Whose Armor are You Wearing?

Whose Armor are You Wearing?
Missy Grant

Let’s just get this off my chest right now….I have to sit down and write this blog entry and I don’t want to. I don’t want to talk about fruit of the vine, and ‘just sprout where God plants you’, and ‘all things work together for God’s purposes’….. I’m in a mood. Because of that mood I almost intentionally ate an entire box of these……today.

(as if I would unintentionally do that!) It doesn’t help the waist line, but my oh my….it did give me a sugar buzz (No, I don’t do coffee) and once I stopped coughing from the powder sugar I accidentally inhaled, life seemed a little brighter. Then again, maybe it was just the sunlight filtering through the powdered sugar which was floating in my kitchen. Not sure…Ever felt like this? I am thinking so, otherwise the Hostess company would not be doing such high volume of sales. Now, that all being said, I now have to pray and confess a few things to the Lord. Be right back…..

OK…In all seriousness I asked the Lord to forgive for my lack of faith, my lack of trust, and my lack of belief in the promises of scripture. He is worthy of our praise, not because we came to Him, but because He first loved us!

I want to share a story with you. This story comes from 1 Samuel 17 starting with verse 20. (hang in there…this is long, but hey…it is Saturday)

“20 Early in the morning David left the flock with a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. 21 Israel and the Philistines were drawing up their lines facing each other. 22 David left his things with the keeper of supplies, ran to the battle lines and greeted his brothers. 23 As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. 24 When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in great fear.

25 Now the Israelites had been saying, "Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his father's family from taxes in Israel."

26 David asked the men standing near him, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?"

27 They repeated to him what they had been saying and told him, "This is what will be done for the man who kills him."

28 When Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, "Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle."

29 "Now what have I done?" said David. "Can't I even speak?" 30 He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before. 31 What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him.

32 David said to Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him."

33 Saul replied, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth."

34 But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."
Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you."

38 Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. 39 David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.
"I cannot go in these," he said to Saul, "because I am not used to them." So he took them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

41 Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. 42 He looked David over and saw that he was only a boy, ruddy and handsome, and he despised him. 43 He said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 "Come here," he said, "and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!"

45 David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."

48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.”

I want to talk about the section where King Saul gives David his personal armor (v 20). Do you find that portion of scripture intriguing? I do. This young man putting on the Kings Armor (which didn’t fit) and the young David basically saying, “Um….this doesn’t work for me. I can’t move in this. Truthfully, Saul, this really isn’t my style.” I read something recently written by Norris Smith which said, “Our attempts to copy somebody else is like ‘wearing Saul’s Armor.”

Have you been trying to wear someone else’s armor lately? Doesn’t fit so well, does it? A little long here, a little tight there, a little heavy. Armor was made specifically for the body that was to wear it. No hand me downs. Psalm 139 talks deeply about how the Lord knows you. He has made armor just for you. You will find the explanation in these verses from Ephesians 6:10-11, 14-17 which says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” “Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, in addition to all taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

OK….I think that is much better advice than eating a box of donuts. The trappings of this earthly life will constantly pull at your carnal desire to wear someone else’s armor. Try and remember these thoughts the next time you are stirred to do just that….1. It won’t fit, it belongs to someone else. 2. God created armor just for you, go and find it (in His word and praying with a friend). 3. Thank the Lord for putting on the 'armor of sin' and wearing it on our behalf so we didn't have to.

Lord Almighty, you are the only armor I desire to wear - to image forth your glory and not those around me. I confess I can easily pick up someone else’s armor and try it on for awhile. In doing so I am forgoing my trust and faith in you. Help me take off any armor not built for me and only put on the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. Praising you today, Lord. Amen

His Powerful Energy

His Powerful Energy

Kate Hasson

Here is my first entry. Honestly, I'm scared. I know who I am, the real me, on the inside, and I can't believe I was asked to contribute to this blog. I don't know much, I am by nature more of a surfacey person cause its hard for me to go deep, I am easily distracted from following Christ 100%, I want to pray without ceasing yet almost always find an excuse to put it off, don't make time for consistent quiet times even when I know that its exactly what I need, I have a difficult time writing and certainly don't know how to lead a spiritual blog conversation. Yet here I am completely humbled to be included in this great group of women. Just reading over the previous posts I have been quite blessed and wonder what it is God will have me bring to the table.
I have decided that I'm not going to write a lot. The less words I use the less trouble I'll be in and the less confusion I'll create. I'm not going to try to exposit the scriptures or announce some great truth. I'm just going to let you get a peek at me, my young heart, and hopefully give you a glimpse at the goodness and greatness of the compassionate God who has rescued me.
Here are the scribblings of my thoughts, and my prayer as I send these out is that you will be drawn closer to our Savior by reading these than if you hadn't at all.
Fondly, Kate

Colossians 1:28-29
"Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me."

