Family and Country

Some may have read this post on Thankful Thursday but I felt I needed to add it here on Spiritual Sundays as well.   

Today I want to honor my brothers and brother in-law that served in the Armed Services for our country. I am proud (thankful) to live in a land where we are free to celebrate both our country and our God. There are many who have given their lives that we may do so. My brother (in the upper left hand side) lost his life in Viet Nam. My brother in-law (lower left) fought in that same war. He bears the emotional scars even today. My brothers (on the right) both retired from an Army Career which they served with honor and pride for this country. The brother in the top right corner still serves his country in an army related career. I am so proud of these guys.

Today our nation is in need of a revival, a revival from God that will change lives and bring healing to our land. The only scripture that came to my mind this morning in found in Ezekiel. In this scripture God is seeking mankind to stand in the gap on behalf of their land. I believe that today just like then (if not more so) God is still looking for mankind to stand before Him seeking healing for their country.

Will you join the spiritual realm of the battle grounds? Will you put on your suit of amour and join the ranks of prayer warrior as we beseech God to bring revival to the United States of America? If you and I will stand in that gap, God will not have to repeat “but I found no one.”

“So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” Ezekiel 22:30 NKJ
 

May you be blessed this holiday as we celebrate "FREEDOM"......

Please take time to visit "Spiritual Sundays"; read what others are saying and leave your blog link for others to read.

We will Serve the Lord

This morning a thought came to me as I prayed “Lord, You alone are the one true living God.”

 Some men serve gods made by man. We serve the GOD that made man!

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
                                                            Joshua 24:15 NKJ

Join Susan at Forever His for more "Word Filled Wednesday"

Tuesday Unwrapped - Memories

One of my morning devotional led me to Romans 2:13. “For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.” Romans 2:13 NIV

This picture is one that my brother drew years ago. I have always loved and cherished the drawing for it is one of the few things I have left of my brother. He lost his life in the Viet Nam war.

Looking at the picture I have often wondered why he did not make any marks or words upon the pages of the bible. This morning in my spirit I thought how often we pick up the bible reading, doing our daily duty to Lord, only to leave feeling as empty as these pages. Why? Could it be that during that time we are like the people Paul was speaking to? We hear the word, read the word, and even speak the word to others. Still in our heart, we know there are many things in the WORD we do not obey.

“Reading, hearing and speaking the WORD isn’t enough – we must live it.”

Abba Father, help me to be a doer of your word. Help me not to simply read and leave empty but fill me more today with the knowledge of your love. Please allow me to say as the psalmist said “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

What have you unwrapped today?  Join Emily at Chatting at the Sky

Calvary's Love

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1: 2-4


How often have you found yourself in the midst of a trail? You know the ones we might even consider just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. For some it may be a job in which a co-worker seems impossible to get alone with? Perhaps they even seem hell bend on causing your life to be unbearable around them. Maybe it a relationship where nothing seems to be going right and one more word will be the straw that broke the camel’s back. I must admit for me it has been being in a place where I have at times thought surely God has forgotten the visions and dreams He has given me. Have you, like me, prayed “Lord remove this, change this person, or even let me go home?”

James tells us we are to consider trails as joy, not just joy but PURE JOY. He goes on to tell us that our faith is being testing. Furthermore that in this testing, we are developing perseverance (patient). Patient is defined as enduring, unwearied, uncomplaining, and long-suffering.

Now I know that it is easier to ask God to change Sally than it is to admit that perhaps God is simply changing us. We so often want to run away instead of facing the growth spurt God is causing in us. Okay I am getting to the good part, hang on. Growth of any kind is often hard. I remember the cramping legs of my granddaughter. She would cry in the midst of the pain. The growing days in that area for her are coming to an end. Now those legs carry her like the wind as she races against a stop watch. All the memories of cramping, growing legs are behind her.

Look back at the scripture, James tells us that perseverance (patient) must finish its work. Why? Patient must finish its work SO THAT we may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Just think of the rewards when this growth spurt is over. James says we will “not lack for anything”.

