God picks us again!

Isaiah 14

But the LORD will have mercy on the descendants of Jacob. He will choose Israel as his special people once again.

(Please read this whole chapter.)

First, I have to tell you the previous chapter of destruction of Babylon must be read to fully grasp God's restoration of His people. Babylon was in its height of glory. A few things I learned about the city were 45 sq. miles were enclosed by 200' high by 40' broad walls with over a 100 gates of brass into the city. Inside the gates, they had a huge temple to their god, a palace that was unbelievable, hanging gardens, and a artificial mountain! Yes, all inside the gates. Absolutely no remnants from this wall are found in today's world. It is all gone. These walls were fortified with strong stuff, but God removed it all! Absolutely, nothing and no one escaped from slaughter.

God makes the choice! At times, we may forget this, but God chooses us over and over. Did you notice the word "again" at the end of this verse? He picks us again and again! I needed to hear this after all of the destruction in today's reading. Evil will end up in a state of destruction. Pride swells in the evil and evil begins to think they are mighty, but the Word shows us that in the end they are gone. The fallen ambition of these evil kings and the devil all end up fallen!

Check out verses 5-8 of this chapter and celebrate that joy will return, that rest and quiet from the evil and we will sing again! The Lord gives rest to all in sorrow. Does this remind you of Jesus telling us in Matthew ~ Come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest. ? Yes, we are able to rest in Jesus! Jesus saved us. We are able to sing, because once again God picked us! He sent His son to die on the cross for us. Jesus is the answer to the destruction of evil in our journey. Do you hear the singing in your life? If not, turn to Jesus so the music will begin the play…

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

God’s glory!

Isaiah 4:2

But in that day, the branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious; the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of all who survive in Israel.

 

God will prevail!

We receive glorious hope in this passage about the Messiah! A sprout of the House of David is going to come!

The original word meaning for glorious in Hebrew used here is honour, dignity, reverence. The one that is coming will be beautiful and one of honour and dignity. We should treat with reverence. Indeed Christ!

Today, I felt a strong draw to the branch of The LORD will be beautiful and glorious. What ways do you see Our Beautiful and Glorious Savior? I've picked a few pictures that speak to God's glory and would love for you to share…your visions of God's glory.

Sweet Blessings,

Debbie

Only Jesus makes us white as snow!

Isaiah 1:18

"Come now, let's settle this," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them white as wool."

Once again, God tells us it doesn't matter how bad our sin is, He will forgive it. Forgiveness it is easy to receive, but not so easy to give. Am I alone in admitting this fact?

It is awfully easy when someone comes to you and asks forgiveness for you to say its okay, but when the shoe is on the other foot not so! Think back over your life, which is easier? Do you have any peace truly until you request forgiveness? Isn't the unforgiveness always keeping you uneasy, a little mad, it keeps you from being yourself - until you are able to let it go?

Imagine, we are constantly going to God requesting forgiveness and He grants the request. We are told in this passage that some of our sins are crimson red. Those sins are deep, not easy removed or taken away from us. Crimson is a color that in order to get it during these days they had to double dye to get the sharp color and the strength in the color. So these sins run deep, but God is able to make them white as snow. How does He do it?

Jesus. Jesus did it. He died on the cross, so that our sins would no longer be crimson they could be easily removed to white as snow. When searching for pictures I came across the heart of blood on the snow and immediately I knew that Jesus indeed loves me and loves you, because only out of love for His Father and love for us could He do such an act for us. After all, look how hard it is for us to walk across a room, or drive across town to offer the apology that we know in our hearts we need to offer.

Only Jesus, can turn the crimson to white as snow!

Begging forgiveness,

Debbie

Appointment with The Great Physician Please!

Hosea 14: 1-9

Please read this passage on your own today. I'm not going to pick a particular verse, I want to talk about the whole section, so please read it and listen.

Repent and be healed!

So, do we repent? If so, this is what will happen…

In verse 3, we are told Gold will heal us of our faithlessness. He will heal us all of our wounds and spiritual disease. Sounds good to me! One commentary stated that God will heal our backsliding, that He looks at it like a disease not a crime. He is our Doctor and we are His patient!

My love knows no bounds...He loves us freely one commentary stated utterly and beneficial, supremely happy with delight. Now I don't know about you, but this sounds fabulous! It amazes me that God loves us so much that He freely, utterly loves us. We are flawed, but He loves us! Thank you LORD!

God will be like refreshing dew from heaven. We need to remember that they were in a dry land and that dew represented preservation of life and being refreshed. Oh, what a beautiful metaphor. We are refreshed by God. Growth will happen.

We will bloom like a lily. – We will have beauty.

Send roots deep into the soil. We will have strength from God.

When you picture grain, you don't think about something growing from it, do you? Well, the same is true of us. We might look at each other and wonder, but God knows that He is capable of growing something from each and every one of us! He is the Physician, He is the Creator, He is God!

Wow, what a beautiful scripture passage this morning! One of forgiveness from a Father that loves each of us, utterly and freely that wants nothing more than for each of us to blossom into the creation that He sees when He looks at us! Thank you Father for your amazing love and grace! Thank you for loving me without bounds, for allowing me to blossom and grow. Thank you for the strength to face each new day, because I know that You are with me holding my hand and reminding me that You are My Savior and Friend!

Forgiven,

Debbie

He Pursues Us!

Hosea 2:14 – 15

But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there. I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope.

God pursues us! He woos us!

