March 1st Verse

It is the 1st of the month and that means a new verse (or verses in this case).

Eph 6:14-17 NIV

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Oops

I forgot to post my next scripture for the 15th!

Ephesians 6:13

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

And an update since my last post. Yes, God has had us in the pressure pot but He has come through in big ways. God is so faithful to give you a burst of hope and lighten the burden just when you think you can't handle anymore! He reigns and He is good all the time! ;-)

Just some fun pics

Jo smiling for the camera The happy Newlyweds- John & Hannah Sales

Sam playing Rockband & jamming ~

~Jonathan & I dressed up for an event

~ Jonathan rocking the house!

Some beautiful daffodils in front of our house ~

In the Vice

Do you ever feel as if your eyeballs are going to pop out of your head because of the pressure? This is a great analogy of our life this week. First just let me say that God is good, all the time (I have to remind myself) but it can be tough to hang on. So don't take this post as complaining or anger with God. I am just sharing some real life, rubber meets the road situations!
I am burdened for 2 people in my life right now.
1) My husband- he is working so hard for his business right now (and has been without a break for years) and burning the candle at both ends. Just when it looks like there is light at the end of the tunnel for a few things, something comes crashing in! God has been faithful and is growing our faith with the waiting but I don't think he can make it much longer without some relief. I know that we can't rely on self and that God is teaching Jonathan a lot in the refiners fire right now. But I also see the difficulty and it breaks my heart!

2) My brother- he is frustrated with life because he wants to make a difference in the world and yet doesn't know what that is or how he can. Part of the problem is finances and part of it is needing God's clear direction. In the last 24 hours, it seems like things have come out of the wood work to cost him money and hinder forward progress. It is hard watching the suffering of another without getting righteously upset- why God????

Yet even with this tough things and burden for them both, I know that God is working. I kinda feel like David in so many of his Psalms- calling out to God for relief, calling down curses on the wicked, crying out in anguish and then praising God because you know He is at work and it doing His will. Especially when it is tough. So I will keep praying, crying out to God for His relief and solutions, seeking His guidance and asking for perseverance. Especially for those who are in the fire.

2 Samuel 22:7

In my distress I called to the LORD; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.

Psalm 69:13-15

But I pray to you, O LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation. Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters. Do not let the flood waters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me.

Psalm 17:6

I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.

Feb 1st verse

By the way,
I have been super busy (I know no excuses) but I am doing another verse for Feb 1st and here it is. Better late than never.

Psalm 143:8

Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

Biblical worldview perspectives

As many of you know, I have a passion for biblical worldview and how there is not an area of the human experience that God has not spoken about and provided all I need to do right in it! Much of my thoughts and studies have revolved around this so I am constantly learning more. I read this quote in my daily devotion and I thought is was too good not to share!

"the way to genuine openness and inclusiveness lies through the narrow gate. In renouncing all for Jesus' sake, we become heirs to the entire universe. But those who deny God's reality and cling only to the visible world shut themselves up in a box with a tightly closed lid." -The Truth Project Daily Travelogue.

Isaiah 44:20 NIV

He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, "Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?"

And our response as servants of Christ should be:

2 Timothy 2:24-26 NKJV

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Winter blessings

I just had to get on here and say that God has come through with some beautiful weather for the weekend after our dreary beginning to the week. He is so faithful to give me sunshine and warm just when I think I can't handle more cold. I thought I would share that with you today!
Praise the Lord for this is the day that He has made!

Psalm 7:17

I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness,and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.