"Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with God" - Micah 6:8

Today is Election Day and I consider it a duty and a privilege to have a voice in our country's leadership.  Don and I were watching a program the other night about the Green Bay Packers.  Did you know (you probably did!) that that NFL team is owned by the fans?  Prior to a 2011 stock offering, 112,158 stockholders owned over 4 million shares in the team.  The report showed the "owners" shoveling snow off the seats prior to a game.  I love that they are a community working together for the common good.

We are the "owners" of our country...we get to elect those who represent us.  My prayer this morning was that those we elect will "act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with their God".  It is our responsibility to vote for those we believe will uphold Biblical values.  As Chuck Colson says: "we do have a right to a place at the table".

Micah was writing to the people of Israel to remind them that God wants ethical living for His people.    He goes on in Chapter 6 to chastise them for their cheating, violence and deceit...sounds way too familiar!  Do you doubt that justice, mercy and humility are what He still wants for His people?  His word is as true today as it was in 700 B.C.

Don recently preached a sermon where he said something like: "tomorrow [Wednesday, 11/7] when we wake up, as Christians we will still have the same assignment regardless of who is elected.  That assignment is to be on our knees for our nation and to entrust a holy God with every part of it."

I voted...I hope you did!

For further study:  2 Chron. 7:14, Psalm 37:28,  Proverbs 11:2,  Isaiah 61:8,  Hosea 6:6,  Phil. 2:3,  Titus 3:2,  James 2:12-13, 1 Peter 5:6

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

Love,
Holly

Put your hope in God - Psalm 42:5

The writer of this psalm was apparently living in exile and longing for a place of corporate worship...he felt cut off from God without it.  He remembers earlier times of joy and thanksgiving in temple worship and needed to remind himself that his hope was in God, not in earthly things.

Don wrote in a letter to the church recently a quote from Tom Bodett who says: "everyone needs three things to be happy:  someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for."  According to Webster's Dictionary hope is "the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out well".  Hebrews 6:19 says hope is the "anchor for the soul (firm and secure)" - that is the hope offered to us by God.

The question is: what is the object of your hope?  Is it the stock market? Is it your family?  Or is it a loving God?  Robert C. Roberts in SPIRITUAL EMOTIONS says:

The Christian...has a hope that may be able to fill her with joy

and thus to fill the gap that is left when she sees through

earthly hopes...hopes which are in competition with her

hope of sharing the glory of God.

 

So as we begin this next week toward our national elections and as we contemplate a busy and commercial holiday season, let us declare with the psalmist to "put your hope in God".

 

For further study:  Job 13:15, Psalm 20:7, Psalm 62:5, Isaiah 40;31, Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 15:13, Col. 1:27, 1 Tim. 6:17, Hebrews 11:1, 1 John 3:3

 

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

 

Love,

Holly

The word of our God stands forever - Isaiah 40:8

When Don and I first married, I knew my life experiences had thus far not prepared me to be a Biblical teacher to the women of our church.  However, I loved the Lord and I loved Don, and He had a plan for me which He slowly began to unfold.  I knew less about the Bible than most of the women in our church and so the Lord placed Precept Bible Study in my life.  I became trained to organize - not teach - a class and began to learn right along with the other women.  I was absolutely amazed at the truths contained in God's word and by His Holy Spirit, I began to hide His word in my heart.  Now, 28 years later, I can't imagine living a single day without His instruction or encouragement from the Scriptures.  I consider it a great honor and privilege whenever asked to teach today.

His word is reliable and true.  Listen to an unknown writer:

 

This book is the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation,

the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers.  Its doctrines

are holy, its precepts are binding; its histories are true,

and its decisions are immutable.  Read it to be wise, believe

it to be safe, practice it to be holy.  It contains light to direct you,

food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.   It is the traveler's map,

the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the

Christian's character.  Here paradise is restored; heaven opened and the

gates of hell disclosed.  Christ is its grand subject, our good its design,

and the glory of God its end.  It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.

Read it slowly,  frequently,  prayerfully.  It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of

glory, and a river of pleasure.  Follow its precepts and it will lead you to Calvary,

to the empty tomb, to a resurrected life in Christ; yes, to glory itself, for eternity."

 

As the election approaches, you would do well to fill your prayers with words that the Lord gives us.  This verse tells us all else will fail eventually, God's word never will. 

 

For further study:  Deut. 11:18-21, 2 Sam. 22:31, Ps. 119:9-11, 105, Isaiah 55:10-12, John 15:5-8, John 16:13, Colossians 3:16-17, 2 Tim. 2:15, 2 Tim. 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:3-10.

 

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

 

Love,

Holly



 



GIVE THANKS

Are you ready for the holidays?  It seems early, but as I'm getting ready for a holiday craft show this week, I'm reminded that it takes some preparation for our hearts to be grateful in the midst of too much chaos and commercial celebration.

I'm reading a very sweet book by Ann Voskamp entitled ONE THOUSAND GIFTS in which she says that "thanksgiving is the way of the fullest life."  She makes a remarkable discovery that in the midst of many miracles and times of crisis, Jesus gives thanks.  I've given you several references below, but have a blessing and do a word search yourself.  When are we the most likely to give thanks?  If you're like me it's when we get something we really want...or when someone pulls through a health crisis...or when our children do what we tell them.  1 Thes. 5:18 says "...give thanks in ALL circumstances".  How many times are we asking for more when we haven't said thanks for what we have already received?

Listen to Deborah Norville in THANK YOU POWER: "Gratitude helps us take care of the emotional business of negative things in our lives."  I have heard it said that it is impossible to have a negative attitude when you have a grateful heart.  Let's be the example others can learn from:  starting right now let us be the one to GIVE THANKS!

For further study:  1 Chron. 16:34, Psalm 7:17, Psalm 100:4, Daniel 6:10, Matthew 14:19, Matthew 26:26, Luke 7:36-50, Luke 12:48, Luke 24:30, 1 Cor. 11:23-24, Ephesians 5:19-20, Colossians 3:17

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

Love,
Holly

In all things, God works for the good of those who love Him - Rom. 8:28

Happy Fall, everyone. Today's verse is one of the sweetest promises in God's word.  It has given me encouragement many times.  Sometimes we want to believe it means something different than it does.  It is not a promise for all people, but for "those who love Him" and the verse goes on to say "those who are called according to his purposse".  He calls us, we love Him, He works for our good.  It really is not that complicated.

