It's Official........It's seasonal!!

God knows just what to bring my way. All I have been reading from the Bible and devotionals is what the Lord needs me to know. 

Last night I was feeling down and was also feeling tired of so many things. As my mind was going crazy with thoughts I felt worse. I stayed up longer in these deep thoughts and I just couldn't sleep. Such thoughts bring worry, pain and fear that tosses you into a stressful and depressing place. I know pain and fear. I also know where I find comfort and solace. I find comfort in what God says about my thoughts and pain and hurt. I find comfort in knowing that other people (in the Bible) have gone through the same but God saw them through.

I came upon an uplifting read in my daily devotional, Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. It said that, being aware of God's presence fills our minds with light and peace, leaving no room for fear.

Knowing that God is here with us and that He knows whatever we are going through, is already comforting. Trusting Him with our thoughts and needs, telling Him how we feel allows us to open up and pour out our hearts to Him. There is then room to hear what He has for us. Filling our hearts with His words of hope, thanksgiving and love, brings us peace.

So, back to my long night. I turned on the light and reached out for my Bible when I realized I couldn't control my thoughts on my own. I wanted to keep reading through my Samuel series but I just couldn't. I found myself reading through the book of Psalm. I came upon Psalm 42 and I suddenly felt some of my words being echoed by the writer of the Psalm. I then found words of comfort and hope:

⁸ By day the Lord directs his love,
    at night his song is with me—
    a prayer to the God of my life.

¹¹ Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.

Psalm 73:26 (NIV)

²⁶ My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart
    and my portion forever.

I found hope and peace. After reading and turning off the lights, I prayed. I praised God for His eternal love for me, His grace and mercy. I thanked Him for being by my side, for understanding me and for His word of hope that gave my heart a new light and the peace I needed. I asked Him to take control of my thoughts and to fill me with His joy. 

I remember saying, "In Jesus Name", and an "Amen" then I drifted off to sleep. I woke up happy and at peace.

Trusting God my Father, fixing my eyes upon Jesus and His calling and seeking guidance from the Holy spirit with a passion to spread The Kingdom and the Love, is in season and forever will be!

What a Love!

 You know that one moment when you hear a song and go------Wow! That's what's in my heart right now!?! Well, that's what I felt when I heard this song tonight.

  I had it all planned out. What I wanted to share tonight was a continuation of my Bible series 1Samuel from Hannah's prayer onwards. Clearly, God had other plans.

It has been a crazy month with projects demanding tons of creativity, fresh and new ideas, a lot of time, energy and finances. I'm convinced this is just the beginning. I have never been so fascinated with the Bible like this past month. I Started with the book of Isaiah, by choice, and to tell you the truth I sometimes found myself drifting off and wanting to go back to the ever vibrant and way cooler New Testament. Isaiah is that one book where I read through the first dozen chapters and all I could say was "come on guys!". I mean, God had had it with Judah and Jerusalem. They kept on sinning and disobeying, being corrupt, they worshiped idols, they stole, they spat on God's face,yet, He never stopped giving them another chance................. Tons of chances!! 

He even gave them hope of a coming Savior who would bring them back to Him. 

That reminded me of the kind of person I had been in the past. I kept seeking my way and doing things that pleased me more, that it never mattered what God meant to me. Never, at any one point did God turn His face away from me. When you have done the worst and the consequences are way worse, you then remember your God...right? Well, I'd say, that's what happens to most of us. 

In 1Samuel 12, Samuel addresses the people of Israel during the coronation of Saul. He reminded them of the times God had delivered them from their enemies, yet they kept on turning away form Him. They even asked for a king of their own. God gave them a king.

1 Samuel 12 (NIV)

²⁰ “Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. ²¹ Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. ²² For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own. ²³ As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. ²⁴ But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.

I surrender to you - Jeremy Camp

 Lord, You live in me
You're my best friend
You're the King of kings
The beginning and end
Now that you have my eyes
I see your spirit inside of me
 
All that I am is for You
My savior
I live by your word
And surrender to you
Here where I stand in this moment father
My spirit has been renewed
I surrender to You
 
You hold the key to my life
In your loving hands
Always by my side
I offer all that I am
So glad I realize
You are the truth and the light
In my life
 
All that I am is for You
My savior
I live by your word
And surrender to you
Here where I stand in this moment father
My spirit has been renewed
I surrender to You

Everything I need I find in You
I believe your promises are true
I will lift my burdens up to You
Your loving grace will see me through
All that I am is for You

My savior
I live by your word
And surrender to you
Here where I stand in this moment father
My spirit has been renewed (Repeat)
My spirit has been renewed
I surrender to You
To You, to You, yeah
I surrender to You

AMEN!  

 

It's with such GREAT Love that I live with hope and joy.

My journey through 1Samuel continues.................