I thought I was going to write a book...Jesus knew I just needed to take notes for life...

A Messy Tale...

Genesis 50:20 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to

accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
(What Joseph told his brothers who sold him...)

May 2013

Yeah, so that was the title page of my "book" back in 2013.  After years of journaling,  I looked back and thought, "I think this could be a book."  But I see now, God was having me journal so that in the future, (NOW March 2019), I  could literally look back and see His foot prints, or stones of remembrance in my life...

So in the "book," I had cut and pasted from July 2011, November 2012, and January 2012, June 2010, November 2006, July 2011, January 2013, and April 2010 to be in the "sections 15-19" below on meditations and peace.

Because I just needed to re-read and absorb, I'm leaving them unedited, just as I found them on pages 103-114 of my "book."  My first post in this blog is titled"The God Who Heals," and was  the beginning of this so called "book."  If any of you need encouragement, it's not from me, but from God encouraging me through the years.  That is why I am re-visiting these pages - I need them too.  I will always need them.  There is never a place of "NO NEED" until Heaven, just things I chase but never fill completely, like Jesus does.

I always told my kids, people will always let you down, even me.  God won't.  While lots of my posts are somewhat topical, based on what my heart needs from God, this really has no narrative outside of Scripture.  If you're not sure where to set your worries tonight, maybe try here.  There is nothing in this post from me.  It is a BUNCH of God speaking...the best kind of meditation!

(Should you want to subscribe, click on web version and insert your email address in the subscription box at the right.  I will not see your email address, so I'm not tracking anything...just sharing.)

Caught Up, SEU Worship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwixbrgjRYA

As You Find Me, Hillsong United

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeBiJTWwM9s&list=RDAeBiJTWwM9s&start_radio=1

Today I'm going to post from the past, because God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. 

"Book" Section 15:   MEDITATIONS

• 7/19/11

Matthew 6:9-13 Jesus makes it easy to pray!  He shows us!  He says we can personalize this prayer:

9 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,(Praise God for Who He is! List some of His

characteristics)

hallowed be your name,

10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  (Pray for His will in all things – just like in Heaven)

11 Give us today our daily bread. (Don’t worry about tomorrow, think about

today, give God your worries)

12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (Be merciful to others, as we all need mercy, forgive)

13 And lead us not into temptation, (Pray for self control – He wants to help us! )

but deliver us from the evil one.” (Pray for protection against the enemy!  Help me see the truth)

Matthew 6:25-34 Don’t worry about anything!

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or

drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and

the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow

or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying

add a single hour to your life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field

grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all

his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the

grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire,

will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry,

saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we

wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly

Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his

righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore

do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each

day has enough trouble of its own."

Matthew 6:33 
Set your mind on God and His ways, His love, Who you

are in Him (all this beauty is in Ephesians 1)

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will

be given to you as well."

Colossians 1:9-14 (NLT) “you” has been changed to “us” to personalize

the prayer

"... We ask God to give us complete knowledge of Your will and to give us

spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way we live will always honor

and please You Lord, and our lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All

the while, we will grow as we learn to know God better and better.

11 We also pray that we will be strengthened with all his glorious power so

we will have all the endurance and patience we need. May we be filled with

joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled us to share in the

inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has

rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the

Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our

sins."

• 11/7/12 
15 Meditations

1. Isaiah 40:10-14 "See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his

arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense

accompanies him.  11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs

in his arms and carries them close to his heart; HE gently leads those that

have young.  12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or

with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the

dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and

the hills in a balance?  13 Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or

instructed him as his counselor?  14 Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten

him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him

knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?"

2. 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity,

but of power, love, and self-discipline."

3. Revelations 12:10-11 "Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens,

“It has come at last—salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and

the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has

been thrown down to earth—the one who accuses them before our God day

and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by

their testimony.  And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die."

4. Romans 8:6  "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled

by the Spirit is life and peace;"

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble,

whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is

admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such

things."

5. 2 Corinthians 10:5 "We demolish arguments and every pretension that

sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every

thought to make it obedient to Christ."

6. Psalm 112:7-8 "He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is

steadfast, trusting in the LORD, His heart is secure, he will have no fear;"

7. Deuteronomy 30:19-20 "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses

against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.

Now choose life, so that you and your children may live,  and that you may

love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the

LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give

to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."

8. Psalm 91, 121 protection

9. Isaiah 54:17 "no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will

refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants

of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD."

10. Lamentations 2:19 "Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the

night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift

up your hands to him for the lives of your children,"

11. Colossians 1:9-14 "For this reason, since the day we heard about you,

we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the

knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And

we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may

please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the

knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his

glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and

joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the

inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us

from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son

he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

12. Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than

any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints

and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

13. Proverbs 4:20-22 "My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely

to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your

heart; for they are life to those who find the and health to a man’s whole

body."

