Category: faith

faith

Our Faith

A. Knight

We learned by example.  Our mother was our example…and she lived Jesus.  Every single day.  Good times and bad–Jesus was there.  She still lives that example today.

We were raised in the Assemblies of God faith.  We stand firmly planted in the belief’s of the fundamental truths today.

These are nonnegotiable tenets of faith that all Assemblies of God churches adhere to. This list is derived from the official Statement of Fundamental Truths. Click links below to see the complete original statement with scriptures. (Taken from the General Counsel of the  Assemblies of God website.)

  1. WE BELIEVE…The Scriptures are Inspired by God and declare His design and plan for mankind.
  2. WE BELIEVE…There is only One True God–revealed in three persons…Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (commonly known as the Trinity).
  3. WE BELIEVE…In the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. As God’s son Jesus was both human and divine.
  4. WE BELIEVE…though originally good, Man Willingly Fell to Sin–ushering evil and death, both physical and spiritual, into the world.
  5. WE BELIEVE…Every Person Can Have Restored Fellowship with God Through ‘Salvation’ (trusting Christ, through faith and repentance, to be our personal Savior). [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the AG]
  6. WE BELIEVE…and practice two ordinances—(1) Water Baptism by Immersion after repenting of one’s sins and receiving Christ’s gift of salvation, and (2) Holy Communion (the Lord’s Supper) as a symbolic remembrance of Christ’s suffering and death for our salvation.
  7. WE BELIEVE…the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a Special Experience Following Salvation that empowers believers for witnessing and effective service, just as it did in New Testament times. [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the AG]
  8. WE BELIEVE… The Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is ‘Speaking in Tongues,’ as experienced on the Day of Pentecost and referenced throughout Acts and the Epistles.
  9. WE BELIEVE…Sanctification Initially Occurs at Salvation and is not only a declaration that a believer is holy, but also a progressive lifelong process of separating from evil as believers continually draw closer to God and become more Christlike.
  10. WE BELIEVE…The Church has a Mission to seek and save all who are lost in sin. We believe ‘the Church’ is the Body of Christ and consists of the people who, throughout time, have accepted God’s offer of redemption (regardless of religious denomination) through the sacrificial death of His son Jesus Christ.
  11. WE BELIEVE…A Divinely Called and Scripturally Ordained Leadership Ministry Serves the Church. The Bible teaches that each of us under leadership must commit ourselves to reach others for Christ, to worship Him with other believers, to build up or edify the body of believers–the Church and to Meet human need with ministries of love and compassion.
  12. WE BELIEVE…Divine Healing of the Sick is a Privilege for Christians Today and is provided for in Christ’s atonement (His sacrificial death on the cross for our sins). [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the AG]
  13. WE BELIEVE…in The Blessed Hope—When Jesus Raptures His Church Prior to His Return to Earth (the second coming). At this future moment in time all believers who have died will rise from their graves and will meet the Lord in the air, and Christians who are alive will be caught up with them, to be with the Lord forever. [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the AG]
  14. WE BELIEVE…in The Millennial Reign of Christ when Jesus returns with His saints at His second coming and begins His benevolent rule over earth for 1,000 years. This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel and the establishment of universal peace.
  15. WE BELIEVE…A Final Judgment Will Take Place for those who have rejected Christ. They will be judged for their sin and consigned to eternal punishment in a punishing lake of fire.
  16. WE BELIEVE…and look forward to the perfect New Heavens and a New Earth that Christ is preparing for all people, of all time, who have accepted Him. We will live and dwell with Him there forever following His millennial reign on Earth. ‘And so shall we forever be with the Lord!’
Devotion, faith, Life

What now Lord?

A. Knight

I awoke this morning around 4’ish….(you do remember me and sleep–right?)The craziest phrase rolling over and over in my mind. “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.” Remember it? The phrase was created in 1867 by Charles E. Weller merely as a typewriting exercise.

However, the real need is this: For all (men, women and children alike) to pray. “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:” Acts 2:17-18

This was from Peter’s first sermon which took place in Jerusalem–he was quoting from the Scriptures, the Prophet Joel. (Read the whole book of Acts-you will be encouraged by what you find.) The power of the HOLY SPIRIT was given to all who seek Him.

