"Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me."
Psalm 51:10
Psalm 51:10
My Take Aways
Something Old:
- Be where I am supposed to be when I am supposed to be there
- Keep my attention on the right things
- Don't assume that I am entitled to anything
- Sin steals the joy of my salvation
- Sin seals my lips and keeps me from praising the the Lord
- Sin make me weak and vulnerable
My joy, praise, and strength can only be stored through true repentance. Stay close to God through time with Him and keep a repentant heart.
31 Comments:
Amen and Amen! The prayers this weekend were absolutely wonderful! They watered my soul!
Today, David's story was full of old and new things. Like all great sin (and small sin too) it happens gradually, step by step. David had been sinning in the area of lust and sensuality for a long time. He had accumulated many wives and had many children already by them (2 Samuel 3:2-5). Because this behavior started long ago and because David never repented of it, it culminated in this horrible act of adultery and murder, leaving lasting consequences (2 sam 11:11-12 and 14)
Wendy you're right, we should be where we are supposed to be. We also should repent of our sin immediately and by repenting turn from it so the seed does not have a chance to grow.
I did not know that Uriah and Bathsheba's father were both included in the list of 30 mighty men in David's troops (2 Sam.23:34, 39)! I also did not know that David gave Uriah the message for Joab which told Joab how Uriah was to be killed! What was that! Can you imagine what Joab thought when he received the message? First, I am sure he was also shocked who David used as the messenger. And second I wonder if he was also scornful of David; that the king, a mighty warrior and so good with words, would order Joab to perform such a bad military maneuver to obviously cover up some terrible act rather than talking to Uriah directly.
I also did not know that Solomon was given a new name by Nathan because the LORD loved him. The name; Jedidiah - beloved of the LORD.
My to dos: Confess my sins early and often. Turn away, don't just confess each time they happen. Stop! Remember that God is a god of love and forgiveness. Out of a repentant and contrite heart comes restoration.
Have a great Monday!
Karen, Basel
Today we realize that David; he is no different than anyone of us; we were all born to sin - it is our nature! Oh, what one little “peak” can lead to!
One wrong choice…
One moment of a wondering, lustful eye…
David should have been at war, but he chose to “stay behind in Jerusalem” I Chron. 20:1).
How many times do we see bad things happen when we are not where we are supposed to be? Or, maybe when we are with people we should not be with?
The sneaky, evil, shrewd, scheming, and sly enemy lurking and arranging and waiting for this opportunity - where he can cause David to be sucked into the pit of destruction. The devil calculates his every move; no one is exempt. The devil works in a roundabout way, affecting people all over the world! He makes me sick to my stomach watching how he operates so silently, with those that even are walking so close with the LORD. Reading today, my heart pained for David. We see this very same thing happening all over the world.
And, we watch the events unravel… one mistake leading to many others’. Today, I saw more clearly how one mistake caused this Godly man’s family to be affected for many years.
He peeked.
He followed through with his lust and slept with a married woman.
He lied to try and cover it up.
He murdered.
God forgave him but we will watch as we see the next twenty years play out in his life –the last half of his reign, until his death, the sorrow and suffering will never stop. One night of giving into his selfish human wants. God in his mercy, forgives, but this does not remove the results of sin. We all will face Judgment Day. “be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap (Gal. 6:7).
Oh, dear sisters, may we walk on the straight and narrow. May we be in tune to the whispers we hear, may we not put ourselves into places that are going to get us into trouble. We may think we are strong and not promiscuous, but the devil is sly. He has his ways and he cannot be trusted. We must pray for our families as the enemy loves to lurk and pounce at a moment’s notice! What did sweet Wendy, teach us last week…we can keep praising Him all day long, and just confuse the enemy till he does not know which way he’s coming!
Praise you Father. Yes, we praise You. We will praise you all day long! You are our stronghold. We will seek You and we will anticipate your goodness all day long. We will keep our feet firmly planted, in alignment with your feet, listening to the Spirit that guides us throughout our day. Watch over our loved ones. “Now, may it please you to bless the house of each one of us on Wendy’s blog, so that it may continue forever before you. For you have spoken, and when you grant a blessing to your [people], O Sovereign LORD, it is an eternal blessing!” (2 Sam. 7:29)
I'm sure I'm over my word limit-let's see if it posts!
