tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49333772770434688602024-03-13T06:22:06.856-05:00and that's thatAngeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.comBlogger1348125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933377277043468860.post-82010238858591075012023-09-19T16:15:00.002-05:002023-09-19T16:15:18.989-05:00Living In The Desert<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7C4htfQWwyT8jLKlS7uXKlH1xNvYGiZmqLNlZFqVUHVanrnPVBx3kjW2LYCbKCwFtheC5whAc1V-8lxPpJjyywUzT7J_kCAgJGqWeHR4v0ydE34NKW-2qV95bPydq469zazFpGLYUYydAPyfpWvGxvG7WdsgHvG9euIpCwAIKyInUmKa1SMSsS29ev0/s1200/desert%20life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7C4htfQWwyT8jLKlS7uXKlH1xNvYGiZmqLNlZFqVUHVanrnPVBx3kjW2LYCbKCwFtheC5whAc1V-8lxPpJjyywUzT7J_kCAgJGqWeHR4v0ydE34NKW-2qV95bPydq469zazFpGLYUYydAPyfpWvGxvG7WdsgHvG9euIpCwAIKyInUmKa1SMSsS29ev0/s320/desert%20life.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p> <span style="font-family: georgia;"> Right now, I'm living in a season of adversity, and it's like I'm living out in the desert. I feel alone at times, but truthfully I'm never really alone. God is always with me and I've never been alone once in my life. I may not can see him now, but He has always had a bigger picture for my life. <span style="background-color: white;">Not only that, but He has a bigger plan set in place to redeem me. I may face trials that shake me to my core, but I will never be separated from Him—not if I keep my eyes fixed firmly on Jesus.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> If you a</span><span style="background-color: white;">sk anyone who's dealt with their fair share of valleys in their life with chaos and heartbreak, then they'll probably tell you that while it was a difficult chapter, they saw God moving in their hearts and in their character more than ever. I can say that's true for the two years it took for me to find a job after college graduation. I sent out countless resumes and went on interview after interview but I didn't give up on God's plan for me or on myself. He came through with the perfect job for me that was right for those 5 years of my life.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> So, now God's plan for me involves 'waiting'. Anyone who knows me knows that waiting is not my strong suit. I'm impatient, to say it mildly. </span><span style="background-color: white;">When we go through a long, hard season where we feel like God is distant, we don't know what His big-picture plan is. We simply have to trust and move forward the best we can. God knows what He was doing back then, so why don't I trust in His plan for me now? Because, I have to be still and know that He is God, not I.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> "</span><span style="background-color: white;">It's often those moments of obscurity and doubt that we come face to face with God Himself."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> "</span><span style="background-color: white;">If we've learned anything about God, is that He makes beauty out of our brokenness."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;"> "</span><span style="background-color: white;">When God makes a promise, He never forgets."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><em style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text Gen-15-1" style="box-sizing: border-box;">After this, the word of the <span class="small-caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Lord</span> came to Abram in a vision,</span>“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward." <span class="text Gen-15-2" id="en-NIV-363" style="box-sizing: border-box;">But Abram said, “Sovereign <span class="small-caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Lord</span>, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: xx-small;"></span>my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” </span><span class="text Gen-15-3" id="en-NIV-364" style="box-sizing: border-box;">And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” ~ Genesis 15:1-3</span></em></span></p><p><em style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text Gen-15-3" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. ~ Genesis 15:4-6</span></span></em></p><p><em style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text Gen-15-3" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Gen-15-17" id="en-NIV-378" style="box-sizing: border-box;">When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking fire-pot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces.</span> <span class="text Gen-15-18" id="en-NIV-379" style="box-sizing: border-box;">On that day the <span class="small-caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Lord</span> made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: xx-small;"></span>of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates—</span><span class="text Gen-15-19" id="en-NIV-380" style="box-sizing: border-box;">the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, </span><span class="text Gen-15-20" id="en-NIV-381" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,</span> <span class="text Gen-15-21" id="en-NIV-382" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.” ~ Genesis 15:17-19</span></span></em></span></em></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">"If we remember the story of Abraham and Sarah, </span><span style="background-color: white;">this is the perfect example of a couple navigating the "desert" of life. They had previously been promised by God that they would be fruitful and blessed. After years and years of infertility, Abraham and Sarah must have been wrestling with all those tough emotions. Guilt, doubt, despair, anger, loneliness. Still, they continued to hold on to hope and wait on the Lord."</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> What a great story of waiting and a promise fulfilled. When my time 'in the desert' is over, I will come out stronger and He will have blessed me beyond my imagination. I just have to cling to my faith, my hope and my trust in Him. Whether I'm on a mountain or in a valley, God is worthy of my praise in every season of this life. God always knows what He is doing and God is good, all the time and all the time, God is good.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c3l1z7bXY9Y?si=S74FnckXCt7LLwYM" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Angeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933377277043468860.post-92115502369998387962023-08-27T12:14:00.001-05:002023-08-27T12:14:46.418-05:00Responding to the World, Like a Christian<p> </p><p><br /></p><p> <span style="font-family: georgia;"> I've been struggling the past few months, so today I decided to turn to the Book of James. James is actually a letter to believers that can be read in about 20 minutes. It's short and that's what I need right now to stay focused. Maybe you're at that point in your life right now too.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> James 1:2-4 "<span class="text Jas-1-2" id="en-NASB-30256" style="background-color: white;">Consider it all joy, my brothers <i>and sisters</i>, when you encounter various trials,</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Jas-1-3" id="en-NASB-30257" style="background-color: white;">knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Jas-1-4" id="en-NASB-30258" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>And let endurance have <i>its</i> perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."</span></span></p><p><span class="text Jas-1-4" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> This verse grabbed me by the shoulders because it says "when" you encounter various trials, not "if". Christians need to expect trials in their lives and see it from a godly perspective. That's where I'm at and I needed to know what the purpose of it all is. Well, it says my faith is being tested to produce endurance. My faith is being tested to trust God completely in His will for me in this trial and in my life. When James says "Count it all joy", he wants us to see the bigger picture in our trials, as opportunities to grow and joyfully mature into Christ-likeness.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Jas-1-4" style="background-color: white;"> "James</span><span style="background-color: white;"> encourages Christians to embrace trials not for what they presently are, but for the outcome God will accomplish through them. </span>James 1:12<span style="background-color: white;"> promises, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” [gotquestions.org]</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> The "crown of life" </span><span style="background-color: white;">is a gift from God that will be awarded to those who, because of their love for Him, faithfully endured trials and tests on earth:</span><span style="background-color: white;"> "</span><span style="background-color: white;">The crown of life is not an actual ornamental headdress but a symbolic representation of God’s recognition for having spiritually triumphed in this life.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Jesus assured the church in Smyrna, “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown"</span><span style="background-color: white;"> [gotquestions.org] </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> When James talks of being 'perfect', it doesn't mean being sinless, it means growing in spiritual development and maturity. I know for myself, I can look back on past surgeries, past school experiences, and how I've responded to worldly things and have seen how my faith grew and I matured as a believer. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> "</span><span class="text Jas-1-5" id="en-NASB-30259" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Jas-1-6" id="en-NASB-30260" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>But he must ask in faith without any doubting". We must ask God first for wisdom in our trials and God is not an option. We can't be double-minded by having God as a choice, no, He is the only way. Ask Him, Seek His Word, and Trust Him.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Jas-1-6" style="background-color: white;"> As for myself, I've been in this trial since March. I faced a worldly decision to protect my friends from a wrong in this world. I don't regret it, even tho it's cost me. I have felt imprisoned these past few months but it is nothing compared to the glory Jesus received. I've asked for wisdom and I think that's why God led me to the Book of James. Responding to the things of this world takes the armor of God.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Jas-1-6" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: white; color: #081c2a; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fV_010Y3_Os?si=FHgXrdT_1XcC34hO" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Angeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933377277043468860.post-6239675646289405832023-05-16T15:20:00.000-05:002023-05-16T15:20:11.961-05:00Broken<p> </p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <span> I begin this blog with the acknowledgement that I've reached the end of myself. There is a blessing from Jesus that comes from that, which is Him meeting me there in my brokenness. The first beattitude that Jesus talks about on The Sermon on the Mount is in Matthew 5:3 "<span style="background-color: white;">Blessed are the poor in spirit, for </span><span style="background-color: white;">theirs is the kingdom of heaven." He redefines what happiness truly means. We can chase after our desires but real happiness comes in pleasing Jesus. Right now I feel bummed because I'm not getting to do what I want without an aide to help me, but when I finish this blog on my own then I will be truly happy that I did something pleasing for the Lord.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Psalm 14:18 "The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> We need to be beautifully broken before the Lord. When we are, He will draw us nearer to Him and put us back together as He sees fit. We first have to trust Him with our brokenness, then we can be restored thru Him to be what He wants us to be and do what is pleasing in His sight.</span></p><div class="bible-item-text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>; And He will give you the desires of your heart."</span></div><div class="bible-item-text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> How many people confuse 'the desires of their heart' with what God really means, is in the verse is 'a relationship with Jesus Christ"? "<span style="text-align: justify;">That verse does not say “God will give you the desires of your heart because you delight in Him”. Instead, the verse commands us to “Delight yourself in the Lord” and then He will fulfill your desires because He is the only One who can satisfy your heart." [gracecalling.com]</span></span></div><div class="bible-item-text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="text-align: justify;"> How many of us would like an easy life? Jesus promised that we would suffer in our trials, but that He would also give us peace in them. John 16:33 "</span>These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”</span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> In all of our found brokenness, God's love for us never decreases. He will never forsake His children. Even tho we may struggle through our trials, would we not give up our desires, if it's not Jesus' will?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">John 1:24 "<span style="background-color: white;">Truly, truly I say to you, </span><span style="background-color: white;">unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> When we willingly submit our lives to Christ, then we glorify Him with our testimonies and bear fruit in this broken world. </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">Even if our life isn’t what we hoped for, God will not abandon us or leave us in tribulation. Isaiah 29:11 states “‘For I know the plans I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"> As for myself, I built my life on dreams and desires of my own. Now that all of that has left me, I've concentrated my life more on what God wants from me. This will be my 1356th blog since 2011. These are more important to God, than any number of tests I took in school or lab tests I ran at work. These blogs have also drawn me nearer to Christ , than anything I've ever done. My blog collection has truly been a source of happiness for me.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Remember, in all of our pain and sufferings, it is Christ who calls us and in Him are our desires truly satisfied.</span></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HqpNGYbcy3U" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Angeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933377277043468860.post-23779120821793522452023-05-03T11:58:00.005-05:002023-05-03T11:58:57.075-05:00Our Silent Example<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Isaiah 53</span></p><div class="poetry" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;"><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="chapter-2"><span class="text Isa-53-1" style="position: relative;">Who has believed our report?</span></span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-1" style="position: relative;">And to whom has the arm of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> been revealed?</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-2" id="en-NASB-18714" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">2 </span>For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-2" style="position: relative;">And like a root out of dry ground;</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-2" style="position: relative;">He has no <i>stately</i> form or majesty</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-2" style="position: relative;">That we would look at Him,</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-2" style="position: relative;">Nor an appearance that we would take pleasure in Him.</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-3" id="en-NASB-18715" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">3 </span>He was despised and abandoned by men,</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-3" style="position: relative;">A man of great pain and familiar with sickness;</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-3" style="position: relative;">And like one from whom <i>people</i> hide their faces,</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-3" style="position: relative;">He was despised, and we had no regard for Him.</span></span></p></div><div class="poetry top-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;"><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Isa-53-4" id="en-NASB-18716" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">4 </span>However, <i>it was</i> our sicknesses <i>that</i> He Himself bore,</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-4" style="position: relative;">And our pains <i>that</i> He carried;</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-4" style="position: relative;">Yet we ourselves assumed that He had been afflicted,</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-4" style="position: relative;">Struck down by God, and humiliated.</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-5" id="en-NASB-18717" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">5 </span>But He was pierced for our offenses,</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-5" style="position: relative;">He was crushed for our wrongdoings;</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-5" style="position: relative;">The punishment for our well-being <i>was laid</i> upon Him,</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-5" style="position: relative;">And by His wounds we are healed.</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-6" id="en-NASB-18718" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">6 </span>All of us, like sheep, have gone astray,</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-6" style="position: relative;">Each of us has turned to his own way;</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-6" style="position: relative;">But the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> has caused the wrongdoing of us all</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-6" style="position: relative;">To fall on Him.