Happy Birthday Charles Wesley!

Every day this year I have been looking at different hymns from the book Near To The Heart Of God by Robert J. Morgan. It has been so wonderful to have a song for each day. This book has been encouraging and very interesting to have small glimpses into the lives of hymn authors and composers. Today's meditation was Rejoice The Lord Is King

Near to the Heart of God

We're looking for a few good men and women!

A great opportunity is being offered by Jill Savage! Check it out and pass it along to your friends!
We're looking for a few good men and women!

Rightly Dividing The Word of Truth

Sometimes reading the Bible can be confusing. As I was looking at what Scripture would be talked about in Sunday School, I realized I didn't know as much as I thought! Thankfully there are resources and people in my life that can help me. Here are the Scriptures I looked at tonight and a free resource from Dr. David Jeremiah.

Matthew 7      Romans 2

James 1:22 (NKJV)

²² But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 

Glory, honor, and peace are within your reach, if you will accept the reconciliation offered you in Christ, which will bring you into at-one-ment with God; and if you will live to do your Heavenly Father’s will.
-F.B. Meyer

Free digital guidebook on Bible study techniques

Grief

Grief is ugly. I have been struggling with my sadness. I really have no words right now, but feel writing a little something is better for my soul instead of keeping it all in. I miss my brother-in-law. Christmas will be hard.

Psalm 8

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Glory of the Lord in Creation

To the Chief Musician. On the instrument of Gath.^[a] A Psalm of David.

8 O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

² Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have ordained strength,
Because of Your enemies,
That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

³ When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
⁴ What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
⁵ For You have made him a little lower than the angels,^[b]
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

⁶ You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
⁷ All sheep and oxen—
Even the beasts of the field,
⁸ The birds of the air,
And the fish of the sea
That pass through the paths of the seas.

⁹ O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth!

I love to read. I sometimes with I could work and live in a library. There are books on my shelves and piles that I really want to read. Thanks to technology I can also have tons of books waiting for me on my computer and kindle. I will never finish my "to read" list, but that's ok. I don't mind being a book hoarder. Since reading is good for you and the Christmas season can make you crazy, here is a link to some great Christmas ebooks - for free! Happy reading!

Free eBooks!!

Out Of The Deep I Cry To Thee

1. Out of the deep I cry to thee;
O Lord God, hear my crying:
Incline thy gracious ear to me,
With prayer to thee applying.
For if thou fix thy searching eye
On all sin and iniquity,
Who, Lord, can stand before thee?

2. But love and grace with thee prevail,
O God, our sins forgiving;
The holiest deeds can naught avail
Of all before thee living.
Before thee none can boast him clear;
Therefore must each thy judgment fear,
And live on thy compassion.

3. For this, my hope in God shall rest,
Naught building on my merit;
My heart confides, of him possest,
His goodness stays my spirit.
His precious word assureth me;
My solace, my sure rock is he,
Whereon my soul abideth.

4. And though I wait the livelong night
And till the morn returneth,
My heart undoubting trust his might
Nor in impatience mourneht.
Born of his Spirit, Israel
In the right way thus fareth well,
And on his God reposeth.

5. What though our sins are manifold?
Supreme his mercy reigneth;
No limit can his hand withhold,
Where evil most obtaineth.
He the good Shepherd is alone,
Who Israel will redeema dn won,
Forgiving all transgression.
-Martin Luther

Psalm 130

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and guess what? I actually went to be with the family for the feast! It was wonderful to see my family, eat a delicious meal and play Apples to Apples!

 There are so many times I stay home and miss out on events or activities because of my fibromyalgia. It can be very disappointing and lonely. Sometimes it can be hard to stay positive. Staying focused on God helps a lot with my attitude.

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 NKJV

Building 429: Jason Roy Shares the Heart Behind "Where I Belong"

One Year Book of Amish Peace - Chat Party!

As we look ahead to the closing of one year and the beginning of another, let's pause for an evening of encouragement and fun. Let's share how we can hear God's voice in the simple things -- both during this busy holiday season and throughout 2014. Grab your copy of "The One Year® Book of Amish Peace" and a warm winter drink and join +Tricia Goyer  for an author chat party on Tuesday, December 4th at 8:00 PM EST (that's 7:00 Central, 6:00 Mountain, & 5:00 Pacific)!

"Simple Things" Author Chat Party!

Hope to see you there!

Shield of Faith

 Today's Devotion:

The 7-Day Prayer Warrior Experience by Stormie Omartian 

 Day 5  Ephesians 6:16 & "Go Deeper" verse on faith Genesis 15:1

Stormie Omartian is one of my favorite authors. Her books are always such an encouragement. Here are some things I found to go along with her devotion.

 Ephesians 6:16  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

-Matthew Henry:

"Faith is all in all to us in an hour of temptation... We are to be fully persuaded of the truth of all God's promises and threatenings, such a faith being of great use against temptations... Violent temptations, by which the soul is set on fire of hell, are the darts which Satan shoots at us. Faith is the shield with which we must quench these fiery darts, wherein we should receive them, and so render them ineffectual, that they may not hit us, or at least that they may not hurt us. Observe, Faith, acted upon the word of God and applying that, acted upon the grace of Christ and improving that, quenches the darts of temptation."

Genesis 15:1 NKJV  After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."

-F.B. Meyer:

"For all of us there is need of a shield, because the world hates us; and for each God will be our compensation for every sacrifice we have made."

-John Wesley:

"The consideration of this, that God himself is, a shield to his people, to secure them from all destructive evils, a shield ready to them, and a shield round about them, should silence all perplexing fears. And thy exceeding great reward - Not only thy rewarder, but thy reward. God himself is the felicity of holy souls; He is the portion of their inheritance, and their cup."

FELIC'ITY, n. [L. felicitas, from felix, happy.]

1. Happiness, or rather great happiness; blessedness; blissfulness; appropriately, the joys of heaven.

2. Prosperity; blessing; enjoyment of good.

Heavenly Father I pray You will increase my faith and help me to be strong. Let me live joyfully everyday knowing you are the protector of my soul and reward.  

In Jesus' name, Amen. 

Psalm 40:1-3

I waited patiently for the Lord;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
² He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
³ He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the Lord.