MaggieBelle

Beloved–

For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.  He will cover you with his feathers.  He will shelter you with his wings.  His faithful promises are your armor and protection. (from Psalms)

Realizing that I had painted myself into a corner (AGAIN!), I confessed my sin. Searching the Psalms in the “whole book” for comfort and forgiveness I found more songs of “praise to the Lord” than words of “just trust in the Lord.”  I pray for you to trust the Lord’s promises and protection.  Always knowing the God who is. . . Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

Luv Ya!

Beloved–

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (from Psalms)

My mother said to be sure to examine all sides of each tomato, because even a minor bruise would soon spoil the whole tomato. I need to examine my heart so that my sin, no matter how minor in appearance, MUST BE recognized and rejected. I pray for you for the wisdom to recognize sin in all its shapes and sizes. Praising the Lord Almighty!

Luv Ya!

Beloved–

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love.  Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.  Wash me clean from my guilt.  Purify me from my sin.  For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.  Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight.  You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.  For I was born a sinner—  yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.  Purify me from my sins,  and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.  Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me —now let me rejoice.  Don’t keep looking at my sins.  Remove the stain of my guilt.  Create in me a clean heart, O God.  Renew a loyal spirit within me.  (from Psalms)

Studying the “whole book” teaches me to constantly be aware of his presence and of the grace, mercy and the unfailing love of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I also learned I have to search my heart to be able to recognize the enemy in ALL of his disguises.  The low pathways shiny and bright as well as the attempt of the enemy to beat me over-the-head with the long list of my sins. I pray for you to have the desire to search your heart. Always praising our triune God!

Luv Ya!

Beloved–

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.  (from the books of John)

My sin interrupts my relationship with my savior.  Studying the “whole book” causes me to clearly see my sin; helping me to quickly confess it and restore my relationship with the Father through the presence of the Holy Spirit. For me confession is the answer.  I pray for you to try it for yourself, praising the God who is … Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

Luv Ya!

Beloved–

But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.  (from first John)

By reading the “whole book” I learned that the enemy can no longer beat me over-the-head with my guilt, telling me that I’m not worthy of God’s love. Studying the “whole book” teaches me that I’m covered by the blood of Jesus, his Son that washes away my sins as if they never were. I pray for you to know this freedom.  Praise the triune God for his sacrificial love.

Luv Ya!

Beloved–

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.  (from the book of John)

“To live in Christ” is to trust and obey no matter the approaching calamity.  That is the easy part.  Being kind to the unkindly.  Returning good to those who mistreat me. Giving in when the other person has a contrary opinion; guarding my tongue at the result. “To live in Christ” begins with putting myself last. Studying the whole book is the only way for me. I pray for that peace for you.  Praise our triune God!

Luv Ya!

Beloved–

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.  (from Peter)

I was so busy trying to be “Christlike” that I missed the escape route, provided by my Lord, to avoid temptation.  And so I responded to my critics ( my children think I’m too strict; their grandparents think they need more structure, and the love of my life thinks I “fuss” too much) in a most un-”Christlike” way.  The word of God is the only way to have peace of mind and heart. I pray for that peace for you. We have an amazing triune God!

Luv Ya!

Beloved–

But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.  For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”  (from Peter)

By reading the “whole book” I learned that having accepted God’s salvation by allowing Jesus Christ to pay the debt I owed but that I could not pay, I needed to be holy.  Holy,  meaning being different, not untouchable, but following Jesus Christ’s example for living in the world.  I also learned it was impossible to do without being daily in his presence. I pray for you to study the “whole book” and enjoy his presence.

Luv Ya!

Beloved–

At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves …  (from Genesis)

By reading the “whole book” I learned why I was a sinner and how I had been saved from the punishment of hell.  By reading the “whole book” I began to understand how much my heavenly father loves me. I pray for you to know that God loves you by reading the “whole book.”

Luv Ya! 

Beloved–

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.  Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. (from Romans)

Me a sinner? Me who always only walked to the very edge of the puddle but never through it; like the other kids.  I never understood that I was a sinner; until I saw myself at the foot of the cross holding the nails for the Roman soldiers to nail my savior to the cross on my behalf. I pray for you to know that the Father’s gift of grace and mercy through the sacrifice of his son, the Lord Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit is because he loves you. 

Luv Ya!