How many times have I read the Word and yet new things still leap out at me! Praise the Lord! Otherwise, bible reading would eventually become quite a bore.
What was new to me in this passage is when it read "...struggling with all HIS energy that HE powerfully works within me." Paul is toiling to preach the gospel with Christ’s energy. God allowed him to obey by empowering him to do so. Why do I always forget that as a Christian, Jesus has given me what I need to glorify the Almighty? The tangebleness of my body/self and the world around me fogs up my knowledge of the true reality that I can only obediently live by the energy Christ powerfully works within me. Regretfully I usually look at my good deeds and assume that I am doing well because I’m trying hard or just because I can. Shame! This verse was a great reminder for how I ought to think. I have come to see that my view of Christ is very important, for once I see that He is the provider of all my energy, then I will know that nothing I do or feel is of my own will or strength but His. And, hallelujah, He will receive the glory in two ways: 1. in my obedience and life of gospel proclamation through His strength, and 2. because He is a gracious giver of His powerful energy. Its not about me, its all about Him.

Too Much to Handle

TOO MUCH TO HANDLE

by Debbi Weeks

I heard it again, just this week. Someone said, “I know God won’t give me more than I can handle.” It’s always bothered me to hear someone say that. Maybe it’s because I don’t see that principle in scripture, but more than likely it’s because I haven’t seen it played out in my life – in fact, I see just the opposite in my life. I am consistently given more than I can handle. Pastor Tim likes to say that he’s in over his head. In scripture, I’m reminded of Joseph…and Moses…and Mary, the mother of Jesus…and many, many others in its pages who were given way more than they could handle.

What I learn from these examples is that I think God’s favorite place for us to be is where we have more than we can handle. In that place we recognize we are fully reliant on Him. Sometimes we need to be in over our heads before we recognize it and God loves that. In fact, He orchestrates our lives for us to be in the place where we can’t handle it, because He doesn’t want us to handle it anyway. He is a sovereign God that brings circumstances into our lives that force us to our knees and to cling to Him.

Consider what 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 has to say, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” NASB Pastor Tim might add, “I am under water, but I have not drowned.” J

The Believer’s Bible Commentary says this about these verses, “We may wonder why the Lord allowed His servant to go through such testings and trials. We would think that he could have served the Lord more efficiently if He had allowed his pathway to be free from troubles. But this Scripture teaches the very opposite. God, in His marvelous wisdom, sees fit to allow His servants to be touched by sickness, sorrow, affliction, persecution, difficulties, and distresses. All are designed to break the earthen pitchers so that the light of the gospel might shine out more clearly.”

So, we’re given too much, but not too, too much. God is there making us reliant on Him. He gives me too much for me to handle, but not too much for Him to handle through me. The balance comes from Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” – And, I can only do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Father God, Praise You for Your sovereign plan in giving more than I can handle.

Forgive me for my arrogant thinking when I think that I could somehow handle it on my own.

Thank you for loving me enough to make me completely dependent on You.

Please help me to remember that although I am afflicted, I am not crushed; that although perplexed, I am not despairing; that although persecuted I am not forsaken; and that although struck down, I am not destroyed. And above all, help me to live remembering that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

In Christ’s Name, Amen

Hormones and Timers

Hormones and Timers
Sue Donaldson

Our stove timer is hormonal. It’s so sensitive. You lean ever so slightly against the front of the stove, and off it goes, startling any unsuspecting cook. (Hey, I didn’t mean to touch you. Give it a rest!) It’s so stubborn. You set it, hoping it goes off in 12 minutes. Returning to the smell of burnt cookies, you see it was stuck at five minutes to the hour, refusing to budge. It’s so cavalier. You never know when it will decide to work. I have returned from all–day errands to the sound of the timer finally sounding its annoying and very late reminder. It needs its own timer. When I’m thinking properly, I also set my microwave timer. And if I’m very smart, I set my Pampered Chef timer and clip it on my shirt. I’m not always thinking. I’m not always smart.

I can relate to my timer.

