We are going to have a beautiful weekend here in the South. I am headed North to Newport, Rhode Island where the weather will be beautiful but much colder. I am serving the women of Central Baptist Church. We will be hearing from the Lord concerning perseverance in our race. Please join me in prayer for the presence of the Lord to lavishly pour Himself on us this weekend.
I want to encourage everyone to keep on keeping on, keeping your eye on the goal. I sense that some are getting discouraged because of the apparent difference between the God of the OT and the God of the NT. Remember the Israelites did not have the Holy Spirit. They only had prophets to occasionally speak the words of the Lord. They were completely human, dealing with life. The OT constantly and will continue to do so, show us the need a Savior yet to come. Aren't we blessed to have the Mighty Motivator (Holy Spirit) to prompt us to do the right thing?
Have a great weekend.
I want to encourage everyone to keep on keeping on, keeping your eye on the goal. I sense that some are getting discouraged because of the apparent difference between the God of the OT and the God of the NT. Remember the Israelites did not have the Holy Spirit. They only had prophets to occasionally speak the words of the Lord. They were completely human, dealing with life. The OT constantly and will continue to do so, show us the need a Savior yet to come. Aren't we blessed to have the Mighty Motivator (Holy Spirit) to prompt us to do the right thing?
Have a great weekend.
19 Comments:
Praying for the Lord to lavishly pour His presence on you Wendy, and on the women in attendance this weekend. May He be lifted up and glorified.
This morning the Lord reminded me in Deut. 32:39, "I am the one who kills and gives life; I am the one who wounds and heals;".
Psalm 90 continued in verse 12, "Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom."
As I continue to spend every day at the hospital with my Dad, I am very aware of the brevity of life and the One who holds all our days. Although Dad has made great strides this week, we are still needing to see the Lord's healing hand. Physically Dad has improved so much, but mentally and emotionally he has far to go. Again last night, in an act of violence, he removed tubes and became agressive with his care givers, necessitating the restraints to be put back in place. It's so sad to see this happening. Dad has never even raised his voice for all of my life. He is the most gentle man. To see him like this is so difficult.
I join with the Psalmist and say, "Satisfy (me) each morning with Your unfailing love...Give (me) gladness in proportion to (my) former misery!...Let (me) see You work again; let our children see Your glory".
Waiting on Him.
Have a blessed weekend friends.
Love to you all,
Joy
Wendy,
I have prayed for you, and your Weekend to be successful.
Joy, Still holding you and your Father up in prayer.
Diane Praying your Son gets a ride.
Thank all of you for your prayers for me and my family. I pray a lot for others but don't always ask for prayers myself, God's working on that area of my life.
Thoughts for today. I agree with Wendy in the fact that the OT really makes me appreciate the NT, Jesus and the fact that we have the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us on everything. (If we listen) :) For me it has also been good to see that God is real with His emotions, He gets mad when we don't respect Him. Not unlike us when our children do the same. I has seen such similarities between His Love, Anger, Hurt, and Mercies for us that we give to our own children. Difference being He has more wisdom and is not ruled by His flesh like we are.
Have a great weekend everyone.
Blessings
Lynn - OR
Good Morning Sisters...there was so much in today's reading I don't know where to begin! I did read something that completely opened my eyes tho (from Bible Pathway)...so want to share that with you. At the very beginning of today's reading it said, "Let my teaching fall on you like rain; let my speech settle like dew." God used "dew" to illustrate an important truth. The purpose of the dew is to maintain life during dry seasons; living things reap the benefits of "dew." Like dryness of our spirit--is a cause for alarm. From the commentary..."Days of meditation in the Word of God will refresh and influence very gently and as unnoticed as the dew in the darkest night, it will bring life back to a dry soul."
We do not even think about the dew as it comes down softly during the night. In the morning everything is refreshed and prepared for the heat of the day. Reading God's Word, daily, refreshes our spirit and brings life into us. I just love to think about that...God's Word, gently influencing us throughout our day!
