The Bible After Five Days...

Today is Day 6 of The Bible in 90 Days reading challenge.  Never heard of it?  Neither had I until I started following Amy at MomsToolbox on Twitter.  The Bible in 90 Days is exactly what it says – reading the Bible from cover to cover in 90 days, 12 pages a day!  The reading is done using the NIV, and a special version of the Bible can be purchased (which I have) where each days reading is marked out.  A great resource for when doing the reading challenge again in the future! 

I’m thoroughly enjoying the challenge and have gleaned a lot from what I have read so far.  The premise of the challenge is to just read, not study.  If God shares something while reading, or there are questions that arise, the reader is to write it down for study at a later date.  I’ve found it interesting how even though I’m not studying as such I am learning and remembering many new things!

The first amazing word from God was Genesis 15:1b -

“After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:  “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.””

This is a timely reminder for me; I often become fearful of what the world offers.  God reminded me through this verse that He is always with me to protect me from the world, and that after my time on earth is over, Heaven is my great reward.  The world will pale in comparison to Heaven!

The next amazing word was from Genesis 22:14 –

“So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.””

Where do I need to be for the Lord to provide?  Yes, up on the mountain of the Lord.  Not dwelling down here on earth – spiritually speaking – but by staying with the Lord.  My physical self is down here on earth, but I need to keep my spiritual self up high with Him.

The next gem was from Genesis 31:50b –

“...even though no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.”

Over the last two years, and even including this very hour, I have been dealing with a situation whereby God has been the witness between another person and myself.  This has been a constant source of comfort to me, and brought me peace when I first realised and felt it.  I know that things occur that I don’t and may never understand, but God does.  I know that I am misunderstood, and I misunderstand others, but God doesn’t misunderstand.  Ultimately when we stand before Jesus in Heaven, all that we’ve done towards another - either to their face or behind their backs - will be revealed and dealt with accordingly.  I’m not without sin, and all of mine will be revealed, but until then I will be remembering this verse and taking comfort from it.  God has my back and will avenge where He sees fit. 

The last gem that He revealed was from Exodus 6:7 –

“I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.”

God took the Israelites as His own people.  They then became slaves to the Egyptians and God rescued them.  He also takes us as His own people; we as frail humans who are born as slaves to sin.  He rescues us and removes the yoke of slavery from us.  He gives us the honour of being able to live free from the world’s bondage. 

Four verses and four timely and comforting Words from God.  I am so blessed to be on this journey with Him, even if there are days when I just want to give up!  Like today, for instance, when my fibro flare became almost unbearable, I developed a migraine headache, and almost had an anxiety attack.  I remembered during this that life could be worse.  At least I wasn’t bundled up and sold into slavery by my brothers like Joseph was.  That is what God wants us to do; remember that life isn’t all that bad – if at all – when He is at the helm and we give Him control.

Feeling Jesus...

Photo Source

When you look at other people, what do you see? What thoughts about them cross your mind?

Do you wonder what they do in their spare time? Do you wonder what sort of life they've had ... are having now?

Have you ever thought that Jesus already knew all this when He saw people?

He had an advantage that we never will.

But we can still see others as Jesus does.

In what ways do you remind yourself to see others as Jesus does? Do you remember a particular scripture? Do you 'feel' Jesus inside you?

Who Should We Entrust Ourselves To?

"But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man." - John 2:24-25 NIV 1984

"But Jesus [for His part] did not trust Himself to them, because He knew all [men]; And He did not need anyone to bear witness concerning man [needed no evidence from anyone about men], for He Himself knew what was in human nature. [He could read men's hearts.]" - John 2:24-25 AMP

"But Jesus didn't entrust his life to them. He knew them inside and out, knew how untrustworthy they were. He didn't need any help in seeing right through them." - John 2:24-25 MSG 

"But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew human nature. No one needed to tell him what mankind is really like." - John 2:24-25 NLT 

 So, what's your verdict? Do you believe what God says about you, or what man says? Remember to make the right - and the liberating and freeing - choice. Remember ... no fence sitting.

