In better hands…

You know, I have been listening to Natalie Grants song Better Hands and it speaks such truth to me.

It’s hard to stand on shifting sand
It’s hard to shine in the shadows of the night
You can’t be free if you don’t reach for help
You cant love if you dont love yourself

There is hope when my faith runs out
Cause I’m in better hands now

It’s like the sun is shining when the rain is pouring down
It’s like my soul is flying though my feet are on the ground
So take this heart of mine there’s no doubt
I’m in better hands now

I am strong all because of you
I stand in awe of every mountain that you move
Oh I am changed, yesterday is gone
I am safe from this moment on

There’s no fear when the night comes ’round 
I’m in better hands now

It’s like the sun is shining when the rain is pouring down
It’s like my soul is flying though my feet are on the ground
So take this heart of mine there’s no doubt
I’m in better hands now

It’s like the sun is shining when the rain is pouring down
It’s like my soul is flying though my feet are on the ground
Its like the world is silent though I know it isnt true
Its like the breath of Jesus is right here in this room

So take this heart of mine there’s no doubt
I’m in better hands now
I’m in better hands now

I know that I am in better hands now.  He is my strength, He is my rock, He is my everything.  I love him and He is my Jesus.

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

“And now, may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you have spoken, and when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign LORD, it is an eternal blessing!” 2 Samuel 7:29

Encouragement for Today

When God grants a blessing, it’s more than temporal. When a plan is from God, there will be an eternal aspect to it. Perhaps this is the key to which “desires of the heart” God grants. Are those desires merely temporal, for this world only? Then chances are, they’re of “the flesh.” If, however, they’re tied to eternal matters, to kingdom work, God will grant them, beyond what we can imagine. What blessings do you seek? It’s not wrong to seek them, but ask yourself: How does this further God’s eternal purposes?

Have a blessed day and let God shine on you!!!  Love, love!!!  XOXOXO

Today is a busy day…

I have been working on Multi-housing development listings for the Land Development team.  Boy is that going to take forever to do.  Then this morning, we had our team meeting for the Community Consulting team.  Patty totally pulled a Michael (from the office).  She looked right at Jo Ella and said “So Jo Ella, could you start this meeting off with a cheer?”  And guess what?  She totally pulled it off.  She started clapping, and chanting “G-O-O-D M-O-R-N-I-N-G, good morning, hey hey, good morning.”  It was hysterical, and I had tears running out my eyes I was laughing so hard.

I really don’t have much to say today, so I am just going to give today’s verse and the encouraging words.  Hope everyone has a blessed day.  Love, love!!!  XOXOXO

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

The king summoned Nathan the prophet. “Look,” David said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!” … “O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, God of Israel, I have been bold enough to pray this prayer to you because you have revealed all this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings!’ For you are God, O Sovereign LORD. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to your servant.” 2 Samuel 7:2, 27–28 Encouragement for Today David had good intentions: to build a temple for the Lord, something fitting for his glory. David felt it wasn’t right to live in a palace while the Ark—the symbol of God’s presence—resided in a tent. However, God told him, in effect, “You think you can bless and provide for me? No, it’s the other way around. In fact, I have plans for you, and here they are!” (See verses 4-17.) David’s response was one of humility, gratitude, and wonder. When you want to “do something” for God, check it out with Scripture. Are you sure you have his perspective?

Miscellaneous Stuff…

One of my girlfriends, who lives in Texas, sent me this article through email.  I thought it was pretty good and I would like to share it with you.

Anyway, I am so tired today.  I’m sure a lot of it has to do with yesterday being my early day.  I get up on Tuesdays at 4:15 am, leave the house at 5:00 am or a little after, I am at my women’s leadership group by 5:30 am, then at work by 7:30 am.  Of course, I can’t get to sleep until after 9:00 pm on Tuesdays, due to watching the Biggest Loser.  I am so stuck on that show, but that is a different story.  I think I have been sleeping pretty well the last couple of days, especially since I started wearing my C-PAP machine again.  Yes, I have sleep apnea.  It isn’t any fun, but I know the machine helps me out a lot.  But Brian has said for the last 2 nights that I looked like I am sleeping like the dead.  How refreshing, I look dead.  LOL, oh well.  If I could lose my weight again, I wouldn’t need the machine.  I proved that back in 2005-2006.  But now that I have gained all my weight back, I really need to get back on it and lose it again. 

I know that God will help give me the strength I need for losing weight, but it is my own will power that holds me back.  I don’t know why I am such a weak person in that area.  I was totally strong in 2005 and thanked God everyday for giving me the strength to carry on.  So can anyone tell me why I am not trusting in Him like I should?  I just pray that He will give me the strength, and complete trust that I need to lose the weight.

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

And again David asked the LORD what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” the LORD replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees. When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that the LORD is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.” So David did what the LORD commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer … David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the LORD, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments—lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals. 2 Samuel 5:23–25; 6:5

Encouragement for Today

At this point, David never did anything without asking the Lord what to do. Because he sought God and always obeyed what God told him to do, the guidance became more and more specific. When victory came—thanks to David’s obedience—David took none of the glory for himself. He gave it all to God, leading the people in a joyous celebration of song. Seek God, obey, expect victory, and praise God for what he does—this is the pattern David leaves for us to emulate. Thank you father for such a beautiful day.  I would like to lift up everyone that we come in contact with, that your light shines through us and we can show your love through us also.  I pray that you always give us the words we need to bring people closer to you.  Thank you for my life and for your love.  Thank you for Jesus and his sacrifice he made for all.  It’s in Jesus’s name.  Amen Hope everyone has a wonderfully blessed day today.  Love, love!!!  XOXOXO

Life today…

So there has been quite a bit of stuff going on in our lives lately.  We are meeting new people, “leading” 2 mixed groups together, I’m co-leading a women’s group, and it has been a wild ride.  I’m enjoying every minute of it.  We have been having people over for dinner or dessert, and it has been a huge blessing.  The trust that comes with meeting people either in us or them, is just amazing.  God’s work is so awesome.  I’m still an internal processor.  I listen to everyone, process what is being said, and still I have problems coming up with questions.  I don’t like being as quiet as I am, but I know that eventually the questions will come.  I just wish it was now.  But if you ask me anything, I will tell you what I think, and what I see going on.  I feel as though I am an honest and authentic person.  I would at least hope that I am. 

So how do you feel your life is?  Do you feel that you can be open and honest with people?  Or are you afraid of hurting others feelings?  I know that I sometimes feel as though I will hurt someones feelings, but God gives me the strength that I need to say what is in my heart.  I just really need to work on asking questions.  I just pray that God will lead me to be able to do that.

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

Do you like honey?     Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick! Proverbs 25:16 Encouragement for Today Here’s wise counsel about how to handle things we enjoy. Whatever we like can become a source of sickness, if we do it too much or have too much of it. Food is the example here, and certainly any food can be an opportunity for overindulgence. But what about other things? What do you like to do or to have? If you like to shop, fine—just keep within your budget. Do you enjoy movies or romance novels? Enjoy “just enough” so that your pleasures are a blessing, not a curse. I hope everyone has a blessed day and that you can make Christ the center of your life.  Keep pressing into Jesus!!!  Love, love!!!  XOXOXO

Blessings…

I feel totally blessed.  I am blessed to have such a great family.  I am blessed to have wonderful friends.  I am blessed to be in a community where I am loved and I love them.  I am blessed to be in a “leadership” position at church and have trust in and from people.  I couldn’t imagine my life not being as blessed as it is.  God is awesome.

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. John 13:17

Encouragement for Today

Blessing doesn’t come from knowing; it comes from doing what we know. When God teaches you something, do you act on it right away? What do you know, but aren’t doing? What resources might God be providing to help you act on what you know?

So, do you hear God telling you to do things and act on them?  Or do you hear God tell you to do things and you just sit there and act like there is nothing going on?  I can honestly say that I have done that.  Brian and I were talking this weekend with D & B and we told them that, when we were in a not so good place with God, that I knew God wanted me to call a friend that apparently was in need, and I let it go.  I didn’t listen at all and refused to call her.  I still to this day feel guilty about not talking to her.  Now she won’t talk to me since she is far away from God.  I just pray that she will forgive me for not talking to her back then when she needed a friend to talk to.

