imperfection and God's perfect plan ...

as i watched the sunrise this morning ... i was once again aware of my own fallible efforts ... the good that I want to do, and the good that gets done - are sometimes 2 different things ... then there is God's timing ... i smiled to myself as i read my morning devotions, as i was once again reminded, that God uses imperfection in His work ... as i live out my life in His grace and mercy ...

timelessness of GOD ...

words that are thousands of years old ... yet with a truth that is timeless ... 

one short hour ....

oh, this world we live in ... the wars, rumours of war ... where wrong is declared right and right is declared wrong ... we live to please ourselves and forget Who created us to please HIM ... i wonder when God will say, "ok, enough is enough - the end begins ... "

when the light shines, take notice ...

Thank God for His light ... that illuminates the way ... 

teach us to number our days ...

Psalm 90 is always an encouraging read ... this morning, verse 12 reminded me of the brevity of life ... so i made a poster, using a picture i took in 2012 of the sunrise at the town beach ... just sharing ...

what you put in the well, comes up in the bucket ...

we listened to an excellent message by Charles Stanley this morning ... he was talking about how our minds are the control tower of our thoughts and actions ... it reminded me of Philippians 4:8 ... we need to feed our minds and think on good things ... and also to filter our thoughts through God's Word ... it's the basics that i may forget from time to time ... a reminder to myself!

the fruit of the spirit is love ...

for such a time as this ... 
the message of Jesus is peaceful and full of love ...

warning ...

we are starting off January in the red ... as this screen capture of environment canada clearly shows  ... the extreme weather alerts cover the land ... it's good that these warnings are there ... otherwise, how will the traveler know to prepare? 

these warnings made me think of God's word ... the bible ... we have been able to read the warnings for humanity, if they don't turn to GOD ... the Father even sent His own Son, Jesus ... who gave us the way (John 3:16) to escape the extreme conditions that will hit the planet earth one day (soon?) ... yet many have not heard ... don't care ... won't believe ...  

just like the person who goes on a trip, gets caught in bad weather and says no one told them ... YES THEY DID ... but we all have to search out the information ... the warnings are everywhere ... everywhere ... and only the wise listen, then act upon it ...

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 3:16-17

Happy New Year!

new year's a coming ...

greetings on a crisp, post Christmas day ... it went down to -29C last night, but warmed up to a more comfortable -22C ... though it could go up 10 more degrees and i wouldn't complain ... ha!  i had to put my whole winter garb on for my walk ... 

just getting dressed took me almost 10 minutes ... long johns, ski pants, columbia turtleneck, lace-up boots, hat, mitts ... then to take a picture meant i had to remove my warm mitts ... but it was all fun and manageable ... i counted my many blessings as i walked, ready to greet a new year soon ... 

so for those who may pop by this poor neglected blog, may God find you in 2015 ... and may you grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ ... 

JESUS was born in the fullness of time ...

"fullness of time" ... i like that phrase ... to me it says that God has a plan in place ... He has always had things mapped out ... well thought out, well executed ... a plan that took 100's of years to bring to fruition ... He gave us hints through the pages of the old testament ... prophecies ... interspersed by centuries ... then it all fell into place ... no coincidences with God ... 

i am celebrating the birth of my Saviour ... and also looking for the return of Jesus, the One and Only ... searching through the pages of the new testament ... hoping it will happen in my lifetime, but knowing it will happen in God's perfect time ... life is interesting ... the bible makes it more so!

Joyous Christmas greetings ... for unto us is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour - who is Christ the Lord!

gift of God ...

reminder to self ... if i forget that it's all about Jesus, then i have forgotten the most important part of Christmas ...

The Spirit and the bride say ...

just finished reading the book of Revelations ... when reading it from the point of view of a saved sinner, waiting for Jesus to return ... it is encouraging ... however, if read by those who do not believe in Jesus - not so encouraging ... YET God has put the Word out there for one and all to digest ... those who have an empty spot within them, that needs filling ... God has the answer ... His Son Jesus ... and now, with the troubles that are starting to brew and bubble over in the world - the Holy Spirit within believers - is starting to urge the prayer of "even so, Come Lord Jesus" ... 

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" ... 

