Tag Archives: Joy

The First 100 Days – Day 54 – an old poem

This is a poem that I wrote in October 1988.

Father,
Let me enter in
to the throne room again.
Touch the coal to my lips,
make me burn again.
Father, forgive me for
wallowing in my sin,
Pick me up, heal me,
bring me home again.

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.

100 days of moving challenge – day 54 – workout with Kirsten
100 days challenge- blog – check
25 verses in 52 weeks – Ps 15:3-5
90 days Bible Reading – Song of Solomon
50 days T-Tapp – starting a new one – day 4

The First 100 days – Day 53 – Reputation?

This morning, I opened my email to get this message from The Pocket Testament League:

God at Work.

Dear Christine,

Do you have a reputation for sharing the Gospel? Mallorie in Aurora, Colorado, does! Here’s the story she posted to our website recently:

“At my workplace, I have been giving out the Gospels of John to people. A couple days ago, I ran across a coworker at the shopping center. He is a Christian, but he is having difficult times, and he told me he wanted to get closer to God. I asked him how is his daily readings with the Bible, and he said it wasn’t good, but he was told that I had given someone the Gospel of John. So now he’s reading the Gospel of John booklet!”

Mallorie was right to ask her coworker about his daily Bible reading. When we read the Bible each day, we grow closer to God, because it’s through His Word that His Spirit draws us. It’s through His Word that we learn of and are reminded of God’s love for us in Jesus. The small, attractive Gospel booklets are great tools to use to bring people back into the habit of reading the Bible every day.

The League has designed daily devotions to help you read the Bible faithfully. Each weekday, we’ll send a short Bible-centered devotion, along with a word on how you can apply the reading to your life. To find out more and sign up, simply go to Daily Devotionals on our website.

In Christ,

Mike Brickley
President

P.S. Get a reputation for sharing the Gospel with others. Keep a supply of booklets with you so you can hand one to the person who has heard that you gave the Gospel to someone else! You can order on our website at Order Gospels.

This weekend, we met several people at the RV Park. I was an evangelist for three things:

The Story of Texas Museum

From Inside the Museum

AND

Escapees RV Club

I also was an evangelist for putting scripture on the walls of your home.

The Names of the Lord

Jeremiah 29:11

But not once did I inquire about a person’s relationship with Jesus. Oh, I wore witnessing T-Shirts…the chicken’s way of evangelizing. Not once did I turn the discussion to Jesus. AND – it used to be that EVERY conversation I had, I turned so that I knew what that person’s relationship with Jesus was, and how to pray for them.

What happened? I wouldn’t have thought so, but I guess my fire went out. When I talked about the museum, I was insistent that these Canadians go and check it out! Now, they have left my life, and while they DID go and check out the story of Texas, and enjoyed it very much, I don’t know if they know the story of Jesus – which brings joy unspeakable. I was excited to talk to someone about the Escapees RV club, and meet ups, and what to do with the RV, but not once did I inquire in any way about their spiritual well being. I used to have the reputation that I always knew where people stood with the Lord. I had the reputation that if someone spoke with me for any time, they knew where I stood, and knew that I would be praying for them. I used to have the reputation of handing out salvation gifts…tracts, bracelets, my own cards. But this weekend, and embarrassingly enough, for many weekends, I did NOT represent.

I don’t believe it’s wrong to share common interests, but I AM the representative of Jesus wherever I go.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

1 Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

1 Pet 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

There are so many ways to let someone know that you represent SOMEONE.

When giving a tip at a restaurant, leave a card with the MONEY tip.
Have a ‘business’ card letting people know who you stand for.
Having tracts to share that fit with common topics that come up in conversation
Plan of salvation bookmarks, cards, like the colors of salvation
Having pocket Bibles to give as gifts

There are SO MANY tools we can use here in the USA…where no one is allowed to harm us for our beliefs. And yet, I tremble and fear. And I am embarrassed that I fear man more than I fear God. I am embarrassed that I fear what man can’t do to me more than I fear for the souls of the persons I meet. This is NOT the heart of Jesus.

2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

That is a wonderful heart. But today, the beauty for me is the first part of this verse…

…but is longsuffering to us-ward,

God knows me…and He knows each of us. I used to think that if I didn’t share the gospel with someone, they’d go to hell. That’s another post…about how one plants a seed another waters. But I would share the gospel out of a guilt that if I didn’t, who would? I can’t entrust someone else’s salvation to someone else that may have a problem sharing just like me! But the point is…we are all along a journey, and we are all in God’s hands, and HE is orchestrating this whole thing. The purpose is NOT to condemn myself, but to quicken the Holy Spirit within, do a heart check, and plan ahead.