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Acts 2:38-39

If your children have a need…who do they go to for that need to be met? You. We have an extreme need. A need to be filled to overflowing with the POWER of the Holy Spirit. I have told my oldest child many times, “in the last days we will need the power of the Holy Spirit to see us through the tough circumstances of life.” The unexpected. When you don’t know what to pray…the Holy Spirit does so for you. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Romans 8:26

I am urged on as never before to seek more of God in my life. There are many that feel that some things that the world partakes of is alright. It may be for them, but it is not for me. I WANT the Spirit to speak to my heart when I am about to step into an area that is not “for me”. I WANT the Spirit to direct my footsteps and yes, even the words I say. Matthew 12:36 says, “But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” Christ’s own words. Think He meant it? Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Right. He meant it. Big time sister.

During a time of devotion on our Sisters of Faith Retreat 2008, I told the dear sisters that I felt that even the “thoughts” of our mind would be accountable to Christ. “And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 NLT

When provoked to the point of anger, where does your mind go? I know EXACTLY where mine goes. And I have to pray. The mind is a dangerous place for some. For men, when they see a woman on the cover of a magazine—half naked—where do you think their mind goes? Same for women. The body of muscles rippling on a naked torso on a man sends some women into a frenzy of lust. And almost every single magazine you pick up from the newstand screams that today.

As I watched the movie Fireproof last night (Denise, we finally had our date!), I was reminded of the book by Beth Moore, Get Out of That Pit where she describes many pits that are waiting traps—and many we dig ourselves right into…

I have plunked myself straight into the pit of depression…all because I did not capture the flailing thoughts and I allowed the enemy to plant seeds of doubt and discouragement there. And I sat idly by as he (the enemy) watered those same seeds until I was a complete and total mess. Only through the power of prayer—the POWER from the Holy Spirit was I ever able to break free from the debilitating grip of the enemy in my life. Over my mind and heart. It happens. As surely as a panic attack can come on some, despair can come on others. Depression. I’ve been there.

I used this passage yesterday…but it’s needed again today. “For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12 I have committed my heart and mind to following Jesus Christ. As the song says, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.”

Allow HIM to come into your heart and life today. When you give HIM full control over your heart and mind….He will do some amazing things …on a daily basis. I know. I am there.

And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Acts 2:21

(picture from Bella Lino linens–not my bedroom—only wish!)
Devotion, faith, Reflection

The Table He Prepares

A. Knight

The following devotion is from the archives, originally written and posted on November 3, 2007. So very long ago. Or so it seems. Much has happened—and God continues to watch over our lives.

I will be back over at Sisters of Faith this week along with my baby sista, Aimee. She will get us started again in the morning with day 8 of our Bible Study! It has been so uplifting to fellowship with the other precious ‘sisters’ in the LORD that have joined us on this journey! You are invited over. Come and sit with us every day if you get the chance! Comment to let us know you are there!

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23 NIV

I want to focus on two sentences here. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

I heard this complete text read several weeks ago and a clear mental picture formed instantly in my mind. I became so excited as it unfolded in my mind and heart. I thought about it during the night and even called my sister Aimee the next morning on my way to work. Still excited, but not able to adequately form the words to such a degree as to get my “picture” from my mind, over to her, she asked me to blog it. Easier said than done at times. Several other devotions came to my mind and heart between that morning and this. I blogged those, unable to wrap my mind around the exact way I wanted to express my thoughts from that heart message. But here goes—

Let’s break it down. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” When we prepare a table for our loved ones, what do we put on it? If you said “the best”, then you are right, the very best. In speaking of food, we prepare their favorites. I know when I am going to my dear mother-in-law’s house, and it is a “planned” meal, she always has rutabagas. For me. Because she loves me and she knows that they are one of my favorite vegetables, and one that I rarely cook myself. In fact, I can count on one hand the times I have prepared them (probably using only 3 fingers!). It is a lot of work! Since I am the only one with a great love for them, I don’t go to the trouble at home for just me.

