God's Word for Us Today

Psa 37:23 The LORD guides us in the way we should go and protects those who please him.
Psa 37:24 If they fall, they will not stay down, because the LORD will help them up.
Psa 37:25 I am old now; I have lived a long time, but I have never seen good people abandoned by the LORD or their children begging for food.
Psa 37:26 At all times they give freely and lend to others, and their children are a blessing.
Psa 37:27 Turn away from evil and do good, and your descendants will always live in the land;
Psa 37:28 for the LORD loves what is right and does not abandon his faithful people. He protects them forever, but the descendants of the wicked will be driven out.


I love these verses. If we do things to please the Lord (give freely to others, turn away from evil & do good, be faithful!), He will protect us and our children. We will not go hungry, neither will our children, He will never leave us! So, no matter the situation your family is in, ALWAYS trust in the Lord and His promises. He will never leave you...

Groceries Coming... And a Word

Today, I will be going grocery shopping. Of course today is rainy, instead of the sunny that it has been for the last 5 days! But, that just gives us more of a challenge, right? 2 kids, groceries, 5 stops... Oh boy.

Ecc 9:8 Always look happy and cheerful. (GNB)

Thank you, Lord! I realize that in my life, when I allow myself to stress, I am not only feeling SICK, but it so quickly rubs off onto others. I walk through the store, as best I can, with a smile. This is a testament to Who is living IN me. So when people frown their way through the store (and maybe through LIFE!), I hope I can be a good part of their day.

So often stay-at-home mothers wonder how we can witness to people and share how awesome our God is. THIS is how: give a smile, be friendly when others aren't, give the cashier a nice word on a tough day, when others give a "downer" comment- give a positive on (example: oh... 4 boys huh? (in a sad voice). I say, Yes, we are blessed!).

Have a wonderful day everyone! :)

God's Word for Us

Psa 19:1 How clearly the sky reveals God's glory! How plainly it shows what he has done!
Psa 19:2 Each day announces it to the following day; each night repeats it to the next.
Psa 19:3 No speech or words are used, no sound is heard;
Psa 19:4 yet their message goes out to all the world and is heard to the ends of the earth. God made a home in the sky for the sun;
Psa 19:5 it comes out in the morning like a happy bridegroom, like an athlete eager to run a race.
Psa 19:6 It starts at one end of the sky and goes across to the other. Nothing can hide from its heat.

I taught our K-3 kids in church on Sunday, and we were talking how AWESOME the things that God has done, really are. One of those things we talked about was the sun! And how God made it! And He made it perfectly!

Praise His Name! And we get to see that perfect light each day. When we feel the sun on our faces, let us not forget the God who loves us made it!

God's Word for Us Today

Psa 121:1-8 I look to the mountains; where will my help come from? My help will come from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let you fall; your protector is always awake. The protector of Israel never dozes or sleeps. The LORD will guard you; he is by your side to protect you. The sun will not hurt you during the day, nor the moon during the night. The LORD will protect you from all danger; he will keep you safe. He will protect you as you come and go now and forever.

Why do we worry about things that we have no control over? Our God is an AWESOME God, and He is continually with us! He NEVER sleeps! Praise His Holy and Wonderful Name!

Thank you, God, for being there for us, even when we are afraid we are on our own! Help us to remember that YOU are in control. All you ask is that we trust in You. Thank you, Lord!

God's Word for Us

Oh, to have a heart like this! I pray that we strive toward this. I pray that we are content with the plans that God has for our lives!


Psalm 131:1 LORD, I have given up my pride and turned away from my arrogance. I am not concerned with great matters or with subjects too difficult for me.
131:2 Instead, I am content and at peace. As a child lies quietly in its mother's arms, so my heart is quiet within me.
131:3 Israel, trust in the LORD now and forever!

God's Word- He is Our Protector!

