Saturday Steps of Faith # 27

What are you believing God for?

Do you trust God enough to take Him at His word?
Not only for your neighbor or friend..., but for you?

Saturday Steps of Faith is our opportunity to publicly claim His promises for our lives. It is the place where we believe God for things great and small.

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

I am believing God this week for my brother. Although he was raised in the same household and by the same parents as my sister and I - the path he chose to follow was much different.

My hearts desire is for my brother to return to the Lord. His wife is also not a believer. My prayer is that she would trust Jesus for her salvation.

I know that these requests are also on the heart of the Father. Will you join me in praying for Jeff & Maureen? I am believing God on their behalf - that He will move on their hearts and that they will respond with YES!

How about you? What are you believing God for?

•Leave a comment or write a post.
•Copy the button located on the left sidebar and paste it into your post.
•Next write down the promise from the Word of God you are taking a step of faith and believing.
•Last, come back here and link up with MckLinky. It's that easy.

Thankful Thursday #26

It's Thankful Thursday and I am again joining Sonya at Truth 4 the Journey once again. Click on the button above and feel free to join in with 5 items of Thanksgiving.

1. Thank You God for the continued miracle in Randy's life.  When God sets a man free, he is free indeed.   
2. Thank You God for bringing my sister and brother-in-law here for a visit.  It is so good to have family in my home again.  It is so hard to live 2000 miles away from everyone - but oh how sweet it is to see each other face to face.
3. Thank You God for not leaving us where we are.  I am so grateful that You spiritually mature us and grow us.  Each day shaping us to be more like Jesus - when we yield our hearts and wills to You.
4. Thank You God for Your provision in our lives.  Food, clothing, shelter and oh so much more.  As a loving Father You provide and my heart is so grateful.
5. Thank You God for Your beautiful creation.  The blue skies with fluffy clouds, the golden fields ready for harvest, the trees with their leaves of many colors.  Your creation draws my heart right into worship of You - the creative Creator.  Father, how I love You!

How about you? What are you thankful for?

Pursuing Peace - At What Cost?

Image by Denis Collette...!!! via Flickr

 

Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness - without it no one will see the Lord. 

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it, defiling many.  Hebrews 12:14-15 (HCSB)

What are the words Peace, Holiness, Unity, Fellowship, Harmony worth to you? 

What are you willing to say or do to obtain these?

Will you say, "I'm sorry" even if you did not strike the first blow?  Can you lay down your pride, hurt, anger, frustration and say, "I forgive you" even if  the offender never asks?"

Tonight I witnessed the airing of some dirtly laundry in a very public forum between two women of faith.  I don't know the circumstances that stirred up the family turmoil.  I only know that while checking my page, I became an unwilling participant in something that I shouldn't know anything about. 

Please know my heart here.  My heart is grieved for these women and their families  My heart is grieved for the people who commented and were caught up in the tidal wave of emotions.  My heart is grieved for the words spoken, that can never be taken back.  My heart is grieved because the Holy Spirit of God has been grieved by the entire situation.

The writer of Hebrews describes Peace and Holiness as something to be pursued - something to seek after eagerly, earnestly.  Will you join me in lifting up these dear ladies in prayer?  Pray that their hearts will pursue peace and holiness?  Please know that I make no judgements here on anyone involved.  I truly live by the saying, "But for the grace of God, there go I." 

My hearts desire is to see their hearts softened, their families reconciled, and that in the midst of all of this turmoil - somehow God would be glorified.  Will you pursue peace with me on their behalf in prayer?

 

Saturday Steps of Faith #26

What are you believing God for?

Do you trust God enough to take Him at His word?
Not only for your neighbor or friend..., but for you?

Saturday Steps of Faith is our opportunity to publicly claim His promises for our lives. It is the place where we believe God for things great and small.

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.  Proverbs 22:6

My hearts desire is for my son Jonathan to be a Mighty Man of God.  I want him to:

Love the Lord (his) God with all (his) heart and with all (his) soul and with all (his) mind and with all (his) strength.  Mark 12:30

...say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Psalm 91:2

...stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.  1 Corinthians 15:58

I want these things and so much more.  I want there to be a burning passion in his heart for the things of God, the people of God, the Word of God. 

Father,  before He was even born we gave Him back to you.  As parents made a commitment to raise Him according to You Word and Your precepts.  At the age of 7 he gave his heart to you.  I've seen him grow and flourish into a fine young man.  Lord, grow him to be a Mighty Man of God.  Give us the wisdom as parents to guide him.  Show Him the path You would have him to go.  Guard his heart and protect him from the evil one.  Do great things through Him that will bring you glory ~ Amen.

How about you? What are you believing God for?

•Leave a comment or write a post.
•Copy the button located on the left sidebar and paste it into your post.
•Next write down the promise from the Word of God you are taking a step of faith and believing.
•Last, come back here and link up with MckLinky. It's that easy.

Thankful Thursday #25

It's Thankful Thursday and I am again joining Sonya at Truth 4 the Journey once again. Click on the button above and feel free to join in with 5 items of Thanksgiving.

1. Thank You God for breaking the chains of bondage.  After a year of being virtually bed-ridden, God has done a miracle in the life of my husband.  Although he still has pain, he is up and functioning and once again active.  Thank You God for giving me back my husband. 
2. Thank You God that you already answered last week, before I posted for Saturday Steps of Faith.  Last Saturday I believed God to move a mountain.  Saturday morning I found out He had moved it the night before.  I love how God knows the desire of our heart and is moving and ordering it to be - even before we verbalize it.  Amazing, truly amazing!
3. Thank You God that my family was able to worship together for the first time in a year.  Something that I took for granted for 24 years was such a precious gift last Sunday.  Worshipping you - it's what we were created for!
4. Thank You God for surrounding me with women who are passionate about their relationship with You.  I know this was on my list last week, but words can't describe the joy I feel from being with women whose deepest desire is to know God and to honor Him with their lives.
5. Thank You God for everything that works in my household.  The cars, the air conditioner, the plumbing, the refrigerator.... all running and fulfilling their purpose.  You are my provider - the big things and small. 

How about you? What are you Thankful for?

Saturday Steps of Faith #25

What are you believing God for?

Do you trust God enough to take Him at His word?

Not only for your neighbor or friend..., but for you?

Saturday Steps of Faith is our opportunity to publicly claim His promises for our lives. It is the place where we believe God for things great and small.

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20

How's your faith? Do you have any mountains that need moving? What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of this verse? Is it a sick loved one who needs healing? How about a financial need you have no way to meet? Is your child wandering far from the Lord? What is your mountain?

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3

Lord, I praise your Holy Name! You Oh Lord, are in the mountain moving business. When we seek You, we find You. When we call to You, You answer. You are working and moving, even when we cannot yet see. Lord, I believe in You and I believe You! I am looking to the sky, waiting for the mountain to get out of the way. I love You and take great delight in You! You are my God!

How about you? Will you please join me?

•Leave a comment or write a post.
•Copy the button located on the left sidebar and paste it into your post.
•Next write down the promise from the Word of God you are taking a step of faith and believing.
•Last, come back here and link up with MckLinky. It's that easy.

What are you believing God for?

Honoring the American Worker

Happy Labor Day to the American worker! This is your day to be celebrated! American ingenuity, creativity, inventiveness, resourcefulness and sheer determination have helped to make this country great.

This has not been a great year for the American worker. So many men and women have lost their jobs and their security. Families are hurting in ways that they never anticipated. I'm reminded today of:

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. Psalm 27:4

Another verse I love is:

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:19

If you have a job today, stop and give thanks! If you are without a job, God has not forgotten you! If you have a need today, ask your Father in Heaven. He loves you! He's listening!

Let's say a prayer today for our country, it's leaders, the American worker and our Missionaries laboring around the world. If you would like prayer for someone who is out of work, please list their name in your comments. Together we'll carry them to the throne room of grace, asking the Father on their behalf.

Saturday Steps of Faith #24

What are you believing God for?

Do you trust God enough to take Him at His word?

Not only for your neighbor or friend..., but for you?

Saturday Steps of Faith is our opportunity to publicly claim His promises for our lives. It is the place where we believe God for things great and small.

Since last Saturday's Beth Moore Simulcast I have been just pleasantly stuck on Psalm 37. I guess maybe for the first time I realized that God truly does delight in me. Doesn't that sound crazy for someone who has been a believer for 36 years?

4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
23 If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm;
24 though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

This week there has been such joy in my heart as I truly took delight in my God. And at the same time I realized that while I was taking delight in God, He was taking delight in me. Before long my heart would find itself having a delight-fest going on. That reciprocal delight made my heart feel like it was overflowing. I can't hardly put it into words.

This week I am believing God for the desires of my heart. Those things in the past that I was too afraid to believe could actually be. I am no longer willing to hold back. I Believe God! I believe His Words are true.

Beth said, "If joy was a smile, delight would be a laugh!" Until my faith becomes sight, I choose to delight in my God - with a smile and a laugh that will make people wonder what I'm up to. It will give me a chance to tell them about my Lord.

How about you? Will you please join me?

•Leave a comment or write a post.
•Copy the button located on the left sidebar and paste it into your post.
•Next write down the promise from the Word of God you are taking a step of faith and believing.
•Last, come back here and link up with MckLinky. It's that easy.

What are you believing God for?

Thankful Thursday #24

It's Thankful Thursday and I am again joining Sonya at Truth 4 the Journey once again. Click on the button above and feel free to join in with 5 items of Thanksgiving.

1. Thank You God for surrounding me with women who are passionate about their relationship with You. Debbie, Laura, my blogging friends - each of you challenge me to want to know Him more and love Him more deeply.
2. Thank You God for the Beth Moore Simulcast last weekend. The Words of life spoken over us have filled my life with "Reciprocal Delight". May I be forever changed.
3. Thank You God for continuing to bless me with a job. I continue to hear each day of those who have been unexpectedly unemployed. Thank You for your hand of protection and your provision in our lives today.
4. Thank You God for Hailey. Last night I watched this sweet little girl pull up to the table with her Bible as her mom and I were studying together. She grabbed her hi-lighter and post-its and began to mark verses she liked. 7 years old and in love with God's Word. Lord Bless her as she grows to be a warrior of the Word.
5. Thank You God for for a great start to the school year. A great morning routine. Straight A's after 3 weeks. I'm so proud of Jonathan for laying a good foundation for a great year.

How about you? What are you Thankful for?