Live again!

Ezekiel 37:5

Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again!

I remember when I was preparing to have surgery and the thoughts of being put to sleep were not really ones that I desired to partake in...Of course, it is better than staying awake for the activity. It was such a strange feeling to wake up and not remember anything for that time period of my life.

I believe that our journey here without God is similar to that feeling. We remember, but we don't really feel like we are alive. Our steps are harder to make, our decisions are never easier, our movements seem so much harder and then we experience life anew!

God breathed into us and we step higher, we are able to make decisions with more confidence, we dance instead of drag and we are never alone. God does give us new life and we breathe because of Him.

Alive again! We feel like we were the dry bones brought back to life from the valley that we have been in and it is true! WE have HOPE! Why? The Sovereign Lord tells us once again in verse 13 of 37 that O my people, you will know that I am the LORD.

Praise God today!!

Praising,

Debbie

Freedom

Ezekiel 34: 26 – 27

There will be showers of blessing. ..When I have broken their chains of slavery and rescued them from those who enslaved them, then they will know that I am the LORD.

 

Have you ever experienced a time in your life that you felt like you were being showered with blessings? It is the most amazing experience I've ever felt and it was definitely God breaking my chains from the things in my life that were holding me jailed.

I experienced showers of blessings after realizing that the pain of not experiencing motherhood was okay. When God finally showed me through His Word, the reason for my not having children He rewarded me so deeply. I have had the most amazing relationship with My Savior. I know in my heart without the pain, I might not have had this blessing.

Isn't it sad, that it takes a difficult time for so many of us to grow our relationship with God? I know it is common and that this is the way that God grows us, but in the past few years I've realized how much I missed before the search began for the reason for the pain in my heart.

I missed Him working in my life every day. Every day I look for God now and it is amazing, how He shows up! I love to tell friends look for God today…it may be a simple thing or it may be a difficult day, but look for Him. He is there; we just forget to look for Him.

He does break our chains of addictions, sickness, expectations, all the things that keep us in slavery. At this point, we definitely realize that He is the LORD! We have no other explanation only The LORD that can break these chains in our journey!

Free at Last,

Debbie

Let’s pretend…

Ezekiel 33:31-32

So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money. You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice or plays fine music on an instrument. They hear what you say, but they don't act on it!

 

Remember growing up, did you pretend to be a teacher and play classroom? Did you pretend to be a mommy? Did you have big dreams and you were President?

 

I did! Every one of the ones listed above I dreamed that I would do them. I was sincere with each dream, but they were just a dream for me. I remember even entering Centenary and listening to the professors talk about teaching and I heard what they said, but it wasn't in my heart. I pretended it was…I tried to make it happen, but it wasn't for me. The President Thing well I just plain outgrew that one. (I search my heart with the question of why would anyone want that job)

 

Every, day someone might be telling me something that I really need to hear, but I don't always hear it. I know sometimes I pretend that I hear what someone is sharing, but my mind is a thousand different places. Our actions will show, if we hear, learn and act on what The Lord might be telling each of us. What are yours saying to those around you? Are you pretending? Am I pretending?

Let's act on what God tells us to do. He gives us direction daily with the instruction book he gave each of us. The map that is in your hand. The person he had take the seat beside you and share a story that spoke to exactly what God placed on your heart, but do you hear the words? You just ask God about something and He clearly gives you the answer, but do you see it?

Listening and looking for answers,

Debbie

Singing a new song

Psalm 40

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.

 

God is so good! I am surrounded by beauty mere words just don't seem to fit the wonder of God's creation. I am surrounded by God's creation of mountains, lakes, glaciers and praising God is all that seems right in this setting.

I am amazed with the beauty and the peace that is in my heart. Two days ago, I was so fearful and God kept placing on my heart how many times do I have to tell you, Debbie that I am with you wherever you go. I was determined to place my faith in Him as it should be and once again He showed up!

