Thank YOU!

Thank you for the gift of your time today. My prayer is each time you stop to visit you are blessed with truth, and encouraged to keep going ~ one foot in front of the other, chin up ~ simply because you've been reminded you are on the road to VICTORY!

Sunday, September 29, 2013

My Prayer For You...September 29, 2013

My prayer for you and me this week...
Lord, I confess, ____________'s presence in my life feels like sandpaper.  I ask, You, Jesus to use this sandpaper to smooth out my rough edges.  I long to be all the creation You designed me to be.  So, Jesus, do in me everything necessary to enable me to love ___________ enough to want to spend eternity in Your Kingdom with ____________.  I ask You for this change in me, for Your glory and in Your Holy Name. Amen and Amen!!  

Who's your blank?

Ephesians 6:18-20  And pray in the Spirit, on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.  Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly (boldly) make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains.  Pray that I may declare it fearlessly (boldly), as I should. (NIV, boldly from the NKJV)

John 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. (NIV)

Thursday, September 26, 2013

This Week's Lightbulb Moment

God doesn't need a new idea for a reality TV show!

Read for yourself - anywhere between Genesis and Revelation!

  There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven... 
Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.  
Ecclesiastes 3:1 & 15

Sunday, September 22, 2013

My Prayer For You...September 22, 2013

My prayer for you and me this week...
We will see God in the seemingly ordinary events of daily life; allowing Him to use the ordinary to put an exclamation point on His word!  

Yesterday, I walked outside early with our dogs for a walk before the expected day of rain.  I was cheerfully greeted by a giant rainbow in full color over our street.  All week I had been reading and meditating on Genesis 6-9; the story of Noah, the ark and the life-ending flood.  

Genesis 9:12-16  And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.  Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between Me and you and all living creatures of every kind.  Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.  Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."

 Thank You, Creator and Good Father, for putting an exclamation point on Your word through the seemingly ordinary events of every day life!  Through the reading of Your word, we recognize rainbows are anything, but ordinary; they are a glimpse of YOU!! Amen...and amen. 

Thursday, September 19, 2013

This Week's Lightbulb Moment

God likes people who tend to
 procrastinate, run a bit late, and find
 themselves at the end of the line!



Luke 13:29-30 (Jesus taught) You’ll watch outsiders stream in from east, west, north, and south and sit down at the table of God’s kingdom...This is the Great Reversal: the last in line put at the head of the line, and the so-called first ending up last.” (MSG) 


Luke 23:42-43  (One of the two criminals being crucified with Jesus spoke up) And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”(ESV)


Sunday, September 15, 2013

My Prayer For You...September 15, 2013

My prayer for you and me this week...
We will share our faith, and in so doing, every good thing Christ has done in us will be fully evident and celebrated. Lord, Jesus, thank You for granting to us, who are called by Your name, all things pertaining to life and godliness enabling us to be partakers of Your divine nature.  May we honor You, Almighty God, in Your absolute goodness forever and ever, Amen!




... and I pray that the sharing of  your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ... Philemon 1:6 (ESV)

Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One Who invited us to God.  The best invitation we ever received!  We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you - your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.  2 Peter 1:3-4 (The Message)

Friday, September 13, 2013

This Week's Lightbulb Moment

All of God's children are rebellious and disobedient, yet He loves us all!

Who me?
Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by Whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Hebrews 12:6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.

Scripture references:  ESV Bible.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

My Prayer For You...September 8, 2013

My prayer for you and me this week...
With a desire to please God, ask Him what it means to be holy.  Lord, I want to know from You, "what does it look like to be holy as You are Holy?"  I desire to obey You, so I'm listening...

I Peter 1:14-16  As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am Holy.”

Isaiah 48:16& 17  
Approach Me (God) and listen to this.  
From the beginning I have not spoken in secret;
from the time anything existed, I was there.”

And now the Lord God
has sent me (Isaiah) and His Spirit.

 This is what the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says:
I am Yahweh your God,
who teaches you for your benefit,
who leads you in the way you should go.
Coffee with You, Lord, is the best!
Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening.
I Samuel 3:10

Thursday, September 5, 2013

This Week's Lightbulb Moment

God never has to go to bed early or set an alarm clock!

My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; 
he who keeps you will not slumber.  
Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.    Psalm 121:2-4


Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Recovering and Shining!

Hello, my name is Lisa, and I'm a recovering 'people-pleaser' and perfectionist!
Your response is..."Hello, Lisa!"

As a young girl I was constantly placing someone on a pedestal.  Over the years of my life I've looked at many women as a perfect role model; admired them for their creativity, intelligence, looks, success, and lifestyle.  In my mind, the idol of the week usually had it all, so if I just emulated her completely (perfectly), I would too.  Right?  

Are you shaking your head, and thinking to yourself, "How pathetic!"?  Well, this was the lie I bought into for a large part of my life.  Interestingly though, no one stayed on the pedestal long; once I caught a glimpse of their human imperfection, their image toppled from the pedestal, shattering into a million pieces at my feet.