Praying, Lori
Good Monday morning, GIG's,
My nugget: 1 Chr. 20:1 "In the spring of the year, when Kings normally go out to war...."
I kind of chuckled when I read that, because I had been musing this weekend about all the Biblical battles the men wage, but we women have "battles of the psyche", ESPECIALLY in those Springs in which there are lots of milestones reached which bring CHANGE.
My psyche was struggling this weekend as I desperately sought the correct perspective! Lots of tasks brought up lots of emotions. Two graduations and a wedding approaching fast. Interview suit shopping with my son...six-week countdown to my daughter's wedding...lots of wedding related tasks...praying for baby Gabriel...extended family issues on both sides. I could go on and on. Saturday I lost it - big, tearful meltdown. Joy at my children's accomplishments and bright futures mixed with sadness over losing the mothering role I have been in for 25 years, and TERROR at forging into new territory as the mother of grown children. I don't know how to do that!! I might not be good at it! I'm finishing one stage and I'm terrified about the next.
Sunday I made much more of an effort to talk to the Lord throughout my day and ask him to help me maintain a peaceful and positive outlook, and handle these conflicting, battling emotions within me. At one point as the tears came again, I locked myself in the bathroom to get away from it all and prayed to the Lord for help. And he did help me. My peace began to return. Later, as I walked the dog, I think I heard God whisper to me that being in this Bible study is right where He wants me to be, and that He is pleased that I am losing sleep and curtailing other activities in order to spend more time in studying His word! I smiled when I heard Wendy say this morning, "be where you are supposed to be."
My To Do: Later today, I will sit down and read through Ecclesiastes 3 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens."
Peace and Gratitude,
Michelle in New England
Hi Twin, we did it again. Haven't read your post yet -- going to do that right now -- but just wanted to say "Hi", Lori.
Good Morning Everyone~
Right after I started the first part of the reading and read how David was not where he was suppose to be, I wrote in my journal, "Am I where I am suppose to be?" Are my priorities in line, am I daily in the Word and seeking God to show me where to be and what to do with my time. That slippery slope can start just with something as simple as not being where I need to be or having priorities out of line. Satan wants us distracted and I have found out just recently he will use and do whatever he needs to to make that happen. I have been going through a rough patch with a friend of mine and just really struggling about the friendship. Trying to seek God and His direction. I have tried my best to follow God and where He wants me to be and having the priorities He has set our for my life, but it was pointed out by someone else that to them I was not doing that. It is a real matter of prayer right now for me.
2 Samuel 12:25 "and sent word through Nathan the prophet they should name him Jedidiah (which means "beloved of the LORD"), as the LORD had commanded." I don't know about you all, but I am so thankful that God redeems our sins and mistakes! We see God redeeming David and Bathsheba's sin. Nothing in our lives will be a waste if we give it to God. He can use all our mistakes, He can use them in our purpose. I am so thankful for that today. I am going to have the opportunity just this week to share my story with a lady at my church who has gone through similar things as me. She is a new Christian and our discipleship leader has asked me to talk to her because of what I have been through and the victory Christ has brought in my life. He uses it all friends, and I am so thankful that nothing is ever wasted. He will restore and use it if we let Him.
Michelle I will pray for you today in this time of transition. {{HUGS}} across the miles from TN.
Have a blessed day GIGs!
Brandee, TN
What surprised me so much about David's story today was how many times he tried to Uriah to go home to Bathsheba so that nobody would know that Bathsheba was already pregnant. He seems to have no remorse for sleeping with Bathsheba - only fear of being caught.
I also didn't remember that their first son died as a direct result of David's sin. How scary and painful it must have been to know that you were the cause of such suffering for your own child! David seemed to show such wisdom after the baby died, and yet to some I'm sure it appeared callous. It definitely makes me want to be SURE that I am where I'm supposed to be and doing what I'm supposed to do, if for no other reason than that I do not want the consequences of MY sin to affect my FAMILY - and yet they usually do.
Babysitting my little daredevil today and continuing to clean up from the birthday weekend. The zoo was great and the party was simple - now hoping that all of us tired and grumpy people can have a patient morning until naptime and much-needed rest! Michelle, I can't imagine being where you are, yet the time will fly until I am - and since my kids are exactly 25 months apart, it may well happen all at the same time, too! I'll be thinking about and praying for your today.