We sat around a campfire with no rain, the sun shined and God showed up. It was warm and laughter was shared while making new friends. A beautiful family that is truly amazing. A very happy, loving family that opened their home to a woman that is not an "outdoorsy girl" and I feel quite comfortable. The little girl and boy were so sweet giving me instruction on what exactly to do if I come upon a bear. She told me with the most sincere, beautiful smile to calming back away and put something between you and the bear. I even told her calm, isn't really a word that I would use. Very firmly she said, "it is important to remain calm." She doesn't know it, but God placed her in my morning to show this older lady about peace and calm!

I am reminded of the story of the Jesus and the disciples in the boat, when the storm came upon them. The fear they had and Jesus calming the storm. God used Ellie this morning to remind me to experience the calm of Jesus even when I forget that He is with me all the time.

Singing a different tune,

Debbie

Same always!

Have you seen the billboard about who moved? God didn't...

The verse that spoke to me was from Lamentations 5:19 But, Lord you remain the same forever! Your throne continues from generation to generation...

Don't you love the peace this scripture gives? I love to think of the time since the beginning to right now and know that God is the same and always will be. Long after we are gone God will still be the same God. Nothing changes God is God always and forever.

I feel total peace and calm in my spirit knowing that God is faithful, we aren't...Have you thought lately about things that you put your faith in? Think about it a moment...You have faith that the air conditioning is working in the heat of summer, you have faith that when you flip the switch the light will come on, you have faith in a total stranger operating on you when you need an operation...you don't know that person really....you trust him or her...what about someone that is driving in the car next to you? You trust that the person is not drinking or taking something they shouldn't that might make them come into your lane right?

Odd isn't it that we are so easy to have faith in these situations, but yet we don't show the same faith in God. Does it hit you as odd as well? In Hebrews 6, it tells us that without faith God isn't pleased...Oops, think about the fact that we know that God is the same right now as He was in the very beginning and faith will begin to grow, second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, year by year and it is an amazing walk....

Walking by faith,

What pit are you in?

The reading today from Lamentations 3 beginning with verse 35..was so touching!
I placed my own name...Lord, I called your name deep within this pit, you heard little old Debbie crying, "Please Lord help me!" Hear me cry for your almighty help!
Yes, you came when I called and reminded me not to be afraid. You reminded me that You LORD are always with me!

It doesn't matter if your pit is so deep that you can't even see the light from the bottom or if the pit is so shallow that if you would just stand up you could get yourself out ~ The Lord will always answer you. He will help you out of the pit whether it is one that you placed yourself in or one that someone else placed you in. God will hear and help, so call out...HELP

It goes on in the Word to tell us that The Lord will even plead our case for us because He redeemed our Life! What a Savior we have, if we only want Him. Lord, thank you for hearing my cries for help and for pleading my case!

Praising God,

Rescued and Safe

Jeremiah 39:18

I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the Lord, have spoken!

I remember once when I was little and I got lost in the grocery store. It wasn't long, but it seemed like forever, before mom rescued me. Imagine Jeremiah's feelings, when he heard the Lord's words. He was going to be rescued and safe, finally.

He endured the prison and was given his choice of staying in his homeland or going to Babylon with the other captives. He chose to stay in his homeland.

Finally, he was safe and at home. The scripture says he lived in Judah with the few who were still left in the land. Imagine the emotions of living in the land and remembering how it used to be and what it had become. Also, the hope he must have had in his heart because he knew the Lord was going to restore the land!

Secure, hopeful, lonely; free just a few of the feelings that must have been in Jeremiah's heart and head. Oh, to hear the Lord say, I will rescue you and keep you safe. What a wonderful message to receive from Our Father! He means it too!!

Rescued,

Debbie

Remember

Ezekiel 28

I will reveal my glory by what I do to you.

Everyone watching will know that I am the LORD

Then everyone will know that I am the LORD

For then they will know that I am the Sovereign LORD

Four times in 3 verses' the LORD reminds the enemies of Israel they will know that HE is LORD. It is important to remember or it would not be told to us over and over and over again!

God is God and He wants us to remember He is The Creator, The Maker of All, The Master of All, and The Father of All. Yet at times we all put this on the back burner of our little brains. Why?

Is it easier to think that we have some sort of control over situations? Not really.

Is it fear to realize that God truly is in control of everyday life? Not at all.

