Sent

Don't you love it when you receive a love letter from God?  When He delivers just what you need to ponder and think about, along with sharing with Him your honest feelings.  Which sometimes just are not pretty thoughts or actions...

The study this week brings me to Joseph.  The first questions right out of the book were do you feel wronged?  Do you think you have been dealt a bad hand?  Would you like to turn the tables?  Quite honestly I had very real feelings on each of these questions and they were not all pretty.  It seems like forever we have had several situations in our life that will just not go away.  Someday I might share with you a little bit about the walk, but it is very, very difficult.  The situations sometimes just bring out my ugly...I try to hide it from most people, but those close to me sometimes get lofted a pretty bad remark or attitude.  I apologize and will try to do better...I also ask forgiveness.

The scripture that God brought me  is found in Genesis 45.  Joseph is telling his brothers who he is and the brothers are very afraid.  After all, they put him down a well to die and then sold him to some folks passing by.  Not exactly nice actions.  Yet, look at Joseph's words.

And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.  Do you see the words?  God sent me.  

It is difficult to think about God sending us to some pretty difficult even horrible situations, but it is true.  He wants to grow us to rely on Him and also to worship and praise Him in these very difficult trying times.  God allows us in these places.  It might rub you wrong reading those words, but I prefer to look at like a difficult love letter that God sends each of us.  He loves us so much that He will do what it takes for each of us to focus and grow in our relationship with Him.  Love letters aren't always sweet and cheerful.  Sometimes they are difficult words, but still a love letter.

I love that God desires our relationship so much that He will send us exactly where we might need to be to serve His needs, His desires, His service.  He trust us that we will lean on Him and get through the hard stuff to see His Light Shining all through the terrible mess!

Letting His Light Shine through me,

Debbie

He was called...

I love this photo!  I know my doggies run along happily playing and jumping on each other and truly are each other's friend.  They count on each other at times they don't understand something.  It is amazing to watch their interactions.  Especially my two puppies watching and learning from Sadie.  Friends.

We all know who our friends are...the ones that check on you when they haven't heard from you.  The ones that show up just to be sure you are okay.  The ones that tell you difficult things that you might not want to hear.  We give thanks for our friends!  I love you friends!

I am still studying Abraham this week and this morning I was lead to James 2: 20-23.  Please take a moment to read this passage yourself.  We are reminded of Abraham offering Isaac on the altar.  The story is found in Genesis 22, so you might look at that story as well.  

The verses that grasp my heart and my attention are 22 and 23.

You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.  And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.

Talk about putting your faith in action.  Abraham truly was called to believe with all of his being...after all we aren't talking something easy.  Offering one's child would be the absolute most difficult thing to do and I know this without having a child.  Yet Abraham knew God.  He knew and he believed.  His actions speak so loudly.  Do you think he had the slightest doubt?  I don't know, but it struck me studying it this time that he didn't have doubt.  The only way not to doubt would be that He knew God.  He had such a relationship with God that he believed that God would provide exactly what he needed.  He knew, he trusted, he believed and he acted.

Our faith becomes stronger by following Abraham's example.  We must know, we must trust, we must believe and we must act.  If we do all of these things we are living our faith and we will also be called God's friend.  I looked up the original Greek word that James was using and it means companion, friend.  Abraham was a companion to God.  Whose companion are we?  Who do we spend our time with getting to know?

Time well spent is time spent with God.  In this new year I am working on becoming a woman that is truly seeking God's advice through spending more time in His Word and with Him.  I am intent to listen and grow.  

I love Facebook.  I admit it.  I get to keep up with lots of friends that I've had from the beginning of this life journey to present, but more important than this is time growing with God.  I want this friendship with God to be more...

Growing,

Debbie

Hope is Key!

The key is hope...either way hope is the key to a lot.  My study this week is Abraham, where my study lead me to is Romans 4:18 ~

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him...

Do you see?  For things to happen we must believe it is what?  KEY...

Abraham in hope believed so he became...

Practice putting your name in

____________in hope believed so he/she became...what is it you need?  Part of the process is believing it will happen long before it ever does.  Look at Abraham's story in Genesis, but also verses shared in the New Testament about Abraham.  Abraham is in Hebrews 11 the Hall of Faith so to speak...Abraham is listed beginning in verse 11 along with Jacob, Joseph, Moses, the list goes on.  A lot of these people believed, but some didn't even get to see things happen, but they still believed.

