Lord, I need You

Sunday Scripture

and a

Song

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else,

 and he will give you everything you need."
Luke 12:31 (NLT)

Too many times we find ourselves racing around, trying to "do it all" and probably failing (in our own opinion) because we have such high expectations of what we should accomplish.

Have you ever paused long enough to ask, "God, what should I be doing right now? What is most important, and what can I let go?"

Sometimes we tend to put our mind ahead of our heart; kind of like putting the cart before the horse. 

If we do not pause to find our center to discern what direction we should be going, then we are going forward on our own agenda. Or perhaps in our attempt to try to please everyone, we forget to first figure out what is best for our own selves. 

If we have not first "checked-in" with our inner source of strength, how will we ever get to where we need to be going?

The result of going forward without our inward direction is often frustration and negativity, or blame and anger. Sometimes we just feel lost.

Other times, sorrow engulfs us in our weakness, and we feel so all alone. 

Each and every time, we must reach out for help. And God alone is always there for us. 

If we can maintain a mind-set to always consult God first, we would find we have a better chance of finding success from our efforts.

Remember where your Source is, and what feeds your soul. Take care of yourself from the inside out, and the items on your to-do list that need to be accomplished will get done.

What is left over will be done tomorrow. 

Take time to find your center, and to ask God, your source of strength, to guide you in the direction He would have you follow.

I know I can't do this life alone. God, I Need You.

Please enjoy Chris Tomlin perform Lord, I Need You

a heartfelt worship song written by

 Christy Nockels, Daniel Carson, Jesse Reeves, Kristian Stanfill, and Matt Maher. 

Subscribers please click on Hope to find to view this video on my web site.

Mobile users, here's a link to youtube to watch the video.

Lord, I Give You My Heart

Sunday Scripture

and a

Song

 "Take delight in the Lord,

  and he will give you the desires of your heart."

Psalm 37:4 NIV

And since I do not know the desires of my ever-changing heart, let my desire be only to worship and honor my Savior.

Please enjoy this video of a favorite song of mine, performed by a choir in Oslo. The harmonies are wonderful, and the prayer is from my heart. 

Subscribers please click on Hope to find to view this video on my blog site.

Mobile viewers click here to view this video on youtube.

More than Mighty, He is Mighty to Save

Sunday Scripture

and a

Song

"Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,

mightier than the breakers of the sea— 

 the Lord on high is mighty."

Psalm 93:4

(NIV)

Nothing we ask of our Lord is too much for Him. No problem we give Him is too great. His love will comfort us; His peace will fill us beyond our ability to understand. 

Come to Him, and give Him all the concerns of your heart. Lay your troubles at His feet. Our God is mighty to save, and He will free you from your fears. 

Believe that the love of our Lord, our God, is greater than the world. 

Trust that He loves you, just the way you are.

Raise your hands and sing along to Laura Story's song "Mighty to Save" 

Subscribers please click on Hope to find to view this video on my blog site.

Mobile users, click here to watch this video on youtube.

Thank you, & Blessings

When We Lift Our Eyes

Sunday Scripture

and a

Song

"I lift up my eyes to the mountains-

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth."

Psalm 121:1-2

"I Will Lift My Eyes" by Bebo Norman

subscribers please click here to view this video on my blog site

Good vs. Evil

I’ve thought a lot about changes lately. Is it because of the new year and all the hype about resolutions and self-improvement? Perhaps that's a good thing. Maybe we need to have time to focus at least once a year on improving ourselves in order to get rid of bad habits or begin new, better choices that will benefit our health and our outlook on life.

Along with the idea of letting go, we embrace the positive aspect of new beginnings. Healthier eating habits are on many of our self-improvement lists, right along with exercising more regularly. These are certainly both at the top of my list.

Taking on a new life challenge may seem like just another thing to do. It isn’t until we embrace this new lifestyle that we begin to understand the rewards of changing our habits. Feeling slimmer and more energetic are the byproducts of healthier living choices, and who wouldn’t desire to feel better physically each day.

Our church has encouraged a similar philosophy when it comes to our Lenten season and indeed, our spiritual growth throughout the year. Instead of “giving up” something for Lent, we explore the option of “taking on” a new spiritual discipline. Perhaps it might be a small group study that will encourage us to read more or be in the Word on a regular basis. Accepting the challenge of self-improvement is exciting at the onset.

When we begin, we have high hopes for great change in our lives. It is when we try to adapt our lifestyles to accommodate our new ideas that we struggle. We still have the same time constraints as we had before, and now we are trying to cram in something more. While we know it is in our best interest, why do our best laid plans fall to the wayside as we choose instead to grab a bag of chips and plop down in front of the tv for our favorite program?

The self-improvement we seek cannot be considered for only the short term, and must reflect our desire for wholeness in all aspects of our lives. Weight loss is at the top of my list for this year, but so is spiritual growth. I am eating healthier and exercising. I love taking walks in nature and that is one kind of exercise I can easily keep up with.

Maintaining spiritual discipline in my life is so much harder. Not only do we have the busyness of our lives to deter us, but the evil one is so good at knowing our weaknesses and will dangle that golden carrot just beyond our noses for distraction. We can sense the aroma of something promised, something just beyond our reach, that seems so much better than what we have right in front of us.