Yet the Lord continually reminds us of His role, which must mean that we have to be reminded. Sad that we don't just look around us and be reminded daily. The beautiful sunsets, the intricate design of flowers, our own bodies and how they work; why would we need reminding?

Today, remember when you look at the butterfly pass by, the clouds in the sky, the laughter of a child that all of this is God's design and give Him the praise and glory that He deserves, but most of all remember HE IS LORD!

Remembering,

Debbie

Desire

Jeremiah 32:40

I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me.

Have you ever yearned so much for something it was beyond what you can even describe? God places in our hearts a desire for him that we don't even understand or comprehend.

We think things or people will take care of this longing, but nothing will feel this desire other than Our Father. Listen to the words of C. S. Lewis~

"C.S. Lewis gave us the following insight: Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition, when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. 

Michael Horton, Editor, The Agony of Deceit, 1990, Moody Press, p. 49.

I thought these words described so the scripture above. We don't even comprehend what God wants to give us, if we would just go to Him the longing will be filled and overflowing!

Desire for more of My Father,

Debbie

Then!!!

Ezekiel 25:5

Then…you will know that I am the LORD.

Then…at that time

Know …the Hebrew word used is Yada ~ ability, made aware

LORD …The Existing ONE

 

At that time, we will be made aware of The Existing One. Such a short statement, but with such huge meaning! What does it take for us to get the then?

I am a people watcher. You will find me on benches or in restaurants watching people. Do you ever wonder what is going on behind their eyes truly or behind their smiles? Do you wonder am I the one that God placed on this bench to share Him with them? Are you possibly the then?

It's hard, isn't it? I read a story once about God placing people along your path that you are the one that is to share His story with them…what if we miss our then moment?

Intentional walks of understanding the Great I Am are to be shared with others. I know it's hard, but our walks talk for us sometimes, but sometimes we must speak about what He is doing in our life as well. You know the moments that only God knew about and He showed up? Well, share it and smile because ….then, you knew that it was the Great I Am, The Existing One and the story must be told!

Sharing,

Debbie

Refined

Ezekiel 22:22

And you will melt like silver in fierce heat. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have poured out my fury on you.

Oh, to be free from impurities! Don't we long to be free from being impure?

I know after our house fire I felt so many feelings, but at the end of the experience I felt blessed. I did feel the feeling of "beauty that rose from the ashes." God did improve Kenny and me with being refined during the fire. It was truly an amazing experience. We were made better and brighter because of the experience. We weren't destroyed it was awful losing things we loved, watching our home burn was so heart wrenching, the smells that we will never ever forget but with all of that said ~ WE ARE BLESSED AND BETTER!

I read a story about Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov that was writing his memoirs and his wife Elena would type, edit, and help him with everything she had to be sure that the government would not seize their hard work. He would work and his work would vanish. So they would rewrite. One day, Andrei met Elena at the train station trembling told Elena "They stole it." He was devastated. But in a few days, he returned to work on his story. Elena told the story that every time he returned to begin again the memoirs were better and they were was always something new.

We are something new as well when God gets done with us! A process that is not always easy, but a beautiful one indeed – refined and beautiful! Why, because of the fire that we experience in our life that God will always use to make this world a better place for all around!

Being refined,

Debbie

Nothing or Something?

Ezekiel 20: 2

I will tell you nothing!

Silence is deafening! I imagine the absolute fear and trepidation felt when the Sovereign Lord, says…How dare you Debbie…I give you the way to go and grow, learn and lead, and yet you have to do things your own way.. I gave you the rules and regulations (v. 11) so that you could find life by keeping them. I gave you Sundays to rest as a sign between me and God and to remind that the Lord is to be set apart and holy and what did you do?

How dare you come for a message now? Do we expect God to always turn the other way?

I have read for days now about His anger and the pain that Israel caused God, but aren't we doing the same? I read and it hits me between the eyes daily that we fall so short, and yes that Christ came and died for our sins and we recognize and say publicly we know and yet we continue to sin. Grace, Grace, Grace….

