God radiance

God's glory and His radiance is all around us! He is not hidden from those who want to see Him. When we seek God, we will find Him. 

Early mornings have become my favorite part of the day. It's quiet and peaceful. And I'm able to see God more clearly.

God's creation reveals so much about Elohim! 

He's beauty. He's alive. He's light. He's big, bigger then I can imagine. He's creative. He's new everyday. He's fresh. He's an artist. He's sovereign. He's omnipotent. He's omniscient. He's omnipresent. He's lovely. He's amazing. He's a giver. He's perfect. 

Romans 1:20

For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 

God is my Father

34 years ago tonight, my brother & sister and I watched as our earthly daddy collapsed right in front of us.

I've never written about this day but am drawn to writing today.

I will never forget that moment as long as I live.

My brother and sister and I went for a walk with our daddy after dinner. Mom and our friends stayed back cleaning up the dishes from supper.
It was a beautiful summer night. Dad was taking us around the pool and we were sharing together like kids do with their daddy's.
We loved our dad so much. He was the pillar of strength in our family of five. We all looked to him to guide us.
We didn't know then that those precious moments would soon be taken from us. I don't remember our conversation with dad on that walk. But I know it was fun and quiet and peaceful.
Then the moment came when right before three small kids, their dad fell down hard on the ground.
I can still see him falling. He fell hard. My brother at the ripe old age of 14 ran to his side as I ran back to the house to get others to help. Not sure about the horror my little baby sister felt in that moment when the peace and quiet was gone. I know now she was being held by God.
The noise and chaos increased over the next hours.
The ambulance came and took our daddy away. I will always have that picture of the ambulance driving away from us; no siren; only red flashing lights. Never again will I see my daddy this side of heaven but will have the snap shot in my head forever of our sweet quiet walk around that pool on August 28,1978.
On our daddy's grave site the date is written, August 29th,1978, but I know my dad went to be with Jesus on the 28th right in front of me. I learned later that doctors and nurses tried real hard to save him. Working on his body into the midnight hour. But Jesus called him home. His life you see was written already by God our Father, and it was time for him to go home. Isaiah 57:1-2 ( the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil - and they enter into peace. ) Psalm 139:16

As I look back today and ponder the million ways the Lord has been with me. My soul is full of the Lord's presence and He has taken care of the fatherless. Psalm 68:5 says HE is the father to the fatherless. I can say...YES He is. All the days for my earthly dad and for me are ordained by God. He determines when we take our first and last breath. He sustains us through both of those breaths.

I am thankful today for all the experiences the Lord has ordained for me. The Lord has used them all to knit me together in Him. Even the death of my daddy as a little girl. God, my Father replaced that missing person in my life. He moved right in and sat down with me. I walked with Him.
God my Father became my strength and guide for life.
The coolest thing about God is that He will never be weak for me. He will never fall down hard and be taken from me. He is and always will be present in my life. He is strong. He is safe. He is my Father who defends me and loves me.( Deuteronomy 33:12) I rest secure in Him. He shields me all day long. I rest between His shoulders.

God has been with me through the waters; He has kept me safe under His wings. He has been my refuge and strength. God is the Lord my God and Father. He who engineered the universe , is with me always.
The Lord who formed me for Himself, has asked me and commanded me to proclaim His praise.

Today, 34 years after the death of my dad's body, I shout with a Praise to the Lord, for He is good. And His mercies are new everyday. He is worthy to be praised forever and ever.

You see the Lord's ways are higher than ours. And when we live with our thoughts fixed on Him
 ( Hebrews 12:2 ) we really start to live.

Colossians 3:2-3 - Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

My dad is more alive now then he ever was. When our life is hidden in Christ with God, we are alive whether our bodies are dead or alive.

Deeply thankful to Jesus today - He is my Father <3

Getting distracted down here on this earth

I think one of the hardest things for me to face is not getting distracted, de-focused and getting entangled in the sin that so easily trips me up.

I must figure out how to live so focused in the heavenly realm so that I can live around this messy sin- corrupted place and not get tripped!
I must stand firm!
Galatians 5:1
Romans 12

Standing back up after getting tripped on my journey!

Broken

Why do we not see things broken as a possibility in the Hand of God?

Today, I was reminded by the Spirit of God that HE needs me to be broken in His Hands.

When I read the Word of God today, He broke me. He gently broke my spirit.

It's funny, isn't it when we people run only to the food that give us comfort? Is that the same way we are with God's Word? Do we love God Word only when it comforts us?

How much do we love God's word when it rebukes, corrects and trains us ( 2 Tim.3:16 )?

I liken this to the food we eat.

Ice cream and cookies and coffee and all the things that taste good to us, we eat.

We don't run to the kitchen to make broccoli, fish, other sorted vegetables, and consume them like we love them. Do we?

Jesus said HE is the bread of Life. We need to go to Him. The Word and consume His Words, even if what we read may taster bitter to us or give us a bad taste in our mouth.

When we eat the foods we may not like,( but the better ones for us ), we may get an upset stomach or have to run to the bathroom more often. =)

hmmm...interesting...the foods that make us do this, don't they clean us out?

Well, I think that is the way God's word works. So often, the "not- so- good -tasting- scripture" "cleans" us out or breaks us down.

We become broken vessels, able to be used by God.

Until we are broken, there is nothing in us able to be used by God.