Romans 8:18

i don't like the thought of suffering, who does?  but i do like the idea of glory being revealed ... a glory that is in me ... cool ... *smile*

deliver us ...

we continue to pray the Lord's prayer daily ... to think of the words to the simple prayer that Jesus left us ... well, it only sounds simple until you start to really feel/think the words as you pray them ... the thought of temptation and to be delivered from evil, were words that seemed to go naturally with this picture that i took the other day ... using a negative image of it ... because after all -  evil is the negative side of all that God would have for us ... thank You for freedom Jesus!  thank You for accepting us in Your Beloved, Father ... and thank You for indwelling us, Holy Spirit ...

Whose is the battle? The Lord's!!!!

as I was praying this morning, then reading the Word ... this verse caught my heart - we DO pray and we DO believe - but what a RELIEF (to me anyways!!!) to know that the battle is ultimately our Heavenly Fathers ... and we know that HE has the might and power to DO all things ... so we pray in confidence, knowing that the BATTLE truly is the LORD's!

The Christian life is not a playground ...

from my morning devotions ... "The One Year walk with God devotional"
~ chris tiegreen

The Christian life is not a playground; it is a battleground.  
~ Warren Wiersbe

IN WORD  Satan rules a rogue nation in one small corner of God’s cosmos.  But to us, it’s not a faraway corner; we were born in it.  It is exceedingly relevant to our lives.  It affects us every day, constraining our choices and influencing our personalities.  We were born as its citizens, destined to die when it is overthrown.  But we have found a way of escape:  We can fall as refugees into the safe asylum of Jesus.  His Kingdom will grant us protection.

Paul tells Timothy that everyone – no exceptions – who wants to live a godly life will face persecution.  This is one of God’s promises we rarely claim by faith, but it is certain anyway.  It’s a solid guarantee:  We will be  harassed within our born-again hearts and harassed on the outside by a campaign of misinformation and even physical threats.  Temptations aim to dissuade us from our holy calling, and people try to convince us that we need to conform to their wishes and their corrupt world.  The battle wasn’t over the day we placed our faith in Jesus.  It had only just begun.

Evil doesn’t die without a fight, and sometimes the fight can be really nasty.  Satan’s tactics aren’t fair; lawlessness is one of his core attributes.  We might as well get used to his attempts to hit us below the belt.  We cannot turn a blind eye to his tactics.  The only sure way to resist them is to be aware of them.  Our awareness will turn us to the refuge of Jesus at exactly the right times.

IN DEED  Do you wonder why you struggle?  Are you disheartened because you thought the Christian life was easier than this?  Avoid such illusions.  You’re in a war.  Maybe you didn’t realize that when you joined the Kingdom, but you will have to realize it now.

The good news is that the only harm that can come to you in this battle is temporary, and the only victory Satan can win is psychological.  Real victory, lasting victory, is certain.  It is our inheritance.  Do not be disheartened.  Stand firm.  The day of triumph is coming.

Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

2 Timothy 3:12

10 years of blogging ...

it's a blog anniversary for me ... 10 years of being out here in cyberspace, sharing little bits and pieces of my life and world ... 10 years ... wow ... and so much has gone on in that time ... changes, changes, changes ... 

this blog really was a life line for me when i first started it up, with much fear and trepidation!  i didn't know what to expect, just wanted to reach out from my little corner of the world ... i needed some positive diversion back in 2004, with another dreaded winter fast approaching ... and i got way more than i expected ... what i received was encouragement and friendship ... folks who prayed for me and cheered me on ... a total blessing!

the body of Christ in blogland - how awesome!  at times, a glimpse of heaven ... 

these days my posts are slow in coming ... yet i still want to blog ... still want to put something positive into cyberspace (as one blog buddy encouraged me to do!) ... 

so thank you blog friends (many are facebook friends now) ... may  we lift up the name JESUS in any way we can, in any place we can, with any tools we can ... blessings on ya ...

whose will do we want?

A.W. Tozer said that God's plan will continue on God's schedule ... so - to save ourselves heartache and worry ... to keep joy and peace ever present ... we may as well just trust in the One who saved us and made us for Himself ... He is the Father, who really does know best!

our Guide

season of change ... yet GOD is the same ... our Guide to the end ... even in the seasons of change ...

Thy kingdom come!

i wonder why Jesus prayed the way He did ... "Thy kingdom come ... Thy will be done ..."?

there must be something important in this request ... to pray in this manner ... i've started to pray for God's kingdom to come, and for HIS will to be done - here on earth - just like it is in heaven ... this part of the Lord's prayer has been running through my thoughts ... and now - running through my prayers ... when i wake in the middle of the night, i pray this ... when i am doing every day things, i pray this ... i feel compelled to petition God the Father for HIS kingdom to COME ... and definitely for HIS WILL to be DONE!

i just wanted to share it as food for thought ... and prayer ...

Thy kingdom come  - Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven ... 

GLORY in HIS holy name

i walked to the beach early one day and snapped this pic ...  then the verse came later - during our devotions ... God's breathtaking morning greetings are available to all - IF ONLY we would look and see ... the fellah that was fishing (which is a worthwhile thing to do!) didn't notice the majesty of the sky - he  kept at his task, head averted ... even when our tasks are worthwhile - if we miss SEEING GOD, they are hollow and don't bring JOY and PEACE to our soul ... 

i'm guilty of having my nose in the computer when GOD is wanting to speak in the calm and quiet ...

i want to be AWARE of His GLORY - daily ... and that is my prayer for you dear blog friends ...

let your light shine ... the treasure in fragile clay jars ...

sunday morning greetings ...

this passage has been on my heart this week ... i thought sunday is a perfect time to share it ... may blessings find the readers of this word ...

Treasure in Fragile Clay Jars ... 2 Corinthians 4 ...

4 Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. ² We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.

³ If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. ⁴ Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
⁵ You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
⁷ We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
⁸ We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. ⁹ We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. ¹⁰ Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.
¹¹ Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. ¹² So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.
¹³ But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.” ¹⁴ We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. ¹⁵ All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.
¹⁶ That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. ¹⁷ For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! ¹⁸ So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

earthly house vs heavenly habitation ...

have courage

my courage has been small this past while, and fear wants to reign in my heart ... but how can it reign there when Jesus is already in control of that space?   in our troubled times, we need to always remember that GOD is not surprised by the things that are happening around us ... HE knows the outcome of all things ... what do we have to fear?  the things that may surprise us, do not surprise God ... HE is always awake, to care for His children ... i just need to remind myself - sometimes minute by minute ... i want the victory to be HIS ... the One whom i serve ...

Romans

it's been months since i've made a poster ... as i was reading Romans this morning, this verse just spoke to the way i want to live my life ... plus it inspired the above little poster ...

first things first ...

 How do you start your day?  my day seems to flow oh so much better, if i start it off  by reading a devotional ... or two ... we are so very blessed to be living in a time when there are excellent books readily available ... words written by people who love JESUS, and want to walk as HE walked ... of course, reading the bible is #1 ... but i love to read short devotionals - tucked into various spots of my day ... to get my mind going in the right direction ... 

we live in a time when GOD's Word can be found everywhere ... we can read the bible online (i did just that while waiting  at the lab recently) ... or listen to it on some device ... more than any other generation, we have an overflowing abundance of biblical literature ... we don't have an excuse for not reading/studying GOD's Word ... 

from tidbits in devotionals - to a full meal in the Holy Word of God ... it is all there for us ... in this challenging day and time we live in, may we be people of the Word ... 


"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."   2 Timothy 2:15

psalm 5:11

i caught this little feathery fellow resting ... pic taken in arizona this past january ... it just reminded me how GOD has places prepared for us too ... so that we can stop - gather our strength - and take refuge from the day to day stresses ... then continue on in HIS strength ...

blessings on ya!

Finally !!!!!

i've been AWOL from my blog for 4 months!!!  there were issues with posting pictures ... i couldn't!!!!  today the light went on in my head - i used the chrome browser and voila - here i am!!!!  it's a bit of a happy little miracle for me!!!

i post occasional in  travelingscarf.blogspot.ca and that was what propelled me to try something different!!!

 now i can happily share the last poster that i made ... YAY!!!!

a new year's verse and prayer ...

Christmas greetings ....

