THIS IS ME, FATHER……..AGAIN
July 23, 2010 on 8:04 pmSince the last message, have there been additional times when you find that you have needed to run to your Heavenly Father to cry out to Him in your need? You can never run to Him too often. In a previous message, I had printed a portion of Psalm 139, where can be found the prayer of a child of God, whose you are. These verses are from the Message translation of the Bible. Perhaps you recall part of it from the last Spiritual Grandmother site. I will print it here in its entirety. If you will visualize yourself as praying this prayer to the Lord on your behalf, you will find comfort, peace and strength flowing forth from the Lord to your own soul. Psalm 139: God, investigate my life, get all the facts firsthand. You know what I’m thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back. I’m never out of your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and You are there, then up ahead and You’re there too, Your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too wonderful. I can’t take it all in. Is there any place I can go to avoid Your Spirit, to be out of Your sight? If I climb to the sky You’re there. If I go underground, You’re there! If I flew on mornings wings to the far western horizon, You’d find me in a minute-You’re already there waiting! Then I said, “”Oh, He even sees me in the dark!” At night I’m immersed in the light!.”It’s a fact: darkness and light, they’re all the same to You. Oh yes, You shaped me first inside, then out. You formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank You, High God-You’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration- what a creation! You know me inside and out. You know every bone in my body: You know exactly how I was made bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, You watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before You. The days of my life were prepared before I’d even lived one day. Your thoughts-how rare, how beautiful! Lord God, I’ll never comprehend them! I couldn’t even begin to count them-anymore than I could count the sand of the sea. Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with You! And please God, do away with the wickedness for good! Investigate my life, oh God, find out everything about me; cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m all about; see for Yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong-then guide me on the road to Eternal Life in Jesus Christ. Amen SpGrandmother,Lois
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FATHER, THIS IS ME……….
July 17, 2010 on 2:22 pmFATHER, THIS IS ME…….He knows so well that it is you, just as any loving father knows the heart of his child. But with all the weight of pressure forced upon you these hectic days of ups and downs, you may forget that your Heavenly Father is not some etherial being who is completely unaware of situations like the diciples in a boat on a wild and stormy Sea of Galilee crying out in terror for fear of sinking to certain death, had nearly lost hope. They needn’t have……..Jesus was on board. Maybe you feel that you aren’t only near sinking, but are about to go down for the third time to eventually drown in the black sea of present trouble. Maybe you think that it all comes down to the truth (only in your thoughts) that, however hard you’ve tried……..once again, in spite of your best efforts, you have failed…..You haven’t. But the truth is, we each need to rethink our standing as children in the heart of God, who is deeply touched with the trials that may have been thrust upon us by the acts of someone outside of ourselves. How often we have longed for a sounding board….someone to listen who really cares, who really understands. Times of trouble needn’t be wasted for they are your Lord’s invitation for you to bare your heart and soul to Him. That is the deep longing of His heart. So often we share everything with others who have no idea how to comfort us and who may be consumed with their own problems. But help is available as close as your Bible in Psalm 139. It is conversation between a child of God….like you….and your Father who is as close as your sighs and your tears that are never unseen by Him. He longs to have you know you are never alone. He never will leave you nor forsake you. In sickness, in health, for better, for worse, in success or failure. Listen to the prayer of one such child in Psalm 139 (The Message Version) and make it your own. “Father God, investigate my life, get all the facts firsthand. I’m an open book to You, even from a distance. Father, You know what I’m thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of Your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start my first sentence. I look behind me and You are there, then up ahead and you’re there too—Your reassuring presence, coming and going.” ……………. There is more, and all of it so encouraging, that in my next message I plan to share the rest of this beautiful pattern of prayer describing the freedom we have in expressing our heart’s pain or joy and all in between with Him alone. He longs to share these things with you and has shown it by sacrificing Jesus, His Beloved Son ……for You. SpGrandmotherLois
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IT MATTERS TO HIM ABOUT YOU
July 7, 2010 on 3:53 pmToday is a good day. Chuck the negative economy stuff overboard. We’ve already wrestled with all that long enough and now it’s time to take a fresh breath of air and recognize that there’s a whole lot of joy waiting just by turning our focus on to what we’ve been missing because of distractions that have been demanding our attention. It’s time to recognize that we are important and our life has great significance. Out with insecurity that for too long we have allowed to steal from us. Insecurity thinking hasn’t succeeded so far, so why not try something different? Maybe we have failed to realize that we are personally related to Almighty God who, Himself, calls us His child. He has written our name on His Heart in indelible ink of the Blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. He has openly declared His undying love for us in giving His Son to live, die and rise from the dead so that, in confessing our sin and believing in Him, we might receive the greatest Gift He has to offer in granting Eternal Life forever with Him. He knows that there will be times in this life when trials will nearly overwhelm us, threatening to overflow and wash away all we hold dear. We may face fiery circumstances with the fearful possibility of having to bear the load of difficulty alone. But if we choose to let Him, He will go before us to clear the pathway ahead. He wants to be there for us in every situation, however twisted that way may appear to our sight. We may ask ourselves, “where is He when I need Him?” If we will quiet ourselves before His Presence in His Word, the Bible, we will hear Him answering those questions that disquiet our troubled minds. We will come to know the power of deliverance He has promised us. Ephesions 3:20 stands as a beacon of light on a storm-tossed night, reminding us that He will do for us exceeding, abundantly above anything and all we could ever ask or even think, according to how we allow His power to work in and for us. If we wait patiently, trusting that the answers we long for are presently “in the works”, we will come to know how very much “it matters to Him about you..” Spgrandmother Lois
