Today’s thought – Perfect Peace

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Good Morning

Isaiah 26:3
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee:
because he trusteth in thee.

“I do not know when I have had happier times in my soul,
than when I have been sitting at work,
with nothing before me but a candle and a white cloth,
and hearing no sound but that of my own breath,
with God in my soul and heaven in my eye . . .
I rejoice in being exactly what I am,
–a creature capable of loving God,
and who, as long as God lives,
must be happy.
I get up and look for while out of the window,
and gaze at the moon and stars,
the work of an Almighty hand.
I think of the grandeur of the universe
and then sit down
and think myself one of the happiest beings in it.”
~~A Poor Methodist Woman, 18th Century.

Is not this the purest description of contentment and peace?
‘. . .rejoice in being exactly what I am,’
To lay aside all the distractions and clamor of life
and see what is truly at the core of my being.

You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.
Isaiah 26:3 AMP

Keep your mind stayed on God . . .Today
With My prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on January 20, 2015 at 12:17 pm  Leave a Comment  
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A Garden Door

A door shut in my life that I never thought would shut. I never dreamed it would shut like it did. I was in shock, I wondered why, I laid the door at Jesus’ feet. He picked up the door and carried it away. He opened a new door to a garden. What a Mighty God I serve!

Published in: on March 14, 2010 at 12:41 am  Leave a Comment  
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“nor charged God foolishly”

As Job had grace, God has been flooding me with grace and it seems a very special peace, and carrying about our futures.

Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
Job 1:22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Job 1:21
Naked came I out of my mother’s womb – I had no earthly possessions when I came into the world; I cannot have less going out of it. What I have the Lord gave: as it was his free gift, he has a right to resume it when he pleases; and I owe him gratitude for the time he has permitted me to enjoy this gift.
Naked shall I return thither – Whither? Not to his mother’s womb surely; nor does he call the earth his mother in this place. In the first clause of the verse he speaks without a metaphor, and in the latter he speaks in reference to the ground on which he was about to fall. As I came out of my mother’s womb destitute of the earthly possessions, so shall I return. There; i.e., to the earth on which he was now falling. That mother earth was a common expression in different nations, I allow; but I believe no such metaphor was now in the mind of Job.
The Lord gave – The Chaldee has, “The Word of the Lord, gave; and the Word of the Lord and the house of his judgment, have taken away!” Word is used here personally, as in many other places of all the Targums.
Blessed be the name of the Lord – The following is a fine paraphrase on the sentiment in this verse: –

“Good when he gives, supremely good;
Nor less when he denies;
Afflictions from his sovereign hand,
Are blessings in disguise.”

Seeing I have lost my temporal goods, and all my domestic comforts, may God alone be all my portion! The Vulgate, Septuagint, and Coverdale, add, The Lord hath done as he pleased.

Job 1:22
In all this Job sinned not – He did not give way to any action, passion, or expression, offensive to his Maker. He did not charge God with acting unkindly towards him, but felt as perfectly satisfied with the privation which the hand of God had occasioned, as he was with the affluence and health which that hand had bestowed. This is the transaction that gave the strong and vivid colouring to the character of Job; in this, and in this alone, he was a pattern of patience and resignation. In this Satan was utterly disappointed; he found a man who loved his God more than his earthly portion. This was a rare case, even in the experience of the devil. He had seen multitudes who bartered their God for money, and their hopes of blessedness in the world to come for secular possessions in the present. He had been so often successful in this kind of temptation, that he made no doubt he should succeed again. He saw many who, when riches increased, set their hearts on them, and forgot God. He saw many also who, when deprived of earthly comforts, blasphemed their Maker. He therefore inferred that Job, in similar circumstances, would act like the others; he was disappointed. Reader, has he, by riches or poverty, succeeded with thee? Art thou pious when affluent, and patient and contented when in poverty? Clark’sCommentary edited

I Love Knitting

When most people talk about their Valentine, they’re usually talking about a person. Well, one of my Valentines this year is going to be to my knitting! I love it so much, let me count the ways:

1. It fills my life with color.
2. It encourages my creativity.
3. It keeps my hands busy.
4. It introduces me to new people who share my love for the craft.
5. It loves to travel.
6. It likes the same audio books that I like.
7. It keeps the same schedule as I do; if I want to knit in the middle of the night, it’s there for me.
8. It likes to change bags as much as I do!
9. It challenges me.
10. It keeps me company, even when I’m cranky.

borrowed and edited from knitting daily editor, Kathleen Cubley

I thoroughly enjoy knitting, every part of it, from the mindless back and forth of garter stitching to the ‘sit down in a straight backed chair keep your eyes on the chart’ knitting. I even love to frog it, to make my knitting the best it can be.