In this broken state the Lord has provided for me today, I am reminded in

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

~ that God's grace is sufficient for me. His power is made perfect in my weakness. I will boast about my broken state ( my weakness ) so that Christ's power may rest on me. This is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak ( broken ), then I am strong. ~

Reminded today, I was not happy when my youngest daughter broke my salt & pepper shakers from Spain (a gift from my husband )

Broken things are a gift. Until I can see that, and stop and respond to God, I will be unhappy with many things and not concerned with the most important. JESUS

This broken vessel ( me ) is resting in my Maker's Hands today.

The Last day of 2011-

365 days have gone into the making of 2011 and I am always amazed at the happenings of God in each moment of those days that have past by.

There have been joys & sorrows , tears and laughing, sadness and happiness.
Many moments of pondering life and the way God has worked in my life and the life of my husband.
This year marked 25 years of our covenant marriage. In 25 years, God has knit us together through some amazing times and some very dark times. Such a mystery to me that God uses it all to knit our two souls together.
I love my husband today more than I have ever loved anyone else. God has been very good to us and kind.
His joy has been our strength.

Excited to journey forward and see how God will continue to sanctify us.
The attribute of God that excites me and gives me hope is His sovereignty.
God is sovereign- He holds me in the palm of His mighty hand and turns it all into something I could never have imagined my life to be.

So as I enter into another year (2012)
I place myself into the Sovereign Hands of God.
There, I am at peace. And joy becomes my companion through this life.
I praise the Lord for that is why I am created.

Thankful for the fact that I will see my three children not just grow into more of who God created them to be in 2012 but will see and know them in Heaven. They walk with God. And the joy this brings to my heart cannot be described in words on a page.

Desiring more of God in 2012. Pursuing Him and the real joy and happiness He brings to my longing soul.

God is faithful.

Abiding in God today and tomorrow. For,I know nothing can be accomplished without abiding in Christ.

John 15:5 " I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. "

United together as One

John 17:11 ~ Jesus' last words and His desire for us from this passage is to ' be one as He is one with His Father.'

I am so drawn to this desire. I am one of Jesus's answered prayers here in 2011. Over 2000 years ago, Jesus prayed for me to one with others and God like He is one with the Father.

I love this so much and totally get it and feel it.

I feel this oneness in the words said by complete strangers to me who write words of life on their blog. Do they know that I am one with them because Jesus makes us one?

I feel this oneness when I read in Habakkuk 3 - that I will be joyful in God my Savior...no matter what!

I feel this oneness when tomorrow's days have not been revealed to me yet.

I feel this oneness when my 3 kids tell me stories of their days and how they are depending on God to get them through.

I feel this oneness in my tears, my laughter and the warmth of my husbands arms around me.

I feel this oneness with my husband who is abiding with Christ too and we are one in every way.

Being one with God is the greatest feeling and I cannot imagine my life any other way.

I am growing in my oneness with Jesus, my Lord, and with God my Father and in The Holy Spirit who softly speaks to me.

John 17:11 ~ ' I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name-the name you gave me-so that they may be one as we are one.'

This brings peace to my soul. The peace knowing that by the name of Jesus, I am one with my God and nothing will ever separate this oneness. Love...this is real and everlasting love.

Breathing in complete unity with my God and so many others today.

Jesus, your prayers have been answered!

~ Giving thanks ~

Why do I give thanks everyday....

'He sent out His word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Psalm 107:20

The beautiful gift of God's Word. I don't know if we realize what we hold in our hands everyday. The very words of God. I am constantly longing to talk to God and hear what He will say back to me in my restless flowing of words.

And I hear Him say to me ~ Come to me, my child and I will give you rest, hope, life, freedom, assurance, confidence, my ear, joy, peace, understanding, perspective, guidance, wisdom, knowledge, forgiveness, grace,mercy, acceptance, love, smiles, healing, courage, purpose, everything your soul needs.

My God is sufficient. My soul finds it's resting place in the Word of God and His promises that are true. Believing what God says is life!

When we come to the end of striving....we will find life.

God says we must believe Him.

I can give thanks today because I believe every Word that God says. I believe all that He says!

I can give thanks today because I believe His Word is true.

I can give thanks today in All things because I believe my life is hidden in Christ!

I can give thanks today because I believe my life is not my own, I have been bought at a price. I am His.

I can give thanks today because I believe He is faithful.

I can give thanks today because I believe in the death of my Dad, I found God to be my Father.

I can give thanks today because I believe when suffering is crushing me , I see Christ suffering for me.

I can give thanks in the betrayal of friends because I believe Jesus is my true friend that sticks closer than a brother.

I can give thanks in the loss of worldly possessions because I believe Jesus when He says do not worry about what you will wear or what you will eat. He takes care of me.

I can have trouble in this world because I believe Jesus has overcome everything in this world.

I can forgive because I believe God has forgiven me.

I can have joy in suffering because I believe God uses all things for the good of those who love Him.

I can have hope because I believe God when He says He will finish the work He started in me.

God's Word has healed me. He has spoken life into me and I am alive today and forever.

I truly and with all my heart can Give Thanks in All circumstances because I know and believe it is the will of God for me in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Giving thanks for me is everyday. And thanks lives deep in my heart as I live out the purposes God has for me this side of Heaven.

As that one special day approaches on our earthly calendar calling us to Give Thanks ~ I will smile and give thanks for the way God has revealed Himself to me in His Word not just one day of the year but for every 365 days of the year.