14. John 15:7-8 "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask

whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory,

that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

15. Jeremiah 23:29 "“Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and

like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?"

Section 16:   PEACE

• 1/8/12

Ephesians 2:14 “For he himself is our peace,…” and John 30:30 “He must become

greater; I must become less.” It just clicked into place! When He is my

peace, then even “my peace” is not what counts! As He increases, I will find

rest in knowing that He has peace perfected! And if He is at peace, then I

can rest.  Peace is in seeking God alone, not in seeking peace. Peace is fruit of knowing

God; my word for 2012 is peace.

“For he himself is our peace,…” Ephesians 2:14

“The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be

quietness and confidence forever.” Is 32:17

“You will keep in perfect peace

all who trust in you,

all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Is. 26:3

“But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.” Rom 8:6b

“I will teach all your children,

and they will enjoy great peace.” Is 54:13

“May God give you more and more grace and peace.” 1 Peter 1:2b

Section17:  POWER OF GOD’S WORD

• 11/29/06

Is 55:10 “The rain and

snow come down from the

heavens and stay on the

ground to water the

earth. They cause the

grain to grow, producing

seed for the farmer and

bread for the hungry. It

is the same with My

Word, I send it out and

it always produces fruit.

It will accomplish all I

want it to and it will

prosper everywhere I

send it.”

• 6/24/10

Mini summary about the POWER of God's Word

Hebrews 4:12 "His Word is full of living power." Proverb 4:21-22 "Don't lose

sight of MY Words, Let them penetrate deep within your heart, for they

bring life and radiant health to anyone who discovers their meaning.” 

Is. 55:10-11  “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the

ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for

the farmer and bread for the hungry.  11 It is the same with my word. I

send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I

want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it."

How do we win the battle The battle is relentless it seems. And we often

see it played out in PEOPLE, ACCIDENTS, ILLNESS, REBELLION, HURT!

The physical realm! But there is so much more going on! The HEAVENLY

REALM We were not meant to fight alone or even understand

everything. But I know that God tells us that NO WEAPON will defeat us,

and interestingly, the "tongue" is a weapon of the battle here used for bad

or for good. Is. 54 talks about the tongue being used against you.

Isaiah 54:17 (NASB)

"No weapon that is formed against you will prosper;

And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn This

is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their vindication is from

Me," declares the LORD."

I take this verse and speak it out loud. That ultimately NO WEAPON of

the enemy (tongue, illness, accident...) will win! In the end, our heritage as

children of God, and His righteousness is our vindication for all eternity!

Sometimes trials are allowed by God and I am not declaring every hardship is

the enemy. But I'm betting "giving in/discouragement" is of the enemy!

So then Paul explains things a bit! The Power of God’s Word!!!

2 Corinthians 10 (NIV)

"3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.  4The

weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary,

they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  5 We demolish arguments

and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and

we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

I used this verse so often back when I struggled for the transformation of

my mind! It was during a season of deep depression. ( I still use these

verses!!) The compulsive, paranoid, fearful, self-hating cycle of thoughts

that would crash on me like the ocean waves all day long, until with God's

powerful Word, the tide began to go out! Oh...that soft smooth sand with

little flickers of crab life scattering about...new life, new thinking!

I also learned that speaking out praise was truly a powerful weapon! Oh,

how our Maker loves to hear our praise! I'm telling you, when my kids say "I

love you mommy" it breathes life into me! When anyone says “I love you”

it’s just wonderful! Just multiply that times infinity and know that God loves

to hear that from us! The "weapon connection" is in this next verse:

Psalm 149

3 "Let them praise his name with dancing

and make music to him with tambourine and harp..."

6  "May the praise of God be in their mouths

and a double-edged sword in their hands,"

There are many verses detailing how faith and speaking out truth were the

weapons, not strength or willpower!  Just see Hebrews 11 for the many people of faith.  But also notice at the end of the chapter, they did not all receive what they thought...their victory

was on the side of eternity.  We can never forget that!  God is outside of

time and space, and SO IS OUR DESTINY AS HIS CHILDREN!

But what a comfort found in this next verse. 

"The eternal God is your refuge, and His everlasting arms are under you...He drives out the enemy before you; He cries out, "Destroy them!"

Deuteronomy 33:25-27 (NIV)

25 "May the bolts of your gates be of iron and bronze;

may you be secure all your days.”

26 “There is no one like the God of Israel.

He rides across the heavens to help you,

across the skies in majestic splendor.

27 The eternal God is your refuge,

and his everlasting arms are under you.

He drives out the enemy before you;

he cries out, ‘Destroy them!’"