Michelle,
Bless you. Your openness and your vulnerability really spoke to me this morning. I am in a similar cross-roads as you (minus the wedding) and sometimes fear is overwhelming. I am glad you found peace in prayer.
"Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble at heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
and likewise,
Psalm 1:2-3
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
Michelle, you are like a tree planted by streams of water. Your roots go deep and you yield much fruit in its season. Your leaf does not wither, as the streams feed you and give you your life. Rest, rejuvinate, look forward with great joy at this season of life. And, most importantly, drink deeply from this spring of life-sustaining water.
Be blessed my friend,
Karen
Thank you Brandee, Amy and Karen for your sweet prayers. They mean a lot to me, as they are God's word spoken through you. Karen, to answer your question from Friday, no, I am not a quilter, but I admire quilters tremendously. (Yet another reason for me to like and admire YOU, Sister!) Perhaps quilting can be a retirement activity for me, as I am a sewer.
Peace and Gratitude, and a good day to all.
Michelle in New England
Michelle, my sweet twin, I can so relate to what you are going through…even though, it’s not exactly the same with me…prior to when I began studying God’s Word daily- a couple of years ago, my idol was my family. (Amongst a few others!) Our family has been very close and my husband and I have been apart of both of our sons’ daily ‘happenings.’ God showed me that I needed to let their wings spread. That the time had come to let go, gradually, a little at a time. And, day after day, I’d say, but, ‘how?’ I don’t want this time to ever end. I loved our family just the way it was…all of us together, and attending to their needs like I’ve grown accustomed to doing. Well, God. More and more I see how He truly knows our tomorrows. He placed this Bible Study in my lap. He began pursing me, to where I wanted to spend time with Him. He surrounded me with Bible Studies to go to. He placed Christian ladies around me. He so sweetly showed me that time with Him, was even better than hovering over my boys’! Smile! And, over the course of two years I have to say, that He has actually (like, why am I surprised!) allowed me to feel peace about the years to come, when my boy’s will be gone…I have a while to go yet…but me, the worry mom that I am began even worrying and fretting over this WAY before you did! Smile again!!! And, you know what?…what He told you in the bathroom is exactly what He told me. That this Bible Study is exactly what he wants me doing right now. Pretty much, for half of a century, I did not place my focus on Him. It’s was all about me and my family…Oh, I went to church, and I thought I was a good Christian, but I had know idea what a real and intimate relationship was…But, He has wooed my heart, and I know with such peace, that I am where He wants me to be. In His Word daily, making Him the priority in my life. He is pleased that I am growing more intimate with Him and daily I love Him more and more.
For those of us who have mothered for so long, aahh, but to think now, as the season changes, your new role, to enjoy being the daughter of the Most High. Oh, the days ahead for you Michelle! Motherhood was good, but the times ahead with God, will take your breath away! I see Him pursuing you, too, and you have know idea what is in –store! When you’re willing to love Him, He takes a hold of you, and takes you to places you’ve never been. The best part: peace. Thank you for sharing your heart today with us. I so love “seeing” what Jesus is doing inside all of us! We are all picked – hand-picked by our Father to do this journey with sweet Wendy.
Off now to walk…and pray for you all…Loving arms coming across the miles to you guys! Lori
Good Morning,
Michelle I feel your pain.(with the wedding too) A great book that changed my life was 'Parenting 20-Something Kids: Recognizing Your Role As They Find Their Way' Author Martha Pope Gorris. This book shows parents of young adults how to adapt to their changing role in their children's lives. Christian book stores should have it. Amazon definitely does. Praying for all who are going through 'so if I am not the mommy what am I to them phase!' Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 there is a season, a time for all things. Praying for wonderment, freedom to explore, peace & joy with the Lord & the finding the gifts He wants to use you for in this next season of your life.
Blessings & Peace, Mary
Michelle, you can do it. Being a parent of adult children is a joy like none other. I wonder if any of us are truly ready for the next steps in parenting. Yet, we have a God who knows all, sees all and best of all, holds us in the palm of his hand. He will be your strength and guide, just cling to Him.
