Philippians 1:6 says, And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in His grace until His task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns.
The book of Philippians was written by Paul and Timothy to encourage pastors, deacons and all Christians in the city of Philippi.
It is full of blessings and prayers of praise.
I believe they meant it for writers like you as well. We don't have an easy task set before us, but God gives us the confidence to keep going in Philippians.
I can bear testimony to this because there hasn't been a time that God hasn't heard my heart's cry, whether it is in a writing project or the living through a situation that is sealed in my spirit to be written about.
Friday night was one just such experience. I took my fourteen year old grand daughter to a girl's conference about being Beautiful in God. It was wonderful to sit back and experience over a thousand girls/women begin to believe that they were called out, unique and beautiful in their creator's sight. The speaker was powerful and prayed up. She had a heart for these girls and gave a wonderful testimony of her young years of awkwardness that most boys and girls have to grow through. It was full of hope and confidence that things will get better and that God loves you no matter what.
God reached down and touched our Aimee right where she was. The prayer that her mother, grandfather and I had been praying was for her to hear the Lord in her spirit better and clearer. That is exactly what God did and we are all praising Him this morning for the powerful work He did in each person there. But...she is no exception, God does the same for us. He wants us to allow Him to build our confidence up in Him.
Aimee and I shared about what is our responsibility to such an awesome Father who cares for us. We came up with prayer, praise and reading of His Word for direction in our lives.
Today, as I write this I think of a walk in the Garden with God, His Garden, and it is raining raindrops of love. Not pelting, gently falling water drops full of goodness and healing. Drops of blessings and confidence in Him that all things work together to them that love Him.
Father, don't just sprinkle on us we pray, get us soaking wet in your care for us.
Thank you in the Name of Jesus Christ.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Set Your Sights
This morning proved to be a humble one. Jim and I prayed hard, committing our home and blessings once again to the Lord. I must say in defense of many others, we are having a hard time making our house payments. There is the attitude that many of us have over purchased in the first place. Well, I reject that notion because our God is bigger than that. We bought a home well within our means and then Jim got sick, really sick and was forced on disability. He is only able to work a few hours a week. I am disabled as well and actually having a hard time finding any thing based on that. Both of us tire easily.
Now,I am not defending myself, it is just how things have turned out. We haven't been angry at God nor our brothers and sisters. We do feel compassion toward those though who are walking and experiencing this type of problem. We don't always get what we want and we don't set our sights on the rich treasures of this world,because we know where our blessings come from and that is a loving Father.
Colossians 3:1-4 Since you became alive again, so to speak, when Christ arouse from the dead, now set your sights on the rich treasures and joys of heaven where he sits beside God in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts; don't spend your time worrying about things down here. You should have as little desire for this world as a dead person does. Your real life is in heaven with Christ and God. And when Christ who is our real life comes back again, you will shine with him and share in all his glories.
Jim and I finished our prayer of praise and thanksgiving, reminding ourselves that our Best Friend was in control, that it was his house and if he wanted to put a new garage door on it, then so be it. We had not one extra penny to replace that door.
The weight of drifted snow last winter caused it to be unrepairable.
We had to release the situation to God; it was the only way we knew to handle our emotions and anxiety for the coming winter.
Two hours later, a group of Jim's brothers in Christ called to ask if they could buy and install a new one. It was humbling to accept the gift, but we had prayed though and asked God to help and not to let us miss a boat with rescuers that he might send.
I am so grateful, that I can't even cry tears of joy at their love for us. HIS LOVE
through others.
We are hidden with Christ in God and He is so faithful to answer at the hour of our greatest needs. We must remember to go to the cleft in the rock above the turbulent falls and get quiet and misted....refreshed and loved. Where is your cleft? Do you go there often above the noise and clamor of a busy judgmental world or do you struggle in the gumbo of life? Let me intercede for you this day as you look upward and into the light of love.
I have written of the cleft before, but how often I forget that I need that as much as any other part of my life here at the Springs of Living Water.
Now,I am not defending myself, it is just how things have turned out. We haven't been angry at God nor our brothers and sisters. We do feel compassion toward those though who are walking and experiencing this type of problem. We don't always get what we want and we don't set our sights on the rich treasures of this world,because we know where our blessings come from and that is a loving Father.
