God

He Loves Us, Faults and All

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2/5/17

10:00 AM

Good morning, God. Am I ever glad it is Sunday! I worked last night and into the early dear godmorning hours and I am just plain tired.  However, just as I reached for my phone this morning and resisted wasting time before coming into Your presence, I shall resist my natural urge to complain as I know in my heart that You know exactly how I feel without me uttering the first groan.

Instead, Lord, I want to thank You for You. I want to thank You for always fulfilling your promises and for the too-many-to-count miracles that You have manifested in my life. This week, in fact, I was reminded by Facebook, that this time last year I was undergoing a trans-jugular liver biopsy. I remember how scared I was; fearful that the doctors would uncover something that would cut my life on earth short; that fear fueled even more so by the untimely death of my brother, Gary. The doctors were convinced there was something seriously wrong and all the tests and the way I was feeling seemed to indicate the same.

Still, You gave me peace as awaited the results. You gave me an army of people who blessed me with prayers. You came close when I called and treated me to a personal and powerful reminder that You are always with me and always in control, over that situation and other situations for which I have staggered in fear.  (You can read about this beautiful miracle here, Stopped In Their Tracks.)

You gave me the miracle of healing when the much dreaded procedure revealed that my liver, despite what medical testing has said for the past 20 years, was not going to be issuing me a death sentence any time soon. The doctor followed this good news with a warning that I needed to continue searching for the reason for my ailments and botched blood tests, but, truthfully, I only heard the good news.

I remember how relieved I was and, now as I recount it, I’m still relieved. However, I’m more than a little disappointed in how quickly I “forgot” this gigantic miracle. Please forgive me for continuing to allow myself to get so caught up in the problems of the day that I forget what You have already done for me. How I can let the menial cast shadows on the miraculous makes absolutely no sense!

Father, help me to stay focused on the miracles and on You. Thank You for always showing up and for being patient with me, even when I take You for granted. I don’t want to take You for granted, Lord. Help me to live a life pleasing to You and know that I love You with every ounce of my being. Amen and Ehmen.

 

Dear, dear Child,

You are not the first—nor will you be the last—of my children that let the problems of the day overshadow the blessings and miracles. It—like sin—is a side effect of your human condition. What pleases Me is that you recognize this in yourself and your heart wants to do what is right. THIS is a side effect of having accepted My Son as your personal savior. And, it is because of this, child, that you can rest assured that you will one day stand before Me without fault, as perfect and blameless as My Son Himself.

I am very proud that you turned your natural tendency to complain this morning into a reason to praise Me. Read and meditate today on the closing prayer of Jude. Read it out loud. Make this your prayer and know that I hear every word, every cry of your heart, even those that your lips are unable to express. You can count on Me in all circumstances. Yesterday, today and tomorrow, My love for you remains the same. Infinite. All powerful. Never failing. Thank you for being My child. You bring Me great joy. Enjoy your day off, My dear one.

Jude 1:24-25

Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.

jude-1-with-my-photo

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Final Thought: Oh, what a beautiful, profound and priceless prayer! There is very little I can add, except this. Too often, all of us let satan use our shortcomings to drive a wedge between us and our Father in Heaven. Satan is a master at condemnation. But, we must remember that our God is a God of redemption not condemnation and what satan tries to use to pull us away, God will use to pull us closer.

If we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, God has accepted us, faults and all, and He will—as Jude so beautifully writes—keep us from falling away and will bring us with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.”

Yee-Haw! Thank you, God. I love You and Your Word. You always know just what to say!  🙂 Amen and Ehmen.

 

It’s Not About Perfection, It’s About Passion

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Writer’s Note: I have let life take me away from my personal “Me and Thee” time and this week, after much prayer and speaking with a dear man of God that I respect greatly, I made the commitment to spend at least 30 minutes every day for the day 7 days communing with The Father. This is Day 3. As those of you who frequent this blog know, my personal way of doing this is via the blank page. I start with a prayer and then quiet my spirit and type what I “hear.” Sometimes this process takes 15 minutes and sometimes 30 minutes or more. This morning I got so drawn in that I enjoyed closer to an hour and a half with the Father! It was wonderful!  Though it is my personal and unedited conversation, I share as I know that it often speaks to some of you as well. Have a blessed and beautiful day. Amen and Ehmen.

February 4, 2017

8:43 AM

Dear God,

Ugh. I did it again. I spent time on my phone this morning, making sure I hadn’t missed dear godany work or other “necessary” information during the overnight hours. I don’t know why I do these things. My desire is to meet You here on this blank page FIRST thing in the morning and, yet, I don’t. I spend a half hour doing something else. I am reminded of the words of, I think it was Paul, who professed in Your Word how desperately he hated when he did what he didn’t want to do. He moaned about not understanding himself. Boy, can I ever relate to that! Lord, I’m so sorry for not meeting You here first thing and I ask again for Your help in the days to come. I have so many other things I want to talk to You about, but I first have to get past this. Help me, Lord, for apart from You, I know that I can do nothing. I love You, Dear Father. And I thank You for Your continual forgiveness. I sure don’t deserve it, but I sure need it. Amen and Ehmen.

Dear Child,

Rest assured, I know your heart and what is in your heart is what is most important. You will not always do what is right, for you are human and sin is a part of your condition. If you could completely control this, the cross would have been pointless. All I require of you is that you DESIRE to do what is right and that you continually look to Me for help. Beautiful child, let this soak deep, deep into your soul and spirit: My love and plans for you do not change based on what you do. Just like Me, they are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. I love your heart, precious child, and I am well pleased with your yearnings to please Me. Do not be discouraged. Instead just continue to meet Me here. Continue to commune with Me throughout your day and I WILL make your path straight.

Today, study Romans 5:2. Record the scripture on this page along with the study notes from your bible. Meditate on My Word and My Love, for they are one and the same.

Romans 5:2 

Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

Study Note: Paul states that, as believers, we now have entered into a place of undeserved privilege. Not only has God declared us not guilty; he has drawn us close to himself. Instead of being enemies, we have become his friends—in fact, his own children. (Life Application Study Bible)

Micah 6: 1-8

Listen to what the Lord is saying: “Stand up and state your case against me. Let the mountains and hills be called to witness your complaints. And now, O mountains, listen to the Lord’s complaint! He has a case against his people. He will bring charges against Israel. O my people, what have I done to you? What have I done to make you tired of me? Answer me! For I brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help you. Don’t you remember, my people; how King Balak of Moab tried to have you cursed and how Balaam son of Beor blessed you instead? And remember your journey from Acacia Grove to Gilgal, when I, the Lord, did everything I could to teach you about my faithfulness.”

What can we bring to the Lord? Should we bring burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins?

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Study Note: In this passage, the prophet Micah is marching through an indictment, given by the Lord, against the people of Israel. As he lists the charges against them, Micah reminds the people of the depth of God’s love for them. In verses 6-8, he lists a few of the false sacrifices and conventional offerings that the people have offered God in the past. But Micah reminds them that God wants nothing but the offering of their humble hearts. The greatest gift we can give God is a heart abandoned to His will—and this is exactly the kind of offering Jesus gives when he goes to the cross. His sacrifice is the ultimate act of obedience, and the ultimate price paid for the long list of indictments against us—he gave his heart so that our hearts could be reborn, enabling us to give him back our hearts in return. (The Jesus-Centered Bible)

 

Philippians 4:4

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!

Study Note: Ultimate joy comes from Christ dwelling within us. Christ is near; and at his second coming we will fully realize this ultimate joy. He who lives within us will fulfill his final purposes for us.

rejoice-in-the-lord-photo-from-web

Final Thoughts: I love that Paul repeats himself, reminding us to be full of joy in the Lord twice in one verse. Actually, he reminded people of this several times in his letter to the Philippians, because he knew they needed to hear it.

I am thankful that there are so many scriptures throughout the Bible which reiterate that I am not alone in needing to hear the same message over and over. We cannot view this as a failure which separates us from the Lord; we cannot let the enemy convince us that we are not good enough because we need such reminders. God is a God of love, patience and forgiveness.

Remember to be joyful for His omnipresent presence in your life. Remember that He does not require perfect, but instead a humble heart desirous and passionate to fulfill His purposes. He will do the rest.

Thank you, dear God, for loving us like You do and for being patient with our shortcomings. Help us to have humble and teachable hearts, today and every day. And, help me, Lord, to focus on You FIRST during my time with You tomorrow morning. I can’t wait. I love You. Amen and Ehmen.

God to us: When it comes to your cares, size really doesn’t matter.

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February 3, 2017

7:05 AM

Dear God,

It’s day two of my commitment to meet with You for at least 30 minutes every morning for seven days dear godand I have already gotten distracted by playing games, scanning social media, reading daily scripture, downloading podcasts and doing research on my phone.