The events of David and Bathsheba end up being the watershed in David's life. From this point on he reaps the bitter harvest of his sin. When God forgives us, our salvation is confirmed, but the consequences of sin, like David's, are not often wiped out. From the bible study notes "Once we have been forgiven, it is unnecessary self-torture to continue to feel guilty about what our sins have done to others. We should be grateful for forgiveness and seek to minimize the effects of our sins." Boy, from experience, that is hard to do, but God is faithful.
His,
Gaylene
Wow, here we are rejoicing with David in all the victories he had previously and surviving Saul's hunting to kill him. Now chapter 11is known as David's sin with Bathsheba. It can be a let down, but we're in the same boat with him. The boat is called "sin". Oh, our sins may come in different packages, with different names, but they are still sins. However, we can be whiter than snow after confessing and seeking forgiveness from Jesus.(Ps.51:7)
Less we be too hasty in pointing our finger at this man, the gal wasn't innocent. I really had not considered this until reading C. Swindoll's book, "David". He quotes Raymond Brown,"Bathsheba was careless and foolish, lacking in the Hebrew modesty, or she certainly would not have washed in a place where she knew she could be overlooked.From her roof-top she would often have looked out to the royal palace and must have known that she could be seen."
Swindoll tells us, ladies, to "give thought to your actions, your dress, your looks, and your conduct.That means when you happen
upon some alluring object, you turn away and refuse to linger. You are modest, careful, controlled, not leaving even a hint of allurement, lest another be tempted."
Let's watch how low the top and short the bottom is before we go out the door. Since I don't want my husband tempted, I don't want to tempt some other lady's husband.
Do I hear an amen?
Psalm 51 has a lot of nuggets:
-a broken spirit and contrite heart God won't despise
-purify me
-create in me a clean heart
-don't take your Holy Spirit from
me
-restore to me the joy of your
salvation.
Then David gives comfort to mothers who have lost a child,"I can go to him one day."
What a day of rejoicing when we are reunited with loved ones in heaven and our Savior!
Be modest and careful today.
Linda from Ark.
Good morning GIGS! Big weekend for us as well with Prom--which was wonderful! Thank you for your prayers...the weather was ugly, but the kids were beautiful. We moved the pictures of the group to inside our church's Son Room, and it was perfect. PTL!
Today's reading had so many nuggets that y'all have already mentioned. Gaylene said that David now is reaping the bitter harvest of his sin. We can praise Him that He does forgive, but there are many consequenses to pay. My heart broke for the death of their baby. I just wonder about what Bathsheba was thinking as all of this occured...from sleeping with the king to the murder of her husband to the death of her child.
I had forgotten that the Lord changed Solomon's name to Jedidiah. Wendy, I love your take on this reading today. GIGS, you're on my heart with your struggles and decisions as I run this morning. Your faith and obedience is a beautiful testimony to His love.
Hugs!
Susan
Michelle - once in a while a good meltdown is in order. ((((HUGS)))) I went through the same when my DS1went to college. It was difficult I was melancholy for the 1st 3 weeks just missing him (oh and the enemy had a field day playing with my mind with "what if" scenarios). But God reminded me He is not going to abandon my son once he left our home. This is a time for him to walk with God on his own and be closer to him without me hovering (yes, I admit to hovering) over him. Michelle, this is the time to watch the seeds that you planted in them come to fruition. Enjoy the fruits of your labor - and just think, no more tuition payments! :D
Today's reading reminded me of what our Pastor said regarding David. King David was the standard by which all the other kings were measured. He unified the tribes yet he fell in the arena of sexual sin. As we saw in our prior readings he was multiplying wives. He did not say "no" to himself. He was so blessed and prosperous he didn't even have to go to battle. Pastor said that "Idleness is the devil's workshop when men are not engaged in battle."
Yet inspite of this episode with Bathsheba, God never rescinded on His promise to establish the house of David. (Remember in Saturday's reading when David wanted to build a house for the Lord and the Lord said No, but I will build you a house and from your seed will come the true King.) God is so good and merciful. It just makes me tear up everytime I think about it.
I just realized that the phrase "I deserve this" should serve as a warning to us. That is the devil's key phrase. In my own life when I follow through with this, I always regret it later. Oh, I have a roomfull of "I deserve this" in the form of scrapbooking supplies, tools, paper stacks. (Does anyone remember Beanie Babies? Got those in bins, too.)
