Grace and Mercy!

Christmas!

This Christmas is not all about presents......it is about survival! And Who better to turn to than Jesus! There will be no focus on presents this year but I am focusing on His presence. I was trying very hard to come up with homemade gifts, but with working there leaves little time for making things. I am making some small gifts from the heart. We have not had a lean Christmas like this before and I am enjoying it. I am not rushed, and frazzled by all the busyness of this time of year. Our decorations are simple this year, mostly different nativities placed around the house. Yes, we do have a tree and I think we could have done without. But, my son likes to go into the woods and cut one down. I am so thankful for a God Who truly loves us! He is changing our hearts and making them clean, right , perservering and steadfast! What gifts from the King!

An Anchor for our soul!

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.
3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return
to the people of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now He shall be great
to the ends of the earth.
5 And he shall be their peace." Micah 5:2-5a

Heb. 6:18-20

so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.  We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a hight priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Thank you Father, that You have a plan for our lives.  That we have an anchor for our souls.  We can go through tough times knowing that You have it all under control.   Our refuge and our strength come from You!  You are a God, Who does not lie and we can run to You for refuge and have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.  Jesus, You endured the cross for the hope set before You!  You did this for us, even though we did not deserve it or even acknowledge You!  What a great love!

Peace and Joy in Believing

You, God of my hope, fill me with all joy and peace in believing, that I may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  That my life and my sharing  are not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit of power.  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight Oh Lord my rock and my redeemer.  That my faith should rest not on the wisdom of men but on the power of You, God.  Help my work to be of faith, a labor of love, being steadfast in hope.  That I would only boast in You, Jesus and what You are accomplishing in me, by the power of the Holy Spirit.  It is through You, Holy Spirit that lives are changed.  

Rom. 15:13 & 17-19
Rom 14:17
I Cor. 2:4-5
I Thess. 1:3
Psalm 10:14

Mustard Seed Prayers-Steadfast Love

We have a God Who is faithful!  He loves us with a steadfast love!  Run to Him, hide in Him.  He hears your cries!  Stand firm in Him!  Trust Him!
Praying with you!

Cause me to hear Your steadfast love in the morning, for on You do I lean and in You do I trust.  Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my inner self to You.  Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; I flee to You to hide me.
Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God.  Let your good Spirit lead me into a level country and into a land of uprightness.  Save my life, O Lord, for Your name's sake;  in Your righteousness, bring my life out of trouble and free me from distress.  In Your mercy and lovingkindness, cut off my enemies and destroy all those who afflict my inner self, for I am Your servant.
Psalm 143: 8-12  Amplified

Women Living Well-book release and book give away!

The winner is:
domdandevdil  congratulations!


This is it! This week the book Women Living Well releases!  

Courtney Joseph is releasing her new book!  She is an encouragement to women to walk with the King!  I highly recommend her book!

Leave a comment below with your name and email for a free book giveaway.

Video for women living well conference

http://womenlivingwell.tv

Check out this first video, it will only be up for the next 24 hours.

Women living well webcast

Mustard Seed Prayer-Spiritual Warfare

Living in this world and going through trials is tough!  But, I believe that God gives us His Word to fight the battles. Our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities and powers of the evil one.   His Word is alive, active and powerful to sustain us.  Stand firm, beloved!  Praying with you!

Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men;  Preserve me from violent men, who devise evil things in their hearts; they continually stir up wars.  They sharpen their tongues as a serpent;  poison of a viper is under their lips [Selah]

Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have purposed to trip up my feet.  The proud have hidden a trap for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set snares for me. [Selah]

I say to You, my Lord, Thou are my God; give ear, O Lord, to the voice of my supplications.  O God my Lord, the strength of my salvation, Thou has covered my head in the day of battle.  Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; do not promote his evil device, lest they be exalted.  [Selah]

As for the head of those who surround me, may the mischief of their lips cover them.  May burning coals fall upon them; may they be cast into the fire, into deep pits from which they cannot rise.  May a slanderer not be established in the earth; may evil hunt the violent man speedily.  I know You, Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the poor.  Surely the righteous will give thanks to Thy name; the upright will dwell in Your presence.
Psalm 140

Our pastors, elders and deacons of our church need to be bathed in prayer.  They have a great responsibility before God to exhort and encourage us in His word.  They are people just like us, have struggles just like us, let's uphold them in prayer together.  Praying with you!

