MaggieBelle

H A P P Y    N E W    Y E A R    M Y    B E L O V E D

The History of “It’s Wednesday”

The power of praise and prayer has been a passion of mine since I was a very young Christian.  As a church secretary, I took on the prayer ministry, especially for students and teachers at the preschool located on the church campus.

The prayer ministry came to include actual hands-on prayer, Wednesday was the designated day.  One particular teacher would often say to me “It’s Wednesday, isn’t it?”  When she resigned to return to school, she said she would miss our weekly prayer time.  I told her, “don’t worry I’ll email you your prayer.”

In her first emailed prayer I wrote on the subject line “It’s Wednesday” and the title just stuck.  I would like to introduce you to that weekly email known as It’s Wednesday, that began in 2003.

I’m praying daily for YOU and that you will fall in love with Jesus more and more everyday; He has taken out your heart of stone and given you a heart of flesh and blood … His blood!  

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.  Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.  (words I cry as 2020 comes to an end)

Down at the cross where my Savior died, down where for cleansing from sin I cried, there to my heart the blood was applied; Glory to His name!

I am so wondrously saved from sin, Jesus so sweetly abides within, there at the cross where He took me in; Glory to His name!

Oh, precious fountain that saves from sin!  I am so glad I have entered in; there Jesus saves me and keeps me clean; Glory to His name!

Come, to this fountain so rich and sweet; cast thy poor soul at the Savior’s feet; plunge in today and be made complete; Glory to His name!    (so wrote E. A. Hoffman and composed J. H. Stockton in the 1800’s; words that I can use to praise my Savior as I begin the New Year)

Luv Ya!

Beloved–

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.  The government will rest on his shoulders.      And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor,  Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  ….. the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).   (from the Old Testament)

What can I say?  The Almighty God, our heavenly Father, has always had a plan for each one of us from the very beginning of time.  I pray for you to trust him with your life/soul; praising the God who is … Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

M E R R Y   C H R I S T M A S

Beloved–

Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.  …. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord {to speak}.  (from the Old Testament)

I was taught not to use swear words, not to lie but to be kind in speech — not so much.  During my teenage years — sarcasm was the “smart” thing to say.  I never recognized my arrogance nor that I was being hurtful. I usually spoke first and never thought about it again. Since I was convicted of my gross sin and confessed it, the Lord has been very gracious in helping me to guard my tongue. Praising God in the midst of pain is very soothing.  I pray for you to desire to praise the God who is … Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

Luv Ya!

Beloved–

And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.  (from Romans)

The Scriptures (that is to say the “whole book”) tell me what, when and how to live.  When I see a beloved choosing the wide road instead of the narrow path, I know that the Almighty has already formed a plan for the life of my beloved, and in due time I will see my prayers fulfilled.  Yes, no or trust in me. I pray for you to know that your prayers and mine will be answered because we are trusting the God who is … Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

Luv Ya!

Beloved–

But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. (from Thessalonians)

As a baby Christian I took all of God’s blessings on me for granted.  Then I learned that even though I was arrogant and foolhardy the Lord God loved me. I learned (by studying the “whole book”) that I could choose to do things his way so that I could be safe in the shadow of the Almighty.  I pray for you to desire to do things his way; praising the God who is … Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

Luv Ya!

Come quickly, Lord, and answer me,  for my depression deepens.  Don’t turn away from me,  or I will die.  Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.  Rescue me from my enemies, Lord;  I run to you to hide me.  Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.  May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.  For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life.  Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.  In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies and destroy all my foes, for I am your servant. (a Psalm)

Daily (sometimes hourly) I pray that I choose to hide in the shelter of the Most High and that I choose to do his will over my own.

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!  Worship the Lord with gladness.  Come before him, singing with joy.  Acknowledge that the Lord is God!  He made us, and we are his.  We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise.  Give thanks to him and praise his name.  For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation. (a Psalm)

I see my heavenly father working in my life when I least expect it. Then I shout for joy knowing that he loves me no matter what!  Praise the triune God for his loving kindness endures forever.

H A P P Y    T H AN K S G I V I N G

Beloved–

The only way I can avoid arrogant comments is to want to with all my heart !!  (from Exodus) The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.  

When I fall short, I confess it, KNOW I’m forgiven, and pray, thanking my heavenly Father for his promise that the Holy Spirit will close my lips before I can speak the next time. (from Psalms)  He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 

I pray for you to know the joy of trusting in his promises and abiding in the shadow of the Almighty.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow !!!

Luv Ya!

Beloved–

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. (from Galatians)

Whenever I work up the courage to root out the real source of my sin, I cringe (frequently crying my eyes out) when I recall how often I have arrogantly told my Lord and Savior that, “I got this. My plan is better than yours. I don’t need you.”  How can Jesus love me when I’m so mean and hateful, yet his grace and mercy is beyond measure. Praise be to the triune God who loves and forgives. I pray for you to want to get to the real source of sin.

Luv Ya!

Beloved–

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.  (from Peter)

I’m learning to use the GPS on my husband’s new cellphone. Usually, locally I know a  better way than the GPS.  And that’s exactly the arrogant way I came to Jesus, I was so full of myself I couldn’t see the light because I knew the best solution to the problem that I had created. Most always missing the escape route from temptation to sin more. I pray for you to trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior so that you see the Light!

Luv Ya!