Bottom line, I have no right to say "I deserve this" because what my sinful flesh deserve is eternity in hell. Thank you, Jesus for dying on the cross so that we do not get what we deserve.
Have a blessed day, everyone.
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Wow! Great lesson! So much to learn, but learn I did. I've got five pages of notes from today's lesson. Some of my own and some from each of you. My first thoughts that I've written down were this: David's downfall here began when he stayed home from a war he should have been fighting. Secondly, he should have turned away from seeing a woman bathing and kept his eyes to himself. Thirdly, when he found out that she was someone else's wife...that should have stopped him in his tracks! Instead one sin leads to another. Get's a married woman pregant. Tried to deceive her husband to sleep with her. When Uriah doesn't David hands him his "death certificate"! Uriah was unaware that the letter he was carrying to Joab was his death sentence. What did Uriah do to deserve this treatment? He was loyal to his King and to the King's army. But b/c David didn't have the guts to admit his sin to Uriah, he killed him. By trying to cover up his sin, David created more sin. And it says, the Lord was very displeased.
God is displeased when we sin, let alone use another sin to cover up that sin. He is displeased when we try to sweep our sin under the carpet rather than dealing with it when He convicts us to.
God told David "You have done this in secret, but I will make this happen to you openly before everyone!" Be sure your sins will find you out. We have no secrets with God.
David did what we all wish and pray everyone would do. He repented with a Godly sorrow. There is a difference between Godly sorrow and human sorrow. David asked for a "clean heart and renewed loyal spirit". He prayed that his joy of salvation be returned...making him willing to obey. Vs.17 says "The sacrifice You desire, is a BROKEN SPIRIT." And vs.19 goes on to say that "Then You will be pleased with sacrifices OFFERED IN THE RIGHT SPIRIT." Too often we think that if we say "I'm sorry b/c So&So said I should be" will get us off the hook. We ask "what do you want So&So? I'll do what you want. I'm sorry." But that isn't the kind of sorrow that God is looking for. He is looking for the kind of sorrow that David has shown to us here in Psalm 51. God will convict us of our sin to make it right before Him and before man. When the Holy Spirit convicts us, are we willing to say "create in me a new heart, O God"? Or will we ignore God's plea to make things right and continue on in our sin?
My something new: I didn't realize Solomon was given another name. Jedidiah, meaning beloved of the Lord.
Something to Do: Stay focused on what God wants me to be doing. Be where I'm supposed to be. When He convicts my heart to make something right, may my response be "I'm sorry Lord, create in me a new heart." May my sorrow be a Godly sorrow and nothing fake to get "off the hook".
Wow, great comments today! I read early this morning and regretfully do not have my Bible or notes with me at my appointment right now. One thing that I found extremely interesting was the line in the Psalm that goes something like this--"you (The Lord) desires a broken spirit." Without a broken spirit, we can't fully see what the Lord can do for us. My Sunday School lesson yesterday was about how the Lord is capable of doing anything, bigger than our thoughts and dreams. The kids I teach are pre-teens, and they have a hard time with this, and I have to admit I do too sometimes.
Thank you all for your comments, and I will pray for those of you going through your growing children leaving. My kids are 11, 8 and 2, so I don't have that experience to go through.
Love and hugs, Karla
Appreciating all of your comments today. Soaking them all in. Michelle - I'm there with you - I have 2 kids in college; 1 left at home. It was an adjustment, but now I am content right where I am at. It's fun when they come home to visit! It is so easy to sometimes lose ourselves in our children; but God is waiting right there to show us who we are in Him. Grab His hand!
Jules - I really liked your points today. I didn't remember Solomon being named Jedidiah either! Why don't we call him jedidiah? Interesting.
Praising Him
Morgen
Appreciating all of your comments today. Soaking them all in. Michelle - I'm there with you - I have 2 kids in college; 1 left at home. It was an adjustment, but now I am content right where I am at. It's fun when they come home to visit! It is so easy to sometimes lose ourselves in our children; but God is waiting right there to show us who we are in Him. Grab His hand!
Jules - I really liked your points today. I didn't remember Solomon being named Jedidiah either! Why don't we call him jedidiah? Interesting.
Praising Him
Morgen
Dearest Michelle...and other Mother's in the letting go stage of life.