Not that these things are necessarily bad, but my goal is to land on this blank page and commune with You during the first moments of my day. Help me, Lord, to resist the urge to grab my phone first thing and to instead make a new habit of grabbing my bible and/or my computer and focus solely on You during this time. It should be simple for me as this time always, always pays off. I’m not sure why I struggle so. I love You, dear Lord. With all my heart and soul, I love You, and long to be in constant communion with Your Holy Spirit. Help me stay close to You, oh Lord. Help me to walk with and talk with You throughout my day. Help me minimize the distractions and to make every moment of the day count not only for my personal growth, but for the growth and glory of Your Kingdom. May this day bring me closer to You. Amen and Ehmen.

Beautiful Child,

Of course, I will help you. Remember yesterday when I talked to you about remaining IN Me. Well, child, when you do that, you are as close to Me as you can get until the day you join Me in Heaven. Just keep talking to Me; reaching out to Me; including Me in everything that you do; not just the big decisions, but in everything. I care about it all, child, because I care about you. Nothing is too small or too great for My attention.

Today, child, I want you to read and study Philippians 4:6 and 7. Commit this verse to memory and then spend some time with the whole chapter. I have many things to say to you through My Word which will help you maneuver this day and days to come. And never forget to lean on Me for wisdom, truth and understanding. I am the only true source for all of these things. I love you, child, and love spending time with you. It My favorite time of day.

Philippians, 4:6-7phillipians-4-6

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Today’s Final Thoughts:

Lord, thank you for never failing to share the perfect scripture with me. Though I no longer need proof that it is indeed You that I am hearing, I will never get tired of this. Though it happens on a regular basis as I allow myself quiet time with You, it never gets old to hear a scripture address, to look it up out of the thousands of scriptures in the Bible and find that it goes hand-in-hand with our day’s conversation. Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to commune with you in this way and for caring about everything in my life. I love you. Amen and Ehmen.

 

Don’t Waver in the Waiting Period

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Writer’s Note: I have let life take me away from my personal “Me and Thee” time and this week, after much prayer and speaking with a dear man of God that I respect greatly, I made the commitment to spend at least 30 minutes every day for the next seven days communing with The Father. As those of you who frequent this blog know, my personal way of doing this is via the blank page. I start with a prayer and then quiet my spirit and type what I “hear.” Sometimes this process takes 15 minutes and sometimes 30 minutes or more. I know that I know that it is God as He almost always will plant one or more scripture addresses in my head that–when I pick up my bible and look them up–I discover that they go perfectly with what He is teaching me in that moment.Though it is my personal and unedited conversation, I share as I know that it often speaks to some of you as well. Have a blessed and beautiful day. Amen and Ehmen.

February 2, 2017

6:45 AM

Good morning, God.

I know it’s been awhile since I have met You here. I won’t make excuses, but instead am making a dear godcommitment to meet You here for at least 30 minutes every morning for the next seven days. I have missed our time together more than I even know how to express. Fortunately, I know You know my heart and You know the depths that I am feeling. My heart, my soul and my spirit long to be close and connected to You; to experience the closeness and supernatural wonders that come with that closeness. To hear Your voice, Your correction and Your direction and to be obedient to Your leading. Lord, help me to be cognizant of Your Holy Spirit. Help me to turn down the noise around me and focus on what is truly important—You and Your kingdom. You know my needs at work. Help me to be successful without feeling like I have to give up my time with You. Meet me where I am. Help me to stay in constant communion with You, to walk and breathe in the Spirit. And, as for the job for which I applied, Lord I ask that, if it is Your will, that You make it clear to the one that will be hiring as well as to me. But, if it is not where You want me, make me able to accept it and continue waiting for the opportunity that You have designed just for me. You know I need Your help, Lord. I need Your help tuning my ears to You. Please make me receptive to Your leading. I want nothing more than to fulfill your purposes for me. May Your will, Lord, not mine, be done in my life just as it is in Heaven. I love You, sweet Jesus, with all that I am. From the bottom of my heart, I remain Yours.

 

Dear, dear Child,

Oh, how I have missed our time together as well. I have been calling out to you, but you have let the world distract you. I am not blaming nor condemning you as you are human, but I am reminding you that I am always right here anytime that you need me. I’m so sorry that you have felt alone, but, as I know you know in your spirit, I never left. And I never will. You are not alone.

I know you love Me, child, and I’m so happy that you have devoted yourself to Me. The missing link for you is that, while you remain Mine as you said in your prayer, you are not remaining IN Me. There is a difference.

