MaggieBelle

Beloved–

“So the battle against evil is not to constantly say “No, no, no. Bad, bad, bad.” There’s no power in that. The power of the flesh is coming at you, the power of the devil is coming at you, and you’re going to [muster] up your willpower and make that the victory? You’re not. You’re not. One thing will give you the victory: Faith is the victory that overcomes the world. And faith is a being satisfied in all that God is for us in Jesus Christ. You’ve got to stoke that engine every morning so that the evils that are clawing at you loose its fangs. You can’t have me, I’ve seen Jesus this morning. Lust, you can’t have me. Greed, you can’t have me. Fear of man, you can’t have me. Bitterness and anger, you can’t have me. I’ve seen Jesus this morning.” -John Piper

That’s the power…opening your eyes every morning with the knowledge that you can see Jesus!

I pray for you every day that you, through your daily reading of the Word, can say this morning and every morning I’ve seen Jesus!

Luv ya!

Beloved–

Memorizing scripture is very important! I memorized the twenty third Psalm as a sixth grader.

When I reached the end of my rope in my twenties the only way I knew to call out to God was by reciting the only Bible verse I knew by heart.   “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”   But I did want…I wanted peace of mind and heart.  Subsequently, because God is gracious, I confessed that I was a sinner and asked Jesus into my heart.

I pray for you daily that you not only read the word daily but that you memorize scripture.

Luv Ya!

Beloved–

Today I spoke to a friend who is trying to discern God’s will.  All three choices have as many good points as there are drawbacks.  Praise and prayer were my first thoughts.  But for what exactly?

I thought about my 4-year-old grandson who usually volunteers to pray before meals.  When he first started (before he was 3) praying he said. “Thank you Jesus for my family and the food, Amen”    Now, his prayers are more specific and fervent.  He thanks Jesus for all the people sitting around the table, for the activities just completed and for the activities that are going to happen when the meal is over, especially dessert.

Specific and fervent* prayer is what I think the Lord wants from me.  His word in the book of James tells me that he wants a close relationship with me; its OK if I want to vent or explore ideas with him.  Because he is my heavenly father, he wants what I want if its best for me.

…Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. James 4:2nlt

I pray for you daily that God blesses you with a desire for a close relationship with him and that your prayers are specific and fervent.

Luv Ya!

*comes from the Latin root: to boil as in super enthusiastic

Beloved—

In chapter 2 of Proverbs I am urged to seek wisdom because

Wise choices will watch over you.
Understanding will keep you safe.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
Seek his will in all you do,  and he will
show you which path to take

52 years ago today I learned, that after all my careful planning and understanding that I always had to do the “right thing” even when I didn’t want to; my wisest choice was trust the Lord and praise him for his loving care.  52 years ago today I delivered a healthy baby boy who now has a beautiful daughter and three handsome sons of his own.       

I pray for you every day and that you seek wisdom and learn to trust him by feeding on the Word.

Luv Ya!