March 15th verse

Acts 26:17-18 NIV

I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.

Are you communicating???

Sorry I haven't been very faithful about posting of late. Work has been a little nutty and I have been doing lots of other stuff, not that this is a good excuse.
I had dinner with a friend from grade school last night. We stay in touch and try to see each other regularly. As we were sitting at dinner last night we were talking about funny moments with technology. Both of us had funny stories about texting and e-mail miscommunication. Then we were also talking about how our parents use technology and how we have relate to them through it. My parents are not the best at staying in touch so I have found that I do best if I take responsibility for that. I send e-mails and call them regularly. But sometimes I will contact them and they never get the message or don't know how to respond. That always makes me laugh. Then I think "If I have kids some day, how are they going to laugh at me about technology?" We are constantly inventing more methods to interact and stay in touch but are we succeeding? With more and more ways to communicate, am I really listening and growing with those around me?
This got me to thinking about how God must feel communicating with us sometimes. With my generation, I think we don't stop long enough to hear him (not that he is can't speak to us through ways we hear) or use methods that truly connect with him. For example- I have this calendar that I change daily that has a scripture verse on it. I read it daily and then go on to the next thing. I really appreciate the scriptures and they speak to me but often I don't take the time to truly read, dwell or meditate on what the verse is saying.
I know we all know the verse "Be Still and know that I am God" (Ps 46:10) but I did some digging into the root meanings of this verse today to deepen my understanding and challenge myself to get back in touch with God. Still is the Hebrew word- raphah- some of the meanings are: sink down, relax, be quiet, let go, let alone. Know is the Hebrew word- Yada'- some of the meanings are: to know by experience, perceive, distinguish, recognise, admit, confess, be acquainted with. So plugging in these deeper meanings, suddenly this verse takes on a new depth.
Psalm 46:10a
Be still (sink down, relax, let go and let alone) and know (perceive, recognise, admit, confess, be acquainted with, know by experience) that I am God;
WOW! I am challenged to do this today! How about you?
Father, help me to be still and to know you by experience. Draw my heart to yours so that you become all that I desire!

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.