June 29, Today’s thought — God Still Comes

Don’t you just love Sunflowers? I do!

Good Morning

The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. Psalm 34:17-19

‘Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us,” Paul penned. “The Scriptures give us patience and encouragement so that we can have hope.” (Romans 15:4)
These are not just Sunday school stories.
Not romantic fables. . . .
They are historical moments in which a real God met real pain
so we could answer the questions,
“Where is God when I hurt?”
How does God react to dashed hopes?
Read the story of Jairus. (Luke 8:41-)
How does the Father feel about those who are ill?
Stand with him at the pool of Bethesda. (John 5:2-)
Do you long for God to speak to your lonely heart?
Then listen as he speaks to the Emmaus-bound disciples. . . (Luke 24:13-)
He’s not doing it just for them.
He’s doing it for me.
He’s doing it for you. . . .
The God who still speaks. . . .
The God who came still comes.
He comes into our world.
He comes into your world.
He comes to do what you can’t.
He Still Moves Stones, Max Lucado

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

Published in: on June 29, 2012 at 6:00 am  Leave a Comment  

June 28, Today’s thought — Promises

Zinnia

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. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:26-28

We tend to pray with words
because we aren’t brave enough
to pray from our groaning soul ache.
And so we chatter away with our Dear God, just…
and we miss him in the middle of
all.
this.
noise.
He’s still there, though.
He doesn’t roll his eyes
or cross his arms
or tap his foot with impatience.
He hears all the chattering
and he sees what lies beneath it.
Even in the noise,
He gathers us up
and pours Himself out.
Emily at chatting at the sky

So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God’s will. We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. Romans 8:26-28 Amplified Bible

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

Published in: on June 28, 2012 at 6:47 am  Leave a Comment  

June 27, Today’s thought — God Knows You by Name

Volunteer Watermelon Patch
Can you see the melons?

Good Morning

Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. Isaiah 49:13-16

Quite a thought, isn’t it?
Your name on God’s hand.
Your name on God’s lips.
Maybe you’ve seen your name in some special places.
On an award or diploma. . .
But to think that your name is on God’s hand and on God’s lips. . .
my, could it be?
Or perhaps you have never seen your name honored. And you can’t remember when you heard it spoken with kindness. IF so,it maybe more difficult for you to believe that God knows your name.
But He does.
Written on His hand.
Spoken by His moth.
Whispered by His lips.
Your name.
When God Whispers Your Name, Max Lucado

I had to smile when I read the Amplified version of verse 18:   Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of My hands; [O Zion] your walls are continually before Me.

How many times have we seen someone write a note to themselves by writing it on their hand so they wouldn’t forget. It’s not something new, is it? God wrote my name on His hand so He wouldn’t forget me.
Thank you.

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

Published in: on June 27, 2012 at 10:43 am  Leave a Comment  

June 26, Today’s thought — I’d Rather Have Jesus

Row of Hydrangeas

I’d Rather Have Jesus

As for me,
I will behold thy face in righteousness:
I shall be satisfied,
when I awake,
with thy likeness.
Psalm 17:15

What is it that you want — that you really, really want?
What is it that, by having it,
your life will be filled with joy and deep satisfaction?

We all want something — something that will satisfy us to the depths of our being. And the world displays its many fares for us to consider. For some it is money. “Yea, gimme money; that’s what I want; and if I have it I will be happy.” Others want power, or sex, or knowledge, or whatever.
As for me?
All I really, really want is to walk in unbroken friendship with Jesus;
to hear His voice,
to see Him at work,
to join with Him in what He is doing,
and to rejoice at His side.

“I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold; I’d rather be His than have riches untold; I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands; I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand…
“I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause; I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause; I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame; I’d rather be true to His holy name…
“Than to be the king of a vast domain, and be held in sin’s dread sway; I’d rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.” (Rhea F. Miller, 1922)

How about you? What is it that you really, really want?

As for me, I will continue beholding Your face in righteousness (rightness, justice, and right standing with You); I shall be fully satisfied, when I awake [to find myself] beholding Your form [and having sweet communion with You].
Psalm 17:15, Amplified Bible

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

Published in: on June 26, 2012 at 10:34 am  Leave a Comment  

June 25, Today’s thought — Only Jesus

the Farmer planted and watered, God gives the increase.

Good Morning

All I Could Whisper Was “Jesus”

All I could whisper was “Jesus”
I was torn in the depths of despair.
All I could whisper was Jesus
His name alone was my prayer.

All I could murmur was Jesus.
He knew all my struggles and pain.
He knew my requests all unspoken
While I softly cried out His name.

