Until The Mountains Fall written by Connilyn Cossette is Outstanding!

Outstanding read!

I have been on Connilyn Cossette's team to help promote her books, because she is one of my favorite authors.  Her books never disappoint and this book, "Until the Mountains Fall" definitely doesn't disappoint.  

I was sent the book for my honest review from Baker Publishing and received it when I was away on vacation.  So, I am just now  writing this review.

Run don't walk, order the book now, don't wait however you get your books.  Do it now!  

It will keep you on the edge of your seat.  You will want to look ahead to see, if our heroine will find her way back home to her family, her love, and God.  I believe you will see yourself in Rivkah.  Rivkah is real, she is flawed, she is beautiful, she is broken, she is trying to get through each day to the best of her ability.  Does any of this sound a little bit like you?  

I love to encourage others to read Christian Fiction because it draws you to scripture.  It makes you want to look deeper into God's Word and again Connilyn is a master with the Holy Spirit guiding her to pull you in and achieve this goal.  Yet the story makes you read as fast as possible to find out how the story will unfold.  It doesn't allow you to put it down until you are finished and that I call a great book!

The words found on page 315 will touch your heart and make you weep.

"You are my beloved daughter, Rivkah."  The wrinkles around his brown eyes deepened as he smiled through his tears.  "There is nothing you have done or will do that will ever erase the love I have for you.  It is enough that you have returned to me."  Who doesn't need to hear these beautiful words at some point in your journey?  

I will not tell you more about the story line.  It is so important for each reader to allow the story to unfold before you.  I do encourage you with telling you it is fabulous, it's 5 stars to get it now!

Order it from wherever you purchase your books or go to the nearest bookstore and request it.  Ask your local library to order it so others will read it, but do yourself a favor and read this book.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Reopened and repaired

I love this old door!  I saw it went I went south to the Rip Van Winkle Plantation and it caught my eye.  I loved the design and the color, so it just spoke to my creative side of things.

Yesterday, the reading about Hezekiah reopening the temple spoke to my heart and soul.  The words that jumped off the page to me were reopened and repaired.  All day I pondered these words and how God was using them with me.  I truly felt Him calling me to reopen and repair things in my own journey.  Perhaps someday I might share what I am referencing, but today it is about asking a few questions that I have been asking myself.

What relationships do I need to reopen and repair?

Why did I allow them to close and fall into disrepair to begin with?  Did God perhaps shut the door for a reason and those aren't the doors that I need to reopen and repair?

Wouldn't it be easier at times, if God just took us right to the spot?

I believe He does!  I believe that if we are paying attention at all to His Words, He leads us right to His desires.  It is truly whether we allow Him to guide us.

Our world causes me to withdraw and shut doors.  I don't like conflict, so I avoid it.  I don't think that just because I believe a certain way that someone else is wrong for believing another, but society is telling us they we are wrong.  We are not wrong if we stand for what we believe and I don't believe that if are different we can't still get along.  God made us different.  God made us unique and to begin repairing we need to accept that both of us might be right ~ even though we fall on different sides of man made issues!  

I listen to the older people and respect their opinion.  I listen to people my own age and respect their opinion.  I listen to younger people and respect their (or try) opinion.  Okay, I'm just being honest sometimes when I look back own my own path.  I realize just how little I did know when I was younger. (like yesterday)  Seriously, each day teaches us new things and at times I find myself thinking well just wait till you get to your almost 60 year and talk to me then, but that's not fair.  We all get to grow along our journey and with that comes growth.  

As you might can tell.  God is working on me and I thank Him that He is still working on me.  He allows me to be repaired and that He reopens my heart to new growth even at almost 60.  He never gives up on us, if we desire the reopening and repairing and I do!  I get worn down, I get faded out, I have places in my heart that need to be repainted, but I am so much better when He is done with me.

What about you?  Are you like the temple?  Are you needing to be reopened and repaired?  Well, turn to the only One that knows what you truly need to be restored to the masterpiece He created.

Check out the story in 2 Chronicles 29:3-17.  Today, Hezekiah returned to the Proverbs which I thought I would close with one of the verses ~

Proverbs 29:18 

When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.  But whoever obeys the law is joyful.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Believe

Photography is one of my favorite things to do.  I love to set out looking for something special in God's creations and almost always something special shows up.  The beautiful bluebird above is one of the beauties that showed up on a recent trip to Arkansas.  Simple enough, but I believe that God gives each of us little surprises and it is a matter of are we paying attention or not.