Happy Mother's Day...

An Everlasting Sign...

(Please feel free to use this photo - taken and created by me, but please also include a photo credit and link back to this blog post. Thank you.)

Abundance and Blessing...

(Photo credit to Anna-Claire Photography © 2010)

Are You Tired?

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." - Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

I am tired, worn out and burned out by life. I’m feeling rather discombobulated at the moment, after having an OK run emotionally for a little while. I don’t like feeling discombobulated. It’s uncomfortable and it makes me uneasy. That’s why the verse above gave me so much comfort.

It is my medicine that my dear friend, Jo at Princess Warrior Lessons sends me when she knows I need encouraging words from our Father. And oh, how I did this afternoon. You see, I was judgemental of someone and I shouldn’t have been. I should have showed grace, but I didn’t. It sent me into a tailspin. But it was the tailspin I needed, although it left me feeling discombobulated and uneasy.

Jo also sent me the verse below as part of my medicine dosage today, and it’s reminded me that I have to endure. I have to be patient. I have to rest in the loving arms of my Heavenly Father while my healing comes.

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” - Romans 15:4 (NIV, ©2010)

I have daily reminders of why I get discombobulated. A photo will remind me of a happier time. A memory will also. A promise of what will never be does too. I know these things are sent to strengthen me, but it doesn’t stop me from hurting. From feeling betrayed and let down. But, as Jo reminded me this evening, while humans will let me down, and vice versa, God will never let me down.

I am to focus on Him. Keep Him set right before me. He, after all, is the One who told me about ‘fact not feeling’. How that I am to remember the cold, hard facts of events that occurred in the past (note that...IN THE PAST) and to move passed the feelings. It’s not easy, but with Him I know that I will overcome.

He is GREAT AND GLORIOUS. He will provide a way forward for me. He will help me overcome my depression and anxiety. He will show me – in His time – what He has pre-destined for my life.

I am still tired, worn out and burned out, but God is faithful, ever-loving, and ever-present. He will see that I get the rest I need and the renewing so that I can be all who He knows me to be.

A Place In The Sun...

(Please feel free to use this photo - taken and created by me, but please also include a photo credit and link back to this blog post. Thank you.)

From My True Valentine...

With today being Heart Day I was feeling rather flat about the whole thing. Soppy tweets and status updates on Facebook, roses in the supermarket...I just wasn't feeling it. Until this afternoon when two friends blessed me with some rather apt reminders from God about who I am and whose I am (thank you ladies!).

Ten Things God Wants You to Remember Every Day

1. He will strengthen you

2. He will provide for you

3. He will answer you

4. He will be with you

5. He will give you rest

6. He will bless you

7. He will not fail you

8. He believes in you

9. He will take care of you

10. HE LOVES YOU SO, SO VERY MUCH!

I've printed those ten points out and placed them where I can read the every day to be reminded of my true worth! I was also blessed with these words from Song of Solomon 4:

You are beautiful, my darling, beautiful beyond words.

You are altogether beautiful, my darling, beautiful in every way.

You have captured my heart, my treasure, my bride.

You hold it hostage with one glance of your eyes, with a single jewel of your necklace.

Your love delights me, my treasure, my bride.

Your love is better than wine, your perfume more fragrant than spices.

I've also printed these verses out to read daily and be reminded of how much Jesus loves His bride and how beautiful I am in His eyes, even if the world tells me otherwise.

The Beautiful Three...

Psalm 27:8
My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”

2 Corinthians 4:7
We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.[a] This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
Footnote:
2 Corinthians 4:7 Greek We now have this treasure in clay jars.

Isaiah 12:2
See, God has come to save me.
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
The Lord God is my strength and my song;
he has given me victory.”

Rebellion and Compassion...

Psalm 51

For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

Have mercy on me, O God,
because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
blot out the stain of my sins.
Wash me clean from my guilt.
Purify me from my sin.
For I recognize my rebellion;
it haunts me day and night.
Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
and your judgment against me is just.
For I was born a sinner—
yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
But you desire honesty from the womb,
teaching me wisdom even there.

