My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.  Bind them on your fingers: write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, “You are my sister, ” and call understanding your kinsman…  Proverbs 7:1-5

First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”(although the law required them to be made).  Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second.  And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  Hebrews 10: 8-10

The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this.  First he says: This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord.  I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”  Then he adds:  “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”  And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.  Hebrews 10:15-18

For my birthday this month, my husband asked me what I wanted…I want wisdom, I thought…how does someone else wrap that up for you!? On my way to the Starbucks journaling group I heard on the radio some words about wisdom. It was a reminder that pain can create beauty in our lives. That got my attention! The oyster takes it’s little irritations and wraps them up over and over in a sticky substance, that eventually forms a thing of beauty…a pearl. Hhmmmmm…a pearl of wisdom. Then the pastor continued to say that we can have all of the knowledge that we want to spend time gathering…and it will not be wisdom until we apply it…to our little irritations in life!!

I decided that I wanted a pearl ring…A constant reminder, bound on my finger. I have the connection to the covering. My life is covered by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. He has taken my filthy rags (covering) and given me his covering of righteousness. I can “apply” that to my irritants!!! The knowledge of this is imparted to me as I seek it through the word… that is alive. It is written on the tablet of my heart! Oh that wisdom would come from my mouth!!!!

I need to keep my life under the blood. I am the pearl of great price to Jesus. Matt 13:46 Who am I to not apply that to my life and my circumstances. My life can become a thing of beauty when it is covered by Him.

Lord please help me to remember that you have already provided the way for my life to be a thing of beauty…to glorify You. Thank You for Your word, and thank you for the simple illustration of a pearl. I long to be a woman of wisdom. Thank you for the shedding of your precious blood. Just as Abraham was obedient to Your call in Genesis, I pray that I will answer you quickly when You call on me. Lord, here I am.

I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land….Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.  Psalm 143:6,8

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction….For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Tim 4:2,6,7

Interesting scriptures that stand out to me this morning. I just finished the Portland Marathon on my 50th birthday…last Sunday. This was not a race for me It was a way for me to get myself out the door and to exercise…be a good steward of my body, and have fellowship along the way…Drinking water during the marathon was important…they say that by the time you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated.

In my life,work,play,service, I desire to quench the thirst of my soul before I am all dried up. I am so encouraged by the passage today that the Lord will meet me in the water of His word to refresh my soul. It is my responsibility to take myself to the fountain to dip my heart in the stream of life.

That was evident to me yesterday…All day, the idea to have a tea party at Wednesday night bible study kept coming to mind…I did not have the time to pack a tea party up when I started out the door. As the day progressed, the time opened up, and I stepped out in faith…We were studying Genesis chapters 17,18. When we arrived at the table set before us, there was a sweet fellowship…a pouring out of tea, and an overflow from our hearts. I realized that I need to be in the word to have a pouring out of my heart. Those women all brought to the table, the Master’s table, the wisdom and fruit from their hydrated hearts.

I am in this marathon of life…much longer than 26 miles…and may it not be in the desert of a parched soul. I want to be a woman that finishes the race, keeping the faith. I am grateful for the glimpses of faith from others along the way…The water of the word.

Lord, I want to be a strong finisher. I do care how I finish this race. I want to come to you long before my soul is parched, to be refreshed in you word. Lord please use my life to pour out to others. I do not want anyone to miss out on You. You are the oasis in a dry land, and thank You for your provision and strength.

But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love….Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.  For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.  How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 1 Thessalonians 3:6a-9

I just read my last blog entry. It was right before the Lord took my mom home to be with Him. I caught a vision of my own faith. I know that God provides that faith for us when we need it…manna for that time. We were talking about that last night at our first discussion in the Beth Moore Patriarchs bible study. We were reading about Abram’s faith in God… to leave his country based on the promises given to him by God.