</span></span></p></div><div class="poetry top-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;"><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Isa-53-7" id="en-NASB-18719" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">7 </span>He was oppressed and afflicted,</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-7" style="position: relative;">Yet He did not open His mouth;</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-7" style="position: relative;">Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-7" style="position: relative;">And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-7" style="position: relative;">So He did not open His mouth.</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-8" id="en-NASB-18720" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">8 </span>By oppression and judgment He was taken away;</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-8" style="position: relative;">And as for His generation, who considered</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-8" style="position: relative;">That He was cut off from the land of the living</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-8" style="position: relative;"><i>For</i> the wrongdoing of my people, to whom the blow <i>was due</i>?</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-9" id="en-NASB-18721" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">9 </span>And His grave was assigned with wicked men,</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-9" style="position: relative;">Yet He was with a rich man in His death,</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-9" style="position: relative;">Because He had done no violence,</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-9" style="position: relative;">Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.</span></span></p></div><div class="poetry top-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;"><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Isa-53-10" id="en-NASB-18722" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">10 </span>But the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> desired</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-10" style="position: relative;">To crush Him, causing <i>Him</i> grief;</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-10" style="position: relative;">If He renders Himself <i>as</i> a guilt offering,</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-10" style="position: relative;">He will see <i>His</i> offspring,</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-10" style="position: relative;">He will prolong <i>His</i> days,</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-10" style="position: relative;">And the good pleasure of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> will prosper in His hand.</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-11" id="en-NASB-18723" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">11 </span>As a result of the anguish of His soul,</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-11" style="position: relative;">He will see <i>it and</i> be satisfied;</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-11" style="position: relative;">By His knowledge the Righteous One,</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-11" style="position: relative;">My Servant, will justify the many,</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-11" style="position: relative;">For He will bear their wrongdoings.</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-12" id="en-NASB-18724" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">12 </span>Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-12" style="position: relative;">And He will divide the plunder with the strong,</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-12" style="position: relative;">Because He poured out His life unto death,</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-12" style="position: relative;">And was counted with wrongdoers;</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-12" style="position: relative;">Yet He Himself bore the sin of many,</span><br /><span class="text Isa-53-12" style="position: relative;">And interceded for the wrongdoers.</span></span></p><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Isa-53-12" style="position: relative;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Isa-53-12" style="position: relative;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><span class="text Isa-53-12" style="position: relative;"> I'm starting this blog with Isaiah 53, also known as 'The Suffering Servant'. It is the Old Testament's account of Isaiah's prophecy of the </span></span><span face="ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"">sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow. In the following other verses I list below, we see also how Jesus was willing and without complaint in following His Father's will. No other could die for our sins, and rise again for our justification.</span></span></p><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji""> </span></span></p><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"">Mark 15:4-5 "</span><span class="text Mark-15-4" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NASB-24825"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>But Pilate questioned Him again, saying, “Do You offer nothing in answer? See how many charges they are bringing against You!”</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"> </span><span class="text Mark-15-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NASB-24826"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>But Jesus said nothing further in answer, so Pilate was amazed."</span></span></p><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Mark-15-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><br /></span></span></p><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Mark-15-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial">Matthew 27:14 "</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial">And </span><i>still</i><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"> </span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial">He did not answer him in regard to even a single </span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial">charge, so the governor was greatly amazed."</span></span></p><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><br /></span></span></p><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial">Luke 23:9 "</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial">And he questioned Him </span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial">at some length; but </span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial">He offered him no answer at all."</span></span></p><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="poetry top-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative; text-align: left;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"> The point of this blog is that we should follow Jesus' example in not complaining when trials become part of the Lord's will for us. Why do we question 'Why me?' Why not us? Jesus was a willing sacrifice and paid our sin debt, while He knew no sin of his own.</span></span></div></div><div class="poetry top-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative; text-align: left;"><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"> </span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ecclesiastes tells us that there is time to speak and a time to keep silent. , When is there a fitting time? When is it better to speak? And when is it better to stay quiet? This is practical wisdom.</span></span></p><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7 "</span><span class="chapternum" style="bottom: -0.1em; display: inline; font-weight: 700; left: 0px; line-height: 0.8em; position: relative;"> </span>There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every matter under heaven—; A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">A time to be silent and a time to speak".</span></p><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="poetry top-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative; text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><span class="text Eccl-3-7" style="position: relative;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; letter-spacing: 0.2px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">The silence of Jesus reminds us that silent suffering was necessary for Jesus. We </span></span><span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; letter-spacing: 0.2px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">are taught that sometimes being quiet takes more strength than talking. Isaiah 53:10</span></span><span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; letter-spacing: 0.2px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"> "</span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; </span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-wrap;">he has put him to grief; </span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-wrap;">when his soul </span></span><span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-wrap;">makes an offering for guilt, </span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-wrap;">he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; </span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-wrap;">the </span></span><span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-wrap;">will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. "</span></span></span></p></div></div><div class="poetry top-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative; text-align: left;"><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Silence allows us to refocus and redirect our thoughts on what is truly important, </span></span><span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-wrap;">which is to think about the things God desires us to think about.</span></span></span></p></div><div class="poetry top-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative; text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div></div><div class="poetry top-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative; text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">John 10:27-29<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Eccl-3-7" style="position: relative;"><span><span class="text John-10-27" id="en-NASB-26501"><span class="woj">"My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;</span></span><span class="text John-10-28" id="en-NASB-26502"><span class="woj"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.</span></span> <span class="text John-10-29" id="en-NASB-26503"><span class="woj"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>My Father, who has given <i>them</i> to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch <i>them</i> out of the Father’s hand."</span></span></span></span></span></p></div></div><div class="poetry top-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative; text-align: left;"><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Eccl-3-7" style="position: relative;"><span><span class="text John-10-29"><span class="woj"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Eccl-3-7" style="position: relative;"><span><span class="text John-10-29"><span class="woj"> We follow Jesus' example by knowing; </span></span></span></span>Jesus did not plead His own case, Jesus wad patient under affliction, and Jesus was oppressed, yet did not open His mouth. Haven't we all felt all of these 3 ways and a need to tell our side? There is power in silence and a comfort in knowing God is on your side.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> As for myself, this is a new challenge for me. Silence is not my strength. When I am hurt, mistreated, or felt wronged, then I want to speak up and let the other party know how I feel. Jesus is letting me know, that its not always necessary. Silence can bring on a time of reflection, not only for myself but for the other side as well. It's hard to be slow to speak and quick to listen, but it is possible. With my mask, it's kind of been forced upon me to wait for someone else to take the mask off before I can talk. Sometimes I'm just chomping at the bit. The term 'Silence is golden' is really determined by who is having to be silent. Personally, I need my quiet time with myself and with the Lord.</span></p></div><div class="poetry top-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;"><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Isa-53-12" style="position: relative;"><br /></span></span></p></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mq59iE3MhXM?start=60" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Angeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933377277043468860.post-57434829031920965442023-04-05T12:05:00.000-05:002023-04-05T12:05:54.166-05:00You Are<p> </p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> This morning I am sharing a devotional I got through my email, that you are enough. Through your faith in Christ, don't doubt yourself. <span class="citation">2 Corinthians 5:14-15</span> (New American Standard Bible) "For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf." Matthew 19:26 reminds us "with God all things are possible." Don't give up on yourself, God is still at work on you.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">You are enough, just as you are. God created you with a purpose and a plan, and He equipped you with the abilities and gifts you need to fulfill it.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">You are capable of overcoming any obstacle that comes your way, because God's strength is made perfect in your weakness.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">You are strong, because the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives inside of you.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">You are beautiful, because you are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">You are chosen, set apart for a special purpose and called to make a difference in this world.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">You are never alone, for God is always with you, guiding and comforting you every step of the way.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">So go forth with confidence, knowing that you were created for greatness in Christ.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">You are enough, friend.</span></p><p><br /></p>Angeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933377277043468860.post-76119714895953506072023-02-18T13:08:00.000-06:002023-02-18T13:08:25.702-06:00Just For Now<p> Romans 8:18 "<span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">For I consider that the sufferings of this present time </span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">are not worthy to be compared with the </span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">glory that is to be revealed to us."</span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Today's blog is going to be a little different. I'm going to talk about one of my current challenges with my disease, CMT, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. I'm not going back to the beginning of my diagnosis with it in this blog, but just talk about my swallowing struggles at this time. I'm not looking for sympathy, sorrow, or a pity party but just a sense of understanding of what it's like.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Dysphagia is the term for difficulty with swallowing. Mine began with just eliminating foods that caused me to choke easily with. It progressed to having to lay down off the end of the bed and cough upside down to help me get food up that was causing me to choke. A lot of my pneumonia cases were due to aspiration during the time I worked. After retiring at some point, I was prescribed a cough assist machine that has literally been a life saver and cut my pneumonia cases way down. Later, I got a feeding tube to help me take medicines and help increase my caloric intake.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Because my disease is progressive, I now no longer eat by mouth. I am having my doctor check on a medicine, riluzole, that helps ALS patients with swallowing. The medicine provides a little hope, but that's not where my true hope lies. <b>James 4:7 </b>says <i>"Submit to God.</i>" There is comfort in knowing that God is working all things for my good, because I love Him.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> From Rick Warren's book, "The Purpose Driven Life", the heart of worship is surrender. I want to lead and live a life surrendered to God. I want to say, 'If my illness of CMT, and all of its detrimental problems that go with it, are needed to fulfill your purpose in my life and bring you glory, then don't take it away.' I quit praying a long time ago for God to send a cure for CMT for me, instead I've prayed for God to give me strength and endurance for whatever I have to go through with CMT. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> The Bible tells of the certain benefits of a life that's truly surrendered to God. First, I have experienced peace. I have found this true in wearing my braces and my face mask. I didn't really find it hard to accept in wearing either of them, they were just needed blessings. Second, I have found freedom. While living under God's commands, I have found a freedom from sin's prison walls. Thirdly, I've experienced God's power in my life. I truly believe that I've found favor with God and He has provided me with the best doctors at just the right times.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span> I can tell you that life without the pleasure of eating by mouth is not easy. I notice people talking about food, restaurants and how good different foods taste more and more. I still go to the grocery store and buy food for others and it's more temptation aisles, rather than grocery aisles to me anymore. I know that all of my struggles are only temporary and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. "Praise God from whom all blessings flow."</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;"> We must remember that whatever we go through, that it is temporary and this world is not our home. We are just passing through and life is just our practice ground. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I can relate to Paul's message in <b>Philippians 4:10-13 </b> <i>"<span class="text Phil-4-10" style="background-color: white;">But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Phil-4-11" id="en-NASB1995-29454" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Phil-4-12" id="en-NASB1995-29455" style="background-color: white;">I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Phil-4-13" id="en-NASB1995-29456" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."</span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Phil-4-13" style="background-color: white;"> <i> </i><b>Romans 8:35-39</b><i> "</i></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span class="text Rom-8-35" id="en-NASB1995-28152">Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Rom-8-36" id="en-NASB1995-28153"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Just as it is written,</span></i></span></p><div class="poetry" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;"><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span class="text Rom-8-36" style="position: relative;">“<span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">For Your sake we are being put to death all day long</span>;</span><br /><span class="text Rom-8-36" style="position: relative;"><span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered</span>.”</span><span class="text Rom-8-37" id="en-NASB1995-28154"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span></span></i></span></p><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span class="text Rom-8-37">But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.</span> <span class="text Rom-8-38" id="en-NASB1995-28155">For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,</span> <span class="text Rom-8-39" id="en-NASB1995-28156">nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."</span></i></span></p><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span class="text Rom-8-39"><br /></span></i></span></p><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <b> </b><span><b>Ten Insights on Sovereignty and Suffering </b>[desiringgod.com]</span></span></p><h3 data-linkify="true" id="1-embracing-the-sovereignty-of-god-brings-strength-and-hope" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 30.36px; margin: 2em auto 0.8em; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">1. Embracing the sovereignty of God brings strength and hope.</span></h3><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">2. Don’t presume to know better than God how to run the world. It is pride.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">3. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> God has a good purpose in all the hard things that happen to his people.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">4. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Death and suffering press in on us the perspective of eternity.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">5. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">God’s distribution of suffering is not equal, and one hard thing may prepare for another.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">6. God’s love takes care of us right now in our suffering, not just later.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">7. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Calamity calls for quick practical love</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">8. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Quiet confidence in God’s power and goodness through suffering creates occasions for witness.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">9. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Trusting in God’s sovereign care in all circumstances frees you from greed and releases love for others.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">10. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Without God, the world is hopeless.</span></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><h3 data-linkify="true" id="6-god-s-love-takes-care-of-us-right-now-in-our-suffering-not-just-later" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 30.36px; margin: 2em auto 0.8em; max-width: 700px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="linkified-heading inactive" style="animation: 0.1s linear 0s 1 normal forwards running deactivate-linkified-heading; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 50px; line-height: inherit; margin: -55.3594px 0px 0px; opacity: 0; padding: 0px 20px 0px 0px; position: absolute; right: 690px; transition: all 75ms ease-out 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/nothing-can-separate-us-from-the-love-of-christ#6-god-s-love-takes-care-of-us-right-now-in-our-suffering-not-just-later" style="align-items: center; background: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px; color: white; display: flex; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 50px; justify-content: center; line-height: 50px; margin: 0px 0px 0.2em; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 50px;"><svg height="20px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 20 20" width="20px" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#ffffff"><path d="M1,7 L1,14 L2,14 L9,14 L9,12 L8,12 L8,13 L2,13 L2,8 L8,8 L8,9 L9,9 L9,7 L1,7 L1,7 Z M19,7 L19,14 L18,14 L11,14 L11,12 L12,12 L12,13 L18,13 L18,8 L12,8 L12,9 L11,9 L11,7 L19,7 L19,7 Z M6,11 L14,11 L14,10 L6,10 L6,11 L6,11 Z"></path></g></g></svg></a></div></h3><div><br /></div></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RESGuz3zeCg?start=1" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Angeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933377277043468860.post-33535495157591754582023-01-21T11:27:00.000-06:002023-01-21T11:27:12.763-06:00Making God Smile<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCHDrPek19Qgv4wcgbmAp9zljD-TcwTYQFhgdjh_WNYnK0bNvSx7hfstG91waKm6nRd63hjZvGqwciSUxH478iCf8h3iuCVw_AG37NKOdpNpUlQVsaPXfXeEYTte5LMsqhDaLXwAhIbr141L2TOdOoI99HOrJJwPPKDQv5w9LJ2RfEzI7AGhMc7-i/s920/smile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="736" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCHDrPek19Qgv4wcgbmAp9zljD-TcwTYQFhgdjh_WNYnK0bNvSx7hfstG91waKm6nRd63hjZvGqwciSUxH478iCf8h3iuCVw_AG37NKOdpNpUlQVsaPXfXeEYTte5LMsqhDaLXwAhIbr141L2TOdOoI99HOrJJwPPKDQv5w9LJ2RfEzI7AGhMc7-i/w320-h400/smile.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p> <span style="font-family: georgia;"> What is a smile? A smile is simply, a frown turned upside down. Smiling is such an easy way to make yourself and others feel good. Don't we all want to make God smile and feel good about us? Pleasing God is the most effective way to make God smile. When we trust, obey, honor, follow and serve God; God is pleased with us.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">What does psychology have to say about smiling? Whether your smile is genuine or not, it can act on your body and mind in a variety of positive ways, offering benefits for your health, your mood, and even the moods of people around you. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"> 5 Acts of Worship That Make God Smile [Purpose Driven Life, R. Warren]</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">1] <b>God wants us to love him supremely.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> God loves us more than anyone else ever will. The greatest commandment comes from when a Pharisee lawyer asked Jesus a question in Matthew 22:36-38 "</span><span class="text Matt-22-36" id="en-NASB1995-23909" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Matt-22-37" id="en-NASB1995-23910" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>And He said to him, <span class="woj">“‘<span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind</span>.’</span></span><span class="text Matt-22-38" id="en-NASB1995-23911" style="background-color: white;"><span class="woj"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>This is the great and foremost commandment." So, when we love God with all of our being, He surely smiles on us.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Matt-22-38" style="background-color: white;"><span class="woj">2] <b> God wants us to completely trust in Him.</b></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><span class="text Matt-22-38" style="background-color: white;"><span class="woj"> Psalms 147:11 "T</span></span></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;">he</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="small-caps" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"> </span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;">delights</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"> </span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;">in those who fear him,</span><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-147-11" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="position: relative;">who put their hope in his unfailing love." God smiles when our faith is in Him. Hebrews 11:6 "</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;">And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"> must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Noah's trust in God went above and beyond a normal sense of trust in building the ark; trust without knowing of what rain was b/c God irrigated the earth from the ground up before the Flood, trust because he lived hundreds of miles from an ocean and had no way to transport the ark, and trust in gathering and caring for all the animals that went on the ark.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">3]<b> God wants full obedience from us.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"> John 14:15 "</span><span style="background-color: white;">If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." God wants complete obedience, not partial or delayed obedience. God wants us to follow all of the Bible, not pick and choose the verses we like.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">4]<b> God wants continual praise and thanks given from us.</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> Hebrews 13:15 "</span><span style="background-color: white;">Through Him then, let us continually offer up a </span><span style="background-color: white;">sacrifice of praise to God, that is, </span><span style="background-color: white;">the fruit of lips that </span><span style="background-color: white;">give thanks to His name." Like all of us, God likes adoration and appreciation for all He has done, is doing, and will do for us.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">5] <b>God wants us to use our abilities.</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> 2 Corinthians 5:9 "</span><span style="background-color: white;">Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be </span><span style="background-color: white;">pleasing to Him." God enjoys all aspects of us, except sin. He created us for His will and purposes.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> "</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">God has given his church this great dignity now, and in the days to come: We are the smile of God </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 19.44px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">to one another</em><span style="background-color: white;">, that we might know, and the world might see, that even in our suffering and pain, “it is good to be near God”" [desiringgod.org]</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span>Psalm 73:28 "<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;">But for me it is good to </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;">be near God; </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;">I have made the Lord </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;">God</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"> my </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;">refuge, </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;">that I may </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;">tell of all your works." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> As for myself, sometimes I just have to do as the old cliche says and 'grin and bear it' or smile through the pain. Yes, I want God to say to me with a smile at the end of my life's race, "Good job, my faithful servant!" I think some people expect me to be all smiles all the time and life just isn't like that. Heaven is the place of no more sorrow, not Earth. </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">“Smiling doesn’t always mean you’re happy. The most beautiful Smile is the one that struggles through Tears.” [unknown] </span><span style="background-color: white;">I hear at some funerals, "oh, they never complained or fussed about anything", well I know that won't be said of me. I know I don't smile as much as I used to, but that doesn't mean I don't have much to smile about because I do. I think God is smiling more about me now, because I know He is first in my life now and my choices reflect Him more and more.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DXDGE_lRI0E" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>Angeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933377277043468860.post-85536471286061458522023-01-02T12:00:00.000-06:002023-01-02T12:00:21.214-06:00Wisdom in the New Year<p><span style="font-family: arial;"> Proverbs 8:11 "<span style="background-color: white;">“For wisdom is</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">better than</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">jewels; </span><span style="background-color: white;">And</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">all desirable things cannot compare with her."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Is having or seeking 'wisdom', a part of your New Year's resolutions? Wisdom is the ability to discern or judge what is true or right. You can have knowledge--information gained, without wisdom. Knowledge can be knowing about something, whereas wisdom is knowing it's proper usage.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Wisdom is a gift from God. James 1:5 "<span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">If any of you lacks wisdom, </span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">let him ask God, </span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." "</span><span style="background-color: white;">God blesses us with wisdom in order for us to glorify Him and use the knowledge we have of Him." [gotquestions.org]</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> We learn of 'the fear of the Lord being the beginning of knowledge' in the book of Proverbs and that 'fools despise wisdom and instruction'. "</span><span style="background-color: white;"> To </span>fear the Lord<span style="background-color: white;"> is to start on the path to knowledge, and God can then begin to provide us with wisdom through Christ, who the Bible says is wisdom itself. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption” [gotquestions.org] </span><b>1 Corinthians 1:30</b> "<span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A</span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">nd because of him</span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us </span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">wisdom from God, </span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">righteousness and </span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">sanctification and </span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">redemption,"</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span> </span><span> " </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span>Wisdom is the fitting application of knowledge. Knowledge memorizes the Ten Commandments; wisdom obeys them. Knowledge learns of God; wisdom loves Him."</span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Wisdom changes the course of your life, from the world's destructive path to Jesus' freedom giving path. Psalms 16:11 "</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">You will make known to me</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">the path of life; </span><span style="background-color: white;">In</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Your presence is fullness of joy; </span><span style="background-color: white;">In Your right hand there are</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">pleasures forever."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i>6 Characteristics of a Wisdom Driven Life</i></b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><b>1] Joy</b>--<b> </b>the gladness you have from knowing God has given you meaning and purpose in your life.</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><b>2] Confidence--</b> the strength you have from knowing God is with you and by your side at all times.</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><b>3] Worth--</b> the value you have by knowing God's love for you is everlasting and unconditional, as your Lord and Savior.</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><b>4] Peace-- </b>the serenity that comes from knowing God is working all things out for your good, as a believer in Jesus Christ.</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><b>5] Maturity-- </b>based on the Lord's transformational work of forgiveness, renewal, and growth.</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><b>6]Blessing-- </b>God pours out all of his grace and goodness into your life.</i></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #081c2a; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hSnzYnOe6kI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Angeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933377277043468860.post-61309785612259501002022-12-07T11:10:00.001-06:002022-12-07T11:16:36.490-06:00Waiting On The Lord<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkut2uZWVGAS2COkYF9Gbilrt0rUm8-A5XpQDpAjtV_5JiU3x6HiAjsCLwi2Ioh1PcM7Vep28EedcIi_GP7GkRlom9mZyrs3vGicB9oaNWlEeyaEDKnAy0OaOiE1yWNj6npq_NQ-8lPvVw8EqZ78TG9h5UCyVJDCDCJ2_n9pg6cqleiLlmQDDZ8auu" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1152" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkut2uZWVGAS2COkYF9Gbilrt0rUm8-A5XpQDpAjtV_5JiU3x6HiAjsCLwi2Ioh1PcM7Vep28EedcIi_GP7GkRlom9mZyrs3vGicB9oaNWlEeyaEDKnAy0OaOiE1yWNj6npq_NQ-8lPvVw8EqZ78TG9h5UCyVJDCDCJ2_n9pg6cqleiLlmQDDZ8auu=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Aren't we all waiting on some prayer request from our Lord? We often hear, wait and see how God will move and answer your petitions to Him. Even while you wait, take heart. God is trustworthy, never slumbers, and has your best interest in mind. Just because you can't see His work happening, doesn't mean He isn't actively at work on your behalf. Trust Him in your journey.