I picture God in Heaven shaking His head with tears silently rolling down His cheeks because He loves us and yes He forgives, but He gave us the book with all the things we need and we still don't seem to get it. I know how parents show when we hurt them with silent tears and oh how that hurts …much more than yelling at times…

Father, forgive me for falling so short in what I hope to become. I want to look more like Jesus and I know I fall way short. Lord, I pray that we will all want to look more like you desire and that we do hear from you …it is where we place our hope. Our hope is you and only because of your grace will we ever achieve the look that we desire…the look of your son, Jesus. Amen

Something because of Jesus,

Debbie

Sour grapes

Ezekiel 18: 2

'The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their children's mouths pucker at the taste'?

Have you ever watched when a friend or someone you care about deeply is bent over with the shame of something that someone else did, but they are carrying the load? It often pains me that we seem to think that the sins of the parents go to the children or vice versa…

Judging? Don't we humans love to judge other people?

I am always amazed when I take it upon myself to judge someone else ~ that when I do know the story (like it is any of my business anyway) it is nothing like I judged. I am always wrong. I don't know if we begin to help people carry the load of their pain and so in turn we carry along the sins, but it's not ours to carry.

Nope, this scripture goes on to tell us that we are individually taken into account. In verse 22, it tells us that all their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done.

Growing up, did you ever have a teacher ask someone "what did you have for breakfast sour grapes?" Well, now you know the rest of the story! You didn't do it and you don't have to carry it, either!

Sweet Blessings,

Debbie

Shame and Forgiveness

Ezekiel 16: 63 (Message)

You'll remember your past life and face the shame of it, but when I make atonement for you, make everything right after all you've done, it will leave you speechless.'" Decree of GOD, the Master.

I remember when I was a little girl and it was time to pick teams to play the game in gym class. The shame began to build because I was never picked until next to last or last, unless I was the one picking. I always hated gym and never excelled because I never felt like I did anything right when it came to playing a game. I felt shame that I was less than everyone else.

Now this is an example of a small child and feeling shame, but what about as an adult when we know better than to take the route that we take and we take it anyway. The shame begins to build, doesn't it?

The verse above so spoke to my heart because of the way I feel God's love ~ way more than I feel the shame for the times that I know that I cause Him pain. The amazing thing about it is that even though I know I've caused Him pain the more I feel God's forgiveness and love. The comfort increases because we know the depth of God's love for us because of Christ!

I don't know if my explaining this is clear today…once again God's amazing forgiveness is so strong that He takes away our shame even in trying to explain shames of the past or present because of His mighty love!

Feeling so loved,

Debbie

Whitewashing

Ezekiel 13: 10-12

'All is peaceful' when there is no peace at all! It's as if the people have built a flimsy wall, and these prophets are trying to reinforce it by covering it with whitewash! Tell these whitewashers that their wall will soon fall down.

Did you ever have someone tell you give me the truth, but don't whitewash it? I love the story that went around on the internet of the college girl student that sent home a letter to her parents and she told them that she had been in the hospital, gotten pregnant, engaged, etc. and then ended the letter with none of this is true, but I did get a D in history and an F in science closing the letter I wanted you to see this in the right perspective. Well, she whitewashed it a little bit, didn't she?

Whitewashing is used to describe covering something up or repurposing something to change its inner outer appearance in the hopes of hiding the true inner nature. Wow, does this describe a lot of us or what? We try to whitewash the truth all the time, cover up the flaws, and keep the real truth hidden..Do we have peace in our in hearts? No, and our walls will come tumbling down when something does happen. Which is going to happen, it's just a matter of when…..

So, are you going to whitewash the truth today or try to find that inner peace? Well, the only way to be at peace is to share the truth today with The Great Comforter and let Him satisfy your inner needs! Let Him help to build a wall that will not fall during the next big windstorm in your life!

Sweet Blessings,

Debbie

P.S. Don't you love the little boys "whitewashing the fence"? I have a few little fellas in my life that occasionally whitewashes the truth…How about you?

Family time

Well, it was a fabulous weekend...

I had to share a few pics of my family with all of you...

