Thursday, January 31, 2013

A Walk In The Night

~ Grace Gift ~
A night time walk with my husband.

Unless the Lord builds a house,
its builders labor over it in vain;
unless the Lord watches over a city,
the watchman stays alert in vain.
Psalm 127:1
 
I love a touch of mist on my face when I step out of the lamplight of the house into the fresh evening air - a night time walk . . . with my husband.
                                         Love lives here.
The glow of home
I think one of my favorite sights of home is the cozy glow of lamplight seen through the window ~ when I look in from the outside!
It always welcomes me in ~
and reminds me once again that however small and humble ~ home really is the dearest place of all!
 Some say that God's mercy falls like rain . . . I am learning His mercy is stronger than any hurricane, and His grace is deeper than any ocean.
God sends multitudes of grace-gifts moment by moment, showering us with His affection. I am learning to give thanks for those moments and to live more fully alive in every moment.
 What a man desires is unfailing love . . .
~Proverbs 19:22
 Home is such a comforting place of refuge. I am so glad that the Lord has blessed us with peace and contentment in our home.
What a sweet place our home is when you, Stan are home ~ such a joyous occasion for us both!
I love you.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Warmth In The Winter

 ~ Grace Gift ~
Keeping Warm

                    While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, 
and cold and heat, and summer and winter, 
and day and night shall not cease.
Genesis 8:22
I don't mind winter, I quite like snuggling under the soft blanket in the evening with my mug of hot chocolate and a good book. I quite like the hot soups and crusty bread that one tends to have on a very chilly night. Winter is often seen as the least favorable season, but each season has its beauty and winter is just as good as any other season but for different reasons.
           Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: 
thou hast made summer and winter.
Psalms 74:17 
 
Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: 
and cold out of the north. 
By the breath of God frost is given:
and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
Job 37:9-10 
 
Sometimes, however, there are days when we all experience the winter blues, feeling lifeless, lonely and a bit depressed. But in nature when a winter day really turns blue it is anything but lifeless and depressing.  It is a moment of calmness and serenity.
When the forest is so still that you can hear your heart beat.
 When you can imagine yourself light as a feather
high above the world ready to take off and fly.
In that quiet moment your mind lets go and suddenly
you are soaring higher and higher.
 
Forgetting the garden once filled with flowers where now a blanket of snow bars you from even entering the gate.
Just taking your time and really noticing how
beautiful a winter blue day can be.
   Letting go of those concerns that tend to
bury you when feeling weighted down.
 Those moments when nature says,
just look at me I am feeling blue also.
 I may feel cold and alone, but God is all around me
waiting to warm my soul again.
 The thought of His presence keeps
my life ready to bloom again.
 In a world where snow covered trees will soon again burst forth with green from the warmth of His touch.
But for now the winter blues still exist, so like a reflection I dream of God’s presence surrounding me also.
As the clouds move in and the day begins to draw to an end,  I find myself renewed with thoughts of how wonderful a winter blue day can be when I know I am surrounded by God’s presence.
   Moments of stillness and serenity were experienced.
 As night draws near I say goodbye to the winter blues where the moon meets a star as they fade over the hill.
 May you also find God’s presence
even when feeling the winter blues.
Have a
Good Morning…   Good Afternoon…  Good Night…
Whatever it is to you.


Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Light In The Darkness

~ Grace Gift ~
Light in the darkness....

Light shines in the darkness for the upright. He is gracious, compassionate, and righteous.
Psalm 112:4

I have blogged about this already, but we live in a dark world. Darkness comes to us in many different ways. There are those out there that help create darkness for others.  All we can do as believers is to daily commit to walk in God's light, in His ways and hope that His light helps diminish the darkness.


Psalm 27:1-3
1You, LORD, are the light that keeps me safe. I am not afraid of anyone.
You protect me, and I have no fears.
2Brutal people may attack and try to kill me, but they will stumble.
Fierce enemies may attack, but they will fall.
3Armies may surround me, but I won't be afraid;
war may break out, but I will trust you.
 John 1:5
The light keeps shining in the dark, and darkness has never put it out.
  
                                              Father in Heaven,
You made me Your child
and called me to walk in the Light of Christ.
Free me from darkness
and keep me in the Light of Your Truth.
The Light of Jesus has scattered
the darkness of hatred and sin.
Called to that Light,
I ask for Your guidance.
Form my life in Your Truth,
my heart in Your Love.
Through the Holy spirit,
give me the power of Your Grace
that I may walk in the Light of Jesus
and serve Him faithfully.