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LOVE IS……
July 2, 2010 on 1:52 pmLove can mean various things to different people, but may best be described as expressed in I Corinthians, chapter 13. Here we find that the numbeer 13 is anything but “unlucky”. We are told there that without love, all the good intentions we might have falls flat lined, seemingly dead. As concerning close relationships, we may be at a loss to understand why, when we have tried so hard to please, our efforts may fall so woefully short. In this portion of the Scriptures, we understand that there’s so much more to love than just good intentions or warm feelings, though both will be evident where genuine love is present. As we read what is written in Chapter 13, we might be tempted to throw up our hands in frustration from what seems impossible demands…..Love is patient, kind, not prideful. It isn’t jealous or suspicious. It doesn’t brag about itself nor keep track of the others shortcomings. In other words, love not only is, it does. Love is giving as well as forgiving. This would be impossible if at first two people had not built their love relationship on the Lord Jesus Christ. We know from God’s Word that it is He Who is the Source of all real love. In the beginning God’s answer to Adam’s aloneness was the creation of Eve and the institution of marriage. Intimacy does not mean that we lose our individuality. But when we love we will take time to listen to the thoughts, feelings and the desires of the companion God has chosen for us. Love says, “I want to help you,” “I want to know you.” “I want to understand you.” With the Lord as the perfect pattern that binds two hearts together, love truly is attainable and will never fail. Spgrandmother Lois
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DID I SAY THAT?
June 21, 2010 on 4:11 pmYou may have heard the saying, “it takes only a series of little digs to make a marital grave”. Of course that could apply to any relationship, we know. The pain brought about by the burning arrows of thoughtless words can last a lifetime. When situations arise that pile stress upon stress, as in the present economic downturn, the exchange of angry words brought on by frustration can open the way to domestic warfare. In God’s written Words of our Bibles, He has taken special effort to write in plain words His instructions to enable us to handle the “hot potato” issues that, as kindling grows into a raging fire, results in unforgiveness and bitterness in the heart of the persons involved. Often what was meant to be a simple exchange of words becomes a heated disagreement that, at first, neither person ever intended. It doesn’t take too much shuffling through our memories to put our “emotional finger” on some hurtful experience in life that has left us feeling helpless as to how to cope with the injury brought about by thoughtless words; some of which have never been resolved. Proverbs 18:21 tells in a nutshell the truth, “words kill, words give life-the choice is up to you.” We are in control of the words we allow to emerge from our thoughts. The combination of words we choose to speak comes forth wrapped in emotions that may be difficult to keep in check. The seed of a thought grows from small to tall and yet only a moment’s hesitation can bring an atmosphere once charged with anger, into one of peace that will save from a lifetime of regrets. Sp.grandmother, Lois
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LOVE NEVER FAILS
June 15, 2010 on 1:51 pmA human interest story in a popular publication reveals a portrait of our Heavenly Father and His deep, unchanging love for us. The story tells of a raging forest fire in Yellowstone National Park. After the fire, Forest Rangers began the laborious trek up a mountain to assess the damage of the inferno. One Ranger came upon a small bird in its life-like form perched on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the uncanny sight, he touched the little creature with a stick. As it disintegrated before his eyes, three tiny chicks scurried forth from beneath the shelter of the dead mother’s wings. The loving mother bird, by God-given instinct, keenly aware of impending danger, had led her offspring to the base of the tree and gathered them under the safety of her wings. She could have flown to safety, but had refused to abandon her young. With the approaching blaze coming nearer and nearer, scorching heat had enclosed her small body, taking her life from her. The mother had remained faithful. She had been willing to die, so that those under her wings would live. What a picture of the love of our Heavenly Father God for us who look to Him for shelter from the harsh realities of this life. How comforting to know that He covers us with His feathers, and under His Wings we know we can find refuge (Psalm 91:4) . SpGrandmother Lois
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HE KNOWS MY NAME
June 7, 2010 on 3:53 pmHow can it be that we should be so highly blessed as to have a one-on-one connection with the Creator of the universe? That we should be enabled through His written Word to know personally the deep love and care that He extends to us can only be a miracle. But we come to understand more fully in His written Word to us, that it is true……God loves me! In the Bible Book of Job, Chapters 37-42, there is an exchange of conversation between God and Job. As we listen in to overhear, we are brought to the realization of how very small we are as compared to the overpowering Presence of this Holy God. By His exceeding great love He has endued us with power and ability to come together with Him. Day and night, though we have placed Him in some back room of our lives, He is standing by assuring us that through the Sacrifice of the Life of Jesus there is nothing that can separate us from the deep love He has for us. In the Bible Book of Romans, 8:35 He reminds us that all the changes that presently confront us, whether distresses of daily living, or threats of coming storms, whatever powers of earth may intrude into our means of livlihood, no matter what, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him Who loves us. Listen carefully as He whispers over the tempestuous storm of uncertainties of life, “But now thus says the Lord Who created you, and He Who formed you, fear not; I have redeemed you. I have called you by name; you are Mine.” As our loving Father, He has made provision for us when we faithfully follow His leading in the Scriptures. In Isaiah 43:19 He speaks to say, “Behold I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth, shall you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Dare to take Him at His unfailing Word. Cast all your care on our soon-coming Savior God and He will show you the way through any wilderness. SpGrandmother Lois
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LOOKING GOOD!
May 28, 2010 on 3:51 pmWe hear a lot about change these days. Maybe, because of unforseen circumstances,you anticipate some change in your own life. Perhaps the thought is just a small seed that the Lord of life has implanted in the back door of your mind. It is He Who will implement changes that can lift you to new heights of living. The changes you choose to make may be as simple as taking first steps to eliminate the clutter that shuts you in from becoming all inwardly as well as outwardly you were born to be. The evidence of the need for such a change might be seen in the image gazing back at us in the bathroom mirror or by the full length reflection as we walk by the window of a downtown store. It may be, because of the anxiety of today’s living , we have become careless as to the appearance of our outward image, thinking that no one really cares. Still, somehow there are stirrings within urging us to rise up and take charge of emotions that have long tried to rule over us to mar the outwardly attractive person we once were. What we appear to be on the outside is a mirror of what is on the inside where peace and joy belong. The Words found in our Bible in Joshua 1:9 encourage us to “be strong and of a good courage. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed; for the Lord God is with you wherever you go.” In Proverbs 3:5,6 we are encouraged to “trust in the Lord with all your heart; lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. “ Let these Words from the Savior Who loves you, encourage you to face the future with hope because of your strong connection to Him Who is Ruler over all that concerns you. Reading His Word regularly will gradually make those changes you long to see and very soon you’ll be “looking good”. SpGrandmother Lois
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NO STRINGS ATTACHED
May 17, 2010 on 7:28 pmDo you find yourself in the grip of hurt or lonliness or anger in its many forms due to some injustice? It may be that you feel pulled in many directions by some unknown power that holds strings controlling your emotions. Pain of loss and rejection may lead to feelings of insecurity that threaten to move us away from our loving Savior’s plan for our lives. It may appear to our understanding that our own ways are the wiser of two paths.We become like a puppet under the control of a puppeteer. Without realizing it, we discover later that we have allowed our circumstances to ride roughshod over our good sense. Now is a good time to let our Savior cut those strings that hold us hostage. He will successfully break the cycle of negative thinking by the process of filling our thoughts with His Bible promises that cannot fail. When the enemy of our souls comes in like a flood trying to drown us in confusion, he will see the Savior’s Sign of ownership written on the “doorposts” of our hearts, “Private Property.” Jesus, the Shepherd of our souls, hasn’t given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound and controlled mind -II Timothy 1:7. All else around may fail, but we can rest in the knowledge of the soon return of the Lord Jesus Christ. SpGrandmother Lois
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IT’S ALL RIGHT TO CRY
May 6, 2010 on 2:03 pm“It’s all right to cry, it helps get the sad out of you. It’s all right to cry, it might make you feel better.” Maybe you’ve heard that little tune that leads into a TV commercial for the Extreme Home Makeover presentation. There are times when we really would like to “get the sad out”, the present economic situation being no exception. How often have we longed to “turn over a new leaf”, in essence to have a “complete inside makeover”? In the Bible, Book of Epesians 3:20 Msg. Version are encouraging words that tell us “God is building a home, using apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now He’s using us, fitting us in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the Cornerstone, holding all the parts together. We can see this building called us, taking shape day by day; a holy temple built by our Lord, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home”. We know that with every building project there will be hurts to thumbs that get in the way of our “hammer-like’ clumsy efforts. Unlike a qualified carpenter, we may forget to measure twice before cutting our life-material once. There will be frustrations and a price to be paid for replacing materials that were wasted from our poor judgments. But for those times when, after trying SO hard, the results of our own abilities have failed in the trying to make ourselves into a building fit for our Lord’s living there with us, Jesus does hear our cry and comes along side us to “get the sad out”. Laying aside the “popsicle stick” materials we have used, He points us to His Journal of Instructions, the Bible, where the blueprint is clearly laid out for the building of our house upon the Rock, Christ Jesus, our soon coming Lord and Savior. SpGrandmother Lois
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| Grandmother Lois |
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