He Holds Our Hand

Today's post is from Dawn at The Most Perfect Gift

“The steps of a man are established by the Lord,

and He delights in his way.

When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong,

because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.”

Psalm 37:23-24

Several years ago, I was walking through the parking lot at work with a friend/colleague. As we were talking, we continued to walk up the pathway to our building. Somehow I stepped down halfway on the sidewalk and halfway on the grass and it launched me forward with such a force! All I can remember was being propelled forward while trying to keep myself from falling flat on my face! Eventually, my legs caught up with the top half of my body and I regained control. I was left feeling quite dazed and all I could do was laugh! You know that uncontrollable laugh were you laugh so hard you begin to cry and your sides hurt so badly?!!? I just love laughing like that and wish it happened more frequently! Anyway, my friend was confused as to what had just happened. She was thinking I did that on purpose! I laughed even harder imagining what I must have looked like!

This past incident came to my mind after I read today's key scripture. I got so excited because I could actually visualize the Lord Almighty right there grabbing my hand and catching me. 

Reading this scripture touched something deep inside me.  It was like I was reading it for the very first time even though  in the Bible, we read all throughout how God is always with us and he will never forsake us. We hear pastors preach it. We encourage our family and friends with this same truth and tell it again and again to our children. But we must remember to not become complacent to what the Word says. 

God is in control of all things. He is the One who establishes our steps and when we trust and surrender all to Him and live our lives according to His will, He delights in us! It's His plan and let’s not forget this and try to get out in front of Him. When we do that, we are not letting Him guide us down the right pathway. Instead, we are saying, “Hey, my way is better or I can’t wait for your direction.” Before we know it, we are so far out ahead of Him.

I can't recall how many times I have said to my boys, "Wait for mommy! Don't get too far ahead, stay where I can see you!" Every time my boys and I walk through a parking lot or cross a street I say, “Hands, hands” and immediately they know to grab a hold of my hand. This way I can lead them safely to the other side. Its the same with our loving Father. He is with us, leading us and when we fall He is there to catch us, to  hold our hand and to guide us. 

Let’s seek Him and trust Him and let Him lead the way!

Dear Heavenly Father,

So many times we try to do things our own way. Forgive us for thinking we can be in control and press it upon our hearts to ask You first in all things in what direction You would like us to take. We praise Your Holy Name just for who You are. As we trust in You, transform us into being more like You.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

Roots That Run Deep

Today's post comes from Dawn at The Most Perfect Gift

I love sitting on the swing on my front porch in the cool of the summer morning. There is something about the early morning that brings hope and peace to my soul. Perhaps its the promise of a new day, the starting over and God's mercy for another chance to get right what I didn't the day before. 

Many times my boys will come out and ask me what am I doing? I say, "I'm praying or talking to God." 

It is in these times where I feel God's love so much I just want to cry. His love and faithfulness is beyond my understanding and all I can do is praise and thank Him. He is my portion and my cup runneth over. 

This morning as I was sitting in my favorite place, a group of boys from the high school track team ran past my house. One by one I wondered, do you know Jesus? I asked God to bless each and every one of these boys and prayed that they know Him. I wondered where are their roots and how deep do they go? My thoughts turned to my own boys. Will their roots run deep so they can stay strong in the Lord all the days of their lives? 

I was reminded of a message a guest speaker spoke at my church a few weeks ago. Her message was on exactly just that. We must have strong roots that run deep so when trials come we may bend, but we will not break. We need to be so rooted in Him and His Word that we are able to walk through the storm with Jesus Christ and declare victory when we get to the other side. 

"Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude." Colossians 2:6-7 NASB

Many times I have thought I wish I had tunnel vision and all I could see was Jesus. This way nothing in this world could distract me from keeping my eyes fixed on Him.

I love the words from the hymn, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His Glory and Grace.”

As Christ followers we need to feed ourselves daily with His word and encourage and build each other up. As the body of Christ let’s not be weak, but strong with roots that run deep.  Are you with me?

