Tag Archives: Christ

100 Spiritual Walking Steps – Step 7- Feel the Rain

I like to think of myself as someone that shares her walk with the Lord, and invites others to join me in the journey.
In that regard, I have some preconceived ideas about what I should write about, and what should be referenced.
The thing is, I live in the world, even though I choose to not be OF the world, and there are some songs IN the World that have really struck a chord with me lately, pun intended.

Step 6’s was “The Rose”
Step 7’s is “Unwritten”
First verse:

I am unwritten,
can’t read my mind, I’m undefined
I’m just beginning, the pen’s in my hand,
ending unplanned

Theologically – this is not true, if you believe in a divine plan from the beginning of the earth. I am not writing to discuss the theological aspects of predestination and election. IF one is so interested in that discussion, Wikipedia has a general article on Predestination(Calvinism). Since I am a mix of Arminianism and Calvinism, I have the challenge with believing that all things are preordained, and at the very same time, I have free will in every aspect of my life.

While I believe that all things are known to God from the beginning…Acts 15:18…I also belive that I am responsible for my own choices…Joshua 24:15 and I choose LIFE in Jesus Christ.

2 Cor 3:2-3 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody.
You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

I am a letter…written on the tablet of my heart…sharing what Jesus has done in my life.
Today, at this moment, everything that has past is past, and written down in the Lamb’s book of life.

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Yesterday, every moment that is past, is already written down.
Now, I can focus on that…but the beauty of living in Jesus’s Love is that He doesn’t choose to remember the bad:

Ps 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, [so] far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

So, with that under my belt, I can lay yesterday, last night, this morning, at the feet of Jesus, and look forward, not bound by the baggage of guilt and condemnation.
But what about the song?
The rest is still unwritten!

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

It has been so long since I felt rain on my skin…I had forgotten how refreshing that was.  I can see a child dancing in the puddles, smiling up at the rain.  That child was me.

I have been told many times, in many ways, that I have a book to write. The book is about my life..and the lessons I’ve learned through trail, trauma, tragedy, and tribulation. It’s not written.  This is a physical example of how I have held back the words, kept them unspoken…and that is not what Jesus, The Word of God, would want from me.

I have spent many years living my life the way other people have told me to.
I have spent many years of NOT drenching myself in the words unspoken.
Here are the lyrics that struck me:

I break tradition,
sometimes my tries,
are outside the lines
We’ve been conditioned to not make mistakes,
but I can’t live that way

I am not the typical Christian, Mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend. I don’t do things the way others do. I am different, but, that’s not so bad!

1 Peter 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:

The “Peculiar” designation goes back to Deuteronomy 14:2 and Deuteronomy 26:18

There is a Voice inside me that tells me which way to go – and I need to allow that Voice to drench me with Words unspoken – and feel the rain of HIS grace and mercy fall upon me.
I’ve been hiding behind a dirty window – looking back at all my mistakes – and I haven’t always been able to see the Light of the Son shine into my being.
No one can do this for me…I need to open my arms up wide…and embrace what God has put before me…and choose wisely the path on which I tread. My future is still unwritten, but I desire to have my life be written boldly, clearly, and decisively in the Lamb’s book of life.

I pray that each one that reads this will take all that is past this moment, put it in Jesus’s hands, under His blood, and put it up on a shelf…or better yet, let Him carry it…and then, listen for His voice.

Is 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This [is] the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

Ps 37:23 The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

credits – AZ Lyrics

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.


 

 

  1. Weight Watchers – week 3…starting over
  2. 100 Spiritual Steps- blog – CHECK
  3. Chronological Bible reading…starting in the NT
  4. 50 days T-Tapp – AL, OIP, HD- gotta start!

100 Spiritual Walking Steps – who cares what day it is?

The last five days have been rough.
Somehow, something has happened to my left foot…and I am VERY slowed down.
Somehow, our plans have been delayed because of the fire incident…and knocked us off plan mentally.
Somehow, my energy levels have been in the tank…and I haven’t been able to do the things necessary for us to be ready to move for vacation.
Somehow, Jim’s job sent him to NYC, and both ways the planes were delayed, and now it’s Thursday.
We were SUPPOSED to turn in our keys on Saturday – apartment all done, and trailer ready to roll.
Two wonderful friends have been working very hard to get the apartment clean…but there are things that we women cannot get done – moving heavy furniture out, and making decisions about Jim’s piles in the office.
My left foot is in a boot, immobilized, for the most part. And the off balance walking is messing with my hips, draining more energy from me.
I have cysts on the bones in my left foot(I don’t know what kind), a collapsed dome(whatever that is) and something called vascular necrosis…yipppee!
Gabe has crystals in his urine…and the vet wants me to give him food that he is allergic to, in order to potentially eliminate the crystals…

Feel the whirlwind? What day is it? Who cares about the date, the day, or even where it is on the calendar. Who is in charge?

Genesis 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

Evening and morning were the first day.
God created the days.

Job 38:1-2 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who [is] this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

While I believe that we can ask God questions…there is a line beyond which we should not go.  Reading the rest of God’s discourse to Job can really put a person in their place.

I am not in charge of the time.
I did not choose to have the box burn up in the trailer – and we were not responsible.
I did not choose to have Jim fly to NYC, taking days off of his availability.
I did not choose to have cysts on my ankle, and induce horrible nerve pain as they grew.
I did not choose to have FMS or CFS that limits my energy.

What I have chosen is to honor God with my life, by following Jesus Christ as my Savior through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
That means I need to choose to:

James 1:2-4 count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

I’ve been working on LOVE(1 Cor 13) for many many years. The first definition, or qualification of love is….PATIENCE.

Everything is going to happen as God has planned.
What I’m in charge of is MY ATTITUDE, and MY RESPONSE.

So – What day is it?
THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE, I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

 

 

  1. Weight Watchers – day 4
  2. 100 Spiritual Steps- blog – CHECK
  3. Chronological Bible reading…
  4. 50 days T-Tapp – AL, OIP, HD- gotta start!