Psa 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; I will fear no one. The LORD protects me from all danger; I will never be afraid.
Psa 27:2 When evil people attack me and try to kill me, they stumble and fall.
Psa 27:3 Even if a whole army surrounds me, I will not be afraid; even if enemies attack me, I will still trust God.
Psa 27:4 I have asked the LORD for one thing; one thing only do I want: to live in the LORD's house all my life, to marvel there at his goodness, and to ask for his guidance.
Psa 27:5 In times of trouble he will shelter me; he will keep me safe in his Temple and make me secure on a high rock.
Psa 27:6 So I will triumph over my enemies around me. With shouts of joy I will offer sacrifices in his Temple; I will sing, I will praise the LORD.

Challenge for Today

Matthew 5:3 (from the Message Bible)~

"You are blessed when you are at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. "

Ever notice THAT is when we call out to God the most? When we are at the end of our rope? That is the time when we realize how much we need Him. Let's make it a habit of calling out to Him BEFORE we get to the end of our rope, thanking Him for all of the blessings in your life and for His mercy and grace in our lives.

Our Reminder...

Titus 3:1 Remind your people to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey them, and to be ready to do good in every way.

3:2 Tell them not to speak evil of anyone, but to be peaceful and friendly, and always to show a gentle attitude toward everyone.

3:3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, and wrong. We were slaves to passions and pleasures of all kinds. We spent our lives in malice and envy; others hated us and we hated them.

3:4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior was revealed,

3:5 he saved us. It was not because of any good deeds that we ourselves had done, but because of his own mercy that he saved us, through the Holy Spirit, who gives us new birth and new life by washing us.

3:6 God poured out the Holy Spirit abundantly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior,

3:7 so that by his grace we might be put right with God and come into possession of the eternal life we hope for.

God is SO good. Don't be afraid to remind YOURSELF & OTHERS!

Our God is Awesome!

(Psa 24:1) The world and all that is in it belong to the LORD; the earth and all who live on it are his.

(Psa 24:2) He built it on the deep waters beneath the earth and laid its foundations in the ocean depths.

(Psa 24:3) Who has the right to go up the LORD's hill? Who may enter his holy Temple?

(Psa 24:4) Those who are pure in act and in thought, who do not worship idols or make false promises.

(Psa 24:5) The LORD will bless them and save them; God will declare them innocent.

(Psa 24:6) Such are the people who come to God, who come into the presence of the God of Jacob.

(Psa 24:7) Fling wide the gates, open the ancient doors, and the great king will come in.

(Psa 24:8) Who is this great king? He is the LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, victorious in battle.

(Psa 24:9) Fling wide the gates, open the ancient doors, and the great king will come in.

(Psa 24:10) Who is this great king? The triumphant LORD ---he is the great king!

Young or Old, You Can Still Be Wise...

"When he saw that the three men could not answer Job, he was angry

and began to speak. I am young, and you are old, so I was afraid to tell you what I think.

I told myself that you ought to speak, that you older men should share your wisdom.

But it is the spirit of Almighty God that comes to us and gives us wisdom.

It is not growing old that makes us wise or helps us to know what is right." Job 32:5-9

We need to remember as young people to ALWAYS be respectful to our "elders", but God also gives the Holy Spirit to live in US TOO! So, we can have God's discernment living IN US! Never think you are too young to know, or to have the ability to know God and His plans!

Being a Woman of Virtue... Doing!

I hold a few things in my life top priority. God is NUMBER 1. Most definitely. My husband, is also deservingly, number 2. Then of course my beautiful and energetic boys. And the rest of my family and my close church friends are next.

