Faith and Change

James 2:26
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Matthew 14:22-33
22Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but the boat by this time was a long wayb from the land,c beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”28And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind,d he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

And God says to me, "Step out of the boat."

So last week, a decision was made. Interestingly, it was something I knew was going to happen, but wasn't sure of the outcome. But, the Lord spoke to my husband, and had been preparing me for it. He prepared me, by reading about Sarah, Abraham's wife. When Abraham was called to leave his family and the land that he had known, Sarah followed. She was submissive and faithful to her husband. I must be submissive and faithful to my husband, as we look for a place to settle.

Genesis 12:1 & 4a
1The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.
4So Abram left, as the Lord had told him;

There have been so many changes lately...
Careers - I am now a domestic engineer, and a teacher to my children.
Homes - The apartment that we have called home for 2 years now, is no longer our home, but a new one has not been found yet.
Even small things - dogs, hair, clothes, schedules, chores

And now we are facing change again. But I want to stay in my boat. I think it is safer here, even with the waves crashing over me. I want to hold on to people, to things, to familiarity.

He says, "Come."

What good is my faith if I stay in the boat? If I stay, I have put my faith in man made things and not in The One Who Saves, Jesus. So, with my flesh still trying to cling, I reach out for the edge, I reach out to the unknown, but I know that it is Jesus who will catch me.

Love Much and Show Mercy - Give Someone a blanket

Luke 7:47-48
"For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." Then he said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven."

James 2:13
For judgement is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. mercy triumphs over judgement.


When wronged or hurt is is so easy to cast judgement. God showed me the other day that I am to love much. Because of the forgiveness I have been shown, my attitude should be to share that.

I should love much, not just God, but everyone - Love your neighbor as yourself (Not sure who your neighbor is?) - Luke 10:25-37.

How do I show this love? Readh 1 Cor 13 - Love takes no account of wrongs suffered. Talk about hard. The hardest part of forgiving is forgetting. I've heard it said (and maybe even from my own mouth), "I can forgive, but I will never forget!"

Showing mercy and forgiving is difficult, espescially when the pain is deep. But haven't I been forgiven of my many sins? And how deep is the pain I have caused my Heavenly Father? But His love is deeper and wider - Philippians 1:9-11. I must have full knowledge and understanding of His love, I desperately need it!

The more I understand this love, the more I want to share it. Like sharing a blanket with my family, or giving a blanket to someone in need, or wrapping up a precious baby for protection.

What good is a blanket that never gets used or shared?

Knowledge and Depth of Insight

Philippians 1:9-11

9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Intresting that having a knowledge of love enables you to discern what is best. Hmm, something to chew on for today!

How Precious Are the Thoughts of God

Psalms 139:17
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!




How often do we stop and consider what God thinks?
Lord, what do You think about my day today? I want your thoughts to be precious to me!

Walk with Him Wednesday

I have to share with all my readers, a new favorite blog of mine. I like to check out the blogs that all of you follow, and sometimes I come across some real inspiring blogs. If you have a chance go check out Holy Experience. I promise you will be blessed!

Lord Willing

James 4:13-17

13Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.



By nature, I am a planner. Before I go to sleep, I am thinking what my first plan of action will be in the morning. Which is usually get up and fix me a cup of coffee. But I am so detailed that I will plan out exactly how many times I will hit the snooze button before succumbing to the day.

I want to be a "Lord willing" type of person. I have heard at times, a person say, "I am going to do this or that, Lord willing". Right now, we have a lot of decisions that need to be made, and I, in my infinate wisdom, want to plan it all out. Open my Microsoft Excell sheet, list it all out, and make sure nothing is overlooked.

Lord, help me to submit my life to Your will. Instead of making plans and leaving You out of them, I want You to be in the center of it. Help me to be a "Lord willing" person.

2009: What did I learn?

I love the reflection that a new year brings, and one of the blogs I follow, she did such an amazing job, it inspired me. I thought, hey why not go back and recap those things I learned this year (well hopefully I learned, you may see some repostings!). Here's what I've done (and it may backfire), I have listed the title of my blogs in order, and the first sentence or statement of that blog. Let me know what you think! Thanks Suzy! Go check out her blog!

January:
I Will Praise the Lord - I Will Praise The Lord Words and Music by Ray Boltz
Faith, Worth More Than Gold - 1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice,
Seeking - Matthew 6:33-34 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Seeking: Marvelous Mysteries - Here is a continuation of the last blog:
Deep - Psalms 42:7-8 Deep calls to deep at the soudn of Your waterfalls;
Finding Life - Withering Away

February:
Sacrifice: Abraham and Isaac - The story of Abraham is a story of patience (and impatience),
Psalms 19 - The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Radiation - Romans 8:18-25 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

March:
Just feel like writing - I give my life
On The Outside Looking In - Little girl hair all in bows, looking through a toy store window.
I Finally Get It - Below is an email I recently sent to my hubby about some confusion I had been having regardin Hebrews 2.
Hmmm - Childsplay

April:
Let My Silence Be Praise - Sweet melody to Your ears alone.
Dare to Hope? - Psalms 42:5 Why are you in despair, O my soul?

May:
Counting the Cost - Luke 14:25-33 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus,
Sacrifice: The Ram in the Bush - Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son.

June:
The Stand - Hillsong United - You stood before creation
Discipleship: Getting ready for swimsuit season - Yes, I know the title is strange.
Worship Me - Lord, I want to worship You.
Another Honest Scrap - Ha! I don't know how to do this

July:
My Soul Cries Out - In the hollow of Your hands You have measured the depths of every sea
By Your Word - Upon this straight and narrow path You have placed my feet.
Run For Your Life - This was a very moving video
Like a Cloud Over My Head - First let me just say, "Ugh!" (that about sums it up)
The Valley Song by Jars of Clay - You have led me to this sadness
Psalms 91:1 - He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (Amen!)

August:
Briefly - Well, this will be brief. (Kind of redundant, huh?)

September:
Healer - I have loved this song from the first time I heard it.

October:
My Beloved-Kari Jobe - Your my beloved

December:
Reason for The Season - Christmas trees with bright stars atop, (haha, not the point of that blog at all!)

I hope to be posting more this year, I had set a goal last year to double my posts from the previous year (I didn't reach it) and maybe this year I will be able to double last years posts. But I want to keep this focused on the Lord, it is because of Him that I write!

I pray you all had wonderful New Year, and may God bless you in 2010!