Do you remember this scence from Petter Pan where Wendy was sewing Peter to his Shadow?

This is exactly how I think of my connections with God have grown. I still tug and pull when I want to go my own way, but when things are going reaaaaaallllyyy good, it is usually when God and I are acting in tandem, almost as if we were "sewn" together. I can feel as He moves one way, and I respond right along with him(ok you might actually ask how do I really know this is happening?....I will tell you....when I get confirmation. Sometimes I may tell someone that I think God is telling me they should do such and such, and then later when it actually happens I know it's God, and certainly not me!). Another picture might be a tandem bike, I can't see the road ahead, but I keep pedaling and trusting.

Trust. Trust. Trust.

9/13/15

Urim and Thummim...we still have them!

August 9, 2015
The urim and thummim are still with us....in the Old Testament I was reminded of their use when David was running from Saul. David would constantly seek the will of God by the use of these two stones. Today we still have them, they are on our hearts. When we truly turn the decisions over to God in our hearts and ask for leadership, he will give you the "yes/no" response.
Peace for the day...

little by little

God cares so much for us....that He doesn't give everything to us all at once. He gives it to us little by little.
  "The LORD your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you." Deut 7:22(NIV)

What Blessed Living looks like

Deuteronomy 7:13-15New International Version (NIV)

13 He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land—your grain, new wine and olive oil—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you. 14 You will be blessed more than any other people; none of your men or women will be childless, nor will any of your livestock be without young.15 The Lord will keep you free from every disease. He will not inflict on you the horrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but he will inflict them on all who hate you.

This is the picture of blessing. If you love and serve God, this is what will happen....He will increase your children, your work, your food quality, and free from disease.

It leads me to wonder about what is happening with us today, although still blessed by God....none of us seem to be living in this blessed state. This would be the ideal picture of a peaceful, non stressed out life, maybe we need to go back to the ordinances God set in place for us...

Joseph and the Midas touch

Blessings Blessings Blessings

3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lordgave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. 5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.6 So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; Genesis 39:3-6

Do you know people that everything they do seems to turn to gold? Usually we will say that this person is very astute, knows what they are doing, "right place at the right time", etc. Instead of attributing all their success to "luck" ....I am wondering if the reason this person has the "golden touch" is because God is with them.

My husband and I were out to lunch one day and discussing a financial matter of IRA's, (anything finanacial is certainly not our area of expertise). When seemingly out of the sky drops a guys' business card......that parachuting card took us on a journey of financial management with a man, who lives close to God, and is wildly successful. So, by attaching to his coat tails we have also done very well.I want to start to look at sucessful people around me, not just financial success, but also other types of success......I am wondering if they may be a little closer to God??????? In my journey toward God, I want to get closer and closer to him and I may discover more of him by surrounding myself with successful people that attribute their success to him. I think Joseph was like that.

 Do you know anyone like that?

Leah rejected by all but loved by God

Leah....despised and rejected.....from whom salvation comes

There are times when I run acorss something so aptly put, that it fits into where I am at and  I don't want to lose it. This is one of those situations. This article moved me to tears, it wan't about the patriachs, or the lovely women, or favored sons....it was about the woman no one wanted....the lowly one. Her father pushed her out, her new husband didn't want her, her sister was probably angry with her, but .........God loved her. He understood her pain and cared for her.     This is the really crazy part for me, I just always assumed that Jesus came from Jacob and Rachel, and thereby Joseph.....even though I knew He was from the tribe of Judah........he didn't. He came from the unloved and unwanted. The one in pain. It is a continual theme in the Bible woven throughout the stories of Jesus.                  It makes me love God more.

http://www.todayschristianwoman.com/articles/2006/march/leah.html?start=2

Being vigilant about vultures

…10Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds. 11The birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away. 12Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him.…

As I was reading I was thinking to myself...."I wonder why this snippet of driving vultures away is in the Bible, because it just really didn't seem important". But, as I began to think about I did pull a couple thoughts away from it......First, after Abraham laid out the sacrifice (according to God's exact specifications) he could have left....all was done, but he didn't. I thought that was interesting....he waited on God. In fact he stayed the night there waiting. Even when we think our work is done.....God needs to give us His benediction. Next, it points us to Christ's sacrifice, as do all OT sacrifices, His blood was shed, and we need to defend His sacrifice from any vultures. They can come in any form....maybe in ways we don't expect, but if you are watchful the vultures will come. So, be vigilant and wary and don't allow anyone or anything to spoil the sacrifice of Christ, or your gifts to God.

So, my takeaways are this: 1. Wait in peace on God and 2. Defend your faith.