Heavenly Father,
We come before You today, Lord with praise and thanksgiving in our hearts for who You are. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on You and not on the things of this world. You are our hope, our salvation and our shield. Renew our spirits, Lord that we may be obedient in reading Your word and getting closer to You so that our roots are deeply planted. Help us to stand strong during the storms of our lives that we may glorify You.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

An Example To Follow

Today's post comes from Dawn at The Most Perfect Gift

 “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint.” 1 Peter 4:8-9

Serving others is self-less. It’s a sacrifice, putting our needs aside to fulfill someone else’s.

I often pray and ask God to open my eyes to recognize the needs of others. How can my family bless someone today? And God is always faithful and He has opened my eyes to see and filled my heart with compassion. He has provided opportunities for us to help others around us.

What always fascinates me is how He works, how He orchestrates opportunities and how He always provides the means! My family is able to help another particular family in a way that I have secretly wished that for me, uh..I mean us. Okay, it was more like complaining during one of those self pity moments. “Why doesn't anyone see our needs?” But the shocking truth here is that I WANT to help this family and I feel no resentment. One would think my flesh is screaming, “No, I can’t!” and make up every excuse to not be available. Oh, believe me, there are times when I would rather not take on any more responsibilities. After all, I am human!. ;-) But then I am quickly reminded I am able, through Christ who strengthens me! So, why not? 

I know what it is like to have this need and here we are fulfilling that need for another family! Only by His might because there is no other way! I am in complete awe at  how God can change our hearts and He always equips us with what He has called us to do - all for His glory and honor! Amen!

Photo Credit: Laura J Lee

And God just didn't create us, throw us into this world and command us to love and help others. He provided an example for us to follow. So, we have no excuses. All we need to do is to look to Jesus, study how He served others all throughout the New Testament. 

1 Peter 2:21 “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, …”

Jesus will show us the way, He is the shepherd and we are His flock. “The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” Psalm 32:8

So let's make sure we get into His Word daily. Read it, study it, believe it and practice it and we will hear His voice. John 10:27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me"

Let's Pray
Open our eyes, Dear Lord, so that we may see those around us that are in need. Help us to be sensitive to others and recognize ways in which we can bless others, in Your Name. Use us as a vessel where Your glory flows through us. Lead us in this dark world where Your light shines so bright others don't even see us, they only see You.
In Jesus' Name, Amen

Seek Wisdom

Today's post comes from Dawn at The Most Perfect Gift

Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?” The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies—I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have! And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life! And if you follow me and obey my decrees and my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life.” 1 Kings 3:9-14

As a single mom I am the head of the household. I make all the decisions, do all the discipline, and take care of all the finances, the nurturing, the teaching and the guiding. I have come to realize I am a shepherd leading her flock. I have also realized in order to lead my flock I need guidance as well as wisdom. 

When I first became pregnant I can't tell you how often I heard, "Babies don't come with a manual." But in actuality, they do. We all do and it’s called The B-I-B-L-E. It is God's living word, our handbook for life and it is the truth because God cannot lie. It is living because what it says applies to us today as it did to those thousands of years ago. God will speak to us through His word and He will reveal things to us as we need to know them. He will give us the wisdom we need to make the right decisions. He will give us an understanding heart and discernment to know what is right and wrong. 

Just as Solomon asked for wisdom we should do the same in all things, whether it is for our family, our ministry, our enemies or our own lives. Seek wisdom by asking the Lord to allow the Holy Spirit to interpret His Word enabling us to understand it. We then must apply this wisdom in our daily lives and be obedient to what the Lord is telling us.  

For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6

God not only gave Solomon wisdom, he also blessed him with things he never even asked for! God even went on to tell Solomon if he follows and obeys Him, He will bless him even more with a long life. 

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James 1:5

So dear friends, today let us seek and ask God for wisdom for He will make our paths straight!

I Give You Glory!

This week's post comes from Dawn at The Most Perfect Gift

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:1-2

When I read this scripture, I can easily vision myself with other Christians running into the wind with the look of perseverance on our faces. We are running and stripping away at our clothes [sin]. Pieces fall to the ground and we keep on running our eyes fixed on something straight ahead.

We are running to the cross that is in the near distance. The cross is empty. Yet just beyond it we can see Jesus sitting at the right hand of God in the Lord’s throne room. All the while Christians that came before us are sitting up in the clouds cheering us on. “Go Dawn! Go! You can do it! Just keep your eyes on Jesus! He loves you and is waiting for you at the end of the race! Remember what He endured for you on the cross?! You can do it!”

