Normally on Sunday, my husband and I would be at church but this past week, since we knew he was going to have to work most of the day, we decided to drive down to the end of our road and enjoy a few minutes of tranquility on the water.
For us, there is a unique feeling when we stand at the waters edge and listen to the call of the gulls, the gentle lap of water against pilings, and the occasional sound of a fish jumping.
With all of life's craziness, I hope you take time to listen for the still small voice of the Lord...
Y'all know I enjoy making Scripture and Inspirational quote graphics. With all the strangeness that's been going on, it helps me focus on what is important and what is truth.
I thought I'd share a few I've made this year in hopes you're encouraged as well.
Pixabay has been my go-to place for images. It's a blessing that so many gifted artists make their works available for free. Attribution isn't required but appreciated. Sometimes I forget to do that but I I am thankful for their generosity.
I pray each of you has a blessed Sabbath day of rest and rejuvenation.
“He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”
~Romans 4:25
“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth…”
~Job 19:25
“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will
live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will
never die. Do you believe this?” ~John 11:25-26
Immanuel, God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our lifework, in
our punishment, in our grave, and now with us, or rather we with Him, in
resurrection, ascension, triumph, and Second Advent splendor.
~Charles H. Spurgeon
Let the word of Christ dwell in you
richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts
to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name
of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. ~Col. 3:16-17
God bless you as you celebrate our risen Savior, Christ Jesus, this Resurrection Day!
I need thee every hour, most gracious Lord; no tender voice like thine can peace afford.
Refrain: I need thee, O I need thee, every hour I need thee. O bless me now, my Savior; I come to thee.
I need thee every hour; stay thou near by; temptations lose their power when thou art nigh. [Refrain]
I need thee every hour, in joy or pain; come quickly and abide, or life is vain. [Refrain]
I need thee every hour; teach me thy will; and thy rich promises in me fulfill. [Refrain]
I need thee every hour, Most Holy One; O make me thine indeed, thou Blessed Son! [Refrain]
(I Need Thee Every Hour ~ words: Annie S Hawks, 1872)
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
(anonymous, 2nd Century)
1 Chronicles 16:8-11 (ESV)
Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!
Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
And beware not to lift up your eyes to heaven and see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, and be drawn away and worship them and serve them, those which the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.
I can see why some people want to worship creation instead of the Creator. It's a magnificent sight to behold. And for those who do not have a relationship with the Lord, they seek to worship something.
But for me, when I see the sun rise each morning it just reiterates to me the awesomeness of God, his power and majesty, his ability to speak into existence this beautiful world we live in, his gift of the sun and moon and stars and heavens above. I don't have the slightest desire to worship what He has created, but to lift my hands and heart in praise to his glorious name. Many mornings my tears flow in continuing realization of his mercy toward me, his saving grace through Christ Jesus, and his continuing presence through his Holy Spirit.
I am compelled to worship and praise HIM who sits on the throne!
When I feel as if I am drowning in worries, He is there in Spirit and Truth.
I can turn to Him all hours of the day or night, finding solace in his gentle arms.
He lifts me up when I am down. He gives me strength to face life's difficulties.
Sometimes I forget how easy it is to turn to Him instead of trying to solve things on my own.
Do you ever do that? Try to carry the burden yourself?
Isn't it so much better to rest in His tender mercies and lovingkindnesses?
~ Have a blessed day in the Lord ~
I'm reposting this one because I have been thinking a lot about my daughter, Amy, and missing her beyond words. But the Lord is ever faithful to send me into the path of a dear friend who knew just what I needed to hear, and who gave me a precious hug to get me through.
Amazing love! how can it be That Thou, my God, should die for me!
And can it be that I should gain An int'rest in the Savior's blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain? For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! how can it be That Thou, my God, should die for me?
'Tis mystery all! Th'Immortal dies! Who can explore His strange design? In vain the firstborn seraph tries To sound the depths of love divine! 'Tis mercy all! let earth adore, Let angel minds inquire no more.
He left His Father's throne above, So free, so infinite His grace; Emptied Himself of all but love, And bled for Adam's helpless race; 'Tis mercy all, immense and free; For, O my God, it found out me.
Long my imprisoned spirit lay Fast bound in sin and nature's night; Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray, I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; My chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth and followed Thee.
No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him is mine! Alive in Him, my living Head, And clothed in righteousness divine, Bold I approach th'eternal throne, And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Amazing love! how can it be That Thou, my God, should die for me!
