Ask and you shall receive! That is so very true and straight from the Word of God. Thank you so much for helping me place the music into my blog spot. I was very impressed with the other bloggers music and thought I would enjoy hearing some gospel music while I typed. God is faithful even in the little things in our lives. Have a blessed and safe weekend. Grandma Jane
I am trying to figure out how to put a song "Amazing Grace/My chains are Gone" by C. Tomlin onto my blog and I don't know how or I just can't figure out how to upload the song onto the blog from playlist. Could someone who has done this please help me. Thank you and God bless. Grandma Jane
Well, it is difinitely spring here in Iowa. It is kind of late in my opinion but I had lived in Kansas for eight years before moving back it Iowa and I became spoiled with the early springs down there. I have finished planting my garden space that my host family has graciously given to me this season. It is very exciting to see the squash peeking out of the dark soil with it baby leaves. I am truly blessed by this gift of a garden space since I LOVE to garden. I was only able to bring two Rose of Sharon bushes with me from Kansas City and they are both in pots and sitting on the little patio area where I read my Bible in the morning time. I have tomatoes growing along with green beans, lettuce, cucumbers, peppers, basil and cabbage. I also have this wonderful "salad bowl" growing which is actually an old washtub that has paritially rusted out in the bottom. So I just threw in an old burlap sack to hold the dirt inside the tub, filled it full of dirt, add the seeds (radishes, carrots, beets, green onions, lettuce and spinach) and it is growing beautifully. I had to put chicken wire over the top of it so that the deer don't help themselves to the salad--laugh out loud! My babies (which are three beautiful kitty cats) are living inside a very well insulated lower barn (they can't get out or get hurt by the wild animals around here) and I miss their company at night and during the day too. I miss their presence inside the house. My one cat is named crybaby and sometimes he gets really bad hairballs and I thought that today he was going to get sick. I had to pray for strength because I can't be with him all the time but God is with him, even though he is just a cat. I think that God loved creating all the animals and plants and humans and just everything. It amazing me how God knew and knows how to take care of the entire world, all the beasts and fields and all the people on planet earth...It truly is beyond words. I know that I plant the seed and tend to my "little garden plot" but I know that the fruit that is borne from it comes from God. He sends the rain and the moon light and the sunshine and the days and weeks and seasons. And He sends His Holy Spirit to refresh my soul and other's souls too, during the seasons of our lives. Starting fresh again is so very hard but it is a time to "grow" even closer to the Lord. Blessings to all. Grandma Jane
Well, my dear blogging friends, I have made it to Iowa. I moved in April and I am still getting use to Iowa's cooler weather. It is about 400 mile northeast of where I used to live and it is taking me awhile to adjust. I have had many things happen and most all of them good. I miss my friends in KC though. I am looking forward to spending more time with my kids and grandkids now that they only live 5 minutes from where I am staying. I am blessed. I am staying with friends that have nine acres of land and my cats are in the barn area that is self-contained so they can not get out and run away. I have a small space to garden and I am attending my "old" church that I went to before I moved away. I long to have some conservative lady friends though. There is not many people here who dress conservatively or wear headcoverings so I feel kind of out of place right now. Things will get better.
Grandma Jane
It's been awhile since my last entry and it has been crazy around my house. Things are changing and this is a good thing, but change is hard for me. I am getting ready to make some major changes in my life and I am so excited. I had a very wonderful garden in my yard and I had to dismantle it this week as I prepare for the new changes in my life. It reminded me of the bible verses that say that there is a time to plant and a time to harvest, a time to weep and a time to laugh. A time to be born and a time to die.........and time for peace and a time for war. I think I have experienced every part of these verses in the last two days. I had to make some hard decisions about my garden and it was so sad to see my Rose of Sharon bushes dug up and taken away...........but I know that if I was allowed to have them here, the good Lord will provide more Rose of Sharon bushes soon, at a new place. There is a season for everything. I believe this and I am trusting that the good Lord will reveal His plan for my life as I move forward, with great joy and anticipation. Please pray for me and God's blessings to all.
