Phil 4:4

Philippians 4:4- Rejoice in The Lord always. I will say it again Rejoice!...We have so many reasons to rejoice, but sometimes we get distracted & we forget!! Things happen, life gets us down & rejoicing is the last thing we think about doing. We've got laundry, cooking, cleaning, work, husbands, kids, dogs, bills, all these different things going on that rejoicing just isn't what happens sometimes. Well I think it's important that we stop, & take even just a minute, & Rejoice in The Lord!! We've got a lot going on, all of us do, some things good, some not so good. But even in the hard times, when things are crazy & upside, we've got to look & find the reasons to Rejoice!! It's not always easy, probably the reason why He tells us twice in this verse to do it lol. But let's do it today. Let's Rejoice in The Lord always!! I'm rejoicing for each of you!! For the great friendships God has blessed me with through you. Hope you all have a fabulous Friday & will be rejoicing all through out your weekend!!

Practice

We had praise band practice yesterday & we're singing, "Your love never fails," on Sunday. It's a good song, not one that I always think about, but it's good. Then after practice we had bible study, finishing up our study on Ruth, love that book!! Song is swirling around in my head, "Your love never fails, it never gives up, never runs out on me." We're chatting, talking about some of the things that we think about. Some of the lies satan tries to tell us, make us believe. I think it boils down too, "your not enough!" So we encourage each other w/ scripture. Give ideas of what we do when that happens to us, & then we go home, study is over. I'm in my car & I'm thinking about all these crazy emotions that I've had lately, I can go from oozing joy to crying my eyes out, to thoughts I'm to embarrassed to let you all know, my body is changing, as my dr says, "wellll, your getting older & soo...." All I heard after that was, "blah, blah, blah!!!" Okay, I didn't have to see him to know that!!! But anyway, I thought, "I'm failing, flailing, & faltering!" Then the song came back in my mind...."Your love never fails, it never gives up, never runs out on me!!" Oh my goodness!!! I'm filled w/ thankfulness!! Grateful to a Mighty Savior, who loves me-delights in me- & takes care of me, in & through every single season of my life!! There's not a time He's not w/ me. Even in my craziness, He brings me calm!! Peace!!! How wonderful & amazing He is to me...to us!!! So if your like me, or even if your not, remember always, always, God is faithful to us. He brings us out of the yuck & muck & sets our feet on higher ground!! Take these scriptures & plaster it in your heart & mind & recall them always!! That's how He speaks to us, through His word!! Let Him speak to you today!!! Psalm 36:5-7- Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people & animals. HOW PRICELESS IS YOUR UNFAILING LOVE, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Happy Tuesday

Philippians 3:8- I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord....Monte & I were listening to 3rd Day yesterday, that is one of his favorites bands, & the song "Nothing Compares" came on & it's straight from this verse, "nothing compares to the greatness of knowing you Lord." I'm sitting there singing along & it just hit me, "nothing!! Absolutely nothing compares to knowing God!!!" There is no greater place to be then in His presence, there is no better gift to give then the knowledge of Him, there is nothing better, nothing greater, nothing wiser, nothing-nothing-nothing, is greater than knowing our Lord!! Then getting closer to Him, being in His presence. In the song he talks about all these great sights he's seen, & there are many breath taking beautiful things around us, the Grand Canyon comes to my mind, but that's nothing compared to knowing God. It's important, it's valuable, it's our life line!! If you don't know Him, talk to me or somebody that will "introduce" you. If you've know Him but maybe haven't "seen" Him in awhile, get back together w/ Him!! Let Him revive you!! And if you know Him & you think your good....get to know Him more...& more & more!! He's got knew things for us each day!! You know w/ holidays coming up we become (some of us) consumed w/ finding the perfect gift, well the most perfect gift you could ever give anyone is the knowledge of knowing God!! You don't even have to worry about the whole re gifting thing, or how much it cost, (Jesus already paid that price!), or wrapping it, you've just got to give it out. Today, right now, let's make sure we have that gift & we're giving it out!! If that's what we're giving everyone this year--that will truly be the gift that keeps on giving!!! No better present to have or give!! I hope you have a terrific Tuesday!!!

2Chronicles 20:17

2Chronicles 20:17- You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your position; Stand firm & see the deliverance The Lord will give you, Judah & Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, & The Lord will be w/ you...I came across this verse yesterday & I love it!! Isn't it great to know that God fights our battles for us?! We have to do our part & be prepared, be ready, but He's won the fight! He's delivered us, brought us through to the other side w/ victory in & through Him!!! I love it!! If your facing something & your fretting about the outcome, read this verse! Keep it in your head & your heart. Bring it to mind. Move some of the words & make it yours!! Instead of the "you's", make it "I"!!(or me, whatever fits in the spot!) It makes such a difference, b/c then you'll see it as totally yours, something God has given straight to you!!! This is what He always wants us to remember, He's w/ us!! I hope this will be of encouragement today & your battle won't seem so big once you've got His word inscribed in you!!! Have a Magnificent Monday :-))

Psalms

I love reading the book of Psalms. I love the reminder of making sure that I'm giving thanks to God. Sometimes I get so caught up in what's going on, whether good or bad, that I forget to just thank Him for Him!!! His goodness, kindness, grace, mercy, love, forgiveness, the list could just, literally, go on & on!! God is good, He is good to us!! Let's make sure we are thanking Him for Him!! Worshipping Him! Praising Him, & giving back to Him, what He so deserves!! One of the things He blesses me w/ that came to my mind as I was thinking of all He gives, was laughter!! I love to laugh!! I love to be w/ my people & just laugh so hard we cry!! It's so so good & sometimes you just need that!! So think about the things your thankful for, & make sure you tell Him!! Make sure you thank Him for those things today!!! Psalm 106:48- Praise be to The Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, "Amen!" Praise The Lord.

