First Prayer for 2007!

"Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us,
Yes, establish the work of our hands."
(Psalm 90:17, NKJ)

This is what I read this morning, and I felt I really needed it to make an impression on me, so I did this. It is also my prayer for you for the coming year. May you, firstly, know what the Lord would have you do, and then, may the Lord's blessing over all that you do.

"For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus. [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]." (Ephesians 2:10, Amp)

My New Year Prayer!

"For You are great and work wonders! You alone are God.
"Teach me You way, O Lord, that I may walk and live in Your truth; direct and unite my heart [solely, reverently] to fear and honor Your name.
"I will confess and praise You, O Lord my God, with my whole (united) heart; and I will glorify Your name forevermore." (Psalm 86:10-12, Amp.)

This is my prayer for 2007, as I seek the Lord's direction. I face this year with many unknowns and wonderings what the Lord wants me to do.

It will be a year of new beginnings, with many new challenges, many new adventures, many new opportunities. There are so many good directions one could go, but knowing the RIGHT one, is what I find a challenge. Oh, how easy it would be to head off down the wrong road, only to find it comes to a dead end!

So I guess what I need is wisdom to make the RIGHT choice. This reminds me of what it says in James:

"If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.
"Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge of the sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind.
"For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord, [for being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides]." (James 1:5-8, Amp.)

May I not and may none of us, be double minded. But let us pray that God will direct and unite our heart to fear and honor His name. And we will confess and praise God with our whole and united heart, and not be tossed about by a double-mind!

Quietly waiting!!

I'm impressed by the patience of a frog... also the patience of a fisherman... and the patience of a wild cat in stalking it's prey! We can sure learn a lot from them... well at least I know I can!!

Quietly waiting for the right moment... perfect precision timing!! By being too quick or too slow would mean missing the catch... and in some cases dinner!!

It sure speaks volumes to those of us who tend to be impetuous in nature, rushing in before thinking! Also for those of us who are too slow and hesitant to grasp the opportunities as they come .... thinking TOO much. There is a fine balance between seizing the moment and patiently waiting for that moment.

This got me thinking about our waiting on God and His timing. Looking at history, it is evident time and time again, of how God choose the precise moment to intervene into our chaotic world. We see this particularly in the birth of Jesus.

"When the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." (Galatians 4:4, NKJ)

The moment was right, the stage was set. Take for instance, Bethlehem! How amazingly God arranged for Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem for a census, right at the time Jesus was due to be born! And this fulfilled the prophecies that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Also see how God even used the plans of an earthly, heathen king to bring about His divine purposes.

And this is only one instance of how God steps into our world at just the right moment. Nothing too soon... nothing too late!!

This brings me back to think about us, and where we fit into His divine purpose. How can we learn... how can we know when to go and when to wait. It can only be through quietly waiting on Him.

"Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation." (Psalm 62:1, NKJ)
"My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him." (Psalm 62:5, NKJ)

"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
do not fret—it only causes harm.
For evildoers shall be cut off;
But those who wait on the Lord,
they shall inherit the earth." (Psalm 37:7-9, NKJ)

"It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." (Lam 3:26, NKJ)

Remember when Jesus was on earth? Everyday He would get alone with His Father, and pray... talking about the day! He only did what His Father instructed Him to do. He quietly waited to know what the Father wanted... and THEN He went about His Father's business.

“I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work." (John 9:4, NKJ)

This is also what He has called us to do. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, NKJ)

So the answer to walking in God's timing is simply this: JUST KEEP IN STEP!!

"Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:25, NIV)

Peace to you this Christmas!

"I will hear what God the Lord will speak,
For He will speak peace to His people and to His saints;
But let them not turn back to folly.
Surely His salvation is near to those who fear (reverence) Him,
That glory may dwell in our land.

"Mercy and truth have met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
And righteousness shall look down from heaven.
Yes, the Lord will give what is good;
And our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before Him,
And shall make His footsteps our pathway."
(Psalm 85:8-13, NKJ)

I read this the other day and it reminded me so much of what happened at Christmas time. The two pairs of words, in verse 10, "mercy and truth" and "righteousness and peace", grabbed my interest. This explains exactly what God did in sending us His Son, Jesus.

MERCY & TRUTH:
The truth was, that we were separated from God, alienated with no hope. Sin had done this, and we deserved death. Without God, we would perish!

But God, in His mercy, sent His Son to save us from our desperate position, which is what the name of Jesus means. As the angel had said to Joseph, "You are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins." He is a merciful God, the God of second chances!!

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believe in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." (John 3:16-17, NIV)

RIGHTEOUSNESS & PEACE:
Righteousness means being in right relationship with God. This is not a matter how good we may appear, and we do lots of good things. None of it will measure up in God's eyes. None of us can make ourselves right with God by doing good works. As the Bible says, "There is no one righteous, not even one." (Romans 3:10) And again it says, "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags." (Isaiah 64:6) We just don't measure up!!.. we're never good enough!

But if we believe in Jesus, we are made right with God. Jesus stands in our place before God the Father... He becomes our righteousness. God looks on Jesus and not on us.

As a result of this right relationship, we then have peace with God. The relationship is that of Father and child, where we are loved children in His presence. And this is what the angels announced to the shepherds. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:14, NIV)

And Jesus said before He died, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27, NIV)

I pray that you are encouraged and that you may know, more and more, the Prince of Peace!

The Bitter-Sweet of Christmas!

Here is another thought for those who face grief, sadness and hardship this Christmas. I guess, life is bitter-sweet!! In the times of pain and hurt, God sends a special sweetness. And we see that especially when we look at the Christ child.

Did he receive lots of presents from Santa?... NO!.. but he did receive gold, the gift for a king, and frankincense, perfumed resin used in the anointing oil of the priests, and myrrh, a spice used for embalming dead bodies. Strange gifts for a baby.

But the gold reminds me that Jesus is the King of kings... the frankincense, that He is our High Priest, advocating for us before the Father, ... and the myrrh, speaks of a suffering servant, and the Lamb of God, our perfect sacrifice, Who takes away the sin of the world.

Did they hold a big party in the palace for the new King who was born... NO WAY!! But the angels celebrated in heaven and announced on the earth the good news that the Saviour had been born.

And he was not born in a palace as is fitting for a King, but in an animals' stable and His bed was a feeding trough. He took the lowest of low places. And as it says in the Word, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich." This was the God of the universe come to earth, Immanuel, meaning God with us!!


These thoughts are echoed in this carol:
(Sung to the tune of "Greensleeves")

What Child is this, Who, laid to rest,
on Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
while shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
the Babe, the Son of Mary!

Why lies He in such mean estate,
where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here
the silent Word is pleading:
Nails, spear, shall pierce Him through,
the Cross be borne, for me, for you;
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
the Babe, the Son of Mary!

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
come peasant, king, to own Him,
The King of kings salvation brings,
let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise the song on high,
the Virgin sings her lullaby:
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
the Babe, the Son of Mary!


And the words of Isaiah:
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on His shoulders.
And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6, NIV)

A Ray of Hope in the Darkest Hour!

As I was putting this card together, my thoughts for this Christmas were for those who may not have such a good Christmas... for whom Christmas may be a dark times.

For some, Christmas brings back sad or bad memories! Some may be facing tragedy this Christmas... and others may be suffering loss... loss of a loved one, loss of a job, loss of a marriage, loss of children to drugs and other things! And many in the world live amongst strife and unrest, with no sign of peace.

So, if that is you, my prayers are with you this Christmas. May, even in your darkest hour, Jesus shine His light in your heart and give you a new hope!!

Remember why He came to earth! Without Him, we are separated from God with no hope. But He came to live and suffer and die, and then rise again, to restore us to the Father, and give us that hope! There is a light for our darkness!!

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light; those who dwelt in the land of intense darkness and the shadow of death, upon them has the Light shined." (Isaiah 9:2, Amp)

"In Him (Jesus) was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it.]" (John 1:4-5, Amp)

"And again, Isaiah says:
'There shall be a root of Jesse;
And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles,
In Him the Gentiles shall hope.'
"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:12-13, NKJ)

That is my prayer for you this Christmas!!

God's Glory over the WHOLE Earth!!

This is the sunset I saw last night, and it reminded me of God's glory!

And then this morning on Flickr I spotted shots of the sun from over the other side of the world, which reminded me of the hymn:
"Jesus shall reign wherever the sun,
Doth its successive journeys run,
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Til suns shall rise and set no more."

About the sun, the Bible says,
"It's rising is from one end of the heaven, and its circuit to the other end;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat." (Psalm 19:6, NKJ)

It also reminded me of something else:
"This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

"If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts." (1 John 1:5-10, NLT)

Anyhow, there is more I want to write about that, but don't have the time right now, so I'll leave it and write more later!!

SOMEONE'S WATCHING!!

PRINCE FROGGY MISSES A MEAL!!
Possibly because it was not fast food!!! :-)

When I took last night, Froggy was on the front step and it was pretty dark. I was only able to see the frog when I put the flash on him, and it was not until I'd taken the pic that I noticed this brown thing in the viewer and wondered what it was. It was only after I downloaded the photos, that I discovered it was the slug! What a blessing!! Strange to say that a slug could be a blessing! eh??

Today, thinking about how the flash illuminated the darkness and revealed the slug, it reminded me of these verses:

"There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." (Hebrews 4:13, NKJ)

"All things were made through Him (Jesus), and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." (John 1:3-5, NKJ)