April 12, Today’s thought – At the Time Appointed

Picture 009 Almond Blossoms

Good Morning

My Bible Study teacher has been bringing lessons on child-like faith. She gave us the book Touching Incidents complied by S. B. Shaw, a book filled with stories of children’s faith in God and His answers to their prayers. We were to pick out a story and a scripture to share with the class. Some members read/told their story. Some shared a story of faith and answer from their past. All were encouraging. I was so surprised when the bell rang that class was over, I could have listened longer.
I choose the story: Praying for Wood, page 129:

E. B. Slade tells an interesting instance of answered prayer. One cold winter he was forty miles away from home, holding revival services, when , in the midst of a terrible snowstorm, during which travel was almost wholly impossible, his wife, at home ran out of wood. To save the little that remained, she put her children to bed, and wrapped them up in blankets. AT last baking must be done, and making a fire of her last wood, she began to pray that help might come, and persevered until her faith won the victory. She then went about her work in perfect peace of mind, assured that relief would come. In the course of a few hours her nearest neighbor a lady waded through the snow saying that she had been impressed that she must come over and see what was the matter, The facts were stated, and relief promised. Hardly had she gone when another lady came in with the same statement, and the same offer was made. A little while later a gentleman came in, expressing a similar feeling; and when he learned the facts, he took them all to his home, and cared for them until Mr. Slade returned home.

I thought nothing to hard for God!

Jeremiah prays in 32:17
Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth
by thy great power and stretched out arm,
and there is nothing too hard for thee:
Jeremiah continues to extol the might power of God,
in verse 27, God says to Jeremiah,
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh:
is there any thing too hard for me?”

Genesis 18 verses 13-14 God speaks to Abraham and Sarah:
And the LORD said unto Abraham,
Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying,
Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
Is any thing too hard for the LORD?
At the time appointed I will return unto thee,
according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

In these verses the phrase ‘At the time appointed‘ spoke to me.

I ask and God hears and the answer comes at the time appointed.

And Jesus said unto them,
It is not for you to know the times or the seasons,
which the Father hath put in his own power. Acts 1:7

Trust God for His time . . Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on April 12, 2013 at 11:11 am  Leave a Comment  
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April 11, Today’s thought – God Listens

April 5,  grapes & berries 001Blossoms and berry babies

Good Morning
You and I live in a loud world.
To get someone’s attention is no easy task.
But when someone’s willing to silence
everything else so he can hear us clearly,
it’s a privilege.
A rare privilege indeed!
You can talk to God because God listens.
Your voice matters in heaven.
He takes you very seriously.
No need to fear that you’ll be ignored.
Even if you stammer or stumble,
even if what you have to say impresses no one,
it impresses God—
and He listens.
Intently.
Carefully.

Your prayer on earth activates God’s power in heaven,
and Scripture says,
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  Matthew 6:10

Your prayers are honored as precious jewels.
You may not understand the mystery of prayer.
You don’t need to.
But this much is clear:
Actions in heaven begin when someone prays on earth.
What an amazing thought!

Max Lucado from The Great House of God

Begin an ‘action in Heaven’ . . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on April 11, 2013 at 4:28 am  Leave a Comment  
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April 9, Today’s thought – Ashamed?

April 5,  grapes & berries 002Grape vines are so beautiful. I love them in every season of their growth.

Good Morning

Jesus said, “Whoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:38.

We live in a culture that has all but quarantined faith;
holding virtually any public display of love
for God in contempt and ridicule.
Nevertheless, as Paul said,

“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16.

Perhaps we need a spiritual boost, like young Timothy;
something to encourage our boldness to stand up for Christ.

“God has not given us the spirit of fear,” Paul wrote,
“but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God.” 2 Timothy 1:7,8.

Our shameless response to Christ’s persuasive love
makes Him proud to stand up for us as our God!
The writer of Hebrews tells us,

“He is not ashamed to call them brethren” (Heb.2:11),
and, “God is not ashamed to be called their God” (Heb.11:16).

