Tag Archives: Bless

The First 100 days – day 5

I awoke this morning to a call from our daughter in Germany, to see our grandson awake.  I got to hear his coos, gurgles and squeaks, and he even listened to my voice.

It was wonderful to get to see him. And his mommy is looking so good, 5 weeks after having a baby.

It’s been rough having a new grandbaby in Germany, and not being able to be there for my daughter while she went through pregnancy, birth, and now new mothering.

When Jacob saw Joseph, after years of thinking he was dead, he almost passed out. (Gen 45:26)

It was rough for Jacob to handle the first child of his most beloved bride Rachel, was dead(Gen 44:27-31).  I think he had an idea that the other’s did something(Gen 42:4), but the depression affected the rest of his life.

Joseph was made a slave, then a prisoner…because his brothers didn’t like the dreams God had given Joseph.  Maybe Joseph was a bit arrogant – but the boys had other reasons to hate him – he was dad’s favorite!

When Jacob dies, all the other boys come to Joseph and basically, kiss up. Then Joseph lives out what he’s learned over the however many years as a slave in a foreign land: Gen 50:19-21

19: And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for [am] I in the place of God?

Well, yes, actually, he was, sort of. He was the ruler of all of Egypt, and he had all sorts of power.  BUT he knew who he was…and now, he is humble.

20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; [but] God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as [it is] this day, to save much people alive.

The things that were done to Joseph were horrible.  Reuben said he’d cried out to his brothers to save him as they handed him over to the Ishmeelites.  We know what happens in prisons to young men now, and I’m sure there was a lot of fear.  But,

  • IF the boys had not thrown him in the pit
  • IF the boys had not sold him to the Ismeelites
  • IF Potipher’s wife had not accused him
  • IF the baker and cupholder hadn’t forgotten for two years
  • THEN Joseph would not have been there to save Jacob’s line!

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

.WE KNOW..why? because of Joseph, because of Abraham, because of Isaac, because of Jonah, because of Nehemiah and Esther and Ruth!  WE KNOW because we have their stories.  They didn’t have the Bible to read…they only had faith to trust in God. WE HAVE THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD! We are without excuse!

Joseph had changed.  He had learned to humble himself.  He had learned to forgive.  And the fruit of that forgiveness is displayed in what he did next:

Gen 50:21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

I have struggled with God not allowing me to go to Germany to be with my daughter.  I have been angry with God for not healing me so that I could travel – to Germany, or to Ethiopia for a mission trip. I have been grumpy.

  • I am not a slave.
  • I am not a prisoner.
  • I am not abused or mistreated.
  • I may be struggling with a spiritual famine!

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Matthew 6:14 – 15 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Joseph is the perfect example of forgiveness, yes.  But he is also the perfect example of getting a right attitude, by looking at circumstances through God’s eyes.

Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Joseph is considered a type of Christ, and his forgiveness of his brothers is so extreme…it reflects the extreme forgiveness that Christ gives all of us – WHILE WE ARE YET SINNERS!

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

And the great thing that Christ has done, is

2Cor 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 2:9-10 But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past [were] not a people, but [are] now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

It’s by HIS mercy, that HE orchestrates our lives(the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord), to complete the work He began in us.  And all we are to do is to let His light shine in us, and then in turn let that light shine from us to all we meet.

Joseph made a huge impact on his family. Because of Joseph, we have the story of God! Joseph was sacrificed, and then “raised up” to save the remnant of God.

Jesus was sacrificed, and raised up, to save those that choose to believe. He has made a HUGE impact on the family of God!

Forgiving myself, and letting go of my anger at God, accepting the plan He has for my life,  allows me to have joy in the skype visits with our grandson. Sacrificing my plans to yield to the Father’s plans, brings peace and contentment to my life. This will have a HUGE impact on my home life, and my mental health!

And I can then sleep in heavenly peace!

May the Lord bless you and Keep you and make His face to shine upon you and give you peace! Num6: 24-26

In His hands and under His wings, watching for His light in my life,

~Christi

100 days of movement – check

100 days of blogging – check

90 days of Bible reading – check(next is Exodus!)