The last few days we have been reading about David.  I love David.  He is so real and he isn't exactly who you would expect God to pick to be king.  In fact, Samuel went to Jesse's home and he truly thought it was going to be Eliab one of David's older brothers, because of his appearance.  Yet, God looks at things differently than we do.  The Bible tells us that People judge by outward appearance and God looks at the heart.  Definitely, a good thing in my small opinion.  This particular passage in 1 Samuel 16 got me to thinking about how we see things.  Look around and listen all of us seem to have an opinion in the world today.  We all think we know the right thing to do and yet do we?  Opinions are shall we say running over and we offer ours, but we don't know all the facts truly on any situation - yet we think we do.  We might next time give this a little more thought and ask God to show us like He did Samuel.

The next story is a well known one that touched my heart.  The story of Goliath and David.  Everybody was around the camp scared, but not David.  He walked into camp asking questions and then he believed that he could fight the giant.  Why?  Not because of who he was, but because of who God truly was and is...David believed God.  He knew the victory would be God's, so he went and faced the giant knowing that God was fighting for him.  

What giant are you facing?  Give the giant to God and let Him fight the battle.  He will win, if we give it to Him.  We can't face our giants alone.  We must let God show us how to fight the battle.

Go find your surprise and see what God wants to share with you!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

P.S.  Go check out the story of David for yourself in 1 Samuel 16, 17, 18, and 19.  Yesterday and today's reading in the Chronological Bible.

Complaining, complaining and more complaining

Complaining...complaining...

Seriously, who wanted to hear it and who does today?

God must get so tired of our complaints.  After all, just the last 3 days in our reading the Israelites have done nothing else.  They act like they just left the palace instead of slavery.  We were told in Numbers 11 that the people began to crave the good things of Egypt. Seriously?  

God provides and gave them freedom, yet nothing is right.  Imagine the miracle of God providing just the right amount of manna everyday?  Quail 50 bushels each? 

Yet, all that keeps rolling through my head is well, isn't that how we all are?  Watch tv, listen in restaurants, listen in crowds, how many people are sharing their blessings?  How many people are sharing good things?  No, everybody seems to latch on to whatever is happening that they view as bad.  Yes, two sides to every story so both sides latch on to the opposite side and absolutely drag it from here to yon and never let it go.  

Tiresome.  It is all so tiresome.  I am not without my own complaining.  I am working on it.  I try to get out in nature without the noise, or I paint, or I cross-stitch, go to a ballgame, or I watch hallmark movies.  I am trying so hard to get myself out of this tit for tat world.  Whose winning?  Nobody.  Everyone of us are in trouble and we need more Jesus!

I wish each of us would try to not be a contributing factor.  We may all want to point fingers at the other side, whether it is young and old, male or female, black or white, democrat or republican it is all of us!  Admit it!  Let's not continue down this path.  I know I am tired of it and God truly must be after all these years of listening to complaining humans who are truly blessed!  He provides all we need and He loves us beyond measure.

Today I want to close with a very well known blessing that many of us have shared over the years.  It was found a couple of days ago in Numbers 6: 22-27

'May the LORD bless you and protect you.

May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.

May the LORD show you his favor and give you peace.'

Do what you have to do to get out and about into nature or wherever you spend time with God!  I promise it changes your attitude.  He changes your attitude.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Detail after detail

Okay, are you still reading?  I know it is some pretty tough reading, but it is a wonderful reminder of God is in every detail!

I mean seriously, He gives very detailed instructions.  Which I believe means He thinks it is really important stuff.  Enough said.

Are you a detailed person?  Do things have to be just right?  Are you a list maker?  I love to keep a list of my to do's and get to draw a line through them, seriously I do the happy dance with each line!  I think that we might take a little comfort that some of our lists  might be of God.  Notice I did say might be.  Details are important to Him and they are important to us so maybe we get a little bit of that from Him.

What phrases have been really sticking out to you through this reading?  One that I have read and is in today's reading is the wonderful reminder of who it is that is giving these instructions.  

I am the LORD.

another is,

Then the Lord said, Give the following instructions to the people... who?  

God cares enough to being very detailed, because we need details.  We tend to take a word here or there and make it fit our needs.  Nothing surprises God. so He tries to take care of every detail for us, the problem is we have to read His Words.  We have to pick up the book to see what He instructs us to do.  I know we would like to believe that we know it all, but well nope even the smartest of us...DON'T.  None of us know it all and we need help.  Yes, even the strongest of us also need help.

Go ahead make your list.  Go ahead take care of every detail.  But relax in the end, knowing that God is in every detail...yours and mine, but also in His!  He loves us and He provided the way for each of us.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

As clear as the sky itself

The prettiest blue with the eagle in the tree, it was a wonderful photography day.  Sky so blue and beautiful.  The words that captured me today are found in Exodus 24:10 ~ 

There they saw the God of Israel.  Under his feet there seemed to be a surface of brilliant blue lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself.  And though these nobles of Israel gazed upon God, he did not destroy them.  In fact, they ate a covenant meal, eating and drinking in his presence!  Wow, what an amazing image.