Grandma Jane
This has to be good for me! I just finished up putting the last bit of corned beef into the soup mix and now it is on a low simmer on the stove for awhile. I have had such a cold for a few weeks now but thankfully without any fevers. I have been taking some over the counter cold and cough medicine and sleeping more than usual. Today I thought I might as well pick up some corned beef brisket at the store since it is almost St. Patty's Day and corned beef is always on sale during this time of the year--a good time to get a nice cut of beef and make some sandwiches and some corned beef and cabbage. I thought to myself--why not some corned beef and cabbage soup today Jane?? So I looked up some recipes and I kind of went from there. I have a really good soup recipe that calls for, of all things, spaghetti sauce as part of the soup's base. So into the pot went a large can of spaghetti sauce. Then I added two can of tomatoes, one diced and the other one stewed, and that seems to be working well. I added two spaghetti cans full of water to the mix and two extra large veggie cubes to add some flavor at the beginnning of the soup. Next I added two cans of black-eyed peas (keeping the juice to add some more flavor) and some italian seasoning with celery seed and fennel seed to boot. And now gently boil for about an hour. While this is cooking I had put a corned beef brisket into a 400 degree oven for about one hour--one and half more hours to go for that. I took about a half of pound of brisket one hour into cooking it and diced it up good and put that into the pot with the soup mixature. Oh, I forgot to mention that I diced up one raw white potato and added that when I added the black-eyed peas...........this is already sounding good just typing it up. After the first hour is up, I added about a half of head of green cabbage, shredded really good and about three or four more thick slices of corned beef, diced. There is still about 2 pounds of corned beef in the oven, enough to make some really nice sandwiches with and the soup is seasoned just right. Now I just let it simmer until I am ready for another bowl of soup.......oh, yeah, I already tasted the soup. It is so good.........so good. A nice hearty soup for another cold day here in Kansas City. I was chilled pretty much to the bone from cleaning 6 hallways/apt buildings today (yeah, the work still has to been done even if I am sick) and I really wanted something HEARTY to warm up my tummy and was not too costly for a soup mix. I think I am pretty much happy with how this day is going to end. A warmed up tummy, the cold will get a good kick in the pants and hopefully will break soon, and I have done some homecooking today. That makes a heart feel good. I only wish that my kids (who are grown up) could come over and have some good soup for dinner with their mom. That will be a reality soon enough when the good Lord moves me closer to where they are at. It is a good day to be thankful for the little bit that we do have and to trust God to provide for the needs that we still have and desire. It is good to be in a loving relationship with God.....l kind of relate that warm heart feeling of being filled up with God's love with my warmed and full tummy today. It feels good. I think I will go ahead and get ready to rest now and enjoy this wonderful, God-filled evening with a thankful heart.
Blessings to all.
Grandma Jane
The last two days have been a roller coaster around here-weatherwise. We have had rain, snow, heat (70+ degrees) cold winds, and now it is just cold. But there was a hint of Spring today as I left my morning job that I have on Mondays. A whole group of Robins were gathered on the church's lawn area and it was such a welcoming sight since the weather is so crazy. From what I understand, the robins come out when the weather is beginnning to change. That makes me happy. Very happy. This spring is going to hold alot of new changes for me and my family. I am praying about going back into practice (as a chiropractor--I got hurt about 2 years ago and have alot of pain and limited back strength even today) and moving to a new location. All by prayer and supplication of course. I am really excited because I have been feeling like my life has been on hold for about 2 or 3 years now. But I know it is during these times of trials and tribulation, God is very present and active in my life and in the lives of those who love Him. I have had several "weird" things happen in the recent weeks, like the curling iron falling into the toilet while it was plugged in and ON--thank you Lord for keeping me safe and verbal attacks by people who don't know me and what I am about--which makes me think that God is very active and moving mightly on my behalf to move me into a better position to serve Him and to learn and trust in Him even more than what I already do. And this crazy cold--I usually have a slight cold here or there during the winter time because of the work I do (cleaning hallways and bathrooms and such) but I have had a cold now for over three weeks and it just drains my strength and endurance. I try to sleep as much as possible and then work about 3 or 4 hours and then sleep some more. I am so looking forward to spring time and being outside to get some fresh air into my lungs!! I also saw a little tiny sparrow yesterday on my patio area (actually I think it was Saturday when the weather was so nice) and there were several other sparrows pecking around in my tomato garden area for leftover seeds and little tiny bugs that were in the ground........I think that Spring is in the air--Thank you Lord for the signs of a new season, in nature, in relationships, in new adventures and new doors opening.........it is a good day to stop and thank Him and to realize that all things have a time and season. Sometimes, when season ends, we cry. Sometimes when a new season begins, we cry. I would like to think that this new season of my life will have lots of tears of joy and very few tears of sorrow and regret. I am looking forward to this new season. I am glad this old season is coming to an end. This rest is still unwritten.............
