Humility

"Wrongs Forgiven By Gentleness" by Art4TheGlryOfGod by Sharon under Creative Commons License.

[Daniel,] Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.

Daniel 10:12 NLT

...and we wonder why God doesn't answer us...

Private Fears

"the final Cut" by Robb North is licensed under CC BY 2.0

 A woman who had been bleeding for twelve years came up behind Jesus and barely touched his clothes.  She had said to herself, “If I can just touch his clothes, I will get well.”

 Jesus turned. He saw the woman and said, “Don’t worry! You are now well because of your faith.” At that moment she was healed.

Matthew 9:20-22 CEV

It's bad enough being a woman in today's day...all the natural physical processes that a woman faces in just living her life.

In Jesus' day it had to be much worse.  I can't imagine the loneliness of this woman since all women spent their monthly cycles cloistered away from the world.  She had been in isolation for 12 years because she was considered unclean by her friends and family.  She was not allowed to shop, celebrate family birthdays, visit with friends or even worship publicly.  For her to even venture away from her home and step foot into society was an act of bravery on her part.  Anyone who touched her would become unclean, too.  Just imagine the taunts, the insulting words, the blame inflicted on her as she approached Christ.  Of course, He knew she was coming; He knew she was near; He knew she wanted to touch Him...but would she be bold enough and have enough faith to do so?

She did it!  She touched Him and immediately He felt a little of His power leave His body.  He had healed another life and soul.

Oh, the act of mercy she felt when He turned to her and blessed her because of her faith.

 He will do the same for us as we face our private fears...those about which no one knows.

If we just reach a little further out of our hiding places...if we just had the faith that she had...then what?

Sufficency

"My Grace Is Sufficient" by Art4TheGlryOfGod by Sharon under Creative Commons License.

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and

 don’t get worked up about what 

may or may not happen tomorrow. 

God will help you deal with whatever hard things 

come up when the time comes.

Matthew 6:34 MSG

I love these two scriptures and often review them in my mind.  I've been dealing with a skin sore that has been slow in healing.  I would awaken in the night to take my medicine and then I'd lie awake worrying about what might be if it got worse.  Silly me.  Only when I remembered that God controls everything did I have the peace to sleep in His arms.  On top of that, it is almost healed after

 two weeks! Yay!

God, the Great Healer, offers us Jesus, the Prince of Peace, to heal our wounds and our souls.

Overlooking the Obvious

"Staff of Life" by Anne Worner is licensed under CC BY 2.0

 Don’t worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat?

 Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?” 

 Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. 

Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these. 

 But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants.

 Then the other things will be yours as well.

Matthew 6:31-14 CEV

I've been thinking on these verses but because they are so commonly used, I have never considered their importance.

I do not have to worry about having something to eat, drink or wear.  I live in a country that allows me to work for money that buys these items. 

 This is not the case with the vast majority of peoples across the world.  Many are actually scraping together their basic necessities.

I do not want to cast blame on them because of their religious beliefs but if I read this right, our nation is next in line for want of the basics.  If I don't turn to God in acknowledgement of His bountiful mercies and do His bidding, I'm next.

Look At The Lilies

"Velvet Daylily" by Anne Worner is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

And why do you worry about clothes?

 Look at how the lilies in the field grow.

 They don’t work or make clothes for themselves.

 But I tell you that even Solomon with his riches

 was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers.

Matthew 6:28 (NCV)

I wouldn't say I worry about clothes however I do like them and get at least one or two items every season for variety.  I then discard one or two that have been "used up," meaning it is stained or shabby or I've outgrown it(!!)Sometimes they go in bulk and I gradually add sales items because I rarely buy anything at the original price.  I've been trying to replace my black shirts and pants with a variety of colors and now I'm adding some patterns.Sometimes I do without and wish I could have found just the item for which I was shopping or I found it and can't afford it and have to go home without it...

blah,blah,blah,blah,blah.

I just realized that I do worry about clothes.