I slept till 9:00 a.m. on Saturday haven't done that in I don't know how long, but it was wonderful. Spent the afternoon writing on the front porch overlooking the mountain. Fabulous time spent with My Savior! The family was all napping...all 3 dogs and Kenny...

Notice Annie and JJ in the shade of the truck...they weren't big on the sun and heat, but definitely loved being with us on the trip.

Fabulous time together!!

Blessings,

Longing

Ezekiel 6:9 …

They will recognize how hurt I am by their unfaithful hearts and lustful eyes that long for their idols.

I was away for a few days and this weekend during the reading God spoke so to my heart about the things that I might place too much value on their worth. What about you?

Do we long for things that we place before God?

Do we long to spend time doing something that we've gotten so attached to that it matters more than God and family?

Have you recently taken a look at how and what you spend your time doing?

Do you ever think about how God might be feeling right now with you? Do you think He might be hurt with our unfaithful hearts and for what we hold dear?

Father, forgive me for the unspoken longings in my heart. You know our hearts and our minds and please let us recognize as we move along today that You are what matters…

Longing for My Father,

Debbie

No other

Jeremiah 51:19

But the God of Israel is no idol!

He is the Creator of everything that exists, including his people, his own special possession. The Lord of Heaven's Armies is his name!

 

Stuff, stuff and more stuff will never fill the empty hole in our beings…No idol can help us…no the only thing that will fill our empty beings is The Lord. I dug deep into this verse and it was special because it talks about God's reputation and what more do we need? When you think about reputation and people and how important it is and then you think about God ~ well, duh…what more do we need?

The last few days over and over God is talking to the people in Israel about how He is going to destroy them and when are they going to listen….I think He is saying the same thing to us today…When are we going to listen? We are God's ~ He created us ~ we are His inheritance and yet He does all of this and then once again it is our choice to pick Him….Free Will

Father, forgive me the times that I don't pick you. You are my creator and my Father and I ask you to forgive me and make me new. I am yours to use with every step I take. Amen.

Loving My Father,

Debbie

Bound

Jeremiah 50: 4 – 5

They will bind themselves to the LORD with an eternal covenant that will never be forgotten.

I loved this verse. Imagine we join ourselves to the "Jehovah" the existing one. It's not a club or anything ~ we get to choose to link ourselves to Our Father! We don't even realize (at times) exactly who we are holding on to with all our might and linked to forever.

It is exactly what we are allowed to do. God gives us the choice to take His hand and be bond to Him for this journey. It still amazes me that He allows us to choose. We make our own choice and yet so many don't choose Him. How? I don't understand …Life is so tough and alone without The Light in our life how would we get through the difficult days without Him?

I'm rambling, because of my own lack of understanding not grabbing and binding yourself to the Lord! Grab a hold for the ride of a lifetime!!!

 

Bound to the Lord,

Debbie

Searching

Jeremiah 29:13-14

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you, says the Lord.

I loved the game of Hide and Seek growing up. I only got worried when it seemed like they were never going to find me. I would be hiding in my really good hiding place and thinking oh no ~ they don't know where I am. Am I stuck here forever? You know how our little minds think...think back…

Well, I wonder how God might think about us sometimes…Are we wholeheartedly looking for Him? Did you know that wholeheartedly means fully or completely sincere? Wow, have you been completely sincere when searching for the Lord? Completely with your whole self have you been searching for God or have I?

The Word tells us we will find Him, if we search with our whole self! What a treasure we find when we put Our Lord at the top of our list of things to find in this life. We go through life searching for the perfect mate, for the perfect house, for the perfect car, for the perfect friends, for the perfect church…none of these will ever be perfect. Do we spend the same amount of time searching for Our Savior that is perfect?

Searching,

Debbie

Listening?

Jeremiah 23:18

"Has even one of them cared enough to listen?"

Are you ever in a gathering of people and everybody is talking at once and absolutely nobody is listening? Everybody is talking over everybody else and nothing is happening?

God must feel this way with us…He must ask the question all the time ~ Do they care enough to listen? God does talk to us. He answers our prayers and we miss the answer all too often. At least, I know I do.

