"Two Favors"

Proverbs 30:7-8

 

O God, I beg two favors from You;

Let me have them before I die.

First, help me never to tell a lie.

Second, give me neither poverty nor riches!

Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.

 

Over, and over, and over again...

God gives me just enough!

How thankful I am for His promises to me!

How thankful I am that HE loves ME!

Blows me away to think about HIS LOVE!

 

May you be blessed today!

Seek Him in all you do...

 

rather -

Join Him in all He does ...

and LIVE the difference that makes in your life!

 

Blessings, sweet ones!

I know I don't write here often -

I am writing all the time, however...

Compiling my writings for a study book!

God is good!

 

"For I know whom I have believed...."

Ruthie

 

 

Adversity

Just what is adversity?
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines adversity as hardship, challenge, misfortune; a state, condition, or instance of continual difficulty or adverse fortune.
I am sure that as you read this you can think of many examples of adversity - probably some that have been very personal to you. Here are a few: losing all your possessions in a fire; going thru a divorce; death of a loved one; being stricken with a serious illness.

Over the past 2 years I have been diagnosed with 3 serious illnesses!
             Go Figure!    THREE!
And - most of the time no one would know that unless you were in my circle of closeness!

These are called Invisible Illnesses - no one can see them; or the effects they have on the person's daily life. As a nurse I always tried very hard to accept whatever a patient might say to me about their pain and/or ability to "do" something. I certainly hope I treated them with respect and empathy - something that I find lacking in today's health care system.

A few weeks ago I spent some awesome time at the Atlantic Wesleyan Church Camp - Beulah Camp .... Visiting with a dear friend, and spending some needed time in God's Presence - being ministered to thru Music and the Word - and friends!!!!

This is the WORD HE gave to me during those days .....

Psalm 27:5   For He will conceal me in His shelter in the day of adversity. He will hide me under the cover of His tent; He will set me high on a rock.

I have claimed these words as MINE since then ... Memorizing them; carrying a copy in my wallet; Knowing that He spoke them for me and to me that night - for such a time as this!
I have lived the past 3 days in constant pain  - fibromyalgia pain has hit me again! I just returned from town - had to have some groceries - it was all I could do to drive home! I've never had that happen to me before. So - me being me - I cried out to God all the way home!
I refuse to let this take my JOY!
Conceal me, Lord!
"Satan you get out of here - you're not havin' me!"

I will put my HOPE in God - who is my rock and my strength, my portion and my protector, the lover of my soul!  He will store up my tears; He will KEEP me!
Thank you , Lord!

For those of you reading this who know someone with an Invisible Illness - please be compassionate with them; they don't need you to "fix" anything - they just need you to be present with them! If you don't know how to deal with all this entails visit the Invisible Illness website! You will learn so much. And keep them covered in prayer - God is ever with us - seem times we just need to surrender to HIM ...

Blessings dear ones!
This is the day - rejoice!
Ruthie

REJOICE -

John 14:28 ... You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. (ESV)

Philippians 3:1 ... Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. [KJV]

1 Thessalonians 5:16 ... Rejoice evermore. [KJV]

1 Peter 1:8 ... Though you have not seen him, you love him, and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. [NIV]

Jeremiah 15:16 ... Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts. (NKJV)

Psalm 28:7 ... The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. (NLT)

Dear Sweet Readers -
Are you rejoicing in the Lord today? HE IS in your circumstances! He will never leave you! He loves you more than you can ever imagine! He IS your strength and your shield; your portion and your protection! Let the truths of HIS WORD fill you with thanksgiving - fill your heart with rejoicing! and may there be a song on your lips - a song of praise to HIM!

Blessings on you all on this beautiful "day that the Lord has made"..... may your rejoice and be glad in it - Pslam 118:24

*** Ruthie

How SWEET Is HIS Presence!

Oh the sweetness of resting in HIm!
                      ... of letting everything go and sitting at HIS feet!
                      ... of leaning on HIM!
                      ... of soaking up HIS Love, HIS Peace, HIS Grace
                             AND - HIS JOY!!!!!

Simple Praise fills my heart and my soul -

Thank you, Jesus, for my life in YOU!!!

The LORD Is In This Place!

Genesis 28:16
Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it."

Are you aware of HIS Presence throughout your day?
Do you KNOW HE IS IN that place whereever you are?
Or are you like Jacob - and you awaken ... whether from sleep or from the daily grind - and suddenly become aware that HE is here?

I am currently reading the book "One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to LIVE FULLY Right Where You Are"  by Ann Voskamp. I highly recommend this book - she also has a blog which you will find at www.aholyexperience.com

It is due to her inspiration that I began to faithfully attempt to Live Life Fully! Right Now! On my 60th birthday - almost 3 years ago now - a friend gave me a beautiful journal that I began to journal my thanks in. Over the years I had done this as part of my daily journaling ... but never numerically and never a journal specifically just for thanks! What an experience this has been! Some of these I have recorded on this blog as part of "One Thousand Gifts".

This whole experience has enabled me to say - with Jacob - "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it."

Just today ... within the hour ...
# 637. RAIN - coming straight down from heaven - like a thick curtain.
# 638. the SOUND of rain - as it hits the road outside my window.

And as I read Ann's book these words of hers jump off the page and touch my heart ...
"The weight of God's glory, not illusory or ephemeral, but daily and everywhere, punctures earth's lid and heaven falls through the holes."

Oh dear ones - may heaven fall thru the holes for you today! May you see and experience HIS glory all around you!
Blessings sweet ones!
Ruthie

Psalm 42

PSALM 42:1-11

As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.

I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?

Day and night I have only tears for food,

while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, "Where is this God of yours?"

My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be:

I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God,

singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sounds of a great celebration!

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God!

I will praise him again - my Savior and my God!

Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you -

even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar.

I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.

But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.

"O God, my rock", I cry, "Why have you forgotten me?

Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?"

Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, "Where is this God of yours?"

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?

I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again -

My Savior and my God!

Discouragement and despair come to us all - at various times - for various reasons!

BUT - HE is our Hope! He is our Rock!

If you are in a place of discouragement or depression today I pray that you will remember - as David did - that GOD IS ALL YOU NEED! Each and every day He pours HIS Love on you!

May this Scripture bring you some relief - some encouragement - some hope!

BLESSINGS!

Ruthie

"I am with you, says the Lord."

I wonder what the words of the title mean to you.
And, I wonder - do you KNOW that HE is with you!

I just had an email from a friend who stated "I can report that God was definitely with us" - as they dealt with a difficult situation...

Is He there in your difficulties?
In the dark times of your life?
What about the bright and sunny times?
In the blessings?

His WORD tells us the truth - and the truth is - HE IS WITH US!
In all HIS power, and glory, and strength, and protection, and peace, and provision, and comfort, and confidence, and safety, and authority, and compassion, and ...

Dear Ones,
I pray that you KNOW that HE IS WITH YOU!
Blessings on you!

Resting in HIM -
Ruthie

for I KNOW whom I have believed, and am persuaded that HE is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
2 Timothy 1:12

Readings: Haggai chapters 1 and 2; Matthew 28:18-20; Joshua 1:5; Hebrews 13:5

Meditation

Oh Oh ... some might say! What is she going to talk about? Meditation? That hokey-pokey stuff?
No! Not that hokey-pokey stuff!

Joshua's instructions to the Israelites ...
Joshua 1:8 (NIV)
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

David's words to God in Psalm 119...
Psalm 119: 97
Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long.

Meditation is the spiritual discipline of focusing the mind on God's Word; pondering it, memorizing it, turning it over in our hearts, letting the words sink deep into the heart and soul of us; thus quickening us with Life! The goal of Christian Meditation is to fill the mind with Scripture - as we do this we become less and He becomes more! Our thoughts become His thoughts; our values, His values.

Again David said
Pslam 119:15-16
I meditate on your precepts, and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

I'm sure you have marinated a steak to prepare it for grilling. The meat sits in the marinade and soaks up the herbs and fluid; and becomes soft and tender. So it is when we marinate our minds with the Word of God!
His Word softens and tenderizes even the hardest of hearts!

Dear Ones
I pray you are spending time Marinating in His Word; Meditating on His Truths; Listening for His Voice.
Blessings on you, this day, the one He has made!

Resting in HIM,
Ruthie

You've Got Mail!!!!!

It's everywhere.... and I've bought into it! Have you?
E-mail; FaceBook; Texting; Twittering (I don't do this one); Blackberry; iPhone...
And on and on it goes!

Since getting my BlackBerry I have become aware of every time I get an email or a post on FB...
Along with all the "external" messages we get there is that INTERNAL stuff! The messages we tell ourselves - in our minds - daily.

Lately I've been thinking about all this in relation to the mail - the letters - HIS Written Word .... to me - to us! I don't get an electronic "ping" everytime HE sends me a note... IT IS ALWAYS THERE - for me to go to. What a BLESSING that is to me! Just KNOWING that - BUT - How much more of a BLESSING it is everytime I STOP, READ, MEDITATE, LISTEN to HIS mail! His Word!

He not only speaks thru HIS Word; He speaks thru HIS People; HE speaks HIMSELF! Into our hearts and our spirits!
Psalm 27: 8 ... My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me." And my heart responds, "Lord, I am coming."

Dear Ones,
Set the FB, BB, iPhone, Laptop, and all that stuff - set it aside for a while today. Listen for HIS voice, HIS whisper into your heart. Contemplate HIS goodness and Who He Is! Allow HIS Word to penetrate your spirit; to bring you Life!

This is my prayer for myself and for each of you as I REST in HIS Awesomeness and Peace!
Blessings,
Ruthie

Pouring out my HEART today ...

I will TRUST in the Lord when all else seems to be falling apart.
I will SEEK HIS face even though I may be seeking thru a cloud of dismay.
I will DELIGHT in HIS Word and HIS Ways!

I will CHOOSE to believe that He is Good; He is Faithful; He is Merciful; and He is Just!
I will KNOW that He is all I need!

I will PRAY as He has asked me to - told me to!
I will PRAISE and give Him glory!

I WILL - COUNT IT ALL JOY!

Father God,

I don't understand - I don't know why things happen as they do... why people get sick and die;
why there are accidents that take our loved ones away from us; why people lie and cheat and steal... My heart is heavy with the cares of this world -

BUT - I will CHOOSE to sing - along with David:

"YOU are my portion, O Lord. Open my eyes that I might see YOUR wonder. YOU are my refuge and my shield - my HOPE is in YOU. The wicked have set a snare for me and my loved one, but we will not stray from YOUR precepts... YOU are GOOD, and what YOU do is GOOD.
Uphold us , Lord...
Deliver us....
Trouble and distress have come upon us, but YOUR commands are our delight!"

And I pray we can say with authenticity - "It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn YOUR decrees."

Lord, You are the Master of ALL! I give YOU my PRAISE today! Teach me, Lord, Teach us! I am YOUR Servant, O God!
In the powerful Name of Jesus,
AMEN