Oswald Chambers says:

The idea is not that we do work for God,

but that we are so loyal to Him, that He

can do His work through us.

 

 

I never think in terms of my loyalty in this verse or that that would be a condition of Him working in my life.  If we don't see evidence of Him at work, maybe we should check who or what we are being loyal to.  Matthew 6:33 says "seek FIRST His kingdom and His righteousness".  Where have you placed your loyalty today?

 

For further study:  Genesis 50:20, Deuteronomy 30:16, Psalm 18:32, Psalm 119:68, Isaiah 30:18, Jeremiah 33:3, John 10:11, 2 Cor. 9:8, Phil. 1:6, 1 Peter 2:3

 

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

 

Love,

Holly

If my people will humble themselves, pray and seek my face, then I will forgive and heal" - 2 Chron. 7:14

Last Friday, over 38,000 people signed a pledge begun by Pastor Max Lucado to pray for 40 days leading up to our U.S. elections.  Their motto is "Unite Us; Strengthen Us, Appoint and anoint our next president".  In 2 Chron. 7:14, God gives all nations a promise to hear, forgive and heal.  Lucado says:

"The healing of the land begins with the prayers of

the people.  Do we desire God's favor and blessing?

Then let us pray."

 

A lay preacher brought the message at our recent Sunday night service.  His title was "How to be Holy During an Election."  He so rightly said it is often hard to distinguish believers from nonbelievers when it comes to stating our opinions in politics.  Many of our Facebook pages reflect a definite worldly flavor. Here are some of his important points to being holy during elections:

 

1.  Be active - our verse today says to be humble, to pray, to seek.  We need to do the work God gives us to do in our churches, in our offices, in our neighborhoods, in our homes.  We need not sit back and think someone else will do it.

 

2.  Be Honest - Are you passing on information that may not be true?   Do someone else's opinions become fact without your checking to see if they are true?  We need to be very careful that what we are saying is true.

 

3.  Be Aware - Be aware of the issues that are being debated.  Rather than tear someone else's idea apart, reshape the discussion to a Biblical view.  Do your homework before jumping in.

 

4.  Be Imitators (of God) -  Lev. 11:44 says "...be holy because I am holy".  We have His word to show us how to do that.

 

In my prayer time, I'm going to plead for the men and women who will be elected on November 6th to seek wisdom from God.  I'm also going to confess my own stubbornness and pride and ask for opportunities to be part of the solution by being a Godly witness.  I pledge to have faith in a Sovereign God rather than fear at what man can do to me or my family (Hebrew 13:6).  How about you?  Will you pray with us on the Lucado team?

 

For further study:  Psalm 33:12, Psalm 118:8-9, Proverbs 14:34, Isaiah 56:6-7, Isaiah 60:12, Luke 6:27, Romans 12:1-2, Romans 13:1, 1 Peter 3:15, James 1:5

 

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

 

Love,

Holly

Grow in the grace of our Lord - 2 Peter 3:18

The apostle Peter wrote to people dear to him to warn them about who they were listening to.  There were false teachers leading them away from their precious faith in Jesus Christ.  His final words to them in Chapter 3 urged them to grow (grow up, become spiritually mature) "in the grace and knowledge of our Lord". 

Alan Redpath said:

"The conversion of a soul is the miracle of a moment;

the growth of a saint is the work of a lifetime."

 

My Bible commentary said "a mature Christian centers his life on Christ".  We will grow no fruit centering our life on the rich and famous!  Growth doesn't just happen; it is an intentional choice we make to do things that promote maturity.

 

What are we reading?

Who are we listening to?

What does our "fruit" look like?

Are we learning the same lessons over and over again?

Are we gathering together and sharing what we're learning?

Are we more mature today than we were last year?

Are we encouraging someone else toward things that help them mature?

 

Just some questions to stimulate us toward growth and becoming who God created us to be!

 

For further study:  Psalm 92:12-15, Hosea 14:8, John 15:1-5, Luke 6:43-45, Galatians 5:23-24, Ephesians 4:11-16, Colossians 1:9-12, 1 Peter 2:2-3, Hebrews 5:11-14, 6:1-3, James 1:4.

 

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

 

Love,

Holly

 



"Love the Lord our God with all your heart...soul...strength" - Deu. 6:5

When I was growing up, I knew about God.  That suited me just fine - I lived most of my days, until about 30, settling for "a little bit of God".  But then I read John Stott's BASIC CHRISTIANITY and I learned what it meant to surrender all of me.  My life changed at that point because the Lord began to shape - from the inside out - my attitudes, my habits, my behavior, my relationships and much more.

Toby Mac in his song "Steal My Show" talks about what he says to the Lord before a concert:

"If you wanna steal my show

I'll sit back and watch you go;

if you got somethin to say

go on and take it away."

 

To love the Lord with everything we have means to give Him the reigns, to let Him lead, to surrender our selfish ways, and to let Him receive ALL the glory.  It means what Jesus said in Luke 9:

 

"If anyone would come after me, he must

deny himself and take up his cross daily

and follow me."

 

Anything else we love more than Him is a worthless idol.  I'm singing with Toby Mac - it's His show anyway!

 

For further study:  Joshua 22:5, Psalm 42:1, Jeremiah 31:33, Matthew 22:34-40, Luke 7:36-50, Luke 9:23-24, John 14:15, Phillippians 1:9, 1 Peter 2:11.

 

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

 

Love,

Holly





"Amen, Lord" - Jeremiah 11:5

The prophet Jeremiah was called to be a "prophet to the nations" (Chap. 1) - it was not going to be an easy assignment because much of God's word to him was of destruction and doom for the nation he loved.  Jeremiah felt woefully inadequate (v. 6), but the Lord gave him confidence and he only had to rely on His wisdom and strength.

In our verse today, Jeremiah once again had to "reenlist" and urge his people to remember the terms of their covenant which was to obey their God who had delivered them.  The Lord said to him basically: tell them again.  Jeremiah said "Amen, Lord" - he said yes.