When you have been through a difficult time, don't you look to God for hope? I don't know if I'm correct, but I think this scripture is telling us that it is necessary for us to be taken into the wilderness. When we are in the wilderness places of our life, we truly listen and look for God! To get relief from the enemy we are stranded in the wilderness ~ left by the enemy.

We (or I) am sitting in the wilderness, crying. Yes, we are usually suffering in the wilderness spots of our life! When we hear the still small voice speaking to our hearts; God begins to speak to our hearts of His love, His Sacrifice, His Forgiveness. Don't you hear Him? Is He speaking to you now?

He is to me. Last night, I was angry with someone I love. I worry about him so much and I tend at times to nag. Yes, I admit it. I want him to get the wholeness of God. I want him to get the relationship part about God and I worry that time is going quickly by and he isn't getting it…I love him …I know he believes, I know he knows that Christ died for him, but there is so much more…It is my prayer that he gets it all and that I will quit the worry and talking, so that he will want it for himself.

Should I dare say it worries me that we might end up in another wilderness, so that we get it together? Oh Lord, It is my prayer that he will open all of himself up to you. He is a special man that loves with his whole heart and I love him soooo much that I just want him to have this intimate relationship as well. I can only imagine (as the song goes) what his life will be like, when this amazing adventure happens! I know it will!

God is pursuing him and it will happen!

Believing and Knowing,

Debbie

Don’t Shut the Door!

2 Chronicles 28:24

The king took the various articles from the Temple of God and broke them into pieces. He shut the doors of the LORD'S Temple so no one could worship there, and he set up altars to pagan gods in every corner of Jerusalem.

Trouble is coming! Why is this so hard for us to still get?

It saddens me, when I read this scripture that the doors were shut on the Temple! One would have to know that bad things are going to happen, when no one could go into the Temple of God to worship Him. The same is true today.

The Lord compares the people to a prostitute because they worship other gods. I don't know about you, but I don't like this comparison. The charge of unfaithfulness to God truly got me to thinking about us. What do we (today's world) place before Him?

I think we will make a list of a few things that might get placed before God and let me know if you agree or what other ones you might think of ~

Money, Status, Opposite Sex, MORE of everything, gossip, drinking, smoking, gambling, food, television, computer, other people, work, ….Do you agree that anything that we take to the furthest degree and it becomes so important that we can think of nothing else, means we are placing it before God? We don't realize it at first, we just get caught up in it and before we know it …oops #1 in our life. #1 in our priorities. #1 in everything! We lose focus of God and it is placed on the object that we placed before God!

Oh, I'm not pointing any fingers here. I know when I have lost sight and God fell behind something else. I begged forgiveness and still do when I realize I've lost my focus on God! When I read this verse from Hosea 2: 13 it saddened my heart so much … I will punish her for all those times when she burned incense to her images of Baal,
when she put on her earrings and jewels and went out to look for her lovers but forgot all about me," says the Lord. I am sad even writing it and if it hurts me like this, I only image how much we hurt God. Yes, I know He is a Big God, Bigger and More Wonderful than our little minds can fathom, but still He loves us more than anything and over and over we turn to something or someone else before Him!

Don't shut the doors on Him today or any other day! Open them wide and keep your eyes firmly focused on Him! We Love You LORD!

Begging, Forgiveness for the times I shut the door,

Debbie

Look to the Light!

Isaiah 8: 19 -20

…With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do." But shouldn't people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead? Look to God's instructions and teachings! People who contradict the word are completely in the dark.

The lighthouse came to mind when I was pondering these verses this morning. A lighthouse helps boats find the way in the dark. Pretty much the same way with God and us helping us find our way.

God is ready to help us in the darkness of our journey. He wants to help us through His Word, through someone He places in your path, or even through His silence.

The times you are hurting so badly who do you turn to? Is it someone that knows The LORD? Do you even know, if they know the LORD?

I am reminded of the story of Hannah. The story of a lady that so desperately wants a baby that she is suffering badly! (1 Samuel 1 read it) The entire family traveled to Shiloh for celebration of God. She didn't feel like celebrating, after all she had the other woman her husband was married to rubbing it in that she had children. Her husband wasn't too helpful, he didn't really understand, so what did Hannah do? She went to the tabernacle to unload her pain. She didn't feel like celebrating, she felt like letting it all out to God.

The priest thought she was drunk, she was letting it out so much! Imagine, have you ever let it out like this to the LORD? She was so full of grief that she could no longer keep it inside. God wants us to be real with Him and to turn to Him with our real feelings. After all, He knows how we truly feel anyway?

Hannah knew that "the other woman" was going to be the enemy's tool against her. She knew she had to go to the light, so she sought THE LORD with her whole heart! God wants to know you and me rather than the false faces that we put on to attend church. He wants us to look to the light for guidance!

Looking to the Light,

Debbie

Leap of Faith?

Isaiah 7:9

…Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm."

Do you want to take a leap of faith?

In good and bad times, we must believe. It is our choice. One commentator stated that it was a simple fact that we must have faith in the LORD, not in where we live. I am only able to speak for myself; right now we must cling to this verse. We must have faith!

Times are difficult and in order to have joy in our life, we focus on the LORD. After all, He is mighty and the things of this world are nothing for Him to handle. He is the light and in order to not let the world become dark with the news, we must look for the light in the world! Are you the light? Am I the light? Do others look to us for a little glow of Jesus shining through us?

We must never doubt God. So, to remain focused on the light we must keep ourselves in His Word, in fellowship with other believers, and possibly turn off the darkness of the television, etc. We just don't let the darkness enter, when we must turn our backs to the darkness. It is our choice!