I loved reading just how BIG our God is! Not only did he create us, but He is perfect, just, fair, faithful, upright, and can do no wrong. He surrounds us and watches over us and guards us and guides us everyday! It's HIS wisdom I need and desire. He gives us the choice to be foolish, without understanding, or wise...Today, Lord...I seek YOU. I want to be filled to the brim with Your Spirit.
Sorry, this is so long, girls...
Wendy, thanks for a wonderful week learning more about God! I treasure our time together!!!
I'm praying that God's presence will be felt at your gathering. That each gal's heart will be open to hear God speaking...and, for safety for you getting there.
Lynn, praying for your loved one too. God is big and there is not anything he cannot take on. I'm believing that His hands are on this man. I'm praying that He not only heals him from his addiction, but that he restores his family.
Diane, praying for you to NOT have to take that long drive...that's too much sitting! I'm hoping too that this morning you feel God's loving arms wrapped around you.
Praying today too for our nation, Karen...hoping that more people today choose to revere our powerful and awesome God!
Joy, we sure do not know God's ways and He works in His time. I'm praying that God will satisfy you through this time period and shower his strength over you.
Debra, funny, I was born in Phx. but have lived in Mesa all my life...and my husband grew up in Phx. small world. We LOVE Calif.!
OK, I better stop now and leave room for ya'll!!! LOVE YOU!!!
Lori - Mesa, AZ
Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow! Okay Lori, your teaching on the "dew" really struck my heart. Thank you for that...super.
I showed "The Passion of the Christ" movie last night to my 6th and 7th grade Sunday School class. Powerful movie; hard to watch. Near the end, when they were nailing Jesus' hands to the cross, a 6th grade boy said; "Jesus sure did a lot for us". WOW! He said what my heart felt. A renewal of thankfulness flooded my soul with that child's 7 words.
Thank you Jesus!
Prayers to all...Joy, a friend of mine has her mother in a local nursing home. She needed antibiotics for an infection, and her chart clearly stated the one she was allergic to. Well you guessed it. A nurse erred and gave it to her. Now the lady is at death's door. My friend is choosing forgiveness; struggling with it but obeying God. She believes it to be within God's plan and is seeking His peace. This type of thing is happening more than we know of. Take care, and keep seeking His peace.
Bowing at my keyboard in prayer for all who requested.
Morgen - MN
Remember the days of long ago; think about generations past DEUT 32:7
When I read these word this morning my thought was "this is the value of reading, learning and sharing the Old Testament." This is one of the reasons I began this journey, in fact...to study the OT. I am grateful every day I made the commitment and I am learning so much more than I ever imagined I would. I am able, with your insights as well as my own, to dig deep and press in and know God better than ever before. It's a joy-full thing! God is teaching me and connecting me to our ancestors...as well as all of you!
Wendy and I are on the same page today ~ if there are those of you discouraged...don't give up! God led each of us to this place in our lives for a purpose:
Our posts have grown longer~ we are talking back and forth. We are praying for each other ~ taking each others prayer concerns to our congregations and sharing each others joys and sorrows each day. We are holding each other in our hearts...just like God intended. Through this, we are being molded into the beings he created and intended us to be!
I get so excited I can barely stay in my own skin!
We are up to almost 12 hours of daylight per day (it's a big thing to count that here;) and the sun has shone brilliantly each day this week. It, along with these morning meditations (the morning dew ~ thank you for that insight today Lori!) lights up my life. I am going to go about my chores and my errands today "singing for joy" (Psalm 90:14)
You are all in my prayers. those of you who have spoken your pain and those of you who have not. God knows the details and I pray you feel his comfort and his love, because he is a most faithful and amazing God.
Praising him,
Liz
Alaska
Wendy: Praying for you all and trusting God to meet you all this weekend as you seek Him. May His portions of Himself, His life and His perfect love be lavishingly generous!
