Separate from his creations

He stirs up the sea with His power, and by His understanding He breaks up the storm ... these are the mere edges of His ways.
Job 26:12, 14

I have always loved and adored the seashore. Even as I child I marveled at the vastness of the ocean and remember looking out into those miles and miles of water and thinking of the old song "... He's got the whole world in his hands."     ...  marveling at how huge He must be.
Now, as an adult, I continue to marvel at the beauty of His creation. It is at the seashore in the early morning sun or late evening sunset, after most of the folks have gone off to seek adventure elsewhere that I feel most at peace.
However, I must remind myself that although He created the oceans and the beautiful sunsets, God himself is not in the sunset anymore than an artist is in his paintings. While I may see reflections of the artist's in his work. The person himself is separate from it. Likewise, I see the reflections of God's personality in a sunrise or sunset but He Himself is not in either one. He is separate from His creation. This is such and important truth! It means:
When something is hurt He can heal it.
When something is wrong He can right it.
When something is broken He can mend it.

It is so good to know that nothing can deplete or weaken the the power of God or His love for me.

Joining Charlotte forSpiritual Sundays

A path less taken

Now the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip,saying,

"Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down

from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is desert.  Acts 8:26

If you visit friends who live on the coast, they will know of a local path to the beach.  You may walk over wooden planks instead of beautiful boardwalks, and the occasional thorn may stick you, but chances are good you're at a prime beach location. It's a spot barely dotted with locals who quietly allow rows and rows of tourists to pack in from an entry point at a much farther distance.

     Crowds were packing in to hear Philip preach and see him perform miracles. He had no plans to leave Samaria. Then, just like that, God sent word to Philip that he must hit the dessert road. . . and he had no idea why.

      How many of us would have said, "But have you seen the crowds who are coming to worship? Why am I being sent to the desert alone?"

      In Philip's case, we know why. God wanted him to encounter the Ethiopian official. 

      Following Christ involves taking a less populated and often lesser-known path. Sometimes this path is not well-defined, so you find that your steps are more hopeful than sure.

       Phillip was drawing crowds, but was suddenly sent to the desert to talk to a single man. How many of us would walk away from the admiration of the masses to travel to a desolate place for one conversation?

God didn't send Philip to the desert forever - just for a moment.

     The path less taken does have its advantages.  It gives you an opportunity to view God's creation as He intended it - wild and free, not safe and manicured. Without all the noise, you hear His voice more easily.  You're not fighting crowds who have chosen an easier, more traveled route. No, this less-traveled path gives you quiet solitude, populated only by those who reside there or who have walked this same path previously.

And you learn that, if you must, you can travel this path alone. Because if you know who is leading you, you know where it leads.

     Lord, I may choose a different path to the beach today as a reminder that Your path is different from all that the world offers.  Yours is the only path to eternal life.

Source: Devotions for the Beach

Linking to Spiritual Sundays  Hosted by Charlotte  

Hope for the winter blues

This is the time of year I like the least. The holidays are over, the last presents have been opened, family has returned to their homes and the decorations have been packed safely away. I know it's coming and I try to avoid it by keeping busy, planning my flower beds and yes, dreaming of a sunny warm destination.

but then it hits, the Winter Blues!

What is it about this time of year that makes people sad and more depressed than the other months? Seasonal affective disorder is a diagnosed psychological disorder that affects many individuals during the holiday season with its colder weather, shorter days and dark mornings. Animals even act differently in the cold seasons as well. They tend to eat and sleep more as do humans. People do not like darkness but desire sunlight and their bodies need it physically and psychologically. When combined with the stress of interrupted routines overloaded with tasks and long shopping lists and limited budgets, it is no wonder that this season is known for the highest suicide rates. Human beings were made to live in the light! We are Children of the Light! Have you been getting enough “Light” to satisfy your soul? We cannot change the weather conditions of the world but we can change the spiritual condition of our soul. Maybe all we need today is a dose of the Light of God’s Love to cure those winter blues.

I Thessalonians 5:5 (NLT)

For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.

I am claiming this verse, putting the blues behind and looking forward to a new day and a new year.

May your New Year be filled with light and God's love!

Please join me at Spiritual Sundays 

Sunday Reflections

A Little Boy's Explanation of God -- Fabulous!!! -

I certainly don't think an adult could explain this more beautifully!

