Sacrifice must cost us something...

Psalm 90, Leviticus 1, 2 and Mark 5: 1-20

God's timing never seizes to amaze me!  My prayer before reading this morning was Lord I so desperately need a word from you.  A word, a reminder that it is not for naught.

Don't get me wrong I love ministry, but I also have a long list of Debbie things that I personally want to do just like everybody else in this world.  Daily I must choose God's list or Debbie's list and lately Debbie's list has been pulling very strongly at my desires.  The pain of someone you are working with that makes a choice different from what you would make, a person you love moving along a different path because God calls them to a different spot, the list could go on and on because it is the list of things that hurt.  A list that makes it difficult to stay on God's list of things and not your own.

God hit me between the eyes this morning in the reading.  I love it when He does that even when He is telling me that I need to straighten up.  I must admit that I was having a morning of saying Lord how could this person do this and this person do this and it was like the LORD said, Debbie why do you do what you do?  I was hit right between the eyes with my own wrong choices or wrong paths!  It hit me the pain I feel is nothing compared to what God feels moment to moment with ALL OF HIS CHILDREN!  I only minister to a few and we all mess up. (me included)  But God never stops loving us and pursuing us!  Thank you LORD!

Psalm 90 was so powerful for me this morning starting around verse 12 with help me gain a heart of wisdom and have compassion on your servants.  Yes, the author was asking the LORD to have compassion, but He used it to tell me to have compassion that I was no different from anyone else I made poor choices just yesterday myself.  Yes, He pointed them out!  IT was NOT pretty!

He even went further with me about being satisfied with HIS LOVE and how He established a work for me to do and to be satisfied!  Do the work and quit your complaining!  I heard you LORD and thank you once again for the scolding!  Lord, use my scolding to help someone else!  

God is so good.  He then lead me to Leviticus and the first thing that struck me was that sacrifice that the LORD calls us to do will cost us.  It will hurt us at times, but we must give it to HIM. 

Then it was on to Mark with the man and the demons.  The man finally freed from the chains, the loneliness and the LORD telling him to go and share how much the LORD has done for you.  Have we shared lately how much the LORD has done?  Share today!  Tell someone about how amazing it is when He sees you even if it is discipline, especially then!  Also, the times that you need to know He loves you so much and He lets you know just how much He loves you by giving you that Word you so desperately need to hear.  Just this week I had a very special friend know exactly at  a moment she needed so desperately to know He was with her and loved her and He did!  He showed up!

Share about Our Amazing Savior today with someone that so desperately needs to feel compassion and love from another believer!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Sowers of the Word

Exodus 36, 37, 38 and Mark 4: 1-20

Today, what struck me was how deep in me is the Word getting?  Is it soaking in?  Is it going to be where I am able to reach in when I so desperately need a Word from God and get it or will Satan have taken it away?

Everyday I am growing in God's Word and I celebrate this truth!  I know that when the difficult times come and they will - I will have something very strong to cling to (PTL) God's Word!  Today and the story of the sower and the seed struck home with me once again about the importance of knowing God's Word.  It is to help us through the difficult times, to help us make decisions, to help us celebrate when we realize the Savior of the World sees us and wants to share with us!  It is so important to sow the seeds of truth all through our fields that surround us!  

I have never been a outdoorsy, get in the dirt girl that plants seeds to watch them grow!  I am a girl that tries daily now to plant God's seeds from His Word in the lives of those around me.  I try to show them that God will help them grow and grow and grow.

Plant your seeds,

Debbie

Book Review on Embraced by God written by Babbie Mason

Endorsements for Embraced by God are pouring in ...

Here's what I love about Embraced by God: it's as warm and caring, as biblical and wise, as Babbie Mason herself. Filled with passion and compassion, flavored with memorable stories and lyrical lessons, Babbie's devotional invites you to spend twenty-one days basking in the truth of God's love for you. A splendid new resource from a gifted sister. - Liz Curtis Higgs, best-selling author of Bad Girls of the Bible

If you want to enjoy the peace of knowing 'everything is all right' because of who God thinks you are, then read…Embraced by God. - Jan Silvious (Speaker, Life Coach, Author, Big Girls Don't Whine and Same Life New Story)

Are you longing for the truth of God’s love and tenderness for you? Read this book! Babbie Mason has authentically, passionately, purposefully, and powerfully written words of healing for you! - Dr. Thelma Wells

{More about Embraced by God}

Have you ever wondered, "Does God really love me? Do I really matter to him?" HE LOVES YOU. As a matter of fact, God loves you just as much as he loves His own Son. In the pages of this heartwarming, thoughtful and life-affirming 21-day journey, award-winning gospel singer, songwriter, and teacher Babbie Mason reminds you, when you know you are loved by God and that you are in His eternal plan, you’ll never again wonder if your life matters. Click for more info.