Do you see the picture here? We prepare the favorites. We use the best dishes. The best glassware, the best serving dishes, the best of everything we can find in the house for the special guest. We try to find out what their favorite dessert is. If it’s a cake…then of course I track down the recipe for my sweet Jeff. If it’s a pie or pudding, then that would be my delight. I love the look on my son-in-law David’s face, when April tells him that “daddy” has made a “German Chocolate Cake”. We know it’s his favorite. We delight in pleasing our children.

God delights even more so in pleasing us. In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:9-11) He shares this insight of the Father’s love for us. “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gift to those who ask him!”

That is plain “as the nose on your face”. It is clear that God loves us more than we can comprehend. So if He is “preparing a table” for us, what do you suppose is on it? His best!

Let’s look somewhere else. In Joel 2:25-26 we read, “I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army with I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.” (KJV)

I used the KJV here for a reason. It gives particular names of the types of locust. They are all in the locust family. Simply put, locusts are swarming grasshoppers and they devour crops and vegetation. Sound familiar? Sounds like the work of the enemy in our lives. We are very aware that he comes to “kill, steal, and destroy”. However, God promises to restore. To give back—in plenty—go back and pick up verse 24 of the same chapter. He will “overflow” our restoration!

Picture this: A long banquet table covered with a crisp white linen cloth, of the finest quality imaginable. This is the table He prepares for us….on my table I see all the things that the enemy of my life has taken from me. All the things in my life that the enemy has damaged or caused me to suffer pain from are laid out for all me to see that my Father is now “restoring to me”.

Gilded ornate frames, with pictures of my dear loved ones that have wandered from the most holy path of our Father sit among the various dishes on the expanse of white. I see a big platter of “joy” that the enemy continually tries to steal. I see “compassion” in a delicate porcelain bowl. For it is in the busyness of our lives we tend to lose our compassion for others.

“Peace”, pouring from an endless silver fountain sits firmly in the center of the table. “Trust” is plenteous, for my Father knows that bit by bit the enemy has wrecked havoc in my life regarding trust. Vision is clear in the crystal goblet on the right hand of my filled plate. Our “vision” to see the lost come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, many times, has been stolen right before our very “eyes”. Hope is brimming over, along with purpose. Distinct, clear purpose.

Our purpose and His calling are now restored with clarity as never before experienced! As I stand at the table, He has so lovingly prepared for me….in the presence of my enemy, I am overwhelmed at the fullness of joy I now feel. I see the enemy, but I am not afraid. For my Father has him completely bound and subdued.

The enemy in my life is the same enemy that you have faced. He may have worn different clothes, but his purpose was the same. His actions were the same. Bit by bit, things have disappeared in our lives that God has so lovingly given to us. Maybe we didn’t even notice.

If your couch suddenly went missing, you would notice right away. But if someone took only took one cup from the cabinet—-would you notice? If one sock went missing—would you notice? Probably not until you “needed” it….hmmm. I see that now you have the picture.

We neglect protecting our valuables that have been bestowed upon us, until many times, it is too late. We don’t have what we need—-at the very time we need it!

However, He is a restoring God! He will cover your table with every nic-nac that has disappeared from your life. Look around your spiritual house. What has gone missing? As I fall down on my face before the throne, the Father begins to “set my table”. He has anxiously been watching the driveway for me to seek Him out. To seek out His company. His divine Presence.

As I am seated in His Presence, He “anoints my head with oil; my cup overflows.” His lavish blessings overflow my life as His Holy Spirit is pouring on my heart, mind, body and spirit. His anointing represents my life dedicated for service to Him. As kings and priests of old were anointed for service, so does the Lord desire to anoint each of us for service to Himself.

My heart overflows with the love of my Father as He tenderly cares for my needs. We will share in this table of plenty that He has set before us….and we will remember—-to carefully guard all that He has restored in our lives!


faith

It’s been a while….

A. Knight

but I hope I wasn’t away too long…just needed a bit of a break—getting started on a project—of Faith. To read just a “little bit” about it go here…

Laced with GRACE.

(click on the link above)

g_servicesdomestic.jpgDo you know this truck? Well, it could actually be the “brown truck” or the truck with the “Purple and Green” or “Purple and Orange” letters—but for this story…it was the “orangey-yellow truck”.

Let me back up just a bit and give you some history. Not Abraham Lincoln kind…or even the grand opening of the first Wal-Mart kind…but this history is more personal. It is mine.