As I look to what God wants me to be, and what he requires of me. I am EVERY TIME taken back to Proverbs 31, to the Virtuous Woman. And each time, I am reminded of how important it is to hold the things that our grandmothers did, close to our hearts. I am constantly challenged by this. Things like making more food from scratch. Yeah, we have busy days, but even in those days, if I make sure I have a meal planned ahead of time, I can still make something fairly easy from scratch (or close to it). This isn't just a luxury anymore, this is almost a necessity if you want to eat healthy. Also things like learning to sew, even just simple sewing. I know MANY people who do not own a sewing machine. They just don't know how to sew. And that is probably most of you also. But I think sewing is a skill that we should have even if it is very basic! I bought my machine for $79 at Wal-Mart about 6 or 7 years ago, and I have used it in a small business and for simple things around my own house. I learned to sew in home ec. class in Middle school. Let me tell you, it was very basic! I NEVER again used that skill until I got my own machine ! So with about 15 years in between, I had to learn most things over. And I was able to do it, and sew curtains for my house! I didn't even have a pattern. I have slowly improved my "skills" to even make robes for the boys and other kids in our family this last Christmas. Saved a lot of money, and ended up being a lot nicer than what I would have been able to buy on our "budget". What about gardening? Or caring for animals, like chickens, who could produce a product your family could use? Are these skills going to be lost on our grandparents generation?

I want to encourage you, as I have before, to learn SOMETHING new. And keep doing it, even if you don't succeed the first time (or the second!). If your grandmothers are still alive, even better, learn something from THEM! My grandmother was able to teach me to crochet before she past away 2 years ago, and whenever I sit, relax and use that skill, I think of her.

Being a woman of Virtue includes DOING... She works with her HANDS... Be challenged by this today. Not only will you be able to pick up a valuable skill that you could someday pass on to your daughters, but you are carrying on a legacy. And SOMEDAY, you will be glad you learned your new skill!

I have been wanting to learn to Knit for the longest time. And I have a sweet neighbor woman who is willing to teach me! I am excited!

What new skill would you LOVE to learn?

In His Word Wednesday- Life in Christ

(Psa 65:1) O God, it is right for us to praise you in Zion and keep our promises to you,
(Psa 65:2) because you answer prayers. People everywhere will come to you
(Psa 65:3) on account of their sins. Our faults defeat us, but you forgive them.
(Psa 65:4) Happy are those whom you choose, whom you bring to live in your sanctuary. We shall be satisfied with the good things of your house, the blessings of your sacred Temple.
(Psa 65:5) You answer us by giving us victory, and you do wonderful things to save us. People all over the world and across the distant seas trust in you.
(Psa 65:6) You set the mountains in place by your strength, showing your mighty power.
(Psa 65:7) You calm the roar of the seas and the noise of the waves; you calm the uproar of the peoples.
(Psa 65:8) The whole world stands in awe of the great things that you have done. Your deeds bring shouts of joy from one end of the earth to the other.

All of Psalm 65 is beautiful, and I encourage you to read it.

I know I am not the only one to thing, what if I gave God up right now? What would my life be like? Well, I always get the same answer. What can I do? What can I do in comparison to what MY GOD can do? I look at my imperfect existence and I don't want this forever! I want to live in a PERFECT EXISTENCE with GOD!

The Earth cries out, the mountains move through HIS prompting, the sparrows are fed, and WE ARE FORGIVEN ALL! Who DOESN'T want to serve an AWESOME GOD who promises all of this AND MORE?

If you don't know about God and who He is, don't be afraid to ask! It is NEVER too late. No matter what we have done. No matter where we have been. Nothing that has happened before in our lives matters. NOTHING! And that is a promise! Not by me, But my awesome God. All are forgiven, we just need to come to Him and ask. Asking does take some humility but, we can do it. Push that pride aside. Push that FEAR aside. I have to do this DAILY. And each time, He washes me clean of all sins.

In turn, I TRY as hard as my Earthly body can to serve Him and tell of His great love and forgiveness.

If you want to be a child of God, if you want His promise of being His Forever, If you want to be forgiven every sin, pray this today:

God, thank you for being there for me today. I am sorry it has taken me this long to come to you, but today I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that you love me. God, please forgive me for all of those things that I have done before. I am sorry for those things, and I don't want those hanging over my life anymore.

Thank you for your love and please help me to feel you in my life today. Help me to strive to be a better person, the person YOU want me to be. Thanks for all you have done and all you are about to do in my life. I love you! ~Amen

If you prayed this prayer today, and you want to talk to me, e-mail me HERE. Or if you need us to pray for you, leave a comment. But talk to SOMEONE. Let them celebrate with you that TODAY is the start of the rest of your life in God.