I want to leave you with a thought from Amy Carmichael. If you have never read any of her many writings, you would be blessed to do so. Begin with the story of her life “The Life and Words of Amy Carmichael” by Elizabeth R. Skkoglund.

“If I wonder why something trying is allowed, and press for prayer that it may be removed; if I cannot be trusted with any disappointment, and cannot go on in peace under any mystery, then I know nothing of Calvary love”  Insert from “If – What do I know of Calvary Love?” p. 49

Copy of the above print can be found @
http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Thy-Will-be-Done-Posters_i925508_.htm

Highest Point

Associated Press - 5/22/2010 12:55:00 PM

The youngest climber to reach the peak of Mount Everest hugged his tearful companions and told them he loved them. Then 13-year-old Jordan Romero took the satellite phone and called his mom.

"He says, 'Mom, I'm calling you from the top of the world,'" a giddy Leigh Anne Drake told The Associated Press from California, where she had been watching her son's progress minute by minute on a GPS tracker online.

Jordan carried a number of good luck charms, including a pair of kangaroo testicles given to him by a friend who has cancer. "That's the one that probably meant the most," Bailey said.

At the summit, Jordan left behind his lucky rabbit's foot and planted some seeds that a Buddhist monk at a local monastery had given him for luck on his journey, Bailey said. Then he took the satellite phone and called his mom.  http://www.onenewsnow.com/Headlines/Default.aspx?id=1023054  Use this link to read the article in its entirety.

Can you even imagine climbing to the highest point of God’s creation? Can you imagine the view one must see from that point?

My next statements are not meant to demean this young boy in any manner. Still I find it strange that the journalist chose to point out all the lucky charms of this young man. The God of all creation watches as one of his little children scale a mountain that is impossible to most men. Then He watches as lucky charms are put in place. Can you even imagine how God felt when seeds from a Buddhist monk was planted on the mountain He has allowed so many to climb? Then again God created the seed, did He not? Still my heart burned as I felt the Holy Spirit say “to whom would you give credit for all you accomplish? Where would you place your praise?”

“No man can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one, and love the other: or he will sustain the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24 Douay- Rheims Bible

Please note the way in which Wesley (commentary) defines mammon “Mammon - Riches, money; anything loved or sought, without reference to God.” Another said “Mammon can also be devised as the sense of "what one trusts in."

Father, creator of heaven and earth may our eyes be fixed on you. At our highest points in life, may we always remember that our accomplishments are because of the abilities that You have given us? May we always remember that we can do nothing without You?   All praise and glory belong to You!

This post is linked to Spiritual Sundays. Please click over there and read some of the great devotions posted by others, as well as share one of your own.

Passive?

Over the past few weeks God has been showing me some words in scripture that I always thought to be passive verbs are not at all. The first word He showed me was wait “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” Wait in this scripture isn’t passive at all. The Hebrew meaning of wait was to rely, trust. Both rely and trust takes an active choice from us.

During a (not the norm) service at church last night, God once again began to show me a scripture that I thought to be passive on my part was not at all. As we sat quietly in the sweet presence of God, the psalmist’s word came to me. “Be still and know that I am God.” Okay God we are still and I certainly know you are God were the thoughts running through mind as the scripture was repeated in my mind time and again. Even as I drove home, the scripture was still right there. Okay God what is it you are telling me about this scripture?

Bible tools at hand, I began looking for what God was saying. Here is what I found out. The word translated “be still” comes from the Hebrew term raphah. This Hebrew word means to “let go” or “release.” One commentary said “it would best be understood to say cause yourself to let go. In other words, we need to come to a place where we are willing to submit ourselves to God and acknowledging that He is in sovereign control.”

Do you see the action God is requiring of us? He not saying when you sit still (like the water in this picture I have posted) you will know I am God. He is saying on the stormy waters when you let go of your reasoning, stop trying to fix it in your strength and know that I alone am God then I will be exalted. Perhaps He is saying “let go, I’ve got this one.”

"Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."  Psalms 46:10 NAS

Join Laurie at "Women Taking a Stand" to read other "Thankful Thursday" posts.