Published in: on February 15, 2010 at 8:17 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Due Season

“Have you ever noticed a tree standing naked against the sky,
How beautiful it is?
All its branches are outlined, and in its nakedness
There is a poem, there is a song.
Every leaf is gone and it is waiting for the spring.
When the spring comes, it again fills the tree with
The music of many leaves,
Which in due season fall and are blown away.
And this is the way of life.”
–   Krishnamurti

Published in: Uncategorized on November 5, 2009 at 8:44 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Being Home

“If a hungry friend came and knocked at your door on a cold night, you would graciously welcome her in, sit her by the fire, help her shed her wet, clumsy clothes. You’d give her a blanket to wrap herself in and a cup of hot soup to warm and nourish herself. Then, when she was well fed and comfortable, her story might emerge. Your hospitality, your love and acceptance would soothe your friend, and the soft warm light of your hearth would pull her out of her dark night. This is what our soul asks us to do for ourselves every night when we cross threshold to the hearth of our homes.”  Elizabeth Murray

I’m thankful to have a home that offers warmth and shelter and if on a good day, delicious food. The Lord has blessed me abundantly.

Published in: Uncategorized on October 16, 2009 at 9:34 pm  Leave a Comment  
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An Earthen Vessel

What can I do to insure victory; to have assurance that I can have my vessel full for the Lord; how can I keep from being a leaking vessel? I know there is a difference between a leaking vessel and a broken vessel.

Lord, I want my will to be broken, to so be at one with thine own that there would be no way to tell the two wills apart.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. II Corinthians 4:7-10

However, we possess this precious treasure (the divine Light of the Gospel)in (frail, human) vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may  be shown to be from God and not from ourselves. We are hedged in (pressed) on every side (troubled and oppressed in every way), but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair; We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted (to stand alone); we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed; always carrying about in the body the liability and exposure to the same putting to death that the Lord Jesus suffered, so that the (resurrection) life of Jesus also may be shown forth by and in our bodies. The Amplified Bible

I will remember that this earthen vessel can manifest the life of Christ.

Published in: Uncategorized on October 16, 2009 at 10:44 am  Leave a Comment  
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Sheltering Your Dreams

oTo make thankfuls easier, enter in the comments.

October 12, 2009

Realize that no matter where you might reside at the moment, the home you have is all you need to shelter your dreams. Moving On, Sarah Ban Breathnach

LiiList three things you are thankful for:

Published in: Uncategorized on October 12, 2009 at 11:53 am  Comments (4)  
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Great Possessions

To make “thankfuls” easier: add as a comment to this post.

Oh, how great peace and quieetness would he possess who should cut off all vain anxiety and place all his confidence in God.    Thomas A. Kempie

List three things you are thankful for:

Published in: Uncategorized on October 4, 2009 at 9:05 pm  Comments (4)  
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September 21, Evening tidbit

He who has hope has everything

Published in: Uncategorized on September 21, 2009 at 9:27 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Consecrated and Profitable

What kind of vessel am I if I murmur and complain about what I am to do or hold?

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver,
but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
If a man therefore, purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto
honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto
every good work. II Timothy 2: 20-21

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver,
but also (utensils) of wood and earthenware, and some for honorable
and noble (use) and some for menial and ignoble (use). So whoever
cleanses himself (from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates
himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences)
will (then himself) be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and
noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and
ready for any good work. II Timothy 2:20-21 Amplified Bible

My mug doesn’t complain about what I put in it:
coffee, cocoa, hot water & lemon …
Sometimes I use the mug as a prop for a dish or a pan,
it still doesn’t mind.
It waits for whatever use I choose for it.
Why is it so hard to accept and wait?
I know God has said ‘My ways are not your ways;
and my thoughts are not your thoughts’.
If I determine to follow the direction of the scripture:
to cleanse and separate myself
from the unclean and the contaminating influences;
perhaps then I, too, can wait …patiently….ready …
‘for any good work.’

Published in: Uncategorized on September 20, 2009 at 4:35 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Six Word Saturday

Awaited learning ended in fulfilled expectations.

Published in: Uncategorized on September 19, 2009 at 11:55 pm  Leave a Comment  
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September 19, Evening tidbit

You are what you eat. So if you eat chocolate, you’re smooth, sweet, loved and maybe a little nuts.

Published in: Uncategorized on September 19, 2009 at 11:18 pm  Leave a Comment  
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To Be Christ’s Vessel

What is a vessel? A utensil for holding something

I have many mugs. I choose which mug I want to use for my coffee, my tea or to cool bacon drippings. The mug doesn’t help decide or advise how it is used. The mug doesn’t call for special attention. The mug hangs on its hook until called for duty.

Whose vessel am I?

And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vainglory, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:24-26

And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires. If we live by the (Holy) Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.) Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited, competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another. Galatians 5:24-26 Amplified Bible

I must remember:To be Christ’s vessel I must be willing to crucify self, so that the emphasis is on the contents, not the vessel.

Published in: Uncategorized on September 17, 2009 at 4:37 pm  Comments (3)  
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Grace for the Day

Writer Marjorie Holmes’s prayer, “Just for Today”.

Oh, God, give me grace for this day.
Not for a lifetime, for for next week, nor
for tomorrow, just for this day.
Direct my thoughts and bless them,
Direct my work and bless it.
direct the things I say and give them blessing, too.
Direct and bless everything that I think and speak
and do. So that for this one day, just this one
day, I have the gift of grace that comes from your presence…

Grace is available for each of us every day–our spiritual daily bread–but we’ve got to remember to ask for it with a grateful heart and try not to worry about whether there will be enough for tomorrow. There will be.
Simple Abundance, Sarah Ban Breathnach

Published in: Uncategorized on September 3, 2009 at 4:56 pm  Comments (3)  
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