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> We have been waiting a lot the past few years. We've waited in quarantine due to covid, waited to return back to regular job offices, waited to visit family and friends due to illness exposures, waited for kid's to return to school, and waited for our own personal requests that we long for. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> What does 'waiting on the Lord' really mean? T<span style="background-color: white;">he word “wait” is translated from the Hebrew word</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">“qavah” </em><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">and it means, according to</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Strong’s Concordance</span><span style="background-color: white;">: </span></span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>To hope in, look for, expect, eagerly look for, lie in wait for. </i>Waiting doesn't mean a do-nothing attitude. We must be pro-active during our wait with prayer, reading the Word, and listening for His voice of guidance. This action is an exercise of faith with an eager expectancy and anticipation. We must be patient in our wait and not give up in our asking of the same request. 1 <b>Thesselonians 5:16-18 </b><i> "</i></span></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span class="text 1Thess-5-16" id="en-NASB1995-29638" style="background-color: white;">Rejoice always;</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text 1Thess-5-17" id="en-NASB1995-29639" style="background-color: white;">pray without ceasing;</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text 1Thess-5-18" id="en-NASB1995-29640" style="background-color: white;">in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."</span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text 1Thess-5-18" style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">According to the </span><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">International Standard Bible Encyclopedia</span><span style="background-color: white;"> found on </span><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Blue Letter Bible</span><span style="background-color: white;">:</span><span class="text 1Thess-5-18" style="background-color: white;"> "</span><em style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; text-align: center;">The most important and frequent use of the word “wait” is to define the attitude of a soul God-ward. It describes <span style="box-sizing: inherit;">eager anticipation</span> and yearning for the revelation of truth and love as it is in the Father.”" </em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; text-align: center;"><i> </i> Sometimes, </span><span style="background-color: white;"> w</span><span style="background-color: white;">e wait with fear or worry because we have our own idea of how we want something to work out, not necessarily trusting in the Lord’s plan for how it should work out. We have envisioned our ideal outcome and we fear God won’t line up with our will. We won't worry or fear the outcome, if we trust and know God is always working for our good because we believe in Him.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span> In our wait, we should make sure that our will aligns with God's will. By studying His Word, direction for our steps can be provided and we can know both His will and the heart of God . <b> Isaiah 55:8-9</b> <i>"</i></span></span><span><i><span style="background-color: white;">“For My thoughts are not</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">your thoughts, </span></i></span></span><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Nor are</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">your ways My ways,” declares the</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"> </span><span class="small-caps" style="font-family: georgia; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">“For</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">as</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">the heavens are higher than the earth, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">So are My ways higher than your ways </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">And My thoughts than your thoughts."</span></i></p><p><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Benefits of Waiting on our Lord</span></i></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><i>1. We avoid having to go through further pain-- </i>Sometimes God makes us wait for the storm to pass, so we can travel safely ahead later. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><i>2. We can experience the fullness of His blessings-- </i>Sometimes waiting involves getting what He intends best for us.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><i>3. It increases our faith-- </i>When we see the results of our patience in waiting on God, then our faith grows. As our faith grows, so does our relationship wth Him.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><i>4. It's a witness to others-- </i>Others are always<i> </i>watching to see how God is working in your life. How we wait, respond, and react to Him and His works serves as a testimony of quieting our flesh and seeing how God will move in our lives.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"> As for myself, I honestly don't pray ceaselessly about certain things, but just resign those things as God's will for me. It's not that I don't think He's big enough to change those things, like my CMT, but I believe He designed me with it and has purpose in it. So, I wait for the day that I'm truly free from it and all it's misery. Until then, I will rejoice about all the other things God has blessed me with.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a262a; font-family: georgia;"> </span></p><p><span style="color: #2a262a; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a262a; font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a262a; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiH1zi_D2XkpWzrrYoq0BLOR3Q8Yi99LlmnR0EGuWfF6FPTHozrA0LIBTs7EAMPaC57k-rCSINRHljbGNY8rTM-jxZFZWdDk9xrnZpZV6bg2lklJEbAJr0OiO7awB9H6i8ZNLc0ijLp0Ixp6zAznBLZ20ts2XnY-030AGpaErf8q2M9QNAb7Hj3GaFb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiH1zi_D2XkpWzrrYoq0BLOR3Q8Yi99LlmnR0EGuWfF6FPTHozrA0LIBTs7EAMPaC57k-rCSINRHljbGNY8rTM-jxZFZWdDk9xrnZpZV6bg2lklJEbAJr0OiO7awB9H6i8ZNLc0ijLp0Ixp6zAznBLZ20ts2XnY-030AGpaErf8q2M9QNAb7Hj3GaFb=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a262a; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><em style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #2a262a; text-align: center;"> </em></span></p><p><br /></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1W5ViDDcapg" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Angeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933377277043468860.post-62389132608165106472022-11-22T19:20:00.000-06:002022-11-24T11:46:28.795-06:00Everyone?<p> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0g4Vcf6g0liQncf_dpAtP3UOPk7GGuO7FlemEyyDNrgQf2wqf7xUWT0M5tnCqvZA4acdKeDo3LHjS7B8Q6yC9ylbG2cUVqt0LxqrsLHHsoKqMbwSMjKN-o2CNiFT2pVAE3uNXZ7x3LMOMYpo3lRZ3u_9Jv_j0FK6cTD1J_EG3MtKemHXCdYnOpjn6/s3840/everyone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0g4Vcf6g0liQncf_dpAtP3UOPk7GGuO7FlemEyyDNrgQf2wqf7xUWT0M5tnCqvZA4acdKeDo3LHjS7B8Q6yC9ylbG2cUVqt0LxqrsLHHsoKqMbwSMjKN-o2CNiFT2pVAE3uNXZ7x3LMOMYpo3lRZ3u_9Jv_j0FK6cTD1J_EG3MtKemHXCdYnOpjn6/w456-h257/everyone.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I've started rereading the book, "Suffer Strong", because living with a disability in this physical world calls for encouragement. We are all disabled in some way, seen or unseen. We can't do this life on our own, we need each other and most of all, we need Jesus.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> The Bible was written and given for all peoples of this world. The only condition to the reference of 'everyone' is that they believe in Jesus, as their Lord and Savior. For example in Acts 10:43 "<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">Of Him </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">all the prophets bear witness that through </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”"</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"> Who is 'everyone' to you? Does it only include those who look like you, dress like you, or act like you? 'Everyone' is every other human on this planet. Exclusions to 'everyone' are man-made discriminations and are from an ugly heart. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"> Often as part of the disabled community, we aren't always<br /> included in the 'everyone' part of society. We may get overlooked, because someone feels too awkward to say 'Hi' or to even give a friendly nod. We may have to go through the back door of a restaurant to get to our table, because there's not another accessible way to enter. We may get a child's menu at a restaurant, because assumptions take over about size, stature and ability. We often have to prove ourselves to others; as physically able, mentally fit and not an idiot.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> As for myself, I've gone thru different stages of disability throughout my life. I am the same person at any stage of life and I have confidence in that, but the discriminating people of my world see me differently. To them I say, "Shame on you!" They are not better than me, but are in a different place in life--for now. I struggled for years pushing myself in my leg braces, but now I am in some ways wheelchair-bound but mostly I am wheelchair-free. I go more places than most people, because my wheelchair allows me to go further than I could ever walk. Jesus has promised that disability is only a temporary part of this life. 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 "</span><span class="versenum" style="background-color: white; display: inline; font-family: georgia; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; text-align: left; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span><span class="text 2Cor-4-7" id="en-NASB1995-28867" style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"> w</span><span class="text 2Cor-4-8" id="en-NASB1995-28868" style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><i>e are</i> afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"> </span><span class="text 2Cor-4-9" id="en-NASB1995-28869" style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"> </span><span class="text 2Cor-4-10" id="en-NASB1995-28870" style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"> " Yes, there are difficult times for all of us, seen as disabled or not, but how we respond to those times is the most important character trait of all.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"> I challenge you to consider who fits into the 'everyone' in your life.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9tivseVZbnY" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Angeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933377277043468860.post-62916559268945202702022-11-17T13:17:00.000-06:002022-11-17T13:17:06.192-06:00My Comfort<p> </p><p><br /></p><p> <span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Yesterday in my daily reading, I came across a verse that spoke to my heart. Psalms 119:50 "<span style="background-color: white;">My comfort in my suffering is this:</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Ps-119-50" style="position: relative;">Your promise preserves my life."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><span class="text Ps-119-50" style="position: relative;"> David's comfort here is the word of God. Also the word 'comfort' is found in Job 6:10 "</span></span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">At least I can take comfort in this: Despite the pain, I have not denied the words of the Holy One." We can find encouragement, solace and comfort from Scripture in all our circumstances in life. The Holy Spirit not only speaks to us as believers, but guides us on our journey. "</span></span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">What the Word has already done is to faith a pledge of what it shall yet do."</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> From Matthew Henry's commentary, "</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)"> Here is David's experience of benefit by the word. 1. As a means of his sanctification: "</span><i>Thy word has quickened me.</i><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)"> It made me alive when I was dead in sin; it has many a time made me lively when I was dead in duty; it has quickened me to that which is good when I was backward and averse to it, and it has quickened me in that which is good when I was cold and indifferent." 2. Therefore as a means of his consolation when he was in affliction and needed something to support him: "Because thy word has quickened my at other times, it has comforted me then." The word of God has much in it that speaks </span><i>comfort in affliction;</i><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)"> but those only may apply it to themselves who have experienced in some measure the quickening power of the word. If through grace it make us holy, there is enough in it to make us easy, in all conditions, under all events."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)"> "</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">In the season of affliction, and in the silent hours of the night, he remembers the name of the Lord, and is stirred up to keep the law. All who have made religion the first thing, will own that they have been unspeakable gainers by it." [kingjamesbibleonline.com]</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> As for myself, I do draw more and more from God's Word as I grow progressively weaker. It makes me view the world in a different light and perspective. To long to be absent from this body and to be with the Lord is my new prayer and wish to come. The Holy Spirit helps me hang on, knowing God's timing is perfect for me. The Bible gives much to look forward to and to let go of, as the affliction gets harder and harder to bear.<b> Phillipians 3:7-14</b> "W</span><span class="text Phil-3-7" id="en-NIV-29429">hatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Phil-3-8" id="en-NIV-29430"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Phil-3-9" id="en-NIV-29431"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-29431a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-29431a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%203&version=NIV#fen-NIV-29431a" style="box-sizing: border-box; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span> Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Phil-3-10" id="en-NIV-29432"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Phil-3-11" id="en-NIV-29433"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.</span><span class="text Phil-3-12" id="en-NIV-29434" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Phil-3-13" id="en-NIV-29435" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Phil-3-14" id="en-NIV-29436" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." <b>Revelation 21:3-4 </b> "</span><span class="text Rev-21-3" id="en-NIV-31057" style="background-color: white;">And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Rev-21-4" id="en-NIV-31058" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> </span></span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PtUTa5Nc-e0?start=6" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Angeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933377277043468860.post-41172374141711187332022-10-13T16:09:00.000-05:002022-10-13T16:09:14.062-05:00Unnoticed<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Have you ever thought about how God feels about going unnoticed and unrecognized for all He has does for us? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> One might think about how the the stay-at-home mom feels, who does countless things throughout the day to keep the house running but often goes unappreciated. Without her work and efforts, there would be chaos. She deserves a thank you and a spotlight of recognition.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Jesus, however, deserves all honor and praise from us for everything! From our very being to the promise of eternity and everything in between. He covered every one of our sins, biggest to smallest, on the cross. He sustains us, protects us, comforts us and most of all, loves us more than anything or anyone can. </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Praising God helps us recall His goodness that never ends.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Heavenly Father, thank You for Your steadfast and unchanging love. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Psalm 67 verses 1-5</span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 9pt 0px 0px 54pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -36pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">May God be gracious to us and bless us</span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 72pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -36pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and make his face shine on us—</span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 54pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -36pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">so that your ways may be known on earth,</span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 72pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -36pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">your salvation</span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> among all nations.</span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 9pt 0px 0px 54pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -36pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">May the peoples praise you, God;</span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 72pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -36pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">may all the peoples praise you.