Worship Wednesday

Lord Howe Island (Photo credit: Robert Whyte http://www.arachne.org.au)

Psalm 150:6 (NIV)

⁶ Let everything  that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

Exodus 4:31 (NIV)

³¹ and they believed.  And when they heard that the Lord was concerned  about them and had seen their misery,  they bowed down and worshiped.

 

Because of God’s unyielding love and care, I have breath.  Because of God’s faithfulness I continue to have life.  Because of God’s mercy and grace I am able to humbly praise and worship.  With whispered breaths I praise His name to my last breath I give all glory and honor to Him because He is so truly worthy of my praise!

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

 

 

 

 

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The Air I Breathe

Just breathe (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Acts 17:25 (NIV)

²⁵ And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else

 

During the last week I experienced challenges with my breathing.  My ability to take in air seamlessly was painfully compromised. This was a journey that God had delivered me from years ago, but it was back with a strangle-hold vengeance. I was not at all pleased!

I did everything that I knew to do yet my actions were to no avail, the situation was not getting better, in fact it kept getting progressively worse. On day three, gasping for air I called the doctor and went for a visit. Breathing treatments, steroids, rest and other means were prescribed for this breathing crisis.

It seems that a spiritual life and health often go hand in hand. We do all we can to get ourselves out of pickles and as a grasping last resort we call on God. All along He has been watching and waiting, ear tuned to our cries for help, yet like head strong toddlers, we try to do it ourselves. Until it is an out of control mess.

Without a doubt, I know that I continually depend on God for my daily bread and so many other things.  Last week I was reminded that also rely on Him for the gift every breath of the very air I breathe.

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

Posted from WordPress for Windows Phone

Posted from WordPress for Windows Phone

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Hide and Seek Him

Isaiah 55:6 (NIV)

⁶ Seek  the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.

Years ago I played “Hide and Seek” with God.   Recklessly going about my life as if He could not see me, as if He was not a whisper away.  Repeatedly placing myself in harm’s way and being blind and deaf  regarding the dangers.  Crawling into this hole or that closet believing it to be the best hiding spot ever, only to be suffocated by the junk and clutter already residing therein.

The text says “Seek the Lord while He may be found”  and I am reminded again about the shepherd leaving the entire flock to seek that one lost lamb.  Was that lamb crying out to be found or jumping

English: Hide an seek Spotted amongst the hedgerow beside a footpath (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

about blindly chasing butterflies oblivious to the wolves circling around it?

As that lamb I can finally acknowledge that in many small ways I was crying out, running, crying out then running until I realized that the enemy was but a jaw snap away from devouring my very soul.   Praise be to God, that when I whispered Lord save me, He was right there waiting to rescue me.   Because of salvation I feel the desire to shout my rescue story from the mountain tops and into the blogosphere!

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

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Happy Father’s Day

Psalm 68:5 (NIV)

⁵ A father to the fatherless,  a defender of widows,  is God in his holy dwelling.

Psalm 89:26 (NIV)

²⁶ He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father,     my God, the Rock  my Savior.’

Psalm 103:13 (NIV)

¹³ As a father has compassion  on his children,  so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

 Proverbs 3:12 (NIV)

¹² because the Lord disciplines those he loves,  as a father the son he delights in.

Father’s Day is a day set aside to honor those men who have contributed to our gene pool, gave us our senses of humor and in some cases constantly and consistently pointed us toward God.

Our earthly fathers are human, some made mistakes from which we doubted we would ever recover, embarrassed us beyond belief (i.e. polyester leisure suits, socks and sandals – together) or other events that left indelible marks upon our memories and psyches.

For those of us blessed to still have these wonderful men in our lives on this day appreciate them!   I thank God for the love and forgiveness often provided/received as a result of growing up and older.   Most of all I am grateful to God, my Father because of His love I am able to laugh about some embarrassing moment and reflect on others that shaped me into the person I have become.

Happy Father’s Day to all fathers, be it by blood or heart!

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

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Happy Sabbath Anniversary!

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days shall you labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath to the LORD your God… Exodus 20:8-10

My beloved husband and I are Sabbath observing Christians. Every Sabbath is so special to us, our special time with God and each other. We get to spend everyday with God but this is the day when His presence is excitedly anticipated because He is coming to be with us. Our time spent studying together discussing God, His blessings, goodness and love and the beauty all around us makes this a special time.  when surrounded by family it a wonderful time  indeed!