But, I thank D & B for probing me about my life and why I am the way I am.  I always feel like I can handle talking about my past without crying.  Not that I will ever be over what had happened to me, but I have always felt as though I had gotten stronger and harder about it.  But then I talk about certain things and I just break down crying.  I know it doesn’t make me weak, but I feel as though I am weak.  I know I am still growing in Christ and He is all I need and He does help me get through what ever it is that I am going through at the time.

I better get to work, have a blessed day and keep pressing into Jesus!!!  Love, love!!!  XOXOXO

God’s light…

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

The LORD is God, shining upon us. Psalm 118:27a Encouragement for Today What an image: God is light, and he shines upon us. His light always shines on you, revealing what would otherwise be hidden. His light shines on you, warming like the sun. His light causes you to bloom as a plant that needs sunlight to thrive. Bask in the warmth of his light!

I think today is going to be a good day.  Yes it is cold outside, but  I just need to keep reminding myself that God is always the light that I need to follow, and that He is my sunshine.  To hear His words, and just bask in His glory.  To be able to shine with his love and show everyone that He is what we all need.

Hope everyone has a very blessed weekend.  Just remember to let God shine through you and glorify Him.  Love, love!!!  XOXOXO

OK, I know I wasn’t going to gripe, but…

How much longer do we have to deal with this crappy weather.  I took my time driving in this morning.  There were a few slick spots, but other then that, things went pretty smoothly.  Most the people that I was driving around, were also very cautious, which seems to be an unusual thing.  You can tell who the people were that are in a hurry.  They are all on the side of the road, in a ditch, or smashed into a guard rail.  I kid you not, I saw 9 cars either in a ditch or in the guard rails this morning.  Then on 635 southbound, everyone was getting backed up due to looking at the wreck on 635 northbound.  Unbelievable!!!

My husband goes in this morning for a root canal.  It is his first one ever.  I have had one myself and I let him know that it, for me, wasn’t that bad.  But he has been suffering with this tooth for about a month now.  Well, ever since they refilled the filling.  I hope he is ok.

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the praise of God. John 12:42–44

Encouragement for Today

What an easy trap to fall into—loving human praise more than the praise of God and wanting to please people rather than God! How might people-pleasing show up in your life? In this passage, the conflict’s over whether to be public about their belief. The Jewish leaders didn’t want to risk social ostracism. How much of what you do is out of the compulsion to please others rather than God? How and when do the two tend to conflict in your life?

Hmmmm, interesting.  Do you show more in pleasing people than you please God?  I can see how that would be.  You live your life to please other people, but is people pleasing, pleasing to God?  I think you can take that in a number of ways.  I believe that when you are pleasing to people, especially doing God’s work, is very pleasing to God.  If you are pleasing others just to satisfy you, that is not pleasing to God.  How are you glorifying Him when you are satisfying yourself?  Things to ponder.

Have a good day and be safe out there!!!  Love, love!!!  XOXOXO

Please Lord, please…

That is a good topic for today, especially since I feel that way.  Here is the verse and Encouraging Word for the day.

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

Please, LORD, please save us.     Please, LORD, please give us success. Psalm 118:25

Encouragement for Today

This is a plea any of us can echo about any number of things: “Please, Lord, please save me from my own compulsions, blind spots, sins.” “Please, Lord, please give me success (in my work, my parenting, as a leader …).” It’s also a prayer we can pray on a corporate level. “As a church, please save us from our own complacency, from being led astray by false doctrine, from our apathy toward the poor and needy. Please give us success as we witness to a lost and dying world.” Salvation and success—both profoundly human needs God wants to meet.

Here it is in context.  Sometimes it helps me out to see it in context.  Just to be able to understand what is being said by the couple of verses that are given.

Psalm 118

25 Please, LORD, please save us.
  Please, LORD, please give us success.
26 Bless the one who comes in the name of the LORD.
  We bless you from the house of the LORD.
27 The LORD is God, shining upon us.
  Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise you!
  You are my God, and I will exalt you!

29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good!
  His faithful love endures forever.

This just really spoke to me this morning.  Have a blessed day everyone.  Love, love!!!  XOXOXO

What a day…

Well, Julie and I get in today and start our days off in the usual way.  We both start the computers, check work e-mails, check regular email, make coffee, put the newspaper up, etc.  Probably about an hour after we get here, she is asked if she would go take pictures of the Winnwood/Briarcliff area.  So she was excited that she could do this, thinking it would be within the week, then she is told they need her to do it this afternoon.  So now she is off to go eat some lunch and then go take pictures.  I told her to make sure she bundles up.  They would like her to get several hundred pictures for this project.  Nothing like a last minute thing.

