August 8, Today’s thought — What To Do? Part 1

Good Morning

What Does the Lord Want Me to Do? (Part 1)

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8, NKJV).

As I travel and meet with people in a variety of settings, the one question I hear more than any other is,
“What does the Lord want me to do?”
While most people who ask this question are typically looking for some specific answer about some specific issue or decision — the answer God gives tends to be more comprehensive.
The prophet Micah illustrates this better than anyone else.

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”

In other words — whatever you decide to do with your life, and wherever that decision may take you — be sure it contains these three things.

#1 — DO JUSTLY. This means that we are to see that justice is done, when it is within our power to do so.

Micah was a peasant prophet speaking up to the civil powers that ruled in Jerusalem. It is noteworthy that “the justice issue” is always raised from below, not from above. In other words, those in power never see a need to change anything—they like it the way it is.
The Bible says, “The Lord does what is right and fair for all who are oppressed” (Psalm 03:6).
As followers of Jesus, we will do the same.
What does the Lord want you to do?
He wants you to see that justice is done in situations
where you have a voice to speak, and power to exert.
There may be some things that are in fact beyond your reach,
things you truly can do nothing about.
But for those things that are before you,
and within the scope of your influence —
there the Lord wants you to do what is just, right and fair. Rylie

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

Published in: on August 8, 2012 at 5:13 am  Leave a Comment  
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August 7, Today’s Thought — Not Alone

Wanted – Sunflowers, Dead and Alive!

Good Morning

. . . for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

Through the wearisome hours of a sorrowful night
I have prayed for the morning to break;
Till there came–not the morn–but this broad beam of light
He knoweth the way that I take.
Hew knoweth the way! and the way is His own,
And I take it with Him–not alone, not alone!

And so, as I journey through darkness and light
Till the valley’s dark shades overtake.
And the city of rest lifts its towers on my sight.
He knoweth the way that I take.
He knoweth the way! and the way is HIs own,
And I take it with Him–not alone, Not alone.!
Mrs. S. M. Walsh, At the Beautiful Gate, 1879

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

Published in: on August 7, 2012 at 5:59 am  Leave a Comment  

August 6, Today’s thought — Lessons in the Shadows

Sunflower,    He loves me, He loves me not. . .

Good Morning

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4 KJV

It is a great art to learn to walk through the shadowy places.
Do not hurry; there are lessons to be learned in the shadow that can never be learned in the light.
You will discover something about His ministries you never knew before.
His rod and His staff they will comfort you–
the one to guide, the other to protect you,
and the sheep that are nearest will know the most of both.
When we go into the valley of the shadow of death
we come so near Him that we look into His face and say,
not “He is with me”–that is too formal, too far away–
but “Thou are with me.”
The need and the usefulness of Christ is seen best in trials.
W. Y. Fullerton.

Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley
of the shadow of death,
I will fear or dread no evil,
for You are with me;
Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide],
they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4 Amplified Bible

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

Published in: on August 6, 2012 at 10:59 am  Leave a Comment  
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August 3, Today’s thought — Hold Fast

Looking down at a fence post, full of spider web.

Good Morning

A noiseless, patient spider,
I mark’d, where, on a little promontory, it stood, isolated;
Mark’d how, to explore the vacant, vast surrounding,
It launch’d forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself;
Ever unreeling them–ever tirelessly speeding them.

And you, O my Soul, where you stand,
Surrounded, surrounded, in measureless oceans of space,
Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing,–seeking
the spheres, to connect them;
Till the bridge you will need, be form’d–till the ductile anchor hold;
Till the gossamer thread you fling, catch somewhere, O my Soul.

~ Walt Whitman from “Leaves of Grass”

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;
(for he is faithful that promised;) Hebrews 10:23

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

Published in: on August 3, 2012 at 5:19 am  Leave a Comment  
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August 2, Today’s thought — Because You Prayed

An evening visitor at Grandma Crain’s.

Good Morning

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness. Proverbs 15:8-9

Because you prayed—
God touched our weary bodies with His power
And gave us strength for many a trying hour
In which we might have faltered, had not you,
Our intercessors faithful been, and true.