This particular Sabbath is momentous on another level because we are celebrating our 2nd wedding anniversary. The Sabbath candle is lit, the Bibles are out and I am rejoicing. Thanking God again for a husband who loves the Lord, encourages and prays with and for me. Our marriage is a marriage of three (him-God-me).

Today is yet another filled with gifts of love, praise, worship and gratitude! Thank you, Father!

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

Posted from WordPress for Windows Phone

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Thankful Thursday!

Lord Howe Island snorkeling – Double headed wrasse clown fish and others (Photo credit: Percita)

Psalm 107:1 107 (NIV)¹ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; His love endures forever.

Psalm 118:21(NIV)

²¹ I will give you thanks, for you answered me; You have become my salvation.

 2 Chronicles 20:21 (NIV)

²¹ After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his^[a] holiness  as they went out at the head of the army, saying:

“Give thanks to the Lord,  for His love endures forever.”

Mark 8:7 (NIV)

⁷ They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them.

As I read these words of thanks, I lift my own voice in praise.  Being grateful and thankful for all things.  God’s goodness is always beyond what we ask, dream or hope.   When we share what we have our little thankfully becomes more than enough.  When the hands of Jesus touched those few fish and loaves of bread multiplied and all in attendance were able to eat their fill.   Lord,  thankful am I for your provision, protection and love.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, oh LORD, my strength and my redeemer!  Psalms 19:14 (KJV)

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

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Worship Wednesday

Cover of THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

Psalm 34:9 (MSG)⁹Worship God if you want the best; worship opens doors to all His goodness. Psalm 34:9 (NIV)

⁹ Fear the Lord,  you his holy people,  for those who fear Him lack nothing.

Psalm 34:9 (NKJV)

⁹ Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.

One text, three versions wonderful words.   I worship God out of love and have witnessed the miracle of open doors and windows when least expected.  I worship, not fear because more often than not my heart defines fear as a negative.

Yet, my adoration, praise, respect and worship are seamless because God’s abundance has already been shown in my life.  God is my Father  – my Father provides.  The Lord is my Shepherd – He guides and protects.  My love, praise and thanksgiving are my meager humble gifts for all He has done and continues to do in my life.  Though trials may come – I will continue to praise Him!

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

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Living with Passion

Psalm 4:7 (NIV)

Rhythm, a sequence in time repeated, featured in dance: an early moving picture demonstrates the waltz. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

⁷ Fill my heart  with joy when their grain and new wine  abound.

The day-to-day can at times become such a draining routine that we forget that the word passion exists.  Sure, we can plaster on a smile and look happy but the passion that comes from truly enjoying life makes that smile look cartoonish and fake.

Passion exists in many forms, passion for food, writing, knitting and in my daughter’s case, passion for dancing. Dani Dancing (Video)    Watching the absolute joy on her face as she danced in the sunshine at the Strawberry fair on Saturday with other dance enthusiasts burst my dress snaps and had me shouting “Go baby!”   When we use God given talents to serve others, when we share freely of ourselves, roll up our sleeves and throw caution to the wind and embrace our gift of life, God smiles.

The storms of life are inevitable and today I vow to run outside with arms spread wide, head thrown back  and dance in the rain knowing that God, my father holds not only me, but the whole world in His hands!

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

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Recharged by Love

1 John 4:8 (NIV)

⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

I am a mother who was without my child on Mother’s Day.  Yet, because of love it was not an empty day. I was surrounded by love.

This weekend my beloved daughter came to town and my full love battery was charged to over flowing. Infused with her infectious love of life and energy I recall moments while she was growing up that all I had to give her most of the time was my love.

There are times in life when all we need is love, when all that brings a smile is the knowledge of an abundance of love. God is love! At moments of doubt and storms, when it seems the walls are closing in, God’s love is our strength and buffer.

Seeking Him energizes, clarifies thoughts and opens doors where we only saw a wall. I am so thankful for the daily visits of His love sprinkled with the periodic visits by the angels we call family!

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

Posted from WordPress for Windows Phone

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