“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

From this we learn that God’s Word is an extremely powerful tool, affecting us personally in an incredible way. If you were stabbed deeply by a literal sword, if would kill you, would it not? The Word of God is powerful enough to kill that part of you that sins, your selfish, rebellious nature.

When we expose ourselves to the Living Word of God, it goes deep, deep into our soul, way down to our motives, that we may not even know about. What makes us do the evil things we do? The Word of God will expose that to us, if we’re willing. It will cut them out, performing spiritual surgery with a powerful, living sword! That’s what God’s Word will do for us.

Surgery is painful, and leaves wounds. But there is healing that takes place. God’s Word also brings wonderful comfort and healing, so that you are stronger and way better off for having undergone the surgery. When the cancer of sin is cut out, our minds are set free to think holy thoughts.

The power of the Word is real. When it is combined with faith, which includes your belief in God’s ability make you victorious, victory is absolutely certain. As you read this, is your faith in agreement? Do you really believe that God will do what He says? Pray earnestly that God will revitalize your faith in His power.

Like a drowning person grabbing hold of a lifeline, so must we be in grabbing hold of God’s promises. If we latch on to them, we’re safe from the evil one. He cannot get us, and drown us in our sins. Jesus lifts us up into His arms, and no one can snatch us out, if we are willing to stay there.

Staying in Jesus’ protecting care can only be done through faithful Wordkeeping. That is how you increase your faith, that is how you claim the promises. That is how you even desire to have victory over sin.

http://www.wordkeeping.com/

The Christian life is a life of victory over sin. Every day it is our privilege to be gaining fresh victories over our sinful habits. But for many Christians, defeat is ever present. They struggle and fail, and are filled with guilt and despair. What is the key to victory?

1 John 5:4 tells us, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” Faith, then, is the key. But how do we get faith? In Romans 10:17 we learn, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Faith comes to us as we hear God’s Word. That’s pretty simple. How sad it is that many haven’t put that simple equation to work in their Christian experience. Perhaps the importance of Bible study has not been emphasized. Perhaps we don’t know how to take the Words from the pages of scriptures, and apply them to our lives in such a way that glorious victory is the result. That is the reason for these 21 days to Spiritual Renewal. If we are faithful in our Wordkeeping, victory will be the result.

http://www.wordkeeping.com/

My sister who lives half a world away from me in California recently invited me to join her on a journey to Wordkeeping and what an inspiration and blessing it is.

Wordkeeping: Purposefully hiding God’s Word in our hearts by daily study, memorization and meditation.  Choosing to think about a specific Scripture instead of just letting our thoughts ramble while our hands are occupied with the daily activities of life. 

You can read all about this journey visit: http://www.wordkeeping.com/ and if you want to come along with me next time sign up and let me know.  The next journey begins 1 September 2008. 

The Valley of Vision

"Lord, High and Holy, Meek and Lowly,
Thou has brought me to the valley of vision,
       where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;
       hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox
     that the way down is the way up,
     that to be low is to be high,
     that the broken heart is the healed heart,
     that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
     that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
     that to have nothing is to possess all,
     that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
     that to give is to receive,
     that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine;

Let me find thy light in my darkness,
     thy life in my death,
     thy joy in my sorrow,
     thy grace in my sin,
     thy riches in my poverty,
     thy glory in my valley."

As we drove today I shot some photographs out the window of the car

and was reminded of the song that Steve Green sings so beautifully...

People Need The Lord.

Everyday they pass me by,

I can see it in their eyes.

Empty people filled with care,

Headed who knows where?

On they go through private pain,

Living fear to fear.

Laughter hides their silent cries,

Only Jesus hears.

People need the Lord, people need the Lord.

At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door.

People need the Lord, people need the Lord.

When will we realize, people need the Lord?

We are called to take His light

To a world where wrong seems right.

What could be too great a cost

For sharing Life with one who's lost?

Through His love our hearts can feel

All the grief they bear.

They must hear the Words of Life

Only we can share.

People need the Lord, people need the Lord

At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door.

People need the Lord, people need the Lord.

When will we realize that we must give our lives,

For people need the Lord.

How can you make a difference where you are?

I was just reading the lates issue of Vibrant Life magazine and one of their articles was so good that I just had to share some of the best thoughts with you!  I know it is long, but it is really worth taking the time to read...

What spoke to you?  Share with me...

This is the song in my heart today...