I will have to admit it is the hardest thing to find a mother's place once her children have grown and venture out on their own.
I once heard that raising children is like flying a kite...you just let a little more string out at a time once they begin to fly. Eventually you get to the end of the string and you don't want to let go. A mother is not sure what will happen if she does. But God does not ask us to completely let go he asks us to hand the kite string over to Him! For they are His children first.
I have handed one of my adult children over and the other I am in transition of doing so. I keep wanting to take this one kite string back and have been passing it back in forth...putting it into God's hands and then taking it back...thinking I need to take control to guide my son's way. God keeps urging me to let go...cause He is the one in control. I can have peace and rest in knowing this.
Our grown children are still a part of our life but we have done our job of nurturing. My children are always wanting to get us a puppy or a kitten so I have something else to nurture. LOL. I judge they are telling me Mom you have done your job of getting us here (with God's help I might add)now you can focus on other things, we will be fine.
But will they? Does it help them one bit if I do still hang on and try to control that kite string. Who is going to be there if they crash and burn as a kite often does? God will be...I judge perhaps that's where I shall continue to guide them in God's direction, handing the string completely into His hands.
Don't be to hard on yourself Michelle letting go and finding your place in their adult lives is a process. God is a part of that process. You are looking in the right direction my friend in Christ.
A few years ago Mark Harris came out with the song, "Find Your Wings" Grab some kleenex first and then sit back and listen to it a couple of times. It came out at just the right time in my life as I was trying to let go. Each of my children have heard this song. It just says what my hopes and dreams are for their life as I let go.
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=OXofFc3BBpA
Praying for you at this difficult time in a mother's life.
Love from Debbie in Illinois
Debbie from Illinois - Thanks for sharing the kite analogy. That is so true. Oh and I love that song (and it never fails to make me cry)! I used the lyrics for my DS1's senior dedication page in their yearbook. It so expresses our hopes and dreams for them, doesn't it?
This is my first time to comment and I have debated all morning whether I should or not. Michelle’s comment today just touched my heart. I became an “empty nester” last August when we took our son to college 6 hours away (and 2 weeks later I walked away from a job I was at for 14 years!) Talk about change! For the last 8 months God has just been blessing me beyond what I could ever imagine. It was very difficult for the first few months and God was just drawing me closer and closer to him. I had so much more time to spend in his word and prayer. Then a friend led me to Proverbs 31 and the devotional that led me to this bible study. Everyday I learn so much by the readings and all your comments. Other empty nesters told me it gets easier and now I can finally understand. Two weeks from today we’ll bring him home for the summer!
Michelle, I’ll be praying for you in the weeks and months ahead.
You all have been very encouraging to me whether you know it or not.
Kris
Hi gals,
A quick praise report...thank you for all your continued prayers for my family. I finally had breakthrough in the broken relationship I mentioned and we are in the midst of reconciliation. Asking God for His help with forgiveness and mercy, to help erase hurts and move forward in His love. (that love your enemies vlog really hit the mark Wendy!)
Still lots of family drama that is ongoing but I am happy to report this significant change.
My prayers are being lifted to as well for baby Gabriel. And also for all you wonderful ladies who are struggling with empty nest. I will say as someone at the beginning of parenthood - I am blessed by your encouragement, compassion and insights. You are beautiful mothers, who care deeply for your children. And I can only imagine the blessings you are bestowing on your families as you journey through His Word. You are awesome!
As a 30 something I can tell you - you NEVER forget your mothers. Esp once you have a child - you appreciate the sacrifices so much more. My hats off to all of you girls!
I also here becoming grandma/grandpa is a very awesome phase, so praying for little ones to fill your world again soon :) I know Elliot is so blessed by the love of his grandparents and their wisdom!
Lots of love,
Jodie
I just wanted to "pop on," as sweet Brandee would say, to give a heartfelt "Thanks" to the many more of you who sent a comment, suggestion, book title, song or prayer my way regarding my apprehensions about entering the stage of mothering grown children. Lori, Mary, Gaylene, Grace & Peace, Karla, Morgen, Deb and Kris, I appreciate you so much for helping me with this. All of you gave me wonderful food for thought and encouragement. Kris, WELCOME, and I hope you keep posting. I'd like very much to hear more about your journey with our Lord, and I know everyone else would too, wouldn't we ladies?