It was written by an 8-year-old named Danny Dutton, who lives in Chula Vista , CA . He wrote it for his third grade homework assignment, to 'explain God.' I wonder if any of us could have done as well? (and he had such an assignment, in California , and someone published it, I guess miracles do happen!)

EXPLANATION OF GOD:

'One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn't make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way he doesn't have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.'

'God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in his ears, unless he has thought of a way to turn it off.'

'God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting his time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have.'

'Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista . At least there aren't any who come to our church.'

'Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God. They finally got tired of him preaching to them and they crucified him. But he was good and kind, like his father, and he told his father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K.'

'His dad (God) appreciated everything that he had done and all his hard work on earth so he told him he didn't have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So he did. And now he helps his dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones he can take care of himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important.'

'You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time.' 

'You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God!

Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway.'

'If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared, in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids.'

'But...you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and he can take me back anytime he pleases.

And...that's why I believe in God.'


I received this in an e-mail from a friend and thought it was delightful!  I am linking this post to
Spiritual Sundays

Miracle Makeover for Charlie

I believe in miracles. The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.(Hebrews13:8)
 Now if Jesus performed miracles, healed the sick, cast out demons, etc yesterday, He will do the same today and
 forever. We need to get it into our minds that God can perform miracles for us. All we have to do is believe and act uponwhat Gods word says. When we do that, a miracle will happen in your life.

You can be a part of a miracle that is going on now.

Please go to the link below to meet little Charlie. He has brain tumors and is currently going through chemo.

Watch the excitement as people work together to give him and his siblings miracle makeovers for their rooms.

Miracle Makeover - Charlie

Please visit the following participating blogs.

http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

http://www.designgivesback.com/

http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/

http://countrywingsinphoenix.blogspot.com/


Please leave comments, comments and more comments.

 Every comment left on each of these blogs earns a dollar for Friends of Kids With Cancer

  

Sunday Reflections

Do you ever feel like you are all alone?

God's word shows that you are not alone in this world. The Lord is your father.

He is looking out for your good and always watches over you.

"As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

Psalms 103:13

"I will never leave you nor forsake you."  Hebrews 13:5

Linking to my friends at Spiritual Sunday. Join them for more of God's word.

Sunday Reflections

He will quiet you with his love.  Zephaniah 3:17

Jesus did not answer a word.   Matthew 15:23

Have you ever experienced a crushing sorrow, a bitter disappointment, or a heartbreaking blow

from an unexpected place?

It is then that we cry out to hear His voice speak to us.

But sometimes there is only silence,  not a word.

His heart must break listening to our cries Often, our impatient hearts cry out because we fail to see

through our tear blinded eyes that it is for our own sakes  that He does not answer at all or that he answers

in a way that we think is not best.

The silences of Jesus are as powerful as His words and may be a sign not of His disapproval but of his

approval and His way of providing a deeper blessing for us.

Sometimes His love is silent because His love is beyond the power of words to express it and beyond

our understanding.

Other times it is silent so that we may learn to trust Him. He will "do wonders never before done"

(Ex 34:10)

If we will learn the mystery of His silence and praise Him every time for His silence.

Linking to Spiritual Sundays

Sunday Reflections

How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 36:7


When I first saw this heart in the sand it made me smile. I couldn't help but wonder about the one who drew it. Perhaps it was drawn by a child for his mom in appreciation for a fun day at the beach . . . or
an outward expression of puppy love from a spirited, young, adolescent . . . or perhaps a couple in their autumn years grateful for yet another day together.

Love has been the subject of countless books, poems and discussions throughout the years. It's image has been used to sell everything from mouthwash to cars and yet the world often forgets the giver of endless, unconditional love.

There is no one excluded from your limitless love, Lord. That includes me! I am so grateful to find shelter in your protective love. I know life will be filled with ups and downs, but I also know that if I continue to trust in you, the "downs" will be buffered by the knowledge that I am perfectly safe and truly cared for by you.
It is so comforting to know that I am never disqualified from receiving your love. It is always accessible to me. Only my unwillingness to accept it can ever deprive me of it.
You are my God. I thank you and I love you!


I am linking this post to Spiritual Sundays  - Come join me for wonderful, uplifting posts.

Memorial Day Thanksgiving and Praise

 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.                Psalm 69:30

On this Memorial Day Week end let us remember to give thanks to God for our freedom. For the women and men that have served and paid the ultimate price for this freedom and for his protection of our nation. God Bless America!