Colossians 3:1-4 Since you became alive again, so to speak, when Christ arouse from the dead, now set your sights on the rich treasures and joys of heaven where he sits beside God in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts; don't spend your time worrying about things down here. You should have as little desire for this world as a dead person does. Your real life is in heaven with Christ and God. And when Christ who is our real life comes back again, you will shine with him and share in all his glories.
Jim and I finished our prayer of praise and thanksgiving, reminding ourselves that our Best Friend was in control, that it was his house and if he wanted to put a new garage door on it, then so be it. We had not one extra penny to replace that door.
The weight of drifted snow last winter caused it to be unrepairable.
We had to release the situation to God; it was the only way we knew to handle our emotions and anxiety for the coming winter.
Two hours later, a group of Jim's brothers in Christ called to ask if they could buy and install a new one. It was humbling to accept the gift, but we had prayed though and asked God to help and not to let us miss a boat with rescuers that he might send.
I am so grateful, that I can't even cry tears of joy at their love for us. HIS LOVE
through others.
We are hidden with Christ in God and He is so faithful to answer at the hour of our greatest needs. We must remember to go to the cleft in the rock above the turbulent falls and get quiet and misted....refreshed and loved. Where is your cleft? Do you go there often above the noise and clamor of a busy judgmental world or do you struggle in the gumbo of life? Let me intercede for you this day as you look upward and into the light of love.
I have written of the cleft before, but how often I forget that I need that as much as any other part of my life here at the Springs of Living Water.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Established, Anointed, & Sealed by God
Today,Jim left for a golf tourney in Arizona. He went with a very nice friend who loves him where he is in his illness and isn't afraid to take him to have fun. The nice thing is that he sees Jim as his fun-loving self with out the added bulk of oxygen tanks and tubes. I trust Jesus and our friend to care for Jim, no matter what happens, I know it is for everyone's best.
I truly believe that is how our Father sees us as writers. We are established in Him, anointed to do our work by Him, and He has sealed us in His Hand. A stamp of approval on us as we continue to pour out our life's experiences to a hurting world.
It is lonely and quiet tonight but my best friend is with me and my kitties are by my side as I write. It is a time for reflection as I send out yet more work for consideration and continue work on my latest WIP, And the Standards Bowed.
God wants us to enjoy our experiences and chalk them up for future work. Pick up your pen and splash around, laugh, live, learn.
By the way, the book I was a part of came! It is wonderful and I love the cover. It is the picture of a couple and the soldier's arms blend into the USA Flag as he wraps them around his loved one. The title is Faith Deployed and it is a collection of devotionals for military wives. Although I have published much, this is my favorite, I believe because it speaks to so many lonely people in the Body of Christ.
The author is Jocelyn Green and it will be available to the public in January 2009 through Moody Press.
And...if I can,then YOU can!
There is a quiet peace that flows through my home this evening,it is Labor Day and the sun has gone down. I smell the cool darkness and the end of summer barbecue.
The dogs are conversing with coyotes about some silly thing and I hear an occasional plane overhead as my computer hums a monotone note. Although it is not chilly, the coolness confirms that it is indeed fall around here; the Aspens are turning higher up and a slight breeze sends signals down the mountain.
Let no one argue with you my friend about your calling or purpose in life.
2 Corinthians 1:21:22 It is this God who has made you and me into faithful Christians and commissioned us apostles to preach the Good News. He has put his brand upon us__his mark of ownership__and given us his Holy Spirit in our hearts as guarantee that we belong to him, and as the first installment of all that he is going to give us.
Good news as I skip stones across still waters tonight.
Blessings my friends,
Paulette
I truly believe that is how our Father sees us as writers. We are established in Him, anointed to do our work by Him, and He has sealed us in His Hand. A stamp of approval on us as we continue to pour out our life's experiences to a hurting world.
It is lonely and quiet tonight but my best friend is with me and my kitties are by my side as I write. It is a time for reflection as I send out yet more work for consideration and continue work on my latest WIP, And the Standards Bowed.
God wants us to enjoy our experiences and chalk them up for future work. Pick up your pen and splash around, laugh, live, learn.
