How's Your Heart?

Do you ever ask yourself this question?
And be honest with your answer?

Do you ever ask God how your heart is? Ask Him as the Psalmist did?

Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT)
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me, and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Sometimes the "errors of our heart" are not known to us - but they are to God!
The very first step in dealing with sin in our lives is to be AWARE ...
the next step is to take ACTION to deal with the sin.

I don't know about you but i don't like the awareness part very much! It means i cant 'deny' anymore that i am not living right. And once i can no longer deny it, i then have to deal - deal with the issue.

I am doing a Priscilla Shirer study ..."The Armor of God" ... with a group of wonderful women. This is a great study and i highly recommend it to anyone! She says "Imputed righteousness defines you and declares you innocent before all accusers."  This is my identity in Christ!
HALLELUJAH!

Read Romans 4 ... better yet - dig in and study it!
Verses 23 & 24: And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn't just for Abraham's benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

What does this mean? It means that i am righteous! But it also means that i now have work to do - with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit... to put off some stuff and then to put on some.
See Ephesians 4 and 5.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, friends. I wish i could sit with you over a cup of coffee and talk about the exciting adventure that i am on.
Dig deep friends!
Discover who you are in Christ!
Plant your roots deep in the Truth of His Word!
Then go and shine your light in this dark world!
And when the enemy begins to taunt you with lies, declare aloud that "I AM RIGHTEOUS"! So satan, take a hike!

Blessings on this beautiful sunny day!
Ruthie

" A New Year - 2017"

Good morning friends!
It has been a loooonnngggg time - one month short of 2 years since i posted last. Much has happened in my life in that time but always i say GOD IS GOOD!
I have been feeling the urge to revitalize this blog - and today is the day!

As i looked back on my last post i saw that it was about my WORD for the year ... and even though i was not blogging i was still choosing a word for the year. In 2016 my word was SHALOM ... Gods peace,,, complete peace and harmony. Mid January 2016 i had a heart attack and spent 9 days in hospital... and had complete peace! Thank you, Sweet Jesus!

So as this new year began to roll around i asked the Lord to give me a word - His Word - for 2017.

ABANDON ... meaning
- to yield without restraint or moderation
- to give over completely
- complete surrender to
- leave behind all else and surrender to ..

I am choosing to ABANDON myself to HIM first and foremost - as i seek to know Him more and more; ABANDON myself to my life ... with JOY ... and peace and contentment; ABANDON myself to all He has for me this year, praying for His strength and stamina to keep me and cover me.

Matthew 16:24-26 (my words)
If you want to follow me you must give up your own way, take up your cross and follow me. You will lose your life if you hang on to it - BUT give up your life for Jesus sake and save it.

Also see Mark 8:34-36;  Luke 9: 23-25

Absolute Surrender - this is revealed during our trials!
Thanking my Lord for His blessings today; for keeping us through last nights storm; for my hubby who goes outside in all weather to fill up the stove; for heat and food and love.

Hugs and blessings dear friends!
RUTHIE