Place yourself in this scene.  In God's presence and eating a meal.  How could you even eat?  Google the blue lapis stone it is beautiful.  I just felt the power in this moment and I don't know that I ever noticed that this moment included more than Moses.  I think before I stayed in the verses above where God said only Moses was allowed to come near.  So I don't know that I grasp that all these other people (over 70) shared this time in God's presence.

I don't know, but this spoke to me that God allowed these people to come and share Him.  I know that God's creation wow's me and this just gets me.  I don't know how you were even able to breathe much less eat.

God is so good!

Please take a moment and give thanks for God's amazing love for each of us.  Praise Him for all that He is and always will be.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Glory of God

Daily I am reminded of God's glory through nature whether it is the sunset, sunrise, critters or a baby's cry, we are reminded of God's glory!  Do we take notice?

I had lunch with my sweet friend Frankie yesterday and we both talked about over the reading this year that one of the statements from God's word that is getting our attention is seeing the glory of God.  Several times these words are mentioned and they are mentioned from God not from someone else.  Let that sink in for a moment these are important words to grasp.

  Exodus 16: 7 ~ You will see the glory of God.

Today in the reading it was about manna from heaven in the morning.  Yesterday, it was about the hardening of Pharaoh's heart and God said, "I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army.  After this the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD!"

Folks it's important!  Don't take my word for it read God's Word.  He is telling us it is important for us to realize who He is today, tomorrow and yesterday.  I believe that this is one of the most important things I've learned from reading the Bible is who God truly is and it takes reading some difficult things to beautiful things and being reminded of all that He truly is.  

Daily we hear people take a part of something and make it fit their own desires and when you truly take the time in God's Word and develop the relationship with Him ~ He will show you who He is.  Bible studies offered by wonderful people are wonderful.  I've learned and grown so very much through these studies, but I've learned the most by spending time in His Words.  His Word will live forever and He will teach you and I make you this promise He will change you in the process.  I  make this promise, because He changed me and others when they took this same challenge.  Allow Him to show you His glory.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

God led them in a round about way

Hiking in the Grand Canyon is amazing!  The views are simply beyond words and yet I wondered, isn't there a more direct route when you begin to think I can't go any further...Sounds a little bit like the grumbling Israelites, doesn't it?

God knows how we all are deep down inside.  He knows what we need, so that we remember it is Him that gets us through.  Plus I believe God is humorous.  He loves to watch us and share the humor in these moments with us.  

Sometimes we just need the round about way or the detour to get this thing right.  I love the way God said it in Exodus 13:17 ~ "If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt."  Wow, they would return to life of slavery rather than the one God is planning, so He must make another plan to be sure we stay the course.  

It gives me a lot of comfort to know that God makes a plan and will continue to adjust to be sure that I finally get it!  God loves us so very much and all He ask is for us to trust Him.

Sad, but daily we all must make a choice are we going to return to whatever it is that we just can't let go of or will we allow God to take us a round about way to freedom?  Let's take the round about and enjoy the view.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Ugly topics and we need peace

We are surrounded with noise.  Noise made by opinions of everyone in the world.  I don't know if it is social media, the television, or each of us, but we have a lot of noise and on days that I feel like I just can't take it anymore...I go out into nature.  I talk to God about stuff (all the noise) and He provides glimpses of His wonders that surround us.

Now I am about to jump into the deep end, because I really believe He wants me to share some thoughts on a really difficult topic.  I have actually been discussing it with Him for quite a while that I really didn't want to, but He isn't letting go of me.  He wants me to share a little bit about a time that I was serving in ministry with women.

I often told Him during this time that He called me to serve with women that seemed to be able to have a baby so easily and women that would made the difficult choice to get rid of their baby that I didn't understand why He brought me to this place. I couldn't have children and desperately wanted one.  I had a lot of judgment inside of me and that is why He brought me to the place of ministry with these women.  A woman that can't have children definitely struggles with why and then God shows you why in the most profound ways.  He takes you to your place of pain and heartache to heal you.  He gives you women that are struggling with why they kept this child, when it might be better to give him/her up.  Yet next time you see them they are having another one.  Yet He tells you love on them.  Be a source of hope and light and through the experience He begins to heal your own heart.

