His Glory Fills The Earth!

In a great chorus they sang, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty!  The whole earth is filled with His Glory!

Isaiah 6:3

Everywhere we look there is evidence of God's glory.  His beautiful workmanship is evident in nature through the snowcapped mountains, a colorful sunset, and something as simple as green grass.  There isn't one place we can't go where He doesn't have his artwork on display.  God's amazing power is shown through the complex creatures living deep beneath the sea, in the tiger crouching low to attack its prey, and in the tiny ants that are crawling all over the ground.  God's glory is everywhere, it fills the whole earth!  God is seen in the miraculous healing of one's illness, and the amazing strength He provides His children fighting that illness.  His glory is on display when a lost son finds his way home and a sinner becomes a saint.  From the mighty crashing waves to the sound of a newborn baby cry, His Glory fills the earth!  Praise God!  Amen and Amen!

.......And So We Pray

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.  There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.

Hebrews 4:16

There was a time in the not so far past that I prayed for things randomly here and there when I thought of them.  Usually at bedtime and when situations popped up.  I understood that God heard my prayers and I trusted Him to answer me but I never really took my faith to that next level.  I never went boldly to God and demanded answers and I never took that next step of faith that showed me living my belief.  When I study this scripture I see myself entering God's presence with boldness and a confidence that shows that I believe God will answer me.  Instead of just cowering and asking for the same things, I want to be a person who expects results.  I want to believe with everything I have that God will give me my deepest desires and show me answers to my biggest problems.  A positive attitude brings positive results and going to God with boldness and expectance is a positive thing!   

Do you go to God with expectations?  Do you believe that what you ask for you will possess?  Start approaching God with boldness, and a confidence that won't give the devil a chance to sneak his lies into your mind and heart.  If you are going through the motions and just jabbering with God then start today to ask in confidence and with the expectation that you will receive answers.  Don't waste your time just talking if you don't truly believe that God hears and answers you.    

We have courage in God's presence, because we are sure that He hears us if we ask Him for anything that is according to His will.  He hears us whenever we ask Him; and since we know this is true, we know also that he gives us what we ask from Him.  

(1 John 5:14-15)

It Hurts!

Our son has recently had surgery. He's a tough kid and never complains. I admire both his physical and emotional strength. But today, he's hurting and telling us about it. As a mom, I hate that for several reasons. First, I'm supposed to be able to make his hurts go away. We do this for our children from the time they are first born. They cry, and we know just what to do to make them content. Second, he has things he needs to be doing and his hurt is keeping him from going on about life.
As I prayed for him last night I asked God just to touch him and take the hurt away. I asked for a miraculous healing. It was not to be so. Not that God can't, but obviously there is something to learn by someone through this pain. It may be me, my son, or someone else, but there will no healing until the lessons are learned.
But even in this trial, I am praising God because of his faithfulness. I emailed our son's doctor this morning. Within 30 minutes he called back with a plan-- intense antibiotics and a trip to the oral surgeon. Healing will come because God has given men and women wisdom to heal our bodies. He has provided medications to fight infections and heal sickness. I'm praising because I can have conversations with my son about God's faithfulness and timing.
I'm also praising because his word to me today was this- "I trusted in the Lord when I said, 'I am greatly afflicted." Psalm 116-10
God knows what we need and he knows the timing in providing those things. So, what is it you're waiting on? What is it that God could heal in a moment, but that he's chosing to allow time to delay? Look for his faithfulness even in the pain. Look for his blessings even in the wait!
He loves you, knows your need and will come at just the right time. He is the ultimate healer!

Sunday Scripture

But now God has shown us a different way of being right in His sight - not by obeying the law but by the way promised in the Scriptures long ago.  We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins.  And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.  For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard.  Yet now God in His gracious kindness declares us not guilty.  He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins.  For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God's anger against us.  We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed His blood, sacrificing His life for us.  God was being entirely fair and just when He did not punish those who sinned in former times.  And He is entirely fair and just in this present time when He declares sinners to be right in His sight because they believe in Jesus.  

Romans 3:21-26

Amen a thousand times!  Thank You Jesus!

Before I Even Ask

"Before they call I will answer. While they are still speaking I will be here."     

