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At Your Feet

Some dear friends sang this beautiful song during our service yesterday morning. I just had to share it with you.

After leaving there, Jesus went along the shore of Lake Galilee. He went up on a hill and sat there. Great crowds came to Jesus, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, those who could not speak, and many others. They put them at Jesus' feet, and he healed them. The crowd was amazed when they saw that people who could not speak before were now able to speak. The crippled were made strong. The lame could walk, and the blind could see. And they praised the God of Israel for this. Matthew 15:29-31

It's About Love - Brandon and Cassidie, Jacob and Marissa

Today's It's About Love family group includes Brandon, Cassidie, Jacob, and Marissa. Please keep them in your prayers that they might be blessed with a family of their own.

To find out more about these adorable childern ages eleven, ten, seven, and two click on their names above. To discover more about The Adoption Exchange click here.

If you would like to find out more relating to It's About Love and the reasons I will be featuring Missouri's waiting children each week click here.

Please continue to keep Kenny in your prayers.

May we pray and do everything we can to see to it that all God's children are blessed with families!

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:27

Romans 5:12-21 - The Cure

Have you ever considered it unfair that we are each born in original sin, because Adam and Eve sinned back in the Garden of Eden? Welcome to the human race. I believe we have all had that thought at least in passing.

LAB notes say it this way: How can we be declared guilty for something Adam did thousands of years ago? Many feel this isn't fair; however, each of us confirms our solidarity with Adam by our own sins each day.

Our nature is prone to rebellion. It doesn't take long for new parents to realize that their "perfect" newborn might be a bit strong-willed and selfish. How often is "no" the first word out of a child's mouth! Although sin entered the world through Adam and Eve we are each responsible and accountable for our own sin. Even though we may think it isn't fair we are sinners and we don't really want or need fairness - we want and need grace and mercy.

Wednesday Word - Plain

Just for fun, I flipped open my handy dandy Thesaurus just to see which word popped out for today. The first word my eyes fell upon was the word - plain.

Definitions for plain are:

1. Clear or distinct to the eye or ear.
2. Clear to the mind; evident, manifest, or obvious.

Right away I started to giggle as I thought about an old quote from our favorite Cheers episode - Coach's Daughter. Coach was always a little confused, so when his daughter, Lisa, says, "Daddy, isn't it obvious to you?" It was hysterical when he answered, "Nothing is ever obvious to me!" Sometimes I understand how he felt! LOL

Wednesday Word - Excess

My favorite definition for excess is: more than is needed.

I like the simplicity of that definition; however, I believe that for most people excess is . . . more than I have. We have a difficult time understanding the difference between our wants and our needs.

Advertisers work hard to convince consumers that their clients product is something that is necessary. Then we have differences within product categories. Sometimes I end up with a headache just standing in the hair product aisle. ;-) I need shampoo. Do I need a two dollar bottle of shampoo or twelve dollar bottle. We need to eat, but I'm certain I could manage our grocery budget more carefully. We need clothing. Okay, I already have excess there too! How about you?

This is not intended as a guilt trip. I am just taking this opportunity to remind myself that this is a valuable thing to keep in mind. I've been thinking about how much easier my life would be if I had less "stuff."

I'm going to strive to apply a few rules to help me with the excess in my life.

Simple Truth - Trust the Lord

 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; 
      do not depend on your own understanding. 
Seek His will in all you do, 
      and He will show you which path to take.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust = the confident reliance of the integrity, strength, ability, and promise of a person or thing.

I wonder - is trust a decision of the mind or an action of the heart.

This verse says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart."

Trust is more than believing. It is the confidence that we can rely on God's promises . . . His ability . . . His faithfulness. Trust gives us the desire to walk with Him. To say with confidence that His way is better than our way.

But then there's a promise . . . 

Walk with the Lord and He will show you which path to take.

What a blessing it is to know that as we walk in faith-filled obedience God will guide us. As we follow His paths our faith and trust will grow, because He is faithful to keep His promises.

He is worthy of our trust.

All of our trust. 

Afraid of the Known Unknown

She stood looking out the window. Unable to understand the scene below. The beginning of days that would change her tender two year old heart from carefree to anxious.

 As years passed, she looked back on that day and the weeks that followed as the source of her fear. She never remembered why. No circumstances stood out, but everything changed. In just a few moments life became larger than the sheltered bubble she had always known.