Isaiah goes on in chapter 7 to give the impending news of the birth of Jesus! A virgin will give birth and she will name him Immanuel which means God is with us! It is true God is with us! Never ever fear God is with us, have faith in Him and Him alone!

I Believe,

Debbie

A Big GOD!

Visions

Today, the reading from Amos 7 & 8 and Isaiah 6 caught my attention. The reason was that God showed Amos and Isaiah some amazing visions.

I loved Amos words that he wasn't a professional prophet, and that he was never trained to be one. We aren't professional either, but we also have a message to share about what God is doing in our life that we must share! Amos is proclaiming he is a normal guy, with a normal job of being a shepherd and he takes care of trees, but the LORD used him. He told him to go and prophesy to the people.

Amos had visions about locusts eating all the green plants in sight. He begged forgiveness for the people. Next, it was a vision of fire and the fire consuming everything once again he begged forgiveness. Next, a plumb line vision that was used to test the people and bring down the dynasty of the King Jeroboam for evil.

Finally, the vision was of a basket of ripe fruit. The people were ripe for picking…PUNISHMENT. The people were letting evil rule everything and God was tired.

The most amazing visions of both Amos and Isaiah were visions of the LORD.

Amos had a vision of God standing beside the altar talking about getting rid of the evil and then restoration of the House of David. Imagine, a vision of God sharing about His plans!

When you talk about visions the one that Isaiah experienced with God sitting in His throne with His train filling the whole temple is beautiful. Imagine a robe that filled a whole temple. God is HUGE! The seraphim were serving him and they were singing praises to the LORD. Wow! You can almost hear them, can't you? Listen closely.

Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD…their voices are so strong that everything is shaking...Immediately, Isaiah is fearful that he is unworthy and unclean and he has seen GOD. Then God instantly took care of cleaning Isaiah with a burning coal brought by the seraphim. God sends him to be His Messenger.

Normal men with willing spirits were given big plans of instructions by God for the people. What are your instructions? What are you suppose to share with the people? Is it a word? Listen and share and be a willing follower of the LORD. Let us learn from Amos and Isaiah that we may be normal, but God is not normal. He is able to use normal, flawed people like me and you to be His hands and feet in this world! So, be willing and grab His hand for an amazing adventure sharing His plans.

Always, keep the vision that Isaiah had of the LORD in your mind of the LORD. HE IS A BIG GOD! We will never ever be able to figure Him out, nor do we need to. I am just thankful that we do serve a BIG GOD that is way beyond our understanding!

Giving thanks,

Debbie

Reflecting Him Guest Post by Author Carla McDougal

Reflecting Him Virtual Book Tour – Guest Blog by Carla McDougal

Welcome, today and surprise it's not me writing. We have a guest today sharing about her book, Reflecting Him: Living for Jesus and Loving It. I haven't gotten far in the book yet, but it looks wonderful. I've read the first couple of pages and it already peaked my interest. You know that I am a very avid reader and it got my attention.

Many of you know that I love to talk about Jesus and our walk! Well, this book is a great book to get you busy thinking and being intentional about looking like Jesus. Enjoy Carla's writing today and I hope that you will look into Carla's book. Also, keep Carla in your prayers during her upcoming time promoting her new book.

 

The Touch of the Potter

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. - Jeremiah 1:5


The potter begins the process of creating his handiwork with a purpose for each new mass of clay. He starts with a determination to properly prepare his equipment, hand tools, potter's wheel, clay, water, glazes, kiln, etc. It is vital that we realize the importance of the manner in which the potter works with the clay. If the potter is too rough, the clay will become rigid and stiff. On the other hand, if he does not press on the clay enough to remove the impurities, it has the potential to become too soft and unresponsive to his molding.

God, the Master Potter, molds His children in a similar manner. Jeremiah's life is an example of how God had a plan to create and mold a man to use him as a prophet to the nations. When Jeremiah was a young boy, he had no idea that God was developing within him the qualities he needed to become a mighty messenger to the people of Israel. Be encouraged, sister-friend: God had a plan before you came into existence! Seek Him daily. He is waiting to share His plan with you. Today, experience the Master Potter's touch in your life and see Him working in your everyday activities.

This is an excerpt from Carla's 10-week Bible Study, Reflecting
Him: Living for Jesus and Loving It.

About Reflecting Him

Reflecting Him: Living for Jesus and Loving It is a ten-week women's Bible study. Like Jesus' parables (which teach important lessons by creating visual pictures for the reader), Reflecting Him uses familiar objects and situations (such as pottery, the human sensory system, and the sun-earth connection) and draws comparisons that help women become aware of Jesus working in various areas of their daily lives. The study is a unique and convenient lay-flat format, so you can write without that annoying bump (you know the one we're talking about.)

Each week is divided into five days (lessons), supporting the central theme for the week. Read the first two chapters (or weeks) online.

The study also has an online component through a Reflecting Him Bible Study Group on Facebook. Individuals working through the study on their own can still get the benefits of a group discussion while working at their own pace. Almost 200 people are in the group already and the discussions are really taking off.

This fall a leaders guide, videos, and music will be released to accompany the study.

About Carla

Carla McDougal is the founder of Reflective Life Ministries and Share Fair, an annual conference for connecting, equipping, and encouraging women in ministry. She speaks at women's events, retreats, and conferences in the U.S. and internationally. Carla married her high school sweetheart, Fred, and they have four children ages 16 to 23 and live in Magnolia, Texas. Reflecting Him: Living for Jesus and Loving It (WinePress Publishing, 2010) is Carla's first book, although she's been involved in leading and teaching Bible studies for more than 20 years. Carla writes a Monday morning e-votional at her blog, Carla's Corner.