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Oh, give me back my joy again;
you have broken me—
now let me rejoice.
Don’t keep looking at my sins.
Remove the stain of my guilt.
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Do not banish me from your presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.
Then I will teach your ways to rebels,
and they will return to you.
Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;
then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
Unseal my lips, O Lord,
that my mouth may praise you.

You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
Look with favor on Zion and help her;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit—
with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings.
Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.

Soothing My Anguished Soul...

Today, and especially tonight, I have taken comfort in reading through various chapters in the book of Psalms. I need them. I need the soothing words of our Lord, spoken through King David. Here are just some of the treasures, from the NLT, that I discovered:

“The Lord is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant.” Psalm 25:14

“I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul.” Psalm 31:7

The complete 32nd chapter!

“But the LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine. We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hop is in you alone.” Psalm 33:18-22

“But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God’s presence. Let them be filled with joy.” Psalm 68:3

“God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.” Psalm 68:6a

“Praise the Lord; praise God our saviour! For each day he carries us in his arms.” Psalm 68:19

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for coming to me in my time of need. Thank You for sending Your Word to sooth my anguished soul. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

Maintaining Faith...

I'm learning a lot about faith of late. I believe that faith and focus go hand in hand. I must keep my focus on Jesus to keep my faith in Him strong. I have never, ever doubted the existence of God or that Jesus came to earth to die for my sins. My belief has been unshakeable, but what about my faith?

Let's just say that it's deepening as I become more focused and more reliant on Him for the strength I need. I just need to put my foot out into the Jordan in an act of faith and let Him do the rest.

My 24 in 2010 scripture memory verse for the 15th of April talks about faith in Jesus. My focus has shifted to Him as the ultimate comfort for the lack I've felt in my life. I am finally feeling - not just thinking about, but feeling - His power in my life. Over the last few weeks I have literally cried out to Him on a weekly basis to help me, to give me strength and to take the pain away. But as my reading of Revelation revealed to me two nights ago, the pain is purposeful.

"...God's holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus." - Revelation 14:12 NLT

I don't 'do' patient very well, nor do I 'do' persecution, obeying and maintaining. I am learning though. Slowly, but surely. As I feel myself exiting the wilderness that has been my life for the last 40 years, I can feel myself becoming more patient, tolerating persecution better, obeying what He wants me to do and maintaining my faith in Jesus.

Jesus the Gentleman loves me. God the Father adores me. The Holy Spirit guides me. I ask you, what more could a girl want in life at this point in time?

Thank You Heavenly Father for Your Word and the wisdom it bestows on me right when I need it, and right on time. Enduring persecution patiently is a strengthening tool that You use to help us maintain our faith. It works and it's perfect, just like You. In Jesus' Mighty Name, Amen

You Will Restore Me...

I've been reading Psalm 71 and 91 over the last week. These chapters have been providing me with the much needed comfort that I am craving at this time in my journey. Out of the passage below, verses 20 and 21 have provided me with the most comfort. The verses state the truth about where I have been, where I am now, and where I am going to be. Most importantly, these verses tell of what God has done, is doing, and will do in my life.

He will restore me.

God is faithful, wonderful, righteous and ever loving. He is my King and I love Him for giving me the strength I need to get through this period.

I am listening to "Your Love, O Lord" by Third Day while writing this post. Even though verses from Psalm 36 are reflected mostly in the song, I was instantly reminded of this song while reading the above chapters. Please enjoy the verses below and the song.

19 Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens.
You have done such wonderful things.
Who can compare with you, O God?
20 You have allowed me to suffer much hardship,
but you will restore me to life again
and lift me up from the depths of the earth.
21 You will restore me to even greater honor
and comfort me once again.
22 Then I will praise you with music on the harp,
because you are faithful to your promises, O my God.
I will sing praises to you with a lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.
23 I will shout for joy and sing your praises,
for you have ransomed me.
24 I will tell about your righteous deeds
all day long,
for everyone who tried to hurt me
has been shamed and humiliated.