I believe that one of the things that I am suppose to talk about with everybody is what God is doing right now. Not years ago or last week, but daily. God is at work and when you become intentional about looking for Him it is so obvious that He is right here working all the time. We just get so busy that we miss the answers. I know ~ I'm guilty of not being intentional. God may use someone or something that you have absolutely no way of realizing and suddenly it happens. Exactly what you prayed for God sent or God very loudly suggest another way and it is obvious that God sent the answer. Nobody knows your prayer, but you. Who gave you the answer ~ God!

So do you care enough to listen for the answer? Are you listening? Are you going to be intentional about waiting for God to answer? Don't miss out on the most chilling, exciting experiences when you know it is God and that He cares! Watch for Him, be intentional and definitely listen!!!

Listening,

Debbie

Trust or not?

Jeremiah 17:7 and 8

"But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green and they never stop producing fruit."

Trust such a small word, but with such big meaning! To trust is to have a confident expectation of something; hope…I love these verses from Jeremiah. The word shows us that we are like a tree that was blessed to be planted right by the stream, if we trust in Our Lord we will have everything we need.

Seems simple enough, doesn't it? Until we get that unexpected phone call or that ring at the door with bad news…but still like the tree even when a drought is coming we will have what we need to produce because we have hope and confidence in The Existing One, The One True God.

God gives us exactly what we need just like the tree by the water. I love the imagery of the verse. The roots of the tree are sent out to gather the water and things needed for survival and to produce. The same is true of us. God is our living water that we must feed daily from His word, the food that we need to survive. If we read the word - we will not depart and we will accomplish and produce new fruit for the kingdom!

Pick up the choice of trusting In The Existing One today! Let's go and produce fruit for the Kingdom…

Trusting today,

Debbie

Influence Who Me?

Jeremiah 15:19

…You must influence them; do not let them influence you!

 

Do you remember when your parents would tell you when you were about to leave the house for an evening with friends ~ Remember be who you are…not your friends? You didn't realize your parents were being scriptural did you?

It is so easy when we get with friends that may not be "believers" to make them feel more comfortable you might act different. Is it really the friend that you are trying to make feel more comfortable or is it easier on you to just not be a little bit different? We must begin to be a role model now. It doesn't mean that we have to say anything…we must silently look a little different, our ways might appear a little different…we are intentional in our walk without saying a single word. People begin to notice what's different about Debbie…we speak without a word!

When I think back about people that influenced me over my life, more times than not it was someone that had a gentle spirit, was definitely the person they claimed to be, not saying one thing and doing another. What about you? Who influenced you?

I read the following quote and thought it fit perfectly with this scripture ~ "The humblest individual exerts some influence, either for good or evil, upon others." Henry Beecher.

It is our choice whether the influence is good or evil, again our choice to pick. What is your choice? Look a little different ….

Choosing good,

Debbie

I’ve fallen, which way is up?

Jeremiah 8:4

"When people fall down, don't they get up again? When they discover they're on the wrong road, don't they turn back?

I love the picture of the little girl hanging upside down. Don't you wonder if God ever thinks we are hanging upside down in this world with our actions and words, but we don't turn ourselves upright?

We must be a pretty silly picture to Our Father at times. He gives us all the directions, maps, GPS systems, and we still turn down the wrong road and sometimes we don't turn around. It must truly sadden His heart that we are so hard headed that we think we have to plow our own road.

I'm not a parent, but you parents know how it feels when you know in your head and heart the right way for your child, but they still take the other path…right? Well, Our Savior must feel the same way with us and we are adults. Why?

Why do we stay on these destructive paths? The question is asked in verse 5 why do we cling to our lies, listen to conversations, but not change a thing? Why do you think? We know the Word but do we believe it?

In my upside down world Lord, I pray that I remember your words and not the deception of the world that I reside in today. I remember the laws you have given us and that most of all I remember the Love of My Father prompting me to make the right choices. It really doesn't matter how old we get to be…we still must make the choice of which turn we will take for ourselves!

Choosing My Father,

Debbie

No smell, please!

Daniel 3: 27

They didn't even smell of smoke!

