Walk In the Light

One Bible translation I looked in had the following Scripture entitled
“Walk In The Light”...

John 12:42-50
However, even many of the Jewish leaders believed him to be the Messiah but wouldn’t admit it to anyone because of their fear that the Pharisees would excommunicate them from the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are really trusting God. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me.
I have come as a Light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer wander in the darkness.
If anyone hears me and doesn’t obey me, I am not his judge – for I have come to save the world and not to judge it.
But all who reject me and my message will be judged at the Day of Judgment by the truths I have spoken.
For these are not my own ideas, but I have told you what the Father said to tell you. And I know his instructions lead to eternal life; so whatever he tells me to say, I say!”

Ummmmmmmmmm.

Have you ever stumbled around in the dark, looking for a candle or a flashlight so that you could see in the darkness? I’m sure most of us have!
We keep an emergency flashlight and a lighter in a drawer in the kitchen...
the last time the power went out I “felt” my way to that drawer ... for obvious reasons.
I can’t help but think about the darkness inside of us ... in our souls!
The only LIGHT that will take that darkness away is Jesus Christ!
He tells us He has come as a Light to shine in this dark world – so that we will not be stumbling thru life – but will be walking in the light!
If we walk in the light and are obedient to God then we will have eternal life!
Praise the Lord!

Dear Ones,
Are you walking in the Light today?
Is the SON shining in and thru you?
Is your life one of obedience to God’s ways?

I pray for each one reading today that you can answer yes to these questions...
If you can’t - at this moment in time – I pray you will give your life over to Him and allow Him to change you and bring you to this place!

May today be a Light-Filled day ... in you and around you!
Blessings!
Ruthie

UNENDING LOVE - AMAZING GRACE

I love the hymn we sing entitled “Amazing Grace” –
Chris Tomlin has a newer version which has been in my head as I write this:

“My chains are gone, I've been set free;
My God, My Savior, has ransomed me;
and like a flood His Mercy rains,
Unending Love, Amazing Grace.”

Oh, how I love these words!
My chains are gone!
I’ve been set free!
Unending Love!
Amazing Grace!

***
Hallelujah!
***
God saves us thru His unmerited favor – His Grace!

Ephesians 2:8 (AMP)
For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved
(delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation)
through [your] faith.
And this salvation is not of yourselves [of your own doing,
it came not through your own striving],
but it is a gift of God;

Hallelujah!

2 Corinthians 12:9 (AMP)
But He said to me, “My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness.”

In this verse Paul goes on to say this ...
Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities,
that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah)
may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!

AMAZING GRACE!
Sufficient for all my needs!
Thank You, Jesus!
Praise You, Lord!
Thank You, Holy Spirit!

May these words resonate with you today!
Not my words – but those of Scripture!
May you KNOW His Grace and His Mercy today!

Love and Peace to you...
Ruthie

Thankful Tuesday!

What gives you the greatest pleasure today?

For me - having the joy of the LORD in my heart thrills me!

Seeing the sun shine thrills me!

Last Wednesday evening at about 7pm the rain had "petered out"

and the shine was breaking thru the clouds -

sure looked like there might be a rainbow somewhere -

the sky was absolutely beautiful!

This reminded me of how, in the midst of our struggles and our pain - the SON shines thru!

He breaks thru the clouds and thru the rain and HE shines thru!

How thankful I am for sunshine - but even more so for SONSHINE!

Thank you Jesus!

Praise you Lord!

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed,

do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17

Have a wonderful day!

May HIS SON SHINE on everything you do -and- everything you are today!

Ruthie

Be Holy Because I Am Holy

Prayer from Beth Moore –
Daniel Bible Study

I, _______________ (place your name here) belong to God.
I am a Holy Vessel because I house the Holy Spirit of the Living God.
The Lord of Heaven and Earth has said over me,
“I declare you Holy.”
Today I commit to start believing what He says.
I am Holy.
Empower me daily, Spirit of the Living God,
to treat myself as Holy.
Open my eyes to every scheme of the enemy
to treat me as if I am not.
You God, are God.
Your Word is truth.
This day, Father, I choose to believe you.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.

But just as he who called you is holy,
so be holy in all you do; for it is written:
“Be holy, because I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:15-16

Rest in Him this weekend!
Hugs,
Ruthie

Watch What You Say!

We know the tongue is like a little spark setting a forest on fire...

see James 3:5-10.

Ecclesiastes 10:20

Do not curse the king, even in your thought;

Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom;

For a bird of the air may carry your voice,

And a bird in flight may tell the matter.

Ummmmmmmm!

We should watch what we say!

I'm sure you've all heard the saying "A little birdie told me"...

Do you suppose that came from this Scripture?It's a possibility!

I pray, dear Lord,

that we will watch our tongues today!

That we will speak only those things that are uplifting and encouraging;

Only those things that will build up ...

and not tear down!

Help us Lord to be conscious of our words...

May we speak life to those around us!

Thank You, Jesus!

Grace and Peace to you today!

Ruthie

"In My Arms"

I am in my craft room making a card –
So what else would I be doing, aye?
I have the TV on the Christian Music station ... non-stop Contemporary Christian Music!
I hear the artist singing as if the Lord was speaking to her, and He’s telling her that no matter what, she will be safe in His arms!
I know I’ve heard this song before – but at this moment I am filled with an overwhelming sense of peace and thankfulness!
The name of the song is “In My Arms” by PLUMB....

Do you know that He provides safety for you?
Think on this Scripture...

About Benjamin he said:
“Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders.”
Deuteronomy 33:12

Dear friends,
are you “the beloved of the LORD”?
I pray you are!
You can rest secure and safe in Him!
Thank You, Jesus;
Thank You, Father;
Thank You, Holy Spirit!

Dear Father God,
Please refresh and renew the faith of everyone reading this today – including myself!
Help us to know You as our Redeemer, our Savior and our Safety!
May we REST in the security that You love us and are with us – that Your Presence goes with us!
We love You, LORD!
Praise Your Holy Name...
Amen.

May Blessings of Peace and Joy rest on you today,
Ruthie

Ditch The Complaining

Exodus 3:7-8
The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.
So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey......”

You may recall that the Israelites had been slaves to the Egyptians for 430 years

(Exodus 12:40)

Just the other day as I was driving home from town, I heard an interview on CBC Radio with a Jewish scholar.
I was so intrigued with this interview that I hauled off the road to listen and take notes!
The topic of this interview was grumbling and complaining ... and how we as humans are so prone to this!
I know I am! How about you?
Sometimes – for me – it’s my “self-talk” – I tend to “talk to myself” a fair bit... and I catch myself grumbling to myself!

Here is the Scripture this fellow quoted...
As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians?’ It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”
Exodus 14:10-12

This Scholar – I didn’t catch his name – related the story of the Israelites being brought out of Egypt by the Lord ... they complained to Moses as soon as they got to the shores of the sea. Go Figure! They had been in captivity for hundreds of years – God had brought them out of that, with their possessions – and they complained and grumbled!!!!

Do we do that? Do I do that?
Grumble and complain when God has brought me out of, or thru something!
Or do I Praise Him, have a grateful heart, and give Him thanks?

A Pastor named Will Bowen was also interviewed at this time.
He has written a book entitled A Complaint Free World... I have not read this book; nor have I gone to his website – you might want to check this out for yourselves...
He told how, about 3-4 years ago he preached a series of sermons to his congregation on complaining.
As you may already be aware, he stated that it takes 21 days to make or break a habit – and he said that complaining and grumbling become habits with us. He encouraged his congregation to become more aware of their “habits” and to begin to change this... to do this he gave each one a bracelet to wear – each time they “caught” themselves grumbling or complaining
they were to change the bracelet to the other wrist...

The goal – to become very aware of their thoughts, their words, their habits of grumbling and complaining;
- to form new habits of praise and thanksgiving;
- to have 21 consecutive days free from grumbling and
complaining.

I was very taken with this idea.
Last year - 2008 – my New Year’s Resolution was to try and live out Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, Whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.

(some days were / are better than others )

Sunday morning I awoke with this idea in my mind ... I went thru some stuff I had and found a simple bracelet; put it on my wrist –
Well! This is how the day went... I changed the bracelet from wrist to wrist many times!

Ummmmmm!
My hubby and a couple friends are aware of what I’m doing... Now you all know!
I’ll keep you informed as to how things are going! Maybe some of you will join me on this journey! If so, please let me know!

Father God,
change our hearts to see You in all our circumstances... whatever they may be.
May we not be like the Israelites – grumbling and complaining as You brought them out of captivity!
May we have hearts filled with thanks and joy – Increase our faith, Lord!
And we will give You all the praise and glory!
Amen!

Blessings on you today, friends!
May you have a complaint-free day!
Resting in HIM,
Ruthie