My sister, Aimee and I attended the incredible “She Speaks” conference. Yes, I know. You may have heard more than your fair share about it. But you haven’t heard what I’ve been saving for THIS day! —-okay—go click the Laced with Grace link………. for the rest of the story….

(My thankful Thursday is below….)

faith, Thankful Thursdays

Is it Thursday yet??

A. Knight

A favorite phrase of my oldest grandson as we are driving down the road is ….you guessed it, “Are we there yet”?

Not long ago, this very same grandson, who is now 6 1/2, could not talk. Oh, he could grunt, point and said a few things, that after a while we learned to interpret for a word of some sort, but he could not communicate well. Besides having mild cerebral palsy, he was diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder.

It was as frustrating to him as it was to us.

But our “Grandbuddy” (my awesome stepdad—which is to me–a real dad), felt compelled to fast and pray for him to begin speaking. I have blogged about this before, feel the need (for someone) to share this again.

By the end of the first week, he had begun to speak more understandably. Shortly thereafter, a complete sentence tumbled from his lips, surprising us all. With great joy and some tears, I called mother and asked her to share this with Grandbuddy. I wanted to tell him myself, but he was out at the time.

Prayer and fasting. Something that is not spoken of much these days. There have only been a couple of times in my life that I felt “truly” compelled to fast and pray over a particular matter. As things in each of our lives change daily, some for the good and some for the “not-so-good”…you may feel you are up against a wall—or that your prayers go no higher than the ceiling…ask the Lord what He would have you do….ask Him what He requires of you.

That is a scary thought. Or, at least to me. For when you are ready to lay it all out—every.single.thing—completely and wholeheartedly out for Jesus—holding nothing back—He can work. And girlfriend…you better hold on for the ride…because when you lay everything out for Him…mmmm—He shows up big time in your life.

Mark 9:29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

There are some things in my life that need to “go out”. To be cast far from me. Things in my heart/mind/and yes, things that even spout from my mouth —yup! No, I don’t cuss and carry on….but I have complained…whined…gotten an attitude with a CAPITAL “A”. Can I get a witness? And to the ears of the Father—well, what do you think? So, yes. I have things that need to go. I know that in this reference of scripture–it is talking about demonic forces. But I think it could refer to anything in our lives that is NOT Christ-like. What about you?

Now, Thankful Thursday is the highlight of our “bloggity” week. So—IRIS….I am thankful for the FREEDOM to read my Bible (as you said)—pray out loud in restaurants—which I do…and MOST all the time—I take my sweet time in thanking HIM for EVERYTHING I need to. And I don’t get arrested for doing so. THAT is a BIG thank you LORD!!

I am thankful for family time, faithful friends who pray—continually if necessary. I am thankful for my sweet man–and our sweet years of marriage—our children and grandchildren!

I am thankful for each faithful blogger that pursues Christ and encourages others to do the same!

I am thankful for our church and it’s leaders! I am thankful for YOU. The reader. The one who comments and the one who just reads. YOU are important. A comment is not necessary. I will write what God lays on my heart regardless.

I love each of you—and PRAY a happy Fourth of July to all! Visit Iris for more thankful hearts of freedom!

faith

If God. . . .

A. Knight

does not move your mountain….

girl, you are about to get some awesome climbing gear!
~Angie

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Isaiah 40:4-5

Country Life Messages, faith, Life

Cling to the Rock

A. Knight

You know those little cards that fall out of magazines the moment you pick one up to try to relax just a minute?
Just a breather.
That is all you need.
Just a few quiet moments in your favorite chair with your pillow and blanket and new magazine!

Then out of this magazine, several little cards float to the floor and you feel you must pick them up before you can relax and enjoy perusing your newly arrived treat!

Annoying isn’t it?

A few months ago I was a subscriber to several country decorating magazines….along with a few “how to” magazines, even a health/fitness magazine. When one would arrive, I would be so excited! The first thing I would do is stand by the garbage can and shake it real good to let all those annoying little cards fall out! Some needed more encouragement to “fall”. Some I ripped out because they made the book fall open to the same place every time I picked it up. I didn’t want my magazine to choose where I read, I would do the choosing thank you very much!

