Tag Archives: United States

Not Ripe so — The Still

I am borrowing a Word today to share with you. It has been a quiet occupation at the Thompson house for a few days. I have had some really good days of study but it’s not a ripe study yet – not ripe for sharing. But my devotion from YouVersion is  – take a ‘read’.

THE STILL

On many British vessels when disaster strikes, “the still” is sounded. This signals people to pause a moment and figure out the wise thing to do. Panic, sailors feel, can be avoided if “the still” is observed. God gives us similar advice. Rather than panicking when crisis comes, we are to be still, and know that I am God… Perhaps that could be paraphrased, “Just don’t be frightened; see how I can help you in this trying situation.” The wise believer will learn to observe “the still” in times of tension.

If we are still only in times of trial, we miss much of what God is trying to say to us. We feel we do not have time to be still, but a University of Wisconsin study revealed that the average person spends three years of life waiting. How we use that time will determine much of our future. The wise person will use it to get to know God better, and he also will seek to get alone and listen to the quiet voice of the Creator.

Poems are not written on busy street corners, and symphonies are not composed in crowds. Aloneness is necessary for creativity and spiritual growth. So often we are spiritual chatterboxes when we come to the closet of prayer. How well it would be to learn to listen in those quiet moments, and know that I am God. Psalm 46 also states that “the heathen raged.” How often we rage at this and that; how much better if we would listen to God. Let us relax and know Him. Be still and learn to love Him better.

via Draw Near – 365 Guides to Greater Intimacy with God | YouVersion.com.

Psalm 46:10

10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

via Draw Near – 365 Guides to Greater Intimacy with God | YouVersion.com.

Don’t you like that?

The Still is the signal to pause and figure out the wise thing to do.

Next harried, screaming for NOW attention that comes barging in on you, remember The Still.

And be still and know HE is GOD and you will figure out the wise thing to do.

I really like that!

I am praying today for many things. I’ll share only a few here. Richard – that his recovery be sure and lasting. Poppins – a happy and enjoyable recovery with no unhealthy residual. Iran. You know how ABBA stopped the building of the Tower of Babel by confusing the languages of the people? I am asking that DADDY GOD do something ‘simple’ and stop Iran from obtaining a weapon of mass destruction to use on Israel and on US. And Dear Friends with challenges born from many facets of this hostile world. 

DADDY GOD, thank You. I am so grateful. Thank You. I give You applause of praise with clapping and even singing for the goodness and mercy and grace You have given to this child of Yours. You have heard my prayers for Richard and Poppins and Others and You have heard my cries for this world, Israel and America. Again I pray You will forgive us and grace us with repentance. Thank You for every Dear One who comes here to read and pray, I ask You to comfort, correct, empower, encourage and heal as each needs in JESUS Name.

Blessings to you Dear Friends    +++

Remember YOU have the God-given RIGHT to do right in this wrong world!

Six Years Ago

Reading a devotion that I wrote more than six (6) years ago (click HERE to read it) words found in Proverbs 16 have seized me and will not let go. I don’t want them to. I want them to lay hold to me and transform me. Look with me.

Proverbs 16 Amplified Bible (AMP)

3 Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.

via Proverbs 16 AMP – The plans of the mind and orderly – Bible Gateway.

He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will

What would it look like for my thoughts, your thoughts, to be agreeable to ABBA’s will on a continually consistent basis? What would life be like? What would relationships be like? Would the climate change in our homes, in our communities, in our Nation? Would it?

Any thoughts you’d care to share?

I am praying for Regie today. He is having a heart cath this Friday morning. And I’m praying for protection for Americans who love America and who are in danger from those who hate America. These are perilous times.

2 Timothy 3 New King James Version (NKJV)

1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

via 2 Timothy 3 NKJV – Perilous Times and Perilous Men – But – Bible Gateway.

ABBA, You always hear the prayers of Your children. Thank You. I pray You begin to hear more prayers. More of Your children praying fervent prayers without ceasing. And right now I commit Regie’s heart cath to You, for it to be successful, for it to be very good news, for You to grant him restoration, a very favorable outcome I pray. Words are not coming easily, ABBA. Events in Libya and Egypt, the players in this evil desecration of life, Americans in danger, it’s too much for me to get my soul around. HOLY SPIRIT, intercede for us; intercede for Americans around this globe in places of conflict and hatred, protect them please and LORD JESUS please come quickly and soon and put an end to this hatred. And while we wait for You, JESUS, we want to occupy as You have told us to. Help us commit our works to You and allow You to cause us to be agreeable with Your Will in us and through us. And thank You for reminding me of others; thank You for what You have done for them and what You will yet do.  And for each who gather here for prayer, I ask for strength meet for this day for them and for abundant love for You and others in JESUS name.

