Today I chose Psalm 126:3
The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
It’s very simple, and a great reminder. We do have so much to be thankful for, and it all starts with God. I just pray that in this week of Thanksgiving, you remember why you have what you do. Try not to focus on the things, and put your focus instead on God. Without Him, we have nothing!
My little Matthew is fighting a cold, so we have been snuggling and surfing Godtube. We came across this one, and I was moved to tears, and still have chills. The artist is amazing, and the video with the music and art combined is so powerful! I had to share it with you. A few years ago my church had a Christmas tea, and we saw a young girl drawing in pastels to a song. When she finished, she turned the picture upside down, and it was Jesus wearing a crown of thorns. It was great! I think it’s hanging in our youth center.
So sit back and relax for the next 10 minutes and watch this beautiful video.
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OK, I don’t know what I’m doing. It keeps embedding the last video that we watched, which is also very good and powerful. Watch it, then head over to godtube and look for Jesus Painting. You will be moved.
This is my second Sunday Scripture post, following after Amy. Please check out her scripture as well!
I started this post a couple of hours ago, and a lot has changed since then. Sometimes it seems like the walls are falling down around me, but God brought me back to this. It is found in Philippians, and the lead in to these verses is Imitating Christ’s Humility. Verfses 2 and 3 are my favorite, but I’ll lead you in with verse 1. So Philippians 2:1-3 says this.
1. If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
To be humble means that we are conscious of our weaknesses and are quick to give credit to God and others for what we accomplish. We are dependent on God, we NEED God, because we are sinful by nature, and we can do nothing without the help of God. And sometimes other people can help us when they are humble. The bible has a God-centered view, and we need to have that view also.
Ok, I have to go on and finish this. Philippians 2:4-11Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
So let’s dissect that a little, because it is so good. Jesus is our example, and we should put others first. That’s what He did for us, isn’t it? Our attitude should be the same. Jesus was so humble that He left glory in heaven and made himself nothing, a servant, and was obedient to death for the sake of others. For the sake of us, you and me. He was made fully human, and had all the humanly temptations that we have, yet remained sinless. He humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross! For you and me. He came to serve us, and He came to sacrifice for us. I know I need to be more Christ like, and adjust my attitude to put others first, and be humble to the point of a servant. I pray that God will lead me in this journey, and show me the way.
I have been remiss. My dad called me Wednesday morning to ask me to get all my friends to pray for 2 couples. I did talk to them, and we have been praying. What I forgot was all of you. So now I am bringing you in on it. The first couple is Kent and Kayla. They are a beautiful christian couple who are unable to have children. They decided to adopt, because they just want to bring a child up in christian love. The first time fell through, for the reason I can’t remember right now. They were matched with another birth mom, and she chose them to love her child. It has all been going smoothly. With the due date approaching quickly, they had decorated the room, and some people had given them clothing. Kayla had not wanted the church to have a baby shower for them, just in case something happened and it didn’t go through. On Sunday at church they were both so excited, stating only 1 week and 2 days left before the baby was here. Two days later the birth mom called them to say that she had changed her mind. Kent told my dad that they had a lot of crying, but also a lot of praying. They felt like God knew more than they did, and He was stopping something that just wasn’t right for them. I am in awe of them and their faith. They know who is going to carry them through this. I have no doubt about that. I just ask that you would pray that God will continue to bless them with strength, especially as it gets closer to the delivery date that they have been so looking forward to. I ask that God will fill them with peace and joy, and provide for their needs. That they will feel Him working in their lives, and seek Him even more. Please pray for this couple as it touches your heart.
The next loving christian couple are Lance and Jenny. Lance was in a business situation that was not good for him, so he got out of it. Now he is looking for a job. They were a smart young couple, and have put back some money in savings, so he can take a short while to find something. That is not the concern. They are both under a great deal of stress, and I just pray that they let God take control and pull that stress away. They have started praying together, and are finding that is helping tremendously. I pray that their marriage and faith will continue to grow stronger, as they allow God to work in their lives.