Anyway, back to my story….this is supposed to be about rocks you know.

I flipped open another annoyance and ripped it from the book and started to toss it in the trash along with its friends when something on one side caught my attention. It was a woman scaling a rock….a mountain! I could suggest you purchase a health/fitness magazine for women and maybe you would find what I found, but you might not find it. Indeed, I think I found it that day for a purpose.

I was leaning back too far from my “rock” trying to see how much farther I had to go in the journey I was on.

Confused?
Let me share what I learned from the article and from the Word of God.

According to expert rock climbers, focus on balance is the utmost importance in rock climbing. They say the “center of gravity” is always the rock and you must stay close to it at all times to maintain proper balance.

No leaning back!

Proper gear is also very important. A helmet to protect your head, sturdy harness, ropes and even the type of shoes are important. For rock climbing you don’t need heavy boots as you might for hiking. In climbing a rock face, you need to be able to get your feet into cracks and crevices of that rock for added security. Are you getting the picture?

Psalm 27:5 says, “For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.

Psalm 61:2 “From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
Psalm 62:1-2 “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. “

Over and over again in Psalms and in much of the Old Testament we are told that God is our rock. He is our fortress, our deliverer. In Him alone we can find rest for our weary souls. Battle scared from the day to day war zone that is many of our lives. The war is with Satan. But we serve the Commander of the Army of God!

Paul instructed the people at Ephesus, to be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Ephesians 6:10 NIV

Sounds like they were gearing up for some rock climbing! Maybe it should be “rock clinging”. For with my whole heart I cling to my Rock. The God of my salvation!

Remember, no leaning back. It doesn’t matter how much farther you must go, it matters only that you travel “with” Him as your guide.

He will instruct you as to where your feet must travel.
Go where He leads.
He will never lead you astray.
Try trusting Him.
He is the rock after all.
The “Center of our gravity”.
An Angie Story, Borrowed Blessings, Country Life Messages, faith, Thankful Thursdays, Wanda

A Day Hemmed in Prayer is Less Likely to….

A. Knight

Unravel. Ever have one of those days? Where they seem to unravel before your very eyes? I have had several. Lately. All at once.

Where do I run?

To the Master Tailor. He stands at the ready with needle in hand. Ready to put things back in order for me.

All I have to do is “stand still”…..and see the salvation of the Lord. Hemmed in by the Master. Best place to be in my opinion.

What you see here on this page was a wonderful discovery. Two Wednesday nights ago, I came home deeply burdened for a family problem. Wasn’t mine. But it hurt as if it were. As I was preparing for a small Bible Study session of just two, I began to talk to the Lord.

He heard. He listened. He answered in the most unique way. I told Him this: “Lord, Wanda would love to be here to pray with us over this. This is exactly what she loved to do. Pray for the needs of others.” And I began to cry just a bit. As I do fairly often. As I loaded the dishwasher, the prayer and thoughts were still on my mind. And all of a sudden I had an urgency to go to the little study room where I had unloaded the things from Wanda’s “sewing room” the week before. I had not looked at “everything” yet.

As a matter of fact, the thread boxes were the last thing to look into. I had plundered the cross stitch pages and packets. I had touched all the hoops, felt of all the fabrics, but had left the thread box. Why? Well, it was a clear box…and clearly full of thread. Why open it? Why indeed.

When the urgency to “do something” comes over me, I generally obey. So I left my dishes as they were, dishwasher still open and walked to the room and grabbed the box. I just looked at it.

Pretty colors all neatly lined up like jewelry ready to wear.

Then I noticed in one corner of the box what looked like several folded pieces of paper. I opened the box for closer examination. When I unfolded them and began to read, I began to weep. I said, “Lord, this is exactly what Wanda would say.” Every single verse was about prayer. She was using them to “hide in her heart” as she stitched. She was hemming her day in. She was closing the gap in all of our lives. The seam was strong. The Threads unbreakable, because she used the Thread of the Holy Spirit in her life.

When my visitor arrived, I fixed a cup of tea for each of us and we settled in to pray, share and read some Word. After she spilled her heart, I began to unfold the neatly clipped papers and spread them out on the table. As I read each one, she began to see the “thread of hope”. The thread of consistency. The lifeline of salvation available to each of us….through prayer.

