THUNDER!

An hour or so ago I looked out the windows that look out over the "back forty" and the sky was very dark "over there"; however, the sun was slightly shining here by the house. It was almost eerie - certainly knew that something was brewing in the air! Now it is pouring rain ... and thundering!

It is very quiet in the house - no music; just me and the pup; and he's sleeping; and the sound of thunder outside. I LOVE to hear it thunder - I'm not too crazy about the lightening but, hey, guess you can't have one without the other. To me Thunder & Lightening are an expression of God's power - He made a way for them both ...

Job 28:25-26 When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters,

when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm.....

Exodus 9:23

When Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightening flashed down to the ground.

John 12:28-29

"Father, glorify your name."

Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it and I will glorify it again." The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

The thunder is a reminder for me that God is All-Powerful!

He is Everywhere!

He is Mighty!

He is the Almighty!

May it be a reminder for you today as you face the trials life has brought your way!

Job 26:14 - Who then can understand the thunder of his power? Blessings on you today!

What Else Are You Wearing?

Are you wearing compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience today? (Colossians 3:12) [see September 22/09 post]
I hope you are!

There is one more item you need though.
Verse 14 in Colossains 3 says "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect untiy!"

We are also told this in scripture:
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
1 Corinthians 13:13

Father God,
May we put on love today. May we know that love covers all. May we rest in the truth of your Word - knowing that without love these other virtues are meaningless. HELP us Father , to see people with Your eyes and to love as You do!
Thank You, Lord, for loving each one as You do!
In Jesus name, Amen.

Resting in HIM,
Ruthie

An Autumn "Thankful Tuesday"!

Thankfulness - IN all circumstances -

for me this means keeping my eyes on Jesus no matter the circumstances!

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

76. Being able to offer quiet conversation and something to drink to a nervous lady awaiting a doctor's appointment.

77. NO humidity! A coolness in the air!

78. Sixty women Praising God / Praying together for a sister whose life has turned upside down!

79. Someone cleaning my bathrooms, floors, and dusting for me!

I am a grateful woman today!

I pray you are too!

Blessings!

What Are You Wearing Today?

What are you wearing today?
Did you just haul something out of your closet and throw it on without much thought?
Or did you have on 3 (or more) different outfits before you were satisfied that you looked OK?
ME - I've done both actually! Not today - but I sure have done this in the past!
It always amazes me how some things shrink if they hang in the closet for too long!
What's with that? :)

So I ask you again - "What are you wearing today?"

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12 NIV

This is how we are supposed to dress according to God's Word...

The King James Version says to "PUT ON" ....

Regardless - both "Put On" and Clothe Yourselves" require US to take an action - to make a choice!
- compassion
- kindness
- humility
- gentleness
- patience

I hope you will reflect on this today, and I pray that you will choose to wear God's clothes! If these attributes are not part of your wardrobe - or if parts are missing - HE will give you what you need to acquire them!
Hallelujah!

May you Seek Him today! Live in obedience! Show HIM to the world!
Bless you, loved ones!
Ruthie

Face to Face With God

Peniel - "face to face with God". Genesis 32: 22-32 Jacob meets God face to face and he names the place Peniel.

Next year will be the 50th year celebration of Camp Peniel ... over those years many people have come "face to face with God" in this awesome place!

Camp Peniel - a beautiful place!

Ladies Spa Weekend Retreat!

Sunshine! and Sunsets!

The lake - one day riled up by the wind, the next day still and calm.

Bella - gorgeous black-haired Labradoodle... has the run of the place! She has no idea how blessed she is!The COOK - She must be the best in the world! See how happy we all were - following a culinary treat! :)

FELLOWSHIP!

- with Our Lord!

- with Sisters in the Lord - and those seeking the Lord!

PRAISE and WORSHIP - sung to the Savior of our souls!

His WORD - alive and active!

PRAYER - connecting with God -

- knowing He is with us

- knowing He will never leave us nor forsake us!

- knowing He is at work in another sister's life even as we speak into it!

Thank you, Father!

We even had a visit from Elvis on Saturday night!!!

That was just tooooooo cool!