The news seems to make the choice seem so easy, on the topic of abortion.  I will share openly that I am still very much against abortion, but I also feel so deeply for these women that have made the choice to have one.  I have listened as women in their sixties  are still grappling with this decision and in deep grief about this choice that was made so long ago, but it seems like yesterday.  The pain is etched on their faces and the absolute heartbreak that they experience with every step they take. It hurts deeply yet people are told it's okay, but the innocent baby is gone and this woman wrestles with it for a very long time.  Her pain is real.  You realize through this woman that until you walk in someone else's shoes you don't really understand.  After all, this young girl's parents are sometimes making the choice for them.  This woman feels the pain that the man already walked away and how is that fair the the child.  Another woman feels the judgment of women like me.  Yes me.  And perhaps you.  This woman may be sitting beside you on the pew on Sunday morning they look just like us.  They are some of us.

Reading about the desperate measures, that Moses mother went to for him to continue his journey on this earth.  Reminds me that we all have to make difficult choices and that sometimes they aren't easy.  WE don't always understand the circumstances, but what if we as Christians perhaps showed love, instead of judgment some of these choices would not be made?  Perhaps we are part of the reason that some of these terrible abortions happen.  Instead of love we allow these hurting people to see our pain coming through as judgment.

I am reminded of the story in John about the woman that the crowd brings before Jesus caught in adultery.  They throw her before Jesus demanding that he command she be stoned to death for her sin.  His words were "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Jesus then stooped down and wrote in the sand.  Slowly the crowd began to walk away, one by one.  None of us are without sin.  None.  Imagine you are this woman.  The woman thrown before the crowd naked.  The crowd shouting for your judgment.  The ugliness of this scene really hits home, yet we do it daily.  The television news even calls out people daily with truths and untruths, yet we all stand in our corners shouting for whichever team we are on and yet aren't we sinners as well.  I think this is what bothers me most in our world today ~ we think our stuff doesn't stink and well it does!  

Prayer for the unborn, prayer for the women that are considering this choice, prayer for the women that are still dealing with their choice made years and years ago and prayers for each of us that we realize that we are sinners too!

Find a place to spend time with Jesus.  Let Jesus take you to your place of pain and allow Him to heal your hurting heart and to love on you so deeply, because He loves you so very much and that is what matters.  Your relationship with Jesus is what truly matters, so find yours and allow Him to do the rest.

I close with these words God healed my pain in a place that I had no idea that I needed and nor did I want to go, but for healing I had to take the trip.  So I encourage you to do the same.  Seek God in every decision and let's show love to those around us.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

She put the baby

Exodus 2: 1-10

Okay, I am not a mother, but I am an aunt and I love my kiddos like they are mine and today's reading always, always just brings up so many emotions.  Heartbreak, fear, why me, and the list goes on and on...how could she? but how could she not?

Moses mother knows she can't hide him any longer.  His only hope is to place him in the river with crocs!  (and I am not talking shoes)  I am talking way bigger than the alligator in the photo above!!!!  Moses is placed in a basket that you know she built to the best of her ability to provide for her baby a safe space and she scouted out the area.  She knew when the daughter of the pharaoh would bath.  She did absolutely everything in her power to provide a way for her baby and you know she prayed over her baby and that basket as she was preparing.

Do we prepare for what faces us?  I mean seriously, it is obvious this mother knew her facts and God took care of the details.  She prepared, believed and God took care of it.

She believed is the only way she placed that beautiful baby into the river.  Not only did God provide the daughter to be there.  He provided for the little sister to approach and ask if she could help find the mother.  Moses mother was able to continue to nurse him and get paid for it.  The princess named him Moses and it means "I lifted him out of the water", but we all know that God is the one that lifted him out of the water!

He is in the details and we must believe He is...

Yes He still is...

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Is it your wisdom?

I know the past several days have been tough reading in Job.  I mean do his friends and Job seem like  ~ well us?  At times?  I know we don't like to admit it, but woe to me.  And then I think I know it all...don't I?  Tough reading when we might see ourselves in not so admirable ways.  Sometimes we think we are helping a friend with encouraging words and yet we are dragging them down deeper?  And Job?  but ...nobody is really grasping who God is and neither do we.

Oh, we think we know, but these next two days really share with us who God is, was, and will be and He does it himself!  Yes, He reminds Job, his friends and us who He is and I absolutely love these two days of reading in the Chronological Bible.  Anytime, you  are fighting a battle and you forget how to face it.  Open up your Bible to these two days of reading in Job and be reminded who is really fighting the battle for you and me!  January 30 and 31 is a fabulous reading to keep in your heart always knowing who God is helps each of us face the day ahead.

Some of my favorites from today are these wonderful reminders ~

Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?

Tell me, if you know so much.

Who determined the dimensions, and stretched out the surveying line?

Who kept the sea inside it boundaries as it burst from the womb, and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness?

Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east?

Can you direct the movement of stars-

Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain?