Picture above of a lake in Texas was taken by my son, Jospeh

Sweet Smelling Prayers

Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Revelation 5:8 NKJ

This scripture has been burning in my heart for some time now. Having searching for a picture that might help you envision my thoughts have led me nowhere. Knowing that my ability to write is not of great eloquent, still I long to tell what I have seen and now see when this scripture enters my mind. So I pray as you read these words you will be blessed.

Twenty four elders, the bible doesn’t give names to the elders but perhaps some are Moses, Joshua, Peter or Paul, carries large bowls of prayers before the Lord. How precious the prayers of the saints are to God. He regards them as sweet smelling incense, set in precious golden bowls. The bowls are so full they are spilling over the side, the fragrance so sweet and strong as they come toward the throne. Those bowls hold your prayers, my prayers and have held the prayers of the saints gone on before us. Remember these prayers are spoken of as incense (a pleasing smell) before the Lord. Can you even begin to imagine that your prayers bring a pleasing beautiful smell to your God? Can you see the bowls with the stream of the sweet smelling incenses filling the room? Oh, that we may fill the throne room of God with our prayers. He cares not if they are eloquent or simply. He only cares that His children have filled the bowls with the sweet smell that pleases Him so.

Have you placed your prayer in the bowl today?

This post is linked to Spiritual Sundays. Please click over there and read some of the great devotions posted by others, as well as share one of your own.

Heel Tastic

When I first found Heel Tastic, I was so faithful to use it. It does exactly what the product label promises “watch dry cracked heels disappear”.  As the weeks, perhaps months have gone by the product has become more of a nick-nack sitting on the table beside my recliner. Needless to say the cracks have returned to my heels.

Picking up Heel Tastic this morning I felt the nudge of the Holy Spirit. God reminded me how often we, His children leave the Bible lying on the side table. We want change in our lives. We want the cracks to disappear. We want to look smooth and polished in the Lord. But we leave the very thing that will help the cracks disappear laying there unopened.

Heel Tastic’s label says Earth to Skin as through it is saying “hello do you hear me?” This morning I felt the Holy Spirit saying “God to Earth do you hear me? Pick up my word; apply it to your life. I will do what I have promised within my word.”

After the death of Moses, the Lord spoke to Joshua giving him a promise about His word. Joshua 1:8 “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”   Did you catch the promise after the condition “if you do this then”?  Today God is still calling us to read His word and to meditate on it. I love the way the Message bible states this same verse “And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed.”

Goodbye ugly dry cracks, today I’m applying the WORD!

Wait

Isaiah tells us that if we wait upon the Lord our strength will be renewed.  Wait is really a word of action in this verse.  Wait does not mean we can crawl back under our covers until God announces “everything is okay now, you can come out.”  No, it means we can wait (rely, trust) God to keep us as we put one foot in front of the other.   It means we can rely on His strength when life seems to drain us of our strength.  It means we have His promised hope when life seems to drain us of our hope.  

A few years back, I broke my hip finding myself at the mercy of others.  

Please go over to Granola Bar Devotional to finish reading this post. While you are there why not also enjoy some of the other ladies' great devotionals. 

Picture from:  http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/Birds_g52-Eagle_In_Flight_p10157.html

Is Satan Trembling

One day last week I was yet again reminded of the privilege we have to pray for others; not only a privilege but a duty to do so. Coming across this story (posted below) of John Knox reminded me how often we get caught up in our own little worlds of self absorption. See I am as guilty as the next to be given to “woe is me”. Still I believe if we would open our eyes to the world around us; our neighbors, family, friends and coworkers our words before the Lord would not be so short. When was the last time we prayed for the lost, not just family but the lost world?

In the story of Mr. Knox it was said that Queen Mary had said she feared his prayers. While not many queens or kings may ever fear our prayers, I sincerely hope that Satan himself will. I hope this morning Satan had to say “look out demons here comes those “praying” spiritual sisters again. I fear they may reach His throne today”.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

"While very ill, John Knox, the founder of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland, called to his wife and said, "Read me that Scripture where I first cast my anchor." After he listened to the beautiful prayer of Jesus recorded in John 17, he seemed to forget his weakness. He began to pray, interceding earnestly for his fellow men. He prayed for the ungodly who had thus far rejected the gospel. He pleaded on behalf of people who had been recently converted. And he requested protection for the Lord's servants, many of whom were facing persecution. As Knox prayed, his spirit went home to be with the Lord. The man, of whom Queen Mary had said, "I fear his prayers more than I do the armies of my enemies," ministered through prayer until the moment of his death. "  (Unsure of Author)

This post is linked to Spiritual Sundays.  Please read some of the great devotions posted by others.

