Thoughts of Grace

It is time to prune these roses.

Good Morning

I have fought a good fight,
I have finished my course,
I have kept the faith
2 Timothy 4:7

The best any of us can do in this world is but a fragment.
“The old prophet thought his work had failed because Baalism was not yet entirely destroyed. Then we was told of three other men, who would come after him–tow kins and then another prophet, who each in turn would do his part, when at last the destruction of the great alien ‘idolatry’ would be complete. Elijah’s faithfulness had not failed, but his achievement was only a fragment of the whole work.
We are not responsible for finishing everything we begin. It may be our part only to begin it; the carrying on and finishing of it may be the work of others. They may be those we know or do not know and perhaps others not yet born. We all enter into the work of those who have gone before us, and others who come after us shall in turn enter into our work. Our duty simply is to do well and faithfully our own little part. Why fret over what we cannot do when that which we can do will occupy all our time. What we cannot do is not our responsibility. It belongs to some other worker, waiting even now, perhaps, in some obscure place, who at the right moment will come forth with new zeal and dedicated skill, anointed for his task.”   ~~ J.R. Miller

Work in your place for God. . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

A sunrise seen at Cozy Acres, but not today’s.

Good Morning

“Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.” James 1:7,8 (The Message)
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Jamess 1:7-8 (KJV)

We’ve all heard the old saying, “God helps those who help themselves.” While the sentiments behind this whimsical adage are admirable, the saying itself is quite untrue.
Yes, it is true that a person shouldn’t sit around aimlessly all day just expecting God to do this or that for them, while they themselves do nothing. But the adage errs significantly by failing to realize that God in fact does not help those who help themselves; rather, He helps the helpless.
He is the Defender of the defenseless;
He rescues the perishing,
saves those who are falling,
and lifts ups those who have been struck down.
He is a Father to the orphan,
a Friend to sinners,
and the Champion of those who are weak.
Indeed, Paul summed it up — “when we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6).
The problem with “helping yourself” and asking God for a little assistance is that you’re the one still calling the shots — keeping all your options open. Few things are more insulting to God than for a man to come before Him while holding onto other options….just in case the “God thing” doesn’t work out.
Remember Lazarus, the dead man? He had no options whatsoever. Jesus stood before the cold stone which sealed his tomb and ordered it removed, and then called out, “Lazarus, come forth!” And the dead man did so, now fully alive. A significant part of this event is contained in the name Lazarus — it means “without help.” You see? God helps the helpless.
Like Lazarus of old lying cold in his tomb, you and I will never be called into a new and deeper, more vibrant and wondrous walk with Jesus until we realize we truly have no other options but God.
Peter was speaking for all of us that day when he said, “Lord, there is no one else that we can go to! Your words give eternal life” (John 6:68).~~Rylie

Trust in the one who has eternal life. . . Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Bella was lying so pretty, until I snapped the picture……..a leg up!

Good Morning,

Is any thing too hard for the LORD? Genesis 18:14

The God of surprises strikes again. . .
God dies that for the faithful.
Just when the womb gets too old for babies.
Sarai gets p;regnant.
Just when the failure is too great for grace,
David is pardoned. . .
The lesson?
Three words.
Don’t give up. . .
Is the road long? Don’t stop.
Is the night black? Don’t quit.
God is watching.
For all you know right at this moment. . .
the check is in the mail.
The apology may be in the making.
The job contract may be on the desk.
Don’t quit.
For if you do,
you may miss the answer to your prayers.
Max Lucado, He Still Moves Stones.

Trust God for the answer. . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Good Afternoon

Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Forgetting ills behind me, the sorrows past and gone.
Forgetting all my wandering, too sad to dwell upon.
Remembering God’s great goodness, in times of stress and strain ,
Remembering His restorings, I praise my God again.

We stand together at the gateway of another year . It may be a year of may blessed experiences. Follow Him who goes before—the One who went before His people of old—a guiding light, a constant protection, an unfailing Friend and Counselor, and almighty Savior.
When shadows deepen and fear rides on the moaning wind; when joy comes, and we wander in the misty vaie of grief; when joy beckons, and our way is sunlit—“remember” His past leading and know that all is well. When specters rise hauntingly from the past, when old heartaches and sorrows seem to weigh us down and blot out the sunshine forget “those things which are behind,” and reach forward to the joys before us. Paul says, “I press toward the mark”—here there is urgency, and nothing must be allowed to hamper the runner’s progress.
We make our own hindrances many times—our Master has done all He can to free us from every weigh, giving us forgiveness for the past, help in the present, and assurance for the future. So, dear pilgrim, as we face the coming days of a new year, knowing that each one brings our Master’s return nearer, let us “lay aside every weight . . . and press toward the mark,” with singleness of heart “looking to Jesus.”

Forgetting all my doubtings, which dimmed faith’s vision bright,
Forgetting all the earth-clouds, the darkness, gloom and night,
Remembering God’s bright sunshine, and radiance of His face,
Remembering His long patience, I praise my God for grace.

Forgetting all unkindness which friends and foes have shown,
Forgetting and forgiving the wrongs that I have know,
Remembering God provided, unsought, each faithful friend,
Remembering loves devotion, I’ll praise Him to the end.

Forgetting all my pinings, when disappointments came.
Forgetting all the murmurings, which filled my soul with shame,
Remembering God was ever true to His Holy Word,
Remembering He was faithful, I praise my sovereign Lord. A.G.

Deuteronomy 8:1-2 All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers. And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

Thou shalt remember all the way – The various dealings of God with you; the dangers and difficulties to which ye were exposed, and from which God delivered you; together with the various miracles which he wrought for you, and his longsuffering towards you. Clarke’s Commentary

Trust God for your day. . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Boo, WordPress wouldn’t download my picture for today.

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign;
Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,
and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

Now all this was done,
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet,
saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son,
and they shall call his name Emmanuel,
which being interpreted is, God with us. Matthew 1:22-23

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
who orderest all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free
thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
from depths of hell thy people save,
and give them victory over the grave.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heavenly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times once gave the law
in cloud and majesty and awe.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
an ensign of thy people be;
before thee rulers silent fall;
all peoples on thy mercy call.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid thou our sad divisions cease,
and be thyself our King of Peace.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Words: Latin, twelfth century;
trans. John Mason Neale (1818-1866), 1851

Emmanuel is come . . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Burney Falls, California, Thanksgiving, November 23, 2012

Good Morning

And our hope for you
[our joyful and confident expectation of good for you]
is ever unwavering (assured and unshaken);
for we know that just as you share
and are partners in [our] sufferings and calamities,
you also share and are partners in [our] comfort
(consolation and encouragement).
2Corinthians 1:7 Amplified Bible

Half past Twelve, and little Wendy still hadn’t come home for lunch. I called her friend’s house and asked her mother to please send my daughter home. A few minutes later, Wendy came dragging dejectedly into the kitchen.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. “Why didn’t you come home at noon when you were supposed to?”
“Donna lost her birthday dollar,” Wendy replied.
“Oh, I see. Did you stay longer to help her look for the money?”
“No, Mother, I just stayed to help her cry.”
As I kissed Wendy’s sweet cheek, the word empathy came to mind. More than “sympathy” which is looking down and p;itying, empathy gets down and shares. ~~Rosalyn Hart Finch

Trust God for your day . . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie