Tag Archives: God

Thankful Thursday: TYGIAF

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TYGIAF! TYGIAF! I’ll say it again, TYGIAF! ‘What is that?” you might ask. Well, on Fridays, you often hear “TGIF” meaning “thank goodness (or thank God) it’s Friday. I am starting a new mini feature on my blog that i’m calling Thankful Thursday and choosing to declare, “Thank You God, It’s Almost Friday!” I am making a choice to be thankful on Thursday while looking forward to Friday. I find that during the week, my busiest days are right in the middle; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Often by Wednesday night and especially by Thursday night, I’m very exhausted. And then my tiredness leads to grumpiness and, I have to admit it, grumbling!!

Then after being in such a discontent and complaining mood, I get reminded to just take a moment and let myself enjoy the day. Today was no exception. The last two days were long and tiring, and yep, I was grumbling. I had to deal with some very unpleasant tasks which led to extreme tiredness and a lack of patience. Then, today, I was reminded of the beautiful day we had and I had the opportunity to be outside to enjoy it. I do have a job that allows me to be frequently outside and I look forward to that. Not too warm, not too cold, and the sun was brightly shining. Each person I worked with was cheerful and a treasure to be around. And now, it is Thursday night, a beautiful summer evening with a sliver of a moon hovering above me as I journeyed to my tiny home. God is quietly shining his light along my path. As this Thursday gently ends I am thankful for it while anticipating tomorrow. So TYGIAF; Thank You God It’s Almost Friday.

Finding REFUGE in God

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During this past week, I have been thinking about how God is my refuge,  how he provides me a quiet and peaceful sanctuary if only I would just remember and look to him:

Rest and spiritual restoration

Eternal peace and safety through the

Forgiveness  of sins and love of God who grants us

Unearned and undeserved

Grace, mercy, and his free gift of

Everlasting life through Jesus, His Son

And while dwelling on this, I went searching for a special verse in the Bible about finding REFUGE in God and this is what I found:

Psalm 62:8 (Holy Bible (New International Version):

“Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him for God is our refuge.”

Friday Verse Journal Isaiah 41:10

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Thinking about Family and Relying on God’s Strength

I am now two days late on posting a Friday Verse Journal entry. I had just returned from a wonderful and blessed family reunion in Wisconsin. There were so many there that it was nearly impossible to visit with everyone and to learn what each wonderful relative has been up to. We came from many different directions to attend this reunion and far as I know, I was the only one that came from Minnesota! I am also the relative that had my hair pulled by a monkey when I was much younger. That was a question given in a children’s game that was taking place at  the reunion.  Some  relatives came by plane, some by car, and some came with great stories to tell and reminisce.   Our family is very large with many cousins, aunts, and uncles. I think some of the  younger cousins were a bit overwhelmed.

Speaking of the younger cousins in the family, I had a wonderful time playing with two little ones in the pool; they both wanted help to climb up on this lily pad-acorn-like raft and then they would jump off filled with smiles and laughter. While still at “Water World”. my young niece pretended to be my motor while I was relaxing on my floating tube and she propelled me all around the ‘lazy river’. So, instead of floating gently along, I was in my own ‘speedboat’ passing by everyone else. Then another very young toddler wanted me to play with him  in the sand. By this time I had already soiled my clothes by spilling a drink so I though, “Well, why worry about a little dirt?” He also was full of smiles as he built his version of a castle in the sand. Some of the more wilder cousins  along with my sister daringly jumped into the nearby lake, clothes and all!  One dear cousin didn’t want me or my other sister to feel left out so she  sneaked up from behind and gave each of us a great bear hug so that we too were sopping wet and felt beary loved. How appropriate since we were staying at the Three Bears Resort. Although, I have returned home, others are still traveling and i wish them all well in their journeys.

Anyway, after spending hours on the road, I was very thankful to safely reach home. I was also very tired from the events of the last three days and needed to rest. During that brief time of rest and restoration, I focused on God and how so good he is. I was reminded of how I needed to rely on his strength and not my own.  I am often weak and my strength often fails me. I also need to listen when he seems to say, “it is time to rest.”  So today, Sunday, I am resting, focusing on God, and relying on his strength to restore me:

Isaiah 41:10 (Holy Bible Revised Standard Version):

“Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed for I am your God: I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”

Friday Verse Journal Colossians 3:12-14

 

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Though, I may fail many times and sometimes even many times in one day, I am trying to become and to be the way God wants me to me. Through Jesus help, guidance, and his love, I am also trying to be kind, loving, and compassionate. With that in mind, I’ve found this passage I wanted to share today. May this also encourage you to be the person God wants you to be.

Colossians 3;12-14 (Holy Bible English Standard Version):

“Put on then as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other as the Lord has forgiven you. so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

Sunday Drive Round Up July 13, 2014

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I am AGAIN a day late but determined to write a post and share some neat things I found in the blogosphere:

These past several days, I found inspiration, hope, and a bit of laughter in poetry, the value of reading, scripture, and a dog named Sugar.

I found a really neat poem, Gifts of Birds, shared by Source of Inspiration:

http://patcegan.wordpress.com/2014/07/14/gifts-of-birds/

I also found a very interesting and informative article about the value of reading shared by New3Creation Writing:

http://new3creationservices.wordpress.com/2014/07/14/why-reading-really-is-fundamental/comment-page-1/#comment-133

I then discovered a beautiful and comforting scripture passage shared by Looking4GodToday:

http://looking4godtoday.wordpress.com/2014/07/14/refuge/comment-page-1/#comment-180

And finally I found one more very cute article about a dog named Sugar which made me smile shared by Conversations around the Tree:

http://treerabold.wordpress.com/2014/07/14/if-my-dog-2/

 

I am hoping that you also find something here to lift up today!

Guest Writer Kathy B July 13, 2014

 

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Kathy B, guest writer on my blog had a few thoughts to share.  She seemed to have a heavy heart when she received some very sad and some very shocking news today. Even though she is hurting, she still desires to lift up others from their sadness. She has started to make regular visits to a nursing home for the purpose of encouraging others. She can always tell when someone is extra sad. She tells me, “I like to make others smile.” And today while going to church, she was focused on God’s grace and his forgiveness which led her to a certain passage in scripture.  Here is Kathy in  own words:

Being Compassionate Everyday

Thank you for your grace and restoration that you give us everyday,

Even though we clearly fall short and don’t deserve it.

We are so wrapped up in ourselves that we fail to think or care for others,

because our past hurts cut us to the core of our being,

Help us to be like You, loving and compassionate.

Psalm 62  (Holy Bible New International Version)

1 Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.
2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

3 How long will you assault me?
Would all of you throw me down—
this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
4 Surely they intend to topple me
from my lofty place;
they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse.[b]

5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God[c];
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.

9 Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
together they are only a breath.
10 Do not trust in extortion
or put vain hope in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
do not set your heart on them.

11 One thing God has spoken,
two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,
12     and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;
and, “You reward everyone
according to what they have done.”

 

Friday Verse Journal James 1:22-24

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First a quick review on a scripture verse which I have already shared:

Proverbs 15:1 (Holy Bible New International Version):

“A gentle answer turns away anger but a harsh word stirs up wrath.”

In my self-indulgent foolishness last week, I had completely forgotten this little gem of a verse and allowed myself to become so angry to the point of being very harsh. I did not realize my own harshness until sometime later. But it was too late, my very strong words came out and no doubt.stirred up anger in others!! I was so shocked and dismayed at myself when I realized it. Talk about really messing up!! I did what I could to retract those terrible words and set things right. So as I pondered this  for days and asked God  for his forgiveness and to help me to not behave that way again, I was then reminded of this little jewel of wisdom which God meant for me to plant and keep in my mind and heart. How could I so soon forget what he was teaching me?

Well, then praying and pondering over my own forgetfulness, I was led to another verse which showed I needed to do better at committing these verses to my memory and my heart by living them out in my life:

James 1:22-24 (Holy Bible New International Version):

“Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” 

And that is exactly what I did, I read God’s word, walked away and completely forgot what he just said. By his grace and with his help, I will commit myself to remembering what he has already taught me.

 

Keep on Believing

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I awoke this morning filled with many worries and wishing all my troubles away.

I prayed to my Lord but didn’t really believe he would answer me today.

It was a long day ahead of me and I rolled out of bed so very reluctantly.

I ate a little breakfast and turned on some news.

Although storms and wind are predicted, the sky is a brilliant blue!

It was a sign of hope that God had left for me

if only I’d stop doubting and just believe.

I made my way to work helping people throughout the day

While all the time worrying and wishing my own troubles away.

I longingly check my mailbox at my work office

Hoping for some correspondence to ease my troubles a bit

But nothing is there so I continue the day with worries to bear

I help a few more people trying to ease their worries and woes

Get one problem solved, but a few more to go!

My day is almost complete, have just one more person to meet.

She has a complex dilemma and so we devise a plausible plan

To satisfy her worries and restore hopefulness once again.

Back to the office I go still troubling over my own woes

I check my mailbox one more time searching hard to see

Lo, a yellow piece of mail; ah, I then knew the Lord had answered me.

Why do I continue to worry so much; why do I not fully believe?

For the Lord is always listening and quietly watching over me.

And I’m reminded that he gives me plenty of reasons

To not doubt him but just keep on believing.

Friday Verse Journal Hebrews 4:16

 

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As I spent some time alone today thinking about freedom and liberty, I also am remembering that we also have freedom to  approach the God of  Love and Grace and pray to him whenever we want to. And he is never too busy and always ready to listen our words and see the things in our hearts. We bow our heads and step toward his throne anytime in prayer.

Hebrews 4:16 (Holy Bible English Standard Version):

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.