So – Where are you with Jesus?

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.

Links for scripture on the walls of your home:

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

100 days of moving challenge – day 53
100 days challenge- blog – check
25 verses in 52 weeks – Ps 15:3-5
90 days Bible Reading – Song of Solomon
50 days T-Tapp – starting a new one – day 3

The First 100 days – day 35 – Hurry Up!

I’m almost to the 2 month count down for going to Germany.
Before I go to Germany, I have to have this apartment packed up to move into our RV.
Before we move into our RV,

Triptich for Anna

I have to finish the painting I’m working on for Anna.

There is so much to be done to finish these paintings….there is so much to be done to pack for Germany….there is so much to be done to pack up(or rather, pack down) and move into an RV.

I feel like I am hearing this song over and over and over and over…hurry up,

The Triptich Separated

can’t waste time, hurry up, can’t waste time….racing with the clock!

I’ve written about racing, being in a race, how I’d love to do a triathlon race again(sprint….not iron man)…and how I’d love to be in better shape than I am.

But a new racing is hitting the fan…my heart. Tachycardia is a BAD thing. But anxiety is even worse.

Phil 4:6 NLT Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Matt 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

I am excited about going to Germany.

I am excited about moving into the RV full time.

I am excited to see Anna’s face when she gets these paintings.

I’m nervous, a bit, about flying for 10 hours with a service dog…I’m a bit nervous about downsizing for the RV….I’m a bit nervous about completing Anna’s paintings so that I can stand to see them hanging in her house.

Why should I take no thought, not worry, not be anxious? Because I have a promise:

Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Is 41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee: FEAR NOT, I WILL HELP THEE!

And there is this basic promise:

Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?

So, with all my excitement, and with the short time, and with all that I have to do….my focus needs to be on this:

Matt 6:33-34 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof.

What can I do more than what I am able to do? If I do all that I am able to do, then that is good enough. Getting caught up in the hurry up mentality will only make me too sick to enjoy ANY of the new things that are coming down our path.

And just in case those three things aren’t enough in the next two months, I also have to plan our three week vacation, starting one week after I get home(and that week is our move out/into week!).

“If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day. I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.” ~ Martin Luther

“Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees.” ~Corrie ten Boom

There are more quotes about prayer at Christian Prayer Quotations

Prayer, a prayer time, prayer focus. My dear daughter reminded me today that the way I taught them to pray was to wake up saying “Good Morning Lord, thank you for this day…..” and to go to bed saying, “……good night, Lord, thank you for this day.” The point being, never stop in between.

Prayer combats the sin of worry…because faith displaces fear.

May we each be blessed today with what God puts before us to do…and to do that as unto the Lord.

Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

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.

100 days of moving challenge – day 35 – walk on treadmill
100 days challenge- blog – check
25 verses in 52 weeks – Ps 15:1-2
90 days Bible Reading – 2 Chronicles 11-
50 days T-Tapp – check – SATI, OIP/HF, AL
30 days – T-Tapp January Jumpstart- day 9

February 1 Memory Verse

MY verse 3 of Beth Moore’s challenge to memorize 25 verses in 2011.

Psalm 15:1-2

LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle?who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh truth in his heart.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE abiding verses.

Ps 91:1

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Ps 61

4 I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
7 He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, [which] may preserve him.

John 15

4 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.
5 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.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

So, for these two weeks, I’m ‘abiding’ in the first two verse of Ps 15.

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.

The First 100 days – day 32 – short thoughts

Zachias was a wee little man, a wee little man was he,
He climbed up in a sycamore tree, the Lord he wanted to see.
Jesus said “Zachias, you come down from there,
for I’m going to your house today, for I’m going to your house today.”

Zachias was short.

Zachias was a tax collector.

Zachias was hated.

But Jesus saw his heart.

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

The shortest verse of the Bible is the most heart wrenching:

John 11:35 Jesus wept.

The Shortest chapter is Ps 117

Ps 117:1 O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.

Ps 117:2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD [endureth] for ever. Praise ye the LORD.

The Shortest book(by words) is 3John. Here are two of my favorite verses:

3John 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

3John 11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

I am short.

