Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus

Friends,  

We sing it and we speak it but do we walk it and live it?

What does it take to shake us, to cause doubt, to make us fear?

I implore you , You who have accepted the Good News of Salvation,  to come to grips with the Truth

We must align ourselves with the truth of God's Word not visa versa

We must stand strong and courageous ,  trusting  HIM

Listen to this beautiful old song that came to my mind this morning during prayer

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=DKLYG7NX

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
And to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, "Thus saith the Lord."

[Refrain:]
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!O for grace to trust Him more!
Yes Tis sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just from sin and self to cease.

Just from Jesus simply taking

Life and rest and joy and peace

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
'Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

I'm so glad I learned to trust thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, friend;
And I know that thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.
[Refrain]

Blessings!   See you on the 11th!

Brazil #2

She sits behind the door that is opened only a crack.  She waits for the next "client"   She must make money to provide for her children a 30 hour bus ride away.  She comes for 2 weeks, "works", and then returns home to be a homemaker.  Life is hard...She "works"

She hears noises outside of her small, confined closet of a room.  It is not unusual as men walk in a steady stream pass the door.  Some stop in.

Today is different.  A girl's voice,  some laughter and then with a knock her door pushes open.  There standing, with hands full, is the local pastor.  He holds a birthday cake and a few gifts.  His wife and a few others accompany him.  They are here to celebrate her!   She scurries for a few more clothes to put on and with wide smile relishes the pure love and attention.
The "guests" sit on her bed, once defiled, but now sanctified by HIS presence and then other girls push into the room to sing and celebrate their co-worker.

A glimpse of  hope, compassion, pure love  
Is it possible that there is a way out of this
That there is more?
A seed is sown

This is how Jesus loves

Father we lifts these girls to you, caught in the lack and the need for provision.  Using what does not "cost" them anything.  Protect them Father and pull them out one by one.  Prosper the ways of this pastor and family who determine to be Your hands, feet and family to the ones called "unclean"
You love like no other
xom

Brazil

He sits away from the crowd.
Layers of filthy clothes weigh his small frame down.  He is hollow and all alone, forgotten and overlooked.  Does he even exist anymore?
She feels compelled to go over, sits with the interpreter and begins to talk.  He is caught off guard and cannot believe someone is addressing him!
NO ONE talks to him.
She tells him that the Lord loves him and wants him to know it.  There are many tears as a story of a productive life unfolds ....then hardships come and reduce the man to a shell.

Yet Jesus cares..He see..He sends.

She holds his hands and realizes that they are covered with fresh blood.
She had a split second of concern but then tosses it to God for HE sent her here.
The gentleman's nose is bleeding, his beard is covered as well as his face and hands.  
After compassion and hope is expressed she goes and gets the "wet wipes" that are used by the drama team.  She begins to wash his hands, his face, his beard as his tears aid her in her efforts.

He eventually walks away to go and sleep on the street.

His eyes have seen compassion, his ears have heard hope and his spirit has been gifted by THE SPIRIT.   Who knows, but God, what will happen next to this man...who's "hollow" is beginning to fill up.

Father, grace this one that You  know so well.  Make a way where there seems to be no way.  Open opportunities up for life and freedom to abound again.  Thank You for Your love and concern.  You love like no other.

xo M

Loving the Unlovely

My daughter shared tonite about some of the happenings during her trip to Brazil.  Over and over the theme was that the Lord loves differently than we do.  HE does not wait till everything is perfect and clean, till we have repented and turned away from our sin...


The scripture says that He loved us even while we were yet sinners.


We tend to have a hard time with that.  Oh yes we are certainly glad that He reached out to us in our mess but we all too often forget that when it comes to us having to forgive someone.  All of a sudden our past was just not as bad as theirs. 


Father please forgive us.  Give us the same grace and mercy that You shared with  us as we walk these dusty roads.  Teach us to love like YOU love!


Blessings!

Running in Circles

Some days....... Thankfully not everyday'


but then again


~Some days~


We walk, we stumble and run into walls,rivers and mountains. Our emotions are like strong towers and we struggle to believe what HE says rather than what is all around us.


We are weak, weary, and sometimes just feel  lost...


It's a lie dear one.
Remember that NOTHING can separate you from the Love of the Lord.
He is the ONLY ONE  Who brings peace ~ so stop running,  
Sit down for a minute and focus once again on THE ONE


THE  ONLY ONE WHO BRINGS ME PEACE.