Want Carla To Lead a Lesson for Your Bible Study Group?

With every group purchase of 25 or more studies before August 1, Carla will lead a tele-lesson (over speaker phone) for one of your group meetings. Please email windy(at)reflectivelifeministries.org to purchase books. Mention the blog tour and tele-lesson at the time of ordering.


You can purchase Reflecting Him through Amazon, Christianbook.com, or Reflective Life Ministries.

 

The Reflecting Him Blog Tour, hosted by RedCouch PR, is June 20 - July 16. Yesterday's post was at Examiner.com's National Womens Ministry Column and tomorrow's will by at author Janice Thompson's blog. Follow along to read a different guest post, interview, or review each day.

Which way are you running?

Jonah 1:3

But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the LORD.

How often is this true of you?

Well, I know that I tried to do this for about a year. I wasn't quite as obvious as Jonah with going down to a port town and buying a ticket headed in the opposite direction. I just wasn't sure that I was hearing God right. I felt like Jonah though, I didn't want to do what I thought He was asking, so perhaps that was my way of escape. My hearing wasn't quite like it should be!

Isn't it amazing how things happen when you try to go opposite of what you think the message might be that you are getting from the LORD? I know that during my year God never let up, with telling me it was time to step out in faith. To step away from what I loved and let Him guide me. I was deaf and blind to His desires for my journey at that point. At the same time, I wasn't feeling the peace. It was harder for me to perform the simplest task, without complaints, or whining (either my own or others). I began to realize that like Jonah I was running the opposite of God's desire for my life, so it wasn't going to get any easier. Thankfully, my friends and family didn't throw me overboard to get rid of me, but the same was true. I seem to be in a furious storm at least inside my body. Things were different and they weren't right.

So, like Jonah I obeyed.

At times, I've even found myself sitting under the withering plant pouting and God reminds me that it doesn't really matter about my plans it is His plans that matter. I don't like it when I find myself under the plant, but I have to admit that I do end up under the plant pouting asking why Lord…and He reminds me that He called me to minister to all women not just a few at my Home church. God's ways are not our ways and often times God calls us to ministry areas that we don't understand, but it is our duty to be obedient.

So, I've quit running the opposite direction and found the peace of God once again. The peace that passes all understanding, when we are in obedience to God's plan for our life! I know that once again He is right and the blessings are beyond words. The experiences of witnessing to women that my path would have never crossed, if I had not stopped running the wrong way!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

A BIG GOD

2 Kings 13: 14-23

Today, please take the time to read about Elisha. The bow and arrow shot through the east window was meant to refer to the land beyond Jordan where the Israelites had been taken. The arrows were a symbol of the land they were about to invade. Elisha stated that he would have only three victories, due to only hitting the ground 3 times. Is this a symbol you think that we think to only ask for the bare amount rather than asking for more?

Elisha died and he was buried.

The land was invaded. One day a group of men was burying a body, when they spied the enemy coming. The hastily threw the body into the grave of Elisha. The body touched Elisha and back to life he came.

Imagine the miracle of being healed by the bones of a man that is dead. The power of God came through Elisha's body, whether he was dead or alive! God's power is beyond our comprehension. I love the imagery in my head of this man jumping out of the grave and the looks on the faces of all the men around the area. Here some of the men had been digging the grave for him and now he was back. Wow!

I think this story is all about God's Power. God is powerful enough that even the bones of a dead prophet could bring a man back to life and yet we humans don't grasp the power. We try to place God in a box or something that we are able to understand. Never ever will we be able to grasp the power of God and in turn we fail Him by thinking He is less than He is, because we are unable to grasp it. The story of the bow and arrows shows to me that I forget just how big God is and I in turn need to ask forgiveness.

I am so glad that we serve a HUGE GOD! A God that we will never be able to grasp in our little minds…

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Teachers along the way

2 Kings 12:2

All his life Joash did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight because Jehoiada the priest instructed him.

Do you remember the people who instructed you, taught you, loved you, and lead you through the learning years of your life? The teachers, the Sunday school teachers, the preachers, the family friends, and of course your parents that taught you important things about life?

I read this verse this morning and the memories flashed in my mind of Bro. McClung, Bro. Means, Bro. Galloway, Bro. Trickett, Bro. Simmons, Mrs. Wilbanks, Mrs. Hicks, Mrs. Sandifer, Mrs. Sistrunk, Ms. Jelks, Mrs. Doerge, Mrs. Renfro, Mrs. Shaffer, Mrs. Willis, Mrs. Bracken, Mrs. Burton, Mrs. Moffett, Mrs. Woods, Mrs. Andrews, Mrs. Trussell, and the list could go and on of the women and men that taught me important things about life. Thank you to these special ladies/men and of course, the unnamed ones in this blog today…(family I didn't list they go without listing)

Joash did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight as long as he had the influence of Jehoiada. Jehoiada died at 130 years old. Upon his death others began to influence Joash and it caused divine anger to come upon the kingdom. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Jehoiada's son, Zechariah and he spoke the LORD'S commands. King Joash ordered the stoning of Zechariah. His mentor's son was ordered killed by the mentee! What a way to give back to the one that taught you all you know, the killing of his son.