This journey of life is bearable because we have hope.  Or should I say we choose to have hope.  It is a daily choice am I doom and gloom or hope and faith?  After all, what do we have to loose by choosing the better which is hope and faith?  We have joy, we have a closer walk with God, we have Light, we have HOPE!  God allows us to pick and on a rainy day like here in Louisiana...we need LIGHT!  

Fill in the blank and believe.  To become we must believe!  Look at the verse again above...Abraham in hope believed and so became...

I believe,

Debbie

Go

In my study this morning on Abraham I am reminded it is all about obedience. Obedience is defined as submission to another's authority.  Well, right off the bat I feel shoulders tense, hair rise, eyes squint what?  Tension...

Imagine for a moment just what Abraham did.  Look at Hebrews 11:8 

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.  Okay, let's be real with each other how long does it take you to plan to go on an overnight much less forever. Yet, he believed.  He trusted. He submitted.  

How - look at the first two words.  By faith how do we do things? Do we follow these words or our own lists?  Do we change our own agendas or follow Gods or do we try to make God go along with our list fitting in where we desire?  (Like this even doable)

I admit I have made lists and I also admit I love being able to draw a line through the completed tasks...but I have learned it is much better to let go of my list and follow By faith...

Saying yes,

Debbie

Getaway with God by Letitia Suk Book Review ~ Need a retreat?

Great book filled with great ideas and suggestions about a time away with God!  Now doesn't that sound awesome?  Perhaps, that brought to mind I don't know if I want that much togetherness with God, but I promise you do!

Letitia Suk fills this book with personal experience and great ideas that will jumpstart ideas for a special time for each of us alone with God.  I instantly related to a lot of things Letitia Suk suggest.  It brought back memories of women's retreats that I participated in or had the pleasure of being on a team serving others.  It is great time, but this book speaks to both but focuses on personal time with God.

I think sometimes for girls it is easier to share the experience, but this book focus is on growth of relationship between each individual and God.  I remember the first time I signed up for such a retreat no friends as such casual acquaintances except for one.  We arrived to be told it was a silent time until the next morning and well that isn't easy for two ladies that are friends to begin with...we failed this section first time around.  Another was take off your watches.  What?  Don't know what time it is and depend on others to wake us up and such?  Well, it worked I still don't wear a watch and I get where I am suppose to be on time or early!

Oops, back to this book.  It is a great guideline and I encourage all women to purchase this book especially women that lead other women.  It will help you to guide someone in a good direction.  I loved that I saw myself in so many of these pages and felt God's calling me to a personal time with Him.  

When I got to the section entitled "Slow down Girl" I knew this book was calling my name, but the names of most women I love and care about...we rush through life and we miss so much because we are in a hurry.  Immediately, I knew I was in the same place as our author when she talks about turning 60 and needing to reflect on her journey and how God took care of every detail.  He will!  Also, it is cool to share how God provides for our spouses response to okay the time, the details, the money, the vehicles, the place every last detail!  He does provide!  

Another thing I appreciate is Letitia provides schedules.  A schedule to go by for all or any of the controlling women that like to go on retreats.  (side note after serving in women's ministry I have found we (most not all) have control issues.  We think we need to control every last detail, so our author provides for all women.  Those that need help with knowing we have a schedule and those that don't need one.

I was personally touched when I arrived at page 115 and found these words from her day 3 retreat...

"Then Luke 6:38, a verse I had read that morning before breakfast popped into my mind:  "Give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."  She found 2 things after a reflection time that she knew God was sharing with her.  1) Give herself away with abandon to others and 2) tell her story.  Isn't this true for us as well? 

Thought provoking and helpful!  I am going to use this plan in my alone getaway with God.  I love the questions that she provides, her prompts and her guidance.  Yet, I know God will provide even more to the time away with Him!

I suggest this book to all women who love the sound of and plan on "getting away with God"  The book is available through Amazon.com or other book stores.  I was given this book to give my honest opinion by Kregel Publications and honestly when a person decides God provided the exact plan I needed at that moment how could you not highly recommend it to other women?  Yes, order it now or soon so you can begin your plans for your getaway!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Relax

Looks inviting doesn't it?  Well, maybe not to all of you.  Everybody doesn't like to read, but I imagine most people are able to enjoy a good hammock!  Definitely, makes me think of relaxing! 

