THANKful Thursday

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Thank you once again sweet SONYA for letting us join you with our thankful hearts today.



1. I am thankful that HE is my Healing Rain. He brings mercy and joy as He washes us and soaks us in the water that flows down from Him in Heaven.

".. Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord." (Lamentations 2:19)

2. I am thankful that HE is Jesus Messiah. He became sin that knew no sin. That spotless Lamb of God took on the sins of the world - our sins - for us.

"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)

3. I am thankful that HE is Mighty to Save. He is the Author of Salvation and we have the opportunity for eternal life through the precious shed blood of Jesus, through His burial and through His conquering of the grave!

"Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (Romans 8:37)

4. I am thankful that HE is my All in All. He is everything to me. He is the only thing that I need. He is the beginning and the end.

"... but Christ is all and in all." (Colossians 3:11b)

5. I am thankful that HE is Omnipotent. Jesus knows Who we are. Jesus knows What we are and Jesus comes to Where we are. Praise You LORD!

"..Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!" (Revelation 19:6)

Praise Him for Restoration!

Is there anyone out there who doesn’t need a little restoration from time to time? I don’t know about you, but there are times that my soul just cries out to God for a good dose of it.

As I sat in the dentist office yesterday, I had a tooth that was in need of a little restoration. It wasn’t just new decay that needed removal. It was an old filling that had gotten some new decay around it. Just because that tooth had been filled previously, it didn’t prevent some further decay from creeping in.

The LORD spoke to me while I was calmly (ha!) waiting for the dentist to come in to begin the process. He showed me that we Christians are just like that tooth. Just because we have been covered in the blood of Christ, it doesn’t prevent us from getting some areas of decay or sin in our lives. We still have to guard ourselves against the wiles of the devil. We still have to guard ourselves against our own flesh. We can still let sin creep on in and take hold and begin the decaying process in our spiritual lives.

Our salvation is in no way an automatic protection against our sinful nature. We still have to take up the Cross on a daily basis. We still have to constantly be strengthening ourselves in the Word of God to help us guard our hearts from sin.

When the dentist came in, he didn’t just put a filling in that tooth on top of the decay. He had to get all that decay out before he could begin that process of restoring the tooth. He had to make sure he removed every trace of the decay so that the filling would take hold. The filling had to have a clean surface to adhere to. If any of the decay was left behind, it would just continue to spread further.

We are just like that. If we don’t fully get rid of the sin, it will just fester and continue to grow and spread until it does even more damage. God absolutely cannot begin to restore us until we are convicted of our sin and come face to face with it. He has to start with a clean surface. There has to be a cleansing before the renewal process begins. We have to acknowledge our sin and become broken by it. Once we get to that state of brokenness over our sin, we begin to seek His forgiveness. We have to totally turn that sin over to Him. We have to come to a place of repentance so we can rid ourselves of that sin once and for all.

Then and only then, can our precious Father begin to restore our souls. He continues to cleanse us. He can begin to send His rain of mercy and grace down upon us. He can wash us in the water of His Word. He will pour out forgiveness like a flood. The waterfall of His restoration will flow down upon us and over us and bring us back to full fellowship with our sweet Savior. To bring us back to full restoration in the One who satisfied His holiness with the sinless Lamb of God, taking away the sins of the world so that we could become His righteousness.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit”

(Psalm 51:10-12)

The Lordship of Christ

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I love by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Last night we had a powerful Word delivered from God through His messenger. It was about how we are so quick to accept God as our Savior and we definitely want a Savior, but how we are lax about letting Him be Lord and Master of our lives.

It really made me stop and think about the times that I have put my own self in the position of being the Lord of my life and how I basically want God to be my Lord and Master on my terms. It was really an eye opener for me. I didn’t realize how many times I was in essence taking control of my own life’s journey and not really stopping to give God the reigns that belong to Him. The reigns that He so richly deserves and desires! In fact, He expects it!

“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things and in Him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:16,17)

We were created by Him. No one else helped God with His mighty creation. He didn’t have to consult anyone about any of the details. He didn’t have to make a rough draft and get it okayed by anyone else. He didn’t require anyone’s stamp of approval. We are His workmanship alone. He is the Master Creator. He created us for Him. Nothing exists or consists without Him.