Because you prayed—
God touched our lips with coals from altar fire,
Gave spirit-fulness, and did so inspire
That, when we spoke, sin-blinded souls did see;
Captives were made free.

Because you prayed–
The dwellers in the dark have found the Light;
The glad good-news has banished heathen night;
The message of the Cross, so long delayed
Has brought them life at last.—
Because you prayed.

There is nothing that makes us love someone as praying for him and when you can do this sincerely for anyone, you have fitted your soul for the performance of everything that is kind and civil toward him.
Be daily on your knees in solemn, deliberate performance of this devotion,
praying for others in such form,
with such length,
importunity and earnestness as you use for yourself,
and you will find all little, ill-natured passions die away,
your heart will grow great and generous. William Law

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

Published in: on August 2, 2012 at 5:50 am  Leave a Comment  
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August 1, Today’s thought — How Sticky Are You?

Borrowed from Amy at
http://www.sunshine-sentiments.com/2012/07/tape-or-sand-paper.html

Tape or sand paper?

This summer I have been reading a fascinating book. One I heartily recommend. It’s called Imagine: How Creativity Works by Jonah Lehrer. Anyway, while reading this book I came across the story of how 3M became the successful bastion of innovation it is today. It all started with sandpaper. As in, the company made it. And a salesman who, while out on sales calls observing the needs of their customers, developed an interest in making tape. Because, as it turns out, their customers might have needed tape more. Long story short, that salesman of sandpaper, a man named Dick Drew, ended up creating masking tape and scotch tape. Sending 3M in a decidedly different direction.

Here’s where my attention was arrested. By one sentence on page 28: “Adhesives, it turned out, were much more profitable than abrasives.”

Now, really think about that sentence. Adhesives and abrasives. Tape and sandpaper. I couldn’t get it out of my head. The whole concept resonated deeply with me. It made me start asking myself, “Am I an adhesive or an abrasive? Would I be described as more like tape or sandpaper?”

I should probably blame my hyper-focus on this line of thought on the notecard I posted on my kitchen window. The one right above my sink where I spend a great deal of my time. The notecard with this quote written on it:

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:29-32NIV)

I’ve been reading this particular verse for many months. Every time I stand at my kitchen sink. Now I think that this whole time I’ve been reading about tape and sandpaper. And about how maybe God must need tape more, too. Because only speaking words that are helpful for building others up according to their needs, being kind and compassionate, and forgiving brings people together, binds up their wounds, and connects them. While bitterness, rage, anger, slander, and malice breaks people apart, causes conflict between them, and just irritates them.

So, I suppose my bottom-line question for you on this last day of July is this: “Are you tape, or sandpaper?”

Feeling stickier by the minute,
Amy

 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.  Ephesians 4:29-32 KJV

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

Published in: on August 1, 2012 at 12:58 pm  Leave a Comment  
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July 28, Today’s thought — Whispered Wonderings

Flowers at Grandma’s house;
I don’t know the names.

Good Morning

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 1:23

The white space between Bible verses is fertile soil for questions. One can hardly read Scripture with whispering, “I wonder. . . ”

“I wonder if Eve ever ate any more fruit.”
“I wonder if Noah slept well during storms” . . .

But in our wonderings, there is one question we never need to ask. Does God Care?
Do we matter to God?
Does he still love his children?
Through the small face of the stable-born baby,
he say yes
Yes, your sins are forgiven.
Yes, your name is written in heave. . .
And yes, God has entered your world.
Immanuel. God is with us.

He still Moves Stones – Max Lucado

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

Published in: on July 28, 2012 at 6:00 am  Comments (4)  

July 27, Today’s thought — The Spirit Itself Maketh

What a handsome thirsty squirrel!
He lives in Grandma Crain’s backyard.

Good Morning

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:
for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:
but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us
with groanings which cannot be uttered.
And he that searcheth the hearts
knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,
because he maketh intercession for the saints
according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27

The Spirit has much to do with acceptable prayer,
and His work in prayer is too much neglected.
He enlightens the mind to see its wants,
softens the heart to feel them,
quickens our desires after suitable supplies,
gives clear views of God’s power, wisdom,
and grace to relieve us,
and stirs up that confidence in His truth
which excludes all wavering.
Prayer is, therefore, a wonderful thing.
In every acceptable prayer the whole trinity is concerned.
J. Angell James

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

Published in: on July 27, 2012 at 6:03 am  Leave a Comment  

July 26, Today’s thought — When is the Time to Trust?

When the Farmer isn’t gardening, weeding, or watering;
you might find him here.

Good Morning

What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.  Psalm 56:3

When is the time to trust?
Is it when all is calm,
When waves the victor’s palm,
Of joy and praise!
Nay! but the time to trust
Is when the waves beat high,
When storm clouds fill the sky,
And prayer is one long cry,
O help and save!

When is the time to trust?
Is it when friends are true?
It is when comforts woo,
And in all we say and do
We meet but praise?
Nay! but the time to trust
Is when we stand alone,
And summer birds have flown,
And every prop is gone,
All else but God.

What is the time to trust?
It is some future day,
When you have tried your way,
And learned to trust and pray
By bitter woe?
Nay! but the time to trust
Is in this moment’s need,
Poor, broken, bruised reed!
Poor, troubled soul, make speed
To trust thy God.

What is the time trust?
Is it when hopes beat high,
When sunshine gilds the sky,
And joy and ecstasy
Fill all the heart?
Nay! but the time to trust
Is when our joy is fled.
When sorrow bows the heard,
All else but God. Selected.

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

Published in: on July 26, 2012 at 5:42 am  Leave a Comment  

July 25, Today’s thought — Degrees of Fatih

This squirrel calls,
the Farmer offers a peanut,
the squirrel takes from the Farmer’s fingers,
then scampers up the tree to eat.

Good Morning

Let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece. Judges 6:39

There are degrees to faith. At one stage of Christian experience we cannot believe unless we have some sign or some great manifestation of feeling. We feel our fleece, like Gideon, and if it is wet we are willing to trust God. this may be true faith, but it is imperfect. It always looks for feeling or some token besides the Word of God.

It marks quite an advance in faith when we trust God without feelings. It is blessed to believe without having any emotion.

There is a third stage of faith which even transcends that of Gideon and his fleece.
The first phase of faith believes when there are favorable emotion,
the second believes when there is the absence of feeling,
but this third form of faith believes God and His Word when circumstances, emotions, appearances, people, and human reason all urge to the contrary.
Paul exercised this faith in Acts 27:20, 25, “and when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and so small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.” Not withstanding all this Paul said,k “Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer; for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”

May God give us faith to fully trust His Word through every else witness the other way. –C.H.P.

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

Published in: on July 25, 2012 at 6:20 am  Leave a Comment  
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July 24. Today’s thought — The Lord Waits

Sunday night’s sky –
It was dramatic,
this picture turned out kinda spooky, but neat.

Good Morning

And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you . . .blessed are all they that wait for him. Isaiah 30:18

We must not only think of our waiting upon God, but also of what is more wonderful still, of God’s waiting upon us.The vision of Him waiting on us, will give new impulse and inspiration to our waiting upon Him. It will give us unspeakable confidence that our waiting cannot be in vain. Let us seek even now, at this moment, in the spirit of waiting on God, to find out something of what it means. He has inconceivably glorious purposes concerning every one of His children. And you ask,
“How is it, if He waits to be gracious, that even after I come and wait upon Him, He does not give the help I seek, but waits on longer and longer?”

God is a wise husbandman, “who waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it.” He cannot gather the fruit till it is ripe, He knows when we are spiritually ready to receive the blessing to our profit and His glory. Waiting in the sunshine of His love is what will ripen the soul for His blessing. Waiting under the cloud of trial, that breaks in showers of blessing is as needful.
Be assured that if God waits longer than you could wish, it is only to make the blessing doubly precious. God waited four thousand years, till the fullness of time, ere He sent His Son. Our times are in His hands; He will avenge His elect speedily; He will make haste for our help, and not delay one hour too long.–Andrew Murray.

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

Published in: on July 24, 2012 at 6:00 am  Leave a Comment  

July 23, Today’s thought — the Rooster

Bobo, the Rooster.
We don’t have him anymore,
but he was a lot of fun to watch.

The Unmistakable Sound of a Rooster

But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!”

Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.
Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him,
“Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”
(Luke 22:60-61).

