my father/My King

Once upon a time there was a little girl who lived in a magical kingdom...

or so she thought.

She had two loving parents, two sisters and a brother.  They did everything together and were very happy.  This little girl looked up to her father and believed he was the greatest in all the land.

Then one day an evil influence penetrated this magical kingdom and it became divided.

"And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand."  Mark 3:25

One day this little girl and her mother came home to a half-empty house and a note.  The little girl was confused as she watched her mother cry, but her mother turned to her little girl and said, 'It will be alright...God is good."

This little girl grew and her confusion turned into disappointment and anger and she soon found herself way outside of the walls of her once magical kingdom.  She had fallen and didn't know how to get back up again.  Her rebellious decisions had put her in a place of no return...or so she thought.

But God sent this young lady a friend who introduced her to the Heavenly Father.

This little girl who had become a broken young woman prayed.  She was sorry for all her sins and for all she had done, and knew in her heart that she didn't want to live this way anymore.

"The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit."  Psalm 34:18

Salvation had come to this young woman as she let go of her past and turned to Christ.

Her Father, her Saviour, her King.

"I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King."  Isaiah 43:15

"Who is this King of glory?  The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.  Selah Psalm 24:10

And now I have a new kingdom-

"For our conversation is in heaven; from hence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ."  Philippians 3:20

My earthly father let me down....

    my Heavenly Father, My King, will never let me down...

        But that's just me!

Joy is the flag which is flown from the castle of the heart when the King is in residence there.

    Unknown

A New Car

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.  3 John 1:2

The lease to my old car was close to expiring, so my husband and I went  to our car Dealership and traded it in for a new car.

A very nice car.

Wednesday night, we drove our new vehicle to church, and when we entered the building, friends would say, "I like your car!"  I would smile and say, 'Thank you, our lease was up on our old car so it was time to trade it in....God is good."

But as more and more people commented on the car, my heart began to sink and I felt sick inside.  Yes, it's a new car, but, it's JUST a car!

After church, men followed my husband out to the parking lot to look at the car.  While they checked it out, I continued to give my husband 'the death-ray-stare' that would let him know that I was not at all happy about what was going on and that I just wanted to go home.

When we got in the car I told him that I wanted to walk to church on Sunday.

Our Heavenly Father wants His children to have nice things.  It's ok to have nice things, after all, God is the One providing these good gifts to His children, (James 1:17) but when the focus is on the gift, and not the Giver, then our hearts forget to be grateful to the Father.

I do not want God's Gifts to outshine the Father of Light....

    But that's just me!

"What is wrong with Christians today is that we have the gifts of God but have forgotten the God of gifts."  A.W. Tozer

Prayer Chains

When I was a little girl, I use to spend hours sitting among daisies and making daisy chains.  The delicate flowers, attached and unified to each other to make the chain stronger and more beautiful.

Prayer chains work the same way.

Yesterday my friend's daughter fell down at the park and broke her upper arm and chipped her elbow.  After the initial visit to the ER, my friend was told to see a doctor today to see if her daughter would need surgery.  Immediately the prayer request was sent out to praying friends.  One person would contact another person to pray specifically for this precious, little girl to not have surgery. 

Each person praying was attached and unified in prayer.

God answered our prayers.  I was told today that my friends daughter will not need surgery!

Our united prayers turned to united praises for our Saviour Who not only heard our requests, but answered them!  What a mighty God we serve!

It's been said that prayer is releasing the energies of God;  for prayer is asking God to do what we cannot do ourselves.  (unknown)

Martin Luther once said, "None can believe how powerful prayer is, and what it is able to effect, but to those who have learned it by experience."

That's why prayer chains exist.  Those who pray have learned that God WILL answer.

I know it to be true....

    but that's just me!

That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, LORD, hast done it.  Psalm 109:27

Text Blessings

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

1 Timothy 2:1

Many times throughout any given week, I will receive a text message from a friend that says something like this:  "Just wanted you to know that I am praying for you today!  I love you and hope you have a blessed day!"  Then emoji hearts and kisses fill the rest of the text message.