I just realized in my NIV Chrono Bible in a year that the New Testament wont' be reached until October! In my devotional time, I am making a point of reading lots of New Testament, too. He blends it all together so perfectly.
While sometimes it (OT)gets tedious, I always ask the Lord to please give me His nuggets of truth for me each day. To convict cleanly, to encourage personally and to love-on intimately. He always does. He is good.
Can't wait to hear about your weekend in Rhode Island!
Hi ladies,
Wendy I pray that the Lord works through you in a mighty way. Can’t wait to hear about all the things He did.
Since this is open blog I wanted to take an opportunity to say what a blessing this blog has been to me. It has only been in the last three months or so that I really started following on a regular basis. I love what Liz just said about the longer posts and the more interaction there has been between all of us. How we call each sister’s name to the Lord when we pray. Then we care enough to follow up with her. We rejoice and praise or continue to encourage and pray with each other.
The way things are right now I don’t get any quiet time until 7 or 8 at night. However I like to check in during the day and read everyone’s comments. It is such a delight. I want to thank every one for blessing my life.
It has worked out so that I don’t have to drive tomorrow. But I don’t have peace about the situation and how it has resolved.
Hope that everyone has a great rest of the weekend,
God Bless,
Diane
Hey Sis!! Just reminding you of my prayers for you this weekend!! I love you!
OK sister's I just had to pop back in...I was working on my homework for my Esther class...I read something that Beth said, and I had to log on and share! She parallel's the edict of Esther's "right to assemble" to my verse I claimed this year! -Hebrews 10:4 & 5. I can't tell you how exciting it is when someone talks about a verse you've memorized...I have to quote what she writes:
She's discussing the battles we experience and that we have no idea why God is allowing us to go through difficult times...She says,
"Girlfriend! Rise to the occasion! But we aren't meant to fight unseen forces alone. You and I have the Godgiven right to lock arms with our sisters and brothers in Christ and defend ourselves with the sword of the Spirit and the shield of faith. ...When we do, we are guaranteed the victory."
I loved that!!!
I love how we are praying over each other and encouraging each other! And, I know God loves how we are putting our faith in Him.
Diane, I'm tickled pink you are not drivng, but do feel uneasy about your uneasiness. I'm going to pray that your son gets back to college safe; that he's kept underneath the shadow of God's wing fully protected in the vehicle. That God's hands are on the steering wheel and that cars around are also protected. And, that no evil will come their way.
Loving everyone's comments today!
Lynn, you put your family on the top of your list to pray over. :)
Just today we all read, "I myself am he! There is no other god but me!...I am the one who...heals. Your family member is in God's powerful hand! We are choosing to believe and put our faith in God to work out this situation.
Blessings dear sisters!
Lori - Mesa, AZ
"I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me." Psalm 16:7
As all of us retire for the night...with our individual burdens...we lift up our prayer's to our Father. We seek His will in our life...we're thankful that even while we're sleeping, He's counseling us and guiding us as to what we should do. Let our ears hear you, Oh Lord. Amen.
Oopps...I checked again this morning and the NIV Chrono Bible gets to the New Testament on 9/28! (not October)
I loved in my reading this morning this scripture:
"...the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it." Deut. 30:14 Oh yes, His Word is near to us!
Gotta run and get showered for church!
Tell us about your time in RI!
Wendy and sisters,
I have not posted on here very much but have been keeping up with the blog and reading this year along with all of you. Wendy your comment about the God of the OT and the God of the NT made me want to comment today. My husband John is not a Christian and this is a point he always brings up with me. Honestly I don't really know how to respond to all his questions. I pray that God will give me wisdom when talking to him about Christ and spiritual matters and when I don't know the answers to his questions I openly admit I don't know. I would appreciate all my sisters prayers on here for my husband's salvation and for me to have the wisdom to be a godly wife and be able to point him to Christ when he is asking me questions about my faith. My faith is the most important thing to me. Christ lifted me out of some deep pits and I tell John that there is nothing he can ever say to make me not believe. My life has changed too dramatically for it not to be The Truth! Thank you all for your prayers, know that you are in mine as well.