 

 

Go, Tell it on the Mountain

 

While shepherds kept their watching
Over silent flocks by night,
Behold throughout the heavens,
There shone a holy light:
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

The shepherds feared and trembled
When lo! above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Saviour's birth:
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

Down in a lowly manger
Our humble Christ was born
And God send us salvation,
That blessed Christmas morn:
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

When I am a seeker,
I seek both night and day;
I seek the Lord to help me,
And He shows me the way:
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

He made me a watchman
Upon the city wall,
And if I am a Christian,
I am the least of all.
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

God with us ....

Emmanuel means: God with us ... and that is exactly what Jesus' Christmas name is ... GOD WITH US!  thank you LORD!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzW_PmW-LzE

the focus ....

a good thought from the Life Application bible:

"Whatever you are considering as the focus of life, Christ is better.  He is the perfect revelation of God, the final and complete sacrifice for sin, the compassionate and understanding mediator, and the only way to eternal life.  Read Hebrews and begin to see history and life from God's perspective.  Then give yourself unreservedly and completely to Christ."

"The Son radiates God's own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command.  When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven."  Hebrews 1:3 NLT

expected ... yet unexpected ... expectantly waiting! ...

my family received an early Christmas present with the birth of a sweet little baby! ... my sister had a little girl!!! ... what a thrill!!! ... and she is just beautiful (babies tend to all be that way!) ...

her arrival made me think of JESUS return ... the bible speaks of a pregnant woman, and about NOT knowing the exact date/time she will deliver ... the signs are all there  - yet we do NOT know when - just that it will be soon ...  Jesus return will be just like that ...

the day my little niece was born was like any other day ... until i got the call at 1pm saying "she's here!" ... my mom said that she had called my sister that day, like every day, to see how she was feeling - and also to ask  how "little emma" was (the name was already picked out, and everyone called the unborn little one, by her name) ... well she got the surprise of her life when my sister said, i'm fine and little emma is fine too - in fact, she's right here in my arms and is just beautiful!!!!  unbeknownst to us, my sister and her hubby had gone to the hospital at 7a.m. that morning and the baby was born around noon ... mom said she was just thrilled and could hardly believe that emma was FINALLY HERE!!!!  she thought it was a dream!!!

now, we all knew my sister was pregnant ... we all knew she was in the 9th month ... we all knew that the baby would soon arrive ... even so, when she was born - it was still a HUGE (and happy) surprise!!!  even unexpected in some ways ...

yup ... I thought, that is just how JESUS return will be ... we KNOW, by the signs He gave us, that He'll return sooner than later ... yet when that soon arrives - we will still be surprised ...

that's why it is so important to not put off asking Jesus to forgive our sins and come into our lives ... to have a relationship with our Redeemer is vital ... we need to be the lights to a dieing world ... Jesus is coming ... Jesus is the HOPE ... and it will all happen when we least expect it ...

even so Lord Jesus ... COME!

the Spirit of the season ...

a reminder ...

we were watching pastor martin, from winnipeg's calvary temple last week ... he said, people get it so wrong when they say God is punishing them ... Christ paid ALL our sin debt at calvary ... so how can we be punished for it? ... however, we could be living with the consequences of  past sin ... which is different ...

i agree with him ...  God forgives our sins as far as the East is from the West ...

thank you Lord!

God has said ...

 

i took this picture on my walk the other day ... and i read this verse from Hebrews today ... i like the part about GOD HAS SAID ... since GOD has said it - then in my heart it is so ... HIS Word is one that we can count on always ... it is what it said it is ... the truth ... and this particular truth, comforts and covers me like a blanket ... blessings on your days ahead ...

lest we forget ...

reposting from 2005  ... this poem ALWAYS comes to mind on November 11th ... lest we forget ...

 

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

i remember memorizing this poem in the 4th grade ... it was written by John McCrae in 1915 ... he was a Canadian medical officer in WWI ... i can still recite the poem by heart ... it made it's impact on me ...

today i think of those who have fought for a way of life we take for granted ... lives which ended away from home and loved ones ... we should pause and remember ...

Billy Graham turns 95 today ...

Happy 95th birthday to BILLY GRAHAM!!!   on this occasion and milestone birthday - billy will be  sharing the gospel, one more time, in a video format which will be online and on many of the Christian networks as well as some Superstations and Fox news - all starting tonight (November 7th) ... every thought of billy graham's faithful walk and witness - makes me smile!!!! so today I bless him and thank God for keeping billy faithful to his calling ...