This is a sad reading today. Absolutely, nothing good to write about only the killing of people in today's reading. I thought when I began that Joash was going to be the one to write about because he started on the right track, but then he ended the reading on such a bad one. Then it hit me, isn't that the way with a lot of us? We try hard to do what is right, but then we hit a bump in the road. Hopefully, none of us have killed anybody, but then we are told that our sins aren't measured from worse to the worst…Sin is Sin… So, what do we take from today's reading?

Listen to the special people in your life and follow their words. Say thank you along the way, so that they realize they make a difference in your life! When you hit the bump in the road, turn to Jesus for help to stay on the right road. Sometimes those bumps turn us all the opposite direction, but know just call His Name and He will get you back on the right road!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Who are you following?

2 Kings 9: 18

…Fall in behind me!

Who are you going to follow? I remember growing up and my parents teaching us to be leaders rather than followers. The message was always don't let someone lead you around or push you into doing something. Be a leader, but at times we have to choose who we will follow.

I loved this story from the beginning about Jehu being chosen. The first thing that grabbed my attention was Elisha giving the instructions to the prophet about anointing Jehu. He told him to anoint the new king and then open the door and run for your life! Don't you love this? At times that is what we need to do. Open the door and run for your life when bad things are happening, when you feel something isn't right follow these instructions! I love it and then the prophet did just that! Imagine, the surprise of the men as he ran through the room getting out of dodge!

Jehu followed God's instructions with ridding everyone of Ahab's family, getting rid of any sign of BAAL, but in the end he still did not obey the law of the LORD with all his heart. He refused…still getting it wrong…

Who are we going to fall in behind?

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Open your EYES!

2 Kings 6: 17

Then Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!"

Imagine, opening your eyes so full of fear of the enemy and instead you see the hills covered with horses and chariots of fire to fight for you! How often are we so full of fear, that we forget who is fighting for us?

Elisha prayed a mighty prayer and God answered it with an awesome vision of the security that He surrounds all of us to fight the enemy with…Elisha knew that God surrounded him and wanted this young man to understand who was fighting this battle with the enemy.

We must open our eyes to all that God is capable of doing…Have you thought about lately just how big God is? God is Mighty, so Mighty that we are unable to comprehend at times. When we think about all He created, when we think about His plans, When we think about all we know He has done, we still have only a small picture of just HOW BIG GOD IS!

So, OPEN your eyes today…Think about God fighting your battles with horses and chariots of fire! WOW!!!

Praising God,

Debbie

Zeal for God

2 Kings 2: 11

As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire.

Imagine, it!

Wow!

I read this story on the edge of my chair this morning with excitement. Excitement about Elisha's devotion to giving his undivided attention to Elijah on the walk for Elijah to be taken away from the world we reside in. Over and over, he tells people to be quiet about it. He didn't want anyone taking his attention away from Elijah or allow Elijah to see that he knew what was about to happen.

Elisha desired a double portion of Elijah's spirit. What a request...and then Elijah's reply that he asked for a difficult thing. After researching, I learned that he was stating that only God could grant such a wish. Only He decides when, who and if to give this request. Elisha was a special man already, he knew what mattered and he spoke out in such boldness knowing that God would hear his request.

What a moment in time to witness. Elisha was special to witness such a moment. Imagine, suddenly a chariot of fire with horses of fire taking your mentor, your friend and disappearing in such a grand way. Elijah was a man burning with his desire, his love and as one commentary put it zeal for God. He was burning like fire, so this was the way that he was taken into the presence of God. Wow…

Such zeal which means desire for someone or something…What do you have a zeal for? I read a story about zeal that places important things to think about in our head.

Halford Lucock says, "I was impressed several years ago when I read the Eugene Ormandy dislocated a shoulder while directing the Philadelphia Orchestra. I do not know what they were playing, but he was giving all of himself to it! And I have asked myself sadly, 'Did I ever dislocate anything, even a necktie?'"

Progress Magazine, December 31, 1992.

Again, I close with the question what do you desire most in life? What do you desire more of? Do you have a zeal for Christ that you want to know all you can about Him? Do you want to share all you are able to about Him? What do you have such a burning desire for in your spirit?

Again, what a chapter about two very special men of God burning with desire for only God!

Excited,

Debbie

Fully committed?

2 Chronicles 20:33

…the people never fully committed themselves to follow the God of their ancestors.

Isn't it hard to make a decision sometimes? What comes to my mind is testing water before you get in the pool or ocean. Some gently put their toe in the water to test, others run full ahead and jump right in without hesitation and then their others that stand back and are satisfied just to look at the water and wonder what it is like…

Our faith is like that…we have some that want all the triune, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit give to us. Others are in a state of fear of what may change about them and aren't sure they want the change and then we have the ones that will dip their toes in, but have a little doubt about letting go of the control and allowing the Water to take over. Portions of your heart are given, but others are in an area of no trespassing.

The reading of this Mighty Word indeed enticed me to run and jump right in without hesitation, but not until…I've had to build my trust through reading His Words. To read about His Mighty Love for me, to stand in awe of how much He did and does for each of us daily…even when we mess up! So I guess my question today and food for thought is are you willing to fully commit to God? Are you ready to run full ahead into the Water of Life?

Enjoying the water,

Debbie

LORD’S Victory!

2 Chronicles 20:17

But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD'S victory.

What an image! The war is happening all around you stand still in the middle and let me handle it! The same is true of our life, isn't it? Some days the family feuds are going, the co-workers are not happy; the car breaks down, the bill collector's call and all of the sudden it all seems to be okay. Is it by chance? I don't think so. I believe it is handled by the LORD after much prayer. Now some days the prayers don't get answered and the things keep happening, but some days it isn't our battle. The Lord fights it for us.