Spiritual Walking Steps – Day 4 – what’s inside?

Because of yesterday’s PAIN, today, I had an MRI on my left ankle.

On the outside, the doctor could see the funny lumps that had grown up.  With an x-ray, he could see the goofy bone issues.  The doctor could not see what is going on inside the soft tissues of my foot with just an x-ray. Therefore, he ordered an MRI.

MRI’s are really neat inventions.   With an MRI, he can see MORE than I’d like him to see, but at least, he can see this specific problem, and decide how to treat it.  As I laid in the machine, meditating, and trying to keep my foot still for 30 minutes, I thought about what is inside me.

On the outside – you can see that I’m 5’2″, 240 pounds, female, caucasion, brown hair with silver streaks, and glasses.  You might get the idea that I’m a ‘goody’ type of person – since I’m not wearing revealing clothes.  This would sort of fit with the scripture 1 Tim 2:9

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

Of course, different brands of Christianity, or faiths in general, have differing definitions of modesty. But modesty in dress  is on the outside.  One can dress modestly, but have a lustful heart.

From the outside, we can judge a little of the inside, because of the fruit that surrounds us.

Matt 7:16- 17 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

X-rays are for seeing what is inside a person.  Well, not really all of the story, but x-rays can see the structure.  What is holding up all the other stuff?  This is the foundation of the body.

1 Cor 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

X-rays can also see how we are building up that foundation, by the strength of the building around it.

1 Cor 3:12-13 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

We cannot know, totally, what is on the inside of a person, but that is what we are commanded to work on!  We need the Fruit of the Spirit, to imitate the character of God, to build with gold, silver, precious stone, and even clothe ourselves with a meek and quiet spirit:

1 Peter 3:3-4 Whose adorning let it not be that outward [adorning] of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But [let it be] the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, [even the ornament] of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

We can judge some about others, but the most important judging is of ourselves.

John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Matt 7:1-2 Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Righteous judgement, in my opinion, is judging as Jesus did…by their fruit.  The other key is that, we will be judged by the same measure…so make sure the beam is out of our own eye FIRST!

That brings me to, how can I know what’s inside me? What’s inside MY heart?

Jer 17:9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?

It’s hopeless, right? Of course not…

Ps 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

With God, all things ARE possible, even the searching, and judging of our own hearts…and HE will lead me in the way EVERLASTING! But WHAT is inside?

1 Cor 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

When Jesus was resurrected, all the gang wanted Him to stay around, and He said:

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

The Comforter is the third person of the GodHead, the Holy Spirit that indwells the saints. YOU can do the searching for the doctrines about how the Holy Spirit comes into a person! I’m just saying, we NEED the Holy Spirit abiding in this temple!  Jesus promised SO MANY GIFTS from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit!

John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

We ARE the temple of the Holy Ghost…HOLY Spirit…and the whole reason for the indwelling is for our comfort, teaching and remembrance! EDIFICATION!!!

Folks can put on all sorts of stuff on the outside, and folks can act all kinds of holy, but without the Holy Spirit within, when we go for our Eternal MRI, God will see nothing…because the Holy Spirit within is the spiritual evidence of Jesus Christ as our Savior.

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

These steps are not necessarily going to be in order of priority, but rather, in order that God gives them to me to write about.

    • Step 1 – Know your need for a Savior – Jesus Christ
    • Step 2 – Recognize that all good things are a gift from God
    • Step 3 – Cry out to God when you need help
    • Step 3.5 – HE will bring people into your fellowship
    • Step 4 – Know that YOU ARE the temple of the Holy Spirit – and make sure that HE dwells within!

    Today, in my spiritual walk, I’m checking to make sure that the Holy Spirit is dwelling within this temple…and I think I may have some house cleaning to do!

    Thanks for joining me in this journey,
    In His hands and under His wings,
    ~Christi
    Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

    I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

     


     

    1. Weight Watchers – day 4
    2. 100 Spiritual Steps- blog – day 4
    3. Chronological Bible reading…
    4. 50 days T-Tapp – AL, OIP, HD- gotta start!

    Spiritual Walking – Day 3 – PAIN!

    After my walk yesterday, and some working around the apartment and such, I had a HUGE PAIN in my left foot.

    I was limping…badly.

    My WALK  was affected – in many ways!

    1. I was having trouble remembering that my mouth is not connected to my foot! Nor do I want my foot in my mouth!
    2. I was having trouble moving from point A to point B. I wanted to just sit, lay, stop and stay – but I wasn’t really wanting to pray.
    3. God’s grace comes to those who ASK – and as we sat with friends, I WAS ASKING so as not to harm anyone with my mouth.
    4. sometimes, God wants you to sit, stay and pray – and we don’t listen so good!
    5. We can’t do this alone…not even Me & Jesus…we are in a fellowship – fellows in a ship!  And I needed some ‘fellas’ to help me out in many ways…and in this blog, I am going to give several shout outs to the fellas(and sistas) that have helped me out today!

    This morning, I awoke, and I still could not put weight on this foot…and I was having an inner argument with God.

    “I do not need this now, Lord!”

    SILENCE

    “I know You know what is best for me Lord – I mean, I do not WANT this now, Lord!”

    SILENCE

    “I am afraid of going through another round of foot surgeries, Lord, and I don’t think I can handle it on top of everything else that is going on”

    SHOUT OUT TO MY HUSBAND, JIM!

    My husband was praying – and he said “I pray that you will go back to bed for a nap, and wake up, and the pain will be gone, and the bump will be gone or much smaller.”

    I had just confessed to him that I was trying to keep my tongue from evil…

    Ps 34:13 Keep MY tongue from evil, and MY lips from speaking guile.

    Ps 141:3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

    I didn’t believe…but I confessed that I would trust in the Lord.  I apologized each time I snapped…and I reminded myself, just because I’ve confessed I’m having trouble with my tongue, doesn’t mean I need to abuse his grace by letting my tongue fly!

    Then, verses came up on Face book:

    SHOUT OUTS TO MY ONLINE ENCOURAGERS!

    From Jim Wildman’s FB page:

    Gods standards have not changed. If we want to abide, we must walk His way.
    Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. http://bible.us/Ps15.1.KJV

    From Larry T Crafter’s FB page:

    No one enjoys having to wait..but as a friend of mine loves to remind me; ” Be Still and know that I Am God!” Waiting teaches us patience and allows us to see God’s plan unfold. As we wait, we learn acceptance, steadfastness and faith that God is in control! When the cloud tarried… then the children of Israel… journeyed not” (Num. 9:19). I will stand still until God’s will is clear!
    Blessings

    And this prayer ring from Cheryl Miller’s FB page:

    Family I need God to do something for me, and I’m pretty sure many of you need him to do something for you as well. So just for today, how about you pray for my breakthrough and I will pray for yours…family lets move heaven today with our prayers. The word of God clearly states, where 2 or 3 come together in my name I am there, (Matthew 18:20) so come on family lets get down on our knees and move heaven today.

    Then, this appreciation note from AntoinitaViolette on FB:

    Today is your appreciation day, not the only one…but, just wanted to tell you that you have been an encouragement to me. Thank God for you, and thank you for saying, Yes! to the Lord…daughter of The Most High and Royal King, making you of the houselHold!Amen!

    How was I supposed to continue in this funk, if the Lord is putting words like these together on Facebook, just to hit me in the eyes, and in the heart, and remember HIS WORD?

    And I got an email in one of my groups…where a dear lady reminded me that we are all in the same boat:

    Well, girlfriends, it sounds like we can all relate!!! Is there something crazy in the air? phases of the moon? unrelenting demands? rogue hormones? Let’s band together in “fellowship”–fellows, or rather females, all in the same boat–and encourage one another! Keep your heads up, eyes on the Prize, resting fully in His promises as we just “do the next *right* thing”!!! ~MT

    Another friend sent email – and she really ‘got it’.

    Christi – I know you did not need this. I am praying that this would heal quickly or just disappear. ~ Love, CB

    This friend, Cathie, even went so far as to ask me, in chat, if I had cried out to God! The honest answer was I’d yelled out, I’d begged out, but did I cry out?  I don’t know if my heart was in a right place,  but yes..before my nap(per my husband’s instructions) I told the Lord, cried out to the Lord – “I don’t think I can handle this! Please, take it away, or give me the strength to bear it!”

    What have I learned?

    1. The Lord can put a watch over my mouth
    2. I have to MOVE toward’s God – because HE didn’t move away from me
    3. I have to CRY OUT to God for HIS help; I have to ASK for help.
    4. I need to wait until I know God’s will, Be Still
    5. I can’t do this by myself.  I am in a ship – a fellowship

    I don’t know if this is 1 step or 5…but the key is that I did beg out to God…and HE put the words in several people’s mouths and hearts – to encourage me in my walk today!

    Thanks for joining me in this journey,
    In His hands and under His wings,
    ~Christi
    Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

    I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

     

    1. Weight Watchers – day 3
    2. 100 Spiritual Steps- blog – day 3
    3. Chronological Bible reading…
    4. 50 days T-Tapp – AL, OIP, HD- gotta start!

     

    Spiritual Walking – Day 2 – Who Done It????

    When I walk, I pray.
    When I walk, I listen to music.
    Today, I was listening to Butterfly Kisses, and thinking of my girls, and how I’m so proud of them.
    But one line,

    “Oh with all that I’ve done wrong
    I must have done something right
    To deserve a hug every mornin’
    And butterfly kisses at night”(1)

    My mom used to say to me, “I don’t know what I did right to deserve a daughter like you, but I must’ve done something right.”

    The truth?
    I did absolutely NOTHING to deserve these wonderful children – well, except for obeying the command to multiply!
    I did absolutely nothing to deserve the miscarriages, the children that I never held in my arms.
    My five children are gifts from God – totally undeserved, unearned. Just like the sunshine and the rain that God blesses even the wicked with every day. Gifts, undeserved and unearned.

    Then, I thought about myself, a child of God Almighty, saved by the gift of sacrifice, by the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and sustained by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
    Gifts – I did not deserve them, and I did not earn them, and NOTHING I do can change the fact that I can do NOTHING to change my daughterhood.

    I used to tell my children, there is nothing you can do that is so bad that I will stop loving you. It’s true.
    Some have tried to test that out…but even with estranged times,

    I love them forever,
    I like them for always,
    as long as I’m living,
    my babies they’ll be! (2)

    God says the same thing to us…John 10:27-29

    My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
    And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.
    My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father’s hand.

    We didn’t do anything to deserve this gift …as Paul explains in Eph 2: 8-9

    For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

    The first step was to know that I needed a Savior, the second step is – HE SAVED ME not the other way around. The very faith it took to ask Him into my life was a gift from Him, because, without Him, I could not have done it.
    And I know that:

    He will love me forever,
    He’ll like me for always,
    as long as He’s living(eternally)
    My Daddy, He’ll be!

    Jesus loves me, this I know,
    For the Bible tells me so,
    Little ones to Him belong,
    They are weak, but He is strong!

    (1) BUTTERFLY KISSES LYRICS
    (2)Love You Forever by Robert Munsch

    Thanks for joining me in this journey,
    In His hands and under His wings,
    ~Christi
    Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

    I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

     


     

    1. Weight Watchers – day 2
    2. 100 Spiritual Steps- blog – day 2
    3. Chronological Bible reading…
    4. 50 days T-Tapp – AL, OIP, HD- gotta start!