</span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 54pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -36pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">May the nations be glad and sing for joy,</span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 72pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -36pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">for you rule the peoples with equity</span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 72pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -36pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and guide the nations of the earth.</span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 54pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -36pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">May the peoples praise you, God; </span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-indent: -36pt;">may all</span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 54pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -36pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-indent: -36pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> the peoples praise you.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; text-align: center; text-indent: -48px;"> </span>Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-weight: lighter; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: -22px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></p><p></p><div style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hebrews 13:15</span></div><div><br /></div></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ZuJjYHWV_M" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Angeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933377277043468860.post-8399136674126351772022-09-28T12:07:00.002-05:002022-09-28T12:12:29.759-05:00God's Benefits<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 1em; text-indent: -48pt;">Psalm 103:2</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #3d3d3d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;">"Bless the </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #3d3d3d; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Lord</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #3d3d3d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;">, O my soul, </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #3d3d3d; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;">and </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #3d3d3d;">forget not all his benefits"</span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br /> Does your prayer life or daily talk with God ever leave out praise? We can often be filled with desires, wants and needs from God, but forget to praise Him for his abundant goodness. We are so blessed by Him everyday that we should give Him ceaseless thankfulness. </span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> In Psalm 103, David tells himself to 'bless he Lord' six times and 'not to forget all of God's benefits'. This blog is a reminder of the godly benefits that we sometimes forget or overlook in our lives. "</span></span>The Lord’s “benefits” represent all the good things the Lord provides to aid or promote the well-being of His children." [gotquestions.org]</span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> In Deuteronomy, Moses warned the people that forgetting God's benefits and goodness was the first step to spiritual destruction. Deuteronomy 4:9 "</span></span>Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them."</span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">God's benefits are too numerous to count, but here are a few....</span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span>Psalm 103:3-6 "</span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-indent: -18pt;">He forgives all my sins </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: georgia; text-indent: -18pt;">and heals all my diseases. </span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -18pt; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -18pt; vertical-align: baseline;">He redeems me from death </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: georgia; text-indent: -18pt;">and crowns me with love and tender mercies.</span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -18pt; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -18pt; vertical-align: baseline;">He fills my life with good things. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: georgia; text-indent: -18pt;">My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!</span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -18pt; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -18pt; vertical-align: baseline;">The </span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -18pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Lord</span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -18pt; vertical-align: baseline;"> gives righteousness </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: georgia; text-indent: -18pt;">and justice to all who are treated unfairly."</span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: georgia; text-indent: -18pt;">How wonderful to be cleared of all our wrongs! How great is it to know that death isn't a fear and his love is fullof grace and mercy. How awesome will it be to have our youthful energy and vigor again. How great will it be to have our wrongs against us by others to be truly righted.</span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: georgia; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: georgia; text-indent: -18pt;">Colossians 1:13-14 </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-indent: -18pt;">"</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">who purchased our freedom</span><a data-resourcename="nlt" href="https://biblia.com/bible/nlt/colossians/1/13-14#footnote1" rel="popup" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: super;">* </span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and forgave our sins."</span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How wonderful is God's forgiveness and that Jesus paid the painful price for our wickedness. We are set free from our sin debt and can live in God's kingdom.</span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Psalm 63:3-4 "</span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Because your </span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;">steadfast love is better than life, </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: georgia; text-indent: -16pt;">my lips will praise you.</span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; text-indent: -48pt;"> </span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;">So I will bless you, </span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;">as long as I live; i</span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;">n your </span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;">name I will </span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;">lift up my hands."</span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;">How awesome is God's mercy and grace that it is better than the life we know. We should honor God all the days of our lives, as long as we have breath.</span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Psalm 103:8 "</span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;">The </span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Lord</span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;"> is </span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;">merciful and gracious,</span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love."</span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">How wonderful is God to be so patient and understanding with His children and shows His love over the course of our lives.</span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hebrews 2:1-3 " T</span><span style="text-align: justify;">herefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: super;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">For since </span><span style="text-align: justify;">the message declared by angels proved to be reliable</span><span class="offset-marker" data-offset="5224353" id="marker668936" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="text-align: justify;">, and </span><span style="text-align: justify;">every transgression or disobedience received a just </span><span style="text-align: justify;">retribution, </span><span style="text-align: justify;">how shall we escape if we </span><span style="text-align: justify;">neglect such a great salvation? It was </span><span style="text-align: justify;">declared at first by the Lord, and it was </span><span style="text-align: justify;">attested</span><span class="offset-marker" data-offset="5224553" id="marker668937" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="text-align: justify;"> to us </span><span style="text-align: justify;">by those who heard, </span><span style="text-align: justify;">while God also bore witness </span><span style="text-align: justify;">by signs and wonders and various miracles and by </span><span style="text-align: justify;">gifts of the Holy Spirit </span><span style="text-align: justify;">distributed according to his will."</span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Paul warns us of not forgetting what we know to be true from all the evidence given to us, regarding our forgiveness and salvation. God's will has allowed us to know all we need to know for now, and that's enough.</span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="text-align: justify;">As for myself, I can see, in hindsight, how much God has blessed my life in so many ways. My trust in Him has been proven over and over. Therefore, I fully trust Him with my future and eagerly await joining and walking with Jesus in eternity.</span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3d3d3d; font-family: georgia; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></p><p class="lang-en" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #3d3d3d; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48pt; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QPwd_TQpsHY" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Angeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933377277043468860.post-49007196152774258612022-08-18T09:44:00.001-05:002022-08-18T09:45:23.736-05:00Lord, I Need You<p> </p><p><br /></p><p> <span style="font-family: georgia;"> Have you ever felt like your walk with Christ has hit a slump or even a detour and you feel a little lost? God hasn't walked away from us, but we are the ones who have loosened our grip on His hand. This is normal, because we are human. This can happen for many different reasons: maybe you feel overwhelmed by unanswered prayers, maybe jealousy of others has got you feeling bitter, maybe others have made you feel leel left out of the body of the church, or for whatever reason that you feel that you're walkng life's journey alone. You are not, God will never be the one to walk away.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <span class="text Rom-8-32" style="background-color: white;"> "</span><span>God is and will forever be for you and not against you. Through the deepest trials, know that Jesus is with you and that He has already won the toughest battles for you. He asks that you simply trust in Him and know that He has always been there for you." [christiantoday.com]</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Romans 8:31-32 "</span><span class="text Rom-8-31" style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">If God is for us, who can be against us?</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"> </span><span class="text Rom-8-32" id="en-NIV-28149" style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"</span></p><p><span class="text Rom-8-32" style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Romans 8:31-32, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">This verse gives us hope, not that we will always prevail, but that our eternal destiny and the love of God are secure. Though we may sufn'ter, we will not be destroyed. No matter how bad things seem, we must remember that “God is for us;” He loves us deeply. We are His children.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"> As sufferers in this sinful world, when we don't walk closely with Jesus then we miss in engaging in all He has planned for us. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">Christians are reminded that to be in Christ means we have “crucified the flesh with its passions and desires”</span><span style="background-color: white;"> Galtians 5:24 "</span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And those who belong to Christ Jesus </span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">have crucified the flesh with its </span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">passions and desires."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> As for myself, you've probably noticed that I haven't written a blog in quite a long time. I just haven't felt like encouraging others, when the struggle to encourage myself is hard enough. When we get in a rut, it's important not to stay there. God has provided us resources to encourage us out of those deep valleys. Others can tempt us to sin with their anger and unrighteous ways, but we have the ability to respond in the right or wrong way. I know I need to listen and follow the Holy Spirit within me, more than my flesh I have been encouraged by sermons from my church and the summer bible study with my friends that I've had here in my home. God is never the one to distance himself, we are the guilty ones. I always feel better, when I'm hand and hand with the Lord. The world is always trying to tempt and distract me off the path that God has planned and set out for me.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LuvfMDhTyMA?start=66" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Angeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933377277043468860.post-61647243191746986842022-06-04T15:59:00.000-05:002022-06-04T15:59:02.921-05:00A Job-Like Life<p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Have you really ever thought about the life of Job in the Bible? Most of us have learned that life is not only difficult, but often unfair. So, was true of the life of Job. He was definitely quite blessed, but there also came a time of definite hardship, suffering, grief and pain. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Eugene Peterson said, "It is not only because Job suffered that he is important to us. It is because he suffered in the same ways we suffer-- in the vital areas of family, personal health, and material things. Job is also important to us because he searchingly questioned and boldly protested his suffering. Indeed, he went 'to the top' with his questions. It is not the suffering that troubles us. It is the undeserved suffering. " [Charles Swindoll]</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Job was once an extremely wealthy man, full of prosperity, a godly gentleman, a fine husband and a faithful father. In just a short time, he was hit with destructive calamities that were of no fault of his own. Soon, he was left homeless, bankrupt, childless, and helpless. He was urged by his understandably grief-stricken wife to turn his back on God and to curse God for what he had allowed to happen to Job. Job 2:9-10 "<span style="background-color: white;">His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity?</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Curse God and die!”</span><span class="versenum" style="background-color: white; display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">He replied, “You are talking like a foolish</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> Job's faith is an exemplary example of trust in God, no matter how difficult his circumstances became his trust never wavered. He knew and believed in God's character; of goodness, love and trustworthiness. Is your faith in God that steadfast?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> "</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Job realizes his pain was not permanent. With God, there is a way of escape. The suffering of this life is temporary and will end for those who trust in the Lord. After this life, there is eternal life with God in heaven for the believer. In fact, Jesus came to offer eternal life to all who would believe." [gotquestions.org]</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Many people can relate to Job's suffering on the page, but when you really endure it yourself then it becomes more real. Did Job have caregivers to help both him and his wife out at home? Who helped their children in the dying process? Who took care of the living animals and the carcasses, as Job laid in bed in pain? Did friends donate money to help their financial burdens, like food, utilities, or basic needs? Job's story is more than just about him, but also about how other's responded in a 'love your neighbor' way. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> "</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In short, Elihu condemns Job’s friends and Job’s claim of being without sin, declares God’s justice, condemns Job’s attitude toward God, and exalts God’s greatness.