Several weeks ago, the main character in one of my favorite television shows said the following: "It's not the unknown I'm afraid of, it's the known unknown."

True!

We don't fear what we don't know. We fear what we know. Life experiences and stories about life experiences are the things that make us fearful.

We don't fear illnesses we have never hear about. We didn't fear terrorism until 9/11. We don't fear divorce until we know someone who has been touched by its pain. We dont' fear betrayal, pain, or a broken heart until we become aware that they exist.

So it's not the unknown that we fear; it is our unknown that is able to give us sleepless nights.

However . . .

Although our future is unknown to us, it is not unknown to our Father. The One who loves us, who cares for us, who forgives us, who daily showers us with mercy and grace is the One who knows every detail of our tomorrows. And He has promised to never leave us alone to  face a moment on our own.

In case you're wondering, I was the little girl in the story above. Always afraid unless I was close to my mother or father . . . with them I was safe.

With our Father we are safe. In His presence we can face the future unafraid. He will never allow more in our lives than He is able to strengthen us to endure, and He has told us "don't be afraid."

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3

The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? 
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?Psalm 27:1

The LORD is with me. I will not be afraid. Psalm 118:6

In the Beginning the First Miracle

 

In the beginning . . .

God spoke and things happened. Big things. Indescribable things.

Things beyond our explanation or comprehension.

Things that have been a stumbling block for many who struggle to accept them on faith.

The First Miracle

Out of the emptiness and darkness - He spoke.

David said it this way:

The LORD merely spoke, 
      and the heavens were created. 
   He breathed the word, 
      and all the stars were born. 
He assigned the sea its boundaries 
      and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs. 
Let the whole world fear the LORD, 
      and let everyone stand in awe of him. 
For when he spoke, the world began! 
      It appeared at his command. Psalm 33:6-9

Job 38 reports of God challenging Job's doubts. 
Here are just a few verses:

“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
      Tell me, if you know so much.
 Who determined its dimensions
      and stretched out the surveying line?
 What supports its foundations,
      and who laid its cornerstone
 as the morning stars sang together
      and all the angels shouted for joy?" v. 4-7

And John begins his Gospel telling us that Jesus is God - present at creation:

In the beginning the Word already existed.
      The Word was with God,
      and the Word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through Him,
      and nothing was created except through Him. John 1:1-3

A miracle is defined as - an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs.

Each moment of creation - each step designed with a purpose. Each addition pointing toward and preparing for the creation of man and woman . . . people . . . you and me.

God is HUGE. 
Beyond our comprehension and indescribable.
Yet, personal.

Love.

Take a moment to thank and praise Him.

Praise, Prayers, and Pics - Joy

I've decided to continue praise and prayer posts, but this year in order to force myself to work a little harder at perfecting the skill of using my new camera . . . I'm going to feature a picture as well.

I took this photo on January 4^th, at the Missouri Botanical Gardens  - Gardenland Express Exhibit:

 

 

Joy = the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires. (Mirriam-Webster Dictionary)

Faith-filled joy = the happy state that results from knowing and serving God, joy is the fruit of a right relation with God, not something people can create by their own efforts. (Holman Bible Dictionary)

Praise the Lord!
      For He has heard my cry for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and shield.
      I trust Him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
      I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. Psalm 28:6-7

Sing to the Lord, for He has done wonderful things.
      Make known His praise around the world.
Let all the people of Jerusalem shout His praise with joy!
      For great is the Holy One of Israel who lives among you. Isaiah 12:5-6

And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.” Mark 1:11

So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. John 16:22

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Father, Your Word says that You want us to know You and love You. It tells us that we know You through knowing Jesus, our Savior and Lord. Kings, prophets, and apostles have written that knowing You, the source of hope, fills us with joy. Thank you. Words are not enough to show you our gratitude. All that we have and all that we are is still not enough, but it what we offer. We thank You. We praise You. We love You. Amen.

Expelled

Thanks to Staci for the reminder that Ben Stein's movie Expelled is out on DVD, and also for this link - http://www.benstein.com/121805xmas.html to an essay of his which Ithoroughly enjoyed. It's just so rare, and so refreshing to hear anyone with any measure of fame be so clear-headed.

Paul & I made a point of going to see it in the theater. We loved it. We laughed. We cried. Did I mention it's a documentary? It was worth the price of admission just to see the computer animation of the interior workings of a cell - breathtaking and awe-inspiring.

Okay, 'nuf sed. Back to responsiblities.