In Christ,
Grandma Jane
Well, you know sometimes you are the windshield and sometimes, you are the bug that meets the windshield going about 70 miles an hour. I am beginning to learn that when things get really out of control (by no fault of my own) that is when God is doing some major good work in my life. I would like to think that a major breakthrough or an answer to a very deep heartfelt prayer is just around the corner. I want to be joyful and I want to have a thankful attitude while the "troubles" are happening. I can not do this without knowing Jesus and having a personal relationship with Him. I can not do this without knowing my heavenly Father and the peace that coming with knowing that the Father has a plan for my life. I can not do this (joyfulness and a thankful attitude) without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within me. I have learned that when it hurts too much, that is when I should be praying the hardest (feverently) and praising the Father the loudest. I had to do this last night. The evil one is not playing around. The evil one can see the annointing upon God's people (which is the glory of God being poured out onto us) and the evil one does not like this. BUT we / I have to remember to keep my focus on God, His will, His plan, His praises, His Word, His promises, His Mercy, His forgiveness, His goodness, His faithfulness, His willingness to love me, a blood bought sinner. I have begun to understand that so many people are being decieved and are held captives to false teachings and to are being led astray and far away from our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Oh help us Holy Spirit to be ever sensitive to your leading and to the voice of God. This one study I am sitting through right now says that we will be judged by the "fruits" of our labor while here on earth. The evil one is working very hard to cause crop failures. The only way the crops can be nurtured and watered is to be in the Word of God every single day and to be in continual fellowship with the Lord. Then the fruit that is being produced in our lives will be a direct reflection of the relationship that we have with the heavenly Father. It sounds so simple but it is work, to nurture our spirit person. We have to do daily "check-ups" to make sure that we are not getting sick spiritually along with feeding our spirit person with good, solid food that is the Word of God. Then it is so important to take the time to digest the spiritual food properly and let the Word get inside of us, to fill us up and make us strong. Then and only then can we be able to withstand the attacks of the evil one. We can call out to God and speak His words over any and all situations and He is more than able to come and help us. It blows my mind that when someone in the flesh attacks us and we can see BEYOND the physical attack and realize that it is the evil one stirring up strive and destruction....we know how to handle that--Pray, praise and trust God to be what His word says He is--the Almighty.
I have a situation that I am being attacked verbally by another person and so, after last night, when it happens again I can say oh, this is my opportunity to pray, both for that person and for my household. It is amazing how God can take what the devil means for evil and turn the situation into an opportunity to praise Him and call upon His name and to trust Him even more than yesterday. To God be all the glory, honor and praise, forever and ever.
In Christ,
Grandma Jane
Well, it is Sunday and it is RAINING in Kansas City. It is not snowing, it is not sleeting, it is raining. With thunder and all that good stormy stuff. If the temps fall, we will have some new snow. My computer was zapped for a second and I lost the first typing of this entry. Anyways, I have been enjoying my new looms and I have made way too many hats already. I am hoping to get a ministry started at our church called "hats for the homeless outreach" and I really would appreciate it of some prayer warriors would join me in this prayer request. The church does an outreach each Christmas eve and we give out so many hats and coats and gloves/bookbags and everything that is needed to help the homeless to be not as cold. I am thinking that I could add a lining of fleece (to match the hat's color(s) ) and that would make the hats doubly warm. I am still praying about this. Anyways, I have had one lady ask me to bring in the hats that I have already made so that maybe her son might get one. I see him every day as he walks home from his bus stop and I usually ask him "aren't you cold?" and he says no. His mom really liked the two I had with me last night--a chunky type yarn in fisherman's white medium size (it is in a regular knit pattern, nothing too fancy yet!) and the other one was a thick and lofty barley mix (browns and lighter browns) and it is combined with a caron regular dark brown yarn and that one turned out nice too. When you use more than one strand of yarn, you can treat the two yarns as one or you can do a ribbed stitch which you have three loops on the loom and you pull one loop over two loops at a time (you start with three, ended with two at the end of each round). This stitch make a very nice vertical ribbing in the hat and it makes it extremely warm. You always have at least two loops each round, just depends on how you want the hat to turn out. When you use two yarn strands and treat it like one chunky strand of yarn, you still start with two (doubled up) loops and you end up with one (doubled up) loop at the end of each round.