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Elihu’s life and speech offer many insights for today. First, he dealt with the real issues of the situation rather than looking at the situation from a human perspective. Second, he emphasized God and His greatness rather than focus on a human response to problems. Third, he responded with respect, allowing others to speak first before offering his own response. These traits can help us today as we seek to understand why God </span>allows suffering<span style="background-color: white;"> and as we attempt to help others who face suffering." [gotquestions.org]</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> As for myself, I have been greatly blessed in my life in a lot of ways like Job's life was. Thru different life circumstances I, too, have been stripped of physical health, material wealth, and independence. I've had stressful family issues, in which some led to loss of loved ones. Suffering involves much more than temporary physical pain. There is an enlightenment in which I have seen God's hand working in my life. Romans 8:28 "</span><span style="background-color: white;">And we know that in all things God works for the good</span><span style="background-color: white;"> of those who love him, who</span><span style="background-color: white;"> have been called</span><span style="background-color: white;"> according to his purpose." This verse is so true in my life and it helps me to trust him even more on those hardest and darkest of days. Psalm 118:1 "</span><span style="background-color: white;">Give thanks to the</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white;">,</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">for he is good; </span><span class="text Ps-118-1" style="position: relative;">his love endures forever."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1CH5QaYzinI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Angeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933377277043468860.post-89808015928873270002022-05-17T12:10:00.002-05:002022-05-17T12:10:41.920-05:00Worth The Effort-Part 2<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUdxtZMjoI7QKLG673EIH877oHa1i4oZ8eNW0to8xhGt0kP9Fx2OhCIpFtxWZdTXXIrY-GDNTKmeB3R83BnCc3t-n0FLDqJ8TRzakhKZ7YvOGNV7rCx2mo0ivbvq_-dY-Ad8Hes4kp7oCfoZXvGYBPaD9BohUa1jjbKlJ3WAQv6G0nSagncxT3hFr/s564/effort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="564" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUdxtZMjoI7QKLG673EIH877oHa1i4oZ8eNW0to8xhGt0kP9Fx2OhCIpFtxWZdTXXIrY-GDNTKmeB3R83BnCc3t-n0FLDqJ8TRzakhKZ7YvOGNV7rCx2mo0ivbvq_-dY-Ad8Hes4kp7oCfoZXvGYBPaD9BohUa1jjbKlJ3WAQv6G0nSagncxT3hFr/w400-h348/effort.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> So, last week's blog kind of went in a different path than my original intent. This week I want to follow up with verses that God uses to encourage us to put in the effort, when we doubt doing so.</span></p><div class="bible-item-title-wrap col-sm-3" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; flex: 1 1 20%; max-width: 225px; min-width: 175px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-right: 20px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Psalm 119:28</span></div><div class="bible-item-text col-sm-9" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; flex: 1 1 80%; margin: 0px 0px 24px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.</span></div><div class="bible-item-text col-sm-9" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; flex: 1 1 80%; margin: 0px 0px 24px; min-width: 0px;"><div class="bible-item-text col-sm-9" style="box-sizing: border-box; flex: 1 1 80%; margin: 0px 0px 24px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Galatians 5: 13-15 <span class="text Gal-5-13"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> "</span>You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.</span> <span class="text Gal-5-14" id="en-NIV-29177"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”</span><span class="text Gal-5-15" id="en-NIV-29178"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other."</span></span></div><div class="bible-item-text col-sm-9" style="box-sizing: border-box; flex: 1 1 80%; margin: 0px 0px 24px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Gal-5-15">Galatians 5:17 "</span><span class="text Gal-5-17" id="en-NIV-29180">For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.</span> "</span></div><div class="bible-item-text col-sm-9" style="box-sizing: border-box; flex: 1 1 80%; margin: 0px 0px 24px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Gal-6-9" id="en-NIV-29198">Galatians 6:9-10 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.</span> <span class="text Gal-6-10" id="en-NIV-29199">Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."</span></span></div><div class="bible-item-text col-sm-9" style="box-sizing: border-box; flex: 1 1 80%; margin: 0px 0px 24px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Gal-6-10">Hebrews 10:23-25 </span><span class="text Heb-10-23" id="en-NIV-30157"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> "</span>Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.</span> <span class="text Heb-10-24" id="en-NIV-30158"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,</span> <span class="text Heb-10-25" id="en-NIV-30159"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."</span></span></div><div class="bible-item-text col-sm-9" style="box-sizing: border-box; flex: 1 1 80%; margin: 0px 0px 24px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Heb-10-25"> All of these verses, spur off of the command to 'Love one another' and to continue on. As long as we have breath from God, we are to fulfill His plan thru the works that He gives us the opportunity to do. We will doubt and grow weary, but He will sustain us thru His Word. Finish your race strong.</span></span></div><div class="bible-item-text col-sm-9" style="box-sizing: border-box; flex: 1 1 80%; margin: 0px 0px 24px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Heb-10-25"><br /></span></span></div></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/auLsFxNkKyg" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Angeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933377277043468860.post-62882423585661076632022-05-13T13:02:00.006-05:002022-05-13T13:06:46.855-05:00Worth The Effort?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJQCxU5LY0aXULwR9Bc0EgPvfQXPV3N3RNm2kbVOXr_bfboieUrjBWv7E_MRIcJhzYdR3u-JOeliBr2-bXYADpdBNss8ik_KVht1t1N3_MDlNrgCCPjGtlv7sRyRytFByW2rDALWJDbTGivD3f19rY-Xe_x9jlfzwu-fTZeOJlPfuHdJaC-Ed2WP_/s564/worth1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="564" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJQCxU5LY0aXULwR9Bc0EgPvfQXPV3N3RNm2kbVOXr_bfboieUrjBWv7E_MRIcJhzYdR3u-JOeliBr2-bXYADpdBNss8ik_KVht1t1N3_MDlNrgCCPjGtlv7sRyRytFByW2rDALWJDbTGivD3f19rY-Xe_x9jlfzwu-fTZeOJlPfuHdJaC-Ed2WP_/w400-h364/worth1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p> <span style="font-family: georgia;"> Do you ever question the time and effort you put into things and people? That's the devil knocking at your heart and conscience, saying 'it's not worth it'. <span style="background-color: white;">Life, along with its joys and highlights, also contains difficulties. Frustrations occur, illnesses come, and our health fails with time. Our bodies feel the signs that life on earth is not perfect and that we are not meant to be in this body for eternity.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> Psalm 73:26 "</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;">My flesh and my heart may fail, </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;">but God is </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;">the strength </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;">of my heart and my </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;">portion </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;">forever." God encourages us to love, interact with and fellowship with our fellow man. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"> "</span><span style="background-color: white;">In </span>Psalm 73<span style="background-color: white;">, the psalmist Asaph laments the unfairness he sees in the wicked prospering</span><span style="background-color: white;">, seeming to have no struggles</span><span style="background-color: white;">, and being free of care</span><span style="background-color: white;">. Asaph’s heart failed within him as he couldn’t understand God’s ways</span><span style="background-color: white;">. Many today also become frustrated at God for allowing good things to happen to bad people. But they must, like the psalmist, realize that their perspective is off. When Asaph “entered the sanctuary of God; then [he] understood their final destiny”</span><span style="background-color: white;">. While some people appear to prosper without God, there are consequences for the wicked: eternal life in hell and earthly costs, too. Having an eternal perspective gives us hope even when “my heart may fail” in disappointment or frustration." [gotquestions.org]</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: white;">"Our flesh will fail; each of us will have to face death. Yet the believer has hope for eternity. Christian hope is rooted in the salvation and </span>eternal life<span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: white;"> available through Christ</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: white;">. This hope does not disappoint</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: white;"> because nothing can take our salvation and hope away, regardless of life’s circumstances." [gotquestions.org] </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: white;">John 3:16 "</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;">For God so loved</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"> the world that he gave</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"> his one and only Son,</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"> that whoever believes</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"> in him shall not perish but have eternal life."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: white;">Romans 5:5 "</span><span style="background-color: white;">And hope</span><span style="background-color: white;"> does not put us to shame, because God’s love</span><span style="background-color: white;"> has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,</span><span style="background-color: white;"> who has been given to us."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> As for myself, I can get easily discouraged by people. I can understand how non-believers see those who claim to be Christians as hypocrites. Many people's talk and walk don't match up. I support some in their talents, but yet I often get a snub in normal life. I'm so thankful that my hope is founded in Jesus and not in people or this life here on Earth. Wicked ways touch all of us, but we must choose to love anyway. The devil seeks to divide and destroy our relationships, but with the love, like Jesus' in our lives, we can overcome. My favorite verse of encouragement...</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">2 Corinthians 4:16-18 "</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">So we do not lose heart. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">Though our outer self</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;"> is wasting away, </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">our inner self </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">is being renewed day by day.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">For </span><a data-resourcename="esv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/2-corinthians/4/16-18#footnote5" rel="popup" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-indent: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: super;">i</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #09202f; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v24tLxsxGHM?start=3" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Angeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933377277043468860.post-38969226858012125212022-04-25T13:56:00.000-05:002022-04-25T13:56:27.665-05:00Who Am I?<p> </p><p><br /></p><p> Have you ever struggled with your identity? Do you define yourself by your job, your school, your role in your house, or how? Sometimes when we lose our role or job, we wrestle with who we are. Our identity must be grounded in Jesus and following Him.</p><p> "When I encounter the great I Am, that's when I discover who I am." [M. Fry]</p><p> Just like Moses struggled with his identity, when God sent him to speak to the Israelites, then Moses found his purpose. <b>Exodus 3:9-14</b> <span style="font-family: georgia;">"<i><span class="text Exod-3-9" id="en-NIV-1589">And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Exod-3-10" id="en-NIV-1590"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”</span><span class="versenum" style="background-color: white; display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">But Moses said to God, “Who am I</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” </span><span style="background-color: white;">And God said, “I will be with you.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">And this will be the sign</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you</span><span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-1592b" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-1592b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+3&version=NIV#fen-NIV-1592b" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4a4a4a; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">will worship God on this mountain.” </span><span style="background-color: white;">Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Then what shall I tell them?</span><span class="versenum" style="background-color: white; display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">God said to Moses, “</span><span class="small-caps" style="background-color: white; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">I am who I am</span><span style="background-color: white;">.</span><span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-1594c" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-1594c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+3&version=NIV#fen-NIV-1594c" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4a4a4a; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘</span><span class="small-caps" style="background-color: white; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">I am</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">has sent me to you.""</span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i>Often we try to fill the void in our lives with the things of this world, but true satisfication comes from God alone. "God can give you peace and purpose as you have a fresh encounter with the great I Am." [M. Fry]</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> <b> Ephesians 3:20-21 </b><i> "</i></span><i><span class="text Eph-3-20" id="en-NIV-29272" style="background-color: white;">Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Eph-3-21" id="en-NIV-29273" style="background-color: white;">to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."</span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Eph-3-21" style="background-color: white;"><i> </i>God not only gives enough, but He gives more than enough. We need to worship and praise God first for who He is and not just for what He can give. God is more than a Provider, He is our Sustainer. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Eph-3-21" style="background-color: white;"> <span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Colossians 1:16</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #625529; font-family: georgia;"> "</span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him."</i></p><p><i style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"> </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"> As for myself, I have been stripped of most of my titles that I have held in this world. That's ok, because no one can take away or come between the love that Jesus has for me. His plan and purpose for me will never fail. In that, I rejoice..Amen!</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nQHmWleQeZA?start=32" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Angeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933377277043468860.post-67777289744553771572022-04-05T14:02:00.000-05:002022-04-05T14:02:42.302-05:00The Wait<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZLxhQ2JyDcDJZgzZKcqqsAYd9bRL7LyagDaDAk-nEGLcop_NCnlZsRhVpUL__4PIlQH3-XVMg5VxR2K9pXSCiAnYvt3BgAZ1eZ-wi8XNh7JwbEFn1j2x_clUVFYwlHVv6OtvuFlgzndTEVLAt28BdSpSZbGnlMRdP3ZjZQH37W3y46RnHqJRBgk9/s940/wait2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZLxhQ2JyDcDJZgzZKcqqsAYd9bRL7LyagDaDAk-nEGLcop_NCnlZsRhVpUL__4PIlQH3-XVMg5VxR2K9pXSCiAnYvt3BgAZ1eZ-wi8XNh7JwbEFn1j2x_clUVFYwlHVv6OtvuFlgzndTEVLAt28BdSpSZbGnlMRdP3ZjZQH37W3y46RnHqJRBgk9/w400-h335/wait2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p> <span style="font-family: georgia;"> We live in a world of instant gratification, so waiting isn't easy for any of us. Waiting is hard, because we don't know long it will last. Waiting is hard, because we aren't sure if we will get what we really want after the wait. Waiting is hard, because we don't trust that whatever happens is for our good. Waiting is hard, because we don't feel in control and forget that God is always in control. Patient, confident trust in the Lord is the key to overcoming our impatience with waiting.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> In Psalm 27, <span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">David expresses authentic faith and courageous trust in God, based on his confident expectation that the Lord will rescue and save him in his time of trouble. [gotquestions.org]</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> <b> How do we wait on the Lord and His timing:</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>By Trusting in Him:</b> T</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">rusting God conquers our fears and unhappiness. We must rely on God to regain our sense of hope. There is no one else that you can put your trust in, like God. <b>Psalm 27:1-3 </b> <i>"</i></span><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -48pt;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;">The </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Lord</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;"> is my </span><a data-resourcename="esv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/psalm/27#footnote1" rel="popup" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: super;">h</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;">light and my s</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;">alvation;</span></i><i style="font-family: georgia;"><a data-resourcename="esv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/psalm/27#footnote3" rel="popup" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: super;">j</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;">whom shall I fear? </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;">The </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Lord</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;"> is the stronghold</span><a data-resourcename="esv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/psalm/27#footnote4" rel="popup" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: super;">1</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;"> of my life;</span><span style="text-indent: -16pt;">of whom shall I be afraid?