LABARUM - revisited

As always, when Christmas time is in the air - I hear people discussing "keeping Christ in Christmas" and that it is "awful" to use XMAS - because that takes HIM out. SO NOT TRUE, dear ones!

On November 7, 2008 I posted a writing about the LABARUM .... a Greek symbol used to represent Christ for many, many years. If you go to the left of this page, find CHRISTMAS, click on it ... you will be taken to all the "Christmas writings" I have posted on this blog; then find November 7, 2008 to read the history of the labarum and what it means for us today!

I so want the world to keep Christ in Christmas. It is up to us - HIS followers - to make sure that happens by not getting caught up in the commercialism and materialism that the world sees as the reason for this holiday time! I LOVE this time of year! I LOVE to give gifts! I LOVE the Music and the Message! Let's focus on family and friends this year! Let's KEEP CHRIST as the "reason for the season" - as the saying goes!

Blessings on you, dear friends and loved ones!
Ruthie

Who Gets The Glory?

I really, really, really dislike this day ... October 31 ... and all it represents! My reason - It has its roots in pagan customs!!!

The Celtic people of Great Britain and Northern France were the first to celebrate this eve. Here is some history in a nutshell! They were worshippers of many gods - one being the Sun God - whose "job" was over for the year as harvest time was upon them. Another god was the god of the dead - which was how they perceived winter... they believed that on this night he called together all the souls of the dead which took on animal shapes. The priests of these people built bonfires hoping to increase the sun's power so that the god of the dead would be overpowered. And then there is the history of the jack-o-lantern; and the "trick or treating"... and so on. This just barely touches the tip of the iceberg! You can research more if you need to know more!

I just KNOW this is not a celebration from my GOD! I KNOW too, that this IS the day HE has made and I WILL rejoice in HIS day! And - I GIVE HIM ALL THE GLORY FOR TODAY!

For most North Americans this day has no special meaning except to dress up and go home-to-home asking for a treat! BUT - my heart gets heavy when I see the church involved in this night.... I KNOW there will be many people say that it is an outreach avenue! That it is to keep the kids off the streets! That it is one more way for the church to be part of the community! I have even contributed to the treats being passed out tonight! Go figure!

Please - know this comes from my heart and not a place of judgment ---- for I realize that many, many churches across our country are celebrating Fall Festival. To me it is like taking an orange & painting it red, calling it an apple --- it is NOT an apple - it is still an orange!

PRAISE GOD! Scriptures tell us that the dead will rise - when Christ returns! Hallelujah! Not tonight! Not any other October 31st! Then - and only then!!!

1 Corinthians 15:52-53
It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.

Elsewhere in scripture we are told that we will not know the day or the hour this will occur! I love that His ways and thoughts are not ours...

I sometimes feel saddened though, wondering if HE is sad with us! Does He look at us and say, Oh my children, when are you going to learn.
Do you not KNOW that I AM!
I AM ENOUGH!
I AM IS SUFFICIENT!
I AM WILL ENABLE YOU TO STAND STRONG AND BOLD BEFORE THE WORLD!

Father God,
I bow my head and my heart before you today. Make me a light today - your light! You know the heaviness I feel every year at this time... show me, Lord, what I can do to be an instrument of change for You! Bless those reading this - may they KNOW that You are I AM!

Resting in HIM,
Ruthie

The "Wheeler Saga"!

Ephesians 3:20
"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think ..."

What a week this has been at Thousand Hills Farm! Hubby went out to jump on the 4-wheeler Monday morning to find that it was GONE! STOLEN! Sometime Sunday evening - when he used it last - and Monday morn it "disappeared". Actually it probably happened within a short period of time on Sunday evening - but that is another story for another time!

He was discouraged to say the least! This wheeler is his life-line to the rest of the farm... carrying feed etc. to the pigs and chicks, and closing the birds up at night and ... everything else he has to do around here! Immediately I began to pray - quoting the above Scripture to God - telling Him that I KNOW He is so much more than we even think or know about Him! Telling Him that I KNOW He can do amazing things - asking Him to create a miracle in this situation. For me, that miracle would be returning the wheeler unharmed so that hubby could use it. For GOD - that MIRACLE / MIRACLES was/were soooooo much more!