Anyways, I am home for a little bit today. It is a first Sunday at our church and we have 2 regular services on Saturday night (and then we clean) and we have regular services on Sunday mornings (3 sometimes 4) and then we clean and then we have Sunday night services in the evening..........and then we clean the building so it will be ready for the day school we are hosting this year. Busy busy. It is like this on 3rd Sundays too.........thank God I have the following Mondays off. Now you know why I like to make hats. I can make one and then it is done--finished. No going back and redoing anything...just done, finished. That is a good feeling.
Have a blessed week,
Grandma Jane
I have discovered that I can knit! I am so left-handed and thought that I would never learn to knit the traditional way. Which is a true statement. BUT, there are these looms called knifty knitters and I have found that I can knit, in a whole new and different way. I am so excited because they can knit up a hat in about 2 hours flat. I am still learning how to knit scarves and I would love to have a larger loom so that I can make prayer shawls and afghans too!! So excited. It is always fun to discover new and hidden talents that we have, just waiting for us. Kind of like the love of God. He has so many gifts and blessings that He wants to shower on us, He is just waiting for us to discover His love for us. Blessings to all-stay warm.
Grandma Jane
I have been thinking alot about whether I have been truly grateful and thankful for all that the Lord has provided for me and my household. I think I am doing okay, I can always improve though. I have been thinking about this one woman alot in the past few days too. She has a family, a husband and one little girl about six years old. She is young, in her mid-twenties and is so stressed out that she can't get pregnant nor stay pregnant for very long. She has been taking some very toxic drugs to "help" her get pregnant. The drug can cause cervical cancer and alot of other harmful side effects for her health, including making her womb a toxic enviroment that most little newbie babies can not survive in let alone become inplanted into. My heart goes out to her. I know the struggle of wanting a larger family and new babies and new faces and someone to take care of and all the sweetness that goes with having a larger family. This lady makes me think of a story I heard just this morning. It has to do more with attitude than our present situations that we all face.
There was this race and only three people could take home the metals that were being offered, a gold metal, a silver metal, and a bronze metal. The gold metal winner enjoyed their metal, they reach their goal and they finished first, they had the world by the tail and was not really focused on the other runners, just on themselves and on their gold metal. The silver metal winner appeared happy on the surface. They were glad to have a metal but their focus was on how they didn't quite make the cut, they were just a little too slow, did not push hard enough, did not do more to be the one who would win the gold metal--deep down they did not want the metal they earned, they wanted the metal that did not belong to them. So the silver metal winner was really unhappy and was focusing on all the wrong things. The bronze metal winner though was deeply moved. This person had worked so very hard to make it to the finals and knew in their heart that they did their very best and they were deeply grateful that they have now received a metal to take home and to admire for the rest of their lives. This person was grateful for the blessings that they have received. They took very good care of the bronze metal because they realized how close they came to not having a metal at all. This story applies to the many blessings that we receive daily from the Lord. How are we viewing God's blessings, are we paying attention? Is the focus on the right things?
So which one am I today? I pray that I am the bronze metal winner. I long for my focus to be on the right things for the right reasons at the right times, in my lifetime. I pray that every day I take just a moment to thank God for my family, my friends, my jobs, my health, my wellbeing, my stable mind, the salvation that I have in Christ Jesus.........so much to be thankful for.....sometimes, bronze is better than gold. It keeps one humble and striving to keep their focus on the good and proper things in life.
I think of this--silver and gold I have not, just my life Lord--take it and use me today. Hebrews 12.
In Christ's service,
Grandma Jane
Good morning to all. This entry came my way via a friend and it is worth sharing. May it be encouragement to those who struggle during this season and may it be a blessing to all.
In Christ service,
Grandma Jane
Trials and Pain: The Ministry of the Night
For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
weeping may endure for a night,
but joy comes in the morning.
--Psalm 30:5
But there is a limit to man's ability to live without joy. Even Christ could endure the cross only because of the joy set before Him. The strongest steel breaks if kept too long under unrelieved tension. God knows exactly how much pressure each one of us can take. He knows how long we can endure the night, so He gives the soul relief, first by welcome glimpses of the morning star and then by the fuller light that harbingers the morning.