 Isaiah 65:24

I have to be honest today and tell you that worry and doubt are my two greatest sins. I worry about things that never come about, and I spend a lot of time wondering how God will work things out when I don't see a clear pattern for them to find resolution. I fear how a situation will play out when I should be sitting back in my Father's arms waiting for the solution to come to me; for this is how He works.

God knows I have 'freak out' down to an art form, so he often speaks to my heart about a situation before it is even public. I feel a stirring in my soul or my devotions position me on alert. Sometimes in the night I wake up and feel him speak directly to my heart.  He gives me a 'heads up' so to speak so I have time to draw nearer to him and find the strength to handle what it to come.

Just as a parent sees their child's needs and prepares to help them before the child even asks, God knows what we need before we even know our own needs. He's already putting His Spirit, other people, and a means to carry us through the trial in place before we often know what is going on. Our job is to stay in communication with Him so that we don't miss what He's prepared for us. Isaiah 65:24 tells us that God says, "Before they call I will answer. While they are still speaking I will be here." Now that is a faithful Father! 

My Hope Is In Him

We put our hope in the Lord, He is our help and our shield.  In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His Holy name.  Let your unfailing love surround us Lord for our hope is in You alone.

Psalm 33:20-22

I have many things that I pray for on a daily basis but lately there has been one thing that I repeat and pray about several times a day.  I won't go into detail but it concerns my life as a foster parent and it deals with the hardship of an uncertain future for my family and the children we foster.  I know that I don't have all the answers, and although I have my thoughts on a system that at times seems failing, I put my one hope in My Lord because nothing else in life is guaranteed.  I know that placing my hope in God and giving Him my trust means that I don't have a say in what happens and with the help of God and a few friends I am slowly learning that I have the strength to do this.  So, if you know me and you see me on the streets you can ask me if it's hard to give my foster children back and my answer can be honest, and a big yes at times.  God's way is not always the easy way but as long as my hope is in Him I can trust the outcome is perfect and right.  Not even God says I have to love it or agree with Him, He just asks me to trust Him and that I do.  I believe He hears my prayers and I know that He will honor them.  I have learned to line up my will and prayers to go along with His desires for all human kind and I trust that what I ask Him will come true because it is what he would want for my foster children too.  So today I ponder my prayers and the Amazing Man who is listening to them at all hours of the day and night.  I visualize His listening ear right beside me as I place my trust in Him, out loud, just one more time, to ease the difficulty and calm my fears.  I am amazed at the peace I hold in my heart and when that peace starts to fade I begin to pray again.  I know that my God will honor His promise to fulfill the desires of my heart, His name is one the line and He is my help and my shield. 

He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; He hears their cries fro help and rescues them. 
Psalm 145:19

A Day in the SUN/SON

If you love summer as much as I do, you know that with it comes both work and relaxation. A day in the sun is my absolute favorite way to spend a summer day! But it takes preparation to spend a day in the great outdoors.
As a mom you have to get all the necessary supplies ready for a day in the SUN!
These include sunscreen and hats to protect from the intensity of the sun.
Lounge chairs are packed to relax and enjoy the beauty of the day and get that longed for tan and rest; the sun also provides energy so we can face the busyness of next day.
A life jacket for the little ones safety is a top priority.
And of course Aloe Vera for the "oops" when sunscreen wears off and the burn ensues!
Of course swimming makes one hungry so it's necessary to pack lunch and treats of all kinds.

As I think about a day in the sun I also think about living every day in the light of the SON!
John 8:12 tells us that 'Jesus is the light of the world.' In him there is rest and protection. Spending time in his presence energizes us and gives us strength to endure! And there is blessed grace and forgiveness for our "oops" moments. He is the daily bread we need.

But this doesn't just come to us without effort. It too takes preparation. It requires setting time aside to meet with our Savior. It takes effort to read the Bible instead of mindlessly watching TV or going shopping. Determine today to put in the work it takes to seek rest, protection, grace and forgiveness at the feet of Jesus!

Enjoy the rest of your summer living in the light of the Son and enjoying the sun that our Father has blessed us with!

*** The following is a special note from Emma, my granddaughter, who just can't keep her hands off the computer this morning! (It says, "Emma svimming life gacket!")

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