By the way, the book I was a part of came! It is wonderful and I love the cover. It is the picture of a couple and the soldier's arms blend into the USA Flag as he wraps them around his loved one. The title is Faith Deployed and it is a collection of devotionals for military wives. Although I have published much, this is my favorite, I believe because it speaks to so many lonely people in the Body of Christ.
The author is Jocelyn Green and it will be available to the public in January 2009 through Moody Press.
And...if I can,then YOU can!
There is a quiet peace that flows through my home this evening,it is Labor Day and the sun has gone down. I smell the cool darkness and the end of summer barbecue.
The dogs are conversing with coyotes about some silly thing and I hear an occasional plane overhead as my computer hums a monotone note. Although it is not chilly, the coolness confirms that it is indeed fall around here; the Aspens are turning higher up and a slight breeze sends signals down the mountain.
Let no one argue with you my friend about your calling or purpose in life.
2 Corinthians 1:21:22 It is this God who has made you and me into faithful Christians and commissioned us apostles to preach the Good News. He has put his brand upon us__his mark of ownership__and given us his Holy Spirit in our hearts as guarantee that we belong to him, and as the first installment of all that he is going to give us.
Good news as I skip stones across still waters tonight.
Blessings my friends,
Paulette
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Fountain of Youth
I love controversial politics. I get involved in studying the issues and also, this year,the Olympics. Unbelievable! Do you want to know one of my favorite things about keeping up with all the news...the advertisements!
This week I was intrigued by the "Fountain of Youth" waterfall. It was actually an advertisement for computers, but it was the theme that I was caught up in.
The line of people coming to the waterfall consisted of older folks. The poor people were hobbling and crippled with weaknesses of all types. As they moved into a pool of water and walked through the falling water of a large waterfall, they fell from the weight of the falls and got up as....children! They were laughing and playing all the way from the falls to the front of the screen. The line continued to come through and I thought that it was a beautiful illustration of healing waters.
Well, then that led to another thought, the healing waters of Jesus. What could that be?? No doubt to me, that was the healing Word of God in our lives. The waterfall that He so often wants us to plunge into for comfort,faith,love, and healing.
Oh that the weight of Jesus's Love, would cause us to fall on our knees in repentant prayer and praise. He offered His hand and lifted us up as a....newborn child!
Each day is fresh and specially made for us. Let us not take our "riches" for granted; fresh food, water, roof over our heads, the list goes on and on.
My grand daughter did a great job of singing about "His Hands" extended though ours.
Take the hand of Jesus through mine and I will lift you out of the waterfalls to him.
Isiah 55 Say there! Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink__even if you have no money!
John 7:37,38 If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.
For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water shall flow from
the innermost being of anyone who believes in me.
My, my you look good and much younger today my friends.
Have a great day in Jesus!
This week I was intrigued by the "Fountain of Youth" waterfall. It was actually an advertisement for computers, but it was the theme that I was caught up in.
The line of people coming to the waterfall consisted of older folks. The poor people were hobbling and crippled with weaknesses of all types. As they moved into a pool of water and walked through the falling water of a large waterfall, they fell from the weight of the falls and got up as....children! They were laughing and playing all the way from the falls to the front of the screen. The line continued to come through and I thought that it was a beautiful illustration of healing waters.
Well, then that led to another thought, the healing waters of Jesus. What could that be?? No doubt to me, that was the healing Word of God in our lives. The waterfall that He so often wants us to plunge into for comfort,faith,love, and healing.
Oh that the weight of Jesus's Love, would cause us to fall on our knees in repentant prayer and praise. He offered His hand and lifted us up as a....newborn child!
Each day is fresh and specially made for us. Let us not take our "riches" for granted; fresh food, water, roof over our heads, the list goes on and on.
My grand daughter did a great job of singing about "His Hands" extended though ours.
Take the hand of Jesus through mine and I will lift you out of the waterfalls to him.
Isiah 55 Say there! Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink__even if you have no money!
John 7:37,38 If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.
For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water shall flow from
the innermost being of anyone who believes in me.
My, my you look good and much younger today my friends.
Have a great day in Jesus!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
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