I can remember being a little girl and hearing the story of Jesus’ resurrection. All I really remember is there was a tomb, Jesus was there and a huge boulder. How did He get out of the tomb with a big boulder in the way? I’m not even sure if I remember Him being nailed to the cross or maybe I chose not to remember because it all seemed so gruesome to me. It saddens me that as a little girl I never understood the story. Somehow I missed it.

Thank you God for opening my eyes and giving me the understanding of what You did for me, for all of us who believe! Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26

There is so much love at the cross. God gave us [sinners] His only Son so we could have eternal life. “God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

I have no words that are sufficient. Why don’t you join me for the next few moments with our hands raised to Heaven and worship Him!

Oh, how beautiful

Are you Lord

It’s Your words, it’s Your love

Oh, how glorious are you Lord

It’s Your power, it was Your cross

That saved me and rescued me

Just a moment there set me free

I give You glory glory!

With a crown of thorns You became a king forever!

Let's Be Salt

This week's post comes from Dawn at The Most Perfect Gift

Last night when I called the boys to dinner my three year old immediately came running, "Dinner! Dinner! I'm hungry!" As I was getting the food to the table I noticed he was licking the top of the salt shaker. "Oh, don't do that." His reply, "I like salt!"

My 6 year old and I started talking about something and I didn't notice my 3 year old had gotten a hold of the salt. "Mama! Mama! Do you think this is enough?" Enough!?! It sure was! His fish now looked furry. He took a bite and by the look on his face I knew he thought so too.

After I de-furred his fish, I asked, "I wonder how they get the salt from the ocean? I mean, salt dissolves in water, right?" This led into a great dinner conversation and a little science experiment!

I grabbed a clear glass, added some water, then shook some salt in. Then we stirred. Sure enough the salt disappeared. So, I asked, "Well, we can no longer see the salt, but do you think the salt is still in there?" My 6 year old says yes and my 3 year old volunteers to taste it. "Yup, its salty and good!" I respond, "My goodness, you sure do like salt." Then I hear it in my heart, "You are the salt of the earth."

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless." Matthew 5:13

"Hey, you know, in the Bible, Jesus tells us we are salt. Do you know how we are like salt?" Of course, being the silly boys they are, they start saying silly things and giggle. So I quickly told them what Jesus meant before I completely lost their attention. I'm not sure if they truly understood or if they even heard me.

Tonight, as I was putting them to bed, telling them no more talking its time to sleep, my oldest says, "Let's be like salt." Okay, so they probably didn't grasp the whole salt of the earth teaching, but I think from now on every time they grab a salt shaker they will remember something about, "being salt".

Let's Pray:
Lord, we thank you for giving us these every day opportunities to teach others about your word. Even though, at times they may not fully grasp the message at first, we know You can water those seeds and make them grow into a deeper understanding. Please place on our hearts today a reminder that we are salt. That we must preserve your word and add flavor by standing out from the rest of the world. 
In Jesus' Name, Amen

There Is Power in the Name

This week's post comes from Dawn at The Most Perfect Gift

Shortly after the New Year began I made a promise to myself. The promise was to intentionally recognize when I begin to feel overwhelmed and to “nip it in the bud”.

I know all too well how the busyness of my daily life can consume me. Before I know it I am being swallowed up into the belly of the beast. I don’t even recognize myself anymore just trying to stay afloat, one busy day running into the next with no time to breathe or rest. I get frustrated, easily annoyed and lack any kind of patience trying to balance work, taking care of the kids, paying the bills, grocery shopping, cooking dinner, cleaning the house, laundry, church, the list becomes endless. Then finally I get enough sense to realize this isn’t right!?! Where is the joy, the peace, the fun?

I know we have all been there. Yet, we think we get a plan in place and things run smoothly for a while, but then life happens. Before we know it, we are caught up in the vicious turmoil once again rolling and rolling more unbalanced and out of control. Just maybe we can grab onto something that may help us stop, hopefully not hurting ourselves or knocking down the ones we love along the way.