Blessings, Friends +++

Remember YOU have the God-given RIGHT to do right in this wrong world!

Invited

Please go visiting with me today. Just one click and we will be there. Jennifer Dukes Lee’s blog, Getting Down With Jesus. Her post for September 4, in particular, is what I want to share; but, browse around when you get there – she won’t mind and you might be so very blessed at what you find. 

Here’s an excerpt. When you have read it, click

HERE

for the rest of her post (pictures too):

Hear the Good News, You’ve Been Invited

September 4th, 2012

There was nothing magical about it, but everything about it was magical.

I looked out across her yard to behold the simple beauty of one long table decked out in creamy plates and silver forks and crayons and mismatched chairs. There was a place for everyone, and everyone had a place — right there on a patch of Iowa grass.

(Pictures at Jennifer’s blog)

Trish had invited us to put our feet under that one long table beside the evergreen trees, to break bread and sip from glass jars under the dome of a September sky.

She’d arranged it a mere 24 hours before the event: “Okay, so here’s something random,” she emailed us. “If you don’t have any Labor Day plans Monday evening, you now have an invite–albeit a late one and one not well thought out–though sincere. ”

She called it “an exercise in spontaneity.”

I really enjoyed my blog-land visit with Jennifer this morning. I hope you will too.

Revelation 19:8-10

21st Century King James Version (KJ21)

8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

9 And he said unto me, “Write: ‘Blessed are they that are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he said unto me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said unto me, “See that thou do it not! I am thy fellow servant and one of thy brethren, who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

via Revelation 19:8-10 KJ21 – And to her was granted that she should – Bible Gateway.

I am thanking ABBA today for sisters and brothers all across web-land; for those lifting up JESUS to encourage others. And I am still remembering, and asking for healings and blessings for Dori, Kerri and Pam; and yes, asking for correction and conviction and repentance all around. And there are others, many others. I trust you are praying too.  Forget not the November election. Israel. Our desperate need for awakening in America to our purpose and our commission to the world. There’s a memorial service for a dear saint this evening – her family is grieving – pray for them to be comforted in CHRIST JESUS. Many, many other concerns for those in our individual circles.  And so, ABBA, You are fully aware of each. We collectively and individually come with our family, friends, acquaintances, missions, dreams and visions; asking for healings and blessings and presenting ourselves as vessels of healings and blessings for Your glory and in JESUS name. 

Blessings, Friends +++

Remember YOU have the God-given RIGHT to do right in this wrong world!

Do I Dare?

Tomorrow’s Sunday School lesson which I am preparing to lead is entitled: The Decision Dare. And I am questioning myself do I dare put forth all my notes for discussion.

For my question: I am wondering have we done the church and possibly the world an injustice, damage even, by fostering the idea that worship is coming to church participating in singing, and listening to a preacher? Is that worship? Really what is worship?

First, we know worship must have an object to either receive the worship or at least something to which we give it.  Still, what is worship? And what are we giving to this something in worship?

We walk in. Sit down. Stand up. We sing a few songs. We sit down. We pass the plate. We throw in some money. We stand up. We shake hands. We sing some more. We sit down. We listen to a message. We sing another song. We go home. Is that worship?

We do this once a week. Some twice a week and some fanatics (of which I am one, for the most part) do it three times a week. Is that as often as worship occurs? Is that as often as GOD deserves? Is He pleased with that? Are you?

Happy Saturday, my Friends.

Birthdays

Our Bradford Exchange catalog came yesterday. It is a tribute to Thomas Kinkade. It is filled with items displaying his beautiful work.  I have enjoyed Kinkade’s work for many years – I was saddened when he died in April of this year.  But I’m off point.

The catalog is filled with items to purchase and, yes, the promotion of Christmas is predominant. And in all the predominance JESUS gets one page. One page! And whose birthday is Christmas supposed to be? And so I have been singing a song this morning. Let me share it with you.

But today is not Christmas. Today we do not officially celebrate the birth of our Savior – but we should!

In fact, celebrating that JESUS is would make Isabel’s birthday all the more fun!  She is the big 10 today!  So today is a day of celebrating.

For sure. For sure. Each of us has something we can celebrate today.

So today’s challenge: What are you celebrating today?

John 3:16    21st Century King James Version (KJ21)

16 “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.

via John 3:16 KJ21 – “For God so loved the world that – Bible Gateway.

Thank You, JESUS, for coming for me! Thank You for abiding forever for me.  I love You, LORD. And, ABBA, thank You, for ten years ago today. The birth of joy to this family. It is my heart’s desire that all her days she lives to give You glory. That she grows to be a godly woman, a woman with kindness on her lips and deeds of good walked out with feet bearing Your Gospel and hands helping the poor and the lost.  And not just Isabel but all of us who have received You as LORD and Savior. Make it so, LORD. Make it so.

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