The picture spoke volumes to me about the LORD'S victory over the world. We will celebrate that the victory is HIS! We will stand and raise our hands in worship and praise and celebrate what the LORD has done!

Stand firm; take your position with the LORD! Worship Him and watch Him win the battle!

Worshiping Him,

Debbie

When?

1 Kings 21: 20

"So, my enemy you have found me!" Ahab exclaimed to Elijah.

It is always so much easier to see or even to invent the sin of another rather than looking at our own. Ahab was wicked than any other king and yet he would not admit his sins.

Why is it always easier to look at others than ourselves?

I know it's true. It is much easier for us to see another's faults than our own. Why?

Are we less than, if we admit our faults?

Are we building up our own esteem, if we take others down?

At times we are so blinded by envy, hatred, that like Ahab we are blinded to our own sin. Ahab wanted to shout enemy at Elijah rather than take a good look at himself. It is easier to set our sights on another than to repent of our own wrongs.

Ahab did not kill the man that God wanted gone. So he disobeyed God once again. Imagine, then you are King you have everything you want and you decide you want a vineyard that is close to your palace. You offer the man a handsome price for it, but because this man believes in the laws of God he refuses the king. The king goes home pouting and the queen reminds him of he is the king. She then tells him that she will get it for him. She set the scene to kill a man for a vineyard. Imagine, I want something so my husband decides okay I'll just take care of that person. When is enough, enough?

I know this is a long time ago, but isn't it true today? Do you watch the news at night? Do you hear the stories of people deciding they want something or someone and the extremes they go to get it? When are we going to be like Naboth and stand for something? When are we going to say No, the Lord forbids me from doing such a thing?

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

The Whisper

1 Kings 19:12-13

…but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

Are we where we should be? God is asking Elijah the same question. Is He asking this of you today? Are you where you should be? Are you at peace? Do you feel that peace that passes all understanding? If so, then you are probably where God called you to be. If not, then read this entire passage and ask God to show you what His plan is for you.

The windstorm, the earthquake, and the fire prepared the way for the LORD. The sound of a gentle whisper, isn't it amazing that God the all powerful didn't come with the power of the storms, but in a gentle whisper. Doesn't this speak to His tender mercies for each of us?

The whisper. A sound like no other, isn't that wonderful? I love it in the morning when I know that only God speaks through "a singing in the silence" as one commentary mentioned. Isn't it true? When you hear from God isn't it like a wonderful choir, but yet…

Today, I feel like God is instructing me to direct all of you to really look at this passage for yourself. Study and listen for His whisper, so that He will direct your path. So that you will be able to answer the question ~ Are you where you should be?

Listening to the whisper,

Debbie

Share

2 Chronicles 17: 9

They took copies of the Book of the Law of the LORD and traveled around through all the towns of Judah, teaching the people.

I found a story that hit home with me and truly goes with the scripture.

Life is a matter of building. Each of us has the opportunity to build something -- a secure family, a good reputation, a career, a relationship to God. But some of those things can disappear almost overnight due to financial losses, natural disasters and other unforeseen difficulties.

What are we to do? Daniel Webster offered excellent advice, saying, "If we work on marble it will perish. If we work on brass, time will efface it. If we rear temples, they will crumble to dust. But if we work on men's immortal minds, if we imbue them with high principles, with just fear of God and love of their fellow-men, we engrave on those tablets something which time cannot efface, and which will brighten and brighten to all eternity.

Morning Glory, July 3, 1993.

It saddens me greatly that I didn't pick the Bible up and read it for myself before the age of 49. Oh, I read sections of it for bible study, or picked a certain bible story to read and study, but never from cover to cover. I am now in my second year of reading the Word and I am studying at the same time what it says, what it means. I missed so many Divine Appointments with the Lord that it breaks my heart.

I intend to share with others the difference reading the Word is making in my life. I want others to share with the LORD those special moments that are like no other moment in your life – the ones spent with HIM! I want to teach others about those times that God gives you a specific Word for your prayer and I want to teach whatever I might be able to share with others. I want everybody to realize the importance of the Word for themselves. Not the spoon fed word that a teacher may give you, or a message from the preacher on Sunday morning the Word for you sent from God. He doesn't send it only to special people he sends it to folks like you and me. He wants each of us to share His Word. He wants each of us to travel and teach and share His Word. After all, it is truly Him doing it anyway.

Share in this amazing adventure of sharing and teaching God's Word. Our world doesn't want to hear it in some places, but let your life speak of God's Word. Let people see Jesus in you and it will teach the Word at the same time.

Sharing His Word,

Debbie

Seek or Leave?

2 Chronicles 15:2

…The LORD will stay with you as long as you stay with him! Whenever you seek him, you will find him. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you.

Hide and seek came to my mind when reading this verse. I remember as a little girl playing this game in the neighborhood and hoping that they would find me. I had a fear of not being found. Imagine you would hide yourself and then be afraid nobody would find you or worse they wouldn't look for you.

The scripture is pretty obvious in the instructions, isn't it? If we stay with God, then He stays with us, if we leave God then he will leave us. We are pretty much given the purpose of God's instructions straight forward and direct.

I love to look up the original words with a scripture. So, in original wording it would look something like this ~

Jehovah-the existing one will stay with you if you stay with him!

When you #rd – resort, require, seek him,

You will) cm – secure, acquire him,

But if you bz) him – you will loose, leave him

The Existing One will lose YOU!