What a challenge it is to discern if the desires of our heart are laid there by our loving Father or discretely placed by the evil one to sabotage any forward progress we are trying to make.  Both can appear to be our heart’s desire, and pull strongly on the direction of our lives.

How then can we know the difference? The answer is through prayer. Take your desires to the Lord and then wait for an answer. If it is the direction we should travel, the pull on our heart will feel stronger when we pray and lay our concerns at His feet.

If our pathway is divergent because of the glow of desire, it is probably our own insecurities reflecting off the golden carrot.  Satan is a master artist so do not be deceived. He can make something look so perfect and promising, when what he is really attempting to do is pull us away from God. 

I can speak from experience that he can make a choice in your life seem to shine like gold, and indeed seem to come from God Himself. Satan delights in putting a doubt within us that provides dissatisfaction in our lives, pulling us off our path and away from God.

We often can’t see the truth of the deception until we have chosen the wrong path and have begun to follow it. Then the devastating truth is revealed, and I hear Satan laughing with delight. But he will not have the final victory.

God is always there, waiting for us to return to Him. He is like a loving Father with outstretched arms and we only need to run to Him to be saved. The best time to turn to Him is before we make a decision that will change our lives. Pray for discernment, and for direction. And wait patiently for God to make clear the path He knows is best for you.

And if we err, as we sometimes will, and find ourselves on the pathway to destruction, cry out to Jesus to rescue you, and come to Him in repentance. Pray for forgiveness, and it will be given to you. Then pick up the pieces of your life and find the right pathway once again, the path that will lead you to happiness and peace, walking side-by-side with your Savior in harmony with all of creation. 

JESUS Came so You can Live YOUR STORY

While living in Texas years ago, I attended a Bible study in the home of a dear friend from church. My friend had a old, dirty, cracked flower pot on her table, and she shared that this can be how we feel about ourselves in our unworthiness before our Lord and Savior. Then she brought forth from the inside of the filthy pot a beautiful shining crystal vase, and told us all "this is how God sees you". It took everything within me to not run crying from the room and never come back.

I thought all God saw of me was my stains, my mistakes and my failures. I felt I was a fake to be putting on this façade of a strong Christian woman when inside I was so terribly broken. Perhaps some of you have felt this way, too.

This video, with footage from the movie “The Story” makes me weep. The lyrics tell the reason Jesus came; for us to live our story with all of our failures and brokenness. We come before our Lord and He sees only our possibilities. He sees our greatness and our potential. With lovingkindness and forgiveness, our Savior releases us from the bondage of our past. We are born again, made new in His sight. Our sins are forgotten; they are gone with the wind. And even if we make more mistakes, and we will, because we are human after all, we can come to our Lord and ask for forgiveness, and He will set our feet on the pathway to righteousness once again. 

Mac Powell of the band "Third Day" sings these words of truth: "Tell me your story, show me your wounds; and I'll show you what love sees, when love looks at you. Hand me the pieces, broken and bruised, and I'll show you what love sees, when love sees you."

No longer am I ashamed of what once defined me from my past. I am born again in the Spirit. I know Jesus as my Savior and my Lord. I am the daughter of a King! I am blessed. My friend, this is my Christmas wish for you, that you will come to know our Lord personally, and truly believe that you can made new.

If you are struggling with inner demons, He is the one who can save you. You deserve to live a life free from shame. Jesus came for you to live your story. And His great love can help you live your life with gratitude and peace. Do not believe the lie that this promise is not for you. It will be yours when you ask Jesus to come into your life. You can share with him all of your failures and successes. You can learn about His life through reading the New Testament of the Bible, and you can come to know Him personally by coming to Him in prayer. Ask Him for the direction your life should lead. This relationship can be the guiding force of your life. And it can begin with a simple prayer asking Jesus to come into your life.

We all need more than the simple existence of living life on this earth. Our lives are filled with challenges and sorrows, sufferings and joys. God can help us turn our challenges into triumphs, and our sorrows and suffering can help us grow into a closer relationship with Him. Our joys will be filled with gratitude and our rough places made smooth through knowing that God is always with us. Emmanuel, God with us. That is why He came.

Song of Praise

"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". Psalm 100 vs. 4-5 NLT 

       
  SONG OF PRAISE            

  

For all gifts both great and small

For thy sacrifice for all

We lift our hands in joyous praise

And give you thanks, O Lord

For guidance and thy shining light

And comfort in the darkest night

Together all our hearts we raise

To give you thanks, O Lord

Praise Him, Praise Him

From whom all good things come

Praise Him, Praise Him

Our new life has begun

For thy everlasting love

Raining down from heav'n above

All the souls on earth will sing

To give you thanks, O God

For thy heart's redeeming grace

And thy joyous, sweet embrace

For the gift of hope you bring

We give you thanks, O God

Praise Him, Praise Him

From whom all good things come

Praise Him, Praise Him

Our new life has begun

                                                                                   by Colleen Reske

                                                                                         all rights reserved

Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving. May you have peace in your heart and plenty of food in your stomach! Be grateful for all you have been given. Life is a gift. Enjoy your present!
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                        ~Colleen