June 6, Today’s thoughts — A Time For

“What are we doing next, Mom”

Good Afternoon

And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.Exodus 2:23-24

God always hears, and He never forgets.
His silence does not mean that He is not listening, and is not planning.
Probably it means that the best time of deliverance has not come yet, and that He is patiently waiting for the moment to arrive when He may prove His love and His power.
Cromwell said to his soldiers just before a great battle: “Know ye soldiers all, that that God always comes to man’s help in the nick of time.”
Yes, God is always on time; never behind and never ahead. Happy the man who learns to wait as he prays, and never loses patience with God. MEN WHO PRAYED.

There is a set time for putting into the furnace,
and a set time for taking out of the furnace.
there is a time for pruning the branches of the vine,
and there is a time when the husbandman lays aside the pruning hook.
Let us wait His time, “He that believeth shall not make haste.”
God’s time is the best time.
But shall we come out the same as we went in?
Ah, no!
We “shall come forth as gold.”
We shall become purer vessels to hold the sweet-smelling incense of praise and prayer.
We shall become holy golden vessels for the Master’s use in time and in Eternity.
“When a great issue is in the balance and the path is obscure, wait;
but with that waiting shirk no the work that lieth before thee,
for in that task may be the solution of thy problem.”

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

Published in: on June 6, 2012 at 12:45 pm  Comments (2)  

June 5, Today’s thought — The Potter

Looking east from our deck about 8:00pm, June 4

Good Morning

Genesis 50:20 . . . but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

In one of George McDonald’s books occurs this fragment of conversation:
“I wonder why God made me,” said Mrs. Fraser bitterly. “I’m sure I don’t know what was the use of making me.”
“Perhaps not much, yet,” said Dorothy, “but then He hasn’t done with you yet. He is making you now, and you are quarreling with the process.”

If men would but believe that they are in process of creation,
and consent to be made–let the Maker handle them as the potter the clay,
yielding themselves in resplendent motion and submissive, hopeful action with the turning of His wheel–
they would ere long find themselves able to welcome every pressure of that hand on them,
even when it was felt in pain:
and sometimes not only to believe but to recognize the Divine end in view,
the bringing of a son unto glory.

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

Published in: on June 5, 2012 at 6:04 am  Comments (2)  

June 3, Sunday Bible Reading

Marionberries, a cross between the ‘Chehalem’ and ‘Olallie’ berries. The berry called blackberries in grocery stores.

Good Morning
Matthew 18:19-20 Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven. For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I AM in the midst of them.

There am I in the midst – None but God could say these words, to say them with truth, because God alone is every where present, and these words refer to his omnipresence. Wherever – suppose millions of assemblies were collected in the same moment, in different places of the creation, (which is a very possible case), this promise states that Jesus is in each of them. Can any, therefore, say these words, except that God who fills both heaven and earth? But Jesus says these words: ergo – Jesus is God. Let it be observed, that Jesus is not among them to spy out their sins; or to mark down the imperfections of their worship; but to enlighten, strengthen, comfort, and save them. Clarke’s Commentary

Matthew 18:19-20 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

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

Published in: on June 3, 2012 at 5:54 am  Leave a Comment  

June 2, Today’s thought — Versions

The sunflowers are starting to bloom! YAH!

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:19 (KJV)

I love the King James Version of the Bible; it will always be my first choice. I love the old English wording. I even love the challenge of figuring out the stops and starts of the sentences, leaving out (for a moment) the parenthesis to see the nugget of the thought. I have often thought of trying to diagram some of the sentences; the way I did in 8th grade.
Sometimes (as you have noticed) I like to read another version and compare.
These two versions say the same thing, but I think the second seems to have a bit of impatience – right now – feeling. While the first gives me hope yet reminds me that God has his own thoughts about when…

“‘What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.’” Matthew 18:19-20 (MSG)

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

Published in: on June 2, 2012 at 11:36 am  Comments (1)  

June 1, Today’s thought — He Shall Guide Them

Boysenberries!

Good Morning

Isa 49:8-11 Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them. And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.

It is my no means enough to set out cheerfully with your God on any venture of faith. Tear into smallest pieces any itinerary for the journey which your imagination may have drawn up.
Nothing will fall out as you expect.
Your guide will keep to no beaten path.. He will lead you by a way such as you never dreamed your eyes would look upon. He knows no fear, and He expect us you to fear nothing while He is with out.