I'm reading KISSES FROM KATIE by Katie Davis about her journey to become a missionary in Uganda.  She was not even finished with high school when she knew she was to go serve the children of this country.  Her parents were not convinced - they had other plans for her that were much safer.  She said:

              "I would like to say that my ministry was born out of a carefully thought out
               plan.  But that simply isn't true.  I was walking through life one moment at a
               time blown away by what God could do through me if I simply said yes."

She is now the "mommy" to 14 Ugandan children and teaches and feeds many more.  She can't imagine anything that would bring her greater joy or meaning, than her current assignment.

What are the things you say yes to?  Are they meaningful?  Trivial?  Selfish?  Worldly?  Eternal? God-ordained? Spiritually influential?  Generous?  There are idols in our lives that need to be destroyed...idols that are causing us (me!) to waste the precious time and gifts God has given us to serve Him.  Jeremiah said "Amen, Lord" and set about to obey.  What do you need to say yes to today?

For further study:  Deuteronomy 6:3, Psalm 119:34, Isaiah 43:10, Jonah 2:8, Matthew 28:18-20, John 14:23, Romans 6:16, 1 John 5:3-4, 2 John 6.

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

Love,
Holly

"This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad!" - Psalm 118:24

This was on Facebook this morning:



"Ever wonder what might happen if you used your Bible

as often as you use your cellphone?"



Our verse today is one of those life-giving exhortations to recognize what a gift today is and to respond appropriately. 

In 4th Grade Sunday School (yes, I'm still in 4th Grade!!) this past weekend, our lesson was on Paul and Silas singing hymns and praising God even after being beaten and thrown in prison (Acts 16:16-40).  Our table activity was to make a "JOY" folder and put scriptures in it that talk about joy.  Joy is possible even when the circumstances of our lives are not good.

I recently read about Lauren Scruggs, a young fashion blogger from Dallas, who lost an eye and an arm in a propeller accident.  Listen to one of her recent "tweets":

"Humbled and thankful to share the journey

God has chosen 4 me.  Hope it helps others learn,

as I have, that He is enough."

John Piper says: "God created us to live with a single passion to joyfully display his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life."  Not just when everything is going our way!  As believers, we have been given the Holy Spirit to indwell us and to produce His fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23) If we're not producing it, guess who makes that decision?  Does anyone else need a JOY folder?

For further study:  Psalm 86:1, Psalm 100:2, Psalm 107:22, Habakkuk 3:18, Matthew 5:12, Romans 12:12, Philippians 4:4, 1 Thessalonians 5:16, James 1:2.

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

Love,

Holly

"Create in me a pure heart, O God" - Psalm 51:10

It's Monday morning and I'm thrilled to return to my sewing room.  There's just one problem:  I can't find what I'm looking for on my sewing table because it's such a mess!  Sometimes we make poor choices because we don't take the time to purify (clean) our work spaces...or our hearts!

David, in Psalm 51, was very aware of his moral failure (v. 3) with Bathsheba and he knew some cleaning was necessary; and he knew who the Cleanser was.  Confession was necessary before he could go one step further.  The great news is that after confession and cleansing, he was ready to share what he had learned with other transgressors (v. 13).  Read 2 Samuel 11-12 to see how easily David fell into such an awful pattern of sin.  The "lust of the heart" is a very dangerous thing and we must daily stay in prayer and God's word to keep from making the same wrong choices.  Joe Stowell says:

                  "Drift is inevitable unless we monitor our hearts daily staying
                  close to Jesus and obedient to his voice."

Drift is exactly what the enemy wants in our lives.  The last thing he wants is for us to stand firm on Biblical principles...telling others what we know to be true!  Is there anything you need to clean out?

For further study:  Leviticus 16:30, 1 Samuel 16:7, 1 Kings 3:12, 1 Chronicles 28:9,  Psalm 66:18, Psalm 119:11, Psalm 139:23-24, Proverbs 4:23, Matthew 12:34, Luke 6:45, 1 John 1:9

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

Love,
Holly

"Stand firm in the Lord" - Philippians 4:1

Paul - with tears in his eyes - in the preceding verses of Chapter 3 was exhorting genuine believers to not live as enemies of the cross of Christ whose minds were on earthly things.  In 4:1, he pleads with them to "stand firm in the Lord" and live responsible Christian lives.  If we stand firm in anything else, we are doomed to failure.

While watching the 2012 Summer Olympics, I have realized how hard it is to "stand firm", especially in the gymnastics competition.  The term "stick" is used when you can firmly plant your feet without an extra step - especially to either side.  I take a alot of extra steps - I call them distractions and they get me off course...of course I LET them get me off course.  To stand firm is to stay focused and do exactly what is right.

Peter, in Matthew 14:28-31, gave us a perfect example of veering off course.  He was firmly planted - even on the water - as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus.  But the minute he focused somewhere else, down he went!

So how do we "stick"?  By focusing on God's word, being diligent in prayer and Bible study and saying no to the things that lead us astray.  I know what those things are in my life, and when I entertain them or allow them into my day, down I go!

For further study:  Exodus 14:13-14, Psalm 40:2, Isaiah 30:21, Matthew 10:22, John 15:5, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Ephesians 6:11-18, 2 Thes. 2:15, James 5:8, 1 Peter 5:8-9.

Be blesssed in your understanding of God's word.

Love,
Holly

Cast your cares on the Lord - Psalm 55:22

"No strength of our own nor goodness we claim

Our trust is all thrown on Jesus' dear name.

In this our strong tower for safety we hide

The Lord is our power; the Lord will provide."

                                                                                                 John Newton

John Newton's hymn gives us the perfect picture of what it means to "cast" your problems, concerns, anxieties,  etc. on the Lord.  You throw them out - not bringing them back - with the hope of a sure return.  I recently watched a fisherman cast out his line - he wasn't just doing it for sport, he was hoping for dinner!

When we trust our good God with our hopes and our fears, He assures us in His word He is able to handle them because of His awesome and limitless power and His great love for us.  Why do we turn to so many other sources with our cares?  Why do we go over and over them...grazing on them as if they were grass for a cow. David in Psalm 73 knew God would hear him and rescue him. 

Do you really believe God is sufficient?   Do you really believe He cares for you?  Just as the fisherman threw out his line, let us "cast our cares on the Lord".   He is just waiting for us to ask!

