Wednesday, July 21, 2010

To Be and Not to Be


Jesus knew that those who believed in Him and obeyed His word would face difficulties. In the book of John, Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33 [KJV].

Followers of Jesus Christ have always faced trials, testing, hardships, and persecutions. When Jesus spoke about the times in which we are living He had these things to say about how our hearts should be:

*Be standing firm
*Be watchful
*Be peaceful
*Be prayerful
*Be sober
*Be ready

He also told us how not to be:

*Do not be fearful
*Do not be troubled
*Do not let your heart be weighed down with cares
*Do not be spiritually asleep

God wants us to live as people of faith.
We are to be people who live amidst fear, yet have peace;
who live amidst sorrow, yet have joy;
who live amidst trouble, yet have comfort;
who live amidst uncertainty, yet have hope.

People of faith are not people who have found a way to avoid uncertainties or escape trouble. They are people who have learned to live in this world, but not be of it; they are people who have learned to face difficulties and overcome them; they are people who have learned to face hardships and walk through them.

People of faith are not people who have put their faith in their faith, but people who have put their faith in the faithfulness of God. God is their shield, their refuge, their high tower, and their defender. Their trust is in God’s character, their confidence is in God’s ways, and their hope is in God’s promises.
~meet me in the meadow

This really challenged me today and I wanted to share it with you. Have a blessed day knowing that God is our Defender! With love~Susan




Sunday, July 18, 2010

Prayer Changes Things...........

~photo by katie kanowitz leach


Invitation to Pray
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;” 1 Timothy 2:1

Answered Prayer
To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. Psalm 3:4

Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress;be merciful to me and hear my prayer. Psalm 4:1

You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips. Psalm 21:2

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called,and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. Psalm 34:4-6

I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. Psalm 40:1

God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God,who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me! Psalm 66:19-20

Confidence In Prayer This is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 1 John 5:14-15 [KJV]

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and findgrace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philip. 4:6-7

Fervency In Prayer
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with allperseverance and supplication for all saints;” Ephesians 6:18

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16

Results through Prayer
“'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'” Jeremiah 33:3 [NKJV]

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…” Ephes. 3:20 [NKJV]

Prayer in Times of Trouble
“And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” Psalm 50:15 [KJV]

“He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.” Psalm 91:15 [KJV]

“For I cried to him and he answered me! He freed me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4 [Living]

Delayed Answers to Prayer
“Even while I was praying and confessing my sin and the sins of my people, desperately pleading with the Lord my God for Jerusalem, his holy mountain, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, flew swiftly to me at the time of the evening sacrifice and said to me, "Daniel, I am here to help you understand God's plans. The moment you began praying a command was given. I am here to tell you what it was, for God loves you very much. Listen and try to understand the meaning of the vision that you saw!” Daniel 9:20-23 [Living]

United Prayer
“Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 18:19 [KJV]

“And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also.” Zech. 8:21 [KJV]

Individual Prayer
“And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.”2 Chronicles 14:11 [KJV]

Monday, July 12, 2010

Take 2: Southern and Northern Sisters

Susan, Toni, Cathy and Mary
Toni, Mary, Susan and Cathy

Ms. Toni Drake with an attitude.....


Ms. Mary Barthel relaxing on the patio.....

Toni, Mary, Susan and Cathy....all dressed up and no place to go!
~photo's by Pamela Reed Stangland





In June.....Southern Sisters visit Northern Sisters

We started our weekend with avocado and walnut masks
Susan, Toni and Cathy
Mary reminded me so much of the tin man!

Didn't her mask make her look lovely? She is enjoying a visit to Bayfield

Susan and Cathy on Lake Superior.....

Mary. Toni, Cathy and Susan
Good friends since the late 70's!





Sunday, July 11, 2010

Prayer

Great Quotes on Prayer......
When we depend on man, we get what man can do; when we depend on prayer, we get what God can do. -unknown
Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers. -Sidlow Baxter
If we want to see mighty wonders of divine power and grace wrought in the place of weakness, failure and disappointment, let us answer God’s standing challenge, “Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not!” –J. Hudson Taylor
Through Prayer.....
You may not be mighty, but you can pray and see situations change by the hand of Him who is almighty; You may not be influential, but you can pray and ask Him who raises up one ruler and puts down another to have His way in the affairs of men; You may not know how to comfort or encourage someone who is hurting, but you can pray and touch the heart of Him who is the Father of all comfort; You may not know how to protect yourself from evil, but you can pray and allow God to be your shield and defender. You may not have a lot of resources, but you can pray and receive what you need from the treasure house of Him whose resources are unlimited.
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Matthew 7:7-8 KJV
A Healing Stream Through Prayer.....
God calls His people to open up a healing stream of His love and grace through prayer. Pray that broken hearts will turn to Him for healing, that grieving hearts will turn to Him for comfort, and that lost hearts will turn to Him for the gift of Salvation that is in Jesus Christ alone. His grace is still being extended, His mercies are still new every morning, and His arms are still outstretched to embrace every hurting heart.
~meet me in the meadow

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

This week with my Aunt Betty and Uncle John

Dinner last night at the Moose Lake Campground.
Chicken salad, potato salad and hot dogs in the rain!

Smores for dessert! Yum!!!!

Last week My Tia and I up the shore!
So fun to see them and I had them all to myself!!!



Saturday, July 3, 2010

THE ALPHABET

* Although things are not perfect

* Because of trial or pain,

* Continue in thanksgiving

* Do not begin to blame.

* Even when the times are hard

* Fierce winds are bound to blow.

* God is forever able,

* Hold on to what you know!

* Imagine life without His love,

* Joy would cease to be.

* Keep thanking Him for all the things

* Love imparts to Thee.

* Move out of "Camp Complaining!"

* No weapon that is known

* On earth can yield the power

* Praise can do alone.

* Quit looking at the future;

* Redeem the time at hand;

* Start every day with worship--

* To "thank" is a command.

* Until we see Him coming,

* Victorious in the sky

* We'll run the race with gratitude

* Xalting God most high.

* Yes, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...

* Zion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

Celebrating Alex's 10th Birthday

Our 2nd Annual Birthday Celebration for Alex at the Red Lobster!
Later at Park Point chasing the many seagulls!
Happy Happy Birthday Alex, I hope you grow up to
love and serve Jesus with your whole heart!
OXOXOX