We are FINALLY going out to a belated birthday dinner for my son tonight :)
Peace and Gratitude,
Michelle in New England
P.S. Jodie, I'm so happy to hear your good news. I've been praying for you. And I know I will simply adore being a grandmother, if I am so blessed.
Michelle
URGENT PRAYER REQUEST: Our association's director of spanish ministry, his family, and others locally were in a van accident Sat. as they were returning from a meeting in Little Rock, AR. His daughter, Lidania, is in serious condition with a broken pelvis and damaged bladder, etc. due to the van rolling onto her after being thrown out of it. I think she is about 11 years old. There were 19 injuries and 1 fatality.(The van caught fire.)
My husband went on a mission trip last summer to this dear family's hometown in the Dominican Republic. (His dad is a preacher there, so family is far away.) Another trip was scheduled for June, but is obviously postponed.
Please interceed for this family, as it will be a long recovery for this sweet girl. The family has sacrificed so much in leaving D.R. to minister here. They have started many spanish speaking churches in our area of the state and a blessing to us.
Thank you sisters in Christ,
Linda from Ark.
Lord God,
We pray for this family involved in this van accident. Wrap your healing arms around Lidania and restore her pelvis and damaged bladder. We ask for your peace, comfort and love to all the family members. Thank You Jesus for your faithfulness and love,
In Jesus Name
Our Father we come to you on behalf of your sweet little Lidania. Please give her complete healing. Please comfort her family as they have given comfort to others through their ministry. We ask that You be with them and we trust that You will see them through whatever tomorrow holds. Thank you, Father for the privilege of lifting up this little girl in prayer. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen
Hi Friends - I don't comment much but I read (and cherish) everyone's comments daily. I have learned so much from all you have posted these last 4 months and thank you from the bottom of my heart. I'm learning and one day hope to be as insightful as each of you. I have prayed all the prayer requests with each of you and for each of you.
What caught my attention today was David trying to hide his sin. He compounded sin with more sin, I guess forgetting that he couldn't hide from God. I find I do that myself sometimes when I mess up. I don't want anyone to know so I try to cover it up which just gets messier. I do at some point realize that all the hiding in the world will not keep my sin from the only One that matters.
I am thoroughly enjoying this study and love each and everyone of you. It is my heart to try to post at least a couple of times a week going forward, I figure the practice will make my posts more relevant.
Peace to you all
Kelly
Linda, our family will be praying for Lidania and the others tonight when we say prayers. Thank you sweet friend for letting us know.
Hugs,
Susan
Hey Precious GIGS,
After listening to Wendy's vlog and reading all of your comments, I truly believe that we, as a body of believers and "studiers " of His Word, are where we ought to be and focused on the right things!!
He has certainly brought us together to be united today in identifying and encouraging "the empty nesters",those with broken relationships being dealt with and healed,prayers for Gabriel and Lidanio, younger moms, and sinners saved by the grace of a Merciful God. At least for this time of this study, we are focused on the One who takes care of each of these situations; we are giving Him the praise that only He is worthy of...for there is no other like Him.
There has been NO other time in my daily life that I share in our Lord as I do in this study with my sisters in Christ.
My life verse is Isaiah 60:1; it was the Week 1 Memorization card from a Beth Moore study (can't remember which one). I have that very card right here at my computer.
"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me(the warriors of this study),
because the Lord has anointed me (each of us) to preach the good news to the poor(we share with each other and at some point, a new person joins in commenting due to being touched by something that was written by one of us).
He has sent me (us) to bind up the brokenhearted (so many prayers for the broken hearts have been lifted up since Jan.),
to proclaim freedom for the captives ( how many of us have felt some type of bondage and the GIGS have proclaimed words of encouragement and hope??),
and release from darkness for the prisoners...( in some way, we have given light to someone who has felt as if she has been a prisoner to some type of emotion...sadness, loneliness, depression, yearning, longing, jealousy, insecurity, confusion, uncertainty, and on and on).
Yes, Our God knows exactly where He wants us, GIGS, and that is together in this study...whether we comment or not, whether we miss a day or don't....."for where two or three are gathered", He'll do the rest!!!! Amen and Amen!!!
I love each of you!
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
Jeanne,NC
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