Thankful for ....

#57. Awesome sunny days!

#58. A meal consisting of ALL fresh produce and "home-grown" chicken: salad- with Romain, red onion, small zucchini (green and yellow), cucumber, green pepper; steamed yellow beans; baked zucchini drizzled with balsamic vinegar; roast chicken; bread and butter pickles; homemade bead! Beautiful to look at ... delicious!!!!

#59. My little puppy growing like a weed... too cute!

#60. "church" in the foyer while the rains beat down outside!

What are you thankful for today? this week?
Praise Him for His bounty and His grace!
Blessings!
Ruthie

"For IF you forgive..."

When you read the post for Saturday you found that it was Scripture from Matthew 6: 9-13...

I must say that the next 2 verses changed my life ... as I reflect on this I know I will add them to my "life verse" file! I mentioned a few days ago about the "lay preacher" who spoke on forgiveness... he used this following Scripture and it spoke to my heart like nothing had before! Thank You, Jesus!!!!

"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

Matthew 6:14-15

I cannot be in fellowship with a just, loving, compassionate, merciful, gracious Heavenly Father if I refuse to forgive others.... so I have a choice to make. What is more important to me? Not forgiving someone or having an awesome relationship with my Father. Well! to me there is only one answer to that question! I must forgive!!! I want it all with HIM! Therefore to hang on to unforgiveness would not be good! Not be good emotionally, mentally, physically - but especially Spiritually!

I've been doing some de-cluttering and cleaning ... as hubby would say - "getting my "nest" ready for winter!" :0

I found these 2 quotes on Saturday ...

"Forgiveness doesn't change the past but it does enlarge the furtue!" - author unknown

"To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love.

In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness." - Robert Muller

Blessings on you dear ones! I pray God has spoken to you today through something said here! You are loved! and forgiven - be a forgiver!

This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done

on earth as it is heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our debt as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And led us not into tmeptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.

Matthew 6:9-13

"Living in Forgiveness"

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
Colossians 3:12-14

When Jesus taught us to pray He said to ask God to forgive us, just as we give forgiveness to others.

"Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors".... Matthew 6:12

If we ask God to forgive us and don't in turn, forgive those who have hurt us, we will not enjoy the full benefits of our Lord's forgiveness to us! I so remember the full impact of that Scripture hitting my heart many years ago! I was experiencing the break-up of my marriage and was filled with anger and all the other "stuff" that such a situation brings into ones life. A lay-pastor in our church preached one Sunday evening and God's Word came alive to me! I knew what I had to do... I devoured His Word; read a book or two on 'forgiveness'; sought Godly counsel ... and made the choice to "live in forgiveness" ... He Changed My Heart!
HALLELUJAH!

"Living in forgiveness" is a CHOICE!
"How do I do that?" you might ask me... "Only through the strength of God", I answer.

"Living in Forgiveness" is releasing others to Him. When we DON'T do this we will not find release and relief for ourselves! "Not forgiving" will always hold us back! I don't want to be held back - do you?

Unforgiveness destoys us from the inside out - it's like a poison that seeps into everything we touch; every relationship; people will sense it in us.
Dear ones - I pray you will make the choice today to forgive - to free yourself for God's amazing work to occur in you! Don't let the enemy poison you and your life!

May today be the day that you CHOOSE TO LIVE IN FORGIVENESS!
Blessings on each of you today!
Ruthie

True Forgiveness

What does that mean - "true forgiveness"?

It means this - completely letting go of an offense AND refusing to hold it against the one who offended.

OHHHHHHHHH!

This kind of forgivenes is impossible without the Lord. We need HIM to help us forgive everyday - every moment of the day!

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

What does it mean to enable? It means "to make possible"; "to assist".

There is a difference between forgiveness and enabling!

Did you hear that?

There is a difference between forgiving and enabing!!!

A lot of the people I meet with have difficulty with this. They tend to think that if they repeatedly forgive someone for a repeated offense they are encouraging them to continue in their actions.

Hear this please! FORGIVENESS DOESN'T MAKE THE OTHER PERSON RIGHT; IT MAKES YOU FREE!!!

Hallelujah!!! Praise the Lord!!!

You need to confront the other person about changing; you need to pray about their changing BUT - if they don't change - you need to refuse to allow it to eat at you, to make you bitter and resentful.

Forgiveness doesn't give them freedom to repeat the offense (even though they might do this); nor does it mean you allow that person to walk all over you or continue to hurt you!

Sometimes we may think we've done the "forgiveness work" when we truly haven't - some where inside there is still resentment. We must take that to God - ask Him if there is any unforgiveness in our heart towards.....? He'll let you know.

Forgiveness is a choice you will make every day! You CHOOSE to live in forgiveness! It is not a feeling that you have - it is a decisioon!

I believe there is someone out there who needs these words today! Spend time with our loving , forgiving Lord and ask Him to help you to have a forgiving heart towards the people that have hurt you. Right now I am praying for all the readers - asking God to help you be free in Him; to help you forgive where that needs to occur! May He fill you with His grace and peace today! May you KNOW that He loves you and has forgiven you!

Blessings dear ones!

God's Footprints!

A couple weeks ago we had a singing group at our Sunday Morning Service - "Emmaus Road".

Beautiful music filled with the message of a saving God. I don't remember the name of the song or all of the words but this phrase has stuck with me - "God's footprints on your day"

As I reflect on these words I see His footprints - His hand - His presence - not only in my own life but everywhere!

- Carrying me [us] thru the ordeal of having my hubby's shop broken into and the sense of vulnerability that gives!

- Sunshine; beautiful days; beautiful sunsets; beach time; lake time... and so on.

- Harvest - Farmer's Market filled with fresh produce! (even with the very wet spring and summer we've had there is produce!)

- Spiritual Harvest - 5 children asked Jesus onto their hearts during last week's VBS! Hallelujah!

- Spirit promptings when I begin to grumble about something - He's wanting me to change this!

- Spirit-led preaching of the TRUTH of God's Word!

- I could go on - but I hope this has started you thinking about HIS Footprints on YOUR life - take some time today with our Lord and reflect on how He has left His footprints all over your life! And then Praise Him for it all!

Blessings on you precious ones!

DOXOLOGY

A doxology is an expression of praise to God -

especially a short hymn sung as part of a worship service.

I awoke with a doxology running thru my head...

When I was growing up I attended church every week -

this short hymn was sung at the beginning of every service -

strangely enough - it has remained a favorite of mine over the years

and today it was "right there" when I awoke ...

May it bless you!

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow,

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

These words were written in 1674! WOW!..

as part of a longer hymn -

in a time when it was believed that only the words of scripture should be sung!

Blessings on you today!

May this day be filled with thanksgiving and praise!

Ruthie