"What was wrong with people?"  I asked this question often.  They were so imperfect, and I was so disappointed!  I agree with you - how sad, how tragic, how pathetic!

For years I looked to sinful, imperfect people to love me perfectly, accept me completely, fill all my human longings and desires without exception.  The result, in my late teen years, was a desire to "disappear, fade away".  I almost succeeded in that desire as I wasted away to a dangerous 85 pounds of skin and bone on a five foot five inch slender frame.

Fortunately, and I am truly grateful to God for His mercy, my eyes were opened to the truth; I was dwelling at the bottom of a very dark pit, which could have easily become a grave. However, God who knit me together in my mother's womb, knows my name and designated the number of my days allowed me a glimpse of His goodness, His love, and His plan
while I slept and dreamed in my bed the night my rescue began.

The Lord, Himself, reached a Saving Hand down in the pit, and just before my 18th birthday, I took it!  In an instant I was awakened to the truth of God's love; His perfect love was for me, and His plan for me was LIFE.  I didn't know anything else of God really, but I knew that if I found Him, I would be truly loved - perfectly - my dream come true.  Thus began my search to find God and to know Him!  

So, how would I find Him?  The only place I knew to look for God was in a church, and so I went to one, and then another, and another until I found one that seemed to know that God promised me His Love and His Plan for my life.  After college, I began a new search to find God, and eventually I found another church full of people who seemed to know about God's love and plan, and the right way to get there.         
Longing to be perfectly loved and accepted by God, I was desperately seeking to know the formula for the Christian life.  All along my journey, the Lord brought Christian people who would guide, teach, and correct me.  Not just people within the church walls, but even some of my co-workers took time to instruct me in God's word.  

And I was doing all the stuff: reading my Bible, saying my prayers, going to Bible study, attending church on Sunday, and listening to a Christian radio station!  Perfect, right?  I was learning how to get to Jesus and when I arrived He would bestow on me His perfect love.  

In my pursuit, however, I found myself doing that thing again; I was elevating people on the pedestal.  Not the old faulty people, the new Christian people in my life.  You know, the individuals who knew the lifestyle, the lingo, the rules of the road.  It didn't seem wrong to set them up as an example 
of how to follow Jesus.  Didn't God put Christians in my life to show me the way?

Oh yes, God, in His divine wisdom allowed my path to be filled with particular people who each did their part to disciple me.  This is true, and yet, this is where I recognize the crafty, subtle lies of the evil one.  

The truth is this: God brought Christ followers into my life to point me to Jesus as the One True example for my life.  Jesus never intended me to idolize a person, let alone seek my acceptance and approval from mere people, not even God's people!

Pain and disappointment were again mine as each Christian proved to be just as imperfect as all the others.  I began to recognize my wrong thinking, and in it realized I was wrongfully placing people, even God's people, on the pedestal of my life.  I could finally admit my problem, and begin the process of recovery.  

Finally this dark area of my heart was pierced with the light of truth, and I understood; Jesus was the One Who was calling my name.  He, Jesus, The Perfect One was beckoning me to follow Him.  Jesus was the One who belonged on the pedestal - exalted, high and lifted up.  

The truth of Psalm 34:4-5 came alive to me while the Holy Spirit engraved it on my heart and mind, "I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.   Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed."  This timeless truth is just as fresh and life-giving today as it was then.

In these two verses, I find truth to set me free; free from the fear of not being loved and accepted, free from people-pleasing and perfectionism.  Jesus is my example. Jesus is my Lord.  Jesus wants me to seek Him, and when I do He hears me.

Looking to Jesus means turning away from everything else. He is Light.  He is Truth, and in His presence fear can not dwell.  God's word says that in His presence I will become radiant and joyful, and my face will never wear shame.

Yes, Lord, Jesus, You make me beautiful.  You call me, You accept me into Your presence, You remove my shame in Your glorious presence and make my face to shine with radiant joy.  

Thank You, Lord, for wanting me, and all who are called by Your name, to know we are chosen, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and Your own possession.  We proclaim the praises of You, Lord, Who called us out of darkness and into Your marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)  Thank You Lord for being the Way, the Truth, and The Life, for being the embodiment of love and for loving us through Your Son!(John 14:6 & I John 4:8b-12)

And Lord, I pray all who read this will turn their faces to You, cry out to You and know You have heard their cry.  I pray each one will find their acceptance in You alone and will offer their heart and life in surrender before You.  I pray each one will exchange the lies they've believed for the Truth of Who You are and Your goodness.  I pray many will see themselves recovering - being made whole, In Jesus' Healing and Holy name. Amen and amen!

Sunday, September 1, 2013

My Prayer For You...September 1, 2013

My prayer for you and me this week is to recognize this truth...the Father, Who sent His Son to save the world with His Son created the world and everything in it! 

John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.   All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”

John 3:16-17  “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.