Slowly you will discover God's love in your suffering. Your heart will begin to approve the whole thing. You will learn from yourself what all the schools in the world could not teach you-the healing action of faith without supporting pleasure. You will feel and understand the ministry of the night; its power to purify, to detach, to humble, to destroy the fear of death and, what is more important to you at the moment, the fear of life. And you will learn that sometimes pain can do what even joy cannot, such as exposing the vanity of earth's trifles and filling your heart with longing for the peace of heaven.
Taken from Tozer Book “That Incredible Christian”
__._,_.___
"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."
Luke 6:43-45 (New International Version)
This is a very clear word from God for me today. It brings me deep, heartfelt comfort to know that He has seen into my heart today and has given me a word in due season..It causes me to pause and to re-examine the thoughts that have been overwhelming my mind today and the emotional stress that these thoughts have caused me. I realize that the evil one is out to kill, steal, and destroy. I also realize that my God is the God of enormous comfort in my time of need and He will provide a way for me. Thanks be to God.
In Christ alone,
Grandma Jane
Oh my. It has been one of those days, two days in a row. It feels like the weight of the world has been placed upon my shoulders, without asking for my permission first. It has been one of those days that even with me doing my best at doing everything right, I am still not doing it right and if I have not kept up on every little detail, it is still my fault! Take for instant, my new neighbor has been driving through my backyard without my knowledge.........is it my fault that my neighbor is too lazy to ask his roommate to move their car out of the way and then back out of the driveway the correct way? And so does this justify my landlord getting mad at me for not telling him that I knew that the neighbor was driving through the backyard? Still my fault. Without knowledge, God's people perish. So, after working every day now still the day after Thanksgiving, I had to go outside and put up a baracade (I am not even sure tonight if this is how you spell baracade) so that the neighbor can no longer drive through the backyard...............but if he hits the baracade, guess what?? Still my fault!!!!!!!! I feel like a pile of cow droppings during these times!! LOL (laugh out loud)
This reminds me of several bible verses that I have called out during the day today. Pleasing man is not as important as pleasing God. Do not repay evil with evil but show good to those who would do you harm. Repay evil with good, by doing so you heap burning coals upon their head and save yours. Cast all your cares upon the Lord for HE cares for me. Jesus came to save us from our sins. Get angry for the right reasons, at the right time. Do not let your anger get into bed with you.........it will still be right there when you wake up in the morning. Be angry without sinning. Cry out to the Lord in your time of need and He will hear you and come and comfort you. Judge not lest you be judged. Think more of others than yourself. Show honor to all people at all times. Guard your tongue in times of trouble lest you open your mouth and prove that you are a fool. Make sure not to repay evil with evil. Work as unto the Lord and not man. Your treasure is in heaven, not on this earth. While you are here, you will suffer and have bad days. Take heart. God loves you. God cares for you. God wants his best for you. God knows what you need before you ask him for help. Go ahead and ask anyways, He loves to hear your voice calling out his name.................A kind word turns away many hurts. Love covers a multitude of sin. Love never fails..........All of these verses are very loosely paraphased but with one common thread--God gives us the Word to turn our focus back to His face and His grace when we are suffering or struggling. He is so good to us.
That song--"And He walks with me and He talks to me and He tells me I am his own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever know". Thank you Lord for loving me when I have one of those days that has become one of those weeks.
In Christ alone,
Grandma Jane
This came my way via my friend in Iowa and it is very timely. I don't know who the author is, but thank you for reminding me today to take care of my soul. Peace, Grandma Jane
Four Boyfriends
Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect. It means
you've decided to see beyond the imperfections.
I hope this touches you!
Once upon a time there was this girl who had four boyfriends.
She loved the 4th boyfriend the most and adored him
with rich robes and treated him to the finest of delicacies.
She gave him nothing but the best.
She also loved the 3rd boyfriend very much and was
always showing him off to neighboring kingdoms.
However, she feared that one day he would leave her
for another.
She also loved her 2nd boyfriend. He was her confidant
and was always kind, considerate and patient with her.
Whenever this girl faced a problem, she could confide in
him, and he would help her get through the difficult times.
The girls 1st boyfriend was a very loyal partner and had
made great contributions in maintaining her wealth and
kingdom.
However, she did not love the first boyfriend. Although
he loved her deeply, she hardly took notice of him.
One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was short.
She thought of her luxurious life and wondered, I now have
four boyfriends with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone.'