</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -48pt;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;">When evildoers assail me </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;">to </span><a data-resourcename="esv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/psalm/27#footnote5" rel="popup" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: super;">k</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;">eat up my flesh, m</span><span style="text-indent: -48pt;">y adversaries and foes, i</span><span style="text-indent: -16pt;">t is they who stumble and fall. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Though an army encamp against me, </span><span style="text-indent: -16pt;">my heart shall not fear; </span><span style="text-indent: -48pt;">though war arise against me, </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;">yet</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"> I will be confident."</span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>By Seeking Him: </b>When we tell God, how much we want to be in His presence and surrounded by His glory then we will feel closer to Him, When we search His word for direction, we will feel safer and more secure. <span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -48pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt;"> <b>Psalm 27: 5-8</b></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: super;"><b> </b></span><i><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt;"> "</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt;">For he will</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt;"> h</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt;">ide me in his shelter </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -16pt;">in the day of trouble; </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt;">he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;h</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -16pt;">e will</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -16pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -16pt;">lift me high u</span><span class="offset-marker" data-offset="3122301" id="marker1526391" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -16pt; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -16pt;">pon a rock.</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -16pt;"><b> </b></span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt;">And now my</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt;">head shall be lifted up </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -16pt;">above my enemies all around me, a</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt;">nd I will offer in his tent s</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -16pt;">acrifices with shouts of</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -16pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -16pt;">joy; </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt;">I will sing and make melody to the</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt;">.</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt;">Hear, O</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt;">, when I cry aloud; </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -16pt;">be gracious to me and answer me!</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt; vertical-align: super;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt;">You have said,</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt;">“Seek</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt;">my face.”</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -48pt;">My heart says to you, </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -64px;">“Your face,</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -64px;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -64px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -64px;">, do I seek."</span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify; text-indent: -64px;"><b>By Prayer: </b></span><span style="background-color: white;">David asked God for wisdom, direction, and protection, wholly believing he would “see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living”. When we talk with God in prayer, He hears our cries and pleas for help. He doesn't put us off or ignore us. He is always at work and answering us, according to His will. Call upon the Lord.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> "Waiting on the Lord involves the confident expectation of a positive result in which we place a great hope. This expectation is based on knowledge of and trust in God. Those who do not know the Lord will not wait on Him; neither will those who fail to trust Him. We must be confident of who God is and what He is capable of doing. Those who wait on the Lord do not lose heart in their prayers: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” </span><span style="background-color: white;">. Waiting on the Lord renews our strength </span><span style="background-color: white;">. Waiting on the Lord by trusting, seeking, and praying establishes our faith and brings serenity and stability: “I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him” (</span>Psalm 40:1–3<span style="background-color: white;">). As this passage affirms, waiting on the Lord is also a testimony to others who will see our faith and, as a result, put their trust in God." [gotquestions.org]</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #09202f; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> As for myself, I've learned a lot about waiting on the Lord in my 50 years. I feel like most waiting is related to the opening of human hearts to do what the Lord is calling them to do. Whether you're on the giving or receiving end, we're all a part of the waiting game of life. <b> Phillipians 3:20-21 </b><i>"O</i></span><span class="text Phil-3-20" id="en-NIV-29442" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">ur citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"> </span><span class="text Phil-3-21" id="en-NIV-29443" style="background-color: white;"><i>who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body:" </i>I think God surely waits on us, more than we wait on Him. <b> Jude 1:20</b> <i>"</i></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span class="text Jude-1-20" id="en-NIV-30693" style="background-color: white;">But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Jude-1-21" id="en-NIV-30694" style="background-color: white;">keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life."</span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Phil-3-21" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qv-SXz_exKE" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Angeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933377277043468860.post-27451093929910536352022-03-19T11:59:00.000-05:002022-03-19T11:59:20.800-05:00Can't Take That<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNeUlotmlrSArnDCcTGnP0FtZNhqi4YGtGws4TNRXwd0dvg2p0nY5kxGhzK0T7YEgHt1eaty6icp-SUu7fgFluCU8EkZhbF0myK36CxjOZ9v_3oBAQE_Epixw_DhWjmGkw5gDmaN6j1cBsGvf2lDdHdi4qID1Xyjn5MQh9UOyGQQ1Q4KgCk0v2l0j7" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNeUlotmlrSArnDCcTGnP0FtZNhqi4YGtGws4TNRXwd0dvg2p0nY5kxGhzK0T7YEgHt1eaty6icp-SUu7fgFluCU8EkZhbF0myK36CxjOZ9v_3oBAQE_Epixw_DhWjmGkw5gDmaN6j1cBsGvf2lDdHdi4qID1Xyjn5MQh9UOyGQQ1Q4KgCk0v2l0j7=w588-h588" width="588" /></a></div> <br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p> <span style="font-family: georgia;"> My heart has been heavy for the citizens of Ukraine lately. I can somewhat relate to them having to give up their possessions, but not how quickly and forcefully as they have had to. Have you ever thought about what you might lose here in your earthly days? It might be a loved one, your muscle strength, your prized possessions, your mental health, or your defining job. Whatever you value as important in this life can be taken away in an instant with no fault of your own.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> We must remember, as Christians, we are God's child first. John 15:16 "<span style="background-color: white;">You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you</span><span style="background-color: white;"> so that you might go and bear fruit." You are his child forever. You were his voluntary choice with an important purpose in mind.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> 2 Corinthians 5:1-6 "</span> For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.''<br /><br /> "Don't get sucked into short-term thinking. Your struggles will not last forever, but you will." {You'll Get Through This, M. Lucado]</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">2 Timothy 2:11-13" <span style="background-color: white;">Here is a trustworthy saying: </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">If we died with him,</span><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text 2Tim-2-11" style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; position: relative;">we will also live with him; </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">if we endure,</span><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text 2Tim-2-12" style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; position: relative;">we will also reign with him. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">If we disown him, </span><span class="text 2Tim-2-12" style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; position: relative;">he will also disown us; </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">if we are faithless,</span><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text 2Tim-2-13" style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; position: relative;">he remains faithful,</span><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text 2Tim-2-13" style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; position: relative;">for he cannot disown himself.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> There is nothing on this earth that can separate us from God's love. He has called us for His purposes and blesses us with His gifts. These cannot be taken from us. Romans 11:29 "<span class="text Rom-11-29" id="en-NIV-28239" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable." </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Our salvation is guaranteed. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></p><p> <span style="font-family: georgia;"> 2 Timothy 2:12 "If we endure, we will also reign with Him." Isn't that a motivating promise? This life is a vapor in the wind, but eternity is everlasting. Hang on, my friends.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> From a friend..."<span style="background-color: #e4e6eb; white-space: pre-wrap;"> If you are not a Christian, then your life here on earth, whatever the best that happens to you, will be the best you will ever get. So this life is as good as it gets. But….if you are a believer, what happens here is the worse it will ever get for you. So for the believer this is as bad as it gets. For the unbeliever, this is as close to heaven as they get. For believers it’s as close to hell as we get. " </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #e4e6eb; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> As for myself, the struggle is real right now. Satan tries to shift my focus off of my blessings. The battle is in God's hands. My impatience will be overcome, because I know God has a plan to provide for all of my needs. He's providing now, in His way not mine. I am thankful and know His ways are higher.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #e4e6eb; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #e4e6eb; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NswPPVgMaPE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Angeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933377277043468860.post-43428765656808324522022-03-03T13:23:00.000-06:002022-03-03T13:23:07.817-06:00Strength Comes From The Lord<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh683J7lxOSa8D9KmWpLYccmFtqUVu_apIjc2yZBENp5pQojUk9D0Cybf7QwoqVClWJ1DOZev5HLbV5uwKWeFbHZBiCdSbpBAS17MM2yRYkajJlrnmsZZWYQaPMrqc7lerd822YL-9RkGDlJLamvsmwg6LlgnptN4r6LRi0zQW6ZebaRMTMIAw0sd5h=s620" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="370" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh683J7lxOSa8D9KmWpLYccmFtqUVu_apIjc2yZBENp5pQojUk9D0Cybf7QwoqVClWJ1DOZev5HLbV5uwKWeFbHZBiCdSbpBAS17MM2yRYkajJlrnmsZZWYQaPMrqc7lerd822YL-9RkGDlJLamvsmwg6LlgnptN4r6LRi0zQW6ZebaRMTMIAw0sd5h=w382-h640" width="382" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjk6n0Lvgv7h-Jl5yPjXNxeVQrJ4XxFR3h1Ajo4_xM-4GyvJt0778YIVBq8l22b5CpQ_ruwhirsZBbyF__Pic64nBo88c3AqCY-kGWNhMM7ugqsVSvfQJucTs0sqcXnQl_uo1TIhicAIrc9qSADILkH-uEcTODvfIzXaiSLNWD3WKeajbNZdWk-sCY3=s720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="720" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjk6n0Lvgv7h-Jl5yPjXNxeVQrJ4XxFR3h1Ajo4_xM-4GyvJt0778YIVBq8l22b5CpQ_ruwhirsZBbyF__Pic64nBo88c3AqCY-kGWNhMM7ugqsVSvfQJucTs0sqcXnQl_uo1TIhicAIrc9qSADILkH-uEcTODvfIzXaiSLNWD3WKeajbNZdWk-sCY3=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p> <span style="font-family: georgia;"> Where does your strength come from? Strength is mentioned over 360 times in the Bible, regarding both natural and supernatural strength. Believers have the unlimited power of Christ as the source of their strength. Jeremiah 9:23-24 "<span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 24px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thus says the </span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 24px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lord</span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 24px; vertical-align: baseline;">: </span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 24px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches,</span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 24px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 24px; vertical-align: baseline;">but </span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 24px; vertical-align: baseline;">let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the </span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 24px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lord</span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 24px; vertical-align: baseline;"> who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. </span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 24px; vertical-align: baseline;">For in these things I delight, declares the </span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 24px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lord</span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 24px; vertical-align: baseline;">.”</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 24px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "</span><span style="background-color: white;">The Bible places an emphasis on God’s strength in our </span>salvation<span style="background-color: white;">. Man can in no way save himself. Only God can save. Paul makes this abundantly clear: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (</span>Ephesians 2:8–9<span style="background-color: white;">). These two verses are the most forceful summary of the dynamics of salvation found anywhere in the Bible. They help us to understand the contrast between man’s total helplessness and God’s insuperable strength. “God alone . has the power to save or to destroy” (</span>James 4:12, NLT<span style="background-color: white;">)." [gotquestions.org]</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> Surrender is related to our amount of strength. Total submission to the Lord enables us to stand against the deceptions of Satan. We must align ourselves with the Lord thru submission to His will and works. James 4:7 "</span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Submit yourselves therefore to God. </span><span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> God's children are strengthened by:</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1] <b>His grace</b>...Hebrews 13:9 "</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Do not be </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them."</span></p><p><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2]<b> Our time spent in prayer.</b>..Ephesians 6:18 "</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">prayers</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"> and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3] <b>The promise that God will reward our efforts..</b>..Galatians 6:9 "</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Let us not become weary in doing good,</span><a data-resourcename="niv2011" href="https://biblia.com/bible/niv2011/galatians/6/9#footnote1" rel="popup" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: super;">r</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> As for myself, my physical strength gradually vanished right before my own eyes. Out of my control, but always in God's allowance and control. God gives me strength to endure the long stretches of without, the perseverance to keep serving without an expectation of something in return, and the maintaining of peace in my heart that everything is working for my good. I pray for strength now in the battle that is Yours Lord. "I am strong because I've been weak, I am fearless because I've been afraid, and I am wise because I've been foolish."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #3d3d3d; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: georgia; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial;"><img class="exp-cover-image" src="https://covers.logoscdn.com/lls_1.0.710/50x80/cover.