MaggieBelle

Beloved–

As a new Christian I wanted to know what God had to say about everyday situations.  His Word (Psalm 23) had caused me to turn to him, so I reasoned that reading “the whole book” would be the best way to get answers.  Unaware that there were reading guides available to follow,  I made one of my own.  Then I discovered that God had written a book of Proverbs with 31 chapters (one for each day of the month) right in the middle of the 66 books.  From that day to this day I have read a chapter based on the day’s date.

I made the decision to read through the Bible in a year; it took me 18 months because I got bogged down in Isaiah.   The next time I  tried it, I made it through in a year.  I continue to study the word using many different guides; but never have I stopped reading my daily Proverbs chapter; I learn something new each time.

I pray daily that you will fall in love with the Lord’s word.

Luv Ya!

Beloved–

As I have said many times the power of praise and prayer is undeniable.  So too, is the power of praying that prayer using the very words of the Godly inspired Word.

“For I know what plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. Jer 29:11  Heavenly Father, I praise and thank you for your plan for my life.

“Do not love the world nor the things in the world” 1Jn 2:15   I praise and thank you, Father God that you are helping me love you more than the things in this world.

O God you know how foolish I am; my sins cannot be hidden from you.” Ps 69:5  Lord Jesus, I praise and thank you that you willingly shed your blood on the cross to wash away my sins.

I pray for you every day that you read the Word and that it will saturate your heart as you learn how great God is!

Luv Ya!

Beloved–

Memorizing scripture is very important!  It sustains you spiritually.  

I had nourished my soul as a young girl by memorizing the 23rd Psalm; so that as a spiritually starved twenty-something woman I became a babe in Christ.

Memorizing the 34th Psalm showed me that I shouldn’t stay a babe but that I needed to grow in my faith.  And the only way to grow in faith is to read, listen and meditate on the Word of God!

I pray for you daily that you submit yourself to the Lord each day.

Luv Ya!

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!

Beloved—

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.  Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.  Don’t assume that you know it all.  Run to God! Run from evil!  Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life!  Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best.  Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over.  But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline; don’t sulk under his loving correction.  It’s the child he loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this. Proverbs 3:5-12 MSG

I pray for you daily and that you and I will always give God our first and best.

Luv Ya!

Beloved–

Part of my daily Bible reading for the last six months of 2012 is to read through the Old Testament.  

The Lord our God is near to us whenever we call on him?  And what great nation has decrees and regulations as righteous and fair as this body of instructions that I am giving you today?  “But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren. Deuteronomy 4:7-9 (NLT)

As I read the above passage in  Deuteronomy, it made me see how much I have taken the Lord my God”s blessings’ for granted.  When I had children at home I constantly reminded them that the Lord loves us and enjoys our loving praise and worship.   Now that all of my children have homes and children of their own I have slacked off passing out the Good News!

The Israelites were told to always remember God’s laws even to write them on their doorposts.  So I am going to memorize God’s word and then ask God to show me where he wants me to share what I have learned.

I pray for you daily and that you will commit his word to memory so that you are prepared when the opportunity comes to share the Good News.

Luv Ya!

Beloved–

I know the power of praise and prayer is undeniable!  The solution to all my concerns comes in the knowledge that God Almighty is ALMIGHTY and my job is to trust in that knowledge.  The knowledge that the Lord willingly paid for my redemption also causes me to believe that he can be trusted with my cares.  

Yet, how many times have I spent hours and even days attempting to find the door in the very next blank wall I hit.  With the developed habit of praising him for who he is and daily prayer and reading his word most of my blank walls tend develop openings just as soon as I stop searching for solutions.  

Hint: be careful what you pray for; it is better to ask the Lord for his solution rather than a rubber stamp on your idea.  Believe me I know!

I pray daily for you, that you will trust the Lord with all your cares.

Luv Ya!