To see more encouragement and prayers, go HERE.

In His Word Wednesday- God Cares for Us

Around where I live, there are high numbers of unemployment. There are loads of people who need help. There are people who instead of going to college, went and made easy money in trailer factories. I had family who had done this, the economy here was great. Now the bottom has fallen out, and there have been bank robberies in local towns, people turning to drugs, because their hope is gone, and actually more people, it seems, have been coming to church.


Proverbs 10:3 "The LORD will not allow a righteous person to starve, but he intentionally ignores the desires of a wicked person."

My parents are in the trailer factory "boat". My dad luckily was able to find a job though. And this verse has been true for them, as well as many others in my church. God takes care of His people! If you love the Lord, and are willing to do and GO where He wants you to, then He will be faithful and take care of you. He will not let you starve! But, if you know that the drugs you are getting into is not good, if you know stealing from a store is only going to give you money for today, and then tomorrow comes and you have to do it all over again. Well, God will not bless that life. HE WANTS TO THOUGH!

My prayer today, is for people who have been without jobs and don't know what to do for their families. God does answer prayer about this! We have seen people recently get jobs after a while without a job! God is good.

Let us remember too that God will never let us starve, as long as we continue to follow Him!

So, how are you doing this wonderful day? Do you have something you want to share, or prayers you would like to have others pray for? Go HERE, and let your needs be known!

Resurrection Day

Joh 11:25-27 "Jesus said to her (Martha), I am the Resurrection and the Life. The one believing into Me, though he die, he shall live. And everyone living and believing into Me shall not die to the age, never! Do you believe this? She said to Him, Yes, Lord, I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God who comes into the world. "

Thank you, Jesus!

In His Word Wednesday- "Easter" Message

Luk 23:26-48 As the soldiers led Jesus away, they grabbed a man named Simon, who was from the city of Cyrene. Simon was coming into Jerusalem. They laid the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large crowd followed Jesus. The women in the crowd cried and sang funeral songs for him. Jesus turned to them and said, "You women of Jerusalem, don't cry for me! Rather, cry for yourselves and your children! The time is coming when people will say, 'Blessed are the women who couldn't get pregnant, who couldn't give birth, and who couldn't nurse a child.' Then people will say to the mountains, 'Fall on us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us!' If people do this to a green tree, what will happen to a dry one?"

Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be executed with him. When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified him. The criminals were also crucified, one on his right and the other on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them. They don't know what they're doing." Meanwhile, the soldiers divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice. The people stood there watching. But the rulers were making sarcastic remarks. They said, "He saved others. If he's the Messiah that God has chosen, let him save himself!" The soldiers also made fun of him. They would go up to him, offer him some vinegar, and say, "If you're the king of the Jews, save yourself!"

A written notice was placed above him. It said, "This is the king of the Jews." One of the criminals hanging there insulted Jesus by saying, "So you're really the Messiah, are you? Well, save yourself and us!" But the other criminal scolded him: "Don't you fear God at all? Can't you see that you're condemned in the same way that he is? Our punishment is fair. We're getting what we deserve. But this man hasn't done anything wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom." Jesus said to him, "I can guarantee this truth: Today you will be with me in paradise."

Around noon darkness came over the entire land and lasted until three in the afternoon. The sun had stopped shining. The curtain in the temple was split in two. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit." After he said this, he died. When an army officer saw what had happened, he praised God and said, "Certainly, this man was innocent!"

This weekend, we reflect on the goodness and mercy of God who sent His Son to die for us, as Christians, we need to be praying for the lives of those who make there twice a year trek to church. Pray that the messages at your churches and the people there, touch them. May the Words speak to them, and may they absorb those Words. Our God is merciful! The thief on the cross, decided in his last minutes of life that he wanted the eternal. And because he wanted to be with Jesus, that's all it took! Jesus told him, that he would be with Him today in Paradise! What a promise! All we need to do is call out to Him, and we too can be saved. Then, we can start living a NEW life, in Him!