Joining Spiritual Sundays

Sunday Reflections

My peace I give you. (John 14:27)

When I think of peace I think of the story I heard long ago. Two artists were asked to paint a picture illustrating their own idea of peace. The first for his scene choose a quiet, lonely lake nestled among mountains far, far away. The second painted a thundering waterfall. Beneath the falls grew a fragile tree, bending over the foam. On its' branches, nearly wet from the falls sat a robin on its' nest.

The first painting was simply a painting of inactivity. The second, depicted rest and peace.

I've often thought if I could paint, I would love to paint a scene like the second one to remind me of what true peace is and that Christ is the giver of this peace

Christ endured a very troubled life. Storms and turmoil and waves broke over him until he was laid in the grave. His inner life however was smooth as a sea of glass, and a great calm was always there. Anyone could have gone to him at anytime then and still today to find rest. One of his final offerings to the disciples

was "My peace" 

Peace is not some holy feeling that comes to us as we sit in church. It is a state of calm rising deeply from the heart of a believer.

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Blessing of the inlet

Hope everyone is having a great week-end! We attended the Blessing of the inlet Saturday and it was wonderful.
The Belin Memorial United Methodist Church at Murrells Inlet has been having a ceremony/festival every year for 15 years. They usually average about 10,000 residents and visitors each year.

   

The bagpipes playing Amazing Grace sent an instant hush all over the crowd. There is just something about Amazing Grace and bagpipes that touches my heart.

The American flag was hung high in a tree by the marsh and my heart swelled with pride as fellow Americans pledged to it and proudly sang the National Anthem. America has been so blessed. We,  (and I'm at the top of the list),  often take our freedoms and our blessings for granted.

The voices of Belin's praise team and choir echoing out over the waters of the inlet, the soft breeze blowing and the occasional murmur of a sweet child's voice produced a serene almost spiritual calmness.

Psalm 104: 24-25 ~

“How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number-living things both large and small.”

What a wonderful reminder that He made it all and is forever and ever in charge. If He cares this much for the sea and it's creatures how much more does He care for us?

Come join me at Spiritual Sundays and Outdoor Wednesday

Sunday Reflections

Today I wanted to share the words of Dr. Charles Stanley. I am often the queen of worry and these words gave me comfort. Hoping it gives you the comfort it gave me, Annette

God’s Amazing Promise

 

Luke 12:22-32
Anxiety is reaching epidemic proportions in our culture. As believers, however, we are commanded not to worry (v. 22). Instead, we’re to rely on a conditional promise from our heavenly Father: If we will seek His kingdom, all our needs will be provided (v. 31). This is the opposite of the world’s philosophy, which tells us to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and do what we can to meet our own needs. What a relief to rely on the sovereign King of all creation instead of our meager strength.

Consider these qualities of our King:

He keeps His word. Every promise is backed by His divine nature. According to Titus 1:2, God cannot lie. He never makes a promise that He won’t keep.

He is all-knowing. Our heavenly Father is mindful of all our needs—the ones we bring to Him in prayer as well as those of which we are unaware.

He is all-powerful. The sovereign Ruler of the universe backs His promises with almighty power. “Nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).

He cares. God’s provision for birds and flowers is proof of His even greater care for those who are made in His image. Not only is He able to meet our needs, but He also wants to provide for us.

Will you believe God, seek His kingdom, and rest in the peace that passes understanding? Or will you doubt Him and live with the anxiety of not being sure your needs will be met? The promise is given, the fulfillment is certain, and now the choice is yours.

Linking this post to Spiritual Sundays with Charlotte and Ginger

Sunday Reflections

Trust in the Lord, and do good;

so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.

Psalm 37:3

Some days it is so hard to watch the news or even read the paper.

Evil seems so prevalent in the world.

When I stop to think however

I know that evil will not prevail. God will prevail in

all things and I must keep my focus on him and what is right,

even though it seems as if doing wrong would get me ahead and doing right

will cause me grief.

I am reminded to choose to do good, and entrust my well being and security to him.

Please join Charlotte and Ginger at Spiritual Sundays for inspiration and uplifting posts.

Sunday Reflections

Can anything separate us from the love Christ has for us? How long will his love endure? Will he really love us forever?

