Good Weekend to everyone!
What exciting plans do you have? Jodie? Maybe a baby?
I continue to pray for everyone reading.
Last weekend I had the privilege of witnessing the baptism of my friends the Evans'. This weekend our family will witness another baptism. My BFF's youngest son, will be baptized tomorrow. We rejoice with the Lewis family!
What exciting plans do you have? Jodie? Maybe a baby?
I continue to pray for everyone reading.
8 Comments:
Dear Precious Ladies,
Your comments this week have blessed me so much. I sit here so in awe of my God this morning. Think of it, only God could know how to bring all of us together...ladies from all over the nation studying God's Word together! The thought of God doing this for all of us brings me so much joy. Each of you bless me so much. Thank you, Father, for doing this!
Liz, when you said that you could feel each of us growing closer to God this year, it really made me stop and take notice. It is so, so true! Reading God's Word daily, and meditating on it throughout the day, has allowed me to grow, personally in my relationship with Him. Knowing in your heart, that God is first, and that we are taking time, daily to know Him more. To walk with Him. I've never experienced a year like this! I never knew how close I could become to God, by reading His Word. So, I guess I just want to say, "THANKS!"
Joy, My heart is praying out for you this weekend. Just as Jeremiah did in Lamentations 2:19, "pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord." When we are in the middle of our toughest situation, we can hold nothing back. Only in God's loving presence will you find hope. The promises God made to Jeremiah are for you too. Bitterness and hardship surrounds you,3:5, and as you call out for help and feel as if God has shut your prayers out 3:8, your heart is pierced 3:13, and you are deprived of peace 3:17, remember the words of Jeremiah:
3:21-26. There is hope to be found in the middle of every situation. The darkness, the heartbreak, the sorrow, and the grief are not forever. Oh, dear Joy, the Lord's compassion never fails, and He will be good to you because you hope in Him. You seek Him. You wait quietly for Him. You are His precious daughter and He cares for you. Prayer's coming your way!
Wow, Jodie, how can it be 39.5 weeks? Time is zooming by! We patiently await your news! boy? girl? oh, the anticipation is so fun! Praying for you and baby!
My fun plans today? LAUNDRY! Somehow the efficient side of me got side-tracked this week, and lets just say, that the washing machine will be going non-stop! But, the aroma will be divine! Always something to be joyful about, right? :)
Hugs, Lori - AZ
PS I've been praying that God will allow me to nurture my relationships with my extended family. This has been a daily prayer of mine now for awhile. To be able to show love to them. Well, my mother-in-law's (atheist) 'significant other,' fell this week and has been in the hospital. Each day, the complications grow worse. Daily, I've been spending time with her, and seeking God to help me do this. I know this is all part of God's plan. I pray he will help me show love to her.
Lori, I can almost feel the joy you are expressing this morning!
Praise God for bringing us all together in His name through this study, Wendy's devotion to her calling, and all of those who post on this blog or are with us all in this journey through the Bible in 2009! His name is Wonderful!
I am attending a Bridal shower for one of our church friend's daughters. There's been about 12 couples who have been around the same age and have raised our children together from baby's on into young adulthood in the Church. We are like a big extended family. So look forward for some time of joy and fellowship this morning.
Please prayer for our Church Council retreat coming up this Sunday (tomorrow). That we will be led by the Holy Spirit not by our own individual ways. We truly need to come together as a body...keeping our focus on The One we serve! Thanks
Have a great Weekend!
Joy...pray you are feeling God's strength, comfort and peace as you go into this weekend. Remember God sees the whole picture, place your hope and trust in knowing that!
Jodie, Look forward to welcoming "Thumper" into our world!
Love, from Debbie in Illlinois
God's love and wisdom is so apparent today - the sheer joy on this page is alive!
"Who can list the glorious miracles of the LORD? Who can ever praise him enough?" Psalm 106:2
Amen to that!
My "To Do's" today include a mixture of errands and obligations. I was blessed to have yesterday off, so I have a bit of a head start on the obligation part!
Tomorrow of course is set aside for worship - adoration, confession, thanksgiving, song & prayer! Afterwards, rest and renewal...a quiet afternoon and evening.
You will all be in my prayers...I pray our father God will bless each of you with his healing touch wherever you may need it the most. I pray your lives will be full of peace as you seek to have a closer relationship with him. And as Paul prayed I pray for you, that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe in him. Amen & Hallelujah!
Be blessed and be a blessing,
Liz
AK
God had exciting plans for me that I knew nothing about. At the 11th hour, our plans for the weekend changed. God had to put several "ducks in a row" to get this to come about...but...I was able to attend the Beth Moore simulcast. WOW, WOW, WOW!!!! So much spoke to my heart. My hand couldn't write fast enough. I don't think I've ever cried so much at an event. Not all sad tears. Tears of love and joy to our awesome God. Not only that, but Beth seemed to speak so much right into my family situation rigth now that my heart has been infused with hope.
