Thursday, November 11, 2010

It’s about half past three on this fine Wednesday afternoon as I come to the screen; not sure I have a lot to say today; two thoughts in particular from earlier today have returned to mind so perhaps I should share them.

A collage of pictures makes up the backboard of my desk (and my desk is pretty much a mess most of the time, I tidied it up a bit for you just now — see pic); here and there in the collage are pictures of my Momma.
I’m missing her extra today (January 31, it will be two years since she woke up in Heaven). Which may account for certain of my thoughts today. Strange one that I am, I even ask JESUS to let her know that I love her and I am thinking of her and looking forward to when I see her again.  And now for the thought that prompted all that ‘background’ — Eternal Life and one of the reasons I am sure it is true. Of course, first and foremost is because the Bible says so and the HOLY SPIRIT has confirmed it to me.

DADDY GOD never wastes anything — He doesn’t you know. And so today I figured it this way there must be Eternal Life because it would be such a waste to have these relationships of love to just die and come to naught after this oh so short sojourn here on planet earth is finished.

Yeah! Life and love continues forever.

And my second reoccurring thought? Faith. And the fact that I have it at all is an immeasurable gift. There was a time in my life that I was wrecked with fear and doubt; even doubting that I could believe. Doubting that I could believe JESUS, the GOD-MAN, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died my death for me so I could have His life. Each time even now as I remember when faith came, I breathe easier. Faith. An immeasurable gift! And to think, He gave  it to me!! I still can’t get my brain around that one but my heart is and that’s what matters to me.  Happy Thursday, Sweet Friends!

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. John 3:16. KJV

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. John 10:28 KJV

2 Samuel 12: (New Living Translation)²³ But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me.” source 

Thank You, ABBA, for this day; for the beauty, the joy, the peace, the promises, the very faith You have given. Thank You. You know I’m thinking of _____ today. Identifying with her, with her broken heart, only You can mend her and I know You will. ________ too as she continues treatments, it’s a journey I know You are traveling with her and I am so grateful for the strength and gifts You are giving her along the way. And _________’s surgery on Friday, I pray You will make it go well with her. Praying for These,  having read their names, some faces I know, many I do not, I commend them to You, LORD, asking You to tend their hearts and their bodies.  HOLY SPIRIT, please tend us all in JESUS Name. Amen and amen.

Holy hugs, kt

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

I am stopping mid-stream; mid-stream of household privileges to pen our lesson for today. I think the bathroom is one of my favorite places in the house. Seriously. Not necessarily for cleaning; and yet do we realize what a privilege and a blessing it is if we are able to clean our own bathrooms? But as I said that’s not the prompting for this lesson. Just a bit ago as I was on my knees cleaning the floor I heard coming from the bedroom television a verse of Scripture as read by a Christian TV preacher.  The HOLY SPIRIT so sweetly spoke and I just had to stop and come to the screen to meet with you.

Here’s the Scripture.

Philippians 4: (New American Standard Bible) ⁶Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Let your requests be made known to GOD.  And I thought not because DADDY GOD does not know even before I speak. HE KNOWS. But that’s not the reason we make our requests known to Him. And yes there is a condition by which those requests are most effectively given: WITH THANKSGIVING. But that’s not yet the point I am sharing.

Let our requests be made known to GOD not so we can first and foremost have what we ask, but because speaking our request to Him with a thankful heart (proclaiming that He is GOD even when hard and difficult and just down right mean stuff floods our life), gives us HIS PEACE. Gives us the Peace of God when it doesn’t even make human sense that we should have it! Moreover, making our requests known to DADDY GOD with a thankful heart will not only give us what we are asking Him for but is the very way we guard our hearts so junk finds no place in it. Making our requests known to Him keeps our minds safe; it keeps our minds from re-playing nasty old records that put our stomachs in turmoil. Making our requests known to GOD is a safe, wholesome, full of peace way to make it through the day and night when all else says ‘find yourself a hole, jump in and pull the dirt in over you!’

Making your requests known to God — I’m pondering that and I’m practicing it better and better.  I hope you are too.

Thank You, ABBA. You are Awesome! HOLY SPIRIT, I ask You in JESUS’ Name to turn this Passage of Scripture on in the hearts of every person who comes to this screen to read. Amen and amen.

Click here to review Praying for These.

Holy hugs, kt

Monday, November 8, 2010

We have an update on Baby Jackson. Doctors believe the seizures have stopped and they hope to reduce medication within the coming weeks. For a full report on Jackson and others click here.

As I promised — the drawing result is Mabel.  I will be contacting you to award Lioness Arising by Lisa Bevere.  I think you will be blessed as you read, even as I am. Thank you, Mabel and congratulations. Thank you to all who commented.  I hope to have another book for give away before too long.

I hope each of you will visit Lisa’s website introducing Lioness Arising.