Bound in the depth of His mercy
Held fast in the shade of His care,
His sweet gentle name was my refuge,
Anchored safe in that harbor of prayer.

Still, all I could whisper was Jesus.
All I could say was His name.
All I could whisper was Jesus,
But He knew my prayers just the same!

Inasmuch then as we have a great High Priest Who has [already] ascended and passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith in Him].
For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.
Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].
Hebrews 4:14-16 Amplified Bible

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

Published in: on June 25, 2012 at 10:48 am  Leave a Comment  

June 24, Sunday Scripture Reading and a Song


John 10:7-15
Then said Jesus unto them again,
Verily, verily, I say unto you,
I am the door of the sheep.
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers:
but the sheep did not hear them.
I am the door:
by me if any man enter in,
he shall be saved,
and shall go in and out,
and find pasture.
The thief cometh not,
but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:
I am come that they might have life,
and that they might have it more abundantly.
I am the good shepherd:
the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd,
whose own the sheep are not,
seeth the wolf coming,
and leaveth the sheep,
and fleeth:
and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
The hireling fleeth,
because he is an hireling,
and careth not for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd,
and know my sheep,
and am known of mine.
As the Father knoweth me,
even so know I the Father:
and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Savior, like a shepherd lead us, much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our use Thy folds prepare.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.

We are Thine, Thou dost befriend us, be the Guardian of our way;
Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray.

Thou hast promised to receive us, poor and sinful though we be;
Thou hast mercy to relieve us, grace to cleanse and pow’r to free.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! We will early turn to Thee.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! We will early turn to Thee.

Early let us seek Thy favor, early let us do Thy will;
Blessed Lord and only Savior, with Thy love our bosoms fill.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast loved us, love us still.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast loved us, love us still.Trupp.

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

Published in: on June 24, 2012 at 6:03 am  Leave a Comment  

June 23, Today’s thought — Thy Rod and Thy Staff

Garden is a growing!
(Please excuse the funny angles)

Good Afternoon

Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide],
they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 Amplified

The shepherds of Palestine will tell you the purpose of their staff. One such shepherd was asked in what sense the staff could be said to be a comfort for his sheep, the experienced leader of his flock proceeded to explain that in daylight he always carried the staff across his shoulder, and when the sheep saw it, it spoke of the presence of the shepherd (to guide), and thus it was a means of comfort. On the other hand, if night overtook him with the sheep on the mountain side, or if they were caught in a heavy mountain mist so that the sheep could no longer see the staff, then he would lower it, and as he walked he would tap with it on the ground, so that by hearing if not by sight the staff (to guide) comforted the sheep by speaking the presence of the shepherd. If wild animals would prey upon his flock, he could use the rod (to protect) and ward them off. On occasion the lambs would fall into ravines and among brambles. The shepherd would use the crook on the end of the staff for lifting the fallen one to safety. The person who is carrying the rod is the leader or ruler of his flock. The sheep know their shepherd by his rod and they follow him– not any other person who may pass by, or attempt to lead them astray.
David remembered these things and said in effect to himself, :It would be unreasonable to suppose that God has less care for me than I had for the sheep!”

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

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

Published in: on June 23, 2012 at 12:53 pm  Comments (2)  

June 22, Today’s thought — “Stand Still”

Beets gone to seed.

And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. Isaiah 2:3

“STAND STILL,” my soul, for so the Lord commands;
E’en when thy way seems blocked, leave it in His wise Hands;
His arm is mighty to divide the wave.
“Stand still,” my soul, “stand still,” and thou shalt see
How God can work the “impossible” for thee.

Be not impatient, but in stillness stand,
Even when compassed ’round on every hand,
In ways thy spirit does not comprehend.
God cannot clear thy way till thou art still,
That He may work in thee His blessed will,
And all thy heart and will to Him do bend.

“BE STILL,” my soul, for just as thou art still,
Can God reveal Himself to thee; until
Through thee His love and light and life can freely flow;
In stillness God can work through thee and reach
The souls around thee. He then through thee can teach
His lessons, and His power in weakness show.

“BE STILL,” –a deeper step in faith and rest.
“Be still and know” thy Father knoweth best
The way to lead His child to that fair land,
A “summer” land, where quiet waters flow;
Where longing souls are satisfied, and “know
Their God, ” and praise for all that He has planned. Selected.

And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16

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

Published in: on June 22, 2012 at 12:47 pm  Leave a Comment  

June 20, Today’s thoughts — Dare to Wait

Second picking of squash!

Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21

When we are in doubt or difficulty,
when many voices urge this course or the other,
when prudence utters one and and faith another,
then let us be still,
hushing each intruder,
calming ourselves in the sacred hush of God;s presence;
let us lift up our nature into the pure light of His face,
eager only to know what God the Lord shall determine–
and ere long a very distinct impression will be made,
the unmistakable forth telling of His secret counsel.
. . . . . .
If you (I) will only get alone,
where the lights and shadows of earth cannot interfere
where human opinions fail to reach–
and if you (I) will dare to wait there silent and expectant,
though all around you insist on immediate decision or action–
the will of God will be made clear;
and you will have a new conception of God
a deeper insight into His nature and heart of love,
which shall be for yourself alone–
a rapturous experience,
to abide your precious perquisite forever,
the rich guerdon of those long waiting hours. David

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

Published in: on June 20, 2012 at 12:29 pm  Comments (2)  

June 19, Today’s thought — The Yoke

Happy flowers!

“Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29).

Balance is the key to every good thing in life. Imbalance is the root cause of many, many ills. When there is imbalance in your body, some form or another of illness will occur — physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. When there is imbalance in your home, there will be marital problems, and family difficulties. Imbalance in your diet, or other appetites, will always results in physical challenges. Imbalance in your checkbook is definitely not a good thing. When you are imbalanced in your work, or in your recreations — somewhere along the line of your life you will have to “pay the piper.” Balance in all things is the key to every good and lasting thing in life.

Jesus said, “Take My yoke upon you.” The Greek word He used was zugos, which means “a coupling.” Specifically, it is the word used to describe the beam of balance that joins two scales together. Webster’s defines balance as “an instrument for weighing; a means of judging, or deciding.”

In other words, the Lord is saying here, “Take My balance upon you; learn to judge things in life, and make decisions as I do.” Paul wrote to us, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ” (Philippians 2:5)

The many benefits of this Balance are profound. Any man or woman, boy or girl, upon whom this yoke is place will experience mental, emotional, physical and spiritual steadiness. They will not stumble, or fall; yet, even if they do, it will be but for a moment. For they possess a innate capacity to right themselves and regain their footing. Their lives will be graced with unflappable confidence, even in the midst of upheaval and chaos. Just like Jesus, their Unflappable Champion.

So, as you prepare yourself to go out into today’s world make sure that His yoke is on you; it’s the one thing that makes the difference in every other thing you think or do. Rylie

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

Published in: on June 19, 2012 at 10:04 am  Leave a Comment  

June 16, Today’s thought — Expectation

Zinnias at Cozy Acres!

Good Morning

My soul, wait thou only upon God;
for my expectation is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation:
he is my defence;
I shall not be moved.
In God is my salvation and my glory:
the rock of my strength,
and my refuge,
is in God.
Trust in him at all times;
ye people,
pour out your heart before him:
God is a refuge for us.
Selah.
Psalm 62:5-8

Our too general neglect of looking for answers to what we ask, shows, how little we are in earnest in our petitions. A husbandman is not content without the harvest; a marksman will observe whether the ball hits the target; a physician watches the effect of the medicine which he gives; and shall the Christian be careless about the effect of his labor?

Every prayer of the Christian, made in faith, according to the will of God, for which God has promised, offered up in the name of Jesus Christ, and under the influence of the Spirit, whether for temporal or for spiritual blessings, is, or will be, fully answered.

God always answers the general design and intention of His people’s prayers, in doing that which, all things considered, is most for His own glory and their spiritual and eternal welfare. As we never find that Jesus Christ rejected a single supplicant who came to Him for mercy, so we believe that no prayer made in His name will be in vain.

The answer to prayer may be approaching, though we discern not its coming. The seed that lies under ground in winter is taking root in order to a spring and harvest though it appears not above ground, but seems dead and lost. —-Bickersteth.  (Underlining for me)

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

Published in: on June 16, 2012 at 9:31 am  Leave a Comment  

June 12, Today’s thought — It’s a Little Thing.

Being thankful for a cool glass of ice tea on a warm late spring day.
It’s such a little thing.

Good Morning

O magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together.
Psalm 34:3

‘Only he who gives thanks for little things receives the big things.

We prevent God from giving us the great spiritual gifts He has in store for us, because we do not give thanks for daily gifts.

We think we dare not be satisfied with the small measure of spiritual knowledge, experience, and love that has been given to us, and that we must constantly be looking forward eagerly for the highest good. Then we deplore the fact that we lack the deep certainty, the strong faith, and the rich experience that God has given to others, and we consider this lament to be pious.