Can you make lightning appear and cause it to strike as you direct?

Have you given the horse its strength or clothed its neck with a flowing mane?

Did you give it the ability to leap like a locust?

Its majestic snorting is terrifying!

Is it your wisdom that makes the hawk soar and spread its wings toward the south? Is it at your command that the eagle rises to the heights to make its nest? 

Do you still want to argue with the Almighty?  You are still God's critic, but do you have the answers?

Wow, I love this wonderful reminder of who God truly is...He is everything!  He is...

Blessings,

Debbie

Hanging by a thread

Hanging by a thread, isn't very reassuring is it?  

In today's reading Bildad a friend of Job's is giving one of his talks to him and these words were a part of the speech...

The same happens to all who forget God.  The hopes of the godless evaporate.

Their confidence hangs by a thread.  They are leaning on a spider's web.

Well, the visual works!  Spider's webs and threads aren't very helpful.  So when we forget who God truly is...we aren't hanging on much.

The book of Job is filled with wise thoughts and reminders of who God is and was.  The friends try to be helpful and we have all been just like them at times.  (thinking we know a lot and being all helpful) but...Oh well, that is for another day.

My thought was forgetting God is just like hanging by a thread.  It will break and so will we.  Hang on His Truths and in constant relationship with Him and you will be holding on to a lot more than a thread.  You are believing and holding on to His amazing love for you.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Praise the Lord

Yesterday, I woke up to a foggy Louisiana morning.  I wanted to take a few photos and thought today might be a good day to find the pelicans at Cross Lake.  So, before work I headed to Cross Lake.

Imagine, my surprise when I not only found them, but in the most beautiful Louisiana setting.  God gives us the most precious moments.  We just have to pay attention at all times.  Even in the most difficult situations God is there.

Our reading takes us to Job this morning.  Job is a beautiful, but tough reading.  Tough because Job goes through some really terrible things.  Life happened to Job and it happened all at once almost and in the most horrible ways, but Job still praises God.

Today, Job 1:21 - 22 just spoke to my heart and hopefully it will yours too.

He said, "I came naked from my mother's womb, and I will be naked when I leave.  The LORD gave me what I have, and the LORD has taken it away.  Praise the name of the LORD!" 

In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.

Is these not the most beautiful verses?  Job lost everything and he was still praising the LORD.

Also, another verse that got my attention and not because I liked it...but it does serve to remind each of us that Satan is around.

Job 1:7

Satan answered the LORD, "I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that's going on."

Satan must be having a big time right now. Watching everything happening on this earth and pushing and prodding each of us in his direction.  Just tell Satan to go away that you are a daughter to the King! or Son to the King!

Yet, we know that God is with us every moment!  We know God is in charge!  We know He goes before us, is with us, and He is following us.  We are His, so Satan can just keep right on in his little evil ways, because we know God wins!

Today, look for special moments to share with God!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Never another thought

Do you ever feel forgotten?  Life gets busy and everyone around you is to?

Imagine Joseph sitting in that prison.  Waiting for whatever God had in store for him and never giving up.  He waited so patiently.  Trusting.  

The cup-bearer and the baker are sent to the prison by the Pharaoh and they have dreams they don't understand.  Joseph shares that God is the one that may interpret dreams.  They share their dreams and he shares the meaning.  They return to the pharaoh's party the dreams interpretations happen and the cup-bearer forgets all about Joseph, never giving him another thought. (in that moment) Check the story out in Genesis 40. 

Two more years happen with Joseph in that prison.  Yet he trust and he believes when the pharaoh suddenly dreams something he doesn't understand.  Nobody around him does either until suddenly these words are uttered by the cup-bearer, "Today I have been reminded of my failure," (better late than never), Some time ago, ...the story is told of Joseph interpreting their dreams taking place just as he had told them.  Immediately the pharaoh sent for Joseph and he went from the prison to the man in charge of everybody, but the pharaoh.  Finally in God's timing, Joseph was about to serve the Lord in a huge way.

Joseph received a new name from the pharaoh it is Zaphenath-paneah.  The Egyptian name and meaning is "God speaks and lives."  The people realized that the Lord was with Joseph.  

God's timing is not ours.  Don't you think that if Joseph could have he would have gotten out sooner?  Don't you think that the Lord works on us through whatever our circumstances to grow us where we need to be to serve Him best?

Sometimes we are called to wait.  After all, it's not about us.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

A kind word

A kind word.  Seems simple enough to offer a smile and a kind word, but simple these days doesn't seem to happen often enough.  Didn't happen enough in our reading today either, but what shocks us in the reading it is between brothers.  Brothers who let jealously eat them up to do evil acts, but God still used the situations for His good!  Our weaknesses don't stop God, Thank you Lord!

When Kenny and I were recently at the Grand Canyon, we became friends with a group of people traveling from China.  They told us they were drawn to our smiles and spirit and wanted to talk to us.  We took pictures and shared and enjoyed our brief passage of time with these beautiful people from China.  A smile, a kind word and lots of laughs were shared!  

I think back over my journey and realize that it really is simple.  So, let's talk.  Honestly, I don't agree with half the things my friends and family think or even over half, but I still love them.  They still love me.  We accept our differences and know each other deeper than whatever opinions we carry.  IN today's world we don't look deep enough, to realize that the opinion might be because of something that happened in their journey.  We each have a right to believe the way we do and respect that other people have the same right.

We don't look deep enough anymore.  We hear words and react without knowing why a person might believe a certain way.  Honestly, it doesn't matter why. We each have that right and we will each answer someday for our own actions.  I know I have lots to answer for and more than likely each of you do too.  

Brothers broken love, because they felt their father loved their brother more.  The younger brother and a little arrogant caused a lot of these feelings to happen, don't you think?  I would imagine the little brother wanted to be a part of the big group of brothers, but he was separated off probably from the jealousy of his father's love for him and his mother.  They had issues with the dad.  You know they did.  After all, he was pretty obvious of his love for Rachel being way more than their own mothers.  Family dynamics cause lots of issues. We all have our reasons.  Perhaps, if they had both looked a little deeper.

Thank you Lord that you use our mess!  Isn't it the truth?  God uses the mess, whether we throw our little brother in a well or sell him to traders for His glory.  Joseph's story is perhaps a little wilder than our own, but God still uses our messes for His glory, if we allow Him too!  Share your story and let God use it.

Today, turn off the television.  Quit letting people from far away conquer and divide.  (yes both sides and you know who I am talking about are winning, because we allow it to happen)  Turn off your televisions and smile at the lady walking towards you.  Help open the door for the older gentlemen that is having trouble walking into the grocery store.  Slow down and let someone in your lane of traffic.  Shock somebody and say Hope you have a wonderful day!  Share a kind word and let it begin with us!

Sharing a kind word is easy and all of us are capable!  I believe in you!  Smile and go for it and let's change the channel or change the world.  One smile at a time!  Let's go and be kind today and every day forward.

Smiling,

Debbie

We can plainly see...

What do people plainly see about you?

My little readers attract so much attention.  I have never had anything that all kinds of people talk about before these little glasses.  Old and young, black and white, men and women, everybody likes these little glasses.  It is funny sometimes the looks and the comments and the people with me get tickled that these little glasses attract so much attention, but they are often times conversation starters.

I like them, but I don't want that to be the most important thing that people recognize about me.  I want people to know that the Lord is with me, just like they did with Isaac in today's reading from the Chronological Bible.  Imagine, King A (since I don't really know how it is pronounced) comes to Isaac and they want to make a covenant with him.  Why?  They realize and recognize that the Lord is with Isaac and he has been blessed.  They don't want any trouble with him Isaac agrees.

Isn't that the way you want to be recognized? Perhaps people will say about you some of these things. I tell you that lady is a prayer warrior.  You know old

___________she is such a helper.  I tell you __________gave me such encouragement that God's Light shined through her actions.  How do you want to be thought of?  Not just after you leave this earth, but right now?

I want to be known for more than just my cute little readers!  I want people to know that God gets me through every moment and when I can't walk through it...He carries me!  Our journeys are about Him and how He helps us to help others through sharing our messes and being real.

Carol Kent shared in her devotional for yesterday's reading these words, "Every day you have a choice- to give in to the negative voices that surround you", or to "live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ." (Philippians 1:27 MSG)  I loved this translation and thought it struck a chord with today's reading from the Bible.  

What do people plainly see?

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Got up early in the morning

Okay, when I took this photo I had already been up for one hour.  The older I get the earlier I wake up.  I don't know what is going on, but aging.  Oh well, I get lots done in the early morning quiet.

I had  noticed before in the passage about Isaac with Abram's faith being tested, that Abram got up early to follow God's instructions.  Today, I noticed he had done this earlier when Abraham was upset about Sarah demanding Ishmael to hit the road along with his mother.  Abraham was very torn.  He loved Ishmael.  God told him to not be upset that Hagar's son would also have a nation of many descendants.  Abram believed God's words, so early the next morning he was up and preparing food and water to send them on their way.  Amazing faith!

Abraham was a true believer.  He didn't lolly gag around to see, if the instructions might change.  He took action, followed the Lord's instructions and believed with all his heart in God's promises.

