WellWithMySoul

Indeed, hypocrisy is rampant in local churches.  It's truly grievous, and it is waxing worse and worse as the days go by.  Personally, I try to be accountable before the Lord to "mean what I say, and say what I mean", and to be as consistent as possible on the outside with what I am in my heart (which means that my heart better be right with the Lord).  It reminds me of John 3:19-21 - "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. * For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. * But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."  Hypocrisy will always come to the light in God's time for as the above scripture indicates...whatever the deeds are, they will be manifested outwardly.  Another verse that I do my best to try to apply in my life is Luke 6:45 - "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh."  Being "lukewarm" (Rev. 3:16) is also not an option for the child of God!

Awhile back, I wrote the little quote below for those who are just looking for an excuse not to attend a local church.

"There are hypocrites in grocery stores; does that deter us from going to the store to get groceries? Think about it."

Finally!  Last week I finally saw the orthopedic surgeon, and I am praising the Lord that at this time surgery is not in the picture! Yay! The ortho said that if I was 15 yrs old then I would've been a candidate for surgery.  I do have two tears in my arm/wrist...instead of one, and the tear in my shoulder, and bone spur on my neck...but the first thing I will do is have physical therapy to hopefully bring improvement.  I also need to wear a brace on my wrist.  So...thank you so much to all those that prayed for me!  Our God is glorious!!!

Oh my, Rosie!  I'm rather technically challenged about your computer issue, but I do hope someone here can offer you some helpful suggestions that will be able to fix any security concerns.  I can't quote it off the top, but it sure is comforting to know that "...Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."  Right this minute I'm going to pray about your computer, and that you will know what to do to ensure against the possibility of anyone hacking into it. Lovya, sista...and praying!

I gave each of you a like and wish that I could do so with emphasis!  Your prayers, your kindness, your empathy, and your compassion are so wonderful...and even though it's all in text, I can still sense the presence of the blessed Spirit in your comments - towards me and towards each other.  I pray that the Lord will bless your Christ-likeness abundantly.  Thank you for all of your prayers on my behalf!!  I just got back a little bit ago from my regular doctor, and I have been referred to an ortho-surgeon who will treat all three of my issues.  That is a relief to me knowing that I won't have to go to multiple ortho's.  As moderators Mike and Jim know....we have a ways to drive to get to where the ortho's are...and so coordinating the issues with one doctor is great.  I will still need wisdom to make appropriate decisions as to the options of treatment that I might have.  I've had complications with surgeries in the past, and so I'm not real fond of that option....but need to be wise about considering it.  I will try to keep you updated as things progress....for your consideration and knowing better how to pray...and also because I long to testify of God's work and how glorious it is! 

PS....Rosie...I'm praying for you and your situation too, dear sister!

Sigh...I need wisdom!  I'm so glad for James 1:5 - "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."  I've been suffering from a bone spur on my neck, a partial tear in my shoulder, a torn ligament in my wrist, degenerative joint disease, osteoporosis, tendinitis, and bursitis.  I've been referred to an ortho-surgeon for my wrist and shoulder, but he doesn't do necks.  I need to make a decision about having the tears and bone spur treated at one time or whether to have just the tears treated.  Sigh...I'm truly not desiring to have anymore surgeries, but the pain that I've been in is disrupting my rest at night, and it has changed how I go about my days physically.  Anyway...if any should feel so led, please pray that I would know the Lord's leading, and take advantage of the situation to share my Saviour with whomever as He opportunes me to.  I greatly appreciate your prayers!

These are very needful and encouraging messages!  I only had time to listen to the first one this morning, and I look forward to hearing the rest of them.  With sincerity, I pray that this passage of scripture and the other scriptures used would not only "stir" me up, but hopefully "change" me!  II Cor. 10:5 is very much a verse that we need to commit to "writing down on the tables of our hearts", and applied in our lives!  Being a "good soldier of Jesus Christ" is a wonderful thing, and ought to be an absolutely delightful desire for us to strive for - by His strength and workmanship.  This morning, I'm very INcouraged by these messages!

I wrote this "letter" to my sons for Father's Day...with a genuine heart, I hope it is a blessing of God's grace and mercy to any readers of it!

******

My dearest sons...

Yes, tis me yet again...the blessed Spirit has prodded me to share with you once more. I've said most everything already in the past, but just wanted to reiterate because my heart is full with it.