Blessings!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foVRP07WOAg

Words of Life

For years my prayer has been that the Lord would allow me to be a "life speaker".  One who encourages, speaks hope, love and compassion.   It is very easy to fall into the negative, half empty type of speech that does not build anyone up.

Listen to yourself today and hear what you have to say...how you respond to the people around you, your family and co-workers.

I pray that your speech will be seasoned with grace and wisdom today and that it will show evidence that you have been in HIS presence!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z6Vup_9qog&feature=related

Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life
Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life
Words of life and beauty teach me faith and duty

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life

Christ, the blessed One, gives to all wonderful words of life
Sinner, list to the loving call, wonderful words of life
All so freely given, wooing us to heaven

Sweetly echo the Gospel call, wonderful words of life
Offer pardon and peace to all, wonderful words of life
Jesus, only Savior, sanctify us forever

Who Is Behind the Curtain?

Last year I was having trouble with my ITouch.   I called for "help" and got a gentleman with a strong Indian accent.  We worked  through alot of trouble shooting when I asked him how long he had owned his Itouch.  He said "Oh I have never owned an Itouch, nor have I ever seen one.  I am just sitting here with a very large manual turning pages"


That reminded me of the Great and Mighty Oz... all smoke and lights but with no power.


BUT MY FRIENDS.........................


OUR GOD


HE is mighty to save!
He can move mountains!
HE can make a way where there seems to be no way
He is all powerful, all knowing and can be all places at once!
His "arm is not too short"'
NOTHING is too difficult for Him!


So be sure that you do not depend on that guy in India or the old man behind the curtain...
NOTHING COMPARES TO OUR GOD!


Blessings!

How It ALL Began...

I just returned home from attending a  wedding and visiting my daughter  in MD.  I had a wonderful time. 


While I was seated at  the rehearsal dinner I got a notification from facebook saying that my "relationship status" had been changed and saw that a couple "status" entries had been made.


WOW  I WAS IN A RELATIONSHIP!!!


How cool was that!   I did not even know!   In just a few clicks and pecks on a keyboard I now was embarking on a new life.  Yes, I will admit we laughed and  the young man sitting beside me posed for a couple of pictures to be posted ....and so it went. 


Dozens of comments later, offers for advise,  a few emails and some phone calls and soon my small little "puddle" was astir with excitement!!  Could it be true?  In a short couple of days?  wow! Marnie....16 years single and now in a matter of hours, involved with a MUCH-YOUNGER man.   What fun!


I considered playing with the "guise" for a few more days but then....
I thought of my friends; some would be glad, some sad, some jealous, some depressed but the one thing that they would all have in common would be that they would be deceived.  I just couldn't do it!


How easy it is to paint a picture.  You simply fill in the blanks.   You can make your story short or long, sad or happy, mysterious or common, easy or hard with just the change of a few words.  You don't even need to lie..you just simply add or leave out certain information.


So how do you tell your story?  Do you tend to embellish or hold back?  


There is one common "story" that I hope we all have.
  
Once I was lost but now I'm found, I was blind but now I see, lame but now I walk,  
JESUS has made a difference in my life.  HE is the Lover of my soul. 
 He knows every detail of my life before it even happens.


HE HAS A PLAN for YOU and I !  
Don't go by what you see or hear~ Beloved~  


HE IS DOING  A WORK!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENtL_li4GbE&NR=1

1 Hope you missed me!
2. Know of a wonderful and Godly man or woman?  Introduce them to a friend!
3. I truly missed you all!

Just Thinking

How important it is to  NOT RUN AHEAD OF GOD!


Having recently been exposed to some disturbing information concerning Human Trafficking and Spousal Abuse the tendency is to either replant one's head in the sand or go and buy a gun and ammunition!


We must do neither.  


The Lord is on His throne.  He knows the ways of man.  His arm is not too short and His will WILL prevail.  He has a plan.  


Please beloved ~  we do not need any more Towers of Babel.  We need men and women who will stop, watch and listen for direction from above.   People who are willing to submit their great ideas to the God of the Universe ....The One who knows the Day and the Hour.


Be not dismayed.  He is not asleep, nor has He forgotten. The Lord loves His people and He would that ALL would come to Him.  He is not on our team....We need to be on HIS team.  


Think it through and make sure that you remember who's BOSS.


Blessings!

Psalm 56

 ³ When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
 ⁴ In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
   What can mere mortals do to me?


Wow.....lets read that again


When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 


How do we do that?  I mean, after all, I AM AFRAID!!!


We do it by a choice of our will.  It is an action, a decision to just DO IT!