The most exciting thing of all .... 2 women gave their hearts to the Lord!!!!! Praise God!!! The angels are having a party!
"...there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Luke 15:10

I pray your day will be blessed with the presence of God! May you meet Him face to face no matter where you might be today!

Blessings!
Ruthie

3 A.M.

Have you ever awoken at 3 a.m.?
I have ... I did ... last night!
Awake! Totally!
No noise!
No snoring from the other side of the bed!
No dogs whining or barking!
Not too warm!
Not too cold!
Just - awake!

Immediately my mind thought of this precious soul who is going thru a very difficult time right now ... I began to pray for her.
I just say thanks to God for filling my mind with her - it could have gone so many other places...
Things I have to do today - prepare for Club tonight; make a batch of pickles; run to town for a few things; get a fingernail fixed; all focused on ME.

Do you have sleepless nights or awaken with a start?
I suggest you spend time with God! Focus on HIM! and OTHERS!

I learned this lesson a long time ago:
- the more I focused on the things I had to do, or the pain, or whatever had awkened me, the wider awake I became, and the more jumbled my mind became!
- however, when I FOCUSED on God - His blessings on me; His hand in my life; where He's brought me from (even in the past week or so!); and TALKED to Him ... about anything! HE GAVE ME REST!

Thank You, LORD! for Your Rest and Your Peace!

Dear Ones,
Don't let the devil have your days - or your nights! He wants to keep your focus off your Heavenly Father - so be prepared! Stay in the Word! Commune with the Lord! - always!
May you have a blessed, peaceful day in the midst of all the busy-ness! And, may your nights be filled with HIS Rest!

Blessings on you today!
Resting in HIM,
Ruthie

For I know whom I have believed and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
2 Timothy 1:12

The Blessings of God

God's Blessings on you are greater than anything the devil can give you!

Praise the LORD!

Jesus won the VICTORY over the evil one...

that Victory is ours as well!

Jesus exposed the enemy as a liar and an thief!

God's TRUTH is greatest!

Hallelujah!

Jesus broke the power of the devil so He could be LORD of your life!

Know this and Live it today...

Show the world that you have something they want;

something they need!

It is Jesus Christ!

Numbers 6:24-26

Resting in HIM

Ruthie

The Power of the Spirit!

Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;

You have the power - thru the Holy Spirit - to live a life pleasing to God; to live a life that reflects Jesus to the world; to deny the sinful nature!
Praise God!

Galatians 5:16
So I say, live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Take some time today to study the passage in Galatians 5:16-26.

Ask yourself these questions:
- Is it possible for the spirit-led nature and the sinful nature to be simultaneously present in a person?
- What are the signs of the sinful nature?
- What is the evidence of the Fruit of the Spirit in ones life?
- How am I doing at living a life that is led by the spirit?
- What needs to change in my life?

Dear Ones,
I pray that today will be a time of Refreshment, Renewal and Rest in the Presence of our Holy God! Allow Him to speak to your heart and to show you how you can move closer to His ideal for your life! Blessings on you today!

Resting in HIM,
Ruthie

Proclaim or Profane...

Proclaim - to announce publically.

Profane - to treat anything sacred with irreverance; not holy or hallowed.

Last Sunday our Pastor preached a message entitled "What Does Your Life Say About God?"

I know the Lord spoke to my heart - and I know He did others. I pray He will speak to you today!

Is my life (your life) proclaiming God or profaning God?

WOW!

That's a heavy question, isn't it? Sure made me stop and think hard about every minute of my days! I must confess that there are times when I don't proclaim Him - be it with my actions or my words, it's there! Father God, forgive me!

The other day I received an email that said (something like this) .... May you be the kind of woman that when you awake in the morning the devil says, "Oh NO! She's up again!"

I hope he said that this morning about me!

But more than that - I pray that God said this this morning, "Yes! There she is. My faithful servant. Ready to fight the battle again today! Ready to proclaim My Presence in her life!"

What about you? What does your life say?

1 John 2:6

Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Whoa! If I (we) claim to live in Him then we must walk as Jesus did.... we HAVE the power... Scripture tells us we do! Do you believe this? I pray you do!

Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Dear Friends,

May you go out into the world today and live thru the power of the Holy Spirit - Proclaiming Christ to the ends of the earth! Blessings upon you as you answer this question in your own life -

"Does my life PROCLAIM or PROFANE Christ?