Not only will He not search for you like my fear in hide and seek, He will leave you! Not because of something He did, but because of something I DID! It is always our choice!

Over and Over we are given the choice and really and truly there isn't even a choice, but yet we make it one. When you weight eternity vs. ? What choice is there?

Seeking Him,

Debbie

Wise words

Ecclesiastes 12:11

The words of the wise are like cattle prods-painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd drives the sheep.

The words of Jesus, Moses, David, Solomon, and the others of the bible are meant to prick our souls. The words are meant to prick our dull minds to hear and learn a powerful message. A message received, so that we will repent, change, and grow.

Over the past year and half I have been amazed at the words of the bible and how it relates to my life. It seems that when I am dealing with an issue in my own journey I'll open up the word and God will give me sometimes a cattle prod! Sharp, painful but true Word from Him and I've thought of the times that I missed these words, because I allowed my bible to lie on the coffee table unopened. It is a sad fact that many bibles lay unopened on our tables, beside our bed, on our desk with a very important word for us, but we don't open them to receive the word.

When this scripture jumped at me this morning it was like share the times that I prick your heart and it hurts. Show your sadness Debbie with the times that you know you have disappointed me. Well, I know that I disappoint Him daily. (Probably several times a day) and I share that because I know I am suppose to tell you of the times He shows me. I also, share the times it is an affirmation from Him because I opened His word. The times that the goose bumps jump up all over me because I know He sees me! I prefer the affirming times, but I grow and my eyes are opened on the times that I feel sadden by the Word He gives me.

I remember the times growing up that I was disciplined by my parents and how upset I was that I was spanked. I had let my parents down and the same is true of the days I receive these hard words from God, but at the same time I realize that God and my parents love me enough to use those painful belts or cattle prods.

Indeed painful, but helpful words of the wise! Open your bible to receive your word ~ either way, good or bad, it will change you forever!

Read it for you!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Understanding God is HUGE!

Ecclesiastes 8:17

I realized that no one can discover everything God is doing under the sun. Not even the wisest people discover everything, no matter what they claim.

Lately, I've discovered how much I love it when God lets me see just a little bit of Him in my life. I love to read His word and know that He answered my prayers because the answer will be right there on the page I'm reading. Also, I love it when someone will walk up to me and give me the answer to my prayer and they have no way of knowing my prayer only God knows.

I love the discovery of God. I love the chill bumps when I know that God loves me enough to give me an answer. I am like a little child on Christmas morning so excited that I just can't stand myself.

I often tell my friends well we will ask God when we get to heaven and then in the same breath – I respond but we won't care at that point. The answers we desire now will not matter when we get to heaven.

I think one of the greatest things about God is just how big He is and that never will we understand everything about God. I am so glad that Our God is just that Big and Awesome. I try not to stay to long in a place where I know that I will not find an answer. I believe that sometimes that is when the devil works his way into our thoughts and actions providing falsehoods to us.

Acceptance that we will never have all the answers and then share in the discovery moments that God gives each of us. Submit to God's will and desire for your life and watch Him work. Don't perplex yourself with the things that we will never understand. God is so much bigger than any of us are able to grasp that we just need to once again have faith in Him. Faith that we don't have to understand, because He does!

Trusting,

Debbie

Longing for more

Ecclesiastes 6:9

Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don't have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless-like chasing the wind.

Do you find yourself working towards achieving one goal and then when you achieve it you desire something else? Do you find your spirit restless for more? Do you find that you always want more rather than enjoying what you already have attained?

Contentment is it a part of your make-up? Do you ever have that "ahhhh" moment that everything is okay?

It is so much better, if we allow ourselves the opportunity to enjoy our present moment than to dream of tomorrow. We miss our moments because we have our eyes looking to the future. We seem to have a built in craving for more…Oh our more may be different than each other's, but there is a more. What is your more? What is your craving that never seems to be quenched?

It is better, if we allow ourselves to be content and happy in the moment. We enjoy life when we are in the moment rather than desiring something that is not our own. Contentment is defined as the state of being satisfied or at ease. Don't both of these sound fabulous?

The picture reminds me of how we sometimes find ourselves peering in the refrigerator longing for something other than what our own refrigerator contains and this speaks to this scripture. We are unable to be content because we let ourselves long for something that may never happen.

I found an illustration that should make all of us think about living each day fully and in that day, not tomorrow.

Philip Parham tells the story of a rich industrialist who was disturbed to find a fisherman sitting lazily beside his boat. "Why aren't you out there fishing?" he asked.

"Because I've caught enough fish for today," said the fisherman.
"Why don't you catch more fish than you need?' the rich man asked.
"What would I do with them?"

"You could earn more money," came the impatient reply, "and buy a better boat so you could go deeper and catch more fish. You could purchase nylon nets, catch even more fish, and make more money. Soon you'd have a fleet of boats and be rich like me."

The fisherman asked, "Then what would I do?"
"You could sit down and enjoy life," said the industrialist.
"What do you think I'm doing now?" the fisherman replied as he looked placidly out to sea.

Our Daily Bread, May 18, 1994.

Decide to be content in the moment and enjoy!

Enjoying the moment,

Debbie

Dependence

1 Kings 11: 1-13

Now Solomon loved many foreign women…

The Lord had clearly instructed…

You must not marry any of them…

The LORD was very angry with Solomon…

Please read this entire passage so that you will get the entire story. Very clear instructions from the LORD jumped right out at me and another thing was that the LORD had appeared to Solomon twice. Not just once twice! Now we have the man with wisdom and he is older it tells us, so what happened?