I have a group of praying women around me that I can call on at any time and I immediately sent out emails to them asking for their prayers. I was gently reminded by a couple of them to pray for the person / persons who had stolen it. Many times each day I would praise God and thank Him for what He was going to do - and told Him I was believing for a miracle! And asking Him, thru His Holy Spirit, to speak to those lost individuals.

Hubby told a friend that he "counted it all joy" - he gave it all to God to work out - and he continued on with his work with a joyful attitude. I don't think he even knows how much that means to me. I could see in his face and in his speech that he was "resting in God's Provision". What a blessing!

When hearing of this dilemma a gal who has a wheeler sitting in her barn - not being used - offered it to hubby until he could get another one! No questions asked - just "I know you guys are my sister and brother in the Lord - so what's mine is yours". How I thank God for her!

Already here were some miracles:
- My "KNOWING God is able" was settled even deeper into my heart!
- Hubby's "dependence on God" was deepened!
- God speaking to people to be the hands and feet of Jesus has been so evident in our lives!

But WAIT - another miracle is on its way!
- This afternoon around 5 p.m. we were "gifted" - anonymously - with a bigger, newer, better wheeler than he had! How awesome is the hand of God in the lives of those people who are obedient to His Voice! Oh My! Tears come to my eyes thinking of the blessing He has bestowed on us!

WAIT! - Another One!
- Less than 2 hours later the RCMP called and said they found his wheeler, abandoned on the old track, close to the next community down from us! Found it! Unharmed! How can that be? it can only be because God is at work! Hubby told our story to the Officer and he was amazed! You can be sure he will retell this story! Use it Lord, I pray!

Oh My ... And Yet Another One!
- We will "pay it forward" - hubby told the RCMP officer

that if he knew of anyone needing a wheeler for work around their property that we would give the lost/found one to them!

Are you sitting with your mouths open? I am! How amazing is this! It is like something you read in a book - not in our lives! OH! I am sooooo excited! God has plans - He will use this situation to speak to many lives - our family; friends - and others!

I Praise Him and I humbly Thank Him!
"... for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep What I have committed to Him until that Day." 2 Timothy 1:12

Dear Sweet readers -
I cannot put to paper the joy and praise and the full heart I have at this moment in time! I hope and pray you will get a sense of how magnificent our God is! That He does care about all the things in our lives - even such things as a 4-wheeler! I pray that this situation in our lives will help your faith to grow; that you will see the awesomeness of our Lord! And - that you will "LISTEN" for His Voice; that you will be obedient in prayer and praise!

I can hardly stand it - I just want to shout HIS Name from the rooftops!!! I so want "people" to get it"!

Holy Spirit - Minister to people - show people Who You are! Convince them of their need of You! Bring them to their knees in submission to You!

Blessings on you -
Ruthie

Oh, the Blessings He Bestows!

"Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything." Philippians 4:6

I am struggling here today to get this post to line up the way I have written it ... when I "publish" it blogger does its own thing with it... so i apoligize for the wonkiness of it all ... God knows my heart and I pray you will be blessed by the content not the way it looks!!!

More wonderful blesings -

576. The peace of a campfire
577. Pleasant conversation with friends

578. Pot-Luck!

579. A sun flower in full bloom

580. Spending time with hubby!

581. New life - the birth of a beautiful baby girl.

582. Camp Peniel - awesome placce - meeting God - face to face!

583. The sound of praises being sung to our Creator by 50+ women!

584. Crisp Fall air!

585. Testimonies of God's hand at work, all over, in so many ways.

586. A Baptism - in the lake.

Thank You Father for this beautiful day!

For the blessings that will be in it I ask You to give me eyes to see and ears to hear!

Have Your way and I will give You Prasie!

Have a sweet, wonderful day, dear ones!
Resting in HIM,

Ruthie

Roots....

The other day a friend and I were sitting at my kitchen table and talking about the world around us - the beauty, our blessings, the good, the bad, and the ugly! Just outside the patio doors, on the other side of the deck is a HUGE tree - and I mean HUGE!!!! It has grown so much since we have lived in this house. The trunk is too large to get my arms around and yet the branches are "spindly" - every time there is any amount of wind the lawn and deck are covered with leaves and branches from this tree. Here is a picture I took a couple of years ago ....