For further study:  Psalm 8:1-4, 18:19, 20:7; Isaiah 30:18, Naham 1:7, John 21:1-6, Romans 15:13, 1 Timothy 6:17, Hebrews 2:6, 1 Peter 5:7.

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word!

Love,

Holly



God is the strength of my heart... - Psalm 73:26

My brother-in-law is struggling with some potentially-serious heart issues.  The result is breathing difficulty, fluid buildup, weight loss, fatigue, weakness and pain.  A heart that is not healthy produces symptoms that need to be corrected.

What about a healthy heart?  How does one get a healthy heart?  God promises to completely change our hearts (Ezekiel 36:26)...to give us a heart of flesh from a heart of stone.  Only His indwelling Spirit can do the strengthening.  Our psalmist knew both kinds of hearts.  In v. 21-22, when his heart was grieved (unhealthy), his spirit was bitter (unhealthy) and he was senseless and ignorant (unhealthy).   But - good news! - v. 26 says: "...my flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart...".  Oddly enough, the psalmist began to understand his issues when he "entered the sanctuary of God" (v. 17).

When God is the strength of my heart, some of my characteristics are being:

--loving (1 John 4:7)
--merciful (Micah 6:8)
--peaceloving (1 Cor. 7:15)
--humble (1 Peter 5:6)
--content (Hebrews 13:5)
--a servant (1 Peter 4:10)
--grateful (Hebrews 12:28-29)

Henri Nouwen says through Jesus, we are God's beloved, just like when God said of him "you are my Son, the Beloved; my favor rests on you" (Mark 1:10-11).  Nouwen says:

                          "...he is being sent into the world so that
                           through him all people will discover and
                           claim their own belovedness."

Are you claiming your belovedness by allowing God to be the strength of your heart?  Spend time with Him in prayer and His word, and see if your heart doesn't grow stronger!

For further study:  Exodus 15:2, 2 Samuel 22:33, 2 Chronicles 16:9, Psalm 28:7, Isaiah 41:10, Ephesians 3:16, Philippians 4:13

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word!

Love,
Holly


                   

"Put your hope in God" - Psalm 42:5

Our psalmist in today's verse may have been in exile, away from all he loved, including his worship time with the Lord.  He was downcast (the opposite of  hopeful) and felt forgotten and oppressed;  but his faith was strong and he knew to go "deep" and remind himself of God's promises.  When we cling to those promises we know to be true in His word, our hope is renewed.  Our hearts must learn to trust even when we cannot see or feel God's presence. 

I saw a clip on The Today Show this morning of the young girl in Georgia who has been afflicted with the flesh-eating disease and has lost limbs.  What a joy to see the smile on her face when she was able to go outside and enjoy the sunshine.  Her dad, with a smile on his face, said because of prayer they were able to be grateful and joyful in the midst of this trial.  Here's great news:  joy follows hope...it is the fruit of  hope.  Henri Nouwen in HERE AND NOW says:
           
                              "When we trust profoundly that today is the day of the Lord
                              and that tomorrow is safely hidden in God's love, our faces
                              can relax, and we can smile back at the One who smiles at us."

Hope is found in no one else but God.  As we look around the world today, despair rises up.  But Chuck Colson said: "Despair is a sin because it denies the sovereignty of God."  This is what I know to be true:
--God is love (1 John 4:16)
--In Him there is no darkness (1 John 1:5)
--He has a plan and it is good (Jeremiah 29:11)
--We have life in His Son (John 3:16)
--I will never be separated from His love (Romans 8:38)

This pillow sits on our bed:

Who can you encourage with hope today?

For further study:  Job 13:15, Psalm 71:14, Psalm 73:26,  Proverbs 13:12, Isaiah 40:31, Romans 8:24, 28, 1 Corinthians 13:13, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Titus 2:11-14, Hebrews 6:17-20 and 10:23, 1 John 3:1-3.

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

Love,

Holly

Think on lovely things... - Phil. 4:8

"...whatever is true, whatever is noble,

whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,

whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or

praiseworthy - think about such things"

My mother said it differently...she always told me "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all".  The child's song says:

                                     

                                        "Oh be careful little eyes what you see,

                                          Oh be careful little ears what you hear,

                                          For the Father up above is looking down in love

                                          Oh be careful little eyes what you see."

You might say: "garbage in, garbage out".  The Scripture says it like this: "We demolish arguments and every pretention that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5).

In case you haven't noticed, there are a lot of "unlovely" things to watch and read out there.  I find myself more and more unable to tolerate what's in print or on the television...pictures stay in my head and often what stays in my head is thought about a lot.

So, my summer reading will not be including E.L. James' FIFTY SHADES OF GREY.  Mary Kassian, a respected Christian speaker/author, wrote on Revive our Hearts why she will not be reading it.  I think it is worth repeating.  Here are her 7 reasons:

1.  It violates God's design for sex.

2.  It violates the biblical concept of authority.

3.  It violates the biblical concept of submission.

4.  It encourages the sin of sensuality.

5.  It promotes sexual perversion.

6.  It glamorizes pathological relationships.

7.  You won't get it out of your head.

I don't have to experience something for myself to know the danger of the experience.  Dannah Gresh, in a similar article, says:

                     "God has given me more than fifty shades of truth in His word

                     and when just one of them is in conflict with my entertainment

                     choices, I choose to pass!"

There are a lot of things we don't have choices in, but for the life of me I can't figure out why women would want to read such books.  As for me, I will choose to read things that honor God rather than grieve Him.  Respect yourself more than supporting those things that describe severe emotional and physical pain.  Choose to "think on lovely things...".

For further study:  Genesis 2:24, Psalm 33:13-15, Psalm 119:37, 127-128, Proverbs 4:23, Proverbs 22:5, 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, Hebrews 13:4, 1 John 2:15-17.

Our pillow open house is this Thursday from 1 to 5...you are all invited!

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word!

Love,

Holly



GREAT IS THE LORD

"Great is the Lord and most worthy

of praise; his greatness no one can fathom."

