It's not that our plans are bad, but that God's plans are better!

from Max Lucado's devotional ... i've read this particular page about 10 times (guess i need the encouragement, eh!) ... and i have to say a loud "AMEN!" after each reading ...

weep no more ...

when my  heart is heavy, i am encouraged by passages like this one in Isaiah ... God saying to weep no more ... that He hears ... that He will answer ... and tho' the sadness may linger for a bit ... HOPE starts to inch in ... and HOPE gives strength and encouragement ... so weep no more ... for God does hear! 

Queen Elizabeth quote ...

"It has always been easy to hate and destroy ... to build and cherish is much more difficult" .. 
  ~ Queen Elizabeth II

now there is no condemnation ...

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  John 3:17

Remember how we used to sing: ... and they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love ... yes they'll know we are Christians by our love ... 

Lord, let them see my love ... because you loved me, when i couldn't love myself ... you died for me, when i didn't know i needed such a sacrifice ... you want me to live like you ... to be the light in my world ... let them see Jesus in me ... amen.

the hour is indeed late ....

eternity in our hearts ...

why the restlessness?   why the searching?

it's because GOD  has put eternity in our hearts ... we will never find rest, until we REST in HIM ...

John 3:16 still holds the key - that will unlock the door ... if you are seeking, start your search there ...

help build a bridge ...

JESUS said, "blessed are the peacemakers" ... i want to be blessed in that way ... amen ...

part of a plan ...

when others put you down, don't believe you, question your motives ... remember this, God knows your heart ... your bruised and aching heart ... and not only does He KNOW - He loves you and has a plan to redeem you ... because He wants you to be a part of His plan ... a part of His Forever Kingdom ... leave it with Him ... rest in the ONE who loves you for all eternity.

do you believe?

Easter greetings!

and all the people said:  Even so, Come Lord Jesus!

joey and rory

i've been following joey and rory's blog ... joey is in the last days of her cancer battle ... http://thislifeilive.com/ ...  she's fallen into a deep sleep in recent days ... so bittersweet for her loved ones ... joey and her family know Jesus ... there is hope in that ... eternal hope ... 

update:  Joey went home to be with the Lord March 4, 2016 ...

think on these things ...

i was just listening to a max lucado talk ... i can't really call it a sermon, it was just one of those informal types of encouraging chitchats he is known for ...  max was pondering about a hall of fame for scripture verses ... powerful ones like:  john 3:16, the Lord's prayer, Psalm 23 ... 

he wanted to add another to that illustrious list ... he nominated Philippians 4:4-8  ... he calls those verses the cure for anxiety ... 

my ears perked up and i took a good look at those verses again ... you see i have been bumping into them almost daily - and then some ... in fact, the above poster is one i used on my homemade calendar for February (homemade poster too!) !! ... 

i have had a heavy heart for a few months ... life hands out its fair share of sucker punches ... BUT GOD - knows all that ... in fact HE has prepared a word for any and every season in life we are going through ... 

i felt compelled to write in my blog ... to declare that the bible is more than a book ... it is a living Word, tailor made for those of us who long for the Presence of God to be with us through the hard times .... and through the sweet moments ... in fact through every moment in our lives ... 

read Max's nomination - Philippians 4: 4-8 ... and ... think on these things ... 

feeling thankful ...

i woke up - FEELING THANKFUL ... i gotta testify, GOD has been so good to me ... through it all, i would have no other - but Jesus ... my peace depends on HIM alone, not my circumstances ... to be saved, is to have it all ... 

drifting ...

Hebrews 2:1 says: "So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it." ...

drift away ... it sounds relaxing, non-violent ... non-committal, an easy option ... it is also a real danger to any believer ... making the follower of Jesus blend in with the world ... 

our world is a world of compromise ... a world where having strong Christian values are viewed as being close minded, old fashioned and no fun ...

drift away ...

BE CAREFUL!...

does  your anchor hold?

What is love?

how can something written 2000 years ago, still ring so true today?  i think it's because God was the author of it - even though he used a man named Paul to pen it ... no one has yet to come up with a better description of what we imagine love to be ... what we dare hope it to be ... what Jesus came to show to us - It Is In Him!

trouble ...

it's the day of trouble that teaches me the most about the way i should live ... and if in that day of trouble, Jesus is my Lord  and i am committed to that fact ... then He will give me an underlying peace that helps me to endure ... until that trouble no longer troubles ...  

the GOD Who sees ...

God sees ... truly SEES ... our hearts, our actions ... HE knows the future, and sees our past ... HE is in our present ... why, oh children, do we fear or fret ... the wicked will one day get their reward and the down trodden will one day be lifted up ... HOPE in the God Who Sees ... the help of man is futile ... 

in quietness and confidence ...

reflections ... last week of january ... the quiet month ... asking God to be my confidence and strength as i journey on ... 

the battle is WON!

this verse speaks to me ... sometimes we are in situations where there is nothing we can do about it ... if people refuse to believe us, forgive us, or love us ... there is really nothing we can do to change their already made up minds ... BUT if Jesus lives within us ... He is the ONE who has won every battle for us - already!  He sits on the Father's right hand ... mission accomplished ... 

if you are a battle weary soul ... feeling at a loss because everyone has deserted you ... remember - stand still and see the salvation of the Lord ... because we do not need to fight in this battle if we are positioned in Him ... watch and pray, for your redemption draws near ...