He Works For Me and You

"All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen."

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1822)

 
I was reminded once again that God is able and willing to care for our needs, if we'll only let Him!

It is so easy to hold onto heartbreak, sadness and out of control situations. The May 22 devotion in Streams of the Desert reminded me that I don't have to carry these burdens around, I can turn them over to God.

From Young's Commentary: "He worketh." Psalm 37:5  Sometimes we have to be reminded of that. "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass" also translated: "Roll upon Jehovah thy way; trust upon him: and he worketh.

"It calls our attention to the immediate action of God when we truly commit, or roll out of our hands into His, the burden of whatever kind it may be."

He worketh. When? Now. It is out of our reach. We are not trying to do it anymore. He worketh.

From Havergal: "He shall perform the cause which I have in hand."

Spurgeon: "Whatever He takes in hand He will accomplish; hence past mercies are guarantees for the future and admirable reasons for continuing to cry unto Him."

So once again I have "rolled upon God" the issues that bring me down. I will do my very best to leave them in His capable Hands. I know my days will be easier because He worketh!

And for all my friends who are the arms of God in my life . . .

Sheltering Tree

It's been said a friend is like a mighty sheltering tree

A place of refuge we can run when trouble comes for you and me

Someone we can count on through the thick and thin

When the storms of life are blowing, there's just nothing like a friend

We all need sheltering trees

Friends in our lives who'll get down on their knees

And lift us up before the King of Kings

We all need sheltering trees

There've been days that I was sure that I couldn't make it through

Clouds of doubt came rolling in and I didn't know what I would do

I would've given in and said I just can't go on

If it hadn't been for a friend that helped me to be strong

 

We all need sheltering trees

Friends in our lives who'll get down on their knees

And lift us up before the King of Kings

We all need sheltering trees

You can face the highest mountain and the climb won't feel so high

Or cross the darkest valley and it won't seem so wide

Nothing is impossible when a friend is by your side 

Chorus

Writers" Ernest Leonard Alhstrom and John E. Carswell

Song by Newsong

Encouragement To Me

 
I'm sharing some words written by various people that have encouraged my heart recently.

Joy . . . "True joy comes from the fullness of the Holy Spirit and results when we recognize that we are completely accepted in Christ--that no circumstance or trial or failure on our part can alter our standing with God. (Gal 5:18,22)  . . . "Thank you for teaching me that there is more joy and genuine laughter in Your Kingdom than in this world. Help me to rejoice--to enjoy the abundant life Jesus gives."  Nancy McGuire, Rest Assured

Hope . . . "Our hope in Christ is surer than anything we can see and experience on this earth, and we arrive at that place through faith . . . Faith is a commitment to walk in the footsteps of Christ, not knowing what lies ahead, but knowing that He is with us, therefore we can take the next step . . . Lord God, thank You for the very real hope I have in You. You in all Your goodness, power, mercy and love makes the hope I have much more than mere wishful thinking. Hope in You, rooted in Your written Word and in the risen Christ, gives me confidence about life on this earth and about eternal life." (Hebrews 11:1) 100 Favorite Bible Verses

Song in the night . . ."I call to remembrance my song in the night." Psalm 77:6  "Light comes out of darkness, morning out of the womb of the night . . . I learned for the first time that the world's supply of attar of roses comes from the Balkan Mountains. And the thing that interested me most is that the roses must be gathered in the darkest hours. The pickers start out at one o'clock and finish picking them at two . . . forty percent of the fragrance of roses disappeared in the light of day." Mrs. Charles E. Cowman, Streams in the Desert, May21 devotion

Darkness . . . "Darkness brings dew and refreshment to the foliage of the tree . . . darkness is the time during which a tree restores its strength, replenishes its energy, refreshes its fevered life, and finds respite from the heat and activity of the day . . . God in His infinite wisdom and mighty power, can use the darkness to enrich my life and strengthen my walk." W. Phillip Keller, Songs of My Soul,May 20 devotion

 
Even me . . ."How encouraging it is to find very few super saints listed among those God has placed on His honor roll. They are mostly ordinary, easy-to-overlook people who had faith in an extraordinary, miraculous God and stepped out to act on that faith . . . [God] knows your gifts, your hindrances, and the condition you're in at every moment. And He also knows something you can't possibly know--every single person who's in desperate need of receiving His touch through you. God will bring you to that person at exactly the right time and in the right circumstances." Bruce Wilkinson,The Prayer of Jabez, Welcome to God's Honor Roll

Just yesterday I was reminded of this . . . if you are happy; if you are in good health; if everything seems to be going well, and you're smile is big and  happily shared, remember that this is the time to embrace yourself in God's Word, to read and study the Bible and fill yourself up and overflowing with His Love. For when things get hard, and you're hurting and don't know what to do, you won't be able too. But you'll already be full, and all you've filled yourself up with will be enough to get you through all things.

And from Gloria Gaither's May 20th blog post "I Wish You" where she shared Ephesians 3:17b-19:

"May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God's children should, how long, how deep, and how high His love really is; and to experience that love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God himself."

There's Always a Light and a Laugh

"Lord, I'm at the end of all my resources.

Child, you're just at the beginning of Mine."

Ruth Harms Calkin (1918- )

 A lovely snap from the Facebook page Beautiful Soul. Photographer unknown

Recently I was introduced to two Facebook pages. One makes me laugh, and the other provides encouragement. I'll mention the encouragement page first.