After almost 50 days without rain, we have finally gotten into the afternoon thunderstorm pattern. A few have been accompanied by some serious looking clouds.
I took this one with my cell phone on zoom (hence the graininess) as I was in a hurry to get back inside. Despite the fact that it looked like a Tornado was forming, it was a false alarm.
But seeing these storm clouds made me think about the storms in life and what they mean. I found this excellent article by J Vernon McGee on OnePlace.com and thought I would share.
That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. (1 Thessalonians 3:3,4)
Here is a statement that is a little hard for any of us to swallow. Paul says that we should not be disturbed by "these afflictions," that is, pressures and tensions. Then he makes the amazing statement that "we are appointed thereunto." We know that we are going to go through storms. They will be temporary, but we cannot escape them. We are going to have trouble down here; the Word of God makes that very clear. Paul wants the Thessalonians to stand for the Lord in the midst of afflictions.
There are other passages of Scripture that teach this same truth. The Lord Jesus said, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Tribulation is the trouble that all of us are going to have. There is no way around it. Yet the Lord Himself tells us to be of good cheer even in the midst of trouble.
If you are a believer, you are not going to escape trouble. To accept Christ does not mean to take out an insurance policy against suffering. The fact of the matter is that you will have trouble after you become a child of God, even if you haven't had any trouble before. He has never promised that we would miss the storm, but we will go through all the storms of life. What He does say very definitely and dogmatically is that He will go with us through the storms and that we will reach the harbor. Any boat that He is in will not go to the bottom of the Sea of Galilee but will reach the other side. You and I are in the process of going to the other side.
The time to be concerned is when there is no cloud in the sky, no ripple on the sea, and everything is smooth and nice. Then you might question your salvation. But if you are experiencing trouble down here, if the pressures and tensions of life are on you, then that is a sign that you are a child of God. This is the way God teaches us to rely on Him.
I remember hearing about a congregation where the pastor asked for some favorite verses of Scripture. One man got up and said his favorite verse was, "And it came to pass." He sat down, and everyone looked puzzled. The pastor asked him how in the world that could be his favorite passage. He answered, "When I get in trouble, I turn to where it says, 'It came to pass,' and I know my troubles came to pass. They didn't come to stay." God will bring us through the storms. We will finally be rid of all our troubles. How wonderful that is.
—From Edited Messages on 1 Thessalonians by Dr. J. Vernon McGee
If you've followed my blog for long you know I've faced some storms, the worst being the loss of my daughter, Amy, three years ago. All I can say, over and over, is that without Jesus, I could not weather that soul damaging tornado. One day, I will be rid of that storm because this too shall pass.
And then I found this beautiful song by Rich Mullins, Bound To Come Some Trouble. I had not heard this one before but it resonates in my heart and encourages me in my daily walk with Jesus!
Hold fast, my friends! Even though we are not promised a road without strife or tribulation, we are promised that Jesus sees our heart ache and his precious Holy Spirit will provide us comfort.
All glory, laud, and honor to you, Redeemer, King, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring. You are the King of Israel and David's royal Son, now in the Lord's name coming, the King and Blessed One.
The company of angels is praising you on high; and we with all creation in chorus make reply. The people of the Hebrews with palms before you went; our praise and prayer and anthems before you we present.
To you before your passion they sang their hymns of praise; to you, now high exalted, our melody we raise. As you received their praises, accept the prayers we bring, for you delight in goodness, O good and gracious King!
We are praising the Lord today for His hand of mercy!
In all things, God is GOOD!
Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,
for those who are called according to his purpose.
Pain is a kindly, hopeful thing, a certain proof of life, a clear assurance that all is not yet over, that there is still a chance. But if your heart has no pain — well, that may betoken health, as you suppose: but are you certain that it does not mean that your soul is dead?~A.J.Gossip
Though poor in this world’s goods, though grieving the loss of loved ones, though sufferingpainof body, though harassed by sin and Satan, though hated and persecuted by worldlings, whatever be the case and lot of the Christian, it is both his privilege and duty to rejoice in the Lord. ~ A.W. Pink
In spite of sorrow, loss, andpain, Our course be onward still; We sow on Burmah’s barren plain, We reap on Zion’s hill. ~ Adoniram Judson
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Tomorrow would have been my daughter Amy's 31st birthday. Each of these quotes speaks of pain and how that pain shows proof of life. I know that in my pain my heart is able to rejoice because of Him who loves me, who sustains me and strengthens me. He makes me able to press on and delight in the Lord, for He is good.