I, too, am hormonal (at times, overly sensitive, stubborn, sounding off with unreliable outbursts, startling unsuspecting family members – Be careful. . .here comes mom. . .) Maybe you have your own list. I told my prayer buddettes yesterday that I was feeling blue and I thought it was hormonal. They all nodded their heads, commiserating. (That’s what buddettes are for—sympathetic nodding.) But, I wanted to set a timer on my mood. Laurie Potratz said, “Limit the time you feel sorry for yourself.”

That’s good advice. Go ahead and have your pity party- but set the timer! (don’t use the one on my stove – you could end up crying all day. . . ) When it goes off, get over it. Pass on the pity and go for the praise. Excuse me a moment. I need to go find my Pampered Chef timer.

Here’s a bit of David’s pity party: “My strength fails . . . I am in anguish . . . I am a dread to my friends. . . I am forgotten. . .”

And, here’s the time limit he set: “But I trust in You, O Lord, You are my God, my times are in Your hands. . .Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” (Psalm 31)

Lord,

I’m blue. I am feeling a little sorry for myself. No particular reason – okay, maybe some reasons are a tiny bit legitimate-- but not in light of the burdens of the world. I want to set a time limit on my groaning and grousing. Actually, I think I just did. Thanks. sue

Reflections on Yosemite

Reflections on Yosemite

Peggy Brown

As I wandered around Yosemite last week, I was once again awestruck by the mighty mountains! If you’ve never been there, you have missed out. There they were rising above everything in grand majesty, with powerful waterfalls flowing down granite faces.

They looked as though they had been there from eternity past.

As we walked around, a verse that I had learned as a child kept running through my mind. Psalm 121:1-2 in the King James version.

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills; from whence cometh my help?

My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.”

Considering what I was seeing all around me, I found myself contemplating what a mighty God we have. It just didn’t seem enough to lift my eyes to the hills; it seemed like I should be encouraged to look to the mountains, large and powerful; the kind of mountains that God could stride over in one step to bring me my much needed help.

When I got home, I looked up the verses on my computer in the New American Standard Bible, and read this:

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from whence shall my help come?

My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.

The sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul.

The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.

Psalm 121:1-8

We have a God who will bring us help when we look for it. He doesn’t slumber or sleep. That is a PROMISE! The question is how big is your God? Is He big enough to stride over the mountains to catch you when your foot is about to slip? Is he mighty enough to protect you from ALL evil and keep your soul?

What is your view of God? Is it a hill view or a mountain view? Read over these verses several times. In fact, why don’t you write them on a card and memorize them? (Don’t tell me you can’t memorize…you know your address and phone number don’t you…what about your kid’s birthdays?) When those times come (and we all know they will) when you look for your help, the Word will remind you that you can lift up your eyes to the mountains and look for help from the Lord “who made heaven and earth.” He “will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever”!

Lord,

My view of you is so small. I want to fit you into my own box, and I want to see you work in my own ways. Help me to lift my eyes UP! Give me a heart to receive the help that you are waiting to send me. Enlarge my understanding to see that you are my keeper, that You will protect me from all evil. Thank you that you never sleep, but that You watch over me constantly. I love you. Amen

Where is Your Gaze?

Where is Your Gaze?

Missy Grant

“But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!” And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene---walk!” Acts 3:4-5.

In my morning time with the Lord a few weeks ago I was struck anew with the scripture story related in Acts 3. The background to this scripture is a lame man was taken to the East Gate (Gate Beautiful) of the Temple each and every day. The purpose for this lame man was to beg money off of those entering the temple. Little did he know the encounter he was about to have with two of Christ’s strong ones, Peter and John. There are several points of interest in the scripture worth studying, but today I would like to encourage you with just a couple of thoughts.

Where is your gaze? Did you notice the first thing Peter said? He said, “Look at us!” Why did he do that? Why is it so important to actually look at what we are to be focusing on? A teacher will tell you she knows her students are fully engaged when she has eye contact with each of them. A counselor will tell you they can discern the depth of a clients struggles by the lack or intensity of eye contact. Beth Moore makes the point that where your gaze is directly affects what you are hearing….! Aahhh…there it is. The crux of it. Peter had something very important to say to the lame man. He didn’t start to speak to the man until he was assured the man was giving him the attention needed for what Peter was about to do. Peter needed the man to LISTEN.