The day had gone; alone and weak
I groped my way within a bleak
and sunless land,
The path that let into the light
I could not find! In that dark night
God took my hand
And brought me by a new, safe way
I had not known.
By waters still, through pastures green
I followed Him–the path was clean
Of briar and stone.
The heavy darkness lost its strength
My waiting eyes beheld at length
The streaking dawn.
On , safely on, through sunrise glow
I walked, My hand in His and lo,
The night was gone.
–Annie Porter Johnson

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

Published in: on June 1, 2012 at 9:36 am  Leave a Comment  

May 31 — Today’s thought –He knew not

Zinnias are starting to bloom!

Good Morning

Hebrews 11:1, 8 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Whither he went, he knew not; it was enough for him to know that he went with God. He leant not so much upon the promises as upon the Promiser. He looked not on the difficulties of his lot, but on the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, who deigned to appoint his course, and would certainly vindicate Himself.
O glorious Faith!
This is thy work, these are thy possibilities; contentment to sail with sealed orders, because of the unwavering confidence in the wisdom of the Lord High Admiral; willinghood to rise up,leave all, and follow Christ , because of the glad assurance that earth’s best cannot bear comparison with Heaven’s least. –F.B. M.

Hebrews 11:8-10 [Urged on] by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go. [Prompted] by faith he dwelt as a temporary resident in the land which was designated in the promise [of God, though he was like a stranger] in a strange country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs with him of the same promise. For he was [waiting expectantly and confidently] looking forward to the city which has fixed and firm foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God. Amplified Bible

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

Published in: on May 31, 2012 at 8:23 am  Leave a Comment  

May 29, Today’s thought — What If It Were Up to You

Along the berry row
One of two rows of zinnias, they are one of my favorite summer flowers. The grey lines are metal guidelines to tie up the berry vines.

Good Morning

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:31-32

A pastor asked a churchgoer, “What are the two greatest problems in the Church today?”
The man answered, “I don’t know; and, I don’t care!”
The pastor responded, “Then you have both problems!!”

Ignorance and apathy produce a people who are uninformed and unconcerned. Sadly, there are many such people in the Church today. Our altar calls have netted many decisions, but produced few disciples.

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Discipleship is the doorway into Truth, Freedom and Personal Responsibility.

The Lord calls us to be His disciples. He deals with ignorance by telling us the truth, and He deals with apathy by telling the truth over and over and over again. John Wimber once said, “It not the truth that sets you free; its the truth you KNOW that sets you free!” Jesus said, “You shall know the Truth.” Let’s take it one step at a time:
You – that’s personal…..accept it.
Shall – that’s imperative….obey it.
Know – that’s cognitive…..understand it.
The – that’s definitive…..admit it.
Truth – that’s reality…..live it.

Truth, Freedom, and Responsibility always go together. Responsible living is the fruit of Freedom; and Freedom is the offspring of Truth. Jesus Christ has redeemed us and given us His Holy Spirit and knowledge of the Truth; so that from the inside out we would be a free and responsible people who are self-governed under God.
…
We know the Truth, and we are therefore a people of understanding. We have been set free, and we are therefore a people of zeal. This is God’s answer to ignorance and apathy. As Christians we must each take personal the words of our Lord, and conduct ourselves with wisdom and honor toward those around us. This will answer the ignorance and apathy of the world, and bring great glory to our Lord. Rylie ~ edited

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

Published in: on May 30, 2012 at 6:00 am  Leave a Comment  

May 28, Today’s thought — Don’t Break!

This week we are going to take a walk down the berry vine, sunflower and zinnia row at Cozy Acres.
Raspberries

Good Morning,

Psalms 112:7 . . . his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.

Before my window is a beautiful branch of a tree now in full spring dress. Only a few weeks ago that same branch was loaded with ice–it seemed as if it must break! I remember one hour; it seemed it could not keep up. I expected to see it give way; but it did not break, Today it is beautiful!
There are many in this sad world who are as my bare branch was–loaded with ice. Their sorrows seem like hailstorms, and how to keep up, how to hold on, seems to be the one vital question. If one such should read about my branch, let me say to that one,

“Don’t break; cling for your life to the one truth, that God has not forgotten you! He holds the winds in His fists; and the waves that now seem as though they would swallow you up, in the hollow of His hands.”

And so, by simple faith in God’s goodness and love you hold on, and when in the future–like the branch near my window–it shall be all spring with you, you will remember your sorrows as waters that have passed away.

“Hold on! It is not always winter; spring is coming. The birds are yet to sing on the very branch loaded with ice. Only, don’t break.

My branch did not have a will of its own, but we have wills, and God can energize them. We must use our wills and say, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him,” and He never slays but to make alive.
Thus trusting,
though you may bend in the blast,
you will not break;
you will hold on;
you will see your Spring!

