What are you looking for?

 "Faultfinding is another form of transgression. The person who seeks for faults in others will find them, for we usually find what we look for an often fail to see anything else. A vulture flies over a beautiful landscape and see nothing except what it is looking for, a putrefying carcass. The many beautiful things are overlooked. The same is true of a fault finder. The beauties of character are unseen, and the eyes are fixed on the little that is disagreeable and ugly."

~Taylor G. Bunch in his book "The Ten Commandments" in the chapter about:

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." Ex.20:16

How Are You Doing In These Areas?

 This past week my Pastor gave us a challenge.First he said: 

* Spend more time studying your Bible than watching the news

This one I am already doing a VERY good job of. 

But the next challenge was a bit more challenging to me. And I am sure to most people. 

* Spend more time studying your Bible than you spend on social media. 

This is a bit harder for me to do. I like to keep up with my friends and family. Especially during these challenging times it has been nice to continue to interact with people. I just wish there was a way to filter out what I get in my Facebook Feed. I would love to stay up to date on all of my friends and families lives. The personal things they share - about their joy's, sorrows, victories and such. What I get weary of many times - is all of the negativity. The politics and corona virus mess. A lot of that beats me down And I find myself feeling anxious or discouraged. 

I think the pastor had the right idea - sometimes we need to just turn off the TV or the computer or put our phones down and open up our Bibles. Most of the news media information is lies- there may be a bit of truth here and there but I get tired of trying to filter through it. But I can tell you that every single thing you read in the Bible is the truth. 

Every single thing you read in your Bible is the Truth! 

Every single thing you read in your Bible is the Truth! 

Therefore it is a very good use of our time to study our Bibles. When we study our Bibles - we better understand what is going on. We are also encouraged in our journey through our lives in this world. Especially during these uncertain times. 

So this week I have been working hard on spending more time studying my Bible. And less time on social media. 

Not only that but I am trying very hard to just share uplifting, encouraging things. In this world we have enough doom and gloom. It's is the best time to lift up Jesus and encourage those around us. 

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

John 10:10

Go to God

Just wanted to share a recent devotional from my Streams in the Desert Devotional. :O) 

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You will hear a word spoken behind you, saying, “This is the correct way, walk in it,” whether you are heading to the right or the left. (Isa 30:21)

When we are in doubt or difficulty, when many voices urge this course or the other, when prudence utters one advice and faith another, then let us be still, hushing each intruder, calming ourselves in the sacred hush of God’s presence; let us study His Word in the attitude of devout attention; let us lift up our nature into the pure light of His face, eager only to know what God the Lord shall determine—and ere long a very distinct impression will be made, the unmistakable forth-telling of His secret counsel.

It is not wise in the earlier stages of Christian life to depend on this alone, but to wait for the corroboration of circumstances. But those who have had many dealings with God know well the value of secret fellowship with Him, to ascertain His will.

Are you in difficulty about your way? Go to God with your question; get direction from the light of His smile or the cloud of His refusal.

If you will only get alone, where the lights and shadows of earth cannot interfere, where human opinions fail to reach and if you will dare to wait there silent and expectant, though all around you insist on immediate decision or action—the will of God will be made clear; and you will have a new conception of God, a deeper insight into His nature and heart of love, which shall be for yourself alone a rapturous experience, to abide your precious perquisite forever, the rich guerdon of those long waiting hours.
—David

1. (guerdon~ a reward or recompense

   .)
2. 
   

“STAND STILL,” my soul, for so thy Lord commands: 
E’en when thy way seems blocked, leave it in His wise hands; 
His arm is mighty to divide the wave. 
“Stand still,” my soul, “stand still” and thou shalt see 
How God can work the “impossible” for thee, 
For with a great deliverance He doth save.

Be not impatient, but in stillness stand, 
Even when compassed ’round on every hand, 
In ways thy spirit does not comprehend. 
God cannot clear thy way till thou art still, 
That He may work in thee His blessed will, 
And all thy heart and will to Him do bend.

“BE STILL,” my soul, for just as thou art still, 
Can God reveal Himself to thee; until 
Through thee His love and light and life can freely flow; 
In stillness God can work through thee and reach 
The souls around thee. He then through thee can teach 
His lessons, and His power in weakness show.