I would like to tell you that I arise early to follow instructions and to believe God's plan.  Sometimes it's true, other times not so true!  I want to become more like Abraham and believe always.  I want to get up early and take action and for those times I don't I want to pray that I become stronger in my faith.  

Today, are you going to believe?  Are you going to believe like Abraham or falter and delay action?  It is our choice which path we follow.  Be strong and believe.  

Both of these passages have to do with Abram's children.  God was truly finding out how strong his faith was by testing it with his love of his kids.  God doesn't call us to an easy path of growing our faith, but He always helps us to grow our faith.  Never does He leave us in these difficult decisions, we just need to call out His name.  He will carry us through!

Carried through, 

Debbie

Really? Really?

Today's reading always shocks me.  I know in today's world, you say how can this shock you?  Well, after being a woman, serving women in ministry, and listening all my life it just doesn't make a lot of sense to me.  What woman willingly shares her man?  Oh it happens, but it's trouble.  How could you not figure that out long before it happens?

Sarai tells Abram go sleep with my servant.  So he does.  I mean seriously?  WE are human.  WE don't share well and this is some serious sharing.  Anyway, it happens and well stuff starts happening right away.  Hagar the other woman immediately becomes pregnant and treats Sarai with contempt.  Well, first off Hagar got no vote in the whole matter.  She is a servant and she did what she was told, so now she is having a baby something Sarai couldn't do.  Serious payback, don't you think?  When we take matters into our own hands, we can really mess things up.  Now God will use our mess to His glory, but we are going to really struggle in the middle of these messes and perhaps for a really long time afterwards, but He will use it.

I do love the part of this story and it really touched me this morning where Hagar is treated harshly by Sarai and she ran away.  She goes to a spring of water and sits down.  An angel comes and shares for Hagar to return and submit to Sarai.  The angel also makes a promise that she will have more descendants than she can count.  The verse that touches me is where Hagar used another name to refer to the LORD which meant "You are the God who sees me."  The comfort this woman felt rushes over me.  God saw her.  She mattered and she felt the love.  She was a servant, she felt nobody saw her, but the LORD sees her!  Wow, the comfort and peace rushes over you, when you realize God sees you too!

Friend, God does see us and He will help us deal with our messes, because more than likely at times we will take things into our own hands.  We humans mess up, but God knows we do and that we will.  I believe with all my heart He just wants us to acknowledge these mess ups, so He can help us through the clean up process and that word that is mentioned above that none of us like a lot.  Did you notice God told her to go back and submit.  Submit isn't an easy thing for anybody, but we are sometimes called to just that...

Today, are you feeling like nobody sees you?  Well, that is not true.  God does.  Call out and let Him share with you His comfort and His love to get you through whatever you might be facing today!

I love birds and they are a wonderful reminder that if God provides for the birds in the sky, He definitely will provide for you and me!  I watched this little bird pester the food out of little fella sitting on the side of the Grand Canyon and was very entertained.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Whatever is necessary

Today's reading reminded me that God will do whatever is necessary to get our attention.  First attention grabber, well he confused the people to get them to do what He desired.  He wanted to scatter the people, so He confused them with language.  The people didn't want to scatter, but He wanted them scattered.  So confusion happened.  No longer could they understand each other.

Ever happen to you?  

Another attention grabber to me is the words to Abram, Leave, Go, I will show you.  I will make you a great nation and I will bless you and you will be blessing to others.  A blessing to others really tugged my heart.  If we are following God's instructions, we are a blessing to others.  What will others say about you and me?  Are we a blessing or perhaps these words are said, oh no here she comes again? 

Going is never easy, when change is involved.  I mean check out the photo above in the Grand Canyon.  Which path would you want to take by land or river?  Or do you want to stay above on the same level ground you are use to, but not called to?  God doesn't call us to easy, most of the time.  No usually it is into the unknown just like Abram.  Leave the familiar.  Leave the comfortable and go.

Yet Abram went, but he didn't follow one instruction totally.  Did you notice God told him to leave your father's family and go.  Lot his nephew went with him.  Did some of the things that happened to Abram perhaps happen because of Lot being there?  Who knows and after all, Abram was human just like me and you, so we make mistakes.  Yet we try to follow God's instructions, but sometimes we fall just short.  God never falls short!  He still loves us!

So I leave you today with this thought is confusion happening in your life?  Is God perhaps trying to get your attention and put you on a new path that might not be so comfortable?  Is he trying to get you to go down in the canyon to ride a few rapids and experience His blessings?  Just a few thoughts He placed on my heart this morning from our reading together.

Don't you love knowing that we are on a journey together through God's amazing Word?  We are studying the same chapters, but He gives each of us perhaps a different lesson with each reading.  I love how God ministers to us through the exact same reading, but yet ministers to each of His children in His Own Unique Way with exactly what we each need.  Only His love and amazing touch heals our hearts with just the right amount of healing balm.