Thus, she asked the 4th boyfriend, I loved you the most,
endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great
care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and
keep me company?'
'No way!', replied the 4th boyfriend, and he walked away
without another word. His answer cut like a sharp knife
right into her heart.
The sad girl then asked the 3rd boyfriend, 'I loved you all
my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep
me company?'
No!', replied the 3rd boyfriend. 'Life is too good! When
you die, I'm going to marry someone else!' Her heart
sank and turned cold.
She then asked the 2nd boyfriend, 'I have always turned
to you for help and you've always been there for me.
When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?'
'I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!', replied the 2nd
boyfriend. 'At the very most, I can only walk with you to
your grave.'
His answer struck her like a bolt of lightning, and the girl
was devastated. Then a voice called out: 'I'll go with you.
I'll follow you no matter where you go.'
The girl looked up, and there was her first boyfriend. He
was very skinny as he suffered from malnutrition and
neglect. Greatly grieved, the girl said, 'I should have
taken much better care of you when I had the chance!'
In truth, you have 4 boyfriends in your lives:
Your 4th boyfriend is your body. No matter how much
time and effort you lavish in making it look good, it will
leave you when you die.
Your 3rd boyfriend is your possessions, status and
wealth. When you die, it will all go to others.
Your 2nd boyfriend is your family and friends. No matter
how much they have been there for you, the furthest they
can stay by you is up to the grave.
And your 1st boyfriend is your Soul. Often your soul is neglected in
pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world.
However, your Soul is the only thing that will follow you
where ever you go. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it
now, for it is the only part of you that will follow you to the
throne of God and continue with you throughout Eternity.
Thought for the day:
Remember, when the world pushes you to your knees,
you're in the perfect position to pray.
This is one of the few pictures that I will post. It was taken at the graduation dinner from Cleveland Chiropractic College in August 2003...Great big night for all of us! Blessings, Grandma Jane
What does this really mean? I had to think about this long and hard over the past weekend and into this new holiday season. What is meekness, who is meek and why would God say "blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth". I have deep heart concerns about situations in my life/family members and I have had to turn them over to God--casting my cares upon Him, for He cares for me; Taking up His yoke for it is easy and His burden is light; trusting not in my own understanding but in all things, trusting in God. What a HUGE pill to swallow for me at this time in my life. Meekness means simply: to wait patiently and in a state of long-suffering, with an attitude of joy and peace, in the mist of life's storms. It means to not let the little things (or big things) in life cause us to suffer beyond repair. Our God is bigger than any of the situations that could cause us harm, pain, trouble, discouragement and so on. Little bitty problems, GREAT BIG GOD!
You have to say blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth several times before it begins to sink in...........blessed are the meek, who endure trials, pain, suffering, injustice, slander, inproper treatment, mistreatment by others, hateful attitudes from the ones you love, disillusionment, disappointment, brokenheartedness, and all the other "stuff" that a sinful world throws at us, with a joyful, quiet spirit and a thankful heart, knowing that in God's timing, HE will make all things beautiful and will give an inheritance to those who withstand the trials of this lifetime and finally come into His rest. And they shall inherit the Earth............do we truly understand this part of the verse.........blessed are the meek, for they shall / will inherit the Earth. This means when it is all said and done, we will have victory over this lifetime , over the stuggles and trials. And when we go to be with the Lord, in that glorious time after all is said and done, blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the Earth. It's a promise for those who are trusting in the Lord and His Word. That's what it boils down to........................blessed are those who still trust in God and His Word and promises in the mist of this lifetime's storms, for in the end, they will receive a great reward for their endurance and trusting in God and His Word and promises.
When you say it the way it suppose to be said, Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the Earth..It is God's promise to us that He is faithful to those who call upon His name.
Is there a situation where you may not see any clear results or fruits during your lifetime? Trust in God's Word for blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the Earth. God is more than able to finish what He has started.
1 Peter 4:10-11
"Each one should use whatever gifts he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength that God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen."
These times demand somber living. We need to live a life of soberness, tempered with watchfulness and surrounded by prayer. Continuous prayer. We need to relearn the art of charitableness or learn to put charitbleness into practice daily. We need to show brotherly love and hospitality towards one another. Most importantly, we need to realize that all of our capacities and capabilities comes from God alone. God's grace is more than enough to help us be more like Jesus. When we speak the word and become vessels of truth for our Lord, God is gloried in all that we do and say.