I know this and have always thought that I lived my life this way. I try to be submissive to His authority. I try to make sure that I pray about things and ask for His guidance and direction. I want to be in His will. But as I examined some of the ‘finer’details in my life, I see that I have at times rebelled against His authority. There are times that I have tried to do things on my own, that I should have taken to the feet of Jesus and submitted to His Sovereign authority. That I should have surrendered to His Lordship.

When we were on vacation earlier this month, as we were descending out of the mountains, we passed a construction vehicle parked on the side of the road that had a big sign on the back of it :

Pilot Vehicle
Follow Me
Do Not Pass

I didn’t give it much thought at the time, but last night, God brought that memory back to me. Perhaps it was God telling me even then to follow Him. Telling me not to get ahead of Him. Telling me to stay right behind Him and He would be my pilot.

I always want to be right where God intends for me to be. I am renewing my dedication to Him. I am making a more conscious effort to submit to His authority. I desire to say, without a shadow of a doubt – “He is my Lord. He is my Master. He is my King. He is my Ruler”.

I will follow. I will not pass. I will stay right behind Him and let Him lead me where He wants me to go. He is Lord of my life.

Saturday Steps of Faith - Believing God

I join my sweet friend LISA today in her pursuit of what we are believing God for in our lives.

We had the most fabulous VBS this week and had 6 children give their lives to the Lord! That, my friends, is what VBS is all about. It's about reaching out to the children who need Jesus in a BIG way. Children that won't have a chance if someone doesn't take that first step and invite them to church. Children that my husband spent 2 hours each day picking up and dropping off in the church van so that they could come and learn about their wonderful Savior. Praise His Holy Name and shout Hallelujah!! Oh, yes, God is so good. He is so faithful. He is so mighty. There's nothing my God can't do.

This coming week, we are having a parish-wide (county for you other 49 states!) Festival of Hope crusade. It is like a big revival that is non-denominational and it involves the whole parish and all the churches regardless of the name on the door.

The churches that are 'heading' it up, have divided the parish into sections and we have been going door to door and leaving tracts and other information and even praying for each house - each family. Every house in West Carroll Parish has been prayed for individually. That is 12,000 people. Our parish is about 37 miles long and 18 miles wide. Besides the main town of Oak Grove (about 3,000 people), there are 7 communities that make up this parish. We are really like one big family. We do alot of things that encompass that whole parish and we know people from all over.

I am believing God, that in the 6 nights of this crusade, that He is going to do mighty things in this parish. I pray that eyes will be opened. I pray that hearts will be humbled. I pray that people will see their need for a Savior. I pray that boundaries will be erased. I pray that bondages will be broken. I pray that we might be consumed with the love of and the love for our Precious Lord.

Oh, yes, my friends. I am believing God for MIGHTY things in the lives of this wonderful little parish that I live in.

Thank you Lord for what you are going to do in this place this coming week. Be with Scotty McDowell as he brings our message each night. Be with those of us who are playing in the orchestra and those that are singing, that we do it all for Your Glory. I praise you for the lives that will be changed and the hearts that will get right. I praise you for the wonderful opportunity you have given us to reach out and spread the gospel.

Just Because I Love Nanahood

Sweet Mercie girl

Precious Mikaela & Handsome Eli

Adorable brothers Bryton & Sawyer

Today I am just basking in the glorious blessing of being a Nana. My grandchildren bring me the greatest joy. They fill my heart with love unspeakable. They fill my life with riches unfathomable. They overwhelm me with their love for me. They bring back precious memories of my girls when they were young children.

They bring me to a place of marvelous blessings.

They delight me. They challenge me. They inspire me. They amuse me.

Thank you Lord, for the wonderful gift of grandchildren. May I always be a light for You to them. May I always be an example of Christ to them. May I always point them toward the Cross.

He is Everything to Me

When we spend much needed time with God through prayer and through the study of His Word, we are gently reminded that He is the one who is in control. We are reminded that He is good. We are reminded that He is always with us.

Our strength comes from Him. Only Him. When our circumstances don’t change – our outlook and attitude can. When the darkness threatens to take over – our eyes can see in His light. When we are in despair – He reaches down and comforts.

We can rest in the knowledge that God is our peace.

We can rest in the knowledge that God is our hope.

We can rest in the knowledge that our precious Father cares for and about us.

“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (I Peter 5:7)

There are times when life can just overwhelm me and leave me feeling anxious and down.

There are times when it seems like I am getting thrown curveball after curveball and I don’t have a catcher’s mitt in sight.