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

Published in: on May 28, 2012 at 9:56 am  Leave a Comment  

May 26, Today’s thought — Hope

From my chair – the kitchen window

Good Morning,

On Facebook, Sunny Alteneder shared Evonne Loray Asbury Wu’s encouraging thoughts:

‎”As your days–so shall your strength be!” Deuteronomy 33:25

“Here is a precious promise for a trying day! It belongs to every Christian who is traveling to the Celestial City. It provides for every part of life’s journey; for every day–as each day may require.

It is especially suited to the dark days, the wintry days, and the trying days–when all our earthly props fail us; the days when our fellow man cannot help us.

Fellow pilgrim! Are you dispirited, depressed, and cast down? Are you looking back upon the past with sorrow–and forward into the future with fear? Cheer up! The Lord will not lay on you more than He will enable you to bear–nor will He allow any other to do so.

However weak you may feel in yourself,
however rough the road you may need to travel,
however heavy the burden you may have to carry–
God will supply you with sufficient strength for the day!

He has never allowed you to be crushed yet, though you may have staggered under some heavy burdens. He who has helped you in the past–is still your helper today. He will also help you in all the future. “As your days”–be they as troublesome as they may–“so shall your strength be.”

Whether your day brings life or death, joy or trial–it does not matter. God will send you exactly what you need to pass through it! Do not look at your trials, do not dwell on your inability–but lay hold on the promises of God and seek His grace to exercise faith in Him.

Then let Satan suggest what he pleases, or the flesh object as it may–you will be able to say, “I will not fear; for as my day–so shall my strength be. He who has promised–will also fulfill His promise.”

Blessed Lord, I praise You for this precious promise! Help, oh, help me to trust in it; and day by day as duty or trials may require–enable me to look to You and expect sufficient strength from You!
~James Smith

“On the day I called–You answered me; You increased strength within me!” Psalm 138:3″

This reading reminded me of Thursday evening’s lesson, “There Is Hope!” And I’m thankful.

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

this morning the wind blows some,
the tree  waves some,
the bright umbrella dances some,
and I smiled.

Published in: on May 26, 2012 at 10:07 am  Leave a Comment  

May 24, Today’s thoughts – God that performeth

Grissabell is more camera friendly.(opps, for some WordPress reason to see Griss, click the space.)

Good Morning

Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. Psalm 57:1-2

The beautiful old translation says,
“He shall perform the cause which I have in hand.”
Does that make it very real to us today?
Just the very thing that “I have in hand”–
my own particular bit of work today,
this cause that I cannot manage,
this thing that I undertook in miscalculation of my own powers–
this is what I may ask Him to do “for me”
and rest assured that He will perform it.
“The wise and their works are in the hands of God.” Havergal.

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

Published in: on May 24, 2012 at 4:58 pm  Leave a Comment  

May 23 Today’s thought — He Worketh

Buster likes his picture taken as much as I do.

Good Morning

Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:3-5

The translation that we find in Young of “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass,” reads: “Roll upon Jehovah thy way; trust upon him: and he worketh.”
It calls our attention to the immediate action of God when we truly commit or roll out our hands into His, the burden of whatever kind it may be; a way of sorrow, of difficulty, of physical need, or of anxiety for the conversion of some dear one.
“He worketh.”
When? Now.
We are so in danger of postponing our expectation of His acceptance of the trust,and His undertaking to accomplish what we ask Him to do, instead of saying as we commit, “He worketh.”
“He worketh” even now; and praise Him that it is do.
The very expectancy enables the Holy Spirit to do the very thing we have rolled upon Him.
It is out of our reach.
We are not trying to do it any more..
“He worketh.”
Let us take the comfort out of it and not put our hands on it again.
OH, what a relief it brings!
He is really working on the difficulty.
But someone may say, “I see not results.”
Never mind.
“He worketh.”
if you have rolled it over and are looking to Jesus to do it.
Faith may be tested, but “He worketh;” the Word is sure! –V.H.F.

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

Published in: on May 23, 2012 at 9:37 am  Leave a Comment  

May 22 — Today’s thoughts — Peace

Happy Petunias

Good Afternoon

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” John 20:19

The church of Jesus Christ began with a group; of frightened men in a second-floor room in Jerusalem.
Though they’d marched wit Jesus for three years, they now sat . . .afraid.
They were timid soldiers, reluctant warriors, speechless messengers.
Daring to dream that the master had left them some word,
some plan,
some direction,
they came back.
But little did they know their wildest dream wasn’t wild enough. Just as some one mumbles, “It’s no use,” they hear a noise.
They hear a voice; “Peace be with you.”
The betrayed sought his betrayers.
What did he say to them?
Not “What a bunch of flops!”
Not “I told you so.”
No ” Where-were-you-when-I-needed-you?” speeches.
But simply one phrase, “Peace be with you.”
The very thing they didn’t have was the very thing he offered: peace.
Max Lucado – Six Hours One Friday

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

 

Published in: on May 22, 2012 at 1:03 pm  Leave a Comment  

May 18, Today’s thought — Worry, Who Me?