“BE STILL”—a deeper step in faith and rest. 
“Be still and know” thy Father knoweth best 
The way to lead His child to that fair land, 
A “summer” land, where quiet waters flow; 
Where longing souls are satisfied, and “know 
Their God,” and praise for all that He has planned.
—Selected

Talking Hold of Christ...Keeping Hold....Not Letting Go

For the last month or so I have earnestly been praying about several things going on in my life. Situations that I have no control over. A couple of weeks I was praying about these things and all of a sudden the verse- Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord came to my mind. I was sure that I would soon see a solution to two of the main things I had been praying about- if not at least one of them. I was sorely disappointed when it seemed that neither situation had improved.

This morning I again approached the throne with these thing that weigh heavy on my heart. I wondered that maybe I had misunderstand the message I had received. In all reality - it does not seem that things are improving in the areas of concern.
Then it was my devotional and I read the below devotional. It really touched my heart and I felt that it was the answer to my concern. Things may not seem as though these prayers are being answered - but I will not be going by what I see - I will continue to hold onto God's promise. He is going to take care of these things- I just need to stand still.

 

 

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Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are (James 5:17).

Thank God for that! He got under a juniper tree, as you and I have often done; he complained and murmured, as we have often done; was unbelieving, as we have often been. But that was not the case when he really got into touch with God. Though "a man subject to like passions as we are," "he prayed praying."  It is sublime in the original--not "earnestly," but "he prayed in prayer." He kept on praying. What is the lesson here? You must keep praying.
Come up on the top of Carmel, and see that remarkable parable of Faith and Sight. It was not the descent of the fire that now was necessary, but the descent of the flood; and the man that can command the fire can command the flood by the same means and methods. We are told that he bowed himself to the ground with his face between his knees; that is, shutting out all sights and sounds. He was putting himself in a position where, beneath his mantle, he could neither see nor hear what was going forward.
He said to his servant, "Go and take an observation." He went and came back, and said--how sublimely brief! one  word--"Nothing!"
What do we do under such circumstances?
We say, "It is just as I expected!" and we give up praying. Did Elijah? No, he said, "Go again." His servant again came back and said, "Nothing!" "Go again." "Nothing!"
By and by he came back, and said, "There is a little cloud like a man's hand." A man's hand had been raised in supplication, and presently down came the rain; and Ahab had not time to get back to the gate of Samaria with all his fast steeds. This is a parable of Faith and Sight--faith shutting itself up with God; sight taking observations and seeing nothing; faith going right on, and "praying in prayer," with utterly hopeless reports from sight.
Do you know how to pray that way, how to pray prevailingly? Let sight give as discouraging reports as it may, but pay no attention to these. The living God is still in the heavens and even to delay is part of His goodness.
--Arthur T. Pierson

Each of three boys gave a definition of faith which is an illustration of the tenacity of faith. The first boy said, "It is taking hold of Christ"; the second, "Keeping hold"; and the third, "Not letting go."

"Therefore"

Today I want to share my devotional (from Streams in the Desert) that I had yesterday morning. It goes right along a theme that I have been having the last few days. And I might be finally getting it. I will share more about this tomorrow. See ya then.

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When he had heard therefore that he was sick,

he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

 John 11:6

In the forefront of this marvelous chapter stands the affirmation, "Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus," as if to teach us that at the very heart and foundation of all God's dealings with us, however dark and mysterious they may be, we must dare to believe in and assert the infinite, unmerited, and unchanging love of God. Love permits pain.

The sisters never doubted that He would speed at all hazards and stay their brother from death, but, "When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was."

What a startling "therefore"! He abstained from going, not because He did not love them, but because He did love them. His love alone kept Him back from hasting at once to the dear and stricken home. Anything less than infinite love must have rushed instantly to the relief of those loved and troubled hearts, to stay their grief and to have the luxury of wiping and stanching their tears and causing sorrow and sighing to flee away. Divine love could alone hold back the impetuosity of the Savior's tender-heartedness until the Angel of Pain had done her work.

Who can estimate how much we owe to suffering and pain? But for them we should have little scope for many of the chief virtues of the Christian life. Where were faith, without trial to test it; or patience, with nothing to bear; or experience, without tribulation to develop it?
--Selected

 

Loved! then the way will not be drear;
For One we know is ever near,
Proving it to our hearts so clear
That we are loved.
Loved when our sky is clouded o'er,
And days of sorrow press us sore;
Still we will trust Him evermore,
For we are loved.
Time, that affects all things below,
Can never change the love He'll show;
The heart of Christ with love will flow,
And we are loved.