In Him,
Brandee
Good Morning. It is exciting to be part of such a wonderful group of women. Although I don't comment on a daily basis, I check in here to read your comments on a daily basis; often more than once a day. I feel like I know you and walk along side you; bearing your burdens and rejoycing with your praises.
Wendy, I appreciated your comments this weekend. Pulling us out to view the bigger picture...the gifts God gives us in the New Testament.Lori, your comments on dew were absolutely beautiful! Joy in Truth,(lol) I did the same thing...I had to look and see when our readings would be in the New Testament. September seems far off, I am eager to relate the two together.
This morning, I almost feel sorry the readings during the life of Moses are over. Although, I realize the lessons of Moses will be brought up again, I wish that I had taken the time to record leadership lessons I learned from Moses. Maybe next year (already planning to do this again)I will think ahead and chart it out.
Also in today's reading, this scriptrue touched my heart, "This is my command-be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."Joshua 1:9
Until tomorrow!
Nancy
So, I'm sitting here with the comment window open, but I'm in a battle of sorts about leaving my comment. After reading your post today, I think it's okay.
Wendy, I so appreciated your comment about sensing discouragement and about the Old Testament. That's exactly what I needed to read today.
I have been faithfully reading, each day, since the first of the year. I've been thankful for your leadership in this study and follow your links for further study and reading. But, I never posted a comment before.
I haven't posted because I don't feel I have anything to add. I feel bogged down by this O.T. reading and intimidated by the insights shared on this blog.
Just wondering if there's anyone else out there who might feel the same way?
As I have prayed for God to speak to me through His word I have continued to feel somewhat "dry". I had a moment the other day though and it was finally clear to me that He is speaking to me through His word. EVERY time I read my Bible, God is speaking to me. Even though I may not have had any teaching insights to add thus far, God IS speaking to me and also using Wendy and the other lovely ladies who post comments.
If anyone else has felt intimidated or discouraged, do not dismay. Keep on with your reading, keep on with your prayers. You can know with confidence that God would not want you to give up. Only the enemy would plant those thoughts.
Happy Sunday ladies -- God is speaking!
with love,
Liz
in Michigan
Girls, there is so much I want to share. I'll try to not take too much time. But, first of all, I'm so glad you shared, Liz! Most definitely the enemy will do whatever he can to keep you and the rest of us out of God's Word. You just keep reading and God will reveal more and more to you! All comments are welcome, here...you can just pop in and even say, "HI!"
:) This morning I saw the enemy at work with me. For a year now about, I've been walking our dog, and praying. Prior to that for about a year I started praying to God, to show me how to be in HIS presence throughout the day. I wanted to "feel" Him more throughout my day...well, bit by bit He has answered this request. He's is amazing. But, one thing He opened up to me was this morning walk-prayer time. I began with asking for protection for Radar (dog) and I as we walked...then, prayed about my day, giving thanks to Him, etc. Then, I start with my husband and pray over him...next my two sons, and then my extended family...over the course of the year I've been adding different people to the list and as a side-benefit, my walk is getting longer! :) I can't begin to explain to you all how He has blessed this time of the morning with me. He started whispering little things, answering prayers, I get goosebumps just thinking about it. I've not missed a day in a year (except for a couple of rain-days)...This morning, prayer time, has changed my life. I was never able to pray like this at home. I'd get side-tracked, etc. Something about being out in God's creation lets you focus on HIM. I appreciate the beauty too. I notice God's details in the environment. Oh, how I wish someone had given me this idea earlier...I have to tell you that it is one of my favorite times of the day. But, this morning...[the enenmy knows how special this time is to me] we almost got attacked my a coyote! I was scared beyond belief. My heart stopped as my dog began barking and heading towards the coyote. I kept his leash tight and close to me, and began praying like I've never done before. Running at top speed which I have not done since my 10-K years! I prayed verses like I've never done before. I asked God to part the sea for me like He did with the Israelites! To make my path open. The coyotee watched us and went the opposite direction! I ran and ran and ran and ran...then, it dawned on me that Jesus had saved us! I began praising Him and thanking Him. He is my protection, my Rock, my awesome God is with me whevever I go...we had just read that verse -Joshua 1:9.