You are each one wonderful dads, and unique in your own way with your sons. I have a lot of respect for the love that you have for them. My precious, precious grandsons! My son's sons! I'm so proud of all of you, and pray continually for you. My pride and my joy! What can I say more? I'm very grateful to the Lord for each of you!

What can I say more - well, just that I long to be of encouragement to you, and to edify you. The world has long been growing darker and darker, and yet its pulls of temptation have subtly and yet strongly been enticing. The saved are not exempt, but God's grace and longsuffering is glorious! He is so very patient with each one of us, and full of amazing love and kindness to us. Sigh...however, regardless of the world around us, we are still accountable before God Almighty. Each one of us must answer for ourselves, thankfully not for our sins...for they've been covered on the cross...but for how we are walking with the Lord Jesus. I cannot express seriously enough, that "what goes around, comes around"! There is no avoiding that truth. All throughout scripture are what I call the geometric "ifs and thens". IF we live according to the Word with our hearts and consciences clear before the Lord to the best of our ability, THEN the Lord will work ALL things together for our good. He always has our best interests in mind. But! IF we live and walk in disobedience to the Word, THEN it is to be accepted that the consequences will most likely be painful and we will definitely know the chastisement of the Lord. It says in Ezekiel 7:10 - "Behold the day, behold, it is come: the morning is gone forth; the rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded." Our dear God loves us so much that even by His wondrous grace, He will chastise us according to the disobedient ways that we have chosen.

As you have read in my testimony that I sent to you...I made some of my own foolish choices, and the consequences have not been at all pleasant. The sinful ways that I chose were NOT productive or fruitful for anything good...period! There might have been some kind of what I thought was comforting or pleasureable, tho' totally temporal...but they ended in ways that produced shame and guilt and embarrassment. To this day, I still reap some of the consequences of the sinful choices that I sowed. As your mom, I naturally want to warn you and to protect you so that you don't suffer the same needless kind of consequences that I have. However! You are each a man in your own right. I've had my time as you were growing up to teach you and to bring you up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and so I can only hope to encourage you to walk in the ways that are pleasing to the Saviour.

One of the biggest reasons that I am sharing with you....isn't so much for you, as it is for your sons. Whether you like it or not, as men...the Lord has given you the role of being the leader of your family. Being a leader might come naturally or it might not, but it doesn't really matter what kind of a personality you have....that's the role that you are responsible for. That means that you must be a Godly example and illustration to your sons. The past is not an excuse for the present. By the way, even though I'm addressing this to you...there isn't a child of God that isn't accountable for the role that God has given them; male or female. "That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all His statutes and commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged...that it might be well with thee...And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might...And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up...And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD: that it may be well with thee..." (Deut. 6)

I've quoted some Old Testament verses, but regardless of the dispensation of law or grace...God changes not, and so He still "feels" the same way about obedience or disobedience. I dearly hope that I come across as trying to encourage you to walk with the Lord. There is absolutely nothing in this world that is productive, lastingly successful, or that will bring true JOY and PEACE like living for the One that created us, loves us the most, the best, and gave Himself for us! The world and the ways of the world will only promote failure and misery...and we must understand that with wisdom.

So, my beloved sons...your responsibilities as dads are tremendous because of the alluring ways of this world, but try not to be discouraged! Keep your hope in the Lord, and desire His ways, and you'll truly begin to understand that glorious abundant life that He longs for us to have even in the midst of such darkness. Yes, I'm "only" mom...but please be patient with me, for the Lord has impressed on my heart the absolute importance of walking with, in, by, and for Him. I never really had a "dad"...Gpa just wasn't there for me. I missed out on so much learning, and I didn't have an example of the kind of love and acceptance that a child needs. It was such a deep source of hurt for me...but words cannot express the gratefulness that I have that the Lord showered and filled my heart with the comprehension of His love for me. HE is my Father...and I sincerely hope and pray with great love, understanding, and compassion the importance of God's love flowing in and thru you to your precious sons.

I know that I write "novelettes"...but I truly hope that you will seriously consider my words in light of the Word and the gracious Saviour. I can truly say that in spite of my many failures, YOU...my sons...are wonderful, wonderful men. I adore each one of you!

I love you, my beloved sons!

Mom

All four of our children have served in our Armed Forces (and two of them still serve).  As each one of them walked out of the door of our home headed for boot camp...I handed them a personal letter that I'd written to them...to read as they flew across the country.  The following is a copy of the last letter that I wrote...to our oldest son.  It was so very difficult for this momma to watch her "babes" go off and far away from home with the potential of being put in harm's way.  Indeed, we endured thru seven or eight deployments between them.  I found this copy folded and placed in a little Bible that I had tucked away in a drawer. 