I am hated by some.

But Jesus sees my heart.

He knows me from my mother’s womb – Ps 139:13.

Jer 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, [and] I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

And He has chosen me!

1 Pet 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:

And what’s really cool is that this applies to tall people, too! So, today, I may not have to climb any trees (Thank you Jesus), but I am going to watch for Jesus’ hand in my day, and I pray that He and the Father with the Holy Ghost will come and abide with me all the days of my life! How about you?

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.

author note: the comment button is after sharing buttons, I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

100 days of moving challenge – day 32 – find a place to walk
100 days challenge- blog – check
90 days Bible Reading – 2 Kings headed to 1 Chronicles
50 days T-Tapp – check – MORE, OIP/HF, AL
30 days – T-Tapp January Jumpstart- day 6

The First 100 days – day 26 – commitment day

commitment – noun

the act of committing
the state of being committed.
the act of committing, pledging, or engaging oneself.
a pledge or promise; obligation:
engagement; involvement:
perpetration or commission, as of a crime.
consignment, as to prison.
confinement to a mental institution or hospital:
an order, as by a court or judge, confining a person to a mental institution or hospital.

Today, I am making a 30 commitment to T-Tapp January Jumpstart, which runs from January 27th to February 27th. Please don’t blame me for the January Jumpstart beginning almost in February.

That will be 30 days of T-Tapp – eating right – weekly workouts with a trainer and walking 30 minutes a day.

Many people have had great success with this exercise program, created by a rehab person, Teresa Tapp.

I’m scared….but excited. I will be posting scriptures that will help me to stay committed – and I will post my losings here. It is my hope that my weight loss and inch loss will be an encouragement to others that have body image issues.

Right now, the verse is I can do all things through Christ Jesus Who strengthens me.

and of course:

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)

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.

100 days challenge – moving – check my goal, walk 30 minutes.
100 days challenge- blog – check
90 days Bible Reading – I’m in the Samuels
50 days T-Tapp – check
30 days Jumpstart(1/27/11) – check – trainer meet up today

The First 100 days – day 25 – depression

Job 3:1-4 After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. And Job spake, and said, Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night [in which] it was said, There is a man child conceived. Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.

In my life, I am responsible for my choices.

In my life, my choices affect others.

When my choices affect others in a negative way, I get sad.

When my choices affect others in a negative way, and I cannot fix it…I get depressed.

Depression is a disease. I have what is called Major Depressive Disorder, or Unipolar Depression. In me, it’s mostly under control now, but sometimes, it sneaks up on me like a snake in tall grass..

The problem with an issue that causes depression flare ups, is that sometimes, the issue doesn’t make any sense to anyone other than me(the depressive person). It’s like a washing machine going around and around in my head…getting faster and faster…and everyone else is on the outside saying “just turn it off”. Hello – there’s no off switch on the inside of the washer!!!!

Job 3:20-24 “Oh, why should light be given to the weary, and life to those in misery? They long for death, and it won’t come. They search for death more eagerly than for hidden treasure. It is a blessed relief when they finally die, when they find the grave. Why is life given to those with no future, those destined by God to live in distress? I cannot eat for sighing; my groans pour out like water.

I’m not suicidal – this time. Though as I wrote in my prior essay on Job, I have been there…countless times.

So – cutting doesn’t work.

drugs doesn’t work.

alcohol doesn’t work

Suicide won’t work.

Binge eating won’t work.

Movie marathons don’t work.

Crying just comes…tears just roll down my cheeks….

I can’t concentrate on my blog in progress.

I don’t want to eat(not a really bad thing for me).

I am overwhelmed with “I HAVE FAILED, AGAIN” feelings.

The ‘silly’ issues are so huge.

Giving up my books – they have been a grounding point for me all through my struggles since the memories triggered the depression.

Not being able to provide Jim with a lovely home in the RV…

Not being able to be focused in one mindset….being double minded(in more ways than one).

I have no faith in me.

Which means, I have no faith in God’s ability to work in me.

Well – there’s another Christi failure.

Sarah.

Rachel.

Rahab.

Three female failures that God used.

Psalm 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.

Depression is a valley in the shadow of death. That’s the truth.

Jesus walks with me in the valley. That’s truth.

I have spent money on things that stare me in the face…money that could have been spent on something better…money that could have done more good. But I chose to spend that money, because I thought it was the right thing to do in the circumstance. I made the choice I thought was right, given the information I had at the time. So, now, looking back, I regret that I didn’t have prophetic wisdom?