Thank you so much for all your prayers friends. I know the Lord is moving in ways we cannot see and I will continue to trust Him.
Today the verse that spoke to me was Jeremiah 44:17, "We will do whatever we want." Arriving home from the Beth Moore Simulcast, I wrote on my Facebook Status: “I’m asking God to make His want to, my want to. As Beth Moore prayed: Lord, mess with my heart.”
Finding the above verse in my reading today reminded me of something else Beth said over and over, “At the end of the day, people do what they want to.”
Basing her teaching this weekend on Psalm 37, with focus on verse 4, Beth shared that nothing dictates our lives like our desires.
Tonight I am asking myself, what do I want in life and from life? For what am I yearning? Beth said that sometimes we are so fixated on what we want that we never do what it takes to get there.
Christ’s first words in the book of John are found in chapter one, verse 38. Jesus asks, “What is it you want?”
I am joining with the people in the book of Jeremiah and praying that the LORD my God will show me what to do and where to go (42:3). Lord, make Your want to, my want to.
Desiring Him,
Joy
Dear Wendy,
As you witness and celebrate a baptism this weekend, I wanted to share a message from today's reading:
25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.
Sprinkling with pure water; replacing a stony heart with a tender and responsive heart, receiving God's Spirit within us; that is what baptism is, and isn't it wonderful!
The whole Shepherd-sheep, bad shepherd-lost sheep chapter 34 also spoke to me today. There was lots of good stuff in there to ponder. It could take me all week to write my thoughts on it all, so I will spare you that! I will only say that 34:8(b) leaped of the page at me: And though you were my shepherds, you didn’t search for my sheep when they were lost. Okay, that's clear! We need to look for those sheep that are lost and pray for God to bring them back into the flock. We are to minister to those sheep with open hearts. God will restore them; that is His job and His promise. I recently read a devotion from Chuck Swindol on this point. He took the perspective that we don't listen to the questions of the lost. We are happy to be surrounding by like-minded sheep. We need to take the time and effort to really listen to the questions of the lost and answer them with gentle and compassionate hearts.
Lord, you are the shepherd and I am a sheep. Help me to follow you in all of my ways. Where a fellow sheep is straying or has left the flock, be with me; guide me to that person and give me the ears to hear that person and the words to minister to their heart. In all my ways let me reflect Your glory and Your love. Amen
Karen, Basel
Ladies, I came back today to share a story. It impacted my life so greatly just a couple of weeks ago when I heard it, I thought it might touch yours as well, and it fits in with todays reading.
…they brought shame on my holy name.” Ezekiel 36:20
It was a story retold of Alexander the Great, one of the greatest military generals the world has ever known. Apparently one night he couldn’t sleep, so he went for a walk among the tents on the campground.
He came across a solider who was sleeping while on duty. This was a very serious offence, with the penalty most often being death. As Alexander the Great came closer, his footsteps aroused the sleeping solider. Recognizing who was before him, the solider feared for his life.
Alexander the Great asked him, “Soldier, do you know the penalty for falling asleep on guard duty?”
“Yes sir”, the soldier responded in a quivering voice.
In a demanding tone, Alexander the Great inquired, “Soldier, what is your name?”
“Alexander, sir”
Alexander the Great repeated this question three times, and each time the same response came.
Alexander the Great, looking directly at the soldier, said with intensity, “either change your name or change your life.”
As Christ-followers, we too must live up to a name. Is my life reflective of the name I carry? If I call myself a Christian, am I bringing honour or shame to His name? God guards His name. James 2:7 warns us not to blaspheme the fair name by which we have been called. 1 Peter 4: 16 encourages us to glorify God in His name. 2 Timothy 2:19 says that the Lord knows who are His and everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wicked behaviour.
Today, do I need to change my name or change my life?
Joy
Hey Girls,
It's been awhile since I've commented; but I'm still here. I'm encouraged with your written thoughts and enjoy reading through His word you.
It's a beautiful weekend in Missouri. Yesterday, we went four-wheeler riding. The weather was wonderful while the Missouri hills and countryside spoke of God's glorious blessings. It's great to "stop and smell the roses" once in awhile.
Thankful for each of you,
nancy
Hi ladies,
Well no baby news so far. At this point, I am hoping that maybe Thumper will be among the 5% to arrive on the due date (Tues Sept 1).
I have a special prayer request...our family got some difficult news on Sat. My mother-in-law has developed breast cancer again (she has had breast cancer and cervical cancer previously among many other illnesses). Please join me in praying that God, our Divine Physician will grant a mighty miracle and destroy that cancer. That in His mercy and love He will bring about healing and restoration. I ask for an increase in faith as we seek God's love and comfort at this time and let His peace flow as we trust in His plan for us.
Jodie
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