We discussed how this tree "stood" firm" during the wild winds of Hurricane Irene last weekend.... and she said, "It must have a good root system". Right away I was reminded of the Scriptrues which speak of OUR root system.... being grounded deep in HIM! Without a "good root system" we will flounder when troubles come our way! What is our "root system"? It is our faith - our belief in our God who sustains and protects and keeps us safe.These words were written by Paul as he worte to the church in Ephesus - I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your heart as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. Ephesians 3:16-17 As Christians, we must have a "good root system - just like that huge tree outside my window! The roots of that tree draw nourishment from the soil around it - the farther they reach out the more nourishment they find and the better hold they have on the ground around them. How like us! It is only when we are grounded in Him with our roots going deep, gaining nourishment for our souls, that we will be able to stand strong - day by day - and that occurs only thru the empowerment of the Holy Spirt who resides in our hearts!
Dear Ones, as Paul prayed for the Ephesians, I pray for you - for the Creator of all to empower you through the Holy Spirit to grow deep in Him, AND for you to to have the power to understand how wide and long and high and deep HIS love is for you! Blessings on you!

Resting in HIM - Ruthie

Do you KNOW???

To KNOW .... not just with your head ...but to KNOW - in your heart!!!!

• HE loves you with an everlasting love! - Jeremiah 31:3



• You are HIS Masterpiece! - Ephesians 2:10



• You are HIS child! - 1 John 3:1; Galatians 3:26; Galatians 4:7



• The Spirit of God lives in you! - 1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 1:27



• HE has made you a new person! - 2 Corinthians 5:17



• You can come boldly and confidently into HIS Presence! - Ephesians 3: 12



• HE will never give up on you! - Philippians 1:6



• HE chose you! - 1 Peter 2:9



• You do not need to fear anyone, anything! - Hebrews 13:6



• HE gives you strentgh to do all things! - Philippians 4:13



• HE has rescued you! - Colossians 1:13



• HE will hear you when you call to HIM! - Jeremiah 29:12 -13



• HE will be your GOD throughout your lifetime! - Isaiah 46:4



• HE has given you Victory! - John 10:10; Isaiah 12:2



• HE will not abandon you! - Psalm 9: 10

He LOVES you! Believe it today, dear ones! KNOW it in your hearts!

Resting in HIM ---- Ruthie

And ... still counting!

556. Sisters in the Lord gathered around a smokey fire - sharing our joys, hurts, pains - AND - HIS Presence thru it all.

557. Bling! on my new sandals!

558. Gentle rain

559. Blessed sleep.

560. Gentle mist in the air

561. Snuggles - with Madi-Joy!

562. The sound of the Cardinal calling to his mate.

563. A gentle breeze

564. BBQs with friends!

565. Fresh green and yellow beans.

566. Making Pickles.

567. Chicken stir-fry with hubby's chickens

568. Making cards with girlfriends.

569. Picnic on the beach

570. Church on the beach!

571. The book - One Thousand Gifts - by Ann Voskamp

572. High tide!

573. The roar of the surf!

574. Cobwebs in the flowers - covered in dew.

575. Madi`s voice across the miles!

Thank You, Lord for Your blessings on my life!
Ruthie

Jesus Revealed!

From the Holy Word of Our Lord!

.....One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.
His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;
His feet were like fine brass, as if refinded in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;
He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forever. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death."

Revelation 1: 13-18

This is our Savior - Alive - Forever - in Heaven - and in our Hearts!
How can we not rejoice in this knowledge!
God's Word tells us that we have a Hope in Him - a Hope in Heaven!
That makes me excited! I hope it does you too!

Dear Ones,
I pray today that this Hope is alive in you - That Jesus is alive in you! He will be you Strength and your Shield; the Mighty Rock. He has empowered His people to live in Victory! He came to give us Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Strength, Victory, and so much more! I pray you have partaken of His Goodness.

Blessings on you,
Ruthie

More JOY!

More JOY in the Journey!