During these times I can seek comfort in the Word of God.

During these times I can crawl into the lap of my sweet Savior and let Him wrap His loving arms around me.

During these times I can cry out to God and I know that He hears my distress and He will answer me.

“In my distress I cried to the Lord, and He heard me” (Psalm 120:1)

My precious Lord gives me strength, peace, comfort, hope , rest, life, breath.

Because of Him I can put yesterday behind me.

Because of Him I can deal with today.

Because of Him I can face tomorrow.

Because of Him I can.

It All Comes Back to Jesus!!

As I was preparing for VBS this week, I spent a lot of time focusing on our theme which is “Boomerang Express” and the basic message of this whole week will be “IT ALL COMES BACK TO JESUS!”

I absolutely just love the conveyed message in that simple phrase. Indeed, everything we do, everything we say, everything that we are, should be about Jesus. No matter the circumstances. No matter the events that take place. No matter the places we go or the people we deal with. Our lives should always reflect Jesus – our lives should always point people to Him.

The most important thing that we need to remember as Christians is that the choices and decisions we make; the things that we opt to do; the words that we elect to vocalize can have a definite boomerang effect that has the propensity to be a good thing or a bad thing.

If we are not careful to guard our hearts and tame our tongues, that boomerang effect can rend a devastating blow to our Christian witness.

If we don’t choose to live Godly, Christ-like lives, that boomerang effect can deliver a costly blow to our spiritual walk.

If we don’t spend time immersed in the Word of God and strive to keep ourselves fully aligned with Him, the boomerang effect can cause havoc in our lives.

As we live out the Truth of God’s Word and as we plant the seeds of the gospel into other peoples lives, we get to see the good fruits of our labor coming back to us. We need to make sure that we are speaking the truth of His Word.

“So shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

When the boomerangs in my life come full circle back to me, I pray that they are producing good things. Holy things. Righteous things. Things that edify. Things that glorify Him. Things that point people to My Savior.

My prayer is that each day I saturate myself in His Word to the point that the overflow is filled with things of Christ. May I be nothing less than an instrument for His Glory in all that I do. In all that I say. In all that I am.

He is worthy. He is God. He is here.

Please go to the prayer link "At His Feet" and lift up those in need. I also want to thank EDIE for making me the fabulous botton for my blog !! You are the absolute best!!

Happy Birthday Ashlie & Believing God

As I seek -
I hunger.... I yearn.... I search...

As I seek -
I find... I discover.... I glean....

As I seek -
I learn... I grow... I love...

Seeking the One who created.
Seeking the One who perfected.
Seeking the One who descended and suffered.
Seeking the One who was crucified and buried.
Seeking the One who arose and ascended!
Seeking the One who will return.

Finding Him and
immersing in His goodness,
soaking in His mercy,
basking in His glory.

Finding Him and
being washed in His rain,
cleansed by His blood,
made whole by His sacrifice.

As I search, seek and find -
I am redeemed, restored, revived.
I am forgiven, found faultless, free.
I will Praise Him, glorify His name, rejoice in His presence, sing a new song unto the Lord.

I am believing God that He will come to me and show me the way.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

HAPPY 20TH BIRTHDAY MY SWEET ASHLIE!

Hard to believe that my precious baby was born 20 years ago. I will never forget the joy that filled my heart when you were born perfectly healthy after 4 months of uncertainty during a difficult pregnancy.

You have been one of the lights of my life. You have made life exciting and sometimes turbulent! You are your own person with your own definite ideas.

When you were born, you came home to 2 big sisters who loved you so much. We all babied you and catered to your every whim. You were everyones little baby. Everyones little doll. Spoiled? Perhaps.

You have grown into a beautiful young woman. Not many girls can become mothers and wives at the age of 17 with the same grace that you did. You embraced motherhood with such passion and the love you have for your little boys just makes my heart swell with pride. You are a wonderful mother and Bryton and Sawyer are blessed beyond measure.

I see you mature spiritually and really seek the Lord. I see you bringing those Truths that your daddy and I taught you into your household and teaching Bryton about Jesus. I see you blossoming into a young lady.

I see all these things, but when I look at you, I still see my baby. My little Ash-ash. My precious child. My miracle.

I love you sweetie! Have a great day! You are NOT a teenager anymore!