All my children who have accepted Me as their Lord and Savior remain Mine throughout their lives and into eternity, but it is those who remain IN Me that stay connected to Me at all times. It is like the scripture describes and you have studied time and time again. I am the Vine and you are a branch. You must be connected to Me and tended by The Father to live and produce good fruit.  

I am pleased that you have committed to meeting Me here every morning for the next week. I will be here waiting. I love you, dear child, and I have great plans for you. You simply must trust Me and know that I have prepared a way for you and that I am in the process of preparing you. When you don’t feel that you can hear My direction, when the direction is not clear, give Me thanks for where you are and then wait. Waiting is where I equip and prime you for your destiny. Don’t give up in the waiting period. Remain IN Me. I am here, child. I never left and I never will. Repeat that throughout this day until it takes root deep in your spirit. You are Mine, child, and I will eternally remain IN you. Look up that scripture, child, and write it here. Also, read and study Ephesians 6:7 and Colossians 3:2.  Commit them to memory. When you have conflicting thoughts or find yourself dwelling on your job and the things that are pulling you away from Me, repeat these scriptures. I love you, child. Walk with Me through this day…

John 15: 5

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

Ephesians 6:7

Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

Colossians 3:2

Think about the things of Heaven, not the things of earth.

Of Sheep and Shepherds…Of Lost and Found

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Again, I must apologize for my tardiness in posting.

My job continues to steal away my time and my time alone with our wonderful Savior and in front of the keyboard is simply non-existent.

Fortunately, I still have my commute to and from work to spend with Him and for that I am thankful, but not having time in front of the keyboard has left a gaping hole in my life. I know that I know that I have to make a change, somehow, some way.

If you will, please pray along with me, that, if it is God’s will, that I will be able to see and make that change–whatever it may be. In the meantime, I want to re-share one of my post from last year about this time…little did I know when I penned it that it would speak such volumes to me a year later….but He knew. Thank you, Father. The time is now…I pray that we both take hold of the moment.

Amen and Ehmen.

Bybrendat's avatarAmen and Ehmen!

Good Morning, God.

It’s 6:00 a.m. on a Saturday and, though I was honestly hoping to dear godsleep in, I am so very happy to spend some quiet time with you. I learn so much when my world, both the external and internal, is quiet; when it’s just You and me; when Your Peace floats down from heaven and settles like a warm blanket over me. Oh, sweet Jesus, there is simply nothing like it. Thank you for waking me up on this beautiful morning.

This morning, I am drawn into Your Word, specifically Romans 10, Verses 8-10:

“In fact, it says, ‘The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.’ And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For…

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The Meaning of The Manger

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Writer’s note: This is from my personal God Time Journals from a few days ago.  My prayers is that 2017 brings me more of this precious personal time between me and Thee, a time of focused communication with my Creator. I pray also that you will connect with Him regularly as well. You won’t be disappointed.

December 26, 2016

Dear God,

As you know, I have really pondered the birth of Christ this Christmas season. “Why,” I asked, “did you send Jesus to us as a little baby and why was He, the betrothed King of kings, born in such meager surroundings?”

And, as per usual, as I sincerely asked for wisdom, You delivered on Your promise by sending me on this day, to Colossians, Chapter 1, beginning in Verse 15. Though I had no idea what was actually penned in these passages, I knew from experience that the answer I was seeking would most likely be there. Thank you, God, for never, ever failing me.

So that I may never forget, here typed by my own hand is what I read:

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God …

… Supreme over all who rise from the dead.

So he is first in everything.

For God in all his fullness

Was pleased to live in Christ,

And through him God reconciled

Everything to himself …

… Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As

a result, he has brought you into his own presence and you are holy and blameless as you

before him without a single fault.

 

Dear Child of Mine,

I was born into human existence, complete with human limitations just so that you could be assured that nothing on earth can ever keep you from the eternal hope that is yours. Haven’t you always heard that it is what inside that counts? This could not be any truer, for it is what is inside that allows you to rise above the world. You physical body has limitations, but My Spirit has none.

A foretold King of Kings, a promise exclaimed by first God the Father and later prophets who lived many generations before My actual physical birth, I came into the world as one john-316of you. Though born the visible image of the invisible God, there was no royal pomp and circumstance upon My arrival. There was no palace, not even a guest bed upon which to lie. I was born into material limitations so that even the least could know that the promise of hope is also theirs. My Father’s promise—sealed for eternity at the cross—is for everyone. Merry Christmas.

Time for a new scene: Goodbye 2016!