539. Quiet evenings spent with hubby.
540. Food, Music, Good Conversation with friends
541. Sunsets
542. Apple Blossoms
543. Lilacs
544. Farmer's Market hub-bub!
545. Energy!
546. Able to do a little "jig" with no Shotness of Breath.
547. A Bald Eagle in flight
548. Air Conditioning!
549. Coiffee
550. Warm temperatures
551. Sunny day at the beach
552. Waves - Big - Crashing!
553. Sand between my toes
554. Blessed, peaceful, pain-free sleep
555. God's Word!

Today I give thanks to you Father for the blessings in my life! I am what I am because of You!

Long Time - Still So Thankful!

It has been such a long time since I posted on this blog.... but my heart remains ever thankful and filled with gratitude to my Heavenly Father!

So much has transpired in the past month and a half in my life... I have been given a new lease on Life - I had an angioplasty done on June 1 and even today am feeling so like a new creation physically! Thank You, Jesus!!! At one point - when the back pain I was experiencing was excruciating I remember saying to Him .... "oh Lord, help me to bear this for 3 more hours until I can get up; this is so minimal compared to what you bore for me - how can I complain..." He was there - in the midst of it all and I give Him all the glory for coming thru as I have!

I am adding to my "One Thousand Gifts" -

527. Awesome Praise and Worship time!

528. Wonderful Easter meal with family.

529. Hubby - 15 years of marriage

530. I'm so thankful for His Word - filled with His Thoughts towards me - telling me "who I am" because of Him! Hallelujah!

531. The pleasing sound of rain pelting down on us!

532. Indescribable Peace during the angioplasty!

533. Indescribable Joy in my recovery!

534. Indescribable Love for my Faithful Abba-Father!

535. Hubby and daughter - I love you both so much!

536. My friends - who carried me thru!

537. Psalm 36:5 - Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens and your faithfulness to the skies.

538. Psalm 23:1 - The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.....

May today be a wonderful day for you as you relfect on the goodness and gifts He has bestowed upon you! May you take some time to meditate on Him and give Him praise.

Blessings and Hugs!

Ruthie

Thankfulness!

My list keeps growing!

514. Snow disappearing

515. Door open and chimes "singing" in the breeze.

516. Teddie running in the fields.

517. MoJo returning.

518. Faithful friends.

519. Peepers!

520. Multitude of spring signs everywhere: bird songs, flowers, peeps, sandals, pedicures, capris.

521. Knowing that HE is in the midst of my Life.

522. Women that I love! Lord, Thank You for them!

523. "Good days" - when fibro pain is minimal - almost non-existent!

524. Restful nights.

525. Opening the patio door to see a purple finch at the feeder and hearing the "rat-a-tat-tat" of Mr. Downy Woodpecker at the tree by the deck. (I was thrilled to get a picture of him!)
526. Calmness - no wind - after what seems like weeks of wind.

I am a blessed woman! And I give thanks for that!

I am resting in HIS midst today!
Ruthie

Happy Easter!

"In The Midst of YOU..."

I had a revelation this morning --- as I listened to this beautiful song!!!
So often, I have used the words - in the midst - to describe HIS Presence with me in the midst of my daily victories and strugggles!

In this song the singer states... "I'm finding myself in the midst of You" ....
Oh! How those words hit my spirit!

How I long to be "in the midst of HIM"!
Quiet!
At a Loss for words!
Listening!
Hearing His Voice!
Basking in His Presence!
- His Love!
- His Peace!
- His Strength!
- His Comfort!
- His Security!
- His Rest!
- His Joy!

Come, Sweet Jesus! May I find myself in the midst of You today!

Pay Attention!

Are you "paying attention"?
... to the people around you
... to the promptings of the Holy spirit
... to His Word

I am truly blessed to be part of a small group of women who meet together to pray for one another, to share our lives, to study together, to hold each other accountable. Oh! I am a blessed woman indeed!
Thank You, , Lord

There are 7 in this group .... by God's design! His perfect number! He Knew!

We are currently reading "Lioness Arising - Wake Up and Change Your World" by Lisa Bevere.
His Presence was so evident with us last night. I am feeling led to share these words with you today! May they speak to your heart!

2 Peter 3:1,7 (The Message)
Hold your minds in a state of undistracted attention...
God is poised, ready to speak his word again, ready to give the signal.