So this morning in group we were talking about scripture.  That is what the chapter in John Pipers book was about.  We were asked if we have a favorite scripture.  I personally don’t.  I may have had one of those ah-ha moments, but I haven’t had one just stick with me.  Now my husband on the other hand, he has a favorite scripture.  It is even tattooed on him.  It is Galatians 2:20.  I would love to have a favorite verse, but I just haven’t had one that has struck me to keep a hold of it.

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

But David said, “No, my brothers! Don’t be selfish with what the LORD has given us. … We share and share alike. …”When he arrived at Ziklag, David sent part of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends. “Here is a present for you, taken from the LORD’s enemies,” he said. The gifts were sent to the people of the following towns David had visited: Bethel, Ramoth-negev, Jattir, Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa, Racal, the towns of the Jerahmeelites, the towns of the Kenites, Hormah, Bor-ashan, Athach, Hebron, and all the other places David and his men had visited. 1 Samuel 30:23–24, 26–31

Encouragement for Today

David wasn’t selfish or grasping about the plunder. He used it to encourage his men, build unity, and build relationships with the leaders of Judah. He used worldly wealth—which he recognized came from God—to build relationships. (Jesus made a similar point in the parable of the shrewd steward). Wealth is to be invested in relationships, not things. David had a stewardship mentality about the wealth God had allowed him to gain from the plunder, seeing it not as his own, but as a means of building relationships and furthering God’s purposes.

So reading the Encouragement for Today, do you feel as though you are able to not be selfish and be able to build unity with the others?  I know that David was correct in letting the others join him, but I also know that my flesh would be very jealous.  It doesn’t seem fair to me, but I totally get what David is saying.  You should always let your brothers and sisters share in what you have.

Have a good day everyone.  Much love!!!  XOXOXO

Just another day in paradise…

Not really.  I woke up with a stupid sinus headache.  I’m sure that later it will be better, it is just the whole achy feeling in between my eyes.  Oh well.  I’ll be fine.

Saturday went pretty well.  We had a few new people show up at group and it was great to meet/see all of them.  We did introductions again and pulled out the “Box o’ Questions.”  There were a few harder questions in there, but I feel as though everyone did a great job answering things.

So anyway, yesterday was kind of funny.  We get to church early and Roy asks me if I can answer the phones.  I said sure not a problem.  He did tell me to be prepared to get loaded with calls asking if we were going to have service or not.  Well, I sat there from probably 8:00 am till about 10:30 am and I only received 5 phone calls.  I personally was kind of shocked until I got on my email and saw that Roy sent an email out saying that we were still having service.  But I stayed at the phones anyway just in case.

It is amazing how Christ works.  Brian was running the bookstore before 1st service.  He saw one of the couples in our Wednesday mixed group and said hello to them.  After first service he was able to sit down and talk to her about a few things.  He just knew it was God that gave him the opportunity to talk to her.  He said it was a very good conversation.  I was glad.

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

Then David returned … and met up with the 200 men who had been left behind because they were too exhausted to go with them. They went out to meet David and his men, and David greeted them joyfully. But some evil troublemakers among David’s men said, “They didn’t go with us, so they can’t have any of the plunder we recovered. Give them their wives and children, and tell them to be gone.”But David said, “No, my brothers! Don’t be selfish with what the LORD has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the band of raiders that attacked us. Who will listen when you talk like this? We share and share alike—those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment.” 1 Samuel 30:21–24

Encouragement for Today

Here are two very different perspectives. Some of David’s men complained and didn’t want to share with those who hadn’t fought in the battle. Theirs was an ungracious, withholding response. David’s response was forgiving and generous: the men who stayed behind performed their own type of service (guarding the equipment,) and thus deserved respect and honor. He didn’t see their exhaustion as illegitimate. How do you respond to others’ “weaknesses”? Are you gracious or judgmental and withholding? How do you think God responds to your exhaustion or weakness?

Hope everyone has a great day.  Love, love!!!  XOXOXO