I know first hand what it is like to serve and to serve with the strength that God has provided for me, one day at a time. My body is tired most of my work days. I work so hard some days. When I first started cleaning my church, it took me 20 plus hours to get it ready (70thousand + square feet) and now, after many weeks of doing the same thing, sometimes the same way, sometimes a new way, I can get the same amount of work done in half the time. Have I become more efficient? Maybe, but I would like or prefer to think that I have learn to lean on God for the strength and abilities to get my work done in the best way possible. That way He will always be the one getting and receiving all the glory for the work done by my hands. Does this lessen my own abilities--no, it just puts the focus and the glory in the right direction. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Well, my heart has been drawn to think and ponder on how God is choosing the people that he has called to do the work that he has ordained, in the time and place that he needs us to be at. I can only think that it is the people who are wiling to say out loud, not in my strength Lord, but yours alone.
Blessings and peace to all.
Grandma Jane
"The crucible for silver and the furance for gold, but the Lord tests the heart". Proverbs 17:3
Take the one thing that you love the most and place it on the alter of the Lord, as a living sacrifice. How often do I think about the "things" I have been asked to take and place it on the alter and to trust God for the good and proper outcome. Family, friends, children, finances, health, jobs, careers, education, fears, hopes, dreams, failures, heart's desires and heart breaking situations. My heart. This is one area of my life that I can honestly say that I have work left to do in and that I can be thankful that God continues to work on, with me. As long as I have breath in me, I believe that God is still working on me, purifying, renewing, cleaning out the trash, filling me up with His Holy Spirit and His plans for my life.
It can be challenging at times, to trust God in these testing times. Breathe in, breathe out, Trust God. That is all I can do some days. Other days, I can shout at the top of my lungs. Somedays, all I can do is weep. Just a silent, deep cry from the heart. Asking God to let the test be done already so that I can stop feeling the pain of the process and the removal of the things that I have come to love, in the flesh.
Yet, He knows what is best for me and my heart. I know that He loves me because His Word says: God so loved the world that He sent His only Son so that whosoever (that's me) believes in Him (Jesus) will not perish but have everlasting life. And God does not change and His Word remains that same, so I know that He loves me..........beyond measure. And His word says that He disciplines those whom He loves. So I can take "heart" in knowing that His Word is true and that I can trust Him to complete the good work that He has begun in me. And when He is finished with me, I will come out as gold, purified by His love and His discipline.
Is there anything that I need to lay on that alter today, surrendering all to the One who is more than able and willing to do whatever it takes to make me whole. I am absolutely sure that there are many things that I need to surrender today. Thank you Lord for helping me this day to do all things through you and with your help. Thank you for Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice.
Blessings,
Grandma Jane
I can remember it being the last day in December 2006 and going to a New Year's Eve party at my church with the single's group and now...it's October 31st! Wow. It is true. Time does go faster the older you get!! Well as far as it being October 31st and all the "scary" stuff that goes with it, I would like to take some time and remember some very important facts about October 31st.. This is a day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24). "I am the Alpha and the Omega--the beginning and the end--the First and the Last (Revelation 22:13) "In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end (Hebrews 1:10-12).
Long before the world turned October 31st into a secular, money making industry that is design to honor the dead and worship false gods/idols/evil, God was still on the Throne. And that is where He is today, and will be forevermore. And all God's people say AMEN. We must be careful not to become "sleepy" or un-educated about the secular view of October 31st. It says in the Bible that in the latter days, men will turn from God and follow all the evil that is in their hearts and many will fall away from God. Secondly, we must be very careful to know that God is a jealous God and will not take second place in our hearts, not even for an evening to go and gather some "treats" to satisfy our hunger for sugar! We need to "feed" our appetites with the word of God and learn to know that deep satisfication in our bellies that comes from filling up on the word of God. When we taste and see that the Lord is good, all the desires for the world's secular "foods" will taste bland to our palates. We rejoice in the knowledge that we know our Lord cares for us and will provide for us the food that will sustains us forever. The Living Word, the Bread of Life. Taste and see that the Lord is good.
On a more personal note for today, Today is my friend Maria's birthday. Happy Happy Birthday Maria. May the peace that passes all understanding fill your hearts, minds and soul until the coming of the Lord. Blessings,
Grandma Jane