50 days of T-Tapp – check

21 days of Fasting for Food – check

The First 100 days – Day 1

In addition to the 100 day of movement, 90 days of Bible Reading, 21 days of Daniel Fast for Compassion, I have also committed to Beth Moore’s 24 Bible verses in a year.
Living Proof Ministries

Today, I sat by a lake.
Today, I stopped thinking about the verses I should memorize.

I woke up in the middle of the night, 12/31/2010 or 1/1/2011…I don’t really know. The verse that spoke loudly to me, loud enough to wake me was this:
Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Ps 119:105
We have been convicted that we are to choose LIGHT and LIFE this year, rather than Darkness and Death.

We have been convicted to remove anything that is darkness, does not conform to the image of Christ, does not help us to grow in the image of Christ, and does not bring health to our bones, from our lives.

Genesis 1:16 & 18
And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: [he made] the stars also.
And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that [it was] good.
Gen 1:16 KJV/BLB

We are the lesser lights(the moon), living in the darkness of this world, and we are to shine our light (reflection of the Greater Light, the sun/Son) in the darkness.

So, this is our theme this year:
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16 KJV/BLB

My memory verse:

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Jude 24-25 KJV/BLB

I’m totally blessed with what the Lord has set for me…I’m ready for the challenge.

Daniel Fast starts tomorrow, 1/2/11
100 days of moving – check
T-Tapp – 2 sets Hoe Downs – Check
90 days Bible – Gen 1-16 – check
100 days of Journaling – check

In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. Ps 63:7 NIV/BLB

Sunshine and Rain

Sunshine and rain, blue skies and gray, Our God reigns, each and every day!

Ps 147:7 Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:

:8            Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.

This weekend, with our full range of sky experiences, has been glorious.

We arrived in the dark, and when you are near the gulf, and away from all lights, it is DARK!  As we drove, the sky was cloudy, so there were not any stars or moon as well.  We walked out to the dunes to look at the waves, and as we walked, the clouds parted.  Standing on the dune, looking at the waves come in, and looking up at stars I have never seen was amazing!  God’s starry show welcomed us to our beach side weekend.

Job 22:12 [Is] not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

Everyone comes to God in the dark.

2Co 4:6  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

We slept, with a window open to enjoy the sounds of the waves crashing, and the smell that only exists on a salt water beach area.  The morning was gray…clouds covering the sky, and wind cutting through the clothing.  Is this really Houston Texas?  It was going to rain…we could see that.  But the beach beckoned to us.  And yet, we had to wait.

We sat and watched the rain as it hit the windows.  The beauty of the water dripping down the glass, the splashes of water when the rain picked up, and the sparkle as light hit the various parts of rain were a delight to watch, from the inside of the RV.  The percussion symphony of the drops was a song of the glory and majesty of Our God. We were protected from the rain!  We were in the midst of a storm, but totally secure, warm, dry, and able to delight in the nourishing nature of the rain outside our stronghold.

Everyone has storms.  Everyone has overwhelming times that just pound and beat against them, threatening to tear them down, or drown them in the emotions.  But the one that trusts in God has a special protection, a special place in the midst of the storms.

Is 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Is 26:3  Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee]: because he trusteth in thee.

Psa 91:1  He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

:2            I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Prov 18:10  The name of the LORD [is] a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Mark 4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

4:39        And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

:40          And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

:41          And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Sometimes there are dark times that just seem to go on and on and on.  These are the valleys where we are tested.  In Kelly Willard’s song “Hidden Valley’s”, she says :

“Hidden valleys produce a life song

Hidden valleys will make a heart strong

Desperation can cause you to sing

Hidden valleys turn shepherds to kings”

Elijah endured the storms on the mountain.  Isaiah endured the storms laying on his side playing with toy soldiers.  Daniel endured the storms in the Lion’s Den, and his three friends in the fiery furnace.

David was so used to going through valleys, he wrote the 23rd Psalm.  The key is with whom you walk, and what happens on the other side of the storm.

The rain ceased, and the sky changed a bit, but going out onto the beach was possible.  The clouds rolled in, with light from above shining through, giving us the hope that the sun was coming.  We walked along the beach, enjoying watching the surf as it rises and falls, ebs and flows, fluctuating and crashing in an unearthly rhythm that only the creator understood.  Mist rose above the waves, and the wind blew it in from the gulf, stinging my cheeks as I looked out upon the water.  The sand was uneven, unstable, and shifting back and forth as I walked on the beach.  I had to keep my focus, and I had to choose my path carefully, or I could fall, damage my ankle(again) and have a tremendous set back.

