Psalm 107:23-32

"Some of you set sail in big ships;you put to sea to do business in faraway ports.

Out at sea you saw God in action,saw his breathtaking ways with the ocean:With a word he called up the wind—an ocean storm, towering waves!

You shot high in the sky, then the bottom dropped out;your hearts were stuck in your throats.

You were spun like a top, you reeled like a drunk,you didn’t know which end was up.

Then you called out to God in your desperate condition;he got you out in the nick of time.

He quieted the wind down to a whisper,put a muzzle on all the big waves.And you were so glad when the storm died down,and he led you safely back to harbor.

So thank God for his marvelous love,for his miracle mercy to the children he loves.

Lift high your praises when the people assemble,shout Hallelujah when the elders meet!"  Psalm 107:23-32 The Message

Wisdom

“But though men can do all these things, 
they don’t know where to find 
wisdom and understanding.  
They not only don’t know how to get it,
but, in fact, 
it is not to be found among the living.

 And God surely knows where it is to be found, 

for he looks throughout the whole earth, 

under all the heavens. 

And this is what he says 
to all mankind: 

‘Look, to fear the Lord is true wisdom; 

to forsake evil is real understanding.’”

Job 28:12-13, 23-24, 28 (TLB)

Truth in the Unknown

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me not only to number my days, but more importantly include you in them.

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me of the value of the little moments, to search passionately for truth and joy amid this great uncertainty.

In the blink of an eye

everything that was 

certain and clear

 is hazy and unknown.  

Once again, letting go of what I can see, stepping boldly into the great unknown.  More courageously than yesterday, clinging desperately to the One who holds it all together. 

Prayer: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

In Jesus name I pray;

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, 

today and forever. ~ Hebrews 13:8

 Father, I need you

 more today than yesterday,

 but remind me 

not as much 

as I am going

 to need you 

tomorrow.  

Therefore let us, as many as are mature,

have this mind; and if in

anything you think otherwise,

God will reveal even this to you.

Philippians 3:15

Amen

Valentine's Day......A New Approach

Every year Valentine's Day is on February 14th.  Valentine's Day evolved from pagan Roman mythology. It was then changed to a religious holiday it has now morphed into Valentines Day as we know it: a day to celebrate love or commercialism at it's best, depending on who you ask.

Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy celebrating love as much as the next person.  Although I do take a bit of (well a lot actually) personal issue with getting caught up in the fact that I may or may not have a special someone to reciprocate these feelings of 'love' with only one day a year.  And somehow if I don',t then this makes me unlovable.  If I am honest here, often on Valentine's day someone is set-up for failure and someone is doomed for disappointment both based on often unattainable expectations.  Even though I don't know what your relationship status is or whether you are in a love valley or love peak during this particular season of your life.  For me, for far to long, Valentine's day has gotten lost in translation.

Instead of taking a totally critical, cynical view, this is how I have decided to celebrate February 14th, 2013.  We are called to love one another as we love ourselves, which is a whole other blog for another day.  This year I am taking on a whole new, brave approach.

It came to me during my morning devotional time:

Then [Ezra] told them, "Go your way, eat the fat, 

drink the sweet drink, and send portions 

 to him for whom nothing is prepared; 

 for this day is holy to our Lord. 

  And do not be grieved and depressed, 

                                        for the joy of the LORD

                                              is your strength and stronghold."

                                                 Nehemiah 8:10

Did you catch that?  ....and send portions for him whom nothing is prepared; I've decided wouldn't it be great to share love by paying it forward...... to the car behind me if I'm in a drive-thru line, to let someone go ahead of me at the check-out lane, to actually look a stranger in the eye with a smile and sincerely say hello.  I've got some cool sticky notes I'm going to put on a strangers car.  I'm taking some extra time and pray for my husband, my kids, family and friends.

I think I might actually begin to look forward to February 14th!                                        

I'm Thirsty

I have come to the place in my life where I've become thirsty.  Thirsty for God, thirsty for God's Word and thirsty for the Holy Spirit.  Nothing else is going to quench this thirst that drives me to realize how thirsty I truly am.

"But the 

LORD

 has become my 

                                                           s    

                                                  t

                                                      r

                                                        o

                                                          n

                                                            g

                                                              h

                                                                o

                                                                  l

                                                                   d, 

and my God 

the rock of my refuge."  

Psalm 94:22