Friday, January 25, 2013

He Will Wipe Our Every Tear

  ~ Grace Gift ~
No More Tears

 Revelation 21:4
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away. 
 It's so comforting to know that the God who dries all our tears is the God that has us in this season of life that we are currently in. He's the God who promises us eternity with Him in Heaven one day. He's the God who brings us streams in the desert, and the strength to endure tomorrow. He's the faithful God of rest.


There Will Be A Day~ Jeremy Camp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le-TG4sRRiQ

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that tries to grab
The many trials that seem to never end,

 His word declares this truth,
that we will enter in HIS rest with wonders anew....

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

(Chorus)
There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we'll hold on to You always...


 

I know the journey seems so long
You feel you're walking on your own
But there has never been a step
Where you've walked out all alone

(Chorus)
Troubled soul don't lose your heart
'Cause joy and peace He brings
And the beauty that's in store
Outweighs the hurt of life's sting

I cant wait until that day where the very One I've lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I've faced
 To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery this is why this is why I sing"

A Song Of Hope

 ~ Grace Gift ~
A Song Of Hope
But You, LORD, are a shield around me,
    my glory, and the One who lifts up my head.
~Psalm 3:3
". . .my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. . ."
~ Jesus,
John 14:27
 I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint
Jeremiah 31:25
 “I will give her back her vineyards,
   and will make the Valley of Achor
a door of hope.
There she will sing as in the days of her youth,
   as in the day she came up out of Egypt."
~Hosea 2:15

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Flight Plans


 ~ Grace Gift ~
Flight Plans

I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.”-Isaiah 48:17

Wood Stork
Wouldn't that be awesome to have an "overhead" view of life?
To see from a distance just where we are going and alter our "flight plans" if there was something better on the horizon?
Well....I suppose that would be faith now, wouldn't it?
 I am a firm believer that the Lord runs my life, and that everything that happens is because of His mercy and everlasting blessings.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
 
We all try to think ahead and make a road-map for our lives. I am here to tell you that God has declared in His word that He already has plans for your life.

Many times we find ourselves in barren fields of self-doubt, kicking the dust of misunderstanding etched in the ground of our lives’ tragedies and pain. I have been there myself many times in my life; it is a place all too familiar to me. Perhaps you know the place.
 We have all had times where we thought we were in God’s will only to find things coming apart on the broken wings of good intentions. Many times in life our hopes are bashed, promises broken and our way seems lost. It is in realizing that we are but humble pilgrims lost without God’s direction that we can find our way.
 As we journey through life, we will get beaten up- we will get hurt and bruised along the way. Scarred memories mark our journey like markers on a highway.
 There are times of joy and bliss that we savor, but sometimes it seems that they get lost in our journey.
 People wonder what tomorrow will bring; a better life; a better situation; a more prosperous job; or a happy marriage.
 It is in God that we can find the hope for our future. If we put our hope in God, there will be no surprising ending in our lives.
 

Joy~ Pleasures For Evermore

~ Grace Gift ~
Joy
 
  Psalm 16:11 says, "Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." 
 My only expectations for this week are that the Lord will be in it, as always, and if I open my eyes and be attentive to His presence, He'll show me wonders anew.
 Do you have fullness of joy? If not, ask yourself, Am I in His presence? Maybe you don't feel fullness of joy if you recently lost a loved one, suffered a broken relationship, or had your job terminated. This is normal. It is difficult to feel joy in the midst of a funeral, a divorce or a firing.  
 I have always had a problem relating to people who never seem to feel any emotion--who never laugh and never cry. Ecclesiastes 3:4 tell us there is "A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance..." This suggests that there is a legitimate time for sorrow and grief. It is just a time, not a lifetime. Be careful not to deny those who suffer a great loss an appropriate time to grieve. After all, God is the one who created us with emotions. 
 As believers, we are supposed to exhibit and reflect to others the joy we have due to Christ! Not due to our problem-free life or our unrealistic optimism. Acts 16 tells us of Paul and Silas's imprisonment due to their preaching the gospel and their subsequent beating (v. 22, 23). After receiving "many stripes upon them," they both prayed and sang hymns in their prison cell. And the Bible says, "...the prisoners heard them," (v. 25). What a great testimony! The prison keeper trusted Christ due to their witness!  
 When I am tempted to feel down or depressed, I often repeat this portion of the verse to myself: "...In His presence is fullness of joy."
Wherever you are and whatever is going on around you, you can choose to be in His presence and know His fullness of joy. Even at a funeral. Even in a crisis. Even through your tears. Maintain your close relationship with Him through prayer, Bible study. Memorize Scripture. Fill your heart with hymns. Stay in His presence and you will have fullness of joy!