Psalm 145:3

GREAT IS THE LORD because

...He created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1)
...He never leaves us or forsakes us (Deuteronomy 31:8)
...He drives out our enemy (Deuteronomy 33:27)
...He alone heals and forgives (2 Chron. 7:14)
...He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed (Job 5:9)
...His plans stand firm forever (Psalm 33:11)
...He is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18)
...His love endures forever (Psalm 100:5)
...He alone is righteous (Psalm 119:137)
...He gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness (Ecc. 2:26)
...His compassions never fail (Lamentations 3:22)
...He is mighty to save (Zephaniah 3:17)
...He removes our heart of stone and gives us a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26)
...He loved the world so much He gave His only Son for those who believe (John 3:16)
...He gives us His Spirit to guide us into truth (John 16:13)
...All things were created by Him...and in Him all things hold together (Colossians 1:16-17)
...His word stands forever (Isaiah 40:8 and 1 Peter 1:25)
...He knows everything (1 John 3:20)
...He loves, enabling us to love (1 John 4:19)
...He alone will reign forever and ever (Revelation 11:15)

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

Love,
Holly

Seek first the kingdom of God - Matt. 6:33

Jesus spoke these words in the Sermon on the Mount.  He had just cautioned those listening against worrying about life (ugh!), about what they would eat (ugh!), about what they would wear (double ugh!!).   The rest of verse 33 says "...all these things will be given to you as well".  Why do we spend so much time on "these things" and so little on His kingdom? 

Henri Nouwen in HERE AND NOW says:

                      "Without a clear goal, we will always be distracted
                        and spend our energy on secondary things."

The athletes in the Summer Olympics are very clear in their goal and everthing in their day revolves around that goal. There are billboards out today that say: "THINK GOD"...not a bad thought!
"Seek first the kingdom of God"...now that's a worthy goal!

Maybe I need to do a little reordering of my goals.  How about you?

For further study:  Deuteronomy 4:29, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Jonah 2:8, Matthew 6:19-20, Galatians 5:16-17, Hebrews 11:6, 12:1-3, James 4:7-8, 1 John 2:15-17, Revelation 3:17-20.

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

Love,
Holly

"I will be joyful in God my Savior" - Hab. 3:18

You might be saying "I think she's already done this verse"...and you would be right!  Some friends from a small group call me "Hollyanna" because I do tend to (sometimes naively) look at the bright side of things and this is probably the third pillow I've done on a variation of this theme!

I think life is about making choices and I think (maybe naively) a blesssed life is about making the right choices.  I heard an inspiring testimony recently from Marabel Morgan - a gifted Bible teacher - in Miami.  She told of her childhood when her mother told her she would have to choose between Jesus or her...she couldn't have both.  If she chose Jesus, her door would be forever closed to Marabel.  She chose Jesus and her mother kept her word.  However, the Lord had a wonderful plan for Marabel's life and countless people have been influenced by her blessed life.

Joe Stowell says: "We can compete with God's plan and pursue our own agenda.  Or we can converge with God's plan and join the winning side.  The choice is ours."

God's plan - according to His word - is that we would be filled with His Spirit (Eph. 5:18) and develop His fruit - joy being a part of that fruit (Gal. 5:22-23).  Habakkuk struggled with evil and injustice - as we do today.  But in the end, he knew that whether things went well or not, he would CHOOSE JOY!

For further study:  Deuteronomy 30:19-20, 2 Chronicles 34:3-7, Joshua 24:15, Proverbs 8:10, Proverbs 21:21, Romans 12:17, Philippians 4:8, 2 Thessalonians 3:13.

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

Love,
Holly

"My heart rejoices in the Lord" - 1 Samuel 2:1

One of the most self-sacrificing characters in the Bible is Hannah, who prayed for a very long time for a son.  She would faithfully go to the temple year after year crying in anguish to the Lord, vowing to return her child in service if her prayer was answered.  God heard her prayer and gave her the desire of her heart.  Just as she was faithful in her pleas, she was faithful in her word and when Samuel grew old enough she did indeed return him to the temple in service.  She didn't resent her sacrifice;  in fact, our verse for today is her rejoicing over her privilege!

This Mothers Day, may all mothers learn from Hannah about our mission in raising our children:  to love and nurture them and send them out to influence the world in service to the Lord.

What a great privilege I have had as a mother to raise our two wonderful sons.  But there were a few years when it felt more like the hardest job I ever had!  You've heard it said: "real mothers don't eat quiche; they don't have time to make it!".   One woman with young children said the work of a mother is "back-breaking, heart-wrenching and anxiety producing and that's just the morning!"

I want to be more like Hannah.  She was a woman of prayer, a woman of gratitude, a woman of joy and a woman of faith.

Elisa Morgan of MOPS says "mothering is a small seed that grows into a big plant".  We have been given a great gift to participate in that process.  Happy Mothers Day to all the mothers (and that includes those who love and nurture children others have given birth to!).

For further study, you might enjoy reading about other mothers of the Bible: Sarah (Gen. 17-21), Rebekah (Genesis 24), Jochebed, mother of Moses (Exodus 2:1-10), The Widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:2-24), the woman in Proverbs 31:10-31, and Mary (Luke 1: 26-56).

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

Love,
Holly

"God is the strength of my heart" - Psalm 73:26

                        "My flesh and my heart may fail

                        but God is the strength of my heart

                        and my portion forever."

What are the things that make you the most anxious?  For me:  bridges, spiders, conflict, dirty bathrooms are a few.  We are peculiar about the things we don't like!  The author of Psalm 73 spent the first 16 verses talking about the things he didn't like.  Finally, in verse 17, he got smart and "entered the sanctuary of God" and could begin to see things clearly.

If "God is the strength of my heart", will I react differently to things I don't like?  Cathy Jodeit recently wrote a devotional about how God's approach is so different than ours to difficult people or situations.  She says of God:  "He listens...He understands...He patiently guides...He is compassionate and ALWAYS grounded in love."

If God truly is my strength, then I will listen, understand, be patient, compassionate and always grounded in love.  Might we be willing today to know that we don't know the way others take, but we do know the way that we take.

For further study:  2 Samuel 22:33, 1 Kings 8:61, Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 46:1, Proverbs 4:23, Isaiah 40:31, 1 Corinthians 1:25, Philippians 4:13, Hebrews 13:6, 1 Peter 4:11

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

Love,

Holly

"Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust" - Psalm 40:4

David, in this psalm, had just explained the "pit" he had been in prior to his trusting the Lord.  We're not sure exactly what that pit was (he had a few!) but it was a desperate and hopeless place.  Have you ever been there?