It is a very difficult exercise in the beginning but as the "muscle" is used it gets stronger and stronger ever day.


So today~
when life assails you, all manner of evil surrounds you, when the economy terrifies you, when bad news comes in the door and hope seems to go out


I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN YOU!
AMEN!


Blessings!

It's All About Moi

It's also all about perspective!


In this country too often this is what we experience...people caring only about themselves.  Period
Not Good


BUT   when you find yourself in a tight place,  bothered by a relationship gone sour, at the bottom of the pile....You know what!?   It IS all about you!!!   God wants YOU to deal with the situation at hand correctly!  HE is getting your attention and He does not want you shifting your attention any where else!  
He is looking at YOU!!!  
He is molding and making you and He will use everything that comes your way!


So as far as the Lord, God, our Heavenly Father is concerned....
ITS ALL ABOUT MOI!  
We do not need to be concerned how someone else is responding or reacting or whether they are getting away with anything...


His hand is busy at work IN US!


Let Him have His way and work with Him so that the "operation"  will not last forever!


Blessings!


He is GOOD ALL THE TIME!

Today.....

If you awoke to NO ELECTRICITY....what would you do
                     to NO WATER ..............  how would you respond
                     to YOUR CAR NOT STARTING.........would you begin to panic?


Hummmm    how about all 3 in the same morning?


"Father, I admit that most of us would begin to crumble on some level.  Our heads are full of Your promises but so often when the rubber hits the road we panic, despair, become anxious, lose faith and crumble.  Lord we NEED Your strength and grace to stand firm.  Begin a new work in us I pray Lord.  


We need Your help to carry on, to stand firm on Your Word and not surrender to the attack of our enemy.


We surrender to Your work in us Lord.....We look to You!"


Brothers and Sisters get exercising!  Harder days are sure to come, don't be caught unprepared.


Blessings!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bS3qwj-mAI&feature=related

BLAH....

Just another day on planet earth.
  
Some days we get up and that's all.  Our "feelings" are BLAH.  
We "feel" unfulfilled, unproductive and even unaware. 
We "feel" useless and discouraged....
so was my day today...
same old things ~the things of this life calling me, chasing me and holding me down.


BUT WAIT!


This is not my home!   I'm just passing through!  I'm one day closer to being in Heaven with the Lord !  Praise the Lord, Hallelujah! 
I will not be shaken!   I will not be moved!  The Lord is my Fortress and Strong Tower!  HE NEVER CHANGES!   He is not disappointed in me.... He understands and has sufficient grace for the asking.


Friend....look up!  Be encouraged the Lord loves you with an everlasting love and He cares about YOU!


Blessings


Remember we do not go by feelings we go by FACT!

We Just May Be Surprized!

I received this in my mailbox from a reader




I  was shocked,  confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven's  door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor  the lights or its decor.

But it was the  folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and  gasp--
The thieves, the liars, the  sinners,
The alcoholics and the trash. 

There stood the kid from seventh grade 
Who swiped my lunch money twice.
Next to  him was my old neighbor
Who never said  anything nice.

Bob, who I always thought 
Was rotting away in hell,
Was sitting  pretty on cloud  nine, 
Looking incredibly well.

I nudged  Jesus, 'What's the deal?
I would love to  hear Your take.
How'd all these sinners get  up here?
God must've made a mistake. 

'And why is everyone so quiet,
So  somber - give me a clue.'
'Hush, child,' He  said,
'they're all in shock.
No one  thought they'd be seeing you..'

JUDGE  NOT!!

Remember...Just going to church  doesn't make you a
Christian any more than  standing in your garage makes you a car.


I surely hope that no one will be shocked to see me in heaven and I pray the same for you!

If God is so Good Then.....

You've heard it before.  " Then why does He allow killing, disasters, drought, famine etc etc."

Job 2
..."That I'd, day after day, greedily take what looks like its good from your hand ~ a child gloating over sweet candy..."  "...but that  I'd thrash wild to escape when what You give from Your hand feels bad...like gravel in the mouth.  Oh Father ...forgive ~  Should I accept good from You and not trouble?"

Will we stay children forever?  Won't there be a time that we "Get it"
That the Lord has ONLY THE BEST for us.  Yes, He will use ALL the things and situations that the world dishes out BUT they will be used for our GOOD, not to harm us, but to mold us into His likeness and image.

Let's pay attention to the words that come out of our mouths and
"May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to You, Oh Lord" PS 19

Blessings!