*****

Son...

I never dreamed that I would be writing one of these "going off into the military" letters to you like I wrote to your siblings. I'm very proud of you, and always have been. You have been such a wonderful gift from the Lord...my first born. My heart threatens to fail me at times for the maternal need to somehow protect you from all the dangers and the evil foe. However, you are a man and you have your own wife to cleave to, and your son to raise up in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord. Yes, I've let you go on the "outside", but I cling to you in my heart and pray for you in ways that only a mother can.

As of today, your life will change forever. You will never be the same. You will be exposed to this world in ways that you've never been exposed to before. You will see things, hear things, and experience things that will most likely shock you at first. The best advice that I can give to you, is to keep praying without ceasing. When you are being yelled at, called names, put down, and basically trashed...keep praying. Whisper silent words up to the Saviour, and never forget the very Foundation you have in Him. As they drill into you and work on breaking your own will, as they push your flesh almost past endurance, keep remembering who you are and where you came from. Let them break your will, but don't let them affect your spirit. It is their job to make you a soldier...and that you shall become...but remember, you are first in the "Army of God". It's true..."Onward Christian Soldiers"...and you can be a shining light no matter where you are or what your situation is.

Dear Son...words fail me though my heart is ready to burst because of all of the emotions and feelings that I have. There's so much that I want to tell you and warn you about, yet I must simply entrust you to the Lord, for in His hands and in His will is the very safest and best place to be. We've been in the"last days" for a long time, and so now I wonder if we are truly now in the "last moments". "Everyday with Jesus should be sweeter than the day before": as we live on for Him regardless of where we are or what is going on in our lives. Everyday presents new opportunities to testify of His indwelling presence whether it be thru word, deed, or in our very countenance. Everyday we should be desiring that He would renew our minds, and transform us more and more into the likeness and image of the Son. Though every single minute in boot camp will be controlled, you can still silently whisper calls of help to the Saviour. He is the best Friend that you will ever, ever have and He greatly desires to be there for you in every way. I've personally memorized the following verses...and I hope that they will also become very dear to you:

"Now thanks be unto God, which ALWAYS causeth us to TRIUMPH in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by US in EVERY PLACE. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved..." (II Cor. 2:14, 15a)

My beloved son, my tears ever flow as my heart desires the very best for you and for your family. Know my love, which is like no other love you shall receive...that of a mother's love for her child. I carried you, I bore you, and even thru many mistakes and failures I've raised you the best I can to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength first...and then to love your family, God's family, and the people of this world as yourself. Know that I shall yet continue to thicken the very callouses on my knees for the kneeling in prayer for you. As I told your siblings...when you are far away and feeling alone and you just need a hand to hold...."here is mine" (my handprint on the other side). I love you, my son...my son, my son!

Go with God and Godspeed...and don't forget who you are and always remember home.

Love,

Mom

Love "The William Tell Overture"...and attempt to play it on the piano...

When our children were pre-teens, we would all gather together and listen to symphonies such as Alan posted.  We all listened very carefully and tried to imagine what the story was behind the song...and then shared our own "versions" with each other afterwards.  It was a fun family thing to do and gave all of us an appreciation for music.  It is also a wonderful thing to read the history that is behind the writing of many hymns.

I found one of the verses that has been a blessing concerning this -  David is referring to his child that died in II Sam. 12 - "But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me" (II Sam. 12:23).  Is. 7:15-16 are also worthy of considering - "Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. * For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest  shall be forsaken of both her kings."

In my above post I mentioned "God's character" and principles.  The more that I read the Word, the more that I not only hear it but also try to obey it, and the closer that I grow in my walk with the dear Saviour....the more familiar I become with His thoughts and ways.  Of course, they are much higher than mine will ever be as it says in Isaiah 55...but the more that He progressively conforms me into His likeness...the more that I draw nigh to Him, then the more He draws nigh to me.  Since the Lord is never contradictive, never inconsistent, but always the same  ("Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever" - Heb. 13:8), then as I walk with Him loving Him with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength (the best I can)... the more that I then can recognize His ways/character.  I John 4:16 speaks of how "God is love", and He clearly holds "children" in a special place in His heart ("But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven" - Mt. 19:14).  I dearly do not want to take any verses out of context, and I certainly don't want to make them of any private interpretation...but I do believe that these verses illuminate a lot of God's character to us.