The second point of interest is the line which says, “…expecting to receive something…” I have been studying verbs in scripture recently. It is an interesting activity to engage in. In Hebrews 11, I noticed the verbs primarily line up in two columns - those action words of doing something and those action words of receiving something. The lame man of the above scripture had two actions to take (well three if you include the walking bit…!). He had to turn his gaze on Peter (look at him), but he needed to do it with an expectant heart. Ouch…for those of us who don’t receive so well, that is a hard one.

Where do you find yourself this morning? Are you looking to the Lord our God – not just a mere glance, but looking him fully in the face? Have you seen the movie Prince Caspian, yet? Two memorable lines are: (Lucy and Aslan speaking to each other) Aslan says, “Lucy, why then did you stop looking for me?” Lucy replies out of humility…”I’m sorry.” Peter and Lucy are speaking earlier and Peter says to her with a contrite heart, “Why didn’t He show Himself to me?” Lucy replies, “Maybe because you weren’t looking for Him.” Whew….where is your gaze today? Are you expectantly looking at Him? Is your heart in a place to receive His reply of grace….?

Lord God Almighty, forgive us for our wandering eyes and ears. Let us never stop looking to you with our full attention. When we wander and start asking the question, “…why didn’t He show Himself to me?” gently remind us of our need to seek you. You are worthy of praise. Amen.

Taking Time

Taking Time...
lisa leonard

our younger son, matty has been frustrated lately. he gets angry quickly, then is quick to apologize. his fuse is short and his coping is limited. it's not completely his fault. life has been busy. work, school, weekend trips, time with friends...it starts to feel like our days are packed from sunrise to twilight. we've been working on using gentle words and a gentle touch. we've been praying for a tender heart that loves others and desires to be obedient. we've been trying to be more consistent with consequences and making time to focus, and play and snuggle. sometimes parenting feels like a guessing game and i am consistently reminded of my need for grace. i need to take time to sit before my heavenly Father making my needs known to him. so, in the busyness of life matty is reminding us to take time to take time. what do you need to take time for today?

Welcome to Thursdays

Our travels together on Thursdays will be led by Lisa Leonard, but unfortunately she won't be available to join our journey until next week. Enjoy this devotional from Pearls of Great Price by Joni Tada (May 17th...)

Speech Writing

"And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times. Psalm 12:6

I read an article recently about the president's speech writer. It described the intensity and scrutiny that goes into writing a speech for the president. When crafting an important address, the writer goes to great pains selecting the exact verbs, adverbs, nouns, and adjectives. Every word is carefully scrutinized to fit the overall strategy of the administration. No word appears in a speech by accident. No pronoun is used carelessly. Each subject and predicate fits perfectly.

Now if a president goes to such lengths to handcraft every solitary word so that his message comes across clear and concise, when can we say about the Word of God, the Bible? Would there be any throwaway words? Any thoughtless expressions? Of course not. Everything fits perfectly. If a presidential speech writer sweats over every word, then you know the Holy Spirit has taken far greater pains with the living, eternal Word of God.

Friend, this is helpful to remember as we come to the Lord in prayer. First Peter 4:11 tells us that "if anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God." We don't need a speech writer to remind us of the importance of preparing our hearts before speaking, or of searching for his overall strategy before petitioning...or of weighting our words before offering them before the throne of the Almighty. Your words have power before the Lord---more power than you realize.

Surrender your soul, center your thoughts, ask the Spirit for help, weigh your words. Then pray with joy and certainty that God will take those words to accomplish his grand and glorious purpose!

Forgive me Lord, for rote, thoughtless, or distracted prayers. Thank you for the grace that though you are the awesome Sovereign of the universe, you are also Abba Father, and you treasure the words of your child."

Cherish This Time

Cherish This Time
by Debbi Weeks

I remember when my children were young and people would tell me, “Oh, cherish this time, it goes by so quickly.” Truthfully, on most days those people should have been glad I didn’t deck them! Some of those days (heck, some of those minutes in some of those days) seemed like an eternity in and of themselves.

But now that I have almost launched my last kidlet, I find myself wondering, “Where did the time go?” From this vantage point I’d have to say that time did pass amazingly fast. I’ve been known to say that “the hours and days pass by so slowly, but those weeks, months and years just seem to fly by.” I definitely see that as truth looking back over this previous stage in life.

