Thanking God for His Goodness

34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Today begins my birthday week.  Every day that I awake, I have a reason to be thankful.  With each breath taken, with or without difficulty, I am grateful.  In the grand scheme of things, God cares about me so much that He touches and wakes me up everyday, for these 50+ years.

Grateful I am to serve in His vineyard, delighted to do as He bids. With joy, I thank God for this hour, this day and this week in which He gave me life!

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

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Stop that Rearview Mirror Living!

Rear-view mirror showing cars parked behind the vehicle containing the mirror (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Isaiah 43:18 (NIV)

18 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

 

There is a malady that causes people to live their lives eyes fixed and staring through the rear view mirrors.

Hearing and being a witness to this caused me to ponder, what really is the purpose of a rear-view mirror?

Wikipedia states, “A rear-view mirror is a mirror in automobiles and other vehicles, designed to allow the driver to see rearward through the vehicle’s backlight (rear windshield or windscreen).” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rear-view_mirror)”

Hmmmm, so this tool is in place to give a quick backward glance to the rear while moving forward.  In this  lifetime I have seen cars driving along that contained side mirrors but clearly the spot where the rear-view mirror was supposed to be affixed was absolutely vacant.

Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)  17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!

Once we surrender our lives to the Lord we become new creatures, all of our sins, secret and confessed lovingly covered by the blood if Jesus!  This new creation is free to move ahead! Rear view mirror living should only provide a brief look back so there is a reference point to enable us to see where God has brought us from and not hinder us from rolling forward and toward His purpose for our lives!

Today let us vow to only glance in those mirrors gain perspective and focus our eyes on God!

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

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Havin A Praise Party!!!

Lord Howe (Photo credit: Roberta W.B.)

 

Psalm 150 (NIV)

 

1 Praise the Lord.[a]

Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord!

 

God has been so good all  I can do is have a praise party in His honor!  Glory to God for His goodness!  Everyone is invited and welcome!

Making His praise glorious!!!!

Ree

 

 

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Justice belongs to God

James 1:21 (MSG)

 

Act on What You Hear

 

19-21 Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow-up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.

 

In truth, the verdict was not totally unexpected, yet there was still a moment of disappointment.  Watching and listening my heart continues to cry out to the Lord.  Comfort came as I read James 1:21.  God’s righteousness will prevail.  In every situation, for every child lost or harmed, family broken and disasters, God has the final say.  Like many in this country, I paid attention to the Trayvon Martin case.

 

I  am humbly grateful for the freedoms that I enjoy, said freedoms that have been paid for on the backs, bones and efforts of others.  My heart aches for every family that will never again wrap their arms around their loved ones.  I weep because the world seems to be careening so horribly out of kilter and I pray.    Prayers  for the peace of God to move this country and world forward.  I pray for hearts to open and recognize that God has the final say and that  He is always just.    There is solace in repeating and meditating on Psalm 30:5  (KJ21) 5 For His anger endureth but a moment, and in His favor is life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

 

Making His praise glorious!

 

Ree

 

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Be Not Afraid…Jump!

 

Isaiah 41:10 (KJ21)

 

10 fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.

 

 

The Holy Spirit has been gently thumping me upside the head for a few days.   A door has been opened, plans percolating and forming and I have been standing  flat-footed, rooted and immobile.

Changes need to be made, new vistas explored yet there has been catatonic  hesitancy, shrouded in fear.   The whisper began, “fear not, for I am with you”.   The Message translation of this text resonated, hitting the nail solidly on the head,

Isaiah 41:10 (MSG)    10 “ ‘You’re my servant, serving on my side.  I’ve picked you. I haven’t dropped you.’ Don’t panic. I’m with you.   There’s no need to fear for I’m your God.  I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you.  I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.   Truly my heart has been flooded by comfort and peace and understanding that whatever it is that God desires for you to do, He is right there, supporting and encouraging.

There are moments when the dream or vision is so gigantic and out our normal comfort zones,  yet we must always remember that God provided visions are backed by the knowledge that He will equip us to not only take on the endeavor but to succeed, in the name of Jesus.  So here, I am poised to jump into the unknown, willing to fulfill the destiny God has for me and as always in all ways giving Him Glory.

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

 

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I am not saying this because…

Philippians 4:11 (NIV)

¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

Being surrounded by the noise of daily life can at times remove the ability to just be content.  There are often such pressing needs to have, obtain and move  that we can forget about the simple pleasure of being content.

This past weekend I found delight and contentment in being surrounded by precious and rarefied laughter of family visiting for the first time.   There was joy in seeing beloved faces lit with pure joy and fellowship,  and enjoyed some of the most incredible wings I have ever eaten (thanks Honey!)