Proverbs 31:28

Prov 31:28- Her children arise & call her blessed; her husband also, & he praises her...the 1st time I read this verse it made me laugh. I thought, "my children rise & call me a lot of things...I don't think "blessed" is one of them!!" They are not morning people!! They get it from their dad!! I would wake them up w/ a cheer, or a "rise & shine!! It's thrilling Thursday!! Time to do good things!!!" They were not thrilled, nor were they very cheerful!! Lol. But they rose & as they woke it was, "Mom! Mom?" An occasional, "mother!! Or momma!! Now I only have 1 to wake up & she's not to bad. Lol. Well that depends on who gets up, Natalie or Helen!!! Lol. But as each of them rise, 1 in his own house I will say I am blessed!! God has given us 4 beautiful souls who we have & continue to love & cherish!! What a huge blessing to rise & know that God is moving & working in each of them. My prayer is that they will always be tuned to Gods voice & obedient to His calling!! That thought always makes those long mornings so very worth it!!!

Psalm 19:14

Psalm 19:14- May the words of my mouth & the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock & my Redeemer...I'm going to tell you how this verse came to be in my head yesterday...I was doing fine as the morning started, my time was good! My goal, every morning, is to start getting ready by 7. If I get started before then--Bonus!!! Well 7 rolls around & I decide that I should sweep the floor by the door. Why, you may be asking??? Well, I thought I had time?!? I get dressed, check the time, "oh I've got 25 min!" I decide then I'm going to write a note back to somebody who had sent me one!! Okay, that's done, it's 7:31. My goal is to leave by is 7:40, I can leave at 7:45 & still get to work by 8, but it's better to leave at 7:40. Okay, I have 9 min--possibly 14! Still good!??! Then it all started to go down hill. Brush my teeth, I hear Lambeau barking & I could tell by the bark he wasn't happy. I look outside..Stitch (Jake's pig) is out!! Great!! I've got to feed the dogs & get the pig up, it's 7:38. Well I'm not leaving in 2 min that's for sure. I'm trying to chain Lambeau up & feed him, he's very concerned that Stitch is going to come over & steal his food, so he's not very cooperative. I get him taken care of, I'm trying to get Stitch up, I have nothing, food wise, for him. It all went to Lambeau! So I'm trying to fake him out by acting like I'm throwing food in his cage...he's not buying it. I give up, throw the bowls in there that I had used for Lambeau. He goes in, I see the hole where he's getting out!! "Are you kidding me!!" I find a piece of wood that covers it & a cinder block, & I "fix" it!! Run, yes I did run, back in look at time, 7:47, I've GOT TO GO!! Out the door, in the car, almost to town, person in front of me driving 35 mph!!!!! Which, yes, that is the speed limit, but this is ridiculous. I'm yelling at him---I mean, at the top of my lungs, SCREAMING!!!!" The only thing I can hear is Monte saying, "you should probably plan your time better!! If you wouldn't have swept & wrote the card you wouldn't be in this spot right now." Those who know us, know we are on totally different time zones. He gets somewhere 20 min early & thinks he's late. I get there 20 min late & I think I'm doing good. So I'm yelling at Monte, who has no idea what's going on, it was just the conversation in my head!! I get on Wildcat lane, seconds away from work, & I get stopped so the elementary traffic can come out. I promise you that guy has it out for me, he stops me everyday. I'm yelling at him. He also has no idea, partly b/c he doesn't care & can't hear me!! Thank goodness b/c I certainly wasn't very nice. I pull into my spot at work, check time, 8:03!! Whew!!! Technically, as long as I clock in by 8:07 I'm not late!! So what do I do, put my lip gloss on!! I still have 4 min!! Well in that time God gives me this verse. I stopped & said to Him, "I am so sorry!! My words nor my thoughts were very pleasing to you I'm sure!! Change the direction of my thoughts so I can be more like you! Please!!" He, of course, did!! He doesn't want me walking around like that. Now I'm not saying I'll never have another morning like that, more than likely I will, but I hope that the next time I will think more godly thoughts, & my words would be more beneficial to anyone who might hear them. My prayer is that you would also take this verse & know it & if you're finding yourself in the same boat as me, God would gently remind you & change your thoughts & words so that we can go through our day w/ honor to Him, instead of hatefulness in us. We look so much better when we reflect Him then when we reflect the world!!!