Girls, this is not my usual thankful post. But I just have to share what I am most thankful for. Although I love each one of you, I am thankful most of all for Jesus. For Salvation. For the grace and mercy extended to this wretched sinner. For the prayers of many when I was far from God. For the ability to pray even now for unsaved prodigal children. For your prodigals as well as mine. I am thankful that when I hem my day —-with prayer—it does not unravel. It holds strong. After all, I have just sat before the Master Tailor.

Visit Iris for more thankful posts ~by the way, there is a winner for the give-away~
And the winner is~oh, how I wish I could have bought you each one…..but there is just one number chosen by that random number picker thingy~
Congratulations TwinkleMom!

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Country Life Messages, faith

Enjoy the View

A. Knight

Head for more views like this…

Take more breaks….

Life is full….take more time to see HIM in everything that surrounds you.

Enjoy everything the Lord has created for us…Take time as you are driving around to look at His gift of creation with new eyes…

“For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing,and all the trees of the field shall clap [their] hands.” Isaiah 55:12

May you encounter His divine blessings on every turn this next week…as you journey on with HIM. Know that though you may feel rejection from others, even if someone in your life walks away, or pushes you out…know that God will never push you out, walk away, nor will He ever reject you.

He went to a lot of trouble to get your attention. Look at the sky He created with such a grand display of colors….just today….all for you. Give Him your undivided attention for once. Take your eyes off those around you that selfishly use you….put your eyes on Him and your complete trust IN Him. He will never fail.

And as you are riding along….thank Him for the view.

faith

He Whispers Sweet Peace

A. Knight

My sweet sister, Aimee called me late yesterday with the words to this song (below) as an encouragement for my weary heart.

I am so tired….of the attacks from the enemy on seemingly every side against the families—striving for the cause of Christ. But friend, as long as we live, until the day of His return…which is nearing…we will be attacked—pushed….shoved….even tormented at times.

If I told you all the things that has been going on in our lives since the beginning of this year—-you would even find it hard to believe.

When my mother stood before us at Christmas with what I feel now, may have been a prophetic statement, I really don’t think I am stretching it to say that either….(you’d have to know what we have all been dealing with)…her words come clearly back to me with the news of yet another “crisis”.

Her words, “family, I feel that we are headed for some difficult times. Times and situations where only prayer can help us. Times that we will need to call on God as never before. Pray as you never have before. But as you pray, remember family, the Anchor holds. Keep your lives anchored to the Lord children, He will never fail you.”

She stood in the living room of our home at Christmas and poured her heart out to us as we listened….and wondered about her seemingly direct line to the throne. She has one. As far back as I can remember, she has had that line—directly attached to the ear of the Father. He has always listened intently. She has always leaned on Him. Her Savior and Lord. She taught us to do the same.

When He wakes me from sleep, I can’t help but obey. I may stumble around a bit getting there…but get there I do.

Oh, yeah. Almost forgot. The song. (See how bogged down my mind is?) Thank Aimee for this one. I love you all! (The book is pictured as your reminder of the give-away)

A song for today:

HE WHISPERS SWEET PEACE TO ME

Sometime when misgivings darken the day…..
And faith’s light I cannot see….
I ask my dear Lord…to brighten the way……..
He whispers sweet peace to me…..

Chorus:

He whispers sweet peace to me…..to me
He whispers sweet peace to me…..to me
When I am cast down….in spirit and soul….
He whispers….sweet peace to me…..

Verse Two:

I could not go on without him…I know…..
The world would ‘ore whelm my soul…..
For I could not see…the right way to go….
When temptations o’re me roll….

Verse Three:

I trust Him through faith…by faith hold His hand….
And sometimes my faith is weak…..
And then when I ask Him to take command…..
It seems that I hear him speak…..

Verse Four:

He speaks in a still…small voice we are told….
A voice that dispels all fear….
And when I’m in doubt….or troubled in soul….
That still small voice….I can hear…..

He whispers sweet peace to me…..to me
He whispers sweet peace to me…..to me
When I am cast down….in spirit and soul….
He whispers….sweet peace to me…..

Lyrics by Will M. Ramsey Public Domain