The enemy will come in at all forces to try and keep us out of God's Word. I'm praying each day for our group.
Brandee, I'm so happy you commented too! I too, am looking forward to receiving more wisdom as we all read through the entire Bible. My husband, Dave, who also is not saved happens to be very knowledgeable due to his private schooling (went to a Catholic HS school). I quit praying for him for many years as I felt it was hopeless...but for maybe a year now I've been praying daily. I know without a doubt God is going to save him and when he does the angels are going to be rejoicing from one end of the nation to the other! I've only been a prayer warrior for about a year now. I've seen God's Glory over and over! God will give you and I the wisdom we need. His glory will shine through us because we believe in Him! :) I'll pray for John and all of you please add Dave to our growing list of prayers.
I loved today's readings...
It told us how to have a successful life:
check out Joshua 1:6-9. I loved these verses, and I love you all!!!
Off to church now sweet sister's...enjoy God's presence today!
Love, Lori - Mesa, AZ
God is talking and God is walking! The interaction this weekend among us all is electric with the power of the Spirit!!
Over and over this week God has been revealing to me his Brilliance....he is the sun shining over the winter landscape; he is the connection to all of our souls. He is setting us on Fire for the glory of his Kingdom!
Lori ~ you have blown my socks off this weekend!! Your witness has been completely inspiring from morning to night and I thank you so much for obeying God and sharing it with all of us. That coyote story was as chilling to read as I ever hope to get to a coyote. PRAISE GOD for your protection!
Praying today for a hedge of protection around us all, for indeed as God's glory shines even stronger through this study and through our lives Satan will inevitably attempt to poke holes in all of us...to lie, steal & deceive. We know the precious blood of Jesus insures our victory, so let us stand united as we continue this journey and crush the enemy beneath our heels! Thank you, sweet Jesus for giving us that power!
Blessings this Sunday...remember to rest if you can,
Liz
Alaska
Continuing in prayers for you Wendy, and for all of you commenting here. I never would have believed that I could share so much with others whom I never met, but I see it happening with each passing week. Welcome to Brandee, too.
And yes, Liz, there are times when I read yet feel dry afterwards. I try to hold onto God's promise that His word will not go forth empty, but will accomplish His desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it. (Isaiah 55:11).
And Lori, thank you for your comments on the devil trying to put holes in us and our reading. I find myself even wondering if my comments are worthy of posting sometimes, (almost like that old high school feeling of not being in the "in crowd"), and know that only the devil would not want me sharing what God is showing me through His Word. Thank you for your wisdom on this.
This weekend, I really loved the first verse in Psalm 90. "Lord, through all generations you have been our home!" I wrote in my Bible what "home" means to me. This is what I wrote about "home": it is where we reside; our refuge; where we come to be comforted; where we are fed; wher we lie down to rest; our safe place." Ladies, after reading this list, I realized this is everything that God wants to be for each of us. He is our home.
Praying for ya'll as we head into the book of Joshua. Oh, and my verse for 2009 is Joshua 1:9. Kinda reassuring, kinda scary because I can only wonder in what circumstances am I going to have to stand strong?
Blessings!
Dear Liz and Brandee,
This post is for you and all the others out there who share your feelings. I did a bible study by Jennifer Kennedy Dean this past fall on "Live a Praying Life" and one whole day was on God and the fact He doesn't change His mind.
Numbers 23:19 - God is not a man, that he should lie,
nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act?
Does he promise and not fulfill?
Ecclesiastes 3:14 - 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.