 

on a personal note ... I went up at a billy graham crusade when I was 12 years old, and that has made all the difference in my life ... the gospel was presented clearly, forcefully and God used that message in a young girl's life ... so I am thankful beyond words ...

http://watchbillygraham.ca/
http://watchbillygraham.com/

9 years of blogging ...

 

i have just celebrated my 9th anniversary in blogland ... i can't believe how the time has flown by ... *cheeky grin* ... blogging has been therapy for me, especially the first 3 years ... i started blogging in the fall of 2004, it helped ward off some of the seasonal SAD that i experience and also made me focus on writing ... more therapy!!!  AND most important, it became an outlet for my faith ... i always hoped that my blog would reflect God's glory - to say:  ya, we all have problems, but we don't have to go it alone - there is ONE who desires to help us - lift us - love us ... JESUS , the ONE who knows us completely! 

 

and i have also found a community of believers - who have prayed & encouraged me over these 9 years ... as we have followed each others journeys ... it has been a blessing ... that is why i try to hang on to my blog - tho' it seems i have time constraints re getting coherent thoughts in a post ...

 

just saying - that i have been blessed by so many ... thank you, blog buds, for the prayers over the years ... one day we will meet ...

now is the time ....

 

the bible is always telling us NOW is the time ...

what are you putting off until tomorrow?

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving ... Canadian thanksgiving that is!!  *smile* ... each day is an opportunity for us as believers in Jesus, to choose to be thankful ... to choose to see the blessings we have all around us ... and to not take friends, family, all our loved ones - for granted ... life is fleeting - let's make the air around us sweet - with the fragrance of a life that has a grateful spirit at it's core ... blessings on ya!!!

one day ...

 

during my morning walk, i was thanking the Lord for everything i saw - the beauty of the place where i live ... and a verse came to mind ... "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard the things I have prepared for those who love Me ... " ... i thought ... WOW!!!  it's going to get even better than this ... one day ... some day ... soon?

a life well lived ... is lived for Jesus ...

 

celebrating the life and mourning the passing of my uncle reino ... he became a Christian at the age of 50 ... and walked with God until called home at the age of 91 ...

proclaim the praises of HIM who called you ...

the beach scene this morning ... God's faithfulness is minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day ... HE only is worthy of our praise ...  

giving thanks ...

when i want to grumble and complain - i think it's HEALTHIER to go against the grain!  to instead - remember all the things i should be thanking GOD for ... it's a game changer ...

I've read this verse twice now, just this morning ... it was used in 2 of my devotional readings ... it encouraged me ... and made me count my blessings ... GOD has been so good to us ... and we haven't even seen the floodgates of heaven opened up yet!!!  WOW ... thank you Lord ... blessings on those who stop by ....

the night seasons ...

i took this picture of the super moon that appeared last night ... this was a 3 a.m. shot from our bedroom window ... and how the LORD does instruct in the night season as the psalmist said ... 

i miss blogging ... but it seems the well is dry at the moment ... just wanted to put in a "word" ... and to say bless those who stop by ...

be strong ... let not your heart be discouraged ...

we all have weeks that can be trying ... i'm a caregiver ... my husband is the one who deals with chronic pain ... and at times we both get tired ... on those days i need a word ...  i mean A WORD from Him who's Words are bread to the starving soul ... encouragement to the downcast ... a lifeline to the drowning man  ...

the Word that i got was from Ephesians 6:12 ...
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

i was reminded once again, that life here on earth is temporary and fleeting! ... if JESUS is our Saviour, then we are struggling with His enemy and ours, satan ... who loves to see the children of the Most High God discouraged ... but Jesus has already defeated this foe, Victory IS ours in HIM who redeemed us for Himself ... we just need to remain vigilant against attacks that are baseless and keep our spirits resting in GOD ...

yesterday morning, out of the blue, i quoted Ephesians 6:12 to leo as i was giving him his meds ... and this morning, Ephesians 6:12 was quoted in my devotional "daily light" ... coincidence?  nope - since there are no coincidences with God ... i think He gives a heads up on what really goes on during those extra tough days we may experience  ... 

may you find a Word of encouragement for your day ... i  know God has prepared one for you ...