Talk about a huge dose of encouragement!

There is just something about knowing that someone is praying for you that allows your heart to be full!

And because such an action blessed me, I in turn, find myself sending out 'Text Blessings' to those ladies I pray for during the week as well!

Just yesterday I received a response to such a text, and it said this:  "Do you know that I wondered if someone was praying for me, because I have had such peace, joy and closeness to the Lord today!  Thank you!"

What a blessing!  It's the power of prayer!  It's edifying one another and lifting each other up before the Lord!

Our Friend who sticketh closer than a brother is praying for us too.  Hebrews 7:25 tells us that Jesus is constantly interceding on our behalf.  

Knowing my Saviour prays for me, motivates me to pray for others~

    But that's just me!

"Fervent prayers produce phenomenal results"  Woodrow Kroll

Prayer is asking God to do what we cannot do ourselves~ Unknown

Creator/Creation

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.  Romans 1:20

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork.  Psalm 19:1

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:  marvellous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well.  Psalm 139:14

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Genesis 1:1

My husband and I recently went on a road trip to visit our son and his family.  It took us three days, one way, just to get there, (we will be flying next time!) but what a wonderful journey!  Along the way, God allowed us to see some of His wonderful creations!  Buffalo, Antelope, Deer, Elk, Coyote's, and Bald Eagles.  When we arrived at our destination, we also got to see a Black Widow Spider and a Camel Spider!  We were all so excited!

Every time I watch a nature show on TV, or get to see such handiwork while we travel, or even in my own back yard, I am amazed by my Creator!

How can anyone deny the existence of God when we see the stars in the heavens, the majestic mountains in the distance....or even ourselves in the mirror? 

To me, when I behold all that God has made, there is no doubt!  I have a Creator...and He doeth all things well...

    But that's just me!

"God dwells in His creation and is everywhere indivisibly present in all His works.  He is transcendent above all His works even while He is immanent within them."  A.W. Tozer

Creepers

2 Timothy 3:6a  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins....

Yesterday I came home to a half eaten Lindor Chocolate that was sitting on the floor next to my husbands recliner.  I called for my husband and pointed to what was left of this chocolate mess and asked, "What is that?"  He picked it up and said, 'It's a half eaten chocolate ball."  And even though in the back of my mind  I already knew the answer to my next question, I asked it anyway.  In a horrified voice I asked my husband, 'What does this mean?"  He kindly replied, "We have a mouse."

How dare that mouse come into my home uninvited only to leave a trail of unwanted evidence behind him and half eaten chocolates!

It reminded me of 2 Timothy 2:6.  Creepers.  Those who will enter homes to entice foolish women to follow after their wicked ways.  Did this foolish woman invite the creeper in, or in her idleness neglect to see this critter invade her home?  How can we prevent being deceived from such creepers?

Trust God-

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.  2 Thessalonians 3:3

Know God's Word-

Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.  Psalm 119:24

Ask God for Wisdom-

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  James 1:5

Pray-

Pray without ceasing- 1 Thessalonians 5:18

A random mouse might creep into my house from time to time, but with God's help, creepers of men will be left outside.  

    But that's just me!

Oh, by the way...

the mouse was apprehended, but the candy wrapper is yet to be found!

Love Is...

Children often ask, "How much do you love me?  This big?"  

"Do you love me bigger than the sky?  To the moon and back?  As much as the sand on the beach, the stars in the sky?"

Sometimes adults ask the same thing.

There are some people who cannot say the words 'I love you,' but their actions speak louder than their words. 

There are some people who say the words 'I love you,' but their actions do not reflect the words they have just spoken.

And then there are those who can both speak and show love.

So what is real love?

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a tells us what love is, and what love is not:

    Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.

    Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

    Rejoiceth not in iniquity. but rejoiceth in the truth;

    Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

    Charity never faileth:

May my actions always back up my words, and may my words motivate my actions-

    But that's just me!

"I asked Jesus, 'How much do you love me?' 

    And Jesus said, 'This much!'

        Then He stretched out His arms and died."

            -Unknown