I love you, but God loves you more always,

Deb

God provides

In the reading today from Genesis 7 - 10 and 1 Chronicles 1:8-23, I was reminded God provides.  Floods happen.  Sounds kind of harsh when you say it like that, but it's true.  It is also true that God is with us through and in the storms of life.  

A couple of things really touched my soul today.  Every time I have read today's reading these words capture my heart.  Every time!  

"Then the LORD closed the door behind them." 

Noah and his family, the critters are all onboard the ark and God closed the door behind them.  He is protecting them.

Are you like me at times and you find yourself at a door (real or figuratively) it is shut and you stand there banging or begging, please let me in?  You know the door closed and remained shut for a reason, but you can't let go?  You simply love what is on the other side, but God tells you it is time to move on?  It is time to let go?  It is time to get out of your comfort zone, but you stand there not realizing or not wanting what is best for you?  

I can't imagine Noah and his family inside that ark with all the animals and the sound of that door closing, but throughout the story we are told Noah did everything the Lord commanded.  He trusted and he believed, and God provided.  

Some floods happen in life.  You feel like you are about to sink and the dove returns with an olive leaf in its beak.  Perhaps, it's not a dove, but a path is provided and it may be a closed door.  It might be a rainbow after the rain.  Perhaps we need to turn from the closed door and take in the view from the other side.

This past summer, Kenny and I were up on top of a mountain when a big storm blew in and we waited it out in our vehicle.  After the storm, the most beautiful rainbow came out and it ended right by us on the top of that mountain.  It was stunning!  It was a wonderful reminder of God's promise that "never again will floodwaters destroy all life."  God keeps His promises and a rainbow always provides hope.  Hope when you hear a door shut and a new one open.  Hope when your way forward seems blocked.  Hope when the answer is that God is with you through the storm and when the rainbow comes out!  God provides yesterday, today, and tomorrow and we must believe He does!

Looking for the rainbows,

Debbie

Who you hanging with?

Day 2 reading from the Chronological Bible 

Today, my take away are these words

"walking in close fellowship with God".

Imagine one day your legacy is well _________________(fill in your name) sure walked her faith!

_____________________always seemed so in tune with the Lord.

__________________had a real, genuine, close fellowship with God.

Will any of these be said of you or me as we leave this world?  Well, today's reading included the names of two men that had the words written about them.  Enoch and Noah.  Imagine, what more could a person want to leave this world with than these words being written forever about you?  Your name linked with God?

A new year and new goals being made, perhaps one we should all strive for is the close relationship with God.  Just food for thought.

Go have a wonderful day!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Don't forget please share your thoughts too!

In the beginning God...

"God is able to accomplish, provide, help, save, keep, subdue....He is able to do what you can't.  He already has a plan.   God's not bewildered.   Go to him."   Max Lucado

A quote shared by Carol Kent in her new devotional "He Holds My Hand".  I loved the quote and thought it fit appropriately on our post to begin the new year.  Go to Him and let Him handle everything.  Well, it fits this writing and our beginning for the year on this journey through God's Amazing Word!  Let's get started.

I am so excited to begin again reading the Chronological Bible again!  I learn, I grow, and sometimes laugh, because I realize God definitely has a sense of humor while He works on each of us.

Today's takeaway that immediately got my attention?  Well, the first few words, "In the beginning God"...What more do we need?  God is in the beginning, the middle, and the end.  Always and forever, but what truly took my breath away was that He started placing these words on my heart a few weeks ago.

I began to ponder the new year and these words kept being placed on my heart and I felt God telling me to always keep Him in the beginning of all of my decisions, all of my journeys, everything.  Seems simple enough, but...do I?  I would like to say that before I make every decision I ask God to show me, but honestly I don't.  Sometimes I do, but sometimes I don't.  So I intend to be more intentional with going to God with everything.  I know that if I keep Him at the beginning of everything, then life will be much easier.  Doesn't mean hard times aren't there, but He makes those times easier to handle.

As I continued the reading this morning, I was reminded of God making the clothing for Adam and Eve after the first sin.  God covered their sin in the beginning and He still covers our sin.  God provides a way for the sinner and that is me.

I love to anticipate what God is going to show me and you in this new journey in the upcoming year.  What did He share with you today in the reading?  What excited you about starting this new journey in the new year?  

I hope you will share.  I hope you will join in and see what God is going to do through His Words with each of us.

I hope that unlike me - you don't leave out the most important word in the reading today, God!  In the beginning God...it is all about God after all!  

Happy New Year!

Enjoying this new beginning,

Debbie