Love, Mama

THANKful Thursday

I am thankful to SONYA for taking the time to let us join her in lifting our thanks up to our precious Lord.


1. I am thankful that God is still on the throne. Even though our friend J.D. got a devastating diagnosis yesterday, our God is still in control. Our God is still the one who gives life. Our God is still the one who makes the final decision. Our God is still God.

"Your throne, O God, is forever and ever." (Hebrews 1:8)

2. I am thankful that God is a God of protection. On our way home from Colorado last week, the flat-bed of an 18-wheeler jack-knifed into our lane right in front of us and we should have hit the back of the truck going 65 mph. With no time to react, God took the wheel and enabled my husband to get in the grassy median with no obstacles and go around the line of traffic. Praise you Lord, for your hand of protection upon us.

"...He does great things which we cannot comprehend." (Job 37:5b)

3. I am thankful that God is a God of Salvation and that His Spirit draws us to Him. My precious granddaughter, Mikaela, experienced this June 22nd and asked the Lord to come into her heart and save her. She continues to show this fruit in her life, as the Holy Spirit is working in her little life daily. Thank you Lord for your free and marvelous gift of Salvation.

"But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 19:14)

4. I am thankful that God is a God of Truth. I praise God that I have a husband who is not afraid to speak the Truth from the pulpit. Too many times we want to hear a watered down theology when we need to hear the full strength gospel of Christ. Thank you, Lord, for a husband who seeks You, hears You and delivers a message from You.

"And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32)

5. I am thankful that God can do the impossible. We put limits on God when the truth is He knows no limits. God can do anything, anytime, anywhere, anyhow. I praise His name, that He is a God of unlimitless resources.

"Jesus, said, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)

Thank you Lord for being all things. Thank you Lord for your goodness and your mercy and your grace and your forgiveness. I need these daily and I praise you for extending these to me time and time again. You are my breath and my life and I love you.

In the Grip of Grace,
Beth

Missing my Daddy

"Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that
I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my
heart and my portion forever."
(Psalm 73:25-26)

Fifteen years ago, I woke up not knowing that in a few short hours, my life would change drastically. I didn't have any idea that I was about to experience something that I didn't think I would ever have to experience. I didn't realize that I would go through something that only the grace of God would get me through. I didn't have a clue that a piece of my heart would be forever rended from my being.

I was a daddy's girl. I loved to do all the things that my daddy did. My older sister spent most of her time in the kitchen with my mother doing the girly thing as she liked to cook and sew. Me? I liked to watch football with my daddy. (go Cowboys!). I liked to watch golf with my daddy. If he was outside, then that's where I wanted to be. Whatever he was doing, I was right there beside him.

On July 12, 1994, I talked to my daddy on the phone for the last time. It was my birthday and he and my mother had called me and sang happy birthday to me over the phone just like always. His final words to me were "I love you sweetheart". My final words to him were "I love you daddy".

July 14th, when my sweet husband came home to tell me the news, I could tell by the look on his face that something was terribly wrong. Different thoughts ran through my head very quickly, but the one that settled in my mind was my daddy. "Is it my daddy?", I asked him in a choked up voice. He couldn't even speak - all he could do was nod his head.

My next question was one that seems a little strange. I had all sorts of things playing out in my head. I had answers in my head that I wanted him to respond with. I had things picked out that he was supposed to say to make things better. The look on his face told me otherwise. "Is he dead?" was my next inquiry. You see, at this point, he was supposed to tell me that everything was OK. He was supposed to assure me that perhaps my daddy had been hurt in an accident, but he would be just fine. He was supposed to answer the way I wanted him to answer.

It wasn't to be that way. My dear husband just began to cry and nod his head. I couldn't even fathom what he was telling me. All I could do was sob uncontrollably and I kept yelling over and over. "You are NOT telling me this!", "This is NOT happening".

I wanted to go back and have a do-over. I wanted to go back to sleep and wake up again to different circumstances. I wanted the words to go back into my husbands mouth and come out differently.

My precious daddy, at age 58, had suffered a massive heart attack at home and had gone to be with Jesus. He had been on his morning walk. He had finished his daily bible reading. He had been about to walk out the door to go to work and God called his name. My precious mother tried everything she could as she called 911, but it wasn't to be. God was ready for him. At 54, she became a widow.

I was 32 years old. That was the absolute worst day of my life. I would never in a million years want to go back and experience that very hurt again. I miss my daddy as much today as I did 15 years ago. The hurt is easier to deal with, but the pain is the same.