Since He is not ashamed to be associated with us,
shouldn’t we be able to say the same in return?
Turning the pages in an old book,
I came upon this wonderful poem by Joseph Grigg,
entitled Ashamed of Jesus?

Jesus, and shall it ever be,
a mortal man ashamed of Thee?
Ashamed of Thee, whom angels praise,
Whose glories shine through endless days?
Ashamed of Jesus!
Sooner far let evening blush to own a star!
He sheds the beams of light divine
O’er this benighted soul of mine.
Ashamed of Jesus!
That dear Friend on whom my hopes of heaven depend!
No! When I blush, be this my shame,
that I no more revere His name.
Ashamed of Jesus!
Yes, I may, When I’ve no guilt to wash away;
no tear to wipe,
no good to crave,
no fears to quell,
no soul to save.
Till then, nor is my boasting vain,
Till then I boast a Savior slain.
And, O, may this my glory be,
that Christ is not ashamed of me!

Be not ashamed . . Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on April 9, 2013 at 10:10 am  Leave a Comment  

April 5, Today’s thought – Gentleness

Good Morning

And the servant of the Lord must not strive;
but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2Timothy 2:24

All human heats hunger for tenderness.
We are made for love–
not only to love, but to be loved.
Harshness pains us.
Ungentleness touches our sensitive spirits
as frost touches the flowers.
It stunts the growth of all lovely things.
Gentleness is like a genial summer to our life.
Beneath its warm, nourishing influence
beautiful things in us grow.
There are many people
who have special need for tenderness.
We cannot know what secret burdens
many of those about us are carrying,
what hidden griefs burn like fires
in the hearts of those with whom
we mingle in our common life.
Not all grief wears the outward garb of mourning;
faces ofttimes veil heavy hearts.
Many people who make no audible appeal for sympathy
yet crave tenderness–they certainly need it,
though they ask it not–
as they bow beneath their burden.
There is no weakness in such a yearning.
We remember how our Master himself
longed for expressions of love
when He was passing through
His deepest experiences of suffering,
and how bitterly He was disappointed
when His friends failed Him.
We can never do amiss in showing gentleness.
There is no day when it will be untimely;
there is no place where it will not find welcome.
It will harm no one,
and it may save some one or despair.
J.R. Miller

Bear one another’s burdens . . Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on April 5, 2013 at 10:33 am  Leave a Comment  
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April 4, Today’s thought – Let God

“He was wounded for our transgressions, and by His stripes we are healed”March 29-30  YP cabin trip 029 Each post it note has a sin written upon it,
the Blood of Christ cleanses from all sin.

Good Morning

I’m more a landlubber than a sailor,
but I’ve puttered around in a bass boat
enough to know the secret for finding land in a storm.
You don’t aim at another boat.
You certainly don’t stare at the waves.
You set your eyes on an object unaffected by the wind,
a light on the shore,
and go straight toward it.
You see, the light is unaffected by the storm.

In seeking God, you do the same.
You focus on “a cut above” any storm life may bring.
Like Job, you find peace in the pain.
Like Job, you cover your mouth and be still.

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

A command with a promise. Be still.
Cover your mouth.
Bend your knees.
And, as a result, you will know that I am God.

Be still.
Be quiet.
Be open and willing.
Let God be God.

Max Lucado ~~The Great House of God

Looking unto Jesus. . . Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on April 4, 2013 at 8:55 am  Leave a Comment  
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April 3, Today’s thought – Last Words

April 3, seeing greenOh, Look! We’re seeing green!

Good Morning

Mark, chapter 14 begins the account
of the betrayal and crucifixion of Christ.

What were Christ’s last words in Mark 13?

And Jesus answering them began to say,

Take heed lest any man deceive you:
But of that day and that hour knoweth no man,
no, not the angels which are in heaven,
neither the Son, but the Father.
Take ye heed, watch and pray:
for ye know not when the time is.
For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey,
who left his house, and gave authority to his servants,
and to every man his work,
and commanded the porter to watch.
Watch ye therefore:
for ye know not when the master of the house cometh,
at even,
or at midnight,
or at the cockcrowing,
or in the morning:
Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
And what I say unto you I say unto all,
Watch.