I so enjoyed waking up to ‘Fall Back Time’ this morning. Getting up at 7:00 and yet it was only 6:00.  That extra hour was terrific!  And when we got to church, Sunday School was a blast. The class delighted me as we discussed Ephesians 5.  Just really neat. And then during preaching hour I heard something so beautiful to me, absolutely thrilling to my ears  – the turning of pages in hundreds of Bibles.  There is nothing like it! People with the Word of God opened, turning those pages and reading ABBA’s Word.  Oh my goodness if it sounds good to me what must it sound like to Him!! Be sure to give HIM something pleasing to listen to today. Okay?

And as we pick up His Word to read today, let’s not rush it. Let’s not read it like we just want to get finished with it so we can move on to something really important. When we read Scripture, let us read it like we are reading a letter from someone we love. Let us linger over the words, reading them with emotion — it just might make a difference in how the Word lingers with us throughout the day.

Psalm 119: (New King James Version) ¹¹ Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

Psalm 119: (New King James Version) 16 I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

Psalm 119: (New American Standard Bible) 56 This has become mine, That I observe Your precepts. 57 The LORD is my portion; I have promised to keep Your words.  58 I sought Your favor with all my heart; Be gracious to me according to Your word.

Psalm 119: (New American Standard Bible)    66 Teach me good discernment and knowledge, For I believe in Your commandments. 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word. 68 You are  good and  do good; Teach me Your statutes.

Psalm 119: (King James Version) 89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

Psalm 119:(King James Version) 101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

Psalm 119: (King James Version) 103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Psalm 119: (King James Version) 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

And the references go on and on. Here’s a link — enjoy!

My petition tonight, Father, in JESUS Name is that each of us will find our joy in Your Word; that Your Word will become bread, meat and drink to us and that our appetite for Scripture will rival and exceed any sampling our taste buds have ever craved.  I pray for peace and comfort and safety for our IDOK Troops and for healing for Jackson and Gracelyn, Tony, Raye, Elaine, Joann, Ed and each and every Loved One listed at Praying for These.  Thank You for loving us.  Thank You for claiming us as Your Own and I pray we will give You plenty that is pleasing to listen to in the next 24 hours. Amen and amen in JESUS NAME.

Holy hugs, kt

Friday, November 5, 2010

We have a report from Bev that Dixie is home on bed-rest; they are expecting Baby to wait until Thanksgiving to make his or her debut.  Praises and thank you(s) abound! Click here for detailed update.

Sidetracked.  Happens easily.

Ø  Share His Good News Message with the earth  (Tell people JESUS SAVES)

Ø  Love one another

Ø  Care for the widows, orphans, aliens, and the poor

Yesterday’s list. I went back to it today in my Prayer Journal. That’s my way of keeping it on the top half of my cranial desktop and like it or not my ‘spiritual’ conduct is affected by my cranial deliberations. If we think about something long enough we generally do it or at least some modification of it.

So. Here’s a deliberation or two of mine as to yesterday’s three-fold purpose.

Fold One. Okay. How? How do I, me; not someone else, not general command to the Body but ME,  KT, how do I give the message of salvation to the world? How do I give the message of salvation to  my neighbors? Sad to say, some folks on my street, I don’t even know their names.  How, LORD, how do I do it?

His answer so far came in one word: Connect.  So I have begun to pray to be connected. To pray for contact with them.  To pray for ideas. And when ideas come, to  take  those steps.  And with humble pride I can say, ‘Step one taken’.

I referred to myself as the nutty neighbor at the end of the street in the card that I sent each of them. A simple seed. It may take months, even years to germinate; but this I am certain, it will.

Fold Three. Okay? What widows, what orphans, what aliens and what poor? Which ones and how? Same answer. Pray to be connected. So I am. Here’s my prayer commitment: Connect me and anoint me and I will do it. I will obey.

But this ONE prayer is not enough — so back to my cranial desktop again and again.  In time and as the Holy Spirit prompts,  I’ll give ya’ll further reports.

Have a wonderful weekend . . . Connecting.

Peter 4: (The Message)^7-11Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!

I am grateful, ABBA. Grateful for that word, Connect. Grateful for the peace to pray and be available for contact. Grateful to receive eyes that see and ears that hear and hands and feet that obey in Your time. I’m grateful. Thank You.  You so make Living an adventure! And in this life adventure especially those on our Praying for These list it gets pretty rocky and we are sorely tempted to think it’s too hard and so unfair. And for sure it is too hard for us, but You always come through for us, even when it is hard and unfair. This I know You are the Great Equalizer in Your time and Your way and by faith I refuse to second guess You. So I pray for steadfast faith for them, for each of us. And I am remembering our IDOK Troops too, some names have been on the list well over a year, some even two; I have no idea where they are now but You know and in every place they are it is my prayer that You will protect them on all sides and in all areas, spirit, soul and body. And their families too. And I just cannot rest from praying for that Third Great Awakening of America.  I want to see You do it.  I want to see You anoint, rain down, pour out a knowledge and awareness of sin that will melt  the hardest of hearts and turn the most stubborn wills to repentance.  Thank You for loving us; and I’m committing us to You in JESUS NAME. Amen and amen.

Holy hugs, kt