The only thing that has gotten me through is my Savior.

I draw my strength from Him.
I cling to the promise of His Word.
I rest in the shadow of His wings.
I call unto Him in my distress and He answers me.

He is my rock and my salvation. I can rest in the promise of Salvation. I know that my daddy is waiting in heaven. I know that one day I will see his precious face again. I know that he is with the Lord.

I love you daddy and I miss you like crazy.

Don't Grieve the Lord

"And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on earth, and He was grieved in His heart" (Genesis 6:6)

When I read that verse in my quiet time, I had to go back and read it again. As I read that the Lord was SORRY that He had made man, it just pulled at my heart. God was grieved over the state of man. The Word of God is perfectly clear here. God was disappointed in His creation... big time disappointed. He actually regretted the fact that He had even created man. Wow.

If God was sorry then for creating mankind, what do you think must be going through His mind right about now. Can you just imagine what God must think when He looks down upon His creation? I think about how sad it made me when my children were little and they were disobedient. I can only think that the state of our world leaves God more than just a little saddened. Probably devastated is more like it.

He who created us in His very own image. He who created us to worship Him. He who created us to become His righteousness. He who looks down to see His children imitating Christ. Instead He sees:

Confusion
Chaos
Evil
Corruption
War
Hatred
Apathy
Idolatry
Worldliness
Selfishness

The list could go on and on which is a sad and frightening thing. We as a world have become so callous and hard that God's grace is having a difficult time penetrating through the tough exterior of our lives.

People don't want to hear about Christ. People don't want to hear the Truth. People don't think they need Jesus. People just don't care.

Truth is, God gave us everything we will ever need when He gave us Jesus. When we have a relationship with Christ, there is nothing else that matters. We don't have to worry about anything else. He will provide for our needs. He will give us strength. He will give us comfort. He will cradle us in His arms and never let us go.

Instead of looking to Him for our satisfaction and our needs, we have chosen to look to the world to fill that empty place and deep longing we have in our hearts to be filled with something.

When we fill that emptiness with things that have nothing to do with Christ, we are on the road to disappointment, loneliness, sadness, despair and total dissatisfaction.

We just need to turn our eyes and our focus to Jesus. Freely given for us to receive. Freely given for us to accept. Freely given for us to embrace. Freely given that we might have eternal life. Freely given so that all else pales in comparison. Freely given by the power of God.

He is all we need.
He is our everything.
He is God's testimony of Himself.

"For I determined no to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (I Corinthians 2:2)

Oh precious Father, I pray that we will take a look at our lives and determine to cling to those things that are of You and that we will flee from those things that are of the world. Help us to fashion ourselves in the image of Christ. Help us to be pleasing to You.

Forever Friends

Beth and Yolanda



Bill, Yolanda, Me, Melissa and Jimbo

"Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations
of the earth?
It is He who sits above the circle of the earth.."

(Isaiah 40:21,22)

It surely is He who sits above the circle of the earth. It surely is He who ordained from the very beginning that one day I would cross paths with Yolanda and find a forever friendship.

I began blogging about 7 months ago and one of the very first women that I began to correspond with was Yolanda. We immediately felt a connection between us and we began to communicate through email as well as our blogs. By March, we had already made arrangements to room together in Houston for the Scripture Memory get together and were looking forward to meeting each other as well as many other wonderful women that we have met online.

Imagine our surprise when we discovered that we would both be in Colorado during the same week and we would be passing within about 20 miles of one another. We immediately made plans to get together and yesterday we met in a little town called Silverthorne.

When we pulled up outside of Ruby Tuesday's I recognized my sweet friend immediately. When we hugged each other it was like we had known each other forever. I just felt such a deep connection with her on a personal as well as a spiritual level.

We sat with our husbands and my daughter for over 3 hours eating and visiting and having just the best time. She is blessed with a wonderful, precious husband whose love for her is so evident. My husband and Bill found much to talk about. I was having so much fun and I hated for our time together to come to an end.

When we pulled out of the parking lot I began to reflect on the past 7 months and how amazing it was that God had known about this moment even before we ever knew of one another. He knew we would come in contact with each other. He knew that we would forge a friendship. He knew that we would be in the same place at the same time. He knew that the circumstances would work out for us to be able to meet face to face.