Father, help  ________________ shepherd Your flock, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to Your will God and not for sordid gain, proving to be examples to the flock.
That they would be above reproach, not self-willed, not quick tempered, not addicted to wine, and not quarrelsome.  That they would be hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout (earnest, sincere), self-controlled, holding fast to Your Word, Lord.  
I Peter 5:2-3
I Timothy 3:2-4

Women living well video

Check out this video from women living well about Courtney Joseph's new book.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzQPiAT4tRU

Mustard Seed Prayers-True Love

We can love like Jesus!  He loves us so much that He gave His very life for us, even while we were yet sinners.  Let's love others like He loves us.  

Praying with you!

Lord,  let my love be long suffering and kind to others even when they don't deserve it.  Help me not to be envious of what others have or are doing, not to compare my self with them.  That I would not boast in myself and not be proud of what I am doing.  That I would boast in You and You only.  Help me not to be rude and act unbecomingly.  That I would not be self-seeking, not insisting on my own rights and having my own way.   Help me not to be easily angered and not to keep a record of the wrongs done to me.  That I would not delight in evil but that I would rejoice with the truth.  That my love would always protect,  always trust, always hope and always persevere, because Your love never fails!

I Cor. 13. 4-8   

Mustard Seed Prayer-Rest

Are you seeking rest from your circumstances?  Do you just want a place to go and be quiet?  Do you think if I could just have some rest?  I was always wanting to get away from it all and get some rest....I thought I had to go somewhere, until God showed me that I did not have to do that at all.
My rest is totally in Him no matter what is going on around me.
Praying with you!

My soul finds rest in You, God alone.  My hope is in You.  You are my rock, solid and secure, my salvation, my fortress, my stronghold,  I will not be shaken.  My salvation and my honor depend on You.  You are my mighty rock and my refuge, in the midst of all the chaos.  I can trust in You at all times, no matter what is going on and I can pour out my heart to You.  Your are my refuge at all times.
Ps. 66:5-8

Mustard Seed Prayers-Anxiety

Be anxious for nothing!  Easier said than done.  Do you worry about something and it is constantly on your mind?  It does not have to be!  Our hearts and minds can be peaceful and guarded!  Praying with you!

Father,  I am so thankful for who You are!  You are the great I AM!  Thank You Lord that you are near to me, You will never leave me nor forsake me, so that I do not have to be anxious about anything and I know that means anything that is nagging at me or trying to control me or seems hopeless to me.  I can bring all my requests, hurts, fears, and frustrations before You.  ____________________  I give You thanks for these ____________ that I am going through, because I know that You are a God who hears and answers!  You are a God who will give me peace, which no one can understand and You will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus.  I do not have to walk around in constant worry and what am I going to do, because You know the way in which I walk.  As my mind is stayed on You, You will keep me in perfect peace, because I trust in You!  Amen
Phil. 4:4-8
Is. 26:3
Deut. 31:6

Mustard Seed Prayers-Trials

Trials!  We all have them.  What to do with them, is not always easy to see when you are going through them.  We can have joy and peace through our trials, with God's wisdom!
Praying with you!

Father,  help me to consider it all joy, going through this_____________.
Help me to remember that the testing of my faith will produce endurance.  That I may be able to endure without giving up, because endurance has a perfect result, that I may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  Thank you Father, that You will give me the wisdom that I need through this____________.  You are a God who gives generously and without reproach or disappointment.  Father, help my faith to be strong and without doubting , help my unbelief, for I do not want to be like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.  Help me not to be double-minded or unstable in my thinking with thoughts of fears and doubts.  That I would remember to fix my eyes on You Jesus!  Help me to be strong in my faith in You and stand firm!
Do you not know, have you not heard?  The Lord, the everlasting God, creator of the ends of the earth, does not grow tired or weary.  His understanding is unfathomable!  He gives strength to the weary and to him who lacks might, He increases power.
James 1:2-8
Heb. 12:2
Is. 40:28-29

Pasta Recipe!