Isaiah 31:2- He does not take back His words.
She goes on to say that there are times in the Bible where it appears that God changes His mind in response to intersession, and she sites His exchanges with Moses as an example (Exodus 32:9-14). She challenges us with a statement "If God can be influenced to change His mind, then His word cannot be trusted."
God knew all from the beginning. He knew Adam would sin, He knew the Israelites would be slaves in Egypt, He knew that they would wander the wilderness for 40 year before they could enter the promised land. He knew that Israel would request a King, He knew that Israel would be exiled into foreign lands and killed, He knew that prophets would be needed to come to speak of His Word to Israel and still He knew that He would need to send His Son as the Guilt offering for us all. We see foreshadows in all of this in our readings. We see foreshadows of Christ in Abraham's instruction to sacrifice Isaac, in Joseph, in Joshua, and in the words Abraham, Isaac and Moses speak.
God also knows that it is not over yet; He knows that Christ will need to come again to redeem His chosen people and lead them to the "mountain of His inheritance" (Exodus 15:17). All of this; all of our history is for God's Glory and is acted out of His sovereignty. These passages in Deuteronomy have shown to me again the true Majesty of God. We see things from an earthly perspective and then we cannot understand. As Wendy has said, the presence of the Holy Spirit in us gives us a Heavenly perspective and gives us a glimpse into the mind of God.
"Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Who has ever given to God that God should repay Him? For from Him, though Him and to Him are all things. To God be the glory forever and ever, Amen" (Romans 11:33-36).
I hope this long post gives some insight and comfort to you all. I hope that you can hear the voice of God in these passages and marvel at how constant He really is; How gracious and merciful; how loving. I also hope you ask Him in prayer to help you understand the apparent contradictions in what you are reading with what your heart knows.
And may the Spirit of wisdom and truth guide you.
Karen, CA
Good Afternoon Ladies,
Let me start out by saying after I posted last night there were 6 comments left. When I logged on just a few minutes ago there were 17. IS GOD AT WORK OR WHAT? WOW!
Today has been just an all around hard day for me. My heart skipped a beat and I was blessed when I read your writings. My day just improved. I want to say to Brandee and Liz thank you for stopping by and sharing with us.
Brandee, I have put your husband on my prayer list.
Liz, I certainly can identify with the feelings of intimidation and discouragement. What I have to remind myself is that those feelings don’t come from my Father. I am not a Bible scholar and sometimes don’t know what to say either. For me I just need to keep praying and talking about how God is working in my life. I know that is never a discouragement. Please come back and join us.
My nugget from today’s reading:
Chapter 33 vs 27:
The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you, He drives out the enemy before you; he cries out, “Destroy them!”
How do you not rest in that?
Resting in His arms,
Diane
I have been so blessed by reading everyone's comments this weekend. I thank all of you so much for adding my husband to your prayers. I have hope and faith in God that one day he will save John. Lori I thank you so much for sharing your story with me and know that your family is in my prayers as well. I have my own blog that I like to journal my faith journey. This past year I have been the Coordinator of my MOPS group and have had limited time to blog my thoughts and what God shows me. I have been trying to get back into it as my time as Coordinator is coming to an end and I have more time. My site is http://setmyfeetonarock.blogspot.com/ if anyone wants to check out a picture of my husband and I and my thoughts on today's readying about Rahab. I really enjoyed reading that story and read it in my NIV as well. I am so thankful that our past are under the blood and Christ makes us a new creation. I am thankful that He came to "bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom for the captives, release from darkness the prisoners, bestow a crown of beauty instead of ashes and the oil of gladness instead of a spirit of despair" (Isaiah 61:1-3). A victim of childhood sexual abuse and growing up in the home of an alcoholic and drug addict, Satan had done his best to ruin me. But Christ got a hold of me when I had my son and my life has never been the same. I praise Him! Bless all you my sisters, it is so good to get to know you all on here.
Post a Comment
Home