Mark 13:5, 32-37

Watch with me . . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on April 3, 2013 at 9:44 am  Leave a Comment  

April 2, Today’s thought – The Heavens Declare

BigEarth

Good Morning

I remember knowing kids whose fathers were quite successful.
One was a judge. The other a prominent physician.
I attended church with the son of the mayor.
“My father has an office at the courthouse,” he could claim.
Guess what you can claim?
“My Father rules the universe!””

Scripture says,

“The heavens declare the glory of God and the skies announce what his hands have made.” Psalm 19:1

Nature is God’s workshop.
The sky is his resume.
You want to know who God is?
See what he has done.
You want to know his power?
Take a look at his creation.

How vital that we pray,
armed with the knowledge that God is in heaven.
Pray with any lesser conviction
and your prayers are timid, shallow, and hollow.
But spend some time walking in the workshop of the heavens.
Seeing what God has done—
seeing what your Father has done
and watch how your prayers are energized!

Max Lucado~~The Great House of God

This is my Father’s world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world.
O let me ne’er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!
Maltbie D. Babcock

Scan the heavens . . Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Earth -http://www.evl.uic.edu/pape/data/Earth/

April 1, Today’s thought – Remember

IMG_5247the Farmer got cuttings from this Butterfly Bush at Grandma Crain’s

Good Morning

As we move out of this season
of focused remembrance of the resurrection of Jesus,
let us remember why we have this focus-
that we would remember all year long.
Resurrection is not something we will have done,
but is the very air we breath.
When we proclaim each day,
“This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it”
we are not merely speaking of His creational power.
This is the day that the Lord,
by walking out of that tomb, has remade.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
We live in the days of hope and promise.
We live in the new creation. ~RC Sproul Jr.

He is not here, but is risen!
Remember how He spoke to you
when He was still in Galilee, saying,
“The Son of Man must be delivered
into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified,
and the third day rise again.” ~Luke 24: 6 – 7

Remembering . . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on April 1, 2013 at 4:21 am  Leave a Comment  

March 29–Today’s thought — Sunday’s Coming

Good Morning

It was a simple sermon, starting softly, building in volume and intensity until the entire congregation was completely involved, repeating the phrases in unison. The sermon went something like this.

It’s Friday. Jesus is arrested in the garden where He was praying. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. The disciples are hiding and Peter’s denying that he knows the Lord. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is standing before the high priest of Israel, silent as a lamb before the slaughter. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is beaten, mocked, and spit upon. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Those Roman soldiers are flogging our Lord with a leather scourge that has bits of bones and glass and metal, tearing at his flesh. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. The Son of man stands firm as they press the crown of thorns down into his brow. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. See Him walking to Calvary, the blood dripping from His body. See the cross crashing down on His back as He stumbles beneath the load. It’s Friday; but Sunday’s a coming.

It’s Friday. See those Roman soldiers driving the nails into the feet and hands of my Lord. Hear my Jesus cry, “Father, forgive them.” It’s Friday; but Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, bloody and dying. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. The sky grows dark, the earth begins to tremble, and He who knew no sin became sin for us. Holy God who will not abide with sin pours out His wrath on that perfect sacrificial lamb who cries out, “My God, My God. Why hast thou forsaken me?” What a horrible cry. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. And at the moment of Jesus’ death, the veil of the Temple that separates sinful man from Holy God was torn from the top to the bottom because Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, heaven is weeping and hell is partying. But that’s because it’s Friday, and they don’t know it, but Sunday’s a coming…”    S. M. Lockridge

For the Son of man is come to seek
and to save that which was lost.
Luke 19:10

Hopeful because  . . . Sunday’s Coming
With my prayers; desiring yours,  Leslie

Published in: on March 29, 2013 at 5:00 am  Comments (1)  

March 28, Today’s thought -God Lays My Foundation

imageshands

Good Morning

Isaiah 54:10-13
For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed;
but my kindness shall not depart from thee,
neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed,
saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.
O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted,
behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours,
and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
And I will make thy windows of agates,
and thy gates of carbuncles,
and all thy borders of pleasant stones.
And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD;
and great shall be the peace of thy children.