In response to the difficulty you've mentioned having as far as babies being whisked away from unbelieving women...even though the baby is developing within the womb...it is still an individual life that...as you said...began at conception.  I'm struggling to verbalize my thoughts...so summing it up overall...the spiritual status of the mother does not determine the status of the child.

I have pondered and prayed about my response to these questions.  In the early 1980's I "lost" two babies, and in 2008 I "lost" my granddaughter.  I believe that they are with my Lord Jesus.  It is very comforting to know that they are safe with Him.  Over the years I have been blessed with a couple of verses that confirm their presence with the Lord...but I'm a little slow remembering the references.  God's "character" and other principles in the Word also give me confidence.  Again without references off the top, I also believe that babies in the womb will also be whisked away and caught up to meet Jesus in the air.

One of the most freeing things I have ever experienced was to forgive a family member for committing a crime against one of my children.  Only by God's grace, mercy, and workmanship could the act of truly forgiving take place.  Indeed we should love, pray for, and bless our "enemies" (including family members) out of obedience to the Word...and to be pleasing and glorifying to our Lord.  When the Lord Jesus worked forgiveness into my heart....He also filled me with His love to such depth for the one that had committed the crime...that it's nothing short of miraculously amazing!  Even though my relationship with that family member was never the same after that....because of that forgiveness, I was free to love that one without reservation.  A quote that I shared in my testimony is a good one to remember: "Forgiveness is not forgetting, forgiveness is remembering it forgiven."  I'm sooooo glad that the Lord is so wondrously forgiving, and I want to grow to become more and more like Him!

Dearest Rosie....has there been anymore news about Seth?  I hurt for both him and his family and friends.  To be so upset as to leave like he did is clear  indication of the depth of pain and insecurity he is experiencing.  I long for him to know the absolute comfort and security there is in our Saviour!  I long for him to know in his heart the glorious love that our Lord has for him, and how the Lord's longing to bring healing to his mind (and more so, his heart) is infinitely greater yet!  I will continue to pray for Seth.

I will also pray for you and for your family...that you will know without doubt the Lord's leading and will concerning your present circumstances.  My heart goes out to you because of your recent loss; I just lost my dad last September.  As I lift you up in prayer, I shall ask that you will also know how the Lord wants to use you to His glory through the trying times.  May you know the comfort and greatly sense the Lord's presence and love.

Hello, Trent!  There are some real fine saved folks at this site, and so I hope you are greatly blessed as you come here.  Welcome!

This was originally written in 2008 when my youngest son was deployed to the Middle East.  His family stayed with us for the 18 months that he was gone.  I just found it in my binder and re-wrote it, and so I hope it is a blessing to others.

Springtime

Today is a beautiful day. The sky is blue and there is nary a cloud in sight. I'm sure the sun will shine a nearly perfect temperature on us again. I do love springtime! I love how bright green the new grasses are, and I love to daily watch as new leaves first bud on the trees, and then as the days go by they begin to unfold. Pretty soon they are clapping their hands, and waving to us in the breeze. My bright red tulips have opened up and are so beautiful and cheerful to look at just sitting there in my yard reflecting the sweetness of our God. Bees and flies and ants and other insects also begin waking up and become busy buzzing and scurrying about. While walking down the street, one can hear all sorts of different kinds of birds tweeting, whistling, chirping, and singing. They fly from tree to tree or soar up high in the sky. They flash hues and speckles of brown and orange and yellow and blue as they fly overhead. My grandson and I picked out some "Pussy Willow" seeds from a tree and brought them home. We filled a pot with some soil, planted the seeds, gave them a drink, and then placed them in the warmth of the rays of the sunshine. So far...I think a weed is beginning to sprout...but that's okay, for my grandson was very excited about watching the little green sprout poking its head up out of the dirt. I don't know if we'll actually have "Pussy Willow" buds or not, but it has been fun to watch for them.

We've already had the pleasure of watching little baby black-wooled lambs wobbling around after their mommas in the pasture across town. Lil hereford and white-faced angus calves have played peek-a-book with us out from behind their mommas too, and it's fun to watch them frolic and play with each other. Yes, spring is a season of beginnings...new God-created life truly springs up and it encourages the opportunities that we all have to spring foward for our Lord Jesus as we press on in this earthly life.