Psalm 71:19-24 (NLT)

Fretting? Anxious? Nope, Not Me...

Well, it's the 15th and that means another verse for my 24 in 2010. Now, while I'm still not memorising each verse word for word (like my little girl is doing with her Alphabet Memory Verses this year), I am slowly getting each promise from God to seep into my gray matter!

Tonight while cutting sandwiches, folding washing, mending holes in little girl clothes and now relaxing in bed with a cup of tea and my knitting, I have been listening to Joyce Meyer. I haven't listened to her preach for a long time and didn't realise I missed it until now. She is straight to the point, doesn't mince words, and puts everything so practically that even a child could get it.

The first preach I watched was called Simple Prayer and Simple Life Part 1 (3/11/2010 podcast). I found it valuable and refreshing. If you can take some time, please watch it as the message Joyce shares is practical and worthwhile.

The preach ended in a verse that I love, taken from the Amplified version...Philippians 4:6 -

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

I prefer the verse from the NIV, and I also love verse 7 -

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

These verses saved my sanity last year when I went through two particularly rough patches. I was reminded by these verses that God has everything under control and the I am to have faith and trust in Him. He will take care of all my needs, He will act on my behave to avenge any wrongs done against me, and He will love me more than ANYBODY on this planet will ever do.

I get excited when I think that God knows me better than anyone else does, including myself. He knows of my potential and how to build me up in spite of my weaknesses. He knows my heart and my mind. He provides something that nothing else in this universe could ever give - peace, assurance, unconditional love.

I need to reverently meet Him more often; verbalising my concerns and feelings. Yes, He already knows them, but He needs these things to be spoken out. To be given to Him. Then, and only then, can He act on them. The joy in verse 6 is this - we can take anything to God and He will answer us. Whether it be in our time or His time, well, that's His choice. But He will. He will take away our anxiety and cause us to no longer fret about things that He has in control.

So, to my verse for this month. As the New Living Translation is my weapon of choice this year (thanks to the lovely Jo Princess Warrior), I will be memorising this -

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Thank You dear Heavenly Father for your wisdom, love and protection. Thank You for the reassurance Your presence brings by knowing, quite simply and easily, that You are watching over us and out for us. In Jesus' Wonderful Name, Amen

PS: DON'T FORGET! One post to go and it's giveaway time here! I have a great book to give away to a lucky commenter. Keep your eyes peeled! And yes, I will post it to ANYWHERE in the world!

More Conscience Cleansing...

Last week I posted on Conscience Cleansing. It was about the discovery of two verses that have helped me to understand why, even though I am saved, I still feel guilt and shame for my past and my behaviours. Yesterday, while listening to a Kenneth Copeland Believers Voice of Victory Broadcast, I learnt more about conscience cleansing.

The title of the broadcast is "Meditate on God's Word and Get His Results". Fifteen minutes and forty-five seconds into the broadcast came the clincher that gave me the instruction on how to clear my conscience...

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." - John 8:32 (NIV)

Below are some notes I typed out while listening. Some from Kenneth Copeland and his guest Bill Winston mixed with my paraphrases:

It's OK to let your conscience be your guide as long as your conscience has been re-programmed with the truth...if it knows what it's talking about. It can only take the information that has been put in there. If it hasn't be reprogrammed with the truth, it will be a bad guide. Your conscience can only use the information that has been put in there. Only trust your conscience if it is filled with what God wants it to be filled with. Have the mind of Christ. Put the Word first place. This is final authority.

The Word is a mirror and is showing us how we should look!

I need to fill my conscience with new material! I need to immerse myself in the Word! I need to re-program my conscience! I need to remove the enemy's mindless prattle and inaccurate accusations and re-fill my conscience with the truth from our Heavenly Father. The truth that I am valued, loved, worthy, precious and loved unconditionally by Him!

Two other verses from Hebrews that also speak on the conscience are:

"...let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water." - Hebrews 10:22 (NLT)

"Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do." - Hebrews 13:18

I am ever so thankful that I was led to all these verses (the above two and the first two from my previous post. I firmly believe that this revelation was shared with me at the right time...when I would be most able to understand it.

Given these discoveries, my "24 in 2010" scripture memory verse for the 1st of March is...

Hebrews 10:22b - "...For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water."

I have been made clean and washed with pure water. I must remember this. I must not let the enemy have his way and accuse me of what I have been cleared of.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the blessing of Your Word and the realisation that my conscience needed to be cleansed. In Jesus' Wonderful name, Amen.

On Being Smaller...

Ever since I first saw this photo of Jet Li in front of the Jesus statue in Corcovado, I've liked it, and I thought I'd use it to highlight how small I feel when it comes to the greatness of God.

I read this verse tonight -

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." - James 4:10 (NIV)

It got me thinking how much I like this verse as my name means "small...humble".

James 4:10 also tells of what has been happening in my life over the last week. I have humbled myself before Him and He has lifted me up in so many ways.

This verse will be featuring again next week on my blog as it will be my memory verse for the first of February.

To be small and humble...to follow Him...my name...my purpose.

What Will Your Tongue Choose?

Well, the Fifteenth Day of Twenty Ten has rocked around rather swiftly, which means that it is time for my next memory verse. Last month my verse was Psalm 119:50 (NIV) and was full of encouragement and life. This month I've gone with another verse pertaining to life -

"The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." - Proverbs 18:21 (NIV)

As with almost everything in life, we have choices. We may not get a choice to go to work or not (as we need the moolah). We may not get a choice whether we freckle in the sun or not (I'm the former!). But we do get a choice what we do with our tongue.

Now I have a short fuse, a fast mouth and an even slower brain but with the Lord's help I am learning to curb the impulse to fly off the handle at the drop of a hat. He is helping me to do this by blessing (yes, blessing!) me with a chatter box daughter, aka Yip Yap. She is a precious gem, but she talks, talks and talks. It is said the apple doesn't not fall far from the tree, so please...call me Ms Tree!

The mere fact that my daughter has about a 10 second attention span means that I don't get many opportunities to speak when she is on a roll. This is a good thing (at times) as it has been teaching me to keep my trap shut. I then get the chance to decide - make a choice - as to how I will respond.

I know God has a wonderful sense of humour, but how more amusing can it get than a chatter box mummy to be blessed with an even chattier child? He is the God of the impossible and the possible. I am both.

So, what will you choose? Life or death?

As It Was Before...

It's Monday (12:01am actually and my first scheduled post!) and time to share my weekly 2010 Word List thoughts. Last night's post was to catch up from last week! So, to begin!

I have been writing down notes over the last week or so and my notebook is barely legable to others, but is cram packed with thoughts, verses and notes about forgiveness. As it - forgiveness - is such an important thing to do, and a big act to consider for the first month of a new year, it's certainly worth the while!

The dictionary meaning of forgiveness is –

–noun
1. act of forgiving; state of being forgiven.
2. disposition or willingness to forgive.

To forgive is –

–verb (used with object) 1. to grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.); absolve.
2. to give up all claim on account of; remit (a debt, obligation, etc.).
3. to grant pardon to (a person).
4. to cease to feel resentment against: to forgive one's enemies.
5. to cancel an indebtedness or liability of: to forgive the interest owed on a loan.

–verb (used without object) 6. to pardon an offense or an offender.

The Strong’s Lexicon shows these meaning and explanations. In Hebrew – cliychah - forgiveness is to forgive, pardon, spare. In Greek – aphesis - it means deliverance, liberty, remission and freedom. What I find really exciting about looking into the Hebrew and Greek meanings of this word, is that the Greek word for forgiveness comes from aphemi, which is to send forth, to go. Delving further in I find that aphemi comes from apo, which means after, ago, before, separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc. These meanings just go to show that words are not just words, after all; they are a wealth of knowledge to those who delve deeply enough into them! And what knowledge did I glean from these words? In my mind, this means “as it was before”.

God wants our life to be “as it was before”.

Now, I can fully relate to this. In 2009, I endured a couple of rough patches that turned my life upside down...on the inside. On the outside, I didn’t fare too well, but the damage and the hurt affected me more spiritually, mentally and emotionally than anything else. At the time I had absolutely no idea how I was going to move forward or how I was ever going to get passed what had happened. But I did...thanks to God and some wonderful friends who prayed for me and fed me His Word to sustain me.

Their prayers and His Word was what did it; these things taught me that my peace comes from Him alone as He surpasses all level of understanding. This led me to rely on Him for my peace, in my absolute weakness. And I was weak. I didn’t understand what was going on or how I was supposed to deal with the hurt I was feeling. Would I be able to move on? Would I be able to forgive those who really had no idea that they had hurt me so badly, or at all?

Yes and yes. I have been able to move on and I have been able to forgive. And what did this forgiveness do for me? It gave me release, peace and it has allowed me to live my life “as it was before”. I have been able to sustain this new understanding of forgiveness, which has benefited me in many areas of my life. One passage of scripture that has helped me immensely, and that I have used as power verses – medicine, if you like – is Proverbs 4:20-23 (KJV) –

20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Verse 23 is such a blessing and one that I have memorised and remind myself of often to keep my mind focussed on what the real issues are.

Please consider your thoughts on forgiveness; not only of others, but also of self. It will allow you to live “as it was before”. You may not forget all the hurt that occurred, but you will be able to think on it with God’s view; that we are all deserving of forgiveness, we all do not know what we are doing at times, and that we must forgive.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the breakthrough that You and Your Word offered me during my painful times last year. Thank you that I have been able to learn from those experiences and move on; to be able to have it “as it was before”. I praise You for Your grace, and for taking on my pain and making me feel whole again. In Jesus’ Wonderful Name, Amen

1 January 2010 : The Beginning of the New...

The 1st of January, 2010 has been an enjoyable day. My girlie and I went to the cinema to see "The Princess and the Frog". While not a fan of any type of love story (much), I did enjoy this one for it's real characters (as real as one can get in cartoon, that is!). Then it was home for lunch and a rest, and then into the city to visit with friends who are holidaying in Brisbane for a couple of days. Jasmine is now with her dad and grandma, and I am enjoying the solitude but missing my girl already.

As it's a new day, month and year, I have felt very excited about the possibilities for change and for pursuing the vision that God has for my life. With my word for the month being forgiveness, I will be doing some study and meditation on this and posting soon. Another delight from God that I will be studying, meditating on AND memorising is verse number one out of 24 for the year, which is:

"My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life." - Psalm 119:50 (NIV)

There were SOOO many times during the latter half of 2009 that His promise did literally preserve my life! While I don't think I would have, or could have, done anything fatal to prematurely cease my existence here on earth, there were a few occasions where I wish it was just over. Finished. Kaput! I had had enough and I just didn't, point blank did not, or should that be DID. NOT., want to be here.

I did really know otherwise though. I knew the truth. My 'sane' self kept telling my 'insane' self that I was meant to be here. Praise God for the Holy Spirit sticking so closely by me during those very low patches.

So, what is God's promise? It is His peace, love, grace, mercy, compassion, and also His vision for me. As that is my theme for 2010, I feel that I must look into every circumstance and find what His vision was and is for me. Last year it was to become stronger in myself through Him, and to draw closer to Him. This year...I don't know as yet, but I do feel that my 2010 Word List will help me see what it is.

I love Psalm 119:50 from the King James Version -

"This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me."

The Hebrew word 'chayah' (2421)...'quickened' means to save, revive...basically it means to live. Without Him, without His comfort, which is His hope as noted in verse 49, I would not be where I am today. I would still be, but I would still be struggling.

2010 is going to be an awesome year. I will not have it otherwise and I know that God will not either.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for keeping me nestled safely under your wings in 2009. Thank you for leading me out of the dark depths that tried to envelope me. Thank you for your peace, love, grace, mercy and compassion. I pray for a fruitful 2010 seeking after your vision for my life. In Jesus' wonderful name, Amen.



PS: Join me, and others, over at Extravagant Grace for the 24 Verses in 2010.