"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

Last post for 2010...

Greetings dear ones on this final day of 2010.
What a year it has been - with all it's ups and downs; comings and goings; births and deaths; laughter and tears.

I am still continuing to count my many blessings - and will do so til I'm gone from this earth!
Here are the final ones for 2010:

475. Providing me with a parking space close to me appointment.
476. Travel mercies for hubby as he goes to the City and back each weekend.
477. TUMS - when my tummy is upset.
478. POWER! when it seems to be going out all around us...
479. Family coming for Christmas.
480. Seeing Madison at her school Christmas Concert b/c of the "magic" of video cameras!
481. A wonderful Christmas concert at our church.
482. A beautiful cool moonlit night - can't begin to describe the picture of the moon, clouds and trees! Magnificent!
483. Christmas day - preparing veggies, listening to Amazing Grace, sun shining in, patio door open an inch or two!
484. Christmas dinner with all the fixin's - family around the table!
485. Sunny skies, and no wind!

As we move into a new year I pray that each of us will take a moment or more to:

• reflect on the blessings of this past year - even in the midst of difficult times!
• cherish memories of loved ones - those that are with us and those that are gone from us for a time!
• praise our Lord for who He is and KNOW that we would be nothing without Him in our lives!
• dream about the possibilites of the future - whatever that might be for each one of us!
• look outside of ourselves and see the needs around us, then decide to do something about them!
• choose to think on those things that are true and noble and pure and lovely!

May 2011 be even more than you have imagined it might be! Blessings dear friends -

Ruthie

Nehemiah 9:6

Still Counting His Blessings!

He Blesses my life everyday!
Some days I even forget to write down what He has done for me - given to me. Forgive me , Lord, for not being ever aware of You and Your blessings to me!

465. Christmas preparations.
466. Praying sisters-in-the-Lord!
467. Freshly baked muffins - made by me!
468. Spontaneity!
469. +2 degrees C, sunshine, no wind - awesome day!
470. Safety on the road during my many travels this past month!
471. Joy in the Lord!
472. Gifts wrapped and under the tree.
473. Fish Chowder!
474. Precious sleep....

Merry Christmas to you all!
In HIM,
Ruthie

Christmas