For Our Learning

Yeah! Blog snow is back!!

Romans 1:20 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

via Romans 1:20 NASB – For since the creation of the world His – Bible Gateway.

John 1:3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

via John 1:3 NASB – All things came into being through Him, – Bible Gateway.

I am convinced that ALL creation was made to reveal GOD to us and even we ourselves.

Sara (if you missed her announcement, click HERE) is one of those creations and we are both learning.

I have long found dogs to be forgiving creatures – they give unconditional love.  That most assuredly should remind of us ABBA.  Sara has been with us a little more than a week and in that time she has learned well that the new wood flooring is off-limits to her. She is mindful of this no-no even while she plays.  Earlier this morning, she was in chase of her ball; now she flat-out enjoys chasing that ball across the kitchen and dining room floors. Today the ball was wild and Sara was in hot pursuit, if puppies could giggle I have no doubt she would have been. And then! oh no the ball rolled squarely on the wood floor; and Sara? Well, Sara abruptly abandoned her pursuit.  Not only did she stop short of her predetermined boundary she looked up at me as if to say please fetch it for me, I can’t go in there. And did I? Oh yes!! with much pleasure and words of praise and hugs. 

Can you guess what Sara is teaching me? That we as ABBA’s beloved children must learn to mind and observe His predetermined boundaries with such faithfulness!  Would HE not reward us exceedingly more than I did Sara this morning?

Something more before I close. Sara does not yet know that once she has mastered the art of taking her potty breaks outside, her boundary lines will be extended. I am wondering what boundary lines would be extended for me and what rewards and praises and hugs from ABBA I would receive if I were to more faithfully stop short of holy boundaries?

I’d treasure your thoughts, if you’d care to share.  Happy Thursday!!

Blessings of Joy and Peace,

ABBA, thank You for lessons in such precious packages; packages that don’t always do what is convenient or desired but even so YOU have messages to give. Please help me hear You. And, HOLY SPIRIT, for every dear one who comes here to read and pray, may they hear You too. And, LORD, we have some friends and family that have serious needs; some are physically ill, some are sore and bruised by others who refuse to live within holy boundaries – help, ABBA, in JESUS name, we ask for Your help.

White Shirt

I’m having a reoccurring dream. I think there is a message in it. For me and perhaps for someone else.

Old stains.

Old stains. Dirty strains. Strains too deep, too wide, too dark. The white shirt is soiled. I am ashamed to wear it.

But wait.

What’s this?

Water and an iron?

It’s work. Applying water and pressing. More water. More pressing.

Wait this can’t be. Just water and pressing can’t do this!

But it is. It’s working! The strains are lighter. And lighter.  And lighter. They’re gone!

My shirt is white again. It’s beautiful!  I’m so excited to wear it! 

Isaiah 1:17-19 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow. 

18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “ Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow;  Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.

19 “ If you consent and obey, You will eat the best of the land;
source

The BLOOD of JESUS is enough to cleanse every stain of sin; to remove as far as the east is from the west the penalty we have earned for our sins. Yet to remove the ugly stain from our emotions often requires some ironing – applying the WATER of the WORD and the PRESSING of the HOLY SPIRIT into our spirit.

What old stains are spoiling your pretty white shirt?

Perhaps you and JESUS have some ironing to do. We are meant to wear clean white garments!

ABBA, I’m putting this out here, it’s sketchy I know; yet it speaks to me. Perhaps You can use it to speak to just one someone out there whose remembering some old stuff that You want to clean and press and allow her to wear Your Beautiful Testimony before the world. Perhaps some memories are hanging on and dirty-ing up his heart that You have long ago washed away; help them believe and put on their white shirts and live as the citizens of Heaven here on earth You desire us to live.  As this day is stretched out before us with its many, many things to do I pray we will put on our white garments, the full armor You have provided for us and live this day for Your glory and our own good. We come with our sick and afflicted and ask that You heal them. We come with our rebellious and wayward and ask that You rescue them. We come with this Nation and ask You to raise up Statesmen and Heroes of Christian Faith to lead the people to repentance and forgiveness. I come with Israel asking for Her peace and for the subduing of all Her enemies and I ask, we ask, all these things in JESUS name.  amen and amen.

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,

Kathie

Power Washing

The Summer is passing quickly. And ABBA is answering many prayers. The GRANDS and I are enjoying each others company and we each are learning from the other. It’s good! I do miss gathering here at The White Stone as often as before.  But I am so glad to be here today. 🙂

As I write, it is a rainy late Saturday afternoon, a load of laundry is washing beyond the wall to my left; and alternative dinner plans seem to be in our future. As accommodating and willing to please as hubby is I don’t believe he will be inclined to grill in this downpour – neither would I be willing for him to do so.