 

It seemed like months since the fire, but it was only days. Again, the daily routine of going to my home and putting on the white suit and doing the inventory of my belongings from the fire, how much longer? If you haven't experienced a fire or loss of home, you have to inventory all your belongings. It was awful the smells, the dirt, the nastiness left from the fire. My treasures with the remains of a fire on all of them and me! The smell is the one thing that you just can't seem to get rid of and we ended up with house coming down due to the smells that would never go away. We didn't want that reminder daily of the fire. We didn't want to smell of smoke.

I first heard this verse when I was little, but it didn't stick with me until the fire. One day my friend Frankie shared this scripture and reminded me of the story of Daniel. She reminded me in her sweet manner to not let myself smell of the smoke. She didn't come right out and tell me Debbie don't wear this fire on your shirt sleeve, but God used it that way. He reminded me through Frankie that things happen, but we don't have to smell like the things that happen.

I didn't want to smell of smoke, but I wanted God to use me and the experience of the fire. God rescued us from the fire and the smell of the fire!

Sweet Aromas,

Debbie

Who is by your side?

Jeremiah 20:11

But the Lord stands beside me like a great warrior.

 

It is so amazing when God gives me just the answer I've prayed to Him! He does answer prayer. I opened the Word this morning and immediately I felt so much better.

I didn't have to go any further because God is standing beside me ready to fight my battles for me. I don't have fight. I am able to give it all to Him.

Those of you that read this blog know that I love to dig deeper to the original meanings of words to get the entire meaning of God's word to me. This is so cool ~ The original word for Lord here is the one true God ~ so I've got and you've got the one true God standing with us!!! Yes, Lord!

One version states the verse But the Lord is with me like a dread champion. Either way the original meaning is still the same. The One True Lord is standing with me in all of His awe, strength and might! I don't need to know another thing!

Be encouraged today that whatever you tackle The One True God is standing beside you and wow what a difference this knowledge makes!

Standing together,

No Escape

Jeremiah 25:35

You will find no place to hide; there will be no way to escape.

 

Have you ever felt like you had nowhere to run? I think right now a lot of people are feeling this type of pain. A lot of people are wondering where will my next car payment, house payment, or money to buy food come from.

Sometimes, it feels like we don't have a place to hide and thankfully we don't have to hide, but we do….Rather than reach out to someone we would rather hide our pain behind our smiles, or I'm having a great day rather than open up and share that you need a friend. You need someone to help carry the load. We as Christians should recognize the signs, but we get busy with our own journey and forget about the ones around us…We must open our eyes to see and our ears to hear the pain right around us.

In this particular scripture, God was angry with the people and He was telling them it didn't matter who they were they would not escape His anger. He was telling them you can run, but you will not be able to hide. You must accept the consequences for your actions.. Wow, they had messed up.

We mess up too. All the time, but God sent Jesus because He knew that we were hopeless without grace. God's grace is the only way that we don't have to hide. Take your problems, your feelings; your pains to God…take your anger to God. God is huge..We are so unable to understand just how big God is, but He is big enough to handle anything we take to Him! Open your heart and mouth to share with God, if you need a shoulder call a friend…don't go through the pain alone and don't try to hide…We don't have to hide or escape we have Jesus! Thanks be to God!!!!

 

Not hiding,

Evil in His Sight

2 Kings 23:37

He did what was evil in the Lord's sight, just as his ancestors had done.

 

I know that most of us want to be remembered for things our family members might have done, but we want it to be on the good side of things…not bad…especially not evil..

It is so sad to me that in chapter after chapter the words are read…they did evil in the Lord's sight…

Don't you think we might be doing the same thing right now? How often are we disappointing the Lord and making him have thoughts of bringing our lands to a pile of rubble? Do you blame Him at times? We definitely place things before him and listen to these words from Jeremiah and see if you think we are following through with God's instructions….judge for yourself…

Verse 3 – Be fair-minded and just. Do what is right! Help those who have been robbed; rescue them from their oppressors. Quit your evil deeds! Do not mistreat foreigners, orphans, and widows. Stop murdering the innocent! Well how do you think we are doing? Be honest with yourself….