 

Large Balance...Just Waiting For You and Me part 1

"There is always a large balance in the bank of heaven

 waiting for our exercise of faith in drawing it.

 Draw heavily upon His resources."

 From my "Streams in the Desert" devotional for today.

 

It's really amazing, if you think about it, all that God will provide for us if we are willing to allow our selves to be emptied to make room for all that He will give us.

 

We hold so tightly to our own ideas and want to control every aspect of our lives. And in doing so we miss out on so many blessings. So many wonderful things that our Father in heaven is willing and wanting to give us but we are so full of ourselves to receive these blessings.

 

I used to hold on so tightly to things in my life, afraid that if I turned my life and my will over to God that He would take these things from me. What I have found to be true is that when I open my hands to God and turn my life and my will over to Him- the things that I lose end up being the things that would hinder a deeper relationship with Him.

 

There are some things over the past year that I have lost that may not have hindered my relationship with Him, but for those things God has given me grace. Just one more of His wonderful gifts that He abundantly gives to His children.

 

     That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think , according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages,

world without end. Amen.

 Ephesians 3:16-21

Every Difficulty...

Today my devotional in my "Streams in the Desert" book -really struck a cord with me.
Makes you wonder what that lion is in your life? For mine - right now - cancer.

**And by the way - I am on the upswing- I am feeling better. Tummy has calmed down. Still dealing with tingling and numbness in my feet, calves and hands - but bearable. I am just happy to have the other problems getting better. Hope ya'll have a great day! :O)

And there came a lion  

1 Samuel 17:34

It is a source of inspiration and strength to come in touch with the youthful David, trusting God. Through faith in God he conquered a lion and a bear, and afterwards overthrew the mighty Goliath. When that lion came to despoil that flock, it came as a wondrous opportunity to David. If he had failed or faltered he would have missed God's opportunity for him and probably would never have come to be God's chosen king of Israel.

"And there came a lion." One would not think that a lion was a special blessing from God; one would think that only an occasion of alarm. The lion was God's opportunity in disguise. Every difficulty that presents itself to us, if we receive it in the right way, is God's opportunity. Every temptation that comes is God's opportunity.

When the "lion" comes, recognize it as God's opportunity no matter how rough the exterior. The very tabernacle of God was covered with badgers' skins and goats' hair; one would not think there would be any glory there. The Shekinah of God was manifest under that kind of covering. May God open our eyes to see Him, whether in temptations, trials, dangers, or misfortunes.
--C. H. P.

"that in Me you may have peace"

My devotion for yesterday was so good I just had to share it with you all. This is from the "Streams in the Desert" devotional. I highly recommend this book to any of you out there that may be struggling with tribulation.

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In Me

 

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  

  John 16:33

There is a vast difference between happiness and blessedness. Paul had imprisonments and pains, sacrifice and suffering up to the very limit; but in the midst of it all, he was blessed. All the beatitudes came into his heart and life in the midst of those very conditions.

Paganini, the great violinist, came out before his audience one day and made the discovery just as they ended their applause that there was something wrong with his violin. He looked at it a second and then saw that it was not his famous and valuable one.

He felt paralyzed for a moment, then turned to his audience and told them there had been some mistake and he did not have his own violin. He stepped back behind the curtain thinking that it was still where he had left it, but discovered that some one had stolen his and left that old second-hand one in its place. He remained back of the curtain a moment, then came out before his audience and said:
“Ladies and Gentlemen: I will show you that the music is not in the instrument, but in the soul.” And he played as he had never played before; and out of that second-hand instrument, the music poured forth until the audience was enraptured with enthusiasm and the applause almost lifted the ceiling of the building, because the man had revealed to them that music was not in the machine but in his own soul.

It is your mission, tested and tried one, to walk out on the stage of this world and reveal to all earth and Heaven that the music is not in conditions, not in the things, not in externals, but the music of life is in your own soul.

If peace be in the heart,

The wildest winter storm is full of solemn beauty,

The midnight flash but shows the path of duty,

Each living creature tells some new and joyous story,

The very trees and stones all catch a ray of glory,

If peace be in the heart.

–Charles Francis Richardson