    Spiritual Walking Steps – Start Over – Day 1

    I started a blog a while ago about 100 Spiritual Walking Steps.
    I apologized in a blog, for not making sure that I kept that blog going as I traveled.
    Well – I hope to start over…

    Walking – a spiritual walk.
    Why does walking have such a deep meaning to me?

    Well – while in the Navy, I fell and was paralyzed from the waist down for several months – because of inflammation around five discs that were slipped. While I am very good with a wheelchair…I really appreciate the ability to walk.

    After many surgeries on various parts of my legs, last summer culminated in three surgeries on my right ankle. After each surgery, I had weeks that I could not walk – wheelchair bound, and beholden to others to help me get around, and do things. I was very good with the wheelchair, but I wanted to walk on my own two feet.

    Last December, when my daughter was going to give birth to our second grandchild, I was not permitted to travel, because of the recovery of my ankle. Needing a wheelchair would be a burden to them, as well as not being able to walk up and down the stairs in their house, or walk my own dog. This was very devastating to me.

    Therefore – physically, I want to walk! But, while I have not been able to walk, I have thought about my Spiritual Walk.

    The Psalm that comforts me the most, whenever I am in a trial, is Psalm 23.

    The LORD is MY shepherd; I shall not want.
    He makes me to lie down in green pastures: He leads me beside the still waters.
    He restores MY soul: He leads me in the paths of righteousness for HIS name’s sake.
    Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death: I will fear no evil: for YOU are with me; YOUR rod and YOUR staff, they comfort me.
    YOU prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: You anoint my head with oil; My cup runneth over.
    Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

    For me, the main points in this psalm are about walking, following, and yielding to the shepherd.
    The FIRST step, is making sure that the LORD Jesus Christ IS YOUR Shepherd!
    I did that in August of 1969.
    The Plan of Salvation is simple.

    The thing is – just like exercise, every day, I have to wake up, and say “Jesus, I choose YOU, and YOUR path, TODAY.”

    The other TRUTH is, there are times during the day that I have to say “oops, I have walked off the path. Jesus, I’m sorry, I choose to walk on YOUR path again.”  It seems that the first step seems to often need to be repeated.

    ***I am not speaking about salvation needing to be repeated – I’m talking about needing to notice where one is walking, and making adjustments when needed to get back in focus with Jesus Christ.***

    So – Step 1 for a Spiritual Walk is choosing Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and choosing to walk in His paths daily.  Maybe that’s steps 1 & 2…but they are the ONLY steps that are important when it all boils down to it.

    For Today, I choose Jesus.  My plan is to choose HIS paths every second of every day – but I know that I will fall.  And just like walking, when you fall, you need to get back up…but I’ll talk about that later.

    My verse for today:

    Josh 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.


    Thanks for joining me in this journey,
    In His hands and under His wings,
    ~Christi
    Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

    I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

     

    1. Weight Watchers – day 1
    2. 100 Spiritual Steps- blog – day 1
    3. Chronological Bible reading…
    4. 50 days T-Tapp – AL, OIP, HD- starting NOW

    Walking in the Spirit – sometimes it’s just messy

    In the last few months, I’ve been focusing on walking in the spirit – the SPIRIT of God, that is.

    One month in Germany started with walking through the whole security issues with an assistance dog, and abuse issues if we needed the pat down screening.

    Hohenekan Castle Stairs

    Some of the stairs in the Hohenekan Castle

    Then, walking up hill EVERYWHERE in Germany! Stairs to my room, UP to go to the bathroom. UP to take Gabe to the bathroom. UP to any castle.

    Then, the walk back to the airport, with folks that don’t speak English all the time. We got through security, and wheeled to the plane just before it flew off…PERFECT!  God was with us!

    Now, the walk of moving out of an apartment – into the RV for the next phase of our lives committed to God’s work.

    The Burnt Wires

    The wires burnt right under the brown spot on the cover

     

    Burnt Electrical Box

    See the brown spot, where the heat was starting to come through?

    But, we had a fire in an electrical box, which endangered our lives, and the RV, and everything we had moved into it.

    Now, we are walking around an apartment with little to no furniture – because it’s all gone!

     

    Why did I go to Germany? To bless our daughter and son-in-law, and to be blessed by them.
    Was there a struggle? Yes…
    Was it worth it? Yes…
    Would I do it again? Yes…
    But some steps were VERY hard! But that was last week….

    NEXT….. today’s walk….

    Why did we give away our stuff? To bless others that they might bless others in return.
    Was there a struggle? Not until now, when we’re sitting in the empty apartment…until repairs are done.
    Was it worth it? We are in the middle of this valley – we cannot see the ‘worth’, though we can trust that God is faithful to HIS promise.
    We can count the blessings:

    1. I was watching a movie, Jim was working later than usual on the computers…therefore: We didn’t go to bed at the usual time, and put on our CPAP’s and miss the burning electrical smell.
    2. Jim is an electrical computer guy…he was not about to quit looking for it…he tore off some plywood to find the burning box.
    3. Jim smelled the burning…many times, he doesn’t smell the smells I smell…but this time, he smelled it, and reacted.
    4. we are under warranty…and so is the RV!
    5. we have two more weeks of an apartment…before we have to be OUT!
    6. we have the mattress out of the RV to sleep on…on the floor…just like when we first got married!

    Was this worth it? Well..I think I’m too close to it, right in the middle of it right now…but I KNOW that God’s work in our lives is ALWAYS worth it…because it brings us closer and closer to HIM. And, this has caused a lot of prayer time and personal reflection in Jim’s and my life in the last 18 hours.

    Would we do this again? – where I’m at right now…NO WAY! This was a valley of the shadow of death! IF, IF, IF…if we’d gone to bed at the normal time, in the normal way…we would be a story on the front page.

    These steps are VERY HARD! I’d rather climb to the top of the Heidelberg Castle twice, maybe three times…maybe up and down all day…to not have to have this feeling that we could have been burned to death.(confirmed by the service manager that looked at the thing).

