Struggling to Keep My Mouth in Alignment with my Heart

I'm struggling with issues of the mouth again. My mouth is an issue. When I let my feelings have control of my mouth - the result isn't pretty. The Bible tells me to cease anger and forsake wrath because it only causes harm. Do not fret - it only causes harm. I'm telling you, Jesus has convicted me to love. My heart loves Jesus and I only want to let love flow from my heart and out of my mouth. 

When I lived in the world, I used to walk in ways that don't show love. I was angry and could cuss with the best. That is not the way I live my life anymore. I have to keep in the word to keep these sins out of my heart and mind. Today, I am so thankful for the many blessing in my life. My heart belongs to Jesus. I have to stay in the word to keep my tongue in alignment with my heart. 

neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.    Ephesians 5:4

When you lived among them, you also used to walk in these ways. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.    Colossians 3:7-8

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm.     Psalm 27:8

Keeping in Alignment with God's Plan

 

Sunrise. The start of a new day. A day full of plans. In the mornings, I am prone to jumping out of bed, rushing around getting ready, and going off to work. Did I wake and pray? No, I did not. I'm rushing off into a new day without acknowledging God. This is where the temptation to fall into my own plans and stray out of God's plan happens. 

Luckily, I know that I can start my day over at anytime. All I have to do is stop and pray, have a little talk with my heavenly Father about my attitude and actions. God wants the best for me. I just have to remember to have some quiet time with him, be still, and listen for some guidance from the Holy Spirit. This is how I stay in God's plan. Prayer time keeps me in spiritual alignment with God's plan for my day. Don't skip that quiet moment of morning prayer with God. Skipping prayer time is the start of a slide into your plans and out of God's plan. 

There are many plans in a man's heart, Nevertheless the Lord's counsel-that will stand. Proverbs 19:21 NKJV

I Want to Be Under His Wings

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.     

Psalm 91:4 NIV 

I'm a farm girl.

 As a young girl,  I would go into the hen house with my mom and see the baby chicks trying to peep out from underneath the mother hen's wings and feathers. Mother hen would patiently tuck each little head back under her feathers. 

When I read Psalm 91:4

 I get a mental picture of myself under God's wing, covered by his feathers, in a safe place to rest, and shielded by his faithfulness. Security is the word that comes to mind as I think about this picture. The security to be free from fear or anxiety. God has me covered with his feathers. Everything will be okay. After all, all things are possible for God.  I think I will continue to place myself under his wing and let him take care of each situation as it arises in my life today. If I try to start doing things my way, I want him to tuck me back under his wing. 

His Faithfulness

This verse also says his faithfulness will be my shield and my rampart. Do you see his faithfulness as a shield? I do. He sure has gone to great lengths to rescue his people from all kinds of situations in the Bible. Slavery in Egypt, fiery furnaces, lion dens, victory over much larger armies, ...etc. If he can do all of these things, I KNOW he can take care of every situation that I am going to face.  His faithfulness walls me in like a buffer zone. I am shielded and protected. No matter what is going on around me, He will be there, surrounding me and protecting me. I don't know about you, but I feel safe and secure as I read these words. 

Turning to God in all things

Running to the shelter of his wing

Under his wing I will find refuge

Shielded and surrounded by God's faithfulness

Trusting his faithfulness in every situation

Trust in the Lord : Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

Trust. Believe He is taking care of everything. Have no doubt. Believe this 100%. Have no doubt.

And lean not on your own understanding

Do not do it my way. My way takes me out of His way. Have faith and do not try and deal with life on my own.

In all your ways acknowledge Him

Talk to Him. All. The. Time.  Say thank you for blessings. Ask for help in all things. That's not weakness. It's strength. Ask for guidance today in all things. Acknowledge that God is first in all my activities. Pray. Talk. Share.

And He shall direct your paths.

Shall means will. He will direct my paths. Right now. He is in charge. He is the director. I am not. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

Bible Study Blues? Don't Let it Get You Down.

I joined the ladies' fall bible study three weeks ago. The study is Lauren Chandler's, With Us in the Wilderness. This is a meaty bible study! Am I getting an hour of bible study done each day? No, I am not. 

I am getting a day done about Wednesday or Thursday. On Friday night, I am getting two days of the study done and on Saturday night, I am getting two days of the study done. You know what? It doesn't matter that I am not studying each and every day! It doesn't matter because what is important is that I am studying the word. Yes, my bible is open and I am reading. My desire is to learn and grow in my relationship with the Lord.

Do not stress yourself out over a bible study. Relax and enjoy it! This isn't homework. Relax. Be Happy. Do. Not. Stress. 

Suicide is Personal and Makes Me Sad

My adult nephew committed suicide. He was active duty military. A high school classmate of my grandchild committed suicide. 

Oh, children of God, my heart hurts for you! God loves you! He is for you! Please do not lose hope! That empty hole inside you is where Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit belong. You can try to fill it with worldly things, but nothing will make you happy for long. That empty spot isn't for material things, it can only be filled by surrendering to and asking Jesus to be in control of your life. THEN the Holy Spirit will come to reside inside of you. That emptiness will be gone.

And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.

Revelation 21:6 NKJV

https://bible.com/bible/114/rev.21.6.NKJV

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38 NKJV

https://bible.com/bible/114/act.2.38.NKJV

Writing in Obedience

 

My days, weekends, and evenings have been and are full of homeschool teaching and planning for two grandsons. I haven't been writing for weeks.

However, I've heard the Lord tell me to write twice in the last 2 weeks. Obedience is my heartfelt wish. I just don't see what I have to share as being important. What impact is it going to have? This is where faith has to step in. God obviously knows something that I don't.

#faithinaction

Spring Ride in the Ozarks

 As I ride through valley views
of sunny, daffodil swatches and red bud trees

The roadway rises in twists and turns

like a slithering snake newly emerged from hibernation

I'm following a blacktop ribbon

that rises to the ridge top and

emerges to a sea of spring blooming trees and baby green leaves

The rolling hills stretch out before me

as far as I can see

I am filled with a certainty

That there is no greater proof

That a loving God

Let his creativeness loose

#NationalPoetryMonth