I would encourage you to read the words slowly,

let the truths sink deep down into your heart.

Jesus Saviour Pilot Me

By Edward Hopper

Jesus, Savior, pilot me
Over life’s tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll,
Hiding rock and treacherous shoal.
Chart and compass come from Thee;
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.

While th’Apostles’ fragile bark
Struggled with the billows dark,
On the stormy Galilee,
Thou didst walk upon the sea;
And when they beheld Thy form,
Safe they glided through the storm.

Though the sea be smooth and bright,
Sparkling with the stars of night,
And my ship’s path be ablaze
With the light of halcyon days,
Still I know my need of Thee;
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.

When the darkling heavens frown,
And the wrathful winds come down,
And the fierce waves, tossed on high,
Lash themselves against the sky,
Jesus, Savior, pilot me,
Over life’s tempestuous sea.

As a mother stills her child,
Thou canst hush the ocean wild;
Boisterous waves obey Thy will,
When Thou sayest to them, “Be still!”
Wondrous Sovereign of the sea,
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.

When at last I near the shore,
And the fearful breakers roar
’Twixt me and the peaceful rest,
Then, while leaning on Thy breast,
May I hear Thee say to me,
“Fear not, I will pilot thee.”

May He pilot our lives  today and may our lives  forever be inextricably bound up with His.

I delight to do Your will, O my God,
And Your law is within my heart

Ps 40:8 

Today I want to take delight, I choose to take delight  –

today I want His Word in my heart, I choose to hold it there.

What do the words “delight” and “within” say to you?

 *******

And then as I was thinking about God’s Word within me

the words of this song came to mind:

I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say

Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak

I'm finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice

I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay

I love the pictures of pouring down like rain, and of being still, staying, resting –

I desire that experience and I pray it for each one of you that stops by here.

******

Endless Gifts – Simple Things – Little Joys – On a Cold Winters Day

32.  Waking up in a cosy warm bed

33.  A day full of new opportunities

34.  His never-failing call to come walk with Him

35.  Time on my treadmill

36.  A nice steaming hot bath

37.  Eyes that can see clearly the world around me

38.  Ears that can hear my husband and children’s voices

39.  Delicious fruit smoothies

40. Time to work with my children in their homeschooling

41. The fact that the Sabbath will be here in a few hours and I will have wonderful, 

     peaceful time with God and my wonderful husband and very precious children!

As I was walking on my treadmill this morning,

these were some of the scriptures that I was meditating on and memorising:

Give heed to the voice of my cry,

My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.
My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD;
In the morning I will direct it to You,
And I will look up.

Psalm 5:2-3

Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Psalm 27:14

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

My dear husband leaves for work by just after 6am each morning and before he goes I like to make him some breakfast, so I usually wake by about 4.30am in the morning in order to have some devotional time.  This is such a quiet and peaceful time of the day and I love spending time talking to God and reading His Word.  For me I always study with journal and a pen in my hand because I figure that if I am expecting God to share something with me I want to be able to write it down so that I can remember it and go back to it again when I need encouragement – and how many times I have paged back in my journal to find something I needed.  The time always disappears far too fast...I wish I had more time to just sit at His feet, for I have so much to learn...

Every season of life is different for each one of us and each one of us

spends time with the Lord at different times of the day, in our own unique way

and we can certainly learn from one another…

I would love you to share with me about your special time with God

and what you do and what you find meaningful.

The Lord bless thee and keep thee: 

the Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 

The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

As I read these words this morning and meditated on them my mind went back

to about  13 years ago when my children were much younger. 

At about that time I had the opportunity of reading a book called "The Blessing"

by  Gary Smalley and John Trent and this book really spoke to my heart.

As a direct result of reading that book I started speaking a blessing over my children each night as I tucked them into bed and said goodnight.  It was a simplified version of the verse above.  "May the Lord bless you and keep you, may He be kind and gracious to you, may He look on you with favour and give you peace." 

For many years I daily so spoke these words over them and when I  by chance forgot they would say to me, "Mommy, say what you always say to me," and then I would remember and take delight  in speaking a blessing over them again. 

I am so thankful for the years I was able to do this for them.... Now they are 17 and 18 years old, I no longer tuck them into bed at night, but as I go to bed each night I still pray the blessing of God over them.

Have any of you ever prayed or spoken blessings over your loved ones?

Aside from verbal blessings - how do you like to bless your family?