Now I went a little bit further and looked up original Hebrew words for the verse above, so that we might understand how evil this King Jehoiakim was…the word evil here translates to malignant, very bad qualities were done in the Jehovah's (the existing one) ..He did more malignant things wrong than the entire whole of his family. He accomplished more bad things…Well, is this how we would want to be remembered?

Pondering,

Happy thoughts

Psalm 139:23 (New International Version)

 ²³
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
       test me and know my anxious thoughts.

 

I shared this weekend that I was at a conference and felt a little bit anxious upon arrival. The devil began to work his way through into my doubts and tell me that I shouldn't be there…what was I thinking?

 

I told you that I got up and took a shower and I had a surprise on the bathroom mirror. The word "happy" was written across the mirror in the condensate and I know that God was reminding me that I had been excited about this trip and that was what He wanted me to remember to "be happy"…so I did.

I learned a lot and now I'm ready to share with others…So I hope the picture will show up enough for ya'll to see my present that morning and the anxious thoughts went away..

Sweet Blessings,

Prevailing God

 

Zephaniah 3:17

For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. H e will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.

 

Have you ever had someone tell you that when someone truly loves you that you are comfortable without words? Isn't it true…when you finally don't have to share words you know love is around?

 

One of the translations of this particular scripture tells us that He will be silent in his love. Yet he will be calming your fears and rejoicing with you in songs. We are not talking about ordinary joy in this scripture we are talking all of His very being delighting and sharing joy over you. Is that not the most beautiful image?

Another translation from the Greek is He will renew you with his love…don't we all need to know that The Lord renews us with his love? I know this is true for me. Attend a retreat and spend quality time with Our Savior and doesn't he renew His love for you? Don't you feel it everywhere in your being?

 

In researching the scripture, one of the descriptions of God from the original Hebrew is Prevailing God. Our Father is all prevailing and He is living right here with us and rejoicing over us! What a beautiful way to start our day! Now look for God today as you begin this day remembering that Our All Prevailing God is rejoicing over you, so remember to share Him with others today!

Sweet Blessings,

Who’s your army?

 

Habakkuk 3:19 ~

The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me surefooted as a deer able to tread upon the heights.

 

I decided to really look deep into this verse and see what some of the words meant in Hebrew and hopefully make this even more special to a couple of friends that treasure this verse. In doing so, I found it more meaningful to me as well!

 

I looked at the word strength! The Hebrew translated word means army, force, powerful. Don't you love it? The LORD is MY ARMY. WE each have our own army, what more could we need? I love it!

Did you know that a surefooted deer is the owner of being really good on her feet? Well, a female deer can place her back feet exactly where her front feet just were or not more than an inch from it…Also, a deer never looks down, she holds her head up high and still never stumbles or falls! I'm thinking how much cooler can this one verse become for us? WE are able to walk in high places because the Lord and His army go along with us to face our battles. It doesn't mean that we will win it, but we have an army of strength to get through it to the other side. We just aren't sure what the other side might be or where these heights might be…we are never alone.

I think another thing God is telling us that He is in our corner and that with our heads held high, He will take us to new places that we could never ever go without HIM! I don't know about you, but with an army with me I feel like I can do anything or face anything!

Traveling to new heights,

Never before or since!

Do you ever look around at our leaders at all levels and wonder how they feel deep down inside? What makes them tick or who or what do they serve?

I think of it a lot...so the verse that really hit home today was one on absolute obedience that Josiah had for the Lord...In 2 Kings 23 it tells us that never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since. Isn't that a nice thing to be said about Josiah?

What about us? What will be said about our leaders or each of us? Oh think about it...Wow, that girl knows how to make a mean casserole, that lady knows how to put an outfit together...now that hairstyle is to die for or what about her figure I would kill for that...shouldn't all of be longing to be more like Josiah rather than the other lady that might have a look or outfit?

Well in closing today I pray that all of us will want to be obedient to Our Father and what He wants with each of us we will respond to His mighty plans for us. We will turn with all our hearts, soul, and strength to serve Our Savior and make a difference for Him. Again, let's be contagious for Jesus!!!

Contagious,