Gratitude...

Oh! This morning my heart is filled with such thanks and gratitude to the awesome God I serve!

Thank You, Father, for blessing me so!

61. Walking on the waterfront with Madison and hearing her express appreciation for the smell of the ocean, the sound of the seagulls, and the sight of the sunset... thrills my heart!

62. A surprise visit from Ang and Paul, and Madison!

63. Safe and dry thru a storm of wind and rain.

64. An awesome worship experience - meeting my gracious God!

65. My God - and all He means to me!

66. Teddie - sleeping while "mom" crafts.

67. The "smell" of Fall in the air.

68. The "sound" of chimes in the breeze.

69. Pain-free days and sleep-filled nights!

70. An afternoon and evening spent away with hubby and friends.

71. Beauty in the beginning of a new day.

72. The energy to make BATCHES - yes, batches - of pickles.

73. A magnificent sunset!

74. Ice Cream!

75. God's Presence as I worship with my Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

May your day - and week be filled with gratitude! May you see His Presence everywhere in all the "stuff" of day-to-day living!

Blessings on you, dear ones!

My Healer!

I heard a song for the first time the other day... the words resonated with my soul and I began to sing them in my heart daily. This may be an old song - it may not ... I heard it for the first time only recently.

HEALER!
sung by Kari Jobe

chorus :
I believe You're my healer
I believe You are all I need
I believe...
I believe you're my portion
I believe you're more than enough for me
Jesus, you're all I need.

This is one of those worshipful songs that compels me to stop whatever I am doing and praise God! And tell Him that I DO believe with all my heart that He Is All I Need.
About 6 weeks ago I talked to you about the chronic pain I have had for over a year - and how I had a conversation with God one morning about increasing my faith and asking for healing.

I have not prayed every day for healing - but I have done so as I have felt led to do so!
And - I am saying PRAISE GOD!
For the past 2 - 3 weeks the pain has been so minimal that I hardly notice it most days! Hallelujah!!!!
I am sleeping better; have less wakeful nights; and have more energy daily; (hence 4 batches of pickles in 4 days, walking the dog, and some volunteer work in there as well!); am able to walk down the stairs in the morning without feeling like I'm 92 years old!
Thank You, Jesus!!!

He IS all I need... He is all any of us need!
May your hearts be turned towards Him today and over the weekend!
May He be a constant Presence in your life!
May His Peace fill your soul!

Here is a link to a video of Kari singing Healer - The pictures are awesome! I hope you will take a few moments, go there, and let God minister to your heart!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvIEJ_PmqJ8

Blessings on yah!
Ruthie

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life!"
John 3:16

Awed Worship!

I have been studying Revelation - not to focus on the end time events and all the symbolism but to focus on the awesome God I serve. Yesterday, as I was doing some picking up and throwing out, I came across a small book I had purchased about a year ago - a study book on Revelation.
I have to share with you what I read this morning....

Author Gladys Hunt tells the story of a Dutch man who was able to observe the Dutch sovereign Queen riding in the royal carriage with King George of England. He was so eager to see his Queen. The procession passed with 200 magnificent black horses stepping in precision before the royal carriage - AND - 200 pranced behind it. (my comment - can you picture this? WOW!) After the procession passed, someone asked the young Dutchman, "Did you see your Queen? And the King?" He replied, "No. Where were they?" He had been so overwhelmed by the horses that he had completely missed the royal carriage and never saw his sovereign.

Oh, My goodness!
I read this and all I could think was, "Please don't let me miss my Sovereign."
I pray I will be awed daily .... not by events or other things - but by my gracious, faithful, compassionate, loving, just God! May this be your prayer today as well!

If I (we) study Revelation - or any Book of the Bible - for some kind of spiritual greed or need - rather than meeting with our Heavenly Father and worshipping Him in awe - then I (we) have missed the mark!

Please don't "miss the mark" loved ones! His Word is full of His Glory - I pray that the awe I felt and knew at conversion never, ever goes away! That the more I learn, the more I grow - the more in awe I stand! Thank You, Jesus!

Blessings on you today, dear friends!!!
May you "stand in awe" today! Not at the "horses" but at your Sovereign!
Ruthie