In this day of mass confusion for mankind, with crashing sound all around, wars and rumors of wars…we have a path in which to walk.

Mat 24:6   And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

:7               For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

:8              All these [are] the beginning of sorrows.

Mat 24:12   And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

:13          But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

We must stay the course, and hold on to our path.  These are part of God’s plan, though it His allowing men to have their own way, turning them over to their own devices and desires.  But the believers in Christ have a path.

Psalm 37 is such a comfort in times such as these:

Verse 23 says The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth [him with] his hand.

Ps 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

BUT THE SON IS COMING!!! Breaking through the clouds!

Daniel 7:13          I saw in the night visions, and, behold, [one] like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

:14          And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed.

Matt 24:30          And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

We are to comfort one another with THESE WORDS!

1Th 4:13   But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

:14            For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

:15          For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

:16          For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

:17          Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

:18          Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Ah – the sun shining upon the waves.  They were beautiful before, with the various shades of gray, but as the sun peaked out of the clouds, the water ignited with diamonds, and deep aquamarines, and blue topazes floating up and down with the undulation of the finest dancer.  The water was alive!

When the Son touches our lives, even though the waves are the same, the sand is the same, and even we are the same, we come alive!  He takes the unholy and makes us holy.  He takes the imperfect and starts shining on the perfections.  He takes the crashing of our waves and turns it into a dance of love and joy and peace and purpose.

For examples of this, read the gospels…the woman at the well, the woman with the issue of blood, the man who couldn’t walk, the man who couldn’t see, the people that could not be part of society because of their leprosy.  When Jesus touches a life, well….

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Our sins are covered by the blood of the Lamb – and it’s now our job to walk in the deliverance HE has purchased for us.

We can look at the waves, and the clouds, or we can look at the creator of the waves and the clouds.  In Matthew 14:28-32,  Peter did fall, BUT HE DID WALK ON WATER!  He first was looking at Jesus, trusting in His word.  THEN he saw the wind and was afraid.  HE TOOK HIS EYES OFF OF JESUS.

I don’t expect to walk on water anytime soon, but we have this concept that walking on water is only for someone like Jesus.  Peter is a man like you and me.  Peter had yet to deny Christ.  Peter walked on water!  Don’t despise small beginnings!

There is a saying that has hung in my mother in law’s house as long as I’ve been in the family.  It says: “I believe in the sun even when it rains.”  Do we believe in the Son, even when it rains?

This seems to be a redundant theme for me, but it fits here as well.  The way to be strong in the storms is to be strong in the Lord.  Here’s a few verses:

  • Be strong in the Lord: Deut 31:6-7; Josh 1:9; 1Chron 28:20
  • Fear Not – the Lord will strengthen you: Is 40:27-31; Is 41:10-13
  • The Joy of the Lord is Your strength: Neh 8:10
  • HE will give us a song: Is 51:11
  • We must come into His presence with praises of thanksgiving, and joyful noises: Ps 95:1-6; Psalm 100
  • And Jesus came so that our joy(the strength from the Lord) would be full: John 15:11; 16:24

Jesus purchased our ability to have joy…the way to obtain that joy is to be filled with the Lord’s joy, which comes from being in His presence, which is only done by entering with praises and thanksgiving.  And the only way we can enter His presence with praises is to make a choice about how we look at the clouds in our lives.

James 1:2-8

We must CHOOSE joy.  Sometimes it’s a sacrifice.

Heb 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name.

But the blessings are great.

Jer 33:11 The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD [is] good; for his mercy [endureth] for ever: [and] of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.

And, when we dwell in the presence of the most High, we are sheltered by the shadow of His wings…(Ps 91).

The SON cometh!

Psa 96:10 Say among the heathen [that] the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.

:11          Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.

:12          Let the field be joyful, and all that [is] therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice

:13          Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

In the midst of the storms, comfort one another with these words!

And this is my song, my choice to sing in any time of darkness:

Psa 104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.

104:2     Who coverest [thyself] with light as [with] a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

104:3     Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:

Ps 27:6  And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

In His hand and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

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