Sitting and reflecting upon the weekend I am moved by the words in Philippians 4.  There have been days and seemingly at times months of lack, yet by God’s grace there was peace and contentment.

Thank you Lord that I can rejoice no matter what the situation, no matter what comes my way for you truly are worthy of all my praise and the reason for my contentment.

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

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Busy hands and Open Heart

Psalm 3:5 (CEB)

⁵ I lie down, sleep, and wake up  because the Lord helps me.

It seemed that leading up to and including the one year blog anniversary a quiet has dropped like a heavy drape, not only covering this blog but my life.

I post and comment less on Facebook and my tweets are barely rippling enough to qualify as a chirp.

When God is working on and through us there are times when silence is the wisest choice.  As my fingers have been diligently working my heart and mind have also been busy.  During this silence I have been blessed by and with visits from loved ones and felt the Hand of God move repeatedly and steadily in our lives.

Today I released myself from the pressure of creating 200 knitted items. The frenetic pressure to attain that number was born from my desire to help others but help we shall.  December is not here, yet  and I have again turned  the matter to the Lord!   Joyfully, I honestly  have no idea what God has planned and I look forward with less pressure and heightened expectation!  Ultimately, my desire is  for God’s will to be done.

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

P.S. An angel dropped off 20 hats this morning!!   Thank you, Lord!!!

Posted from WordPress for Windows Phone

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Hope in the LORD

Psalm 27:14 (CEB)

¹⁴ Hope in the Lord!   Be strong! Let your heart take courage!   Hope in the Lord!

Every single day we have the opportunity to walk beside, behind or in front of someone who needs to hear a word.  Today I thank God for the word HOPE!

My hope comes from the Lord.  When there are moments of doubt or fear my hope is in Him.  He  saved me, cleansed me and most of all allowed His precious son, Jesus, to shed his blood for me.   Thank you Father for your messages of  Love and Hope.   Thank you for the opportunities to point, direct and lead others to You!

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

 

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A Humble Gift

 

Psalm 116:16 (NIV)

¹⁶ Truly I am your servant, Lord;  I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains.

I had the pleasure of being the “surprise” gift at my Mom’s 70th birthday dinner.   Understand this, I speak with my mother and daughter every single day and keeping a secret of this magnitude from both of them was incredibly difficult.

My sister, an incredible planner, had everything planned to the minute but as is often the case, things did not go exactly according to plan.  As so often happens in life, we plan and arrange and orchestrate everything down to the smallest detail, yet God often steps in and with a slight nudge changes our simple plan into something extraordinary.

I planned to take pictures to capture the faces of my mother and daughter but it was difficult to do so when all I wanted to do was hold and hug all of the loved ones I had not seen in many months.  That entire weekend was all about celebrating the life of our wonderful mother, grandmother and friend.  Mommy, a true giver,  was able to listen and receive as the attendees showered her with flowery bouquets of words typically reserved for the end of a life, when the impact hits the hearts of the remaining family members.  I was awed hearing the many ways she continually touches lives. The hugs shared, advice given but most of all the elegance and grace exhibited as a woman who loves the Lord quietly, gently and consistently.

Striving to be a woman of God I am honored to have been raised by such and awesome, grace-filled woman.  Lord, I thank you for the precious gift of celebrating my mother’s life and having her as an example of a life lived for You!
Making His praise glorious!

Ree

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Singing an Old Song

Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV)

Psalm 121

A song of ascents. ¹ I lift up my eyes to the mountains—    where does my help come from? ² My help comes from the Lord,  the Maker of heaven and earth.

Recently I enjoyed a Facebook conversation with some family members.  We were reminiscing about the blessing and healing of hearing and singing old hymns.   I admit to almost daily spending countless hours basking in the upbeat praise and power of contemporary songs.  But on some days when no other song will do these old hymns are the songs that my soul yearns and hungers to hear.  Songs of climbing, reaching and striving for “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” and wanting to be “In the Upper Room” and understanding in this walk through life that “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” is not merely a song but a plea for God to lead.

There are so many times when only a gut-wrenching fervor will reach that aching part of my heart and remind me that everything is going to be alright.  Days when “I Love to Tell the Story” promises me that Heaven is my goal and I desire to do as God commands!

How I Got Over – Mahalia Jackson – http://youtu.be/PRVzOV5ZaLs

Steal Away to Jesus – Mahalia Jackson/Nat King Cole – http://youtu.be/-O5hz5KnSdc

Precious Lord – Mahalia Jackson – http://youtu.be/-O5hz5KnSdc

 

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

 

I  we love and are blessed and able to praise with the contemporary by the new songs  those songs we sang that we didn’t understand at the time

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