This is my new favorite recipe!  It is so easy and delicious!  Enjoy!


Pasta, Tomatoes, Veggie Broth, Olive Oil, and Seasonings (details below)

Throw it all in the pot, INCLUDING the uncooked Pasta, and cook! - Bring it to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. The starch leaches out of the pasta and makes a rich, warm sauce for the noodles. The other ingredients cook right along with the pasta
Ingredients

12 ounces pasta (I used Linguine)
1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes with liquid ( I used zesty red pepper flavor)
1 large sweet onion, cut in julienne strips
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
2 large sprigs basil, chopped
4 1/2 cups vegetable broth (regular broth and NOT low sodium)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Parmesan cheese for garnish

Directions

Place pasta, tomatoes, onion, garlic, basil, in a large stock pot. Pour in vegetable broth. Sprinkle on top the pepper flakes and oregano. Drizzle top with oil.

Cover pot and bring to a boil. Reduce to a low simmer and keep covered and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes or so. Cook until almost all liquid has evaporated – I left about an inch of liquid in the bottom of the pot – but you can reduce as desired .

Season to taste with salt and pepper , stirring pasta several times to distribute the liquid in the bottom of the pot. Serve garnished with Parmesan cheese.

Mustard Seed Prayer-Christian Living

Life is tough!  As a christian we need to be constant in our thinking and attitudes.  I believe in praying daily for our actions and what others see in us.  Praying with you!

Thank You Father that we have been chosen by You.  We are holy and beloved! Let our hearts be filled with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  That we would bear with one another and any complaints we have against another that You would flood our hearts with forgiveness towards one another as You Christ forgive us so we should forgive.   Fill us with Your love which is the perfect bond of unity. Let Your peace Christ rule in our hearts, as we are all in one body and to be thankful.  Let Your word richly dwell within us with all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in our hearts to You, God.  Whatever we are doing in word or deed to do all in Your name Jesus, giving thanks through You to God the Father.
Col. 3:12-17

Mustard Seed Prayers-for the unsaved

Is your spouse, children or extended family not saved?    Keeping them before the Lord is the best place for your heart to be.  Leave your worries with Him and love them like He loves us.   When you tend to worry about them,  lift them up in prayer before the One who knows.
 Ask, seek, knock!  Ask Him for their salvation,  seek ways to love on them and keep knocking at God's door for them.  He loves them more than you do.
Praying with you!

Father, open ______ eyes so that they may turn from the dominion of satan to You, God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in You.  Lord,  You are not slow
about Your promise, as some count slowness, but You are patient toward them, now wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.  Lord, grant them a sorrow of repentance that leads to salvation,  because it is Your kindness that leads to repentance.
Acts. 26:18  Rom.2:4b  II Peter 3:9
Lord, as Your bond servant help me not to be quarrelsome, kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition to You, if perhaps You, may grant ________ repentance leading to the knowledge of  Your truth and that _______ may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
IITim. 2; 24-26

Mustard Seed Prayer-Marriage

When a man and a woman get married the two become one flesh....such a mystery to me.  Praying for us as husband and wife strengthens our relationship.
It keeps us focused on Him and not on ourselves or our spouse.  It is bringing our thoughts captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ.
Praying with you!

Father,  that _____ and I would be of one mind, united in spirit, sympathizing with one another,  loving each other, compassionate and courteous, tenderhearted toward one another and humble minded.  Help us never to return evil for evil or insult for insult.  Help me to be praying for our welfare, happiness and protection.  That in our hearts we set Christ apart as Holy.  May you the God of endurance and encouragement grant ______ and I to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together we may with one voice glorify You the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  That we welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us for the glory of God.
I Peter 3:8-9 & 15
Romans 15: 5-7

Opting out!

Do you sometimes opt out of a situation?  You just don't want to be a part of something and don't want to think about it?  You just want to veg?  You just don't want to deal with it?  Is there so much noise around you that you cannot think?