    BUT – GOD!
    That’s the story.
    BUT GOD – had me decide to watch a movie that kept us up longer than usual.
    BUT GOD – had Jim working with the computers, and notice the smell.
    BUT GOD – the thing didn’t burst into flames when we opened the container to spray it.
    BUT GOD – we are alive – we did not die – we are here to declare the glory of God.

    This morning, as I walked with God, I asked “What happened to Psalm 91..no evil shall befall your dwelling?”
    “Did your dwelling burn?”
    “Well, no…But…”
    “But what? Why didn’t it burn?”
    “Because YOU had your hand on it, and us, and YOU prevented ANY evil from coming near our dwelling.”

    …insert humble pie, and grateful heart…..

    We could have been out on our trip to Ohio…and have to spend the time in a hotel.
    We could have been in it…as I’ve said.

    Ps 91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; [but] it shall not come nigh thee.

    Personally, I think ‘at thy side” and “at thy right hand” is pretty “nigh” me…but, the point is…it isn’t ME!

    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.

    Walking “through the valley of the shadow of death” seems to be surrounded by evil…the key is “I will fear no evil”. The evil can surround me…but I am dwelling in the Secret Place of the Most High…and in His shadow, I am safe!!!

    Walking this one out means to face a fear I have dreamt about  all of my life…dying in a fire.

    • will this get fixed so that it won’t happen again?
    • is there something else that could happen?
    • how can we make sure that we don’t burn in this RV?
    • Is this safe?

    Where is my trust?  In what/Whom is my faith?  Was this something that we did wrong?  Or was this an attack to test us?  Or was this just something that happened..that we have to learn from, and walk on?

    The main issue here is in Whom do I place my trust? And, I have to admit, I have placed my trust in safety measures…rather than in Jesus Christ.  I’m NOT saying to practice unsafe things, to tempt fate, or test God, but make sure that once having done the practical measures…the trust is in Jesus.

    This thing should not have even been working…it was to connect to a generator THAT WE DO NOT HAVE!!! And yet, power went through it and burned up the wires, and started to burn the box that held it. All the safety features FAILED! In fact, there were NO fuses, we did not trip ANY of the safety features!

    BUT GOD DID NOT FAIL!!!

    Here are my confessions of faith…to walk on through this valley:

    Matt 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:(OR FIRES DESTROY-author)
    But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
    For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

    John 15: 1-14
    verses 4&5 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

    Ps 91:1-2 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  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.

    Ps 27:4 One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

    Ps 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

    I’m walking…I’m moving forward…and God just isn’t finished with me yet.  I’m rechecking my spiritual armor, checking on my spiritual focus, and my spiritual roadmap…and keeping in close contact with my Spirit Guide…not the wierd one, The Holy Spirit( John 14:16, John 14:26, John 15:26), given to me, by Christ Jesus to teach, comfort, and guide me along this path of life.  Maybe, there is something special to this walk!

    Eph 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

    Doing a search for walk and Spirit starts up a whole ‘nother discussion…So, I’m thinking that when I get through this valley, God will have done some more boot camp work on my Spirit walk, and I will look back and say it was worth it.  I don’t know if I’d say I’d do it over again…but then again, the repeat parts are walking with the Lord through the valley of death…and on the other end, there is that table set for us in the presence of our enemies, anointing with oil, and cup overflowing.

    As I walked to the top of each of the castle mounds…I actually thought, I want to do this ONCE…and not do it again.  And yet, I did it again, for the next castle, and the next.

    I choose to walk with the Lord, on the mountain tops AND IN THE VALLEYS, over and over and over, until HE is through with me, and takes me home.

    After Jesus told the disciples about the coming comforter, He said this:

    John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

    I remember the Mandie  book series – and whenever they got into a rough spot, she would quote this verse:

    Ps 56:3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

    As I sat down to write out my thoughts…I was focused on Ps 91 and 23…but, through this writing, as I’ve confessed my fears, and confirmed my trust in Jesus Christ, God has led me to John 14, to talk about being led by the Holy Spirit.  Interestingly enough, as I am walking through the testing of the possible loss of my dwelling…here is the beginning of John 14:

    John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
    John 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
    John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.

    Isn’t that just like God?  I’m worrying about my little RV, while He’s reminding me that HE has a mansion for me…and He’s preparing it for me…and what’s more….

    John 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

    He has shown me the way…and if I forget, or am confused…The Comforter – John 14:26…shall teach me and bring back all things to my memory.

    Ps 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

    Not the things of this world…but being led on the path that takes me to that mansion prepared just for me.  Now, for that, I’ll walk up a mountain again!

    Zugspitze

    The highest peak in Germany - Zugspize

    Thanks for joining me in this journey,
    In His hands and under His wings,
    ~Christi
    Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

    I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.


    1. 100 days of moving challenge – starting June 1
    2. 100 days challenge- blog – start again, June 1
    3. Chronological Bible reading…
    4. 50 days T-Tapp – AL, OIP, HD- starting NOW

    The First 100 days- Day 85 – Like the Waves

    Galveston, Tx
    The Gulf of Mexico.
    March 26, 2011

    Waves of water
    ebb and flow
    with the ocean’s
    push and pull.

    Coming in,
    lay down fresh sand
    water washing
    onto the land.

    Flowing out,
    and taking trash,
    but digging ruts
    with splish and splash

    Ridges roll
    bumps fall down
    circles swirl
    is that a crown?

    Trials flow
    in and out
    cutting down
    the trash of doubt

    Holy Spirit
    washes o’r
    and the sins
    are never more.

    Slowly scraping
    sin and flesh
    and molding me
    into holiness.

    Things that fight
    the flow of God
    rip and tear
    break down and fall

    Flowing with
    the waves of God
    is peaceful, joyful,
    life unfraught

    Waves of God
    please overflow
    wash away
    sin’s tight hold

    Take out the flesh
    that over rides
    my spirit hopes,
    and heart’s desires

    Swirl around
    my heart and soul
    mold me, make me
    white as snow.