I just finished working through PARENTING BY THE BOOK by John Rosemond and found it to be very stimulating.  Psalm 40:4 was the opening scripture and reminds me how important it is in parenting to have the Lord be your guide.  A few of the helps he gives when we find ourselves in a pit raising children:

1.  If it's a two parent home, husband and wife should act as "one flesh", in other words "in one accord", together. (Genesis 2:24)

2.  As the parent, live your life according to Biblical principles (Deu. 6:6-7).

3.  Stay focused on the big picture - raising responsible, charitable, compassionate citizens.  Don't get bogged down in the day-to-day issues or short-sighted in your focus (Prov. 22:6).

4.  Be who you need to be in the child's particular season of life and then "let them fly" (my words).
(Ecc. 3:1)  Mark Harris wrote "Find Your Wings" and he sang:

                 "I'm here for you whatever this life brings
                 So let my love give you roots
                 And help you find your wings."

It seems more stressful to raise children today than when we were kids (what did we know?#!), but the Bible is the same and it holds valuable insight for us as parents or grandparents.  Our children are a gift and we are given guidance from the Lord as to how to train them up.  My desire and my prayer is that our sons will be Godly influences in the world in spite of what we may or may not have done right.

For further study:  Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 10:12-13, 30:19-20, Proverbs 3:12, 20:11, 29:17,  Romans 1:22, 25, Ephesians 6:4, Colossians 3:20, 1 Tim 3:4-5, Titus 2:4-5, Hebrews 12:11

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

Love,
Holly

INVESTMENT ADVICE - 2 Peter 1:1-11

HAPPY SPRING!  I have missed you so much...I was out of town for 3 weeks and I'm just getting back in the sewing room.  I'll have new pillows starting next week, but today I just want to share a word from today's message in "Our Daily Bread".

We all seem very interested in the stock market, portfolios, 401ks, etc.  But Peter warns us to invest wisely in our "spiritual accounts" as well:

                         "...make every effort to add to your faith goodness...
                         knowledge...self-control...perseverance...godliness...
                         kindness...love..."

Do you know why?  Verse 8 says "...to keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ".  Ugh...I often feel ineffective and unproductive and now I know why!!!  The word for "add" is epichoregeo - to contribute or fully supply.  Think about the things we work so hard to "fully supply":

                      --our bank accounts
                      --our bodies
                      --our closets
                      --our children
                      --our resumes
                      --our gardens

Anne Cetas says: "Investing money in retirement funds can be profitable, but investing in our spiritual lives offers the best kind of return for our future".

For further study: Psalm 1:3, Proverbs 11:30, Ecc. 2:10-11, Ezekiel 47:1-12, Jonah 2:8,  Matthew 7:16-20, John 15:8, 16, Galatians 5:22-23, Colossians 1:10-12.

A special "shout out" to a new friend of HSP, Giovanni S. in Naples, Italy!  How fun to meet brothers and sisters in Christ all around the world!

May you be blessed in your understanding of God's word!

Love,
Holly

"The Lord will guide you always" - Isaiah 58:11

"Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,

Pilgrim through this barren land;

I am weak, but Thou art mighty;

Hold me with Thy powerful hand"

What a wonderful hymn of faith...His hand is ALWAYS powerful, ALWAYS guiding!  The prophet Isaiah was cautioning the people to not follow temple regulations for a great show, but to seek the leadership and blessing of the Lord.  Our Lord's leadership today will guide us to do the right things if we will pay attention!

Our church just read NOT A FAN by Kyle Idleman, about being a follower of Jesus, not a fan - there is a huge difference.  Fans come and go; followers do not!  In his book, there is a wonderful account of the first foreign missionaries, Adoniram and Anne Judson.  They felt led to go to Burma in 1813...where of course no missionary had gone before.  They experienced much hardship - prison, illness, torture, even Anne's death.   But because they allowed the Lord to guide them there today not only is the Bible translated into Burmese, but there are 3700 congregations in that country.  And guess what else?  First Baptist San Antonio today has over 200 Burmese refugees worshipping with us because of their work!  One of the young boys calls me "Miss Holly Wood" and I just love it!  I get to teach these children the Bible that the Judsons gave their lives translating!  What a privilege!

Going wherever the Lord guides us will ALWAYS be the right direction!

For further study:  Exodus 15:13, Joshua 1:9, Psalm 48:14, Psalm 119:35, Psalm 139:7-10, Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 30:20-21,Jonah 3:1-3, Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 9:23, John 16:13, 2 Thes. 3:5

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

Love,

Holly

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to the Lord - Psalm 19:14

David, the poet in this psalm, knew the connection between the heart and the tongue.  He knew if praise was within him, it would flow out of him.  He also knew the difference between his God being disappointed in him and pleased with him.
Does praise rise up out of our hearts or is it something else?  I once heard someone say "praise rises up as a natural overflow of a grateful heart".  What flows up out of an ungrateful heart?  I'm afraid we all know...or maybe only I know!

Joe Stowell (I know...my fav!) in THE WEIGHT OF YOUR WORDS talks about the tongue as discussed in James 3:3-6 as a bit, a rudder and a fire.  He says:

       "These things are all affected by something else.  The horse's bit is controlled by the
       rider; the rudder is wielded by the helmsman and the fire is born in the spark.  So
       our tongues march to the drumbeat of our spirits."

He also says: "...our speech problems are really heart problems.  Our tongues are the servants of our spirits.  My words simply reveal what's on my heart."

When we ask God to give us pure hearts (Psalm 51:10), guess what begins to happen to our words?
The Lord longs to be gracious to you (Isaiah 30:18)...He has an incredible plan for you to be gracious to others with your words and your actions, to build them up and not tear them down (Eph. 4:29-32).  May our words and our thoughts be a sweet aroma to our God and to others beginning today!

For further study:  Psalm 51:10,  66:18, 119:9-16; Proverbs 4:23-24, 12:18, 27:19; Ezekiel 36:26-27, Matthew 12:33-37, 23:25-26; Luke 6:43-45, Ephesians 4:29-32, James 3:3-6

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

Love,
Holly

"Be content with whatever you have..." Hebrews 13:5

We still have our Christmas wreath on our front door, which frustrates me, because a sweet mother wren has built a nest there and laid her eggs in that nest!  That protective mother is not happy with us - in fact I believe she is very discontent every time we go in and out.  Of course she flies off when we approach and my poor husband - while bringing in a ladder at 5:30 a.m. Sunday morning to change the smoke alarm battery! - even had to shoo her out of the house.  We are the world and she cannot control our actions.