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; bottom: -3px; height: 24px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; vertical-align: baseline; width: 16px;" /></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: georgia; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial;"><br /></span></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h_gCfA0Dmgg" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Angeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933377277043468860.post-67678627435392100142022-02-08T20:04:00.000-06:002022-02-08T20:04:44.540-06:00Letting Go<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KmWZB3Cv_vI/YfGZtNSA5iI/AAAAAAAAF10/oUEj0oCxPwEjFuUw6cdFZ55oyoJBsITYgCNcBGAsYHQ/letgo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KmWZB3Cv_vI/YfGZtNSA5iI/AAAAAAAAF10/oUEj0oCxPwEjFuUw6cdFZ55oyoJBsITYgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/letgo.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"> When you are made aware of a train track, you know a train is coming but you aren't exactly sure of when. That is how I have felt about my disease my whole life. There would be a time where I didn't give up, but things would be more out of my control. Really, God's always been in control! He just gave me strength for a limited time and a little less than others. I now have more time to focus on His will for me, rather than my own. This blog is really about accepting God's will for you and not resisting hard against what you've been chosen for.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">As TobyMac sings about 'The Promised Land'...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"I won’t give up on this race</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Broken but I still have faith </span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">That this old life is all part of a plan</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">And I can feel it in my soul, one day I’ll stand before the throne</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">With nothing left but hope in these 2 hands"</span></div></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"> S</span><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent;">om</span><span style="background-color: transparent;">e people might say 'let go and let God' but the Bible contradicts that laid back kind of thinking. <span>The Christian life is a spiritua</span></span><span>l battle which the Bible exhorts us to prepare for and wage diligently.</span><span> </span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol""> </span><span><span>Letting go, in the sense of sitting back and watching events unfold is not biblical.</span> </span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>2 Timothy 2:3</b> "</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">S</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">hare in suffering as </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">a good soldier of Christ Jesus."</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>1 Timothy 6:12</b> "</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fight the good fight</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> of the faith. Take hold of</span><a data-resourcename="niv2011" href="https://biblia.com/bible/niv2011/1-timothy/6/12#footnote2" rel="popup" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: super;">l</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> the eternal life</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> to which you were called when you made your good confession</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> in the presence of many witnesses.</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> We must understand that whatever it is that we do, it is by the power of God and not of ourselves. John 15:5 says "that apart from Me you can do nothing." </span><span>The truth is that working at “letting go” is just as much as an effort-filled work as anything else we try to do for God and not nearly as easy to do as some things.</span><span> [gotquestions.org]</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span>"Suffering in its simplest form comes in the space between what we thought would be and what is. Life defines us, but suffering redfines us. Ultimately, hope refine</span><span>s us, transforming us from within in ways we could never imagine. We can gain precious wisdom and deeper appreciation for the iives we've ben given as we learn to suffer well--not as victims, but as overcomers.</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Some of us have physical wheelchairs, but we all have invisible wheelchairs inside us. None of us can do life by ourselves. We need God, and we need each other." [Suffer Strong]</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> As for myself, I'm meant to be here now as an example, rather than as a doer. That doesn't mean I do nothing, I just do thru the help of others. I was chosen to suffer in this life, but God has promised crowns of great reward in my near future. I trust the next chapter of my life, because I know the author.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fhS83a5Ky84" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Angeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933377277043468860.post-19177807434413843512022-01-18T12:30:00.000-06:002022-01-18T12:30:09.264-06:00Life's Not About Me<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_yXtQXDJXHbJd4ehNF6qegjd_EUz8mivazE0COtfX28gwaRNY8TVhhD_dZgoCspEEM5Hsg5eb1NC_cMma_r5Je-TUxF6wrK92K-IBN6JhzRoq6jRrduuOKsQqcxCJr9yd6z0QSRVLCxQ69Libb_vEyFZlS21gU0l0kWBDP5uKy7E4F6B2g0YbrBMA=s3840" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_yXtQXDJXHbJd4ehNF6qegjd_EUz8mivazE0COtfX28gwaRNY8TVhhD_dZgoCspEEM5Hsg5eb1NC_cMma_r5Je-TUxF6wrK92K-IBN6JhzRoq6jRrduuOKsQqcxCJr9yd6z0QSRVLCxQ69Libb_vEyFZlS21gU0l0kWBDP5uKy7E4F6B2g0YbrBMA=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></div><div class="LYkI7" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); display: flex; flex-direction: row; flex: 0 0 auto; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; padding: 0px 10px;"><div class="vAOvBb" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin: auto 6px auto 16px;"><span aria-label="Changes saved" class="DPvwYc ExSgfc XMCYre" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #9e9e9e; cursor: default; direction: ltr; display: block; font-family: "Material Icons Extended"; font-feature-settings: "liga"; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1; overflow-wrap: normal; padding-right: 16px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" title="Changes saved"><br /></span></div></div><p> <span style="font-family: georgia;"> How much of your new year is dedicated to a new you? How much of your new year is invested in your relationship with Christ? Colossians 1:16 "<span class="text Col-1-16" id="en-NIV-29482" style="background-color: white;">For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him." Doesn't that verse humble you and make you question your priorities?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Col-1-16" style="background-color: white;"> "The Bible says, "It is God who directs the lives of his creatures; everyone's life in his power."" [R. Warren] When we only focus on ourselves, God can get lost in our priorities. We must put God first in our lives! How we spend our money and our time should be a reflection of our relationship with Him. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text Col-1-16" style="background-color: white;"> "You were made by God and for God--and until you understand that, life will never make sense." [R. Warren] God created us for his pleasure, not to entertain him, but to have a relationship with. "</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">God is a personal Being, and it gives Him pleasure to have other beings He can have a genuine relationship with." [gotquestions.org]</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"> God pursues us, but we must open our hearts and mind to begin that relationship.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"> "God is not just the starting point in your life, he is the source of it." When we depend on God's Word, we find true wisdom and direction for the trials of life. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Proverbs 3:5-6 "</i></span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Trust in the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">We often get in a rut of doing things our own way, instead of God's way. We have to have an intentional change of heart, mind and attitude to overcome our sinful, destructive ways.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">Life without God is meaningless. If you're just living for yourself or others, then you will surely be disappointed. If you live with Jesus</span><span style="background-color: white;"> and His willful purpose in mind, then your submissiveness to His plan will payoff. "</span><span style="background-color: white;">We cannot serve both God and ourselves</span><span style="background-color: white;">. Living for God means we make a final decision about who is in charge. When our flesh begins to reassert its rights, we take it back to the cross and allow it to die. When sin tempts, the decision has already been made: we seek God’s will over our own." [gotquestions.org]</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> As for myself, my new year has an intentional plan of 'more Jesus, less me'. </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Living for God may be difficult, but it is not joyless. My focus will try to be on Romans 12:19, because His wrath is just and greater than anything I can do. 1 Peter 4:16 "</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yet </span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">if anyone suffers as a </span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God </span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">in that name."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgX6wU0M1IDkn0aWvJQYw2m2jocaZZN4-5yD6JW5y9KVj44t45DEsEbjQG5ZeH4qLmWECjHaRtD56JRJsiIQ6TS9FKGoMJtOaulTxEMspsXejlkHETR5C93O61Fo8528c9s2nZFTXWQRM3WXASHhKDoyvjKI4JRPxZotgPIFlmw8nYPKMx2p9ru4Nna=s1139" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="995" data-original-width="1139" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgX6wU0M1IDkn0aWvJQYw2m2jocaZZN4-5yD6JW5y9KVj44t45DEsEbjQG5ZeH4qLmWECjHaRtD56JRJsiIQ6TS9FKGoMJtOaulTxEMspsXejlkHETR5C93O61Fo8528c9s2nZFTXWQRM3WXASHhKDoyvjKI4JRPxZotgPIFlmw8nYPKMx2p9ru4Nna=w400-h350" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_4e7C8GV71s" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Angeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933377277043468860.post-46441611016543094262022-01-02T17:20:00.000-06:002022-01-02T17:20:02.497-06:00Praise Him..Always<p><i> <span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 22.5px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” -Titus 3:3-7 NIV</span></i></p><p><i><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 22.5px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <i> Will you praise God no matter what comes in your life? </i> Everyday we see on the news, people who have lost all of their worldly possessions because of tornadoes, floods, or some violent weather occurrence. Right now, we see numerous deaths daily due to the Covid virus. We live in a world of destruction, decay and loss all because of the day when sin entered into this world. There is hope, 1 Peter 1:6-7 "</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span class="text 1Pet-1-6" id="en-NLT-30341" style="background-color: white;">So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text 1Pet-1-7" id="en-NLT-30342" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world."</span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><span style="background-color: white;"> God told us that trials would be part of our earthly lives, but we could have peace thru those trials by remaining in Him through faith and trust. John 16:31-33 </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>“"Do you now believe?" Jesus replied. A time is coming</i></span><i><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">and in fact has come when you will be scattered,</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">each to your own home. You will leave me all alone.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.<b> </b></span></i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-style: italic;">“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-style: italic;">In this world you will have trouble.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-style: italic;">But take heart! I have overcome</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><i>the world.” </i>Jesus questioned his disciples true faith, even tho he knew he would be betrayed. Jesus was comforted thru His trials and sufferings, because he knew God was always with him. "Those that converse with God in solitude are never less alone than when alone. A good God and a good heart are good company at any time." [M. Henry]</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">"We are more than conquerors through him that loved us."</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"> As for myself, I've had the fullest life. The house, the spouse, the job, the probs, the cars, the travels, the marriage, the divorce, the strength and the definite weaknesses. Yes, I have once been strong enough on my own, before my disease made me completely dependent on others. Yes, I will praise God on the mountain and in the valley because He is always with me. He has allowed much to be taken, but has left plenty to praise Him with. Nothing will separate me from His love...nothing!</span></p><p> </p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8iDuZv_5MQk" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Angeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4933377277043468860.post-24022049639348780812021-12-17T12:49:00.002-06:002021-12-17T12:49:42.849-06:00A Reminder About Our Sorrows<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQPJ9eHfVmZy1E7u19kkC7YV8HL2cZKqJaq-wcBk8vAdB-l5prgj0roLEkyk8eUaGbdMjH7-tght0KzCvfguHGidy_wzlNX6pleAwRVO74BUk4jXg4EuDR0LaG-vvz3rd1njk4ioJ7NJYIm-5IqlXgqtKIysn1plQ2AVmHjbhIlioIHFU9qDU5hPi3=s305" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="236" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQPJ9eHfVmZy1E7u19kkC7YV8HL2cZKqJaq-wcBk8vAdB-l5prgj0roLEkyk8eUaGbdMjH7-tght0KzCvfguHGidy_wzlNX6pleAwRVO74BUk4jXg4EuDR0LaG-vvz3rd1njk4ioJ7NJYIm-5IqlXgqtKIysn1plQ2AVmHjbhIlioIHFU9qDU5hPi3=w310-h400" width="310" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Psalm 56:8 "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">1 Peter 1:6-7 "<span class="text 1Pet-1-6" id="en-NLT-30341" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text 1Pet-1-7" id="en-NLT-30342" style="background-color: white;">These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> December is a harder month for some people. It can be a time of joy, but for others a time of remembering past hurts. We live in a world of hurts; people will tun their back on others, people will cause tears to fall, and people will stop talking with others. All of these afflictions are not only known by God but noted in His book of record. [Psalm 56:8] What a consolation to us, as believers. The following are reminders from Matthew Henry's Commentary about how God is in control over our sorrows and how we are to reach out in prayer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> "<span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">God takes cognizance of all the afflictions of his people; and he does not cast out from his care and love those whom men have cast out from their acquaintance and converse." [M. Henry]</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> "</span><span style="background-color: white;">God has a bottle and a book for his people’s tears, both those for their sins and those for their afflictions.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> " [M. Henry]</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> "</span><span style="background-color: white;">God will not forget the sorrows of his people. The tears of God’s persecuted people are bottled up and sealed among God’s treasures; and, when these books come to be opened, they will be found vials of wrath, which will be poured out upon their persecutors, whom God will surely reckon with for all the tears they have forced from his people’s eyes; and they will be breasts of consolation to God’s mourners, whose sackcloth will be turned into garments of praise. God will comfort his people according to the time wherein he has afflicted them, and give to those to reap in joy who sowed in tears. What was sown a tear will come up a pearl." [M. Henry]</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> "</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The saints have God for them; they may know it; and to him they must cry when they are surrounded with enemies; and, if they do this in faith, they shall find a divine power exerted and engaged for them; their enemies shall be made to turn back, their spiritual enemies, against whom we fight best upon our knees." [M. Henry]</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> We must remember thru 1 Peter 1:6-7, that our trials are temporary and working for our good. The struggle is real, but it's making us better and more Christ-like. Be happy that you were chosen for this suffering because your reward in heaven will be worth it all.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> As for myself, I've stocked up my fair share of bottles of tears. But, no one can steal my joy because it is secure in Jesus and His promises. Yes, I've had trials of abandonment and hard suffering, but I know my struggles are temporary. Jesus has never and will never disappoint me. He doesn't take my trials away, but helps me through them. What is unseen is getting clearer to me everyday, as my time draws nearer.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> "</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Only God has the final say over your life. Your future is secure. Your Father is faithful. His promises are true. The unseen world is a far more reliable anchor than the seen one. Your trustworthy God holds you and all you love. You can choose to be immensely and deeply grateful for that, always. And gratitude is the breeding ground of joy. " [bible.com]</span></span></p>Angeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14747253601405577644noreply@blogger.com2