I often need to slow down and surrender, give up trying to control, giving up

trying to map it out. God has been walking me through that again, even now.

When the sweetness of surrender met with faith washes over me, "the tide

begins to go out" and peace begins to settle in. What a relief! And the

Word of God is there for me to cling to and speak out, not always

understanding, but KNOWING.

Then Psalm 51:15 "Unseal my lips that I may sing your praise!" David's

cry after asking for and receiving forgiveness.

I don't know, was I just rambling here? I can't wrap my arms around it!

But, I love Scripture and how it takes you through the journey, past, present

and future. We have to “taste and see that the Lord is Good” Ps. 34 by

reading, meditating and learning God’s Word. Be blessed today!

• I had an exciting time with this just this morning!

I couldn't sleep last night and I kept calming myself with the short verse

phrase "even at night my heart instructs me."  (Psalm 16:7) I couldn't remember the

reference. It just brought peace...and then, this am, I was typing this

favorite passage on my Facebook status, FORGETTING THAT VERY VERSE

WAS IN MY NIGHT PRAYERS! When I got to that phrase I was so

delighted!!!!! Now that's a fun "God moment" when you sense Him call out

a verse in your heart when you need it, and then HE shows you where it

is in the morning!!!!!!  And I was not looking for it!!  Testifying to His

presence !!!

Ps. 16 "Keep me safe, O God for in You I take refuge...Lord, you have

assigned me my portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure. The

boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places, surely I have a

delightful inheritance...I will praise the Lord, Who counsels me; even at

night my heart instructs me. Because He is ...at my right hand, I will

not be shaken."

God’s WORD has His POWER In It, So I Speak it OUT!  This is a collection

of verses that grows and grows. It is how I battle anxiety and He never

fails to give me peace.

Hebrews 4:12 “For the Word of God is full of living power. It is sharper

than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into the innermost thoughts and

desires. It exposes us for what we truly are.”

Proverbs 4:21-22 “Don’t lose sight of my Words. Let them penetrate deep

within your heart, for they bring LIFE and radiant health to all who

discern their meaning.”

• 7/26/11

This is POWER!! God's Word is our ammunition against evil! God's Kingdom is

advancing and good is overcoming evil! I came across this verse in a daily

Bible devotional this week. It is Jeremiah 23:29, and it's below in!  It

inspired me to encourage us all that we do have Spiritual authority from

Jesus Christ, who lives in us!

"My Word is full of living power!" Hebrews 4:12 

We can speak God's Word to the enemy, it will slam the enemy!!!

"Is not My Word like fire" - the Lord's declaration -"and like a

sledgehammer that pulverizes rocks?" Jeremiah 23:39

In the first temptation of Christ in the Desert,  Jesus quoted the Word of God.

'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the

mouth of God.'" - Matthew 4:4 (Then Jesus quoted a passage from

Deuteronomy 8:3 where God fed the Israelites manna from Heaven.)

In the 2nd Temptation of Christ, Jesus quoted the Word of God. "'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" - Matthew 4:7 (Jesus quoting Deuteronomy 6:16)

What are your "go to" verses when we need to speak to the mountain? Some great passages:

(Ps. 34, Ps 91, Ps. 103, Ps 121)

• 1/24/13

THE WORD!

20 "Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good,

and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

21 The wise of heart is called discerning,

and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

22 Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it,

but the instruction of fools is folly.

23 The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious

and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

24 Gracious words are like a honeycomb,

sweetness to the soul and health to the body."

Proverbs 16:20-24

Section 18:  PRAISE IS A WEAPON

Ps. 112:1, 7-9 “Praise the Lord! Yes, happy are those who delight in doing

what He commands. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust

the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face

their foes triumphantly.”

Ps. 149:6 “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged

sword in their hand.”

Ps. 51:15 “Unseal my lips, O Lord, that I may praise you.”

Section 19:   PRAYERS

• 4/24/10 Personal Prayer:

Dear Lord, I thank you for this day. I thank You for my being able to see

and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God

and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on

blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or

thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness.

Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day

with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of

each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.

Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.

Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over... Let me

continue to see sin through God's eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And

when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth my wrongdoing, and

receive the forgiveness of God.

And when this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus' example --

to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will.  Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak.  Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others... I pray for those who are lost and can't find their way.  I pray for those who are misjudged and misunderstood.  I pray for those who don't know You intimately.  I pray for those who don't believe. I thank you that I believe. Help me to believe more and more.

I believe that God changes people and God changes things.  I pray for all.  For each and every family member in their households.  I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.  I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands

for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees them and every mouth that confesses them willingly...

This is my prayer.

• Family Prayers: Colossians 1:9-12 (NIV)

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped

praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his

will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that

you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing

fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being

strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may

have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father,

who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the

kingdom of light.”