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Like many of you, I often find myself in reflective mode during this week which we find packaged between Christmas and New Year’s. This year is no different.

Though I know I am blessed beyond measure, I would be lying if I said that 2016 was a great year for me.

It wasn’t.2016-to-17

And, based on the laments on social media and the increasing soulnessness which makes up the news every day, it seems it has been a pretty rotten year for most everyone—a year woven together by tragedy and heartache.

The amped-up level of evilness that once seemed to wreak havoc on those in faraway places now pulses feverishly through the veins of our own nation. Terrorists play in our own backyards and heartbreak is an almost daily response to news of yet another of our beloved men and women in blue killed in the line of duty; another senseless shooting; another terrorist attack, another natural disaster or the untimely and unexpected death of another beloved friend, family member, celebrity or public hero. Few, if any, no longer have faith in our government, especially after an election that even the most creative satirist could never match.

On a personal level, it has been a year of change in almost every aspect. Though my physical locale remains the same, life as I knew it seemed to up and relocate itself, leaving me with no choice but to adjust to new surroundings in both my personal as well as my professional life. I’m still adjusting and, truth be told, I think I may be struggling with some depression. All I can say is thank God for the hope that He gives us. Whether or not I feel His Presence at a given moment, I know that I know that He is always and in all ways with me and that these melancholy feelings are just that—feelings, ever-changing, hollow fruits of the flesh that I can never trust.

His Truth and Spirit, however, can always be trusted. The never-changing, soul-sustaining and boundless fruits of His Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, matthewfaithfulness, gentleness and self-control—constantly summon me even in the midst of the storms. All we have to do is ask, seek and knock in faith and our Father in Heaven will provide.

In Matthew, Chapter 7, Verse 8, Jesus promises: “Everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

My prayer—as we prepare to shut the door of 2016 and knock on that of a brand new year—is that each of us will remember to ask, seek and receive all that He has promised us and that we choose to grow life -sustaining Fruits of The Spirit instead of hollow fruits of the flesh.

Father, help us to remain focused on You; to learn to respond to this fallen world, not with fear, but with our eyes on the big picture for which You are the creator; that we remember that this is Your Story and Your will and purposes will always, always prevail. Holy Spirit, come, fill me so that I may do the part that was set aside just for me before the foundation of the earth was ever laid. Help me to make 2017 a year of progress and purpose—a truly Happy New Year for You and for me.

I love you, dear Father. Let’s do this!

Amen and Ehmen.

The Truth About Joy and Sorrow

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Point To Ponder amenandehmen

Many think that joy and sorrow are opposites; that you either have one or the other. But, the older I get, the more I realize that they are actually inseparable, just like sunshine and rain.

You simply can’t have one without the other. Plants cannot grow without rain nor can they grow without sunshine. It takes the two, working together, to make the magic happen.

Yet, most of us, myself included, long for sunny days and would just as soon skip over or, at least, sleep through the rainy ones. But, the fact is, one without the other would be a real tragedy.

Lord, help me to accept and even learn to welcome the rain and to remember that you use every single raindrop, every single teardrop, to make new things grow. Loving you, Jesus.

Amen and Ehmen.

All Dogs DO Go To Heaven

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lucy-collage

As I sat and watched her slow, sporadic breathing, I knew the time was near. Our almost sixteen years together was coming to an end and I couldn’t even begin to imagine how much I was going to miss my favorite little redhead.

Named after another favorite redhead, comedienne Lucille Ball, Lucy certainly lived up to her name. She was a fire-cracker, full of personality and sass. She was a princess. She was funny and goofy, and always, always the boss. If another dog or even an opossum thought her tiny stature made her a pushover, she would quickly set them straight. You couldn’t help but love her.

Closing my eyes, I began asking God for peace and comfort during this difficult time. I’m not sure if I drifted off or not, but what happened next fulfilled both of my requests.

I saw myself walking into the yard of what appeared to be my future heavenly home. As soon as I stepped foot on the property, a pack of playful pups ran up, pushing me backwards into the grass. They covered my face in sweet, sloppy kisses and I was instantly filled with joy.

There was my Lucy. And Beanie. And Charlie. Tippy. And, even Dena, my first childhood dog. Every dog that I had ever loved, full of life and youth, filled my back yard and my new home as well as my heart with unconditional love.

Thank you, Jesus, for Lucy; for her energetic and fun loving life and for allowing her to drift off peacefully when it was time for her to go. But, most of all, Jesus, thank you for taking good care of her until I come home. Amen and Ehmen.