Our time on earth causes us to leave alot of “familiar countries”. My mom was a “familiar country”. How in the world do folks get through the loss of a loved one without the rock solid knowledge of eternity, and the one, true living God? My mother is tucked in heaven with Jesus. The aftermath of someone’s death continues with people wondering how you are after the loss…I can comfort them by letting them know that she is no longer suffering When I blogged about God’s provision in July, before moms passing, I was experiencing faith, hope and love in a new way…Now I can reflect that in a different way because I know, I supernaturally know that I will see my mother again

What a gift, a growth, to see God’s glory revealed…to encourage and strengthen others along the path of such a gut wrenching time. The gut wrench (distress) of such a time can be used to build our faith, and to build it in others at the same time. What a blessing you all are when you are seeking the Lord, and depending on him for peace, faith, hope, love, compassion…I learn from you. I can see how to finish the race. Thank you for seeking His faith. You have shown me the way, and I did not know at the time…but I was giving you a glimpse of heaven because my dear mother was on her way there.

It gets better I am overwhelmed by all of the little details, signs, that God is in control, and that he has a plan…In the last few days I was not facing mom in her room, I was sometimes laying beside her, looking out the window of the nursing facility. The perspective out the window that she stared out for those months in bed. There was a sweet little church…I saw it each time outside… but it was right in front of her view out the window (while in bed). The name of the church was not on it…In big letters it said FAITH HOPE LOVE CELEBRATE THE SAVIOR! That was her pre-heaven view while still on this earth….wow

Hey, while we are here…we might as well look to the Lord to provide, stay on the path with each other to eternity. We can be such a blessing to others, and you have been. We need to see the truth of the bible walked out and lived out on the face of this earth…as long as we are here…This passage made me realize how blessed we are in the trial, and watching the trial…glimpses of the Lord at work right before our eyes.

Lord thank you so much for faith. I know that you want me to have it so that I can be close to You. Please help me to be a clean willing vessel to reveal your glory to other believers. Thank you so much for caring about all of the details, and help me to have eyes for the eternal. I pray that the time that I have on this earth can be used to further others in their walk with you, their faith, hope and love. I need you Lord Jesus. AMEN

Today I want to stay under the spout where the blessings pour out. Remember, there is a desert out there!

But certainly God has heard; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, nor His lovingkindness from me.              Psalm 66: 19,20

This time…this season of my life has been in prayer for years. My mother has been ill for many years, and according to hospice, she has a week, or two left in the world. I am not going to go into details, but I have prayed for this time, my family, our relationships. I have prayed very specifically, on my knees, broken hearted at times. I prayed that my family would be restored, and that they would come to know the Lord.

The situation of these last 7 months has been intense as my mother’s life is ending. I can see that the Lord has used every aspect of it to further His kingdom, and His eternal plan. Every long, drawn out, painful moment has revealed the realness, the fragrance of faith in Him. His peace and strength has been prayed for, and manifested, and the glory goes to Him.

The thing that I want to remember is that His strength is manifest in my weakness. I can go boldly before His throne, even years ahead and ask for his provision. I needed to be ready for this time…to be with my family, and to say goodbye for now to my mom. It has been confirmed (as per prayer) that she knows that she is going to heaven to be with Jesus.

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distress, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:9,10

We do not always “see” the answers to our prayers, but I know that if we are praying, and looking expectantly for the Lord to work, our hearts will be ready to see Him, no matter what the “answer” is. It really is all about eternity.

Lord, thank you for hearing my prayers, and for preparing my heart for this time. Lord thank you for your strength and peace, and lovingkindness. Please give me the faith that I need to let go of my mom when you take her home.

Our integrity will guide us and help us walk securely. Proverbs 11:3

My son and I are searching the word tonight for some nuggets of truth.  That can be hard to come by in 1 Chronicles 6-7 and nothing hit us over the head in 1 Corinthians 6. Not this day, at this time. This will be posted for Thursday morning, and we are sitting at the computer on this Wednesday night…the plot thickens. My son and I are leaving in the morning to be by my dying mother’s side…We are getting close…This could be it…only the Lord knows if it is time for her to go to be with Him. I asked my son to help me with the blog, and we hit a dead end in the journal reading for today. We decided to read the daily bread, and it told us that we need to stick with it. The topic was integrity.

