I am eager for each Wednesdays with Beth segment that is to come.  A new series began today (3/15/11).  A Story Fit For A Song. Click HERE and check out the first installment.

One of the things I’ve thought about since viewing the segment today is and I am quoting Beth as closely as I remember: “Do you believe Me more than what you see?”

And for me, ABBA could just as surely say to me, “Do you believe Me more than you believe what you are FEELING?”

You see when I look around and see those situations and relationships and events and this or that not coming together the way I think they should, all kinds of feelings begin to arise.

Fear

Doubt

Rejection

Inferiority

Accusations of Stupidity

Accusations of Dull, boring

Unloved

Unwanted

Abandoned

And the list could go on and on.  Yet all of those feelings can be summed up in one: insecurity – not knowing who we are in CHRIST JESUS.

When by faith we rely upon the FACT that we belong to JESUS; that we have been made whole and pure and lovely in Him, and when circumstances or situations attempt to draw us into those familiar feelings, we can refuse them and choose to believe what JESUS says about us. We can choose to believe we have the Mind of Christ. We can choose to believe that He will never forsake us or leave us. We can choose to believe that to Him we are all together lovely. We can choose to believe that He is supplying every need we have. We can choose to believe He is rejoicing over us. We can choose to believe that in Him we are more than conquerors!

It takes practice. There will be times we will resist those lying feelings quickly; other times it will take a bit longer. And that’s okay as long as we keep practicing.

Romans 8:(Amplified Bible)
37Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.
via Romans 8:37 – Passage Lookup – Amplified Bible – BibleGateway.com.

2 Corinthians 5: (New King James Version)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
via 2 Corinthians 5:17 – Passage Lookup – New King James Version – BibleGateway.com.

Jeremiah 31: (New International Version, ©2011)
3 The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.
via Jeremiah 31:3 – Passage Lookup – New International Version, ©2011 – BibleGateway.com.

Philippians 4: (New International Version, ©2011)
19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
via Phil 4:19 – Passage Lookup – New International Version, ©2011 – BibleGateway.com.

Philippians 4: (New International Version, ©2011)
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
via Phil 4:13 – Passage Lookup – New International Version, ©2011 – BibleGateway.com.

2 Timothy 1: (Amplified Bible)
7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
via 2 Timothy 1:7 – Passage Lookup – Amplified Bible – BibleGateway.com.

Deuteronomy 31: (New International Version, ©2011)
6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
via Deuteronomy 31:6 – Passage Lookup – New International Version, ©2011 – BibleGateway.com.

Psalm 37:25 (New Living Translation)
25 Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.
via Psalm 37:25 – Passage Lookup – New Living Translation – BibleGateway.com.

Zephaniah 3:17
17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
via Zep 3:17;Is 62:5;ps 45:11 – Passage Lookup – English Standard Version – BibleGateway.com.

Psalm 45:11 (New International Version)
11 The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.
via Psalm 45:11 “The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is…” NIV – Online Bible Study.

James 4:(The Message)7-10So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.
via James 4:7 – Passage Lookup – The Message – BibleGateway.com.

PRAYING FOR THESE

Thank You, ABBA.  We accept Your Word, surrendering to You, for You to do Your holy work within us for Your glory and for our own well being.  In particular from our list I am continuing to remember Jenny, Julee, Bridgett, my friends Karen and Elaine, Penni, Pam and Todd, along with each and every case as You know so well; thank You even before we see the good and perfect acts You are doing on behalf of each. Amen and amen in JESUS Name.

Please remember the Give-A-Way.  Click HERE for details.

Perhaps Today + + +
Kathie

A very quick word for our Wednesday time together from my reading this morning.

Joshua 4: (New International Version, ©2011)
22 tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’
23 For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over.
24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.” via Joshua 4:22-24 – Passage Lookup – New International Version, ©2011 – BibleGateway.com.

Moses was dead.

Joshua was not his replacement.  One soul does not replace another soul. What’s that old adage? Each tub sits/stands on its own bottom?

Although he stood in the office of Moses — Joshua was Joshua. Yes, he was the new leader of  the people; but Joshua had his own place with Yahweh. Joshua had his own place with the people. And that is the way it should be.

Each of us have our own place with God. And with each other.

But that was not my original thought as I came to the screen this morning.

This is.