Reflecting on a difficult week I started to wonder... did I cross the line when I lost  my patience with doctors that seemed only concerned with their time and had not listened or even read the medical reports?
Did He withdraw the love he had for me, when I felt my fears begin to rise and my faith begin to quiver?
Did he write me off as hopeless when I acted like a jerk?

I knew the answer to these questions all along. I just needed to pause and remind myself, the answer and assurance was written before I even asked the questions.Why would he love me enough to send his son to die for me only to take back that love when I came up short? His word tells me that Nothing!!! will separate me from his love.

Thank you Jesus for loving me in spite off all my short comings.

I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor ruling spirits, nothing now nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us, nothing below us, nor anything else in the whole world will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Rom. 8:38-39


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Sunday Reflections

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.  I will advise you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8


I am so thankful for this promise. It is wonderful to know that I don't have to depend on my own understanding and judgement. He is always there to guide and direct even when in my finite little brain I forget.






Linking this post to http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/  Please visit to read lots of encouraging posts or to link one.

Sunday Reflections

Happy Valentines Day!

This is the time of the year that love is in the air. While I know Valentines Day is a driven by retailers to boost sales I like that it draws attention to something that is a universal need... love.

We all need to feel needed, wanted and loved.  I like the bright reds and festive spirit it brings. It to me is a signal that the dull, gray winter is behind us and spring and new life is ahead.

Great is your love, higher than the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,

and let your glory be over all the earth.

Psalm 108:4-5

It is wonderful to know that God is the creator of love. His love is unconditional and it is freely given to anyone that is willing to accept it.  It is not based on status, possessions, accomplishments or any of the things we put high stock in here on earth. It is so comforting to know that nothing I do will make him love me more and... nothing I do will make him love me less.

If you special Valentine is no longer with you or is far far away know that you are loved and that our omnipresent God is with you always!

Join me at Spiritual Sundays with Charlotte and Ginger for blessings and uplifting posts.

Sunday Reflections

He gives snow like wool;

he scatters frost like ashes.

He hurls down hail like crumbs-

who can stand before his cold?

He sends out his word, and melts them;

he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow.

Psalm 147:16-18

I'm ready for springtime. I want to see growth and greenery, days getting longer, and breezes bringing warmth. Spring brings newness, and winter has me feeling old.  But the psalmist reminds me that God is the author of both.  With his creative power, he can freeze a stream and melt it.  He can send a gale-force wind, and can knit together a snowflake.
  

Lord, I stand in wonder, awed by your amazing strength and I ask you to work your wonders in me.  Melt my frozen streams of thought and blow powerfully through all that I do and say, Amen

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Photo credit  Flickr

Sunday Reflections

The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.

Psalm 145:14  

 O Lord Thou knowest how busy I must be this day: if I forget thee, do not thou forget me.

                                                                                                                  Sir Jacob Astley                                                        

This prayer above was uttered by a soldier before a battle in the English Civil War.  Some of our days can be like a series of little wars on many fronts. It is so easy to be consumed by them,

by the energy and attention they require.

If we forget God in the heat of battle,  he does not forget us. And when we remember

him and our need for him, he is just as near as he was the last time we were

fully aware of his presence.


Link to Spiritual Sundays with Charlotte and Ginger for uplifting posts.

Sunday Reflections

Flickr-hlkljgk's photos

Depart from evil and do good;seek peace, and pursue it.

Psalm 34:14

Help me dear Lord, to seek peace.  That might mean I have to back down from an argument. It might mean I don't get my way.  It might mean I don't get in the last word.  It might mean I don't have to be right all of the time.  I don't have to win.  Help me to put aside my selfish goals and to consider the needs of others. 

Give me a sense of what You want in every situation.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Matthew 5:9

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Sunday Reflections

I will lie down and sleep in peace;

for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.

Psalm 4:8

Now I lay me down to sleep.

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

Peace and safety 'til I wake,

This I pray for Jesus' sake. Amen.

This childhood prayer calls me back to a childlike faith that can set aside the events of the day and embrace a restful night of sleep. Tonight when I lie down to sleep I will remind myself to leave my cares with God and to welcome the peace and safety he offers both day and night.

If I carry my cares and worries with me and never lay them down, even to sleep, I will become less and less able to meet the challenges they represent. Worry is a form of self-destruction, while faith is a means of daily renewal.

This post is linked with Spiritual Sundays