For the general populace there are seven birds that are readily recognizable by their song: 1) the goose that honks, 2) the duck that quacks, 3) the chicken that clucks, 4) the dove that coos, 5) the owl that hoots, 6) the crow that caws, and 7) the rooster that crows. Each of these are so distinct that the moment one hears them, right away we know what kind of bird it is.
. . .
Interesting, don’t you think, that Jesus would choose a rooster to bring Simon Peter to his senses during that dark night of betrayal and denial? When we say someone is cocky, we are comparing them to the rooster. A person who “struts their stuff” is kin to the barnyard fowl. It seems that the rooster is forever associated with prideful boasting since the night Peter denied the Lord.

But, beyond this, the rooster also symbolizes two other things for us today.

First, he is the herald of a new dawn. When the rooster crows it means only one thing; a new day is at hand. So, while Peter would be stung by the sound that jolted his mind back to the words of the Lord, the sting also carried promise of a new day — a fresh chance to walk with Him whose mercies are new every morning.

Second, the rooster was for Simon Peter a messenger with a personal word from God. No doubt many heard the rooster crow that morning, but nobody heard what Peter heard. For in the routine sounds of the ordinary he discovered the God who speaks through donkeys and roosters. And from that day forward, Peter would never be able to hear a rooster again without thinking of this one moment in his life.

A moment of devastating failure……and of great forgiveness. A moment of death and resurrection; certainly for Jesus — but also for Peter. Rylie

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

Published in: on July 23, 2012 at 6:00 am  Leave a Comment  
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July 20, Today’s thought — Hallelujah

Buster hiding in a basket.

Good Morning

For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth:
thou art exalted far above all gods.
Ye that love the LORD, hate evil:
he preserveth the souls of his saints;
he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
Light is sown for the righteous,
and gladness for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous;
and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
Psalm 97:9-12

HALLELUJAH

High praises give to the Lord Almighty,
Ascribe to His name power and majesty.
Lift up your voices to praise the Lord,
Loud shouts of joyful songs to God adored.
Exalt Him for He alone is holy,
Let all the people tell of His grace and glory.
Uplift in loud praise His great salvation,
Justice and mercy to every nation.
All praises be given for He has done great things,
Hear ‘Hallelujahs’ to the King of kings. unknown

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

 

Published in: on July 20, 2012 at 6:00 am  Leave a Comment  
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July 19, Today’s thought — Think on These Things


Which Came First?

Good Morning

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

It is not what one does,
nor is it what one says,
but it is what one thinks that makes the man.

What one thinks determines what he will say and do. A person may try to make his words and actions to be much different than he actually thinks, but it will be all in vain. For it is still the thoughts that manage to break through the actions and the words regardless how closely they are guarded. Others can always see the soul when it is off guard.
Paul knew the human mind and character very well. He suggests that we are to think on all things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and well esteemed, all virtue, all things praiseworthy, and as these are allowed to dwell in our thoughts, they cannot help but transform us into their likeness.
from Streams in the Desert 2, Cowman

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

Published in: on July 19, 2012 at 6:04 am  Leave a Comment  
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July 18, Today’s thoughts – Trust is His Provision

Looks like the Farmer has the birds eating ‘greens’ too!

Good Morning

He hath given meat unto them that fear him:
he will ever be mindful of his covenant. Psalm 111:5

A missionary found herself without means, among a heathen people, far from an source of supplies. In her distress she claimed the promise of God that He would supply her need. She was also in poor health. From a businessman in another part of the country came several large boxes of Scotch oatmeal. She already had several tins of condensed milk, so with these two commodities she was obliged to sustain life for four long weeks.
As time went on, it seemed to agree with her better; and by the time the four weeks had passed, she felt in excellent health.
In relating the experience some time later to a company of people, which included a physician, she was asked more particularly of the nature of her former illness.
The physician said, “The Lord heard your prayer and supplied your need more truly than you realize. For the sickness from which you were suffering we physicians prescribe a four weeks’ diet of nothing but oatmeal gruel for our patients. The Lord prescribed it for you, and saw to it that that was all you took. It was the proper remedy.”
from Streams in the Desert 2

God is good, all the time.

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

Published in: on July 18, 2012 at 11:03 am  Leave a Comment  
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