We got a new computer a few weeks ago and it sits in our bedroom. Matt somehow downloaded (or uploaded – I never know which direction I’m going on a computer! J) some videos we took of our kids while they were growing up. Each night before we go to bed he puts one on (we didn’t have a video camera when the kids were small, so it’s just a few scenes from when we borrowed one that we watch over and over and over again!) and we laugh and try to remember when the kids were so small – and we were smaller ourselves! We’re thankful for these memory-joggers because our memories aren’t what they used to be either.

So all of this has got me pondering Psalm 90:12 lately. Here it is in a few different translations:

“Teach us how short our lives really are so that we may be wise.” NCV

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” NIV

“So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” NASB

Here’s what The Believer’s Bible Commentary has to say about Psalm 90:12,

“ . . .value every day of our lives and spend each one in obedience to Him, and in such a way that it will count for eternity.”

And, The Bible Knowledge Commentary says this, “Because life is so brief, and because it is spent under God’s wrath on sin, the psalmist, representing God’s people, implored God for wisdom in numbering their days, that is, realizing how few they are.”

I guess what this verse means to me is that time is God’s domain. It may seem long or it may seem to zoom by for me, but I am to look at the time I have as God’s gift to me to live out in obedience to Him – whether it’s those long days of small children or the days that go by so fast I can’t remember the morning in the afternoon, His desire for me is to realize that my time here is short and then live wisely. Join me in reflecting . . . and living?

Father God, thank you that You are the Sovereign Creator of all and that You know the number of each of our days.

I confess that I take this life for granted and that I do not live purposefully when I don’t recognize how short my life really is.

Thank you for helping me to recognize that this life is fleeting.

Help us to see it as short so that we make the most of each and every day – living in a way that will count for eternity.

In Christ’s Name, Amen.

Needing Any Help, Lord?

Needing Any Help, Lord?

By Sue Donaldson

I keep thinking God needs my help.

I mean, I must think that. Why else would I open my mouth (just a little)

one more time (just in case . . .)

to expedite things (just a bit . . .)?

You’ve heard of the spiritual disciplines – meditating, fasting, praying, etc. I think the hardest discipline is: TRUSTING (without offering my help.)

It takes discipline for me to trust God. To give Him that which bothers me, hurts me, worries me.

I can whip out that familiar childhood verse: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5,6) But the words can glide right past my tongue and miss my heart altogether. After all, the verse must really say: “Trust in the Lord and then help Him out a little and then He will make it all come out just the way we wanted . . .” – right?

Who am I trusting . . .

. . .when I fret? (What if she never gets a job? a husband? a house?)

. . .when I nag? (I’ll just mention this one more time to Mark, just in case he didn’t quite get it.)

. . .when I care about what others are thinking? (Let me set her straight on this and then she’ll finally understand me.)

. . .when I stew? (I’ll figure out what’s best for her and then let her know—in a loving way, of course.)

Who am I trusting? Let’s see. That would be me.

Fretting, worrying, stewing, defending, nagging does not equal trusting the God of the universe or the Lord of my heart. I need His help--not the other way around.

Prayer for Tuesday (and everyday) ~

“Lord God,

Thank You for Proverbs 3:5 and 6. You are trustworthy. I just forget.

Thank You for Your grace. I know You’ve forgiven me already.

When I stew and fret and worry and nag, may I remember You don’t need my help. You just want my heart, wholly leaning on You.

Trusting (in part, for now) and grateful (you don’t need my help.) Sue

Welcome

Good Morning,

We welcome you to our devotional blog. Today you will only see this welcome with the daily devotionals starting tomorrow. It is our hearts desire to encourage you in the Lord's word. To allow the Lord to use us in a way which we pray will bring glory to His name. We hope your God given desire to sojourn with us will be a blessing to you as well.

The opening scripture on the blog is, "I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord..." Psalm 121:1. This blog is meant to encourage you. To get you to think about your daily walk with the Lord, to challenge your thoughts and bring you closer to Him. There will be times in reading along together where you will find great joy, great humor, deep thought, and deep sorrow. Take heart. It is the journey of life. Six writers will contribute to this journey. All six profess Christ as their Lord and Savior and have hearts that seek after the Lord.

Feel free to comment along the way. We look forward to engaging with you. We are moderating comments to protect the integrity of the blog, but will post the comments as quickly as possible. Take time to look through the site and read through the sidebar. Information is posted there on who we are, why we put the blog together, how to contact us and how to utilize the information from the blog.

The closing scripture at the base of the blog is, "Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present in you." 2 Peter 1:12. May the Lord be glorified in our efforts to communicate His truths to you.

Thank you for sojourning with us....