God is so good!  I so desperately desired a word from Him this morning and I received it.  Listen to these words from Jude (The Message)

Relax, everything's going to be all right; rest, everything's coming together; open your hearts, love is on the way!

Now that sounds fantastic!  God reassuring all of us to relax, be open in our hearts, that He is on the way.  After all, isn't He love?  I always take comfort in His reassurances about life!  Yes, He knows exactly what I need and when I need it...it's whether I listen to Him or not.

So let's relax in Him!  After all, He is already ahead of us in whatever situations we all face.  He is already all in the middle of it and giving us whatever we need to face the situations and be who we are suppose to be!  He shows us how to be about life, so let's remember today and everyday it's all going to be all right!

Claiming it,

Debbie

Truth

Peeps this is truth.  Encouraging each of you to read the Bible is what this is all about...You must know God's truth for the days ahead.  Not Debbie's truth, not Beth's truth, not Christine's truth, not (insert your own name), God's truth.  Our opinions are just that our opinions and nothing more.

Please read God's Word for your own sake.  Read it and share it with those you love.  

Everyday we see bad things happening and the only way to have hope and see good is to know Jesus.  To know that He died for you and me and our sins.  To know that He alone provides the Way to heaven.

I love each of you, so I will continue to share encouragement to look to Him!  His Words and His Truths...It is all about Him!

Bad things happen.  Every moment of every day something is happening and the only way through these terrible things is knowing in my heart and soul that God provides hope for more.  A place filled with no more tears, no more awful because we, humans bring the awful in when we make choices.  

What do you have to loose by reading it?  I believe that even if I am wrong, which I am not wrong about Jesus and His truths...but if I were what would you loose in the end?  You have so much more to gain by reading it than by not reading it.  You gain forever with Jesus and it makes the difficult times bearable, because He is wrapping His loving arms around you making sure You know He is with you and believe me you know!

Clinging to His Truths,

Debbie

Holy Spirit Nudges

Isn't she beautiful?  Those beautiful dark eyes that just pierce your soul?

I was fretting this morning and I prayed for the Lord to help me with my fears.  I prayed for strength and for me to trust Him and the Holy Spirit brought to my memory a trip that touched me deep in my soul.  Reminded me that as long as we trust in Him things really are alright!

I took a mission trip to Mexico some years ago now and it changed my thought process and my heart quite a deal.  I don't think you are able to take one of these trips and not be forever changed.

I remember going out on our first morning and the shock of people that lived in these tiny cardboard homes, yet they were so happy.  The smiles and laughter of the children were so loud and there was a genuine happiness surrounding these children and their parents.  Oh they didn't have much materially, but they were still happy.  It didn't take stuff to make them happy.  They found happiness right where they were.  

They genuinely appreciated anything that you did for them.  Whether it was a left over mardi gras bead or a new home of cinder blocks with a concrete floor, they appreciated your sharing the moment in time with them.  They don't expect anything, so everything was and is appreciated.

The Holy Spirit reminded me again this morning in my weak moment of these beautiful, strong people that trust and share their hearts, their smiles, their laughter through whatever life brings them it's okay. The children forever remind me that laughter and smiles definitely are able to change the world, if we allow it.

Today, laugh a little more.  Trust a lot more!  Allow the Holy Spirit to bring wonderful memories to your soul that you so desperately need to be reminded of and then allow the Spirit to do something with you!

Give thanks for all that God truly is and then believe today, tomorrow and always!

Also, thanks Dave, Jeanie, and Linda for convincing me to go on this trip to Mexico!  See God used each of you to change me by my taking this trip that opened my eyes to a beautiful people!  Love ya'll!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Realization hits!

Reading the story again this morning found in Genesis 3 about Eve and Adam allowing the devil into their hearts and minds, I am reminded how easy it is to fall to doubts, fears, lies and all the other evil stuff.  Eve had such beauty surrounding her and yet the devil knew he could say, but what about that one thing God told you not to bother.  Did he really say what you think he said?  Did he?  Well, I'm not sure.  

How often do we fall for the same trick?  Seriously, that one temptation that you have the most difficult time saying no to?  One more time it won't hurt me.  One more won't hurt me.  We believe the devil and go for it...don't you almost immediately regret the decision?  It doesn't quite feel that empty spot that you just knew this would take care of the ache, the pain, the hole?  Yet, it doesn't. 