Thank you, Lord, for providing beautiful things for me to wear and enjoy.  I SO do not deserve your gifts but praise you for them.

From Where Is Strength?

"Sweet Poppy" by Anne Worner is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. 

Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” 

As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger

 and said to him,

 “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”

Daniel 10:19

Why I try to go it alone is beyond me.

He is always there wanting me to speak to Him.

You don't suppose that I should be the initiator of a conversation with God, do you?

When I don't know what to do, I should ask God?

Oh, yes, I forgot. 

 He thinks I'm precious. 

 He wants to strengthen me.

He wants to give me peace.

He wants to encourage me.

Why don't I just ask?


[I just realized that I used this verse a few days ago. I guess I need it.]

Photo Credit: Anne Worner

Strengthen Your Hands

"The Piano Playa" by Jorgen Schyberg is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Let your hands be strong

 so that you can do my work.

Zechariah 8:13 NIRV

I've been practicing for 60 years.  It doesn't get easier to discipline myself to do so.  As I age I've found that I don't retain as much mental and motor skills as before and it's even more important than ever to maintain a practice schedule.  The Lord has allowed me to serve Him in His work...a calling I received at age 15 and one I take seriously.  As long as I have any memory, I will serve the Lord with music.  I will strengthen my hands to do His work.

You Are Precious

"Iceland" by Moyen Brenn is licensed under CC BY 2.0

 He said, “for you are very precious to God.

 Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” 

As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger

 and said to him, 

“Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”

Daniel 10:19 NLT

His peace is our strength

 and that strength helps us do God's will 

on a daily basis.

Just Remember

"Forest" by Moyan Brenn is licensed under CC BY 2.0

As for the promise which I made you

 when you came out of Egypt,

 My Spirit is abiding in your midst.

Haggai 2:5  NASB


The stories of old are still at work today.  Some say the Bible is an antiquated book with nothing relevant for today's society.  I tend to differ.  I always get strength and comfort from its
 "God Truths."

Highest Place

"Grand Canyon" by Moyan Brenn is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Then God gave Christ the highest place and honored his name above all others. So at the name of Jesus everyone will bow down, those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. And to the glory of God the Father everyone will openly agree,

 “Jesus Christ is Lord!”

Philippians 2:9-11 CEV

The highest places of which we know here on earth are not too high for God.  He can hold them in his hand for He made them.

The scripture above says "everyone will bow" and 'openly agree,"Jesus Christ is Lord!"'...

not must agree, be forced to agree, agree or be tortured or even agree when the time suits you but WILL agree.

There will be no doubt who is Lord.

A Restful Saturday

"Funny Cat" by Moyan Brenn is licensed under CC BY 2.0

You know when I am resting or when I am working,

 and from heaven you discover my thoughts.

Psalm 139:2 CEV

It was a long week but a good week at Children's Music Camp.  Today I'm resting and working on a custom jewelry project...like play, really.  It felt good to not have to get up at 6:00 even though that's when I awakened.

Rest is good for the soul.

Let Us Rejoice!

"Children of the Light" by Art4TheGlryOfGod by Sharon under Creative Commons License.

The Lord blesses each nation that worships only him.

 He blesses his chosen ones.

Psalm 33:12 CEV

...and that's cause for rejoicing!

Hope your Fourth was happy.

Appreciation

Photo by Sally L. Smith

They will live around my holy mountain, and I will bless them by sending more than enough rain to make their trees produce fruit and their crops to grow. I will set them free from slavery and let them live safely in their own land. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

Ezekiel 34:26-27

I'm a complainer.  I wish I were not but I am.  When it rains, it's too much.  When the sun shines, it's too hot.  When the cold winds blow, I get tired of wearing my coat and wish for summer.  I have so much and wish for something else.

At the core of my soul, though, there is peace.  I do believe that God controls everything and in those quiet moments with Him, I am awed at the gifts He has given me...one who doesn't deserve even a glance from Him.

Excuse me.  

I'm going to watch the sunrise.

Photo from personal files.