Sometimes in life we feel as though we do not want to do things. I could have skipped doing the blog…If I receive my strength and peace from the Lord, why would I want to avoid seeking him in the word at a time like this. My son and I were able to search through the scriptures until something stood out to us. Now that I am typing this I realized that it ties in 1 Corinthians 6 from todays reading…Stick with me here…no pun intended!

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 1 Corinthians 6:12,13

When we decided to do this blog together, we continued to seek the Lord outside of the “required reading” for today. That is sticking with it…integrity. We did not break a “law” we were led by the Spirit of God.

Lord please help us be people of integrity. We do not want to wear masks in front of you. We come to you at this time and ask You to help us as we face difficulties. We want to depend on You for strength, peace, and comfort. Thank You for giving us the freedom in You to seek wisdom from your word. 

As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” Romans 9:33 (quoted from Old testament passages Isaiah 8:14 , 28:16)

When I gave my testimony at the women’s retreat, I shared the scripture Psalm 40:1-3…I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry.  He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.  He has put a new song in my mouth-Praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord… At that time I promised myself that I would do a word study on “rock.”

Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He. Numbers 20:8 Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together.  Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation …1 Samuel 2:2 “No one is holy like the Lord, for there is none besides You, nor is there any rock like our God.”  Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  Psalm 18:31,46 For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? The Lord lives? Blessed by my Rock!  Psalm 27:5 He shall set me high upon a rock. Psalm 62:6 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.  In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Psalm 78:35 Then they remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer.  Matthew 7:24 Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed throught the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

All things lead to Jesus. He is and was the rock, the living water.

Lord, I pray that you would help me as I go about my day to stay close to You. Lord please reveal more of who You are to me in Your word. Thank You Lord for the water of your word. 

And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly troube our city; and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe. Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods.  And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.  Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.  Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. Acts 16:20-26

Where to begin!? Who was really in the inner prison? Paul and Silas were sharing about God’s grace, and that individual faith in Jesus was necessary for salvation. That would have been a threat to an individual, Jew or Gentile. The magistrates did not want to be bothered with new customs and beliefs that messed with their lives as Romans. Little did they know that it was a deeper issue than that. The God of the universe was messing with their lives as sinners who need a savior. The truth that was spoken by Paul and Silas would have knocked at the door of their inner prison…their hearts and souls.

We can expect to “shake” things up by speaking the truth about God and salvation by Jesus his son. It is amazing to me that people want to stay behind prison walls, alone without the truth. This passage of scripture shows us that when we have a personal relationship with Jesus, he comes with us into the prison of our circumstances. The power of that personal relationship was manifested in the praying and singing that was going on. I do not know if Paul and Silas were praying to get out of that prison…they knew that God had sent them to Macedonia through a vision given to Paul. (Acts 15:9,10) I know that they were seeking God right were they were. That obviously impacted several people around them. After the earthquake, Paul and Silas could have fled, let alone the other prisoners! They were all still there! Better to be in prison with God, then free without Him! The jailer could have lost his life because he let the prisoners escape…according to Roman law. There was a bigger plan for his life that day, he was to be saved, and his household. (Acts 16:31)

This passage is so rich, I feel like I could spend all day here digging into the word…I need to go to work. I want to take to work (the world), my personal relationship with Jesus. I have the chance to come across prisoners everyday. I pray that my life can reflect God’s grace, and the need for a savior. I pray that I will remember what life is like behind the inner prison of a heart without Jesus.

Lord, please help me to remember that You have sent me out today into a culture that cannot live without You. I pray that those who are lost will see a difference in a life that is lived with You. I pray that my heart will be lined up with Your will today. I know that you have planned the place that I am spending my day, help me to pray and rejoice right were I am. I pray that many can be freed from their inner prison and have a personal relationship with You my Lord Jesus Christ.

Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know– Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it….This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.                              Acts 2:22-24,32,33

Peter was a changed man here. He was speaking boldly of Jesus. Simply Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. Peter was speaking with the power of the Holy Spirit at this time, and three thousand came to believe. (vs 41) Jesus is the truth, the way and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Him. (John 14:6)

In this world of varied opinions of what “truth” is, sometimes it is intimidating to speak the truth. Some would say that what is true for me, may not be true for you. I am getting dizzy just thinking about it! I have a strong sense of freedom to speak the truth in these end times. If my life is changed by the Holy Spirit, like Peter’s was that day, I too can speak the truth and leave the rest up to God! Sharing the gospel needs to be that simple. If the Lord leads me to share, the truth is there.

Lord, please help me to discern the truth. Lord please help me be sensitive to your Holy Spirt when You want me to share the gospel. I desire to speak the truth in love in other areas of my life. Lord please reveal to me areas in my life that are not true to You…that I need to bring to the light.

When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”     Luke 4:4

But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. Luke 4:5,6

I have so much to learn, and today I decided to think through Luke 5:1-16 from Peter’s perspective…

He was probably tired, from fishing all night without success, and having to clean the nets. He may have been hungry, and discouraged. I wonder what prompted him to take his boat out again for Jesus…I see that he was obedient there… or curious. It does not say how long Jesus talked from the boat, but Peter was a captive audience.

When Jesus started to talk about fishing in vs 4, I think Simon started to operate in his flesh. Jesus was about to show Simon that He would bless him, and meet his needs, and Simon was ready to be the expert about fishing. I am glad that Simon made the choice to heed the word of Jesus to let down the nets. In vs 5 it says that Simon let down the net.

Jesus wants me to trust in him for my needs. Beyond that, He wants me to apply my God given gifts and talents to further His kingdom. To be a fisher of men. (Matt 4:19) I do not want to be like Simon, in some respects. I can see that he did not understand who Jesus was at this time, and that he only put one net into the water at the request of Jesus.

I want to stay in the same boat with Jesus, to hear teaching from him, and to receive instruction. I want to set aside the areas of my life that I feel I have a handle by myself, may expertise in ”fishing”. I desire to be quick to obey Jesus, even if I have been ”fishing all night in my own wisdom and strength.” I want to develop the kind of faith that allows me to concentrate on Eternal things in the midst of the day to day, while I am out “tossing the nets.”    But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. (Matt 6:33)

Lord, thank You for meeting my daily needs. Thank You for your word that includes people like Simon. I want to stay close to You Jesus, to be about the work of the kingdom. Please help me to step out in faith, and toss all of the nets to bring in a big catch. I want others to know you Lord and have Eternity with You. Lord today I long to keep my eyes on you first as I head out into the world.

Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.  Psalm 51:6

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Psalm 51:10,11

For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give It; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirt, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise.  Psalm 51:16,17

I see David here as a man who came to a deep knowledge of God.  I see David trading in his fleshly heart, and brokeness over his sins for a deeper walk with God.  In these scriptures I have learned that we can bring our hidden things to the Lord, and receive something in return. Not just forgiveness for those sins, but a “knowing”. A heart bound up with shame or pride cannot be transparent before the Lord. I do not like to think about having a broken heart.  Bondage is clogged up. Not opened up. If my heart is broken before the Lord, He can see, and I can receive.

How did David “find” out that a true relationship, and forgiveness of sin did not come from the temple. He did not know Jesus…The sacrifice at the temple must of seemed so empty. Just a covering of sin, not a forgiveness. (Hebrews 9:11-15) The longing for something to replace the sin was not forfilled in burnt offerings. No relationship. I see how God revealed that to David long before Jesus. God traded Davids sin for that wisdom…the wisdom of having a broken and contrite heart, beyond empty sacrifice.

Lord, as we are in this Easter season, I long to know You. Lord I desire to never take Your ultimate sacrifice on the cross for granted. Lord I thank you for the brokeness of my heart, and help me to keep it open to receive wisdom from you.