He’s been using afternoons this week to power wash the back deck and I wish I had thought to take a before picture. I do have an after. As I was watching from the window (prior to the rain) as he was working on the last part I marveled at the power of water to clean. And you know what came next don’t you?

The washing of the Water of the Word.

Ephesians 5:25-27 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
via Ephesians 5:25-27 NASB – Husbands, love your wives, just as – Bible Gateway.

I went looking and found a before; actually this was taken in the Spring of 2011; however, it gives some idea of how dark the wood had become.  And to the right here? Well that’s after washing – power washing!

From experience and from the Word I can testify to you that an even more drastic change occurs in the life of a Soul who has been power washed by the Water of the Word. 

Prior to applying the water my beloved applied a cleaner especially designed to lift the stains from the wood; without any disrespect the analogy is the BLOOD of JESUS – designed to lift and take away every sin, every stain of every Soul who will repent and trust Him. Next when we submit ourselves to JESUS on a daily basis those dark stains that had been so stubborn and so easy to ‘practice’ before are now no match for the power of the HOLY SPIRIT as He applies the Water of the Word.  

Anyway that’s just what came to mind – thought I’d share it with you.

Find your way to a House of Bible Practicing Worship tomorrow and get plugged in for some washing.  🙂

Thank You, ABBA, for lessons in everyday things. Thank You for Your Goodness and Mercy. For forgiveness and the washing away of every sin and stain and for saving us now from the practice of sin day by day. I pray that each one who comes here to read and pray today will worship You in spirit and in truth, not only today but corporately tomorrow with brothers and sisters of Christian Faith and I pray our worship will be such that You will be pleased and will inhabit our praise. Thank You, LORD JESUS. Amen and amen.

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,

Miracles!

How about a picture and a report this morning!

I call it Morning Rays for my Daisies.  And, of course, the picture did not do the sight justice!

Now for some news!

I got word this morning that Sheila is —- drum roll please!!!

CANCER FREE!!!!

And there is a very good chance that I will get to accompany her home today!!!!!

I want you to know when I got this news I did a happy dance with big joy tears!

Thank you for your prayers!

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,
Praying (PFT)!

ABBA, words cannot express my gratitude!! The song in my heart is TO YOU BE THE GLORY!! Oh thank You. Thank You. 

Psalm 62:6-8

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

6 He only is my rock and my salvation,

My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.

7 On God my salvation and my glory rest;

The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.

8 Trust in Him at all times, O people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us. Selah.

via Psalm 62:6-8 NASB – He only is my rock and my salvation, My – Bible Gateway.

Reading

I’ve been reading this morning. I was determined to finish before I laid it down again. And I did. And I am recommending it to you.  The Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews.

Allow me to give you an excerpt from page 160:
“Sometimes when I sit with our Father and watch the movements of your civilization as the time shifts, I am astounded at the arrogance I see displayed in your people. On several occasions, I have asked permission to teach you a lesson, but so far, His patience has greatly exceeded my own. ”

And how about this on page 103:
“My life–my personality, my habits, even my speech–is a combination of the books I choose to read, the people I choose to listen to, and the thoughts I choose to tolerate in my mind. . . . “

And page 155:
“Circumstances are rulers of the weak, . . . “but they are weapons of the wise.”
“Circumstances do not push or pull. they are daily lessons to be studied and gleaned for new knowledge and wisdom.”

One more. Page 149: “All men are driven by faith or fear . . .    Faith or fear is the expectation of an event that hasn’t come to pass or the belief in something that cannot be seen or touched.
“Faith is to believe what one has not seen. The reward of faith is to see what one has believed.”

I am reminded of something Joyce Meyer has said many times. Fear is

False
Evidence
Appearing
Real

And just off the top of my head — does this work?  Faith is

Finding
Assurance and peace
In
The
Here and now (for what will be because our GOD said so.)

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
via Romans 10:16-18 KJ21 – But they have not all obeyed the – Bible Gateway.

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
via 1 John 4:17-19 NASB – By this, love is perfected with us, so – Bible Gateway.

Philippians 3:13-15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;
via Philippians 3:13-15 NASB – Brethren, I do not regard myself as – Bible Gateway.

And there you have it.

Blessings to you this Wednesday. I have prayed for each of you by name, email or blog name (whichever way you have identified yourself).

ABBA, thank You for servants who write so well and give us insights and much to ponder. And thank You for Your Word that is TRUTH and able to set us free. I pray this day for TRUTH to prevail in the lives of all my people. That Truth will take hold in their hearts and minds and hold sway over our lives, be believed and will set free and transform each one in JESUS name. And as before we bring our sick and afflicted, Dori and Sheila, specifically, along with others named, asking You to heal them. And as always until it be seen we pray for the rebellious for grace and space to repent. Amen and       .

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,