Hope For The Broken-Hearted comes from the blog of Debbie Kay, Christian Author. Her words are written to open the avenue to God's Love to all those needing encouragement. She shares from personnel experience affirming that life goes on, even after deep, life altering losses.

Prayers are posted to bring you closer to God and help you see life through His Light. I've been loving the prayers she writes, and pass on this Facebook page and blog to any who needs encouragement or knows someone that does. Her Facebook page is: Hope for the Broken-Hearted, and her website is hopeforthebrokenhearted.com

Another lovely snap from Beautiful Soul

The second page that makes me laugh is The Mind of an Introvert. Being an extreme introvert, this page has provided me with fun and identity. Funny sayings and how introverts relate are what you'll find. If you are an introvert, or know one who is, you'll understand just where they're coming from as they live in this world.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is one of the most popular personality tests, and I've taken several in my working career. Whenever I've taken one of these tests that describe where you are in the personality realm, I'm always at the farthest end of the introvert chart. It's so nice to know I'm not alone.

"Laughter is the most beautiful and beneficial therapy God ever granted humanity."

Charles R. Swindoll (1934- ) 

Since I don't watch television and don't read a daily paper, most of my newsworthy information comes from the headlines I see on Facebook. And I scim through those very fast. There are a few personal friends that help keep me informed of what's happening in the world.

I zip through my timeline quickly, passing all the junk and stopping at trusted informers. I love the animal and photography pages, and love to see pictures and videos of things I will never have the chance to see in my lifetime.

And, one more.

Check out the two pages I mentioned, especially if you're an introvert or you need encouragement. There are some worthwhile things on Facebook. You just have to be very careful and picky at what you follow!

The Divine Coach

 I'm not sure what kind of tree this is, but the bright green leaves caught my eye. It is sitting next to a Magnolia (below) and it was a striking view!

Most of us are very familiar with Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Nancy McGuirk, author of Rest Assured and leader of the Women's Community Bible Study, shared a different look at this verse.

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." 

 Proverbs 16:9

"It's not that the choices we make don't matter; they do. And it's not that we are puppets with no say; we're not. But somehow in God's mysterious ways, He is able to incorporate our choices with His ultimate plan. It's kind of like having an invisible coach in the basketball game of life. God, the Coach, wants us to make the right moves, but sometimes we don't. And when we don't, He may change the flow of the game in order to work around our choices. No matter what moves we make, with God as Coach, you will win the game," Nancy shares in her devotion "The Divine Coach."

 We have free choice to make any decisions we want, but it's nice to know God doesn't leave us out on a limb. When we are His, our lives are under His umbrella and He guides us as we go.

"The idea that God ordains everything that comes to us is profoundly life changing," Nancy shared. "If we believe that God loves us, and nothing can separate us from His love, why do we worry . . . The one thing I know: I cannot play this game of life unless I read the Rule Book."

Charles Stanley shared these words from His book Wisdom From Above, May 7th devotion, The Healing Word: ". . . the most effective thing you can do is read Scripture and allow the Holy Spirit to teach you through it. Because when you immerse yourself in God's Word, the Father begins to renew you, changing the way you see things and giving you His perspective of the situations you're facing. He reveals the conditions that trigger your damaged emotions and teaches you to respond in a manner that builds you up rather than tears you down. And He shows you how to enjoy the abundant life He created for you." Charles F. Stanley, Wisdom from Above, May 7th devotion, The Healing Word

Read the Rule Book. "The Bible redirects my will, cleanses my emotions, enlightens my mind, and quickens my total being." E. Stanley Jones (1884-1973)

It's Dandelion time here in NW PA. Lawns and fields are covered with Dandelions and it really gives quite a show in color! But once I saw a few fields covered in dandelions, below, my perspective on the lowly Dandelion changed. Fields of yellow are quite attractive!

"The highest earthly enjoyments are but a shadow of the joy I find in reading God's Word,"

Lady Jane Grey (1537-1554)

Tell me, my heart. Do I feel like that reading God's Word. Do you?

The Words Say It All

 As I've written before on this blog, part of my morning devotions is reading hymns from a hymnal. Starting at the beginning of the hymnal, I read a hymn each morning. There's so many that I've never heard of before, and I enjoy reading the words.

The other morning I came upon O Jesus, I have Promised and was thrilled by the words! They expressed my heart's intent perfectly. He is the guardian of my soul!

O Jesus, I Have Promised

“Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.” Luke 18:28

Words: John E. Bode, 1816-1874

Music: Arthur H Mann, 1850-1929

O Jesus, I have promised To serve Thee to the end;

Be Thou forever near me, My Master and my friend;

I shall not fear the battle If Thou art by my side,

Nor wander from the pathway If Thou wilt be my guide.

O Jesus, Thou hast promised To all who follow Thee,

That where Thou art in glory, There shall Thy servant be;

And Jesus, I have promised To serve Thee to the end;

O give me grace to follow My Master and my friend!

O let me feel Thee near me! The world is ever near;

I see the sights that dazzle, The tempting sounds I hear;

My foes are ever near me, Around me and within;

But, Jesus, draw Thou nearer And shield my soul from sin.

O let me hear Thee speaking In accents clear and still,

Above the storms of passion, The murmurs of self will

O speak to reassure me, To hasten or control!

O speak, and make me listen, Thou guardian of my soul!

 Is that your heart's intent? As followers of Jesus, the living Lord, He must be everything to you.

      “We may with the greatest assurance

depend upon God for the safety of his church.”

        Matthew Henry