Time

Time - a small word . It may be small but it is large in meaning and usage. Take a look -

the system of those sequential relations that any event has to any other, as past, present, or future; duration regarded as belonging to the present life as distinct from the life to come or from eternity; finite duration. (sometimes initial capital letter ) a system or method of measuring or reckoning the passage of time: mean time; apparent time; Greenwich Time. a limited period or interval, as between two successive events: a long time. a particular period considered as distinct from other periods: Youth is the best time of life.
Often, times.
a period in the history of the world, or contemporary with the life or activities of a notable person: prehistoric times; in Lincoln's time. the period or era now or previously present: a sign of the times; How times have changed! a period considered with reference to its events or prevailing conditions, tendencies, ideas, etc.: hard times; a time of war. a particular or definite point in time, as indicated by a clock: What time is it?...this is a portion; there are more as I search the dictionary.

One definition reminds me of a verse in God's Word -"An appointed, fit, due, or proper instant or period: There is a time for everything." As I turn to Ecclesiastes I find many references to "time" as Solomon searches for meaning while recounting the times of his life. In chapter 3, verse 1, he proclaims - there is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven...verse 11 tells me that HE has made everything appropriate in its time! It's comforting to know dear ones that God is in control of time.....not me....not the government.....not other people in my life.

So what time is it in your life?? Are you in charge of your "clock"? Check it out ....find a quiet place and read and digest Ecclesiastes, all 12 chapters. Let the Lord speak to your heart and then I'd love to hear how He spoke to you personally.

Til next time I'm praying that the Lord would fill you with His wisdom and joy,

Judy

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Light in the Darkness

When I awoke this morning the sun had not peeked through the darkness outside. It was still and quiet in the house. I ususally wake before the phone alarm but today it was the ringing that roused me and immediately the Lord was on my mind.


I prayed before I stretched and placed my feet on the floor. Usually I don't begin talking to the Lord until the coffee has brewed and I've had my first swallow. However, this morning I was compelled to pray.


I just couldn't get going without talking to the One who loves me ... when I'm cranky...when I'm scared.... when the darkness inside me threatens to overtake me...Almighty God..loves me...and not just this morning...but for ALL eternity. As I prayed, His light began to overtake the darkness that has been a constant companion of late.


After getting the coffe pot going I padded back upstairs to my study, opened Daily Light and began "tasting and seeing" that the Lord is good...when I read "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks"..... "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom"......"Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life" (Matt.12:34;Col. 3:16; Prov. 4:23) Yes, Lord..I hear you.


And then within a wonderful devotion by Mary Southerland, entitled "Beautiful Irritations" where she describes how a pearl is made by the grit of sand trapped within an oyster shell, I read what I now consider God's message to me -


"Looking back, I can honestly say that the greatest treasures in my life have been discovered during the darkest times of my life........At the center of every dark moment are a sliver of hope and a seed of victory. God has gone before you, and in every trial or difficult circumstance you will face, He has buried a treasure. When the tough times come, look for the pearls ."

"I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches from secret places, so that you may know that I, the Lord, the God of Israel call you by your name." Isaiah 45:3


Do you need encouragement today? Are there dark clouds threatening .... oh, dear one... lift your head...lift your hands....God will lead you into the Light!


For Him,
Judy

Seeing Jesus

A busy day in ministry and I find that Jesus is on my mind...turning to a favorite book in God's W0rd I see Him more clearly....

Jesus - my everything....

Colossians 1:15-20 (New Living Translation)
15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see--such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.
18 Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything.
19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ,
20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

Heavenly Father, thank you for this new day....."Instruction from Your lips is better for me than thousands of gold and silver pieces"...Lord your Word is forever; it is firmly fixed in heaven....How I love your teaching! It is my meditation all day long.....How sweet your Word to my taste - sweeter than honey to my mouth...your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path." (Ps 119:72, 89, 97, 103, 105, 106) You, Father lead me where you want me to go, strengthened and empowered by your Word! Amen.

May His Word lift and carry you today...it's my prayer
Judy

God's Love

"As I look in Daily Light today I read - "Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being." 1 Cor. 10:24...Ummnn?.. and then I turn my desk calendar and find this quote
"God has called us into the joyous journey of giving His love away to others." (Don Lessin)
I don't know about you but some days, I have to admit, I'd rather keep His love to myself.
Maybe the person the Lord has put in my path -
......doesn't really like me (and I know it)
......is desheveled and dirty
......is usually very difficult to communicate with
or
Maybe when I "fell out" of bed today -
......every arthritic joint in my body decided to ache - at the same time
......my mind was foggy due to inability to sleep last night
......an overcommitted schedule threatens my peace
It's at those times I need to "camp" on 1 Cor. 10:24 and this quote as well as Jesus' commands to .."love one another". It isn't about if I feel like it....nor whether I'm comfortable, nor whether I'd rather keep His love, just for me...no. 1 John 4:21 reminds me that...."And we have this command from Him: the one who loves God must also love his brother."
Let's lavish His love on those we encounter today! It's my prayer
Because Jesus lives,
Judy