So, I began to think, I need a plan. Perhaps a word or a phrase to calm me when life gets overwhelming, but it must be something powerful.

I don’t know about you, the most powerful word I know is in fact, a name. JESUS!

The song “Jesus, Lover of My Soul” by Lindell Cooley comes to mind.

You don't have to know how to pray

All you have to know how to say is Jesus, Jesus

In a shouted voice or a whispered tone

In a crowded room or when you're all alone

Just say Jesus, Jesus

Jesus, how I love the name of Jesus

Every day is the same

Jesus, He's the lover of my soul

Jesus, there's power in the name of Jesus

My life is forever changed because of Jesus,

He's my Savior and my Lord

You can listen to the song on YouTube, Jesus Lover of My Soul.

Call on the name of the Lord! Give Him Praise! Hallelujah! Immediately, joy and peace will enter your soul. You will be filled and refreshed. There is power in the name of Jesus! Are you feeling depressed, lonely, overwhelmed, stressed, hurt? Call on Him today to fill you up and refresh your spirit!

Believe me, it does work! When I begin to feel a little bit overwhelmed I start praising Him. Have you ever just yelled out “Hallelujah” as loud as you can?!!? The stress and worry leaves, bad moods are turned around. You will walk around smiling because you won’t be able to contain the joy, the song that sings within. Isn’t this how we were meant to live? Praising God and being joyful in good times and in bad. All because of the power in the name of Jesus!

Thank you, Jesus. Hallelujah! We praise you Lord for your faithfulness and unfailing love. Thank you for keeping your promise to never leave us nor forsake us. We will praise you and shout out your name. JESUS!
In your wonderful holy name,
Amen

{I Am} All That You Need

This week's post comes from Dawn at The Most Perfect Gift

Listen in your heart as the Lord whispers to you, “All that you need…I AM.” 

The Very Heart of Worship

When I read these words I felt God’s presence, His embrace, warmth and love and I was reminded He is all that I need.

I AM

Two short words that signify so much.

Many times I hear people say, “Don’t put God in a box.” or “God is bigger than your troubles.”

When I first began my walk with Christ, in my mind, I used to make God too big, unreachable – at least for me. I believed the stories in the Bible and people’s testimonies how God performed signs and miracles, but for some reason I felt that didn’t apply to me. It was like I was just reading a book standing on the outside looking in.

I desired to be close to God, yet to grasp and know that God is with me, He loves me and that He made me to have a personal relationship with Him took some time. The more I read His Word and meditated on scripture, and the more I spent time in prayer and worship that distance began to shrink. Now I am happy to say, I now know I am part of the story! I am one of the characters in God’s book – my book – my life He has written just for me.

When I read those words in my dear friend’s book they touched something deep within my soul. Just the fact that the Lord whispers reminds me how gentle He is and does not force himself upon us. He waits for us all along to come to Him, to trust Him and surrender our lives to Him. He will provide all our needs. Sweet friends we don't need to worry, for nothing is impossible for God!

He is all we need.

He is I AM.

Then those words “I AM” prompted me to look in my Bible for all the times they are said. Here are a few. As you read them, let them sink deep into your soul.

I AM your shield - Gen 15:1

I AM with you - Isaiah 41:1

I AM the LORD your God – Isaiah 43:3

I AM the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God – Isaiah 44:6

…for I AM your husband – Jeremiah 3:14

I AM the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? – Jeremiah 32:27

I AM with you always, to the very end of the age – Matthew 28:20

I AM the bread of life – John 6:35

I AM the living bread that came down from heaven – John 6:51

I AM the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. – John 8:12

I AM! – John 8:58

I AM the gate for the sheep – John 10:7

I AM the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved – John 10:9

I AM the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – John 10:14

I AM the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die – John 11:25

I AM who I am – John 13:19

I AM the way and truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me – John 14:6

I AM in the Father – John 14:11

…and I AM in you – John 14:20

I AM the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing – John 15:5

I AM the Alpha and the Omega – Revelation 1:8

I AM the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. – Revelation 1:18

I AM coming soon – Revelation 3:11

Dear God, we praise you and thank you for all that you are and for being I AM. You are all we need!

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

Have a blessed day sisters!

Dawn