Do you think perhaps it was that he stopped depending on the LORD for his instructions? He stopped looking for wisdom from the LORD and only depended on himself?

Perhaps he thought he was past needing the LORD…he is older, wiser, and the king...the rules no longer applied?

We never grow past the point of dependence on the LORD, but all too often we might think we do…it was so sad to me and spoke so much to this topic when I went looking for my picture today. I typed in dependence and the pictures that were shown were cigarettes, alcohol, medicine, gas, oil, gambling, opposite sex and in the middle of the pictures was the picture of the shepherd with the sheep. Talk about grabbing your attention!

What is it that turns us away from God? Solomon allowed women to turn his attention. Our world is so busy and offers so much that demands our attention and do we allow this to happen or do we keep the LORD at the top of the list of importance? Do we follow His very clear instructions like we do the instructions of the people around us daily?

Wow, so much food for thought today. Who and what am I going to depend on in this life? The Lord clearly loves us even in our failures look at verse 13, And even so, I will not take away the entire kingdom…

Read this story please it speaks so to our world today…

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

The Pain of Night

Song of Songs 3:1 -4

 ¹ One night as I lay in bed, I yearned for my lover.
      I yearned for him, but he did not come.
 ² So I said to myself, "I will get up and roam the city,
      searching in all its streets and squares.
   I will search for the one I love."
      So I searched everywhere but did not find him.
 ³ The watchmen stopped me as they made their rounds,
      and I asked, "Have you seen the one I love?"
 ⁴ Then scarcely had I left them
      when I found my love!
   I caught and held him tightly,
      then I brought him to my mother's house,
      into my mother's bed, where I had been conceived

Night is sometimes a very lonely time. When you are worried, ill, full of thoughts have you ever noticed how long the night seems to be?

I remember when I was suffering with endometriosis and I would be up all night with the pain from my back all the way down through my legs and I would cry out why? The quiet and truly the being alone in the dark is like no other. I felt so alone. I remember going to the Doctor and they would be so matter of fact, if you want to have a baby this is the way it will be and they would hand me another pill.

Finally, I began to go the Lord during these nights and talk to Him about why this was happening. I remember one night the pain had gone on long enough and it was as though the Lord told me call the doctor make the appointment and move past this pain. Let go of the pain Debbie.

The scriptures above are exactly what I was doing during this process I was searching and wandering looking for answers. The whole time the Lord was with me just waiting on me to call on Him. We always search for answers in all the wrong places. Do you remember the song about looking for love in all the wrong places? Indeed, we look for love, we look for answers, we look for peace and all we need to do is cry out LORD, you are the answer. The Lord doesn't hide, we just don't call on Him.

Don't you know exactly the feeling of the end of verse 4…I caught and held him tightly…Grab tight and don't let go and find the peace, find the answer, find the love that only He is capable of giving!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Huff and puff

Proverbs 24:3-4

A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.

Remember the story of the three little pigs? I always loved this story as a little girl and people would make the sounds of huffing and puffing and blowing my house down. Well, reading this verse this morning reminded me of this story.

What is the foundation of your home built with? Is it firmly established with the wisdom that God teaches or with the wisdom of keeping up with our neighbors? Is it built with a self-esteem issues that proves you are finally somebody? The world we reside in is caught up in what others do and what others have – turn the television on..it may be subtle but it is there.

We are taught in this scripture that our homes that are built with obedience to God will be strong and wisdom will fill the rooms with precious valuables. Think about your home what is it filled with? I treasure the things people make for me or gifts that you know someone spent time looking for because it has a meaning. My home is filled with true treasures given by friends and family.

So, back to the three little pigs, what is your home built with?

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Step Out

Proverbs 20:24

The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?

Are you like me in that you like to calendar and have a plan for everyday? How do you react to changes in the plan?

Well, I'm getting better at not totally falling apart. I love to mark off my calendar when I have achieved the latest event, attended the latest meeting, etc. It is like a sign that I have made it! It is my own little system of proving my day matters. Any of you guilty of this control feature in your mind?

Recently, I've discovered I don't exist because of my calendar! It has been so freeing. Now don't get me wrong I still calendar, but it's when something is rearranged on the calendar its okay! I've finally realized that when God changes my calendar it usually means something better is in store for me. It may not be right away…it may be months down the road, but it is part of the plan.

I love the picture today because it is an example of our steps all leading to God's desires for our steps. I've finally learned I don't need to understand the next step; I just have to willing to take it. I urge all of you just take it. Step out in faith and let the LORD direct your path it is an amazing staircase that He takes on.

Sweet Blessings,

Debbie

Plans

Proverbs 19:21

You can make many plans, but the LORD'S purpose will prevail.

In February, I turned fifty and when I look back on my life to this point, this scripture speaks volumes. When I tried to make plans for my journey, they never would quite turn out. I never thought I would find my spot and so I continued to search. It was like I held a map in my hands with a flashlight wondering in the dark to find where I was supposed to be in this journey.

When I look back now, I see something different. I see God's hand redirecting my path HIS WAY. I get chills when I take the time to see how God worked and works in my life. I love it! So, plan but be willing for the LORD's purpose to redirect your path…after all, HIS plan is much better!

Today, I have a joy that is only because of the LORD placing in on this path that was HIS plan all along. The plans that feel right and you feel joy are where God intends for us to be or another way to put it that peace that passes all understanding…well if you have that you are in the right place!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie