Children Of The Light

"Walk as children of the light."

Ephesians 5:8b

The Bible tells us Jesus is the Light of the world.  He is the beacon that ships sail towards on a stormy night.  He is the porch light that leads us home.  He is the streetlight that keeps us from the darkness.  He is the headlight that leads the way.  He is the Sonlight that warms our days.  Jesus is the Light of the world.

The Bible also tells us we are children of the light.  Children of God, saved from death by salvation through God's only son.  Ephesians 5: 8 says, "For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord.  So live as people of the light!" 

So, how do children of the light live?   Ephesians 4 and 5 gives us insights into this answer. We throw off our old nature, and we let the Spirit renew our thoughts and attitudes.  We carefully determine what pleases God, imitate Him in everything we do, and live a life full of love.  We are able to do this by putting on the full armor of God!(Ephesians 6)  While walking as children of the light, let us never forget where our help comes from.......our help comes from the Lord. 

Thank you Jesus for your sacrifices and your deep love for your children.  Children of the Light!

Stop over and visit Charlotte and Ginger at Spiritual Sundays to read inspirational posts or link up your own.  www.bloggerspirit.blogspot.com.  

Thankful And Thoughtful Prayers

I have been thinking a lot about sharing some prayer requests once a week that can be open for others to pray for, while at the same time giving thanks for the many blessings God has given.

Today I am so thankful for the snow being gone, for having a good day health wise yesterday where I actually felt more "normal", for my sweet hubby Joel being able to preach for Lent,  for laughter, for tears, for walking, for resting, for the gift of prayer, for another day.

Requests:

John and Mildred:  John needs a biopsy on his salivary gland
H.  In need of prayer for addiction
Shannon, Doug, and their children Ravenna, Parker, and Georgia: 
~Ravenna has just been diagnosed with a rare blood clotting disorder
~Parker has asthma
~Georgia has a weakened heart.  Needs a sedated MRI tomorrow.
Dominique who is in a severe relapse with her ME/CFS
Linny as she and others prepare for a trip to help the homeless boys of Uganda
A sweet boy in Russia who needs to go home with his adoptive family
Michele~ our DIL who had surgery on her finger
Ron who has colon cancer
Joe on kidney transplant list
Dr. V ~ keep her healthy and cancer free

Lord Jesus, we lift up to you all these people, your children, your faithful servants.  We ask that you reach out and touch each one of them and bring healing into their lives.  You are a God of miracles, a God of healing, our Jehovah Jehri ~ our provider.  We ask that you move mountains on behalf of them and grant them wholeness and peace.  In Jesus name.  Amen

A Lap for Levi

In the past couple of days our 11 yr old Miniature Schnauzer Levi has been feeling a bit out of sorts.  I know this because if I sit on the loveseat, he sits next to me.  If I am in the recliner, he often tries to climb in and lay with me.  Today when I said no to his attempt to jump up on my lap, he climbed into the chair right next to mind and tried to climb over the arm into my lap!  Persistence!  Levi definitely was looking for some TLC, and seeking assurance that all is well.

There are times we all are in need of a little TLC.  We may feel vulnerable or out of sorts.  Where to do we find the assurance we need?  From God of course!  He is there for us.  He is waiting for us to ask for help ~for some tender loving care, and unlike my response to Levi, he never says no to our need for assurance.  He promises to be with us always, and we can trust His promises.

"And, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Matthew 28:20

Continually Pouring

"I can do all things through Christ who continually pours His strength into me"

Philippians 4:13

(paraphrased)

This is one of my favorite verses, shared with me by one of my online friends.  I find great comfort in knowing that God is giving me His strength to do all things. 

Just what does the word continually mean?  Webster's Dictionary defines it as "going on without interruption...unbroken."  And to pour?  "To cause to flow in a continuous stream.....to flow freely."

What a powerful gift for us.  Christ's strength ~ His OWN strength flowing freely in a continuous stream without interruption into us, His children.  Unbroken flow. 

Oh, Lord, let us never take this for granted.  Let us never forget that when we feel weak and unable to keep moving forward, we are not alone on our journey. You have given us this precious promise ~ this amazing and powerful blessing.  Lord, having this knowledge, let us always call upon you and open our arms wide to receive your strength...continually...freely.   In Your name, Amen.


Please stop over to visit Ginger and Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays and read inspirational posts or link up your own.  www.bloggerspirit.blogspot.com

God's Amazing Love and Strength

A trip to the ER last week resulted in a trip to my specialist Monday, and a switch in one treatment plan for the Lyme Disease and a new plan put into place for my latest health issue ~ H-Pylori and Acid Reflux~ it all has me in my PJ's and under my Woolie (wool comforter).  The pain and weakness are not my biggest issues though, it is the discouragement I feel.  I told God today in our "Garden Time" that I was so tired of fighting all the bacteria in my body.  A quiet voice whispered, "Let me help you fight."

An hour later I turned to my online devotionals from Saddleback Church and Joel Osteen.  BOTH devotions today were about  God's strength in us.  Joel Osteen's entitled "God Is Strong In You" reminded me of the Holy Spirit within and the strength given to us through the Comforter.  So often we use so little of the Holy Spirit's power within us!

"And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness....."

Romans 8:26

The devotional sent by Saddleback Church was entitled, "God Is Stronger Than You Think" and spoke of how as Christians we often feel we can do all things through Christ...on our own.  Not so.  God within us gives us the strength we need in our weaknesses.  He continually pours His strength into us.

"But the Lord stood by my side and gave me strength..."

2 Timothy 4:17



Today as I rest in my PJ's under my Woolie, I can be assured that God is fighting this battle within me...both the physical and the emotional.  Discouragement has no place when God's amazing love blesses us in such wonderful ways.  Health issues have no power when God's super strength gives us what we need to move forward....or rest in His loving arms.  God's love provided me with a specialist who understands and cares, a treatment plan to help heal, but also the words not only whispered in my prayers but written in two seperate devotionals.  It is humbling and so reassuring.  Thank you Jesus.

May you, too, find comfort in these words today.    

Our Own Breath

"God is as near to you as your own breath." 

Father Tim

I came across this saying in Jan Karon's book, "In The Company of Others".  It gave me pause and I found myself pondering these words. 

Our breath is what keeps us alive.  We rely on our breath to sleep, rest, move, talk, laugh, cry, to exist.  It is so much a part of us that we don't even think about it, unless we live with asthma or another condition that affects our breathing. 

God is interwoven with breath.  We have heard such sayings as  "He who gives us breath"  "Breathe on me breath of life".   Genesis 2: 7 says, " The Lord formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a human being."  Beautiful. 

Our breath comes from God.  He gave man breath.  He is as near as our breath. 

When God feels far away.....when turmoil fills your world...... when you cry out in need with your very own breath...Remember ~God is as near to you as your own breath. 

Warm

Loving

Sustaining

Life giving

Reliable

Continual

Near

Always

Stop over to Spiritual Sundays to visit Ginger and Charlotte.  Read inspirational posts or link up your own.  www.bloggerspirit.blogspot.com