Since Yahweh — we in CHRIST are privileged to call Him ABBA – parted and dried the Red Sea for safe passage for the Hebrews as they were pursued by the Egyptians and since here in our passage this morning He parted and dried the Jordan River at flood stage so they could cross over safely is there anything in your life (or mine) today that is too hard for Him to ‘part and dry’ for us?

And why would He?

24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.”

Works for me.  How about you?

PRAYING FOR THESE

Except for You, JESUS, I am an undeserving soul to come to You in prayer this morning or any morning or any time, for anything, and yet You made the way so I am here.  Thank You. Thank You. And Holy Spirit, however You administer this offering today, I agree and I thank You.  Thank You, ABBA, for parting and drying every situation and every need that we have today.  Amen and amen.

Until then + + +
Kathie

What to write? What to write….that is a question.

Not many movies are watched these days in the Thompson household but Friday night we made an exception and it was worth it. Secretariat. It’s an excellent movie. If you have not seen it — get it and enjoy!  Even while the credits rolled I heard a phrase that is yet with me. “You choose your race and then you run it.”

I immediately thought of choices. Choices I have made and this phrase rings loud and clear to me that those godly choices deserve my best run. My determination to make healthy food choices, both in selections  and portions, deserves my best follow through — a trivial matter, one might say. But trivial given to JESUS just may lead to HUGE blessings from Him.

Then the most important of all choices. JESUS. Either I have chosen Him or I have not. And since I have, HE deserves my best run, all the way to the finish line.

1 Corinthians 9: (New International Version, ©2011)
23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. via 1 Corinthians 9:23-25 – Passage Lookup – New International Version, ©2011 – BibleGateway.com.

And when opposition and obstacles and criticisms come and they surely will — what then? Do we give up the race? Do we throw in the towel? Do we lay the ministry down?  For sure it can be a strong temptation and processing the hardship or the pain may take some time but process we must — for our race we have chosen and run it we will.  Because HE is worthy and to do anything less than our best is to throw the race.

PRAYING FOR THESE

Thank You, ABBA, for victories given this day. Thank You for battles fought and won today. Thank You for strength to continue on with yet other struggles. Thank You for Your Sure Promise to guide and uphold us in every step. Thank You for mercies and grace. Thank You for sermons heard and decisions made. Thank You for the will to run our races. Thank You for building courage in Your people. Thank for Jenny’s continued progress. Thank You for every touch of healing that You are giving to those we continue to bring to You again and again. Thank You for protection and safety given our IDOK Troops. Thank You for lessons learned; for insights You give. Thank You for instruction and correction; for the gift of conviction and repentance.  Thank You for each IDOK and each Reader, I pray Your Word will find fertile soil and will yet bear fruit to Your glory. Amen and amen.

It is with grateful delight that I tell you a prayer request that I shared with you almost two years ago that was so private I gave no names only that those involved were an aunt and her niece was answered today! Our court systems grind slowly but they do grind and on occasion the ‘grain’ falls out on the right side!!  Thank you for your prayers.

One more thing before I set this to post.  Yesterday I was tenderly and strongly impressed with a prayer position – not physical positioning but heart-language positioning.

We don’t have to beg DADDY GOD to bless and heal and provide for us. We don’t have to beg Him to show up at church; we don’t have to beg Him for wisdom or to know His will in a matter.We don’t have to beg Him to do His will.

But we do.

Our words in prayer often sound like we believe we have to twist His arm to get Him to be good to us. Is that because that is what our emotions have believed about Him? I confess I’ve been there, I’ve done that more times and for more years than I care to admit here on this screen.  But by His Grace yesterday and today I am learning better! Hallelujah!

Would we consider that this unsure praying is a disservice to Him and to us? Would not our faith grow stronger and our adoration for Him build if rather than pleading and begging Him to feed and clothe us and yes even heal us when we are sick if we thanked Him and just humbly expected Him to provide for us and just humbly expected Him to heal us the way He knows is best? Just expect Him to do His best for us? — I think He would like that. Don’t you?

Albeit there is a time for some pleading I believe. Some times when we must cry out to ABBA to have mercy; when we ask Him for food and clothing and shelter and healing and salvation for the lost —  for those upon whom He is not obligated to shine His face  but through our prayers He just might.

As I said I was tenderly and strongly impressed that how we pray matters, the words we use and for whom. We inside His Family can expect Him to do more and give more than we can think or ask; for those outside the Faith, we are privileged to go about doing good for them and interceding for them for His mercy and grace to be given to them.

And that’s the way I see it.

Until then+ + +
Kathie