We realize that it isn't all that we thought it would be and well so did Eve.  Don't you hate it when we look like Eve and well we do...I know I do at times and it is not pretty!  I don't wear it any better than Eve and Adam wore their fig leaves.  Not the new look and not the best look.  I mean look at the photo of fig leaves and well their are certain parts of me that well I don't care how many I sewed together it would not be a good look!  

We know.  We realize in our hearts and soul, when we make a choice just like Eve did that it was a bad decision.  Do you then play hide and seek not only with others, but yourself?  I didn't do that.  I only did that because she wanted me too...the list goes on and on and we hide from the truth just like Adam and Eve.  We hide from our own choices.  We lay blame sometimes like Adam did...We play hide and seek and nobody will ever know...Yet, God always knows.

The moment that we want to hide and not seek God's company we are in trouble!  We are hiding behind our fig leaves and lies.  Yet, we realize God's love in verse 21 and it will always be one of my favorite moments...the first time we realize that God covers us always.  Before He covered our sins with Jesus blood, He covered us with clothes we are told He made Himself.

And LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

Only God that we hide from and make choices that we know we should not make still loves us!  He provides the way for us, if we choose to believe His Words.  Allow Him to cover you today and everyday the devil only covers you with doubts, fear, lies, and evil while God covers you with His Amazing love!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

  

Hand

Do you need a hand?

Well, reach for God's hand.

Psalm 37:23-24

If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble; he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

Reach for the hand that helps you when you stumble. NOT the hand that causes you to stumble...the devil.  We are told in Genesis 3, the serpent is crafty.  He said did the Lord God really say,?  He places doubt causing all of us to question ourselves and God.  Cling to the truth knowing:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and forever.

Reading God's Word teaches us that God doesn't change.  We know Him from reading and being in His Word with Him which dispels doubts.

Take his hand and go on this amazing adventure!

Being held,

Debbie

A Promise

Another new year.  Talk about time flying.  Yes they go quickly.

It seems every year it is on my heart to remind all of us (myself included) to read the Bible. Life is tough, but God shows up in His word and provides hope and love.  If we don't show up, how do we have either one?

I always have a word for the year as well. A tradition Linda Perkins got me started on.  Last year my word was "joy" and many times I asked the Lord how do find joy in this situation.  He would show me how? Only with His help!  My word this year is hope.  I know that hope is only found in Him!

All of this to share another year to be in His Word.  My Aunt Martha gave me a new book for Christmas and it is good.  52 weeks through the Bible by James Merritt and already he shared some stats and a story that profoundly touched my heart and even broke it a little.

88% of Americans own a Bible, 80% think it is sacred, 61% wish they read it more, and the average house owns 4 Bibles. Yet of the ones that do read it, the majority read their Bibles only 4 times a year or less.  Only 26% say they read it regularly.  On page 14 James share these details.  It breaks my heart.  No wonder then that America is suffering and down.  We cannot do life right without God. Why is this so hard for us to get?

Another story that woke me up and broke my heart at the same time is about a young man by the name of William Hunter who lived in England in 1555. Well he died then burned on a stake because of his insatiable thirst for God's Word.  In those days one could not own the Bible.  It was kept under lock and key  from no clergy. The Bible was chained to the altar. So he walked into the church opened the Bible and memorized it right there.  It was found out.  He was arrested thrown in jail for months.  He was offered freedom and money for the promise to never read it again.  He replied no, so he was burned on the stake for refusing to not read the Bible.  A gift we take for granted in America.

I don't care what way you read the Bible just read it.  I don't mean to harp, but harp I will to help another find hope and love.  I know it is true, because of someone sharing it with me.  It does change your life.  It does give you answers and most of all you share time with Our Savior!  You do find love, hope, and Jesus in the pages to share with others that need to hear the words.  We cannot find these on our own.

I ask Kenny yesterday one word for 2016 looking back he would use and he replied challenging and I told him stressful, but we did find joy in those situations because God was carrying us through the mess.  How does one get through when I know the only way I get through is by God dragging me, carrying me, or watching over me.  I know I am never alone and I know because I know scripture that make this promise and I feel His presence with me

Please make this a hope filled 2017 by

Reading the Bible. Check out my life verse Joshua 1:9 and claim it.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie