Have you covered it in prayer?

When I was a child, there was this little plaque hanging on the wall, that said, "More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of." (quote by Alfred Lord Tennyson) I used to stand and ponder that little plaque...it had a cute little white bunny on it looking upward :)...and to this day, whenever I need a "keep looking up!" reminder, the Lord oftentimes brings that little beige childhood plaque to mind. No matter what you're going through today, I hope you remember that the Lord is sovereign...seek His council at all times and in all things...He is worthy to turn to and to praise.

"No time is so well spent in every day as that which we spend upon our knees." ~J.C. Ryle

"We must wrestle earnestly in prayer, like men contending with a deadly enemy for life." ~J.C. Ryle

"Bibles read without prayer; sermons heard without prayer; marriages contracted without prayer; journeys undertaken without prayer; residences chosen without prayer; friendships formed without prayer; the daily act of prayer itself hurried over, or gone through without heart: these are the kind of downward steps by which many a Christian descends to a condition of spiritual palsy, or reaches the point where God allows them to have a tremendous fall. " ~J.C. Ryle

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,...." ~Ephesians 1:18

In His Time

Are you going through a difficult time right now my friend? If so, I hope this song, In His Time, gives you as much comfort as it does me when I'm going through those seasons. I can't remember when I haven't known this song...it's been such a soothing favorite of mine for a very long time. Many bittersweet tears through the years have been poured out while listening to it. I've also posted one of my favorite Psalms that comes to mind. May you know that the Lord is near to you. He is working all things out in His time...He neither slumbers nor sleeps. He does care deeply and He shall preserve...you can rest in that because His Word tells you so. In the meantime, continue to praise...He is *always* worthy. To Him be the glory forever and ever more. Shalom.

Psalm 121
1I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
3He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Come What May!

I cannot recommend this movie highly enough...you can read more about it *here*!! Centered around Roe vs. Wade, it's focuses on doing what's right...come what may.

"Come What May" from George Escobar on Vimeo.

The worth of life...

Have you ever knit anything? It's a *lot* of work...a lot of *very* intricate work & care to create a masterpiece. And that's exactly what God has done with human life...He has laboriously knitted and purled each of us together!
Take a look...

Specially-made by God!

Read how very unique and specially-made each life (yes, even in utero) is by God!

"1. How He literally created your inner organs (Psalm 139:13)
2. How He 'knit [you] together' during those nine months (139:13 NIV)
3. How remarkably He made you into the person you are (139:14)
4. How He shaped your bones ('frame') in your prenatal state (139:15)
5. How skillfully and well He superintended your formation (139:15)6. How He personally determined the days of your life (139:16)

God gave us our own emotional make-up, our particular mental abilities, our artistic talents, our athletic coordination---everything about us is unique, even our digestive system! ...God was and still is 'intimately acquainted' with everything about us (as we read in Psalm 139:13)...." ~excerpted from Insight for Living's devotional 1/6/2009 by Charles Swindoll.

All is a gift from Him!

"It’s so easy for us to forget the origin of everything we own. Wherever you are right now, look around—everything you see is a gift from God. Those gifts include the eyes with which you see and the breath that keeps you alive. Every human heartbeat should be a silent refrain of thanksgiving to the God who created the heart and gives it life. Be careful today not to take credit for something that heaven first gave as a gift." ~excerpt from Turning Points Jan. 5, 2009 devotional by David Jeremiah

Faint not...

"Your life is short, your duties many, your assistance great, and your reward sure; therefore faint not, hold on and hold up, in ways of well-doing, and heaven shall make amends for all." ~Thomas Brooks

Trust & Obey, for there's no other way

"Jesus replied, 'You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.'” -John 13:7

"Are we willing to trust him now and defer our understanding of the events to a later time, even indefinitely? If you are going through a trial right now, trust is your most valuable asset, not understanding. Ask God for a greater ability to trust that will outweigh your desire to understand." -excerpt from VOM's daily email Extreme Devotion on 1/2/09

Trust and Obey (click to read about this hymn)

1. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2. Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

(Refrain)
3. Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

(Refrain)
4. But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

(Refrain)
5. Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Why We're Here!

Ever wonder why we're here? I love how Nancy Leigh DeMoss, in her radio message today, words it. I've included an excerpt below. (You can click the highlighted link if you'd like to listen to the entire message.)

"Once we settle the issue of why we’re living, all of life takes on a different perspective.

--It’s not about me.
--It’s not about my convenience.
--It’s not about my comfort.
--It’s not about my happiness.
--It’s not about who likes me, who accepts me.
--It’s not about, 'Am I fulfilled in what I’m doing here in life?'

All that matters is that God is glorified and that He is pleased with my life."

Growing for Him in the new year....

Below is an article posted by John Piper today:

9 Ways to Pray for Your Soul (click to go to site)
January 2, 2009 By: John Piper

Here are some ways to pray for yourself so that you're praying in sync with the way God works.

1. For the desire of my heart to be toward God and his Word.
Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to gain. (Psalm 119:36)

2. For the eyes of my heart to be opened.
Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law. (Psalm 119:18)

3. For my heart to be enlightened with these “wonders.”
[I pray] that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened. (Ephesians 1:18)

4. For my heart to be united, not divided, for God.
O Lord, I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. (Psalm 86:11)

5. For my heart to be satisfied with God and not with the world.
O satisfy us in the morning with Your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. (Psalm 90:14)

6. For strength in this joy, and endurance during the dark seasons.
[I pray that God] would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man. (Ephesians 3:16)

7. For visible good deeds and works of love to others.
[I pray that you] will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord...bearing fruit in every good work. (Colossians 1:10)

8. For God to be glorified.
Hallowed be thy name. (Matthew 6:9)

9. In Jesus’ name.
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? (Romans 8:32)

A new year for His kingdom!

"Pleasure doesn't come in the pursuit of happiness, but in the pursuit of holiness. What's on your calendar for today, this week, this month, this year that will make any difference for the Kingdom?" -Kay Arthur