Inspiration...

Last evening in church the Pastor asked these questions -
"Is your life an inspiration for others? Are you inspiring others to be more like Christ?"

According to Websters "To Inspire" means to infuse an animating, quickening, or exalting influence into....

With regards to our physical body, inspiration is to breathe in - to draw air into our lungs. Without inspiration and expiration (air out) we would not live!

Spiritually - without inspiration and expiration of the Holy Spirit we are not alive - we are dead!
To me that means we must allow Him to have full reign in us, and then allow Him out - to the world; to the lost; to those we come in contact with everyday!
There must be evidence in our lives that the Holy Spirit lives within!

Oh! I so want my life to be an inspiration to others!
To show people that Christ is alive!
To be a living example of the Holy Spirt led life!
Hallelujah!!!

Oh! How I fail at this sometimes!

So I claim this verse:
Philippians 1:6
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus!

He won't give up on me - He will continue to work in me! Thank You, Lord!

As He will for you! Don't allow the devil to steal your joy, your peace - he will try to, you know!
When you fail at inspiring others go to God! Let Him "fix" you! Tell Satan to "take a hike"! And KNOW that Philippians 1:6 applies to you!
Hallelujah and Amen!!!

Blessings on you this day!
Resting in HIM,
Ruthie

Our Special Place!

Ever since our precious grand-daughter could sit on the swing I have pushed her and sung to her there - under the apple tree.

I would sing my own rendition of "Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree" ... singing "Don't SWING under the apple tree with anyone else but me!" And I changed the words at the end telling her how much I loved her! This past month the apple tree that the swing was hanging from blew over... (the one next to it blew over a couple months before that)... Grampie has since cut them both down for firewood.

When I visited with Madison this past weekend I told her about the trees and the swing.

She said, "Oh, Grammie. That was our special place to go to." I told her not to worry - we'd find another "special place."

Do you have a "special place" you visit with a child, or grandchild? With your spouse? What about with God? Do you have a place where you meet Him everyday? Where your mind is drawn to Him and what He wants from you and for you? I guess I'd have to say that my "special place" is at my desk ... or at the kitchen table! There really is nothing extra ordinary about either of these places - except that HE meets me there! Praise God!

Another "special place" is in my car ... on a long drive... we truly commune in these times! I sing at the top of my lungs and give Him praise!

Dear Ones,

I hope you have a "special place" - where you meet with Him.

This relationship with Him is so precious... I can't imagine life any other way! I hope you can say the same.

Blessings on you today!

Ruthie

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