“Is there o end to trials?
Is there no limit to affliction?” you ask.
“Can there be assurance that God knows our every care,
our every weakness?
Will not the morning break with new hope
and refreshing courage?”
Yes, dear heart, there is hope,
there is a limit.
did not our Lord Himself promise us
that we would not have to suffer
affliction beyond that which He had to endure?
God sends affliction and He removes it.
Quietly wait
and patiently endure the will of the Lord till He comes.
When His design in using the rod is fully served,
He ends the trials and He limits the affliction.
If the affliction is for a time of testing,
that we might become as pure gold,
that we might glorify God,
it will end when the Lord has used us
to bear witness to His grace and goodness.
When we have given to Him all the honor
which we can possibly render to Him,
then we would wish the affliction to depart. M. Taylor

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said—
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
. . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Song verse – John Keith

Published in: on March 28, 2013 at 4:56 am  Leave a Comment  
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March 27, Today’s thought – Gossip

P1000038One morning we got up early to watch the balloons rise at sunrise in Reno, NV

Good Morning

It always starts with one word

First, somebody told it,

Then the room couldn’t hold it,

So the busy tongues rolled it

Till they got it outside.

Then the crowd came across it,

And never once lost it,

But tossed it and tossed it,

Till it grew long and wide.

This lie brought forth others,

Dark sisters and brothers,

And fathers and mothers–

A terrible crew.

And while headlong they hurried,

The people they flurried,

And troubled and worried,

As lies always do.

And so evil-bodied,

This monster lay goaded,

Till at last it exploded

In smoke and in shame.

Then from mud and from mire

The pieces flew higher,

And hit the sad victim

And killed a good name.
~~ Author Unknown

Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
Incline not my heart to any evil thing,
to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity:
and let me not eat of their dainties. Psalm 141:3-4

Set a watch, Oh Lord . . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on March 27, 2013 at 4:47 am  Leave a Comment  
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March 26, Today’s thought –Figured Out?

Mar 22 13 mt shastaOur view of Mt Shasta, March 22, 2013

Good Morning

Have you got God figured out?
Get ready, you may be in for a surprise.
Hear the rocks meant
for the body of the adulterous woman drop to the ground.
Listen as Jesus invites
a death-row convict to ride with Him to the Kingdom
in the front seat of the limo.
Listen as the Messiah whispers to the Samaritan woman,
“I who speak to you am He.”
And listen to the surprise
as Mary’s name is spoken by a man she had buried.

God appearing in the strangest of places.
Doing the strangest of things.
Stretching smiles where there had hung only frowns.
Hanging a bright star in a dark sky.
Many more knees will bow.
And many more seekers will celebrate.

“For no eye has seen, no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived what God
has prepared for those who love Him!”
1 Corinthians 2:9

Max Lucado ~~ Six Hours One Friday

Accept God’s Preparation . . Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on March 26, 2013 at 4:25 am  Comments (2)  
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March 25, Today’s thought – Plain Truth

Mar 22  barnI love old barns for the useful life they lived and the secrets they could tell.(seen on along Interstate 5 north of Sacramento)

Good Morning

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

The plain truth is that without Christ there is no happiness in the world.

He alone can give the Comforter who abides forever.
He is the sun; without Him people never feel warm.
He is the light; without Him people are always in the dark.
He is the bread; without Him people are always starving.
He is the living water; without Him people are always thirsty.
Give them what you like, place them where you please,
surround them with all the comforts you can imagine,
it makes no difference.

Separate from Christ, the Prince of Peace, a person cannot be happy.