These couples are members of my parents’ church, and have a great network of people there to pray, but prayer is so powerful! It is such a simple thing for us to do, and can bring such great blessings. I have felt the peace that prayer can bring to you in the midst of a struggle. He wants to help us. Christ died for us, to save us. Talk to Him continually.
As I said, the power of prayer is beautiful. I believe in His favor, mercy, love, grace, and healing. I will pray for you if you need it, so just ask. I am now a prayer team member of Christian Women Online because of this. Visit their prayer room sometime, or join the team too. God Bless You!
Sometimes it’s hard to get up and out of the mire of daily life and hassles, but when you focus on being thankful, your whole outlook changes. I learned this valuable lesson from Pam over at Without Fear. So Pam, I love your blog because it inspires me!
Here’s what I am thankful for right now…
1. Praise be to God, and his grace, mercy and love for me. I don’t always feel worthy, but He says I am!
2. My warm and cozy home that protects me from the elements. I pray for those people who are out on the streets without a place to call home.
3. My family is healthy. That is a big one, because we have all kinds of bad things going around in the school system right now.
4. The chance to touch others’ lives with prayer, because it is such a simple thing for me to do, but it has a tremendous impact.
5. My friends and family, because I know they are praying for me.
6. My husband, because I know in my heart that God placed us in the same location for a reason. We are meant to be together, and in his own way, he makes me strive to be a better person. I love him.
7. Fall is my favorite season. The spring and summer were so dry here, and I wondered what that would do to the fall colors. Well, God has taken out his paint and brushes, and the canvas before me is a glorious display of red, yellow, golden, and orange. I love it because everywhere I look I can see God!
8. The whole daylight savings time is something that this Indiana girl is just not used to, and frankly I struggle with it for about 3 months. So I really thought about this one. I am thankful for the time change because I can see the sunrise on my way home from dropping my dd off at school. We started the school year off by sharing the sunrise together, and then had a few weeks where it was dark when we left our house. Now we can share the splendor of the sky together again.
9. My recent motivation to take control of the clutter and get organized is still here. I am sticking with it, and seeing results. My kitchen sink is shining Flylady!
10. Last, but not least, I am thankful for the wonderful women who minister to me from their blogs. We may never meet one another in person, but I consider you all my friends.
If you’re inspired to follow suit with a Thursday Thanks Tank, grab the button and go see Pam to let her know.
Another great devotional from Beth Moore from last week that is still lingering in my heart. I just thought I’d share it.
WE WERE CREATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF GIVING CHRIST’S INVISIBLE CHARACTER A GLIMPSE OF VISIBILITY.
Lord, many have run this difficult race faithfully. I want to be among them.
Therefore, since I am surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,
help me throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,
and help me run with perseverance the race marked out for me.
Help me to fix my eyes on You, Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith,
who for the joy set before You endured the cross, scorning its shame,
and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb. 12:1-2).
As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will you, My God, rejoice over me at Your appearing (Isa. 62:5).
I have a late night confession for you. I have seen people wearing shirts with FBI emblazoned on the back and wondered what it meant. I knew it was not the Federal Bureau of Investigations, but couldn’t quite figure it out until this weekend. I was shopping at our local christian book store and spotted a card with FBI on the front. It stands for Firm Believer In Christ. I’ll share with you what the card says, because I love it so much. This is on the off chance that one of you out there is as slow as I am in picking up on some of these things!
The decision has been made, the die has been cast, and I have stepped over the line. As a disciple of Christ, I will no longer look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I’m finished with low living, sight walking, worldly talking, cheap giving, and tamed visions. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, power or popularity. I don’t have to be right, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, walk in VICTORY, and labor in love. The road before me is narrow and rough, but His commission is undeniable, thus my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have prayed up, praised up, paid up, and spoke up for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am a Christian, an Unashamed Firm Believer In Christ!
Wow! Let’s all go out with that attitude tomorrow!
I have a journal beside my bed that contains pages of my favorite verses of scripture. This is one of them.
Be joyful in hope, patient in suffering, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12
It just reminds me to always, always cling to God, through the good and bad, because He is always there for me.