So, now my cry is…am I hearing God’s voice?

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

The Israelite’s knew when God wasn’t with them…they went out and fought, and if they lost even 1 man…they came back and fell on their knees to the Lord. But even after repenting.. that one man, 10 men, 30 men, were still dead.

That’s the thing about messing up…circumstances remain.

Sarah had Hagar and Ishmael to deal with – and look at what that has done to our world.

Rebekah deceived her husband, and didn’t live to see Jacob and his children, and the deception send Esau towards the Ishmaelites…more enemies for the Jews.

Rachel brought the idols away from her father’s house…interestingly, she died in childbirth.

Peter denied Christ…and almost gave up.

Stephen was still dead when Saul turned to Paul.

Our circumstances always follow us…as signs saying

DON’T DO THAT AGAIN!!!

Prov 26:2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

I’ll straighten out that KJV –

a curse doesn’t come without a cause.
A curse that comes is not without cause.
If a curse comes, there is a cause.

I’m not saying that I am cursed….I’m saying that circumstances come for a reason. Deut 28 is a great chapter to see cause and effect. Proverbs is good, too!

Prov 26:6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, [and] drinketh damage.

Prov 26:11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool returneth to his folly.

BUT GOD!

As I was looking at the cause and effect of my choices, an angel called. Yes, an angel named Faith called me on the phone. Since she is my daughter, with a newborn baby, married to a soldier that is away for the week, I had promised her that I would answer the phone when she called. I try to always keep my promises, no matter how sad I feel.

Faith was my Elihu. And because of her ability to speak the truth, in love, I was able to hear the Lord’s voice and walk out of this valley of the shadow of death.

I have had to endure the Lord speaking to me out of a whirlwind before…of course, I think I was the one that created the whirlwind of chaos!

Today, through prayer, and crying out as I searched through the scriptures, God answered me through the sweet sounds of our daughter. She was even used as a rod in God’s hands to point out a blind spot – that I was able to repent over, and be freed from that bondage. I was also able to hear the real size of the issues, and rest in the Lord, to be content in peace.

3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

I have a thorn in my flesh – like Paul – though not for the same reason: 2 Cor 12:7 – And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

But more so that in my weakness, I can turn to HIM. 2 Cor 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

This ‘infirmity’ may never leave me. But neither will the Lord Jesus Christ.

Is 41:10 NLT Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

Is 41:13 NLT I am holding you by your right hand–I, the LORD your God. And I say to you, `Do not be afraid. I am here to help you.

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 honor and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 24-25

With this kind of God – and the enormous love He sheds upon me – how can I give up? How can I quit? I can…but I am compelled by His great love – to love. I love, because He first loved me(1 John 4:19).

I do have past mistakes, and I’m pretty sure I will make future mistakes, and I have even made mistakes today. But God knew all about them, and MY God is BIG enough to handle MY mistakes, an make sure that all things work together for my good and His glory! Anything less is a lack of faith…as in, my God is too small. I got to let Him out of the box I keep putting Him in! It’s when I let HIM be God that I truly enjoy the joy of the Lord.

I praise God that He had Faith call. I praise God that I had a human voice that was Jesus to me. I praise God for His great love, compassion, and patience with me.

A year ago, this may have turned out differently, but by God’s grace, I am here, and I shall live to declare the glory of God!(Ps 118:17)

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.

100 days challenge – moving, a dog walk
100 days challenge- blog – check
90 days Bible Reading – catching up
50 days T-Tapp – check – HD & AL

The First 100 days – day 14 – CHALLENGES

I have so many things to do today. I have to do things that I have not stacked together in a long time. Sometimes life is like a storm, with all sorts of responsibilities.

Martin Luther said, as quoted in Good Reads, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.”

I admit, I am not spending the first three hours in prayer…though, I am convicted to go spend more time in prayer.

In October, 1997 I wrote about being still. And that message rings true today. Enjoy.

I’m a simple Jew, raised in the simple Jewish ways…….but I get sort of fired up at times. Let me tell you a bout a few of those times.

One day, my friends and I were sailing across the sea of Galilee. We were on our way to the other side. Our Lord had just gone up into the mountain to pray, and we were going on without Him. Suddenly a storm came up, and the boat was tossed to and fro. I know what these storms can end up as and there we were, tossed back and forth, waves crashing around up, up and down with the water, rain everywhere, thunder crashing and lightening flashing…….and then we saw a ghost coming on the water right at us, I thought I was going to die and the angels were coming, then I heard “Do not be afraid, It is I”. In the stillness of that voice, I knew it was Jesus, my Lord. His still voice gave my heart peace, and I knew this was my God, and I said, call to me and I will come out on the water to meet you! And His still, quiet voice said, “come” and I came! I was walking on the water, looking at His calm and quiet face, full of peace! I was walking on the water…….in the midst of a storm…..THE STORM! It was all around me, lightening flashing, thunder rolling, water splashing and down I went!

If I had kept my heart quiet, and remembered my Lord, I wouldn’t have sunk.

Another day, we were all in the boat. Jesus was sleeping. Poor guy, He rarely got anytime to just rest, so here He was taking a nap as we sailed across the sea. Then the winds came up, the waves started beating the boat, water was coming in every side, rain was pouring and pouring, lightening was crashing all around, thunder pounding in our ears……How could He sleep! “Master, don’t you know we are going to die?” I screamed! He said quietly “Oh ye of little faith, Peace be still” and the storm stopped. All was quiet. All was peaceful.

If I’d been still and quiet, remembering my Lord, I wouldn’t have feared for my life.

Yet another day, I was with a group of people, they were all talking, yelling, and clacking like chickens around a fire…….Who is he, what is He, where did he come from, crucify him, kill him, and then to me “ aren’t you one of them?”

“No.”

“ Sure, you were with them”

“ NO”

“You’re a Galilean, of course you were one of the ones”

“ NO I DON”T KNOW HIM!”

Then it became deathly quiet, as I heard the cock crow three times, and I looked up and saw my Lord.

If I’d been still and quiet, I would not have denied my Lord.

Scriptures say, Be Still and Know that I am Lord, and through Jesus Christ, we are given the Peace of God which passes all understanding, and keeps our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

When was the last time you and I were still before the Lord in order to be filled with His peace in the midst of the storms?

MCW 10/97(c)1997 M. Christine Wildman, all rights reserved.

Taken from Matt 14:22-33; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25; Matt 26:69-75; Mark14:54-72; Luke22:54-62 and:

Ps 46:10 Be still, and know that I [am] God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Phil 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Thank you 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.

100 days challenge – moving – check
100 days challenge- blog – check
90 days Bible Reading – check-I’m in Deuteronomy
50 days T-Tapp – check – 2AL down, taking DVD’s
21 days Fasting for Food – check? how to pack for a campout?

The First 100 Days – day 8 – Is it Worth it?

Day 7’s blog was about how day 6 was messed up.

I’ve made commitments for parts of the 100 days:

moving for a minimum of 30 minutes
write a blog a day
Read the Bible in 90 days
T-Tapp Moves for 50 days
Fasting PG and higher Movies & TV for 30 days
Fasting for Food – 21 days – especially Fast Food

I’ve done this for 7, going on 8 days – and I am amazed at what hold these things have on me!

Oh, let’s just run in and get a soda
Let’s stop and pick up a cone
Let’s get a peppermint chocolate shake before their gone!
Let’s go sit at a restaurant and talk(not fast food, but eating out)
Let’s go watch a movie(instead of sitting and talking AT HOME)
I’m too tired to do (a 2 minute) T- Tapp(the pull of the recliner/couch)
I’ll read “People”, newspaper, email, bills, and run out of time to read my Bible.

Is it worth it?

Fast food – we figure we’ve spent an average of $400 a month. That’s down from the almost $1000 we spent at our very worst(while food rotted in the refrigerator). But that’s a good start on groceries for many families! What could we do with $400 a month?

Moving – Yes, I have FMS/CFS. Yes, I have Periformis Syndrome. Yes, I have IT band issues. Yes, I have had 3 ankle surgeries with another indicated. Yes, I have a whole person to lose before my poor legs and back are relieved of abnormal pressure. But, I do move to go to the bathroom – why not move 2 minutes in a HoeDown, or 8 minutes in a MOREChair workout, or 15 Minutes in a MORE workout?(see T-Tapp) What changes could happen by just moving?

Bible Reading – what am I going to lose by giving up current events? What can I gain by washing my mind with scriptures?

Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is

love,
joy,
peace,
longsuffering,
gentleness,
goodness,
faith,
Meekness,
temperance:

against such there is no law.

Temperance:/ˈtɛmpərəns, ˈtɛmprəns/ –noun

1. moderation or self-restraint in action, statement, etc.; self-control.

2. habitual moderation in the indulgence of a natural appetite or passion, esp. in the use of alcoholic liquors.

3. total abstinence from alcoholic liquors.

Ok – one fruit is described as:

moderation or self-restraint in action, statement, etc.; self-control.

Self Control. That is what other versions translate this word as. And the rest of the definition of temperance is:

habitual moderation in the indulgence of a natural appetite or passion, esp. in the use of alcoholic liquors.

I don’t use alcoholic liquors much – so, that part, I have down.

The HABITUAL moderation in the INDULGENCE of a NATURAL appetite or passion.

1 Cor 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

Whether I like it or not, I am in a RACE.

Heb 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

And, God asks a very specific question:

Jer 12:5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and [if] in the land of peace, [wherein] thou trustedst, [they wearied thee], then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?

RUN WITH FOOTMEN? I’M NOT EVEN WALKING WITH FOOTMEN! I need a plan – I need a training plan!

1 Cor 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

Temperate in all things. Self-Control. FOR AN INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN!

Paul also wrote this about striving for the mastery:

Phil 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

1 Cor 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

1 Cor 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Here are some words from Paul’s last days:

2 Tim 4:7-8 I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

It isn’t about fasting fast food – it’s about bringing my body under the control of my spirit. It’s about bringing my spirit under the Lordship of the Holy Spirit. It’s about hiding God’s word in my heart that I might not sin against Him! It’s about pressing on, for an Incorruptible Crown.

There are many, many blessings to obeying God’s laws. I’m finishing up Exodus, and into Leviticus, and from this point, at 50 years old, with the science we have now..wow, those were very good laws! Follow those laws now, and you will be far away from all the sickness and disease that flows in our country! You will be healthy, wealthy and wise, just by bringing yourself under the Lordship, and wisdom of Jesus Christ, shown throughout the Word of God.

This brings me to a verse, that was my saving verse in boot camp. First, a story. God gave me a scholarship to Ohio State University for art and music. BUT, I had such a low self esteem, I felt HE was wrong, and I joined the Navy instead. On the third day of boot camp, I fell during a run. I hit my tailbone, and snapped back damaging some other discs, and hitting my head. I spent a week, paralyzed from the waist down, in the boot camp hospital. The diagnosis was 5 slipped discs, and two fused discs now, in my neck.

When the swelling went down, and I could walk again, I begged my boot camp Petty Officer to let me back into the unit, rather than be set back the week I’d been in sick bay. This was UNHEARD OF, but she said yes. I had to complete PT every morning and every evening – am run, pm pt, am pt, pm run and so on and so forth.

In the midst of this, I repented. I knew, I KNEW that this was a direct result of my disobedience. And the Lord reminded me of a song I’d sung in a Christian youth ministry:

They that wait upon the Lord

Shall renew their strength,

they shall mount up with wings as eagles,

They shall walk and not be weary,

They shall run and not faint.

Teach me Lord, Teach me Lord to wait.

When we got to the last weeks of training, I had passed my PT, and I had encouraged others with this verse. Therefore, I was chosen to paint the symbolic unit cinder block on the wall outside the barracks door. On that block I put Isaiah 40:31:

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.

Even though I’d messed up going into the Navy, by leaning on the Lord, it was worth it – and to be able to paint His word on a US government building was the crowning glory!

When I look at my wimpy list, I have to think of Sarai – promised a son in her VERY old age. She laughed.

Gen 18:14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD?

Who am I leaning on to bring my flesh and spirit under subjection? In whom am I putting my faith? Apparently, in my flesh, and that’s no good. Jer 32 really puts into perspective where my faith should focus.

I need to wait upon the Lord – He’ll renew my strength!

I need to hide the word in my heart – it will keep me from sin!

I need to run the race set before me – because there is an eternal crown waiting for me…just because I finished! Here is how one earns the crown, how one runs the race:

James 1:12 Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

It will be worth it all, enduring temptation to be ready to run with the horsemen – and here is a song to enjoy – as a prayer for today!

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

100 days challenge – moving – check
100 days challenge- blog – check
90 days Bible Reading – catching up!
50 days T-Tapp – check
21 days Fasting for Food – check.

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 23^rd 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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