Warren Wiersbe says:

          "Real contentment must come from within.  You and I cannot change
          or control the world around us, but we can change and control the
          world within us."

That bird can control her response to us.  I can control my response to that bird.  Contentment is a choice to be satisfied with what you have.  Joe Stowell says "contentment liberates the heart".  In a world where we are always looking for more of what we do not have, let's be more like the author of Hebrews who believes if we have the Lord as our helper, we can be content.  Any interest in being liberated?

For further study:  Psalm 23:1, Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 and 5:10, Matthew 6:24, Luke 12:15, Philippians 4:11-12, 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

Love,
Holly

P.S.  If anyone can find more of the discontinued IKEA Fabler fabric (sold in 4 yard packs) on the "whimsy red" pillow added below, I'll send you a free pillow!

"Be strong in the Lord..." - Ephesians 6:10

In l996, our little family moved from North Florida to South Texas.  We had not been NBA fans up until that point (although as an Indiana girl, it was always in me!), but when we found the San Antonio Spurs, we were hooked!  Our boys grew up watching and listening to David Robinson, one of the finest men you'll ever know.  He was a part of the community...in fact he spoke a word of encouragement in our church the Sunday after 911.  He has started a school for low income children where "strength of character" is the hallmark.  He walks the talk!  David said before he retired:

  "I have an unbelievable responsibility on the basketball floor to honor what God
   has given me...I have a responsibility to come out here and work, make myself better
   and better, and not for my glory and honor but for his.  So that's my drive.  God
   doesn't want wimps.   He wants warriors."   HOW TO RAISE AN MVP by Ambrose
   and Freda Robinson

I picture this pillow in a child's playroom, encouraging him/her to not be strong like football players are strong, but to be strong "...in the Lord and in his mighty power".  Following this verse is how to fight against spiritual warfare with the "armor of God".  What a wonderful lesson to teach our children...not to depend on themselves, but to depend on the mighty power of God.

Do your children have role models?  May they see Godly men and women and imitate their faith!

For further study:  Exodus 15:2, Joshua 1:6-9, 1 Samuel 30:6, 2 Samuel 22:33, Nehemiah 8:10,
Psalm 28:7, Psalm 46:1, Isaiah 40:31, 1 Corinthian 1:25, Philippians 4:13, 1 Peter 4:11.

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

Love,
Holly

IN GOD WE TRUST

Do you know what President Abraham Lincoln's favorite hymn was - and by the way he had many!  Our church sponsored an event over the weekend with Dr. Edward Spann, a Dallas hymnologist, who has written a book entitled PRESIDENTIAL PRAISE.  In it he tells of over 40 U.S. presidents who loved singing hymns and what their favorites were.  One of President Lincoln's was "How Tedius and Tasteless the Hours" written by John Newton.

It's Presidents Day and our verse for the day is actually the motto of our U.S. money - coins and currency.  It was adopted in l864 during President Lincoln's term because his Secretary of the Treasury believed that "...no nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in his defense."  President Ronald Reagan said "if we ever forget we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."  These are difficult days for our country...our society has become critical, selfish and hard to govern.  I want a president who will seek strength and wisdom from God...I believe our current president does.

We have a great privilege to be able to not only trust God for our country's welfare, but to be able to pray directly that He will give wisdom and guidance to those who govern our country.  Our nation was founded on reliance upon God's wisdom and power and it is imperative that not only our leaders, but ourselves as well, trust God every day with every part of our government.  We have elections coming up...I will be voting for the one who seeks his wisdom from God.

For further study:  Psalm 20:7, Psalm 56:4, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Isaiah 8:12-17, Romans 9:33, Romans 13:1-7, 1 Timothy 2:1-8, Titus 3:1-2, Hebrews 13:17, James 1:5

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

Love,
Holly

"My heart rejoices in the Lord" - 1 Samuel 2:1

This statement was made by a woman named Hannah, who after months of anguished and desperate prayer, was given the son she had so longed for.  During her desperate days, she vowed to give her son back to the Lord's service if she was given her heart's desire.  She named her son, Samuel, which means "because I asked the Lord for him".  True to her word, after approximately 3 years of weaning her child, she and her husband took this child back to the temple.  She wasn't bitter or resentful, but she was gracious and joyful at the privilege.  This young boy eventually became a mighty man of God.

I feel like there is great temptation these days, especially here in America, to think our children are given to us for our own enjoyment.  We are sacrificing our marriages - the ones the Lord gave us first - and making the children the center of our homes.  John Rosemond ( I recommend PARENTING BY THE BOOK) says: "child-centered homes breed less happy parents".  Granted, our goal in life is not to be happy, but to be obedient to what the Scriptures teach.  Hannah knew her job was to love her child and serve the Lord, not serve her own selfish interests.

Secondly, I think we're inclined to say to the Lord what we want for our children rather than what the Lord has planned for our children.  In Carol Kent's book: WHEN I LAY MY ISAAC DOWN, she says:

                                   "...when we release our grasp, our relinquishment puts a
                                   stop to our manipulation of other people and releases the
                                   Holy Spirit to do the supernatural through the power of prayer...
                                   it's an act of trusting God."

Are we willing to turn over to God those things that are most precious to us in order that His purposes might be served?  Our job is to educate and release our children in the Lord's power to make a difference in the world.  Now that's something to rejoice about!

For further study:  Genesis 22:1-18, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Psalm 37:4, Proverbs 3:5-6, 22:6, 29:17, Isaiah 66:13; Luke 1:46-55, Titus 2:4-5, Hebrews 11:6

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word!

Love,
Holly

"Every good and perfect gift is from the Lord..." - James 1:17

"It is always possible to be thankful for what is

given rather than resentful over what is withheld -

one attitude or the other becomes a way of life."

Elisabeth Eliot

Two new pillows have been added today that I believe have remarkably similar messages - James 1:17 and 2 Cor. 12:9.  I did a blog last May about Isaiah 30:18 on "Recognizing and Sharing Grace", but "grace" happens to be one of my key words...I absolutely love the very idea of God's grace.  The point is His sufficiency, not ours.

These passages were written by two different authors:  Paul wrote the letters to the Corinthians and James, probably the brother of Jesus, wrote the book of James.  Both, however, were written during times of trial for them.  Paul was battling the "thorn in the flesh" and James was encouraging those in his midst who were enduring trials.  In both cases, they were saying "look around you, God's blessings are real - do not miss them!".  My Daily Bread (while my Don was enduring chemo 3 years ago) said "A trial may be God's gift in disguise."

John Lubbock says: "What we see depends mainly on what we look for."  What do you see around you today?  Do you see hurdles,  things that need to be fixed, disappointments and irritating people?  Or do you see blessings, encouraging words, beautiful flowers, God's word,  help in a crisis, or someone walking alongside you to listen?

Richard Blackaby says: "How tragic to be enslaved to bitterness, unforgiveness or anxiety when God's grace can banish these joy-robbers from your life."

Here's an assignment for you:  today,, find three things that you can see as gifts from the Lord and thank Him.  Then go out and be a gift to someone else!

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word!

For further study:  Proverbs 3:34, Jonah 2:8, Luke 2:40, John 1:16, Romans 5:15-21, 2 Corinthians 4:15, 6:1-2 and 9:8, Galatians 2:21, Ephesians 2:8-9, Philippians 4:8-10, Titus 2:11.

Love,

Holly

LOVE - 1 Corinthians 13

The following is taken from LISTEN TO LOVE by Regina Press:

"Love has many voices.  Love sends its greeting in the smile of a friend,

the contented sighs of a baby, the felt whisperings of the Spirit.

Often we are slow to recognize how many voices are really love's voice.

"God is love" says John the Evangelist.  "He who dwells in love is dwelling in

God and God in him."

Love speaks in many places.  It leans against the neighbor's fence or

comes sniffing into a kitchen filled with cooking.  It walks amid

the bustle of the city streets or stands on a crowded bus.

Love has many moods.  Sometimes love is bold and happy or else

it is anxious and hestitant.  Sometimes it is riotous and demanding, or

gentle and relaxed, or even sober and practical.  Sometimes love just waits.

Loves comes in all seasons.  It rides the icy winds of winter and

laughs with raindrops in the spring.  It wanders through the restless

heat of summer and catches leaves of autumn as they fall.

Listen to love."

The trouble is, we're not very good listeners these days...we talk, we text, we tweet.  If we really listened to the "felt whisperings of the Spirit", we would know that "love comes from God", that "everyone who loves has been born of God", that "there is no fear in love...", that "we love because he first loved us."  (1 John 4:2-19).

So John tells us we have been loved and, therefore, we should (and can) love.  This Valentine's Day...

...be patient and kind

...don't envy or boast

...don't be proud or rude or self-seeking

...don't be angry or keep track when others are

...rejoice in the truth

...protect, trust, hope, persevere

(1 Corinthians 13)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, FRIENDS. Love someone else as you have been loved!

For further study:  Deuteronomy 6:5, Psalm 100:5, Isaiah 54:10, Jeremiah 31:3, Matthew 22:37-40,

John 10:27, John 13:34-35, Romans 5:8, Philippians 1:9-11

Be blessed in your understanding of God's love!

Love,

Holly





"Though the fig tree does not bud...yet I will rejoice in the Lord" - Habakkuk 3:17-18

The Old Testament prophet, Habbakkuk, had, as the saying goes, "a difficult row to hoe".  His book is a lament and plea to God about the moral and spiritual decay in the land of Judah.  We see his complaints and the Lord's answers.  But the words, which may have been written to sing in the temple, in the final chapter are especially worth noting.

Notice he doesn't say what he feels...he says what he wills!  By sheer faith and determination, he made a choice to rejoice!  He had a heart of faith and he knew, even if there was something like a complete crop failutre in the land and there was nothing to eat, God would still be worthy of praise.  My commentary said "so long as he knew the Giver, he could be unconcerned about the gifts."  Wow, what a lesson for us!

My friend, Barbara Troutz, wrote Resurfacing:Climbing Out of the Pit of Grief and after losing a precious son, she said she had lost her joy and wanted it back.  She said "joy is not the absence of suffering, but the presence of God".  So what happens to the joy? She said "I have quenched it by my actions, my choices, my selfishness".  What might be robbing you of joy today?

So with our prophet and my friend, today let's say "...yet I will rejoice in the Lord".

For further study:  Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 51:12, Psalm 118:24, Romans 12:12, Galatians 5:22-23, Philippians 4:4, 1 Thes. 5:16, Hebrews 11:1, James 1:2-3.

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

Love,
Holly

"Pray" - A great way to start the New Year!

Happy New Year, everyone!  It seems like forever since we've been together...we married off our youngest son (see picture below) and it was a beautiful ceremony and event...family and friends came from all over...I thought I would die of happiness!   But the year has started and I've committed to once again reading the Bible through this year.  I add that to my regular devotional and am always blessed when I do.  But one discipline I can never change is my need for prayer.  I can't imagine having gone through Christmas and the wedding without my own dependence upon the Lord or the promise of our friends and family to pray for His work in all the events.  So it seemed appropriate to introduce my new pillow style for 2012 with the admonition to "pray".  I am speaking to a women's group this week about praying for our husbands and I'm using one of my points for this blog.

So, generally, why do we pray?  Oswald Chambers says "it is not so true that prayer changes things as that prayer changes me and I change things".  Besides the fact that we are in a love relationship with our Almighty God and need to spend time with him, the following are 5 possible reasons why you might pray:

1.  We pray because the Bible calls us to pray.  2 Chron. 7:14, Prov. 15:8, Romans 12:12, Phil. 4:6, James 5:16.

2.  We pray because we need to be changed.  Psalm 51:10, Prov. 21:19, Jer. 17:9, Ez. 47:1-12

3.  We pray because there is no other power available to us. Joshua 1:9, Psalm 46:1, James 4:8

4.  We pray because Jesus modeled prayer for us and we are His followers. Matt. 6:9, John 17, Matt. 26:36

5.  We pray because it is our only defense against the enemy.  Eph. 6:10-18.

If you are too busy to pray, then you will find yourself frustrataed and weary.  Stormy Omartian says "there is too much at stake if we don't pray".

May you be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

Love,

Holly