WHOA!
"Undistracted attention" ..... that means not letting anything take my focus off my God! That means seeing HIM in all I do! In all around me!
I am to do this - action verb - "hold your mind".... my choice - my responsibility.... to be focused, alert, attentive; or to be dull and sluggish, distracted and foggy-minded.

This next paragraph is an excerpt from the book:
"Allow the Holy Spirit to assess your strength in the light of God's Word, and allow hardship to become a training session, knowing you might rise up from it invincible. Allow the weight of God's Word and the tempering and training of the Holy Spirit to quicken and develop the weak or injured areas of your life. Shift your focus from how you look in your clothing to who you are in your spirit. Above all, do not fear your strength. Like the lioness, glorify God with it. Remember, when all the earth is filled with fear and is wondering what is going on, the God of heaven and earth, the Creator of all, calls you to display his fearsome wonder in how you portray your life."

Oh Dear Ones,
Ask God to search your heart and allow the Holy Spirit to show you what changes He needs to make in you; focus on your strengths; let Him nurture them and grow them thru whatever way He chooses.
Give it all over to Him - the author and finisher of your faith - knowing that He will strengthen you to then go on to give your strength to others!
My life has been a training ground - oh, how I'd love to sit with you over a cup of coffee and share how God has tempered me, grown me, and strengthened me! Even though times have been tough I would not trade a single moment of today for any of those yesterdays!
I pray you can say the same!

Blessings on you on this wonderful day!
Resting in HIM,
Ruthie

PEACE

Happy First day of Spring!
It's a beautiful day here... chilly but sunny; birds are lovin' it cuz they are singing away! Puppy is running around outside and lovin' that!
And I'm filled with HIS peace!
Hallelujah!

This picture of hubby and puppy - heading towards one of the most beautiful beaches ever - brings me joy and peace....
For God is in control of all!
I rest in His promises and His provision!
He is faithful!
He loves me!
Thank you, Lord!

I pray your day is filled with the peace that passes all understanding! That can only come from HIM!
Blessings and Hugs!!!!
Ruthie

By Faith....

By faith ........................ - put your name in there.....

Has God ever called you to a "place" where you did not know where you were going but you were obedient to your Father and went anyway? I believe that was what God did with me when I started writing for this blog a few years ago. The "place" was the computer / internet / blogging world. Oh, how He has blessed me thru this adventure. And I trust you have been blessed as well.

I so want to be obedient to Him.... no matter what that may look like to outsiders. My confidence and my strength will only come from a close relationship with my Father. My heart's desire is for women to understand that they are created by the hands of a loving God... one who desires to be in a relationship with them; For them to understand that their value and worth is from Him and Him only! I have tried to use this venue as a means to bring that Good News to the world. I believe we are all called to share the Good News! How exciting it is to do that with one who is searching; one who is hurting; one who is lonely; one who is rejoicing!

Dear Ones,
I pray that you ask God to provide you with opportunites to do just that! And if you are the one who needs someone to come alongside you .... ask Him to bring that person into your life - He will do that for you!

This life we live is exciting - even in the midst of turmoil; financial strain; health issues; conflict; and so on. Let Him be your Guide and your Director - and by faith .... step out and into whatever He has for you today!

Blessings on you!
Resting in HIM,
Ruthie

A False Positive

I am currently reading a book by Beth Moore... "So Long, Insecurity".
Actually our Ladies Bible Study class has taken this book on as our study at this time. I find it very interesting that 2 home groups have "sprung up" to join us in this venture! Ummmm...
I highly recommend this as an excellent read!!!!

Beth tells us, at one point, that most of us have what she calls a "false positive"... something that we think would make us more secure in all things if we attained it! As I read this I began to reflect on what my "false positives" might be...
Another ummmmmm!

Here are some examples from the book:
- Financial success / Popularity / Education / A great man / Children / The perfect job / Losing 50 pounds ... would make me more secure.

Does this have you thinking? I hope so. Take a moment and write down what you perceive as your own false positives.

Then KNOW this ... nothing on this earth has the power to make us secure ... our security comes from Christ in us! Hallelujah!

Romans 8:1 - Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:3 - For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

1 John 5:18 - We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.

2 Timothy 1:7 - for God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

KNOWING - BELIEVING - CLAIMING - TRUSTING - God's Word for our identity gives us security.... I'm not saying that those false positives won't creep in - cuz they will. We have an enemy that wants to destroy us so he will use whatever tactic he can to bring us down. We need to be alert to him and have our hearts and minds filled with Christ - then and only then can we walk in security and confidence of who we are!

Dear Sweet Sisters and Brothers in Christ ... I pray today that you will KNOW who you are; that your security will rest in Him alone and not in any earthly thing. May Your hearts be strengthened by His Word filling it to overflowing!

Blessings Dear Ones ..........

Ruthie

I Am Grateful For.......

502. Door open - fresh air!

503. The Cardinal's song!

504. Beth Moore book

505. God's WORD - telling me who I really am!

506. Still light out at 6 p.m.

507. Journey merices.

508. Family

509. My loving hubby!

510. Snuggling with Madi-Joy!

511. Acupuncture - taking away the fibro pain.

512. Blues skies and sunshine after another winter storm.

513. Home - Sweet - Home!

LOVE!

Jeremiah 31: 3
....."I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness"

Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.

1 John 4;16
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Resting in HIS love today!
Ruthie

Counting My Blessings!

How grateful I am to my loving God who provides me with such abundance!

486. Another Year!
487. The faithful prayers of a faithful prayer warrior!
488. MOJO ...
489. Our Small Group!
490. Winter Wonderland that I don't have to travel in!
491. Answers from God!
492. The Word - that speaks so loudly to me!
493. An organized craft room!
494. Lunch with dear friends
495. A warm house as the snow swirls outside!
496. Cuddles from hubby!
497. Being covered in prayer and KNOWING it!
498. Hugs and kissess from Madi!
499. PEACE!
500. ahhhhhhh! The comfort of a warm bed in a cool bedroom!
501. Sisters-in-Christ! Where would I be without them? So precious to me!

I hope you have been inspired to keep a record of your many blessings!
Praise God for His redemption and His freedom; for His providence and His blessing!

Hugs!
Resting in HIM,
Ruthie

Show Me, Teach Me, Lead Me

Psalm 25:4 & 5 ...

My Bible is sitting open beside my computer - as it has since yesterday when I posted on http://rainbowkreations.blogspot.com/ I had made a card pertaining to Pslam 23 and posted it there.

Over the past 24 hours my eyes have been drawn to the Word as it sits there, and the focus has been on verses 4and 5... just as you see above. These verses have been my prayer over these hours...

Father God,
Show me Your ways, Teach me Your paths, Lead me in Your Truth and Teach me. You ARE the God of my Salvation and I wait on You all day long! Be Present with me Lord - all day and thru the night. Grant me Your Mercy; Give me Your Peace. I give You all the glory. Hallelujah! You are Worthy to be praised! I love You, Lord!

May these Words from our loving Heavenly Father speak to you today!
Blessings on all who visit here!

Resting in HIM,
Ruthie

Quietness = Strength

LISTEN .... the quieter you become the more you can hear.

Sounds like an oxymoron doesn't it?
Be quiet and you will hear more?
How can that be?
How often do you sit without the distractions of children, cell phones, TV, iPods, etc?
How long can you sit without mentally doing a rundown of your day, your "to-do" list, people you will see and talk to, and so on?

Do you ever just sit in the quiet of time, being still - and hear the sounds around you?

• ocean lapping at the shore
• birds singing
• squirrels chattering
• puppy dog "snoring"
• leaves rustling
• bees buzzing
• rain on the window
• coffee bubbling into the pot
• fridge humming
• and so on and so on

Oh, how I love to sit in quietness! No TV; no music; no barking! Just me and God!

Isaiah 30:15 ... God's word tells us that in quietness and trust is our strength! Oh! I need strength! Strength to face the health concerns I have; to face the financial concerns hubby's business brings our way; to face everyday life in the manner that God has called me to. Oh, I need strength... HIS strength!

How about you? Do You need His strength? Are you being still before Him? Listening for His Words, His Spirit, to penetrate your soul? Are you taking time to just sit with Him? And Listen? The quieter you become the more you will hear!

Whoa... I am reminded of a song I heard a long time ago that spoke of hearing from God... and how He sometimes whispers to us but we are so surrounded by "noise" that we don't hear Him!

Oh, my precious ones! I pray that you will find time - MAKE time - to sit with HIM! To be quiet before Him! Sit quietly and comfortably in HIS Presence. He WILL speak! We just need to be listening!

Decide today to "Still and Quiet your soul before Him" (Psalm 131).

Resting in HIM - Ruthie

1 Corinthians 13 for Women

This is an amazing post - January 20, 2011
I was blessed and convicted - as you will be!
It is a "must read" for every woman!

http://internetcafedevotions.com/

Blessings on you this beautiful winter day!
Resting in Him,
Ruthie

Asking for Prayer!

Today I am asking you to pray over me...
Heading to the city for some cardiac testing - Monday and Tuesday.

I KNOW God knows what is in store!
I KNOW it is in His hands!
I TRUST His provision for me!

For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him until that day!
2 Timothy 1:12

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus for all generations, forever and ever. Amen
Ephesians 3:20-21

Blessings on you sweet ones!
Resting in HIM,
Ruthie

Praying Scripture

Dear Ones,
I am praying scripture over you today ....

Precious and Wonderful Heavenly Father,

I come to You today with thanksgiving in my heart for Your Living and Relevant Word!

For Your graciousness;

For Your forgiveness and love.

Not only that, Lord, I thank You for Your discipline, Your testing, and Your "taps on my spirit" (some of them not so gentle) when I need to be reminded of Your ways.

I am truly thankful that You are the God who is able to do

exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think!

Praise You, Lord!

Today I ask You to fill each of us with the knowledge of Your will

with wisdom and spiritual understanding.

Enable each one to walk worthy of You, pleasing You; being fruitful and increasing in the knowledge of You!

Lord, Strengthen each one with Your power

so that we may face our circumstances, whatever that is today, with Your joy.

Open our hearts, Lord, to be filled with thanksgiving ...

seeing beyond our selfish wants,

and recognizing Your Presence in and thru our lives.

May each one KNOW that You, thru Your salvation,

have given us the right to be partakers of Your inheritance!

How awesome is that, Oh Lord!

You have delivered us from the power of darkness thru the shed blood of Christ!

You have transported us into Your Kingdom!

I cannnot think of any better place to be than here, with You today.

You, thru Christ, have redeemed and forgiven us!

Praise You, Father.

Pour out Your Holy Spirit on Your people who are called by Your name!

May we become the ambassadors You have designed us to be.

May we shake off the trappings of this world and follow You with abandon.

Praising You and Thanking You,

In the Matchless Name of Christ,

Amen

Ephesians 3:20-21

Colossians 1: 9-14

Psalm 51

Psalm 51

1. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of your tender merices, blot out my transgressions.

2. Wash me throughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

4. Against You, You only have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight - that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge.

5. Behold I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.

6. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

7. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.

8. Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice.

9. Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

10. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy spirit from me.

12. Restore to me the joy of Your slavation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

13. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You.

14. Deliver me from the guilt of blood shed, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.

15. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise.

16. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; you do not delight in burnt offering.

17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart -

These, O God, You will not despise.

18. Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem.

19. Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering; then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.

"Get Behind Me, Satan!"

Luke 4:8
And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.' "

James 1:19-20
"So then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

I have been hit hard in the past 24 hours with the knowledge of the condition of my heart. Hmmmm - I believe some pride had slipped in there to the point where I was thinking I was OK . My heart was hardened to some things, judgmental, and critical. How did that happen? I was slipping in my daily Word reading and prayer life because I was focusing on the wrong things. I spent way too much time focusing on my health issues and upcoming tests and not enough time on HIM! The thief was trying to kill, steal and destroy - as he always does. He is so insidious that I didn't even sense that he was playing with me - til WHAM! I was hit and hit hard! Have you ever been here, dear ones?

I "reacted" in a very unrighteous manner with two of the most loved people in my life.

Oh, the lies Satan filled my head with! And instead of being like Jesus and telling Satan to get behind me; instead of choosing what was right; I responded in anger.

I allowed Satan to tell me lies, to sneak up on me and to try and destroy my joy, my peace, my contentment.

I have had to confess, repent, and ask their forgiveness - neither has responded to that request at this point... How thankful I am that our Heavenly Father doesn't take time to think it over. If we humble ourselvs before Him and are repentent - He forgives. Hallelujah! What a lesson for me.

I Praise God for His mercy - so undeserved by me; and for His grace. He and I have had a long session together - I accept the forgiveness He offers and pray that this situation I find myself in will make me a better person. All I can do now is pray for Him to work in their lives - not because I deserve their forgiveness - but beacuse I don't! I don't want either of them hanging onto the resentment that a situation such as this can leave us with.... not for me - but for them! I pray for HIS love to cover all!

Father God,
I so need You -Your love and mercy. I am so thankful that You looked down upon me and saw such a wretch and gave ME Your amazing grace! I praise You, Lord! Fill me with Your Spirit - May I move forward with more of You and less of me than ever before. I give it all to You.
In the precious and holy name of Christ,
Amen

This is my prayer for each one reading this today... no matter what curve balls life has thrown your way may you ever know that He never changes; He is always just and holy. He never leaves you nor forsakes you. He is always ready to offer His forgiveness to a willing and repentent heart. Come to Him and find rest in Him.

Your humble servant,
Ruthie

PHEW!

Phew!
This has been a busy day for me! Spent about 3 hours this morning preparing a lesson for our Small Group meeting on Wednesday night. I get lost in the Word sometimes - what a blessing that is!

Then this afternoon I cleaned the clutter from my Craft Room closet and tried to re-organize this place... I just finished this "project". As I was emptying boxes of "stuff" I found this story that I had copied from a book many years ago for a children's lesson ... I don't remember where I found it originally - please know as you read this that I did NOT write this!

Thousands of years ago these 2 had a perfect relationship -

the moon and the sun.

The moon reflected the sun's rays into the dark night... they were a great team!

The moon took the light given to him by the sun and redirected it to earth...

he received light and shared it.

One day a star planted a thought in Mr. Moon.

The star made the moon begin to think that he wasn't important cuz he didn't have his own light source... that he was 2nd best.

The star told the moon he had to get away -

to find out who he really was; to be his own boss.

So he set out to do just that!

He changed his color from yellow to bright punk-rock orange!

Meteors and stars visited him and complimented him on his appearance -

and he thought, "I don't need the sun."

Then trends changed - punk was out and country was in - so he had to change again!

For the first time in a long time he thought of the sun.

He remembered when it didn't matter if he received praise or not -

and when he did he passed it on to the sun.

He looked upon the earth and realized that people were laughing at him!

BUT the COLD bothered him the most!

Absence from the sunlight left him with a persistent chill;

no warmth;

no glow;

shivering inside;

cold and alone.

As he thoguht of the sun he realized that the sun gave him everything he needed; gave him a purpose; he was warm; he was content; he was what he had been made to be.

Suddenly he felt warm - he turned and there was Mr. Sun.

The sun, who had never moved, said "I'm glad you're back! Let's get back to work!"

A Light - a fuller, brighter light - was seen in the sky and today the moon beams as he was meant to do!

How like us...

Without the SON we are empty, cold, and alone! With no light to shine in this dark world.

With Christ we are warm, full, content, and a light to the world.

I hope this story has made you think about your relationship with the SON ... the LIGHT of the world! I hope you are reflecting HIM all around you!

Blessings on you, sweet ones!

Resting in HIM,

Ruthie

New Years Resolutions - or NOT!

HEY!

Happy New Year!

2011!!!

WOW!

Do you make resolutions each year that you fail to keep?

I used to - but no more!

Now I find a Scripture that has spoken to me

and I do my utmost to implement that Scripture into my life -

thus into my character!

Here are my choices this year!

Yes!

CHOICES!

TWO!

They so go together!

Colossians 3:14

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Colossians 4:6

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

May you approach this New Year

filled with determination

to be the person God created you to be!

Filled with His Spirit!

Living with Faith!

Living in Obedience!

Loving as He loves!

May God richly bless you on this journey!

Resting In HIM,

Ruthie