He that sits above the circle of the earth looked down and found favor on me in the fact that He allowed me to meet a most remarkable woman. Yolanda shines with the love of Jesus. She is a godly woman with the sweetest spirit. She is full of the joy of the Lord. Her smile radiates the love of Christ. The Yolanda that you meet on "Higher Grounds", is the Yolanda that you meet in real life. She is a precious woman who is genuinely seeking the heart of God. She is a woman finding favor with God for her obedience to His Word. She is a woman desiring to continue stepping up to a Higher Ground with her precious Savior. And I am a better person for having met her.

The Lord surely blessed me with Yolanda's friendship. He is awesome and mighty and merciful and I praise Him for His goodness.

"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trust in Him!" (Psalm 34:8)

Do we Seek His Presence?

"And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD among the trees of the garden" (Genesis 3:8)

If anyone ever told us that we had at one time or another hidden ourselves from the presence of God, our first reaction would most likely be one of shock and denial. Surely we haven't ever been guilty of separating ourselves from His presence! No way!

Why on earth would we not want to be in His presence at any given chance? Certainly we wouldn't hide from Him on purpose. Would we?

Truthfully, we have all at one time or another, hidden ourselves from the very presence of our God whether we realized it at the time or not.

Have you ever been in church and started daydreaming just a bit while the pastor was preaching?

Have you ever spent too much time watching the clock rather than listening to the Word of God be preached?

Have you ever just not joined in the singing during praise and worship because you just didn't feel like singing that day?

Have you ever been in worship and when the words to the song you were singing stirred your heart to the point that you felt the urge to lift your hands high to the Lord and truly worship but you didn't because you were embarrassed?

Have you ever neglected to read your bible for one reason or another?

Have your ever been asked to accept a position of leadership in your church and declined because you didn't feel "led" or just didn't have the time?

When we have been guilty of any of these instances, we have in essence hidden ourselves from the awesome, mighty, powerful presence of God.

If we neglect to spend time in the Word of God - we are hiding from God's presence.

When we don't serve the Lord with our whole heart as well as with a willing heart, we are hiding from God's presence.

We have to be continually equipping our minds and enriching our lives with knowledge of Him.

We need to be purposefully pursuing a passionate, real, intimate relationship with Christ.

We need to be desperately seeking His Presence.

We need to be actively searching for God.

We need to be consumed with everything about Him.

We need to be hungry for the bread, thirsty for the living water, craving the very manifestation of the Presence of God.

He is breath - He is life - He is God.

Seek His presence.

Precious Father, forgive me for the times when I have neglected to truly seek your presence. Forgive me for putting other things first. Forgive me for not always being obedient to the Truth of your Word. Help me to always remember that you are the most important thing in my life. Help me to pursue you with a passion and hunger so strong that nothing else will stand in my way. I love you with all my heart. I love you with all that consumes me. I praise you for your mercy and the grace you have shown me. And I thank you for your mighty and powerful presence in my life. I am desperate for You.

God is the Mighty Creator

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1)

Last night my husband and I along with our daughter, Melissa, began our journey from Louisiana to Craig, Colorado to visit our youngest daughter, Ashlie and her family.

As we entered the mountains around Denver, I was just taken aback at the magnitude of the beauty of God's creation. Truly this was His majesty in the finest sense of the word. Everywhere I looked the beauty was just astounding. The mountains looked like paint had been spilled down the sides where the colors just all ran down in many different shades. The colors of the sky varied in many shades of blue. The clouds were whiter than I have ever seen them.

I began to think about God our Creator - 'Elohim'. The very first time the word God appears in scripture, it is the plural form of the Hebrew word 'El' and means God the Creator. The plural form emphasizes the majesty of God and the sovereignty of God. It is also a reference to the Trinity. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Our God... our Creator.. was the beginning. He took nothing and made everything. Not only did He form the world and everything in it. Not only did He create such awesome beauty that is just beyond our imaginations. He created us.

We are fashioned in the very image of God. In the very likeness of God. Just the thought that I may bear even the slightest resemblence to God takes my breath away. As I think about the beauty of all He created, I think about how much He not only loved the world but how much He loved and still loves us. It makes me more determined to live my life pleasing to Him.

Thank you Lord for showing us your creation every day. All we have to do is look around and we see the marvelous works of Your hands. You are our Creator. You are Majestic. You are God.

"I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works." (Psalm 145:5)