Everyday is a new day, and yet at the end of each day...I hope to rest content in having lived the whole day to its fullest. We will never have this day to live again, but we do have today. Each minute of it counts in its own way being precious and valuable as the seconds tick by. Each breath we take is a miracle, and so we should exhale each with much gratefulness to the Lord by "being and breathing" and living each moment desiring to be pleasing to Him.

Sigh...what shall this day bring? Are we noticing the occasions that God sends our way to share Him? Are our minds stayed on Him? What a joy it is to "lose" ourselves to Him each day, that we might be softened and moldable and that He might have the free reign to continue to shape us more and more into the likeness of His own image. Being chiseled, pierced, and tried through the "fires" of this life are not things to trifle with, but are to be taken as seriously as each breath that we breathe. The pain can be almost unbearable, yet even in a weakened state we can yet embrace it and cling tightly to it loving Him and looking for and claiming God's promise to work all out for our ultimate good and according to His purpose. When we view the grievous pains and trials of this life through the Saviour's eyes, we know that we can be more than conquerors through Him. Even the adverse tryings of our faith can be the very means in which abundant joy can be born. We must be careful not to heighten nor give strength to the painful trials by focusing upon them, but instead we must look towards the Saviour and the workings of His blessed sweetness and charity and mercy through it.

By shedding the poverties of this old life, we can bud and spring forth ever growing in the light of His countenance. May this beautiful spring day be pleasing and profitable to our precious Saviour's glory!

Rosie...I've already lifted Seth up in prayer, and I will continue to.  Even though he is missing, our precious Lord Jesus knows right where Seth is at as you know, and  he knows exactly what Seth needs.  It's such a comfort at difficult times like this to cling to and trust the Lord.  Indeed, this sounds like a heartbreaking situation, and I know that the Lord will hear our cry to Him on behalf of Seth.

Hi, PinkFlowers!  Welcome to OLB!  I'm glad that after hearing discussions about the different Bible versions...that you chose the KJB.  I'm also in California (way up north), and I truly hope that you will be greatly blessed by coming to this site.

I most whole-heartedly agree with you, Pastor Markle.  Children need a Godly daddy in their lives!  These days it's pretty easy to spot those who don't have a daddy after God's own heart.  At the same time, it's also easy to spot those few who do!  Sadly too, these days....it's getting more difficult to find Godly moms.

Welcome, Jim...as a new moderator!  It's obvious that you love the Lord, and desire to glorify Him in all that you say and do!  As others have said...you are a very good choice to have as a moderator here in OLB.    We will have to really "behave" here, because now we are almost smackdab in the middle between two moderators...you and Ukulelemike...geographically speaking.  We're on the other side of Mt. Shasta.  'So glad you have joined the ranks of being a mod here!

I posted this a few years ago in the former lady's forum before it moved over to here.  We have lost 2 of our own precious little ones and our granddaughter, and it's very comforting to know that they are with our dear Saviour in glory.

*****

Precious Little One

There was something that fell so short...when my whispered words of love to her went unheard since death had stolen her away...I know I kissed her and I had the taste of her upon my lips...and I took it in and savored it....

It is obvious by their soft little foot imprints in the snow, that little snowbirds and snow bunnies are watching out for our little Kate's resting place. Lilies, compassionately given by the soldiers in Kate's daddy's unit in the war-ravaged land of Iraq, lay sweetly fringed in ruffled frost, gently atop the small grave. The bitter cold wind from the northeast blew across the valley, yet the sky was soft blue, and it allowed the sun to shine and to reflect little sparkles in the snow around my little granddaughter's grave. Those twinkling little sparkles were each as tiny precious little angelic kisses reminding us of our Father's love. Each Baby's Breath that was sprayed amongst the lilies brought to mind the promises of God, that the sting of death has been conquered... and that at precisely the right time, the angels had taken charge and ushered our Kate into the glory of Heaven. When our baby girl opened up her eyes for the first time, and drew her first breath...she knew the very essence of Love, our Saviour, for she saw Him face to face. He was framed about with the vivid colors of divine glory, and there was a scent of purity that enveloped precious Kate in unspeakable sweetness. Tho' it is only maternal and natural we need not fear the cold of that northeast wind, nor worry about protecting our baby girl from the elements of this earth... for our beloved tiny little Kate Lemoni is victoriously and very much eternally and unequivocally alive in the very presence of our blessed Saviour.

Gramma M

Today

Ps. 37:24 - "Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand." John 10:28 - "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."