Pray for people who might hear the "Easter Story" this weekend. We need to pray and be working at what God wants us to be doing, growing His Church, telling others about His awesomeness and His forgiveness~ NO MATTER WHAT WE HAVE DONE!!!

Praise His name!!!

To see more In His Word Wednesday, go HERE!

God's Word

Mat 26:7-13 " While Jesus was sitting there, a woman went to him with a bottle of very expensive perfume and poured it on his head. The disciples were irritated when they saw this. They asked, "Why did she waste it like this? It could have been sold for a high price, and the money could have been given to the poor."

Since Jesus knew what was going on, he said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me. You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me with you.

She poured this perfume on my body before it is placed in a tomb. I can guarantee this truth: Wherever this Good News is spoken in the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her."

What are we doing with the things that God has given us? Are we using those things to glorify Him? Or are we keeping them to ourselves, or wasting them on something that is not eternal?

God's Word

Titus 2:3 "Tell older women to live their lives in a way that shows they are dedicated to God. Tell them not to be gossips or addicted to alcohol, but to be examples of virtue. "

This doesn't say 'women is higher positions at the church' it says older women. So any older woman. This could mean ANY of us! If there are women younger then you, then you are the older woman.

And you can "show" you are dedicated to God, by living your life fully dedicated to Him. As part of being an example, we shouldn't be simply beautiful outwardly, but most beautiful 'inside'. Notice the first thing said is "tell them not to be gossips...". One definition of gossip is "to talk idly, especially about the affairs of others; go about tattling." Ever find yourself doing THAT? I think we all do, more then we care to share.

We are to be examples of virtue, or moral excellence; goodness; righteousness. Are we virtuous???

God's Word

Psa 118:23-29 "The LORD is responsible for this, and it is amazing for us to see. This is the day the LORD has made. Let's rejoice and be glad today! We beg you, O LORD, save us! We beg you, O LORD, give us success! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the LORD'S house. The LORD is God, and he has given us light. March in a festival procession with branches to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I give thanks to you. My God, I honor you highly. Give thanks to the LORD because he is good, because his mercy endures forever."

Word for Today

" For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Romans 8:6

Wow, to worry about the things of this world, to worry about my house not being completed, or to worry about my boys being hurt and I won't be there to help them, or whatever- is to be carnally minded. I can't control these things, so why am I worrying over them?

But, if I am spiritually minded, I will have life and peace. So true, isn't it? When I give something over to God because I know there is nothing I can do about it, He gives me such a peace, and therefore He gives me life! I have A life because it isn't filled with worry and doubt.

When the worry creeps in, say I trust you Lord, and then push it (pull it, drag it) out of your mind. If it creeps back in, say it again. I trust you Lord. And MEAN it! I TRUST YOU LORD!!! Take a deep breath and TRUST HIM.

Jesus~ Thank you so much that we can cast our burdens on You and You will take care of them. We are human, and cannot control all things. But You can control all things, help me to realize that and to trust You, at all times. I love you so much and I thank You for loving ME. ~Amen

Serve

Why is it that people measure the success in their life by having people serve them? Why do we have to go to hotels to be served, then leave it a mess? Why do we need a house keeper, and expect the mess WE make to be cleaned up?

Jesus came to the earth to be an example for us.

Matthew 20:28 "He didn't come so that others could serve him. He came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people."

Jesus came to serve. Why do WE expect to be served? Are we showing our family that example also? Or are we teaching them the habit too, of "I deserve this, they should be serving us!"?

We need to come down, off our pedestal that we set ourselves on, and start again. Serving. Serving God first, then our families, then others. Start with #1 (God).

God- Help us to stop expecting the Hollywood standard in our lives. Help us to stop acting like spoiled brats, and expecting others to serve US! We need to humble ourselves now, or be humbled later. Thank you that You send Jesus as a perfect example for us. Help us to take Him in and not only act it out, but absorb it. We love you ~Amen