV show Pushing Daisies where the PI Cod says, "The truth is not a litter of puppies running around until you pick the one you like.  There is only one truth."  God is like that.  He is true and we can choose whatever we like, but the truth is we have to Choose HIM.  He is there waiting to have compassion on us when our world is shaking we just have to turn and look. 

Thank you God for having love, peace and compassion for me.  I need it every day.

Malachi 3:17-18

Malachi 3:17-18

'They will be mine,' says the LORD Almighty, 'in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

 

I so hope that I am a treasured possession to him.  That I am the son/daughter with whom he will be compassionate.  That I am among the righteous and not the wicked.  I am confident that I am most days.  But, I know I can't earn my way there and I'm so grateful for the grace that he mentions in this verse. 

Mark 1:9-11

Mark 1:9-11

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: 'You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased. 

 

What pride God must have had in his son to say that to him.  I know that anytime my parents said they were pleased with me, I stood a little taller.  How much more will it be for me when God says that he is pleased with me and welcomes me home.  

 

I also wonder sometimes why there is a battle between religions over baptism.  Why would we not do what Jesus did?  It is the example he gave us. 

 

There are many more examples that Jesus has done that I want to follow as well. 

 

2 Peter 1:3-4

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

2 Peter 1:3-4 NIV

So many things we cause by our evil desires.  Here God says he has given us the very power to escape that corruption and evil desire.  I pray that I always avail myself of the option to depart an evil desire and run through the escape hatch he provides instead of just hanging around and see if he will pluck me out of it.  I need to run through the door provided.