    As I yield to
    Your ocean’s flow
    renew my mind
    so that I know

    I know that you
    are King of Kings
    and you are Lord
    of everything

    When I’m allowed
    to fall down,
    it’s only to
    design my crown

    Your hands are always
    holding me
    just like the beach
    holds the sea

    The ocean waves
    they ebb and flow
    illustrate
    God’s power to know

    None can count
    the ocean sand
    But out of trillions
    God holds my hand

    I can ride
    the waves of life
    with peace from God,
    and not with strife.

    He has a plan
    that’s just for me
    If I will just
    abide with HE.

    Wash me with
    Your water, Lord,
    Help me live
    life by Your word.

    Thank you, Lord.

    The First 100 days – day 83 – Protection

    Psalm 91 – the Protection Psalm.

    It’s called the Soldier’s Psalm. You can print it out at Lamppost Publishing. It is said that it was prayed by the 91st Brigade and they suffered no casualties.

    I want to believe that this is psalm is a promise that is absolute.

    ~~~Especially this part~~~
    Ps 91:3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
    and from the deadly pestilence.
    4 He will cover you with his pinions,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
    5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
    6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
    nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
    ~~~~and this part~~~~
    Ps 91:11 For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways.
    12On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

    Yes there are the qualifiers:

    vs 1 dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    vs 2 says to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
    vs 9 has made the Lord your dwelling place—
    vs 9 has made the Most High, your refuge
    vs 14 holds fast to God in love
    vs 15 knows MY(God’s) name.

    I suppose that if I walked perfectly, without sin, then nothing would happen to me, to hurt me…right? We always have the promises in Deuteronomy 28. Even that comes with qualifiers:

    Deut 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if
    a. thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God,
    b. to observe [and]
    c. to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

    Are we really supposed to be protected from all the evil that is in the world?  If everything went right for Christians, we’d have no problem evangelizing, or would we?  When the Jews, who followed God’s cleansing laws, didn’t get the diseases around them, they were attacked for calling on their God to attack those that got sick!  When a family has raised children that are obedient, respectful, God-fearing and God serving, others don’t say “Hey, how did you do that…I want my kids to be just like yours!”  Others say – you are too strict, you are too narrow minded…you are stunting your children’s growth, all the time their children are running amuck.

    My children are not the perfect God-fearing, missionary, ministry focused youth, so, I can say the above.  They had a problem.  They had a handicap. They had Jim and I for parents.  And, we are imperfect.  We have a fallen nature.  We made mistakes – probably more than even those we’d rather not broadcast!  So, we had injuries.  We had sickness.  We had financial issues.  We didn’t qualify for Deut 28.  We tried to abide under the shadow of the almighty, and dwell in the secret place…but we kept steppin’ out of the covering!  Because we ARE human!

    The Bible is not black and white. WHAT???!!!??? Is this CHRISTI writing???!!!???

    While there are these promises for protection, there ARE qualifications – cause and effect – consequences – and, um, freedom of choice – free will – which can turn into self will!

    Jesus was perfect…and those last few days were pretty painful to Him.  It was because of our sin.

    Is 53:5 But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

    Have you stopped transgressing?  I haven’t.
    Have you overcome all your iniquities?  I haven’t.

    Therefore, the chastisement of our peace was laid upon him, and he gave us peace.

    John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

    And by his STRIPES we are healed.

    1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

    WHOA! THERE’S MORE QUALIFIERS! Or is it the responsible reaction of gratitude?

    God KNEW we would still have trouble with our sinful nature…and gave us even MORE help!

    1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

    1 John 2:1-2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.

    Why am I contemplating this today?  There have been several incidents lately that have made me dig deeper into my understanding of God’s handling of my affairs.

    Today, I learned that my middle son almost lost his finger in a log splitting accident.

    Steve's finger, after log splitting accident

    I know he isn’t walking ‘perfectly’ with the Lord – just by what I know!  But, even though his finger was not protected, and the bone was cut in two – God DID protect him, and in his drugged state, he called and told my husband these ways, giving God the praise:

    1. it did not go all the way through…it has all the parts cut, and the bone broken…but missed the artery.
    2. He had gloves on. Grandson Brayden was with him and did not see much at all – was fine until the ambulance got there.
    3. Brayden’s mom was out there – a) they are trying to work out their relationship, b) she was able to take care of Brayden and Steve
    4. The doctor at the community hospital put it back on, then sent him to a bigger hospital…which was so impressed with her work, it did not need to be re reattached.
    5. They are sure that they can reattach tendons and such – he has a consult tomorrow (Friday)

    Stephen was praising God for all these ways that God protected him…and we join him in that praise and thanks!

    All of the mighty men and women of the Bible had ‘bad’ things happen to them in their lives.  How do I hold both the evidence of a fallen world(we don’t live in the Garden of Eden) with the promises of protection and provision?

    I Believe:

    1. God is Who He says He is.
    2. God can do what He says He can do.
    3. I am who God says I am
    4. I can do what He says I can do(all things through Christ!)
    5. God’s word is active and alive in me.

    from Beth Moore – Believing God.

    I believe that God’s Word – the Bible as we know it – is, well:

    2 Tim 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

    Therefore, what seems to be a contradiction, is just a matter of digging deeper, to get understanding.

    Dog owners – have you watched the shows Dog Whisperer or It’s Me or the Dog?  To train a dog, you do not give them affection when they are doing the wrong thing.  You praise them when they are doing the right thing, and give them blessings called treats!  As humans we are just now learning this…maybe God knew it all along?

    Parents – are you familiar with such training as Positive Parenting? Actually, I have only heard rave reviews.  My training for child care at the YMCA utilized this type of training.  When a child is misbehaving, you do not give them the attention they are trying to obtain.  When the child is behaving you lay praise and adoration on thick!  You choose discipline that leads the child to an ability to self control, and eventually, other character qualities.  IBLP has a great training about Character Qualities. Another group, Character First has great resources as well.

