Blessed Birthday

Okay, it happened. I am officially another year older. Two more years until I am the big 60. However, I draw a lot of inspiration from my parents

My parents are in their early 70's and ride a motorcycle as often and as far as they can.
Key West, Florida? No problem. The Grand Canyon? No problem. Wolf Creek Pass? No problem. Everywhere my folks go, they talk about Jesus, too. Amazing?

Yes, my parents are setting a great example for out-of-the-box Christianity and how to live a full life in your "golden years." 

I too have traveled by motorcycle.
Since 2006, I have traveled to the Smoky Mountains, Blue Ridge Parkway, Appalachicola, Florida; the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Louisiana; and a huge loop that took me across Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, and back to MO. My wind sistas and I rode to East Jordan Michigan, visited Canada, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and rode Highway 63 from Wisconsin to Missouri. Yes, my life has been full too.

Now back to my almost, big 60 birthday.
My youngest daughter asked me weeks ago if she could make me a cake. No way was I going to say no! For her whole childhood, she was able to order her own cake in any flavor, or shape. Now, she is doing the same for me. I love it.

My oldest daughter texted me a birthday wish and that is enough for me. It makes me happy that she remembered my birthday while living a full-to-bursting life of her own.

My parents hand-delivered their presents to me.
I am blessed that both of my parents are healthy and with me. I am now the proud owner of a ceramic knife set, purple bath pouf, and jasmine soap. I can slice, dice, and smell lovely at the same time.

The hubby bought me a gold necklace with a sparkling, crystal-encrusted bead. For my birthday supper, he bought two T-bone steaks. Love it!

And after everyone left,
I went into the kitchen and started making cupcakes and chicken salad puffs for the Ladies Luncheon and Tea at church. Bill told me several times that he wished I didn't have to work so hard on my birthday.

However, I don't consider it to work.
I love making beautiful cupcakes and finger food for special events. It is a way to pass on my blessings. My birthday was celebrated in a manner that made me smile and feel loved. Then, I cooked. I am happy and blessed.

Faith is...

Psalm of the Week - 68:1 - February 27, 2017

...Let God arise, as the sun when he goes forth in his strength; and the children of darkness shall be scattered, as the shadows of the evening flee before the rising sun.

 ...There are, and have been, and ever will be, such as are enemies to God and hate him,...Though we are to pray for our enemies, yet we are to pray against God’s enemies as well, against their enmity to him and all their attempts upon his kingdom... 

If God but arise, all his enemies,...will certainly and speedily be scattered, and driven away, and made to perish at his presence; for none ever hardened his heart against God and prospered."                                        Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary 

A Written Picture
Matthew Henry has written a word picture that I can clearly visualize. His simile between God and the sun resonates with me. Can you see God arising, as bright and shining as the sun, in all of his glory? 

Many times, I have watched full darkness gradually fade as the sun rises from the eastern horizon. My personal experience helps me to see "the shadows of the evening flee before the rising sun."

Hiding My Face from God's Brilliance
I don't know about you, but I will be hitting my knees and hiding my face from the brilliance of God arriving on the Earth. 

Verse of the Week - James 1:19 - February 27, 2017

James 1:19 NIV
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

Scripture Prayer
Jesus,
Help me to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.
Make me aware of others who need someone to listen to them. 
Help me to not blurt a reply until I have had time to think about what I am going to say.
Let my lips remain closed when I am upset.
Help me Lord Jesus to be slow to anger.
I ask this in the mighty name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Psalm of the Week - 118:24 - February 19, 2017

The Writer Celebrates!

In Psalm 118, the writer celebrates and makes six statements in verses 1-19.

• God is good and his love endures forever.
• The Lord is with him and he will not be afraid.
• The Lord is his helper.
• It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust people
• The Lord is his strength and defense.
• The Lord is his salvation.

Verses 22-24 are considered to be talking about Jesus.

22 The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;

23 the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

24The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.

Today, Jesus is the cornerstone of my life. I will rejoice and be glad!

Verse of the Week - Ecclesiastes 3:11 - February 19, 2017

He has made every thing beautiful in his time: also he has set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God makes from the beginning to the end.

Every thing is as God made it; not as it appears to us. 

We have the world so much in our hearts, are so taken up with thoughts and cares of worldly things, that we have neither time nor spirit to see God's hand in them. The world has not only gained possession of the heart, but has formed thoughts against the beauty of God's works. 

Adapted from Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary

My Psalm 40 Life

1 I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
The Lord had to wait patiently for me. However, he did hear my late night cry for help and was inclined to help me because he can see the innermost depths of my being.

2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
He brought me up out of the horrible pit of alcoholism. My feet, which had been firmly planted into the miry clay, were set upon the rock of faith and He established my goings into a new way of life.

3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.
In new found sobriety, I wanted to shout to everyone that God is my God and that he saved my life. He truly put a new song of praise in my mouth. My family saw a change and trusted that the Lord had indeed changed me.

