Rebirth!

Well, so far the morning is calm! Truly I feel new birth, new times, and such a blessing! Oh, what a difference a year makes!

Yes, one year ago today ~ FIRE! It seems like yesterday and again it seems like forever ago...All I can tell you is that the fire blessed me! Why? Most important is the journey I had with God and the awareness of His holding my hand everyday during this time of my life. Also, I am so much more aware of Him all the time because of this experience and I wouldn't trade it for anything...

God continues to remind me of the His being right here with me. Last night in Bible study He used the same scripture from Psalm 3:3 ~ But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head ~...I got this scripture the day of the fire in a fire tinged, dirty letter that blew out of the house in the fire...Is that not the coolest reminder? Yes, Angela Thomas had that scripture in that book last night for God to give to me. Don't forget God might be using you for somebody else..Follow those nudges and let God bless somebody today!!!!

I am blessed and reborn just like the tree in the picture! Blooming again at home...

Blooming,
Deb

Thirsty???

Don't you love the picture today? I love the imagery of the light in the background with the half full glass of water. It fit my time in the Word this morning to a tee..

In John 7 with the scripture about, If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink and on down in John 8 I am the light of the world, Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness.. I so needed these scriptures today and the cool part is that I know the spirit lead me to them. You know that I am reading the Chronological Bible this year and the readings yesterday were about all the festivals and how we should be in the sanctuary together. I know this is so important, but don't we judge others on this topic? How somebody worships, where they worship, why do they worship like this, why aren't they in the church building...so many w's that we think we know the answers for everybody.

My spirit was so restless in my reading of all of the laws and the Spirit truly lead me to John to read about the fulfillment of that Jesus is the answer to ALL the laws. The above scriptures were spoken by Jesus during the Feast of Tabernacles that is discussed in Leviticus 23:33-44...So in the middle of this feast Jesus went to the feast and spoke these words above...He is the fulfillment. We no longer meet God at the tabernacle or temple. We meet him in Jesus. Coming to Jesus is truly an act of our hearts. My friend, Frankie, and I were discussing this and the words "true worship" are the words Frankie used to describe what she felt this was saying.

What is true worship to you? Is it the building? How would you define true worship?
Do you even know if someone is truly worshipping? Do you get into judging when you try to define this for somebody else? We aren't allowed to see somebody else's heart ~ or we? So, if we define this for somebody else where does this put us?

I was reading a quote of John Piper's that spoke to my heart and I want to share it with my friends...~ "My prayer for all is that God the Spirit might make us thirsty for Jesus Christ, that he might remove the callouses from the taste buds of our heart and cause us to drink deep and savor the magnificence of Jesus, who fulfills all of history past and embodies all the glorious hopes of the future." WOW! Don't you love that remove those hard words, ugly thoughts, callouses that we let flow from our tongues and let sweet, juicy taste fill our hearts and long for more, more, and even more of Our Sweet Jesus!!!

Longing in the Light,
Debbie

Real or Fake?

I was working on a devotion this morning and God really spoke to me about sharing details about being real. I wasn't sure that was the mood I was in this morning ~ after all sometimes I like to appear like I have it all together or that I am in total control. What a joke right? God reminded me that He is in control and that the only way I have it all together is through His help.

Do you ever like to try and take credit for God's work? I'm talking about with your own self. Like the times that you think you are handling something and the whole time God is taking care of it or the times that you think hey I'm doing pretty good I've got this event all planned out and things are happening! God gently reminded me that it is about HIM and that He is in charge and that I am His tool!

God reminded me to share this today and remind myself that it is about being real. It is about sharing our flaws and allowing others to grow from our flaws or mistakes.
Ugly at times, but helpful most of the time. I'm not talking about wearing your flaws like a badge of honor. I'm talking about allowing God to show how He cleaned us up and repaired our flaws.

I know that sometimes I like to pretend that I've got it together and I forget that the only way I have it together is through God's grace! Praise the Lord God forgives and redeems!

Share the real you and allow God to use you flaws and all for His work today! I was reminded in Deuteronomy that God wants us to love him with all our hearts and that we are to remember the commandments with our whole hearts, Get them inside of you, talk about them in the morning, on the street, all the time. Be real and open up about the Grace God gives to each of us.

The picture above did you know that it was a toy car by the picture? Well, God did and God knows whether we are real or fake ~ be authentic for God! Let him use your flaws and the healing for others!!

Flawed,
Debbie

Day of Rest

The last time that you were with girlfriends and you were sharing ~ Did the topic of being busy come up in conversation? Did you talk about how you were never able to get everything done and that you are always running to get things done? Did you talk about how tired and worn out you are?

Well, in my reading this morning God answered that problem very distinctly ~ In Exodus 34 God plainly tells us that we have six days each week to work in an ordinary week and that one day is for complete rest (yes complete rest) a holy day for Our Lord that is His Day...It doesn't tell us that it must be Sunday. He just tells us that one day is totally His and it is for total rest! Well, do you practice this? do I? No, probably not or at least I know that I don't and I must admit it...I rest part of the day, but not a whole day...Ladies, God gave us the plan and reason we are tired, worn out, grumpy is our fault...He gives us the day and actually commands that we give Him His day totally dedicating it to Him...

Beginning to rest,
Debbie