What a wonderful thing it is that as His dear children He keeps us! Have you ever considered the power of the small word "keep" when it is our omnipotent God doing the "keeping"? For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken" (Prov. 3:26). Praise God who "kept" me from being utterly cast down, because He had saved me to the uttermost! (Heb. 7:25)

Along with my testimony in the thread "Saved And I Know It", I'd like to "briefly" testify of how the Lord is working in my life today. Spiritual growth comes about by His workmanship; because in and of myself I can do no good thing. Our God longs to "grow us up" in Himself, but we must surrender to Him and avail ourselves to His work. For years I held back total surrender and submission to Him because I believed that, that meant I was going to have to make some sort of terribly painful sacrifice. I was afraid to trust Him completely, which really is quite silly for He always has what is for our ultimate best in mind.

The Lord has indeed been growing me a lot in this area since that wondrous time that He so miraculously blessed me with the depth of understanding and comprehension of His love. As I've aged and have also gone through some life-threatening health issues, I've found that time is of essence! I could've just collapsed and died with the health issues that I had, but the appointed time for my earthly demise was not to be then....for the Lord had more for me to do here. Every single day is precious and I dearly want to live it to its fullest to God's glory.

My Lord has taught me much about how to trust Him and to surrender submissively to Him. Matt. 16:25 says, "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." He has taught me these things, but I am still in the process of learning them. He has more than adequately proved His truth to me that if I would but trust and surrender myself to Him, then I will actually FIND that by doing so I will experience the abundance of life with blessing, peace, and with joy. He first loved me, but by the reasonable "sacrifice" of losing myself, my very life, thoughts, and ways to Him - that it would be an utter delight to respond and return my love to Him.

Our precious God is so full of mercy, grace, and longsuffering! On occasion, I have tried to understand and view more of God's perspective of me by using ants as an analogy. Since we live in a very rural area we have all kinds of ants busy around us. What a blessing it has been when I've stooped down and watched the ants and considered their ways. I've seen them very busy and working sometimes alone, sometimes in long lines with a "b'zillion" other ants, sometimes where there are only a couple of them working together, and I've seen them in huge nests. I would stoop down and while watching the ants, I would consider that perhaps my perception of them was likened to the way God might stoop down and see me. Considering the ants caused me to wonder with amazement and awe that "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" (Ps. 8:4) Ants seem to be so insignificant compared to human beings, but then again - next to God Almighty if it weren't for His majestic and divine glory and His gracious love, we'd be swallowed up by our own insignificance. Observing ants ought to be humbling to all of us. I'm so very glad that the Lord is mindful of me!

Hand in hand with teaching me how to trust Him, the Lord has incorporated the lesson of learning how to be thankful both in and for all things. Indeed we can be thankful for all things as well as in them, for each circumstance of our lives gives us opportunity for growth and for proving His indwelling presence to the lost. We can be thankful that even though the devil means things for evil, our God can and will work them for the good of those that love Him, and according to His purpose.

Fears, fretting, and stress are three areas that I continue to struggle with. I'm so very glad that the Lord knew from the beginning that all of us would struggle with these things, and so gave us encouragement, comfort, instruction, and commmandment concerning them. As it says in Jer. 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Verse 10 tells us that it's the Lord who searches the heart...) The Lord has indeed granted me several victories in these three areas, however I refuse to deceive myself into thinking that I'm "more than a conqueror" of them. As I continue to grow in my level of trust in Him, I'm assured that He will bless me with yet more victories through Him on the way to becoming "more than a conquer" of them... as I journey along in this earthly life.

There are many, many more lessons that the Lord has been teaching me including learning how to "wait" on Him while also "resting in Him. I can be very impatient at times, and so waiting on Him can truly be a challenge for me. There are so many things that I wish that I'd learned already yesterday! I'm so very glad that my precious Saviour discerns my heart and the thoughts and intents there, and is so just with me, yet full of loving kindnesses when He chastises me.

I have a very long, long ways to go in being transformed more and more to His likeness, but it's wonderful that each day is new and that I can still rejoice in Him. I'm ever so glad to know and to be fully persuaded that in spite of myself, He will continue to "KEEP" me, and that always all things are truly "well with my soul"!

I'm not very knowledgeable about scientific things though I find it all fascinating...especially from a scriptural perspective.  Lately, I've been curious about the sun.  How come it doesn't just "burn up"?  God created it for "the light that rules the day",  and so it will be there for the time God has appointed it to be...but I am curious as to how it does not consume itself.