{More about Babbie}

Babbie Mason is a Dove Award-winning and Grammy nominated gospel singer, songwriter, author, creator of the Embrace: A Worship Event for Women ministry, professor of songwriting at Atlanta Christian College and Lee University, and a television talk-show host. She was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame in 2010 and has appeared on numerous national television and radio programs. Babbie has been honored perform for Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, Lady Margaret Thatcher, Colin Powell, Steve Forbes among many others. Babbie performs a holiday special at Carnegie Hall every year. Babbie lives near Atlanta on a farm with her husband Charles.

{More about the Embraced by God Giveaway}

Embraced by God is a 21-day encounter that shares the unconditional love of God. "If you watch what the media says as to where we should find our identity--" says Babbie, "--money, beauty, power and technology--you'll just be confused about who you are and what your purpose is. As a culture we are trying to buy or sell what can only be administered to the soul by Jesus."

Celebrate with Babbie by entering her Nook Tablet Giveaway!

One beloved winner will receive:

·         A Brand new Nook Tablet with Wi-Fi

·         Embraced by God by Babbie Mason

·         Babbie's Embraced by God Music CD

·         Babbie's Embraced by God Notecards

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/5/12. Winner will be announced at Babbie's "Embraced" Facebook Party on 3/6. Babbie will be hosting an evening of chat, music, laughter, and encouragement - bring your friends! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, Embraced by God music CDs and Notecards, and a book club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club.) 

So grab your copy of Embraced by God and join Babbie and friends on the evening of March 6th for an evening of fun.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 6th!

Embraced by God written by Babbie Mason

I highly recommend this book if you desire MORE in your relationship with the LORD!  Do you desire a more intimate relationship with God?  Do you feel like you haven’t heard from the LORD in a very long time?  Well, this book is for you and anyone that wants more in your relationship with the LORD.

Intimacy is defined

the state of being intimate,

a close, familiar, and usually affectionate or loving personal relationship with another person or group.

a close association with or detailed knowledge or deep understanding of a place, subject, period of history, etc.: an intimacy with Japan. (www.dictionary.com)

Do you want the LORD to be familiar to you?  If you answered yes, then this book will help you with a daily for 21 days to growing into a much deeper, real relationship. 

Quick and easy reading it’s not, but this is if you desire more.  You are at that spot in your Spiritual journey that you are longing for more, more, more…that is the key to this book in my opinion.  If a woman is so busy that she will not take the time to ponder, respond, and listen then this might not be the book for you.  On the other hand, if you are ready for deeper thinking.  Open up this read and get ready for God to show up!

Babbie shares through being real about her own relationship with Jesus and encouraging each of us to look at scripture perhaps in a whole new way.  To pray about the writing for the day and what you desire from God’s word, your reading, and your thought process.  I’ve only been able to read a few days so far and I am truly enjoying the new approach that Babbie suggest with each day.  It is a wonderful reminder of God’s love for each of us and reminding us to cling to Him. 

I am finding the book easy reading, but with much to think about and ponder with the LORD.  It is a book that will help you to grow in your Spiritual Walk with the LORD.  So order your copy today and check out the details given above for a possible nook giveaway and check out the blog tour on other blogs to get more from other bloggers about this wonderful book.  Go to Litfuse Publicity to find out more details!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie Covington

True Love...

Genesis 19, 20 Matthew 27: 27-50

Today, being Valentine's it hit me reading that the one that truly loves each of us more than words could ever express only His actions say it...

Matthew 27: Jesus died on the cross for you and for me...

Surely he was the Son of God!

Yes, indeed this is true love shown for each of us!

Today is Valentine's remember the one that died, so that we might have eternal life!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie