a Heart's Ramblings.

THE COMMON THINGS Ruth Bell Graham Lord, let mine be a common place while here. His was a common one; He seems so near when I am working at some ordinary task. Lord, let mine be a common one, I ask. Give me things to do that others shun, I am not so gifted or so poised, Lord, as some. I am best fitted for the common things, and I am happy so. It always brings a sense of fellowship with Him who learned to do the lowly things that others spurned: to wear simple clothes, the common dress, to gather in His arms and gently bless (and He was busy, too) a little child, to lay His hand upon the one defiled, to walk with sinners down some narrow street, to kneel Himself and wash men’s dusty feet. To ride a common foal, to work with wood, to dwell with common folk, eat common food; and then upon the city dump to die for me Lord, common things are all I ask of Thee.

“God is God. … He is worthy of my worship and my service. I will find rest nowhere but in His will, and that will is … unspeakably beyond my largest notions of what He is up to.”

"So goes the home goes the church, so goes the church goes the country."

I really don't think they care what version of the Bible I may be using.   I don't think most of them care what Christian religion I am.  They care about my touch, my care, my love.   My time.   They want Christ with skin on to them...

"Every day we live is a priceless gift of God,  loaded with possibilities to learn something new, to gain fresh insights." ~Dale Evans Rogers

"Dear tested and tried believer,  it is your mission to walk onto the stage of this world in order to reveal to all of heaven and earth that  the music of life lies not in your circumstances or external things  but in your own soul."  Excerpt from Sept. 28,Streams in the Desert

a hymn written by Anna L. Waring in 1850: Father, I know that all my life Is portioned out for me, And the changes that are sure to come I do not fear to see; I ask Thee for a present mind, Intent on pleasing Thee. I would not have the restless will That hurries to and fro, Seeking for some great thing to do Or secret thing to know; I would be treated as a child And guided where I go. Wherever in the world I am, In whatsoever estate, I have a fellowship with hearts To keep and cultivate .

"Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature…. If the next centennial does not find us a great nation … it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces." | James Garfield, 20th President of the United States |

"When God is teaching us to walk by faith, not by what we feel, He withdraws from our emotions. He hides from our feelings. So instead, we have to take on trust that He is with us. In His hiddenness, we learn to believe that “God will never leave us or forsake us,” and we establish a pattern of simple faith that “He is with us always.” - Graham Cooke

God promises all that we need for life and godliness; with no exception. And when the Bible says all  that we need, it means... all ! Our good and gracious Father does not give us a little sliver of grace for obedience, and then leave us exhausting ourselves in futile attempts to draw strength from the well of self-effort. He gives the full measure of grace needed to victoriously live the Christian life, not just sometimes, not just when our “if only” ideals become reality. Right now, in your current situation and season of life, God has made available to you all that is needed for glad obedience. It is when we are relying on our own strength and power to obey, and not on the power of Christ, that we find ourselves failing and faltering! It is then, when we are tempted to shift the blame for disobedience onto our circumstances; it is then that we insist that we would obey “if only”. If you are not giving out of your little, you will not give out of your plenty. God d...

He hides Himself...  why? for  the sake of relationship . This takes faith! But faith works through love (Gal 5:6).  And like a circle, this deepens your faith. http://www.cornerstonekc.org/sermons/20160522_john_a_hidden_hand.mp3

Mrs. Dunwoody’s Guide to Living Beautifully Realize that each new day is a gift from God.  Treat it as such. Focus on life’s blessings, as this is continuously uplifting, and affects who you are as a person. Develop a keen appreciation for the little luxuries in your daily life–the smell of coffee in the morning, the songbirds outside your window, a loved one’s crooked smile. Seek out these “blessings” and take time each day to notice and savor them. Pay attention to your life. Create a home you love to live in. Spend some time outdoors. Nature heals and replenishes the soul. Do something kind for someone at least every week; aim for every day. Do a good deed anonymously. You will find, in time, that the more you give, the more is given back to you. Everything in life is a choice. realize that as you live your life, each moment you are either adding to or taking from the quality of your life. You are either creating and enjoying, or dying and destroying. There...

If you are looking for the way by which you should go,  take Christ, for He is Himself the way. Thomas Aquinas Isaiah 41:13 For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand  and says to you,  'Do not fear; I will help you.' Jer 32:27 I am the Lord, the God of all mankind.   Is anything too hard for me? Isaiah 40:31 But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Neh 8:10 ...all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law.  Then he (Nehemiah, the governor; Ezra, the priest and scribe) said to them, "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord.  Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Prov 4:25 Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Heb 12:1-2 .....

https://mysunkissedfarm.wordpress.com/2016/03/27/young-women-its-time-to-grow-up/

http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/fearless-women-in-a-world-of-opportunities?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=feedpress.me&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dg-articles This is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord.     And you are her children,  if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening .  (1 Peter 3:5–6)   This kind of fearless witness to Christ is a glorious part of “the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet [or serene] spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious”! (1 Peter 3:4)

The apostle Paul was a tremendously restless person, one who said he strained forward and yearned for God’s final future (Philippians  3:13 –14). And yet he also said that he had learned the secret of contentment in any circumstance (Philippians  4:12 ). The two are intimately related after all. The reason we grow discontent in our singleness, or our job, or marriage, or car, or children (or anything else) is because that person or thing (whatever it is) looks so big and eternity looks so small. If you hold a coin close enough to your face, it will obscure an entire city skyline. When our present circumstances look bigger than eternity, we have lost perspective. When we lose perspective, we tend to load too much of our contentment onto something never designed to bear the weight.  Stephen Witmer

"O Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you.  Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress...  He will be a sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure."  (from Isaiah 33)

Gracefulness has been defined to be the outward expression of the inward harmony of the soul... William Hazlitt

Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together! Psalm 34:3

- Luke 9 -  And He said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." Then He said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.  What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?  If anyone is ashamed of me or my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels." To go after Him means what?  To deny one's self.  To take up one's cross (daily!).  To follow Him.  He's asking me to do what HE did.  To be willing to suffer or to be rejected, to die.   He denied self. "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; ...

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Heb 12:6) Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Heb 13:20-21) Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Phil 2:12-13)

As for God, His way is perfect. Psalm 18:30 “Christ sent me to preach the gospel and He will look after the results.”  -Mary Slessor Be 100% wherever you are. Elisabeth Elliot wrote that “waiting on God requires the willingness to bear uncertainty, to carry within oneself the unanswered question, lifting the heart to God about it whenever it intrudes upon one’s thoughts.” The woman who is clothed with strength and who rejoices, does so – not because everything is sunny and the coffers are full – but because she knows that both in this moment, and in all future moments, God is faithful. ( http://setapartgirl.com/devotional/02-17-16/garment-praise) She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. Prov 31:25 May God himself, the God of peace,  sanctify you through and through...  The one who calls  you is faithful,  and he will do it. 1 Thess 5:23, 24 "...to bestow on them a crown  of b...

" It’s the Word of God, after all. What is available to be unlocked inside this book is the mystery of God himself. Even the most holy and educated Bible scholars struggle.  In other words, just because the Bible is accessible doesn’t make it understandable... Don’t just broadcast when you can  disciple.   Don’t mistake words for THE WORD.  John 1:1  reminds us that the Word is God. So, let us revere Scripture and worship God in so doing. In Scripture (e.g.,  Hebrews 10:24-25 ), God commands us to pursue true community. The church was built by Christ, to bring us into communion with him and with each other. Because God knows that we’re better together, that in a community of authentic relationships guided by his Word, we mend each other’s brokenness, and we have both the mandate and privilege of building one another up — of engaging with the Word of God that we find not just in the Bible, but in each other. We have the right tool. Despite technolog...

Some of my many random thoughts tonight, after skimming through old website bookmarks... PRAYING THE WORD FOR MY HUSBAND I love structure and I love God’s Word. Put the two together and you have a beautiful thing when it comes to prayer. Here are seven Scripture-based prayers you and I can pray to God on behalf of our husbands. That he would be given the STRENGTH he needs to fulfill his mission. Mighty God, grant my husband courage and the ability to find His strength in you. I pray he would not fear nor be dismayed and He would remember that You are always with Him. Holy Spirit, strengthen him with power his inner being. (Ephesians 3:16; 6:10, Joshua 1:6-9) That our MARRIAGE would be strong. Jesus, show my husband what it looks like to love me as you loved the church. Help me to love and serve him with a submissive and respectful heart. (Ephesians 5:25-33) That he would THRIVE in his ministry and personal life. I pray that he would be rooted and g...

What is a life that proves love for its Maker? with my heart - cultivating a love for Him and a value for all the things He values with my soul - nourishing it daily with Truth from His words, seeing them as they are: my "life"! with my strength - pursuing a healthy and balanced lifestyle; not growing idle (Prov 31), but keeping active and in order with my mind - making the choice to "set" my mind on "things of above", all that is good, true, pleasing, and lovely; to "fix" my eyes on Jesus rather than myself or the world, wearing the hope of salvation as a helmet over it (1 Thess 5)

" I maintain that a biblically balanced Christian has both a full head and full heart, radiating both… "

In a culture that constantly tells me that I should be doing more... The Bible tells me that this is enough. It’s enough to slow down and forget about keeping up with the Joneses. It’s enough to let the gospel sink deeply and firmly into my soul. It’s enough to teach that gospel to my children, to live it out with my husband, to serve humbly and live quietly and love faithfully. It’s enough, because HE IS ENOUGH. I can use up my life trying to prove my worth, or I can spend my life talking about how worthy He is. In my home, in my writing, and in my relationships. Small and faithful. Because no accomplishment, no dollar amount, no list with all the boxes checked off, will ever fill me the way that Christ does. And so, I’ll believe what He says over any of the rest of it, and I’ll find rest in refusing to indulge the comparison that kills our souls and steals our focus from where it should be. On Him first, and then those loved ones He’s graciously given to us. ...

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. Dear children, let US not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth .  This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn us.  For God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him.  And THIS is His command: to believe in the name of His son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us.  Those who obey His commands live in Him, and He in them.  And this is how we know that He lives in us: We know by the Spirit he gave us. 1 John 3:16, 18-20 How do we set our hearts at rest in His presence, even when our hearts seem to condemn us?  Love one another.  Not with words or tongue, but wit...

from Matt 5 - You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. to be balanced out with... chp 6 -  Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them... So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men.  I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.  But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you... When you pray, go into your room, close the door and p...

"Ignorance of t he providence of God is the cause of all impatience"  John Calvin

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=1219152351340 Wisdom - knowing God's Words, and intentionally applying it to your life. <- this is how you walk in wisdom.  We must put filter our lives through the Word and put our shoulder to the plow rather than squandering our opportunities.  Try to understand what the will of the LORD is for YOU.  Not just "Lord, Lord!", but he who does what God wills will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  You can't enter the narrow gate and walk the broad path.  "How you walk" is in the Bible, because it DOES matter how you walk. There's a difference between time and opportunities; I may have more time, but I will not have this opportunity. TODAY is the day the Lord has made - let us rejoice and be glad in IT. What can I do be doing/starting that employs the talents and time I've been given to glorify Him or benefit and bring attention to the importance of the people around me? My time is not my own, Jesu...

There is true beauty in singleness. God knows you’re single.  He has placed you in this position for a  purpose .  And God does not ever do anything out of spite. Every intention is out of a pure heart. Take this time to become the woman that the Lord intends for you to be for Him and for your husband. Read  Proverbs 31 .   A beautiful heart and soul will never fade like beauty does. (http://thelegacyladies.com/2014/02/09/dance-with-him/)

God didn't ask for us to be "His Philosophers". No, He asked that we simply be "His Witnesses", witnessing first-account to that which makes it clear that "Christ lives in you", the living Truth in our own lives that He redeems, He gives grace, He grows and brings life, He saves.

I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. Let the oppressed see it and be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive! What are God's demands? What does an all-sufficient God, who owns and controls all things, demand from the creature he has made? His demand is great, but it is  not  that we be great, but that we cease to be great in our own eyes and become small that he might appear great. "The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." "It is not the well who need a physician but those who are sick." Jesus has nothing to do for those who insist they are well. He demands something great: that we admit we are not great. This is bad news to the arrogant, but words of honey to the oppressed who have given up their charade of self-sufficiency and are seeking God. For by such he will...

“Stop complaining and start studying what a true man looks like.  Figure out what a God designed guy is and then encourage, challenge and inspire the boys in your life to become Men.”

“OH, WE’VE RECEIVED THOSE OCCASIONAL PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS OVER THE YEARS AS VISITORS TO A NEW CHURCH; BUT WHO ACTUALLY SITS DOWN AND HAND-WRITES LOVE LETTERS TO STRANGERS? HENRY’S WIDOW DOES; AND APPARENTLY, QUITE OFTEN — SEEKING THEM OUT IN THE SANCTUARY EACH SUNDAY LIKE AN ANGEL ON A MISSION OF MERCY — POLITELY ACQUIRING A MAILING ADDRESS AND THEN PORTIONING OUT A GENEROUS PIECE OF HER OWN HEART AND SOUL WITH A THOUGHTFUL PEN ON A LOVELY CARD, SO THAT VISITORS LIKE US WILL NEVER FEEL LIKE STRANGERS IN HER CHURCH AGAIN." The Lost Art of the Written Note http://www.deeprootsathome.com/the-lost-art-of-the-written-note/

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” ―  Theodore Roosevelt When it's all been said and done, There is just one thing that matters Did I do my best to live for truth? Did I live my life for you? (Don Moen)

When  you entered into solemn covenant with the Lord, you consecrated your whole being to His service. Your time, then, is not your own, but the Lord’s. If you waste it, or spend it unprofitably, you rob God; for it is one of the talents which He has intrusted to you as His steward. You are not at liberty even to employ it exclusively for yourself; but you must glorify God in the use of it, which you will do by employing it in the way that will be most beneficial to your whole being, and to your fellow-creatures. Harvey Newcomb, from the book   YOUNG LADY’S GUIDE to the Harmonious Development of Christian Character Blessed are the single-hearted,  for they shall enjoy much peace. If you refuse to be hurried and pressed,  if you  stay your soul  on God,  nothing can keep you from that clearness of spirit which is life and peace.  In that stillness you will know what  His will is. -Amy Carmichael