~ J.C. Ryle

Love the truth. . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on March 25, 2013 at 11:23 am  Leave a Comment  
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March 22, Today’s thought – Green Jeans and Soggy Bottoms


ishepmages

Good Morning

“He makes me lay down in green pastures,
he leads me beside still waters.” Psalm 23:2

It’s kind of nice at first,
especially if your life has been a whirlwind of activity;
running to and fro,
closing deals and climbing the never ending ladder;
burning the candle at both ends;
living on the edge;
coming apart at the seams.
A getaway to a nice balmy meadow,
next to a gentle babbling brook
is just what the doctor ordered;
all we need now is Bambi and Thumper
and the picture is complete.
Like I said, it’s kind of nice — at first.
But as the days turn to weeks,
and then draw into months…
and then years —
green and wet can get a little old.
But the Lord is not fooling around here.
He’s after something far more valuable
than you being a success,
as this world defines it.
He is after you being the man or woman
He created you to be.
And to this end He will make you lay down —
even if you don’t want to.
He will lead you by still waters,
even though you scramble to go somewhere else.
And why is He doing this?
So that your trust will be in Him —
and not in your own fleshly striving.
If you can somehow get up and walk away,
then the Lord is not your Shepherd.
And you will never know
the indescribable payoff that awaits
all those with green jeans and soggy bottoms.

“He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yes, even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil — for He is with me. His rod and staff comfort me. He prepares a banquet table for me in the presence of my enemies, and anoints my head with oil. Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life — and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

But you go ahead and walk away;
I’m sure you’ll find the finer fashions
of this world more suitable to your blank eyes, and hollow chest.
And, no doubt,
the whirlwind will sweep you up in such a buzz
that you’ll not visit these parts again.

Until you are made to lay down in gray linen on a cold stone.

Accept God’s leading. . . Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on March 22, 2013 at 4:29 am  Leave a Comment  

March 21, Today’s thought – The Bible

482012 001

Good Morning,

Now these are the commandments, the statutes,
and the judgments,
which the LORD your God commanded to teach you,
that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:
That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God,
to keep all his statutes and his commandments,
which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son,
all the days of thy life;
and that thy days may be prolonged.
Deuteronomy 6:1-2

The Bible is a beautiful palace,
built up out of sixty-six blocks of marble–its separate books.
In the first chapter of Genesis we enter the vestibule,
which is filled with the mighty acts of creation.
The vestibule gives access to the law courts,
the five books of Moses.
Passing through these we come to the picture gallery
of the historical books.
Here we find hung upon the walls scenes of battle fields,
representations of heroic deeds, and portraits of eminent men
belonging to the early days of the world’s history.
Beyond the picture gallery we find the philosopher’s chamber,
the Book of Job.
Passing on we enter the music room, the Book of Psalms,
where we listen to the grandest strains
that ever fell on human ears.
Then we come to business office, the Book of Proverbs,
where right in the center of the room stands facing us the motto:

“Righteousness exalteth a nation:
but sin is a reproach to any people.” Proverbs 14:34

From the business office we pass into the chapel of Ecclesiastes,
or the preacher in his pulpit,
and thence into the conservatory, the Song of Solomon,
with the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valley,
and all manner of fine perfumes, fruits, and flowers.
Finally we reach the observatory, the prophets,
with their telescopes fixed on near and distant stars,
and all directed toward the bright and morning star
that was soon to arise.

Crossing the court
we come to the audience chamber of the King, the Gospels,
where we find four lifelike portraits of the King Himself.
Next we enter the workroom of the Holy Spirit,
the Acts of the Apostles,
and beyond that the correspondence room, the Epistles,
where we see Paul and Peter and James and Jude
busy at their desks.
If you would know what they are writing about
their Epistles are open for all to study.

Before leaving we stand for a moment in the outside gallery,
the Revelation, where we look upon some striking pictures
of the judgment to come and the glories to be revealed,
concluding with an awe-inspiring picture
of the throne room of the King. W. Duns

Enter His palace. . . Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on March 21, 2013 at 4:45 am  Leave a Comment