    What’s my point? We’re not here to be protected from physical harm.  Noah lost everything in a flood!  And he was the only righteous man found!  Lot was protected from destruction.  Jesus was beaten, and crucified – and He was PERFECT.

    A child that ate candy all their life would have cavities.  Is that God’s fault? It’s a consequence of the choices(for a child, the parent’s).
    Lot’s family was delivered from the destruction, and because of their hearts, they then brought destruction upon themselves. It was THEIR choices!

    I have health issues because of how I have NOT taken care of this temple…that’s NOT God’s fault, that’s cause and effect. I can, however, use these ‘negatives’ to change things, and then ask God’s favor, grace and mercy to help me ‘get it right’.  After all, that’s God’s purpose – to have me run into His tower for protection, and dwell with Him!

    The spirit of the man is what is important. The purpose for anything in our lives is to make us more like Jesus.

    2 Tim 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
    :17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

    1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

    1 John 2:1-2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

    To me, the promise of protection is a ‘carrot’ that reminds me to DWELL under the shadow of the Almighty!
    To me, the promises of Deuteronomy 28 are ‘rewards’ for choosing to obey what God has shown me.

    YES – when something bad happens, I do check out my relationship with God first! Then, if I need to repent – I do it.  If I need to turn around, or ask forgiveness, or change something – I do it!

    I KNOW that my heavenly Father loves me, and gives me ONLY good gifts.  James 1:17
    I KNOW that bad things happen because of my fallen nature. James 1:13-16
    I KNOW that all things work together for my good….Romans 8:28(there’s a qualifier here!)
    I KNOW that God has a plan for my life – Jeremiah 29:11
    And that plan has been in effect since before I was born…Psalm 139:13-17, Jeremiah 1:5
    I KNOW that bad things happen, because of the fallen nature of the world…Romans 8:22

    I also know, by combining these scriptures and many others, that some perfect gifts come wrapped in bags of garbage.  It I toss them out, and complain about the garbage, I will never get that diamond, ruby, sapphire that is hidden in the midst of the garbage.  It’s just like those presents that people give with multiple boxes, filled with newspaper…only the gift at the end of this garbage bag is eternal…and growing closer to the Everlasting God!

    God’s ways are so much higher than ours. The foolishness of man(what confuses man) is the wisdom of God.

    Romans 8:1 [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

    Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

    Col 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk ye in him:

    1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

    Does it make any sense that one person, totally void of any wrong doing, would take the death penalty for all the terrorists in the world? All the rapists? All the murderers? All the child abusers? All the kidnappers?  No.  It doesn’t make any sense to me.
    Does it make any sense that the death of one man could provide the choice for anyone, whosoever chooses, to be washed of all their crimes, and to start life anew – nothing hanging over them?  No.  It doesn’t make any sense to me.
    Does it make any sense that a person, to whom so much has been given, would go back to their crimes, and muck up the beautiful opportunities laid before them?  No.  It doesn’t make any sense to me.
    Does it make sense that the Bible has promises for perfect protection, as a result of perfect obedience? Yes.
    Does it make sense that a judge would give out leniency, mercy, and grace to criminals that break the laws of his jurisdiction? No. And yet, God blesses the just and the unjust every day.
    Does it make sense that a loving Heavenly Father would make a way for His erring children to come back into fellowship – and receive the blessing of His presence through Jesus Christ, our ambassador?  As a mother, this makes sense to me. As a citizen, I want the full application of the law! Put those ogres in prison!

    So, I have conflicts with what many take for granted in God’s word…and yet, I can hold the conflict of protection, with the bad things that happen together in my heart as both true. Why? Because Christianity IS FAITH! I may not be able to see the sense in what God has done, but I am so grateful for the ‘foolishness’ of God that has washed me from my sins, that I am willing to receive all the ‘foolishness’ of God as just far above my wisdom. Jesus asked the questioning Pharisees – Is it easier to heal or to forgive sins? In truth, it is much easier to heal…because forgiveness comes very hard! So, the greatest mystery is that God sent His Son to die on my behalf…everything else is just, well, faith!

    I have been guilty of asking “WHY ME?” or “WHY MY FAMILY?” at times…and, I have repented.  The question should be “WHY NOT ME?”  Why do you choose to look upon my family with grace and mercy, when we are not perfect?  Why didn’t I leave 2 seconds earlier and be in that huge accident right behind me?  Why didn’t my babies die at birth when things looked so bad? Why didn’t Jim lose his job, and we go for months on unemployment?  Why didn’t I get cancer?  Why not us?  Because, HE LOVES US!  And because HE loves us first, we love Him.

    Here is a passage from Isaiah – to just remind us what Jesus did for us…and can we take the little difficulties(as Paul said) and choose to count them but joy?(2 Cor 4:16; 2 Cor 11:23; Phil 3)

    Isa 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
    Isa 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him.
    Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
    Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
    Isa 53:5 But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
    Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

    I have one last quote:

    “If you wish to know God, you must know his Word.
    If you wish to perceive His power, you must see how He works by his Word.
    If you wish to know His purpose before it comes to pass, you can only discover it by His Word.”
    …(C.H. Spurgeon)

    I lied:

    Sola Fide – by faith alone
    Sola Gracia – only by God’s grace
    Sola Scriptura – only by God’s word
    Solus Christus – through Christ only
    Soli Deo Gloria – only for the glory of God.

    Bad things WILL happen. That’s NOT the point.  The point IS – how will we respond?  I want to always run to the tower of the Lord, and to dwell under the shadow of His wings – because it’s only through the Lord that I have help to make it through the bad things that happen.

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

    In case you are interested, Mary Jane Holt, of the The Citizen researched the story, and the truth about the Soldier prayer...very nicely done.
    Thanks for joining me in this journey,
    In His hands and under His wings,
    ~Christi
    Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

    I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

    1. 100 days of moving challenge – day 83 – going to the Y!
    2. 100 days challenge- blog – check
    3. 25 verses in 52 weeks – Phil 4:8
    4. 90 days Bible Reading – Luke
    5. 50 days T-Tapp – AL, OIP, HD

    The First 100 Days – Day 76 – Fifteen

    15

    Not enough to be a quarter, clumsier than a dime.
    It’s only half of a 30 day challenge.
    Not old enough to drive.
    We see John 3:16 every where, but who memorizes John 3:15?
    1 Corinthinans 12, 13, and 14 have been etched in our minds, but what about chapter 15?
    Wikipedia actually has an entry for 15, with the warning:”This article may contain excessive, poor or irrelevant examples.”

    What good is 15?
    You get 10 minute breaks, 30 minute or 60 minute lunches, but not 15.

    What can you do with 15 minutes?
    In the book, Side-Tracked Home Executive, there were an amazing amount of 5, 10 and 15 minute chores! It doesn’t seem to have transferred over to the internet version, The FlyLady, though.

    Think about it, what can you do in 15 minutes?
    My S.H.E.  Motto was Swish, Swipe and Shine. Toilet, counter top and sink.
    With a little practice, I could do it in 15 minutes.
    If I did it every day, I could do it in 15 minutes.
    If I skip a day, that would add up to a week, and then, it would take longer than 15 minutes.
    Keeping up with things means it takes less time to keep up with things!

    Fly Lady goes into setting a timer for 15 minutes, and tackling hot spots…those spots that just build up. It’s amazing what you can do in 15 minutes, if you focus on the task, and stay with it.

    An exercise program that I have found VERY useful is called T-Tapp. Teresa’s book is “Fit and Fabulous in 15 Minutes.” Almost every T-Tapp video I have is less than 15 minutes.  And the impact of 15 minutes everyday is evident in the testimonies shared.

    Anything else?

    Here, I’ll try some things….

    1. How many ecards can I send in 15 minutes? Set the timer….Well, with my goofs, and some extra time to view things, at DaySpring, I was able to send 5.  Others may be faster(computers, programs and/or people).
    2. How many FB posts can I view and like in 15 minutes? Well, since I had already commented and posted on many today, in five minutes, I found 15 to like, one to check out the photo, and another I could have commented on.
    3. How many emails can I go through in 15 minutes? I had already read through emails this morning, but in 15 minutes I was able to go through 40 emails, deleted 30, actually read through 7(blogs and newsletters) and filed or archived 3.  I did reply to 3, as well.

    These activities can be a real time waster…I’m sitting at my computer(because it’s easier than getting up and exercising) and I realize it’s 1:30PM, I haven’t eaten breakfast, and I haven’t gotten anything done but email, FB, chat, skype, and sometimes, my blog.

    I can’t set a timer for my blog…because I want to let it flow. But I can do that for other things!

    • FB – Facebook. If I set a timer for FB, I wouldn’t get lost in the variety of posts, and I would be able to purposefully focus my time.
    • Email – If I would set a timer for email, I might make better choices about whether to archive, reply, forward, trash various posts. But giving myself unlimited time on either of these just keeps adding up to, well, a lot of time!
    • Hot Spots – I do get caught up with organizing, or I get distracted while do so, and lose track of time.
    • Chores – yes, even adults have chores(especially when the kids grow up and move out!). But, rather than putting them off, what about “I’ll work on that for 15 minutes!”

    There are some things that won’t work well with this system.

    • TV – it just doesn’t fit into 15 minute time slots
    • Skype – I’m NOT going to put a timer on my Grandbabies!
    • Jim Time – I need to give him more time
    • Bible Time – while 15 minutes is a good start – sometimes a study just won’t quit in 15 minutes.
    • Prayer – again, giving at least 15 minutes is a good start, but hopefully, prayer life will take over.

    The last two, you may have to set a timer so that you actually can quit in time for school, work or church!

    15 minutes can be very powerful.
    What about 15 seconds?

    Hold your breath for 15 seconds…and read this:

    ONE one thousand
    TWO one thousand
    THREE one thousand
    FOUR one thousand
    FIVE one thousand
    SIX one thousand
    SEVEN one thousand
    EIGHT one thousand
    NINE one thousand
    TEN one thousand
    ELEVEN one thousand
    TWELVE one thousand
    THIRTEEN one thousand
    FOURTEEN one thousand
    FIFTEEN one thousand

    Now, was that hard? Probably not.
    But imagine that it is NOT you that isn’t breathing, but your child…and how long is 15 seconds then?

    Time is a gift, given to us by God. Every second we let slip away is gone, forever. It doesn’t come back around, even though it seems like it when we wake up. It’s gone. Forever.

    Time adds up.
    The one month old, living day by day for 335 days, is now 1 year old. He won’t go back to being one month old again. He will always be at least 1 year old.
    I am 50 years old. The amount of time that I have wasted is only calculated by the grace of God knowing my every second, and forgiving me. The totality of my years is immersed in God’s mercy, that HE chooses not to remember my past sinful seconds upon seconds, but HE looks at the cross, and then, waits for me in my future.

    15
    it can be as big or as small as we make it.
    Most people can do just about anything for 15 minutes.
    The past is gone, do not dwell in it.
    The future is not here, do not stress over it.
    All we have is the gift of today, that’s why it’s called
    the present.

    Psalm 90:12 So teach [us] to number our days, that we may apply [our] hearts unto wisdom.

    Thanks for joining me in this journey,
    In His hands and under His wings,
    ~Christi
    Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

    I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

    1. 100 days of moving challenge – day 76
    2. 100 days challenge- blog – check
    3. 25 verses in 52 weeks – Phil 4:8
    4. 90 days Bible Reading – Isaiah – very behind.
    5. 50 days T-Tapp – AL