National Day of Prayer

"Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land."
                   2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT


Billy Graham's Prayer for the Nation:

Our Father and our God, We praise You for Your goodness to our nation, giving us blessings far beyond what we deserve. Yet we know all is not right with America. We deeply need a moral and spiritual renewal to help us meet the many problems we face. Convict us of sin. Help us to turn to You in repentance and
faith. Set our feet on the path of Your righteousness and peace.

We pray today for our nation's leaders. Give them the wisdom to know what is right, and the courage to do it.  You have said, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord."  May this be a new era for America, as we humble ourselves and acknowledge You alone as our Savior and Lord. 
This we pray in Your holy name, Amen.

Kindred Connection

Today, I am joining with Windy and others over at “The Kindred Connection”. Come join us – just click the button above.


Here are this week's questions:

1. If you had a day from this past week that you could "live over" (either for good or bad), which one would it be and why?

Without a doubt, it would have to be Sunday. What a beautiful worship service we had. There is nothing that can compare to basking in the presence of our Lord and Savior.

2. Do you work outside the home? Are you a SAHM? Are you self employed?

My nest is empty. So I do not qualify as a SAHM. Not exactly self employed, for I am in full time ministry and do most work from inside my home.

3. What are two blogs that you really love, and why?

That really is a hard question… So here are a couple of my favorite blogs.
 http://www.faithimagined.com/   has and is helping me grow in the new direction (calling) of the Lord.

 http://bhisgirl.blogspot.com/   She simply speaks to my soul!


With a love for God's daughter,
LindaJ

High Tower

This post is linked to:     http://www.chattingatthesky.com/2010/05/03/tuesdays-unwrapped-7/
You may also wish to join with Emily for Tuesdays Unwrapped.


Do you ever just have those days where nothing seems to go right? You know what I mean, those days when it seems Satan is stepping on all of your toes?

Well that is exactly how my day started out. Everything I touched broke including my computer mouse. Now that may not seem like a big deal to some but it is for me. God has recently been leading me in a new direction. That direction requires my computer which includes the mouse. Never thought I would be concerned with a dead mouse (mice)… Sorry couldn’t help the pun.

So anyway off to the office supply I go. As I was driving home, the Holy Spirit prompted me to remember what God had said to me earlier this morning in prayer as I was praying for a friend’s marriage. During prayer I had felt the Lord reminding me of the High Tower to which we all can and must run in times of trouble. Believe me I know that my dead mouse cannot begin to compare to my friend’s marriage problems. Still I am reminded how often we let our emotions run amuck. God is saying slow down, don’t worry; I am here. Here I wait for you – run to your High Tower.

“Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle-- My lovingkindness and my fortress, My high tower and my deliverer, My shield and the One in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me.” Psalms 144:1-2

May your day be blessed as you find refuge in the High Tower.

Glory Come Down

Spiritual Sundays
http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/ 

What a wonderful day in the Lord we had yesterday. God's presences filled the sanctuary and soaked us in His love and favor. All of us surely must have left the building feeling like we had been blessed beyond measure. Yesterday, I was reminded it is not always what I receive from the Lord but at times the blessing lies in seeing what the Lord does for others. Is it not great to watch the hand of the Lord move over His people?

How was your Sabbath experience with the Lord? Did the Lord touch you in a special way? Did you remember to set aside the Sabbath to be in the presences of the Lord? David said (scripture reference below) I was glad when they said let us go into the house of the Lord. Are you glad when it is time to go into the house of the Lord?

There is nothing quite like being in the middle of corporate worship and experiencing the power of God! 

A Song of Ascents. Of David. I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the Lord." Psalms 122:1