4 Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
Today, I continue to make the Lord ruler of my life. I trust him to make everything in my life turn out for the best. I do not let other people affect my trust in the Lord.

5 Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
Amazement still fills my heart that God's thoughts are turned toward me. He is the creator and his wonderful works cannot be numbered. Yet, he is concerned about me. I feel so insignificant and yet God is concerned about me.

6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
God has opened my ears and my heart. I was not required to give anything material to the Lord. Willingly, I surrendered my life to him through his son, Jesus Christ.

7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
I will come to the Lord every waking moment because I desire beyond all other things to be his servant. The Bible is my basic instruction manual. The words it contains guide me through all situations in life. 

8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
As a willing servant, O my God, I delight to do your will daily. Yes, the words of the Bible live within my heart.

9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest.
I have not preached righteousness, but I hope that I have taught righteousness in my actions, words, and deeds. I have been bold in witnessing for you Lord. I have not refrained my lips from talking about the Good News of Jesus Christ.

10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy loving kindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
I have let your righteousness be known to people around me as an evangelist. Praise for your faithfulness and my salvation are never far from my lips and are not hidden within my heart.

11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy loving kindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
O Lord, let your loving kindness and truth continue to sustain me through each day and let me continue to receive your tender mercies.

12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.
Lord, I look around me and see such sin. Sadness fills me as I look at the innumerable sin that surround me. Do not let my heart be deceived or overcome by my own failings.

13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me.
I need you Lord. Help me now and be pleased to deliver me from the plans of The Enemy.

14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.
Keep me safe and let those who wish me evil be revealed for who they truly are.

15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
Some will not understand that I am walking in your plan.

16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified.
Lord, let my lips continue to praise you as I rejoice and am glad in my relationship with you. You are my God and joy fills my heart that this is so.

17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
You know what my needs are, and I know that you are ever thinking about me. You fill my life. Do not be slow in continuing to help me and deliver me from the obstacles that I find in my path.

King James Version (KJV)
Public Domain

Verse of the Week - John 3:35 - February 12, 2017

The words of Jesus were the words of God; he had the Spirit, not by measure, as the prophets, but in all fulness. Everlasting life can only be had by faith in HimMatthew Henry

Psalm of the Week - 150:6 - February 12, 2017

The holiness and the love of our God are more displayed in man's redemption, than in all his other works.

• Praise God with strong faith
• Praise him with holy love and delight
• Praise him with entire confidence in Christ
• Praise him with believing triumph over the powers of darkness
• Praise him by universal respect to all his commands
• Praise him by cheerful submission to all his disposals
• Praise him by rejoicing in his love, and comforting ourselves in his goodness
• Praise him by promoting the interests of the kingdom of his grace
• Praise him by lively hope and expectation of the kingdom of his glory.

Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.

                                                                                                                                         Adapted from Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary

Psalm of the Week - 150:1-2 - February 5, 2016

Verse of the Week - John 8:28 - February 5, 2017

Some say, Who is this Jesus? 

They allow him to have been a Prophet, an excellent Teacher, and even more than a creature; but cannot acknowledge him as over all, God blessed for evermore. Will not this suffice? 

Jesus here answers the question. 

Does this admit his being the Light of the world, and the Life of men, one with the Father? All shall know by their conversion, or in their condemnation, that he always spake and did what pleased the Father, even when he claimed the highest honours to himself.

And that I do nothing of myself 

That is, you shall have proof that God has sent me; that I am the Messiah; and that God concurs with me and approves my doctrine. 

This proof was furnished by the miracles that attended the death of Jesus 

The earthquake and darkness; but chiefly by his resurrection from the dead, which proved, beyond a doubt, that he was what he affirmed he was - the Messiah.

adapted from Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary and Barnes' Notes on the Bible.

Do You Know Who You Are in Jesus?

I have been listening to Todd White preach via YouTube.
It has been such a blessing! I needed a spiritual refueling and I have received one. Thank you Jesus for giving me what I needed. Thank you Father God.
For years now, my main goal has been to be a servant for Jesus Christ.
I LOVE JESUS! Yes, I want to yell it outloud!
I am valued. I am loved by the King. 
My sins are gone, washed clean by the blood of Jesus. He picked me up out of the miry clay, washed me off, and set me to his purposes when I became willing to be his servant.
I didn't know how much he loved me for a long time.
The Bible was just a book to be studied and read. Yes, that is how my Christianity looked for a long time. Not any more!

Today I am filled with the Holy Spirit.
Today I know God loves me.
Today I know Jesus died for ME.
Today I I just want to be a servant for my master, Jesus Christ.
Today I am filled with JOY.

• Dust off your bible and start reading the New Testament. 
• Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and guide you as you read. 
• Let Christ live in you and become a beacon of love for Jesus.

If you don't know who you are in Jesus Christ, you need to set aside a couple of hours and listen to this video. 
Todd White - Know Who You Are In Christ