We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small (and yet really not small) gifts.

How can God entrust great things to one who will not thankfully receive from Him the little things?”

~Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community

I will praise the name of God with a song,
and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 69:30

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

Published in: on June 12, 2012 at 10:47 am  Leave a Comment  

June 11, Today’s thoughts — Summer

On the hot summer days, I long for the cold brisk air at Donner Lake during a light snow fall.

Bed in Summer by Robert Louis Stevenson

In winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow candle-light.
In summer quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.

I have to go to bed and see
The birds still hopping on the tree,
Or hear the grown-up people’s feet
Still going past me in the street.

And does it not seem hard to you,
When all the sky is clear and blue,
And I should like so much to play,
To have to go to bed by day?

I went looking for a summer poem, no, it’s not quite summer, but that is where my mind wandered. When I found this poem, I smiled, remembering. It just didn’t seem right at all, when as a child I had to go to bed in the light.
Now naps are good, anytime.
But going to bed……..it is always very dark.

Psalm 121:4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

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

Published in: on June 11, 2012 at 11:14 am  Leave a Comment  

Remembering

‘Shabby Chic’ zinnias from volunteer plants from last year.

Psalms 105:5 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

Remembering about my first encounter with Christ?
The first time Jesus spoke to my heart I was about 6 years old in a service at the camp meeting in Hanford, CA.

Remembering the first Sunday School song? T
he first one I remember is The Wise Man Built his House upon a Rock.

Remembering a lesson from Sunday School?
One lesson that has always stuck with me is based on Ezekiel 33:13-20; if you are saved and sin – all the good you did  doesn’t mean anything because of the sin, and if you sin and ask forgiveness –all the wickedness is forgotten because the mercy of God. You can’t expect a pile of good to balance out sin.. nor will a pile of sin be more than the forgiving power of God.

Remembering a verse from the Bible?
Matthew 6:22-23 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
The part of the verse ‘if the light be dark how great is the darkness’ if someone has seen the precious light of God and turns away, that light becomes darkness and like being in the light and turning off the lights at night the difference between the light and dark is so great.

Remembrances are the foundation blocks of the building of our faith in God.

Psalm 77:11 I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.

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

Lord, help us always remember your goodness and blessings to us.

Published in: on June 9, 2012 at 11:30 am  Leave a Comment  

June 7, Today’s thought — “it’s Jesus”

June and July’s wall hanging.
I think it is appropriate: red, white, and blue for Flag day and 4th of July.
“I Love You” for Father’s day and our 45th Wedding anniversary.

Good Morning

The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. because his compassions fail not.Lamentations 3:25, 22b

The story is told of a shabby old gentleman who every day at twelve o’clock would enter the church, stay a few minutes, then leave. The caretaker was concerned for the valuable altar furnishings. Every day he watched to be sure nothing was taken, and every day just at twelve the shabby figure would arrive. One day the caretaker accosted him. “Look her, my friend, what are you up to, going into the church every day?”
“I go to pray,” replied the old man politely.
“Now come,” the cautious caretaker said, “you don’t stay long enough to pray.”
“True enough. I cannot pray a long prayer, but every day I just comes and says, ‘Jesus, it’s Jim.’ Then I waits a minute, the comes away. I guess He hears me though it’s but a little prayer.”
One day Jim was knocked down crossing the street and was laid up in the hospital with a broken leg. The ward where Jim quite happily lay was a sore spot to the nurses on duty. Some of the men were cross and miserable, others did nothing but grumble from morning till night. Slowly but surely the men stopped their grumbling and were cheerful and contented.
One day as the nurse was walking through the ward she heard the men laughing. “What has happened to all of you? You are such a cheerful lot of patients lately.”
“It’s old Jim,’ they replied. “He’s always cheerful, never complains, although he is uncomfortable and in pain.”
The nurse walked over to Jim’s bed where the silvery-haired Jim lay with an angelic look on his smiling face. “Well, Jim, these men say you are the cause for the change in this ward. They say you are always happy.”
“Aye, that I am, nurse. I can’t help it. You see, nurse, it’s my visitor. He makes me happy.”
“Visitor?” The nurse was indeed puzzled for she had never noticed any visitor by Jim’s bed. The chair was always empty during visiting hours. “When does your visitor come?”
“Every day,” replied Jim with the light in his eyes growing brighter. “Yup, every day at twelve o’clock. He comes and stands at the foot of my bed. I see Him there, and He smiles at me and say, ‘Jim, it’s Jesus.'”

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

Published in: on June 7, 2012 at 9:51 am  Leave a Comment  
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