Even after being gnawed on by the slugs, this zinnia is determined to grow. Grow ON!

Good Morning,

Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you 1Peter 5:7

I have a Friend, whose faithful love,
Is more than all the world to me,
‘Tis higher than the heights above,
And deeper than the soundless sea

So old, so new,
So strong so true;

Before the earth received its frame
He loved me–Blessed be His name!  Unknown.

John Bunyan Smith wrote, “Let us turn our fears into faith, and quit worrying over the thing that has not and never will happen.”

Don’t let tomorrow use too much of today!

The refusal to worry does not mean lack of concern. Too many people have that. But though one cares greatly, when he has done all he can to prevent the evil or bring the good to past, he has a right to trust in God.

It is good that a man should both
hope and quietly wait
for the salvation of the Lord.
Lamentations 3:26

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

Published in: on May 18, 2012 at 7:44 am  Leave a Comment  

May 17, Today’s thought — My Feeble Prayers

Blooming Star Jasmine planted February 21.

Good Morning,

I prayed for strength, and then I lost awhile
All sense of nearness, human and divine;
The love I leaned on failed and pierced my heart,
The hands I clung to loosed themselves from mine;
But while I swayed, weak, trembling, and alone,
The everlasting arms upheld my own.

I prayed for light; the sun went down in clouds,
The moon was darkened by a misty doubt,
The stars of heaven were dimmed by earthly fears,
And all my little candle flames burned out;
But while I sat in shadow, wrapped in night,
The face of Christ made all the darkness bright.

I prayed for peace, and dreamed of restful ease,
A slumber drugged from pain, a hushed repose;
Above my head the skies were black with storm,
And fiercer grew the onslaught of my foes;
But while the battle raged, and wild winds blew,
I heard His voice and perfect peace I knew.

I thank Thee, Lord, Thou wert too wise to heed
My feeble prayers, and answer as I sought,
Since these rich gifts Thy bounty has bestowed
Have brought me more than all I asked or thought;
Giver of good, so answer each request
With Thine own giving, better than my best.
—-Annie Johnson Flint

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 8:28

Romans 8:28 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. Amplified Bible

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

Published in: on May 17, 2012 at 6:03 am  Leave a Comment  

May 16, Today’s thought — We Pray

Nothing like a glass of tea on these warm afternoons.

Good Morning,

Romans 8:26 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.

Much that perplexes us in our Christian experience is but the answer to our prayers.
We pray for Patience,

and our Father sends those who tax us to the utmost, for “tribulation worketh patience.”

We pray for submission,

and God sends sufferings; for “we learn obedience by the things we suffer.”

We pray for unselfishness,

and God gives us opportunities to sacrifice ourselves by thinking on the the things of others, and by laying down our lives for the brethren.

We pray for strength and humility,

and some messenger of Satan torments us until we lie in the dust crying for removal.

We pray, “Lord, increase our faith,”

and money takes wings; or the children are alarmingly ill; or a servant comes who is careless, extravagant, untidy or slow, or some hitherto unknown trial calls for an increase of faith along a line where we have not needed to exercise much faith before.

We pray for the Lamb-life,

and are given a portion of lowly service, or we are injured and must seek no redress; for “he was led as a lamb to the slaughter and . . .opened not his mouth.”

We pray for gentleness,

and there comes a perfect storm of temptation to harshness and irritability,

We pray for quietness,

and every nerve is strung to the utmost tension, so that looking to Him we may learn that when He giveth quietness, no one can make trouble.

We pray for love,

and God sends peculiar suffering and puts us with apparently unlovely people, and lets them say things which rasp nerves and lacerate the heart; for love suffereth long and is kind, love is not impolite, love is not provoked. LOVE BEARETH ALL THINGS, believeth, hopeth and endureth, love never faileth.

We pray for likeness to Jesus, and the answer is,

“I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.”
“Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong?”
“Are ye able?”

The way to peace and victory is to accept every circumstance, every trial, straight from the hand of a loving Father; and to live up in the heavenly places, above the clouds, in the very presence of the Throne, and to look down from the Glory upon our environment as lovingly and divinely appointed. –Selected

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

Published in: on May 16, 2012 at 8:31 am  Comments (2)  
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