It is easy to opt out these days.  There is so much social networking and noise that can block it all out.
Facebook, pinterest, internet games, tv, you fill in the blank ________________.  You get on line just to see who is on facebook and that leads to other sites and first thing you know, you have been on there for 1+ hours and have not really done anything.  We even have smartphones that tell us when we have new e-mails, facebook notifications etc........  Oh and those mindless games that we can all get caught up in.  I find that it is particularly easy to do when dealing with lots of hard times in ones life.  In reality, we are only filling our minds with junk!  Does it bring us peace, no!  Now, I am not saying that all those things are bad, but, they are if you want to opt out.  

I have been going through a series of hard trials and I have to say that I have been caught up in those non-stimulating things.  I come away feeling more empty and wondering why I am so tired and not productive.  I have wasted so much time........

I don't think that getting on the internet is always a bad thing, or watching a good movie etc.  We just do not need to be consumed by it.  So how do we stop from letting mindless things consume us?
~ we don't have to check several times a day who and what is happening on facebook, twitter, etc.
~ we don't have to play that game several times a day.
~ we don't have to check our e-mail constantly
~  walk away from your phone, and shut off your notifications....you will hear it when it rings.

What did we do when we did not have all this multi-media?  
And, to think we survived just fine without it.
I have been known lately to forget my phone when I go out shopping.  I just don't want to be tied down to it anymore.  I have lived through emergencies just fine when I did not have a cell phone.
I am thankful for my cell phone and computer......I like to keep in touch with my family and friends and it helps out a lot when it is needed. It has a time and a purpose.  
I just don't want it to consume me!

So, I start each day with Him in His word eagerly seeking a fresh word from Him for the day.  (I have never been disappointed).  

So now when I want to opt out of something I run to my scripture memory spiral and meditate and memorize on God's Word to help me see clearly His will.  It brings peace and great joy as I walk with Him.  I am constantly memorizing and meditating on His Word to see me through the hard times.  It brings refreshment to my soul.  And just when I need healing or a word from Him, the Holy Spirit reminds me of a verse that is just the right fit at that time.

And yes, I do use my phone for my memory verses....it is great to have when I am sitting somewhere waiting for an appointment, etc.

Mustard Seed Prayers-Husbands

Our beloved husbands, the spiritual leaders, and providers of our families have much to deal with being out in the work force.  They are under constant stress, frustrations and temptations.  Mostly, they work in non-christian environments being pulled in all kinds of directions.  They are trying hard to provide for their families.  Some may not even know the Lord.  Let's pray together.

Help me Lord not to cease to pray for ______ and to ask that _______ would be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of You, Lord to please You in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of You, God, strengthened with all power, according to Your glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to You Father, who has qualified ______ to share in the inheritance of the saints in light
Col. 1:9-12

That You the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that You may give to ______ a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of You.  I pray that the eyes of ______ heart may be enlightened so that ______ may know what is the hope of Your calling, what are the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of Your power toward us who believe.  Eph. 1:17-19

Strengthen ____ to be obedient to those who are his employers, according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of his heart, as to You Christ, not by way of eye service, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing Your will God from the heart.  Encourage him with good will to render service to You Lord, and not to men.  Eph. 6:5-7

Mustard Seed Prayers-Marriage

Marriage is to be held in high honor. When we married, two became one flesh. What God has joined together, let not man separate. It takes a lot of selflessness and sometimes hard work to keep it all together. Let’s pray together using His Word as our guide.

Father, as _________’s wife, I ask You to help me to be submissive to him so that even if he is not obeying Your Word, he may be won over not by my discussion but by the way that I live.  It is not through my constant talking about an issue that wins him over. Lord, it is by the way that I live through You. It is not my outward appearance that draws him, but it is the inward beauty of the hidden person of the heart, a gentle and peaceful spirit, which is precious in Your sight. I do not have to be anxious and fretful about situations that arise in our marriage, but I can be still and peaceful about it because You are God. When things bother me about our relationship, let me run to You to work through it first, to bring my thoughts captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ.

Help me to adore, praise, honor, appreciate, deeply love and enjoy him. May it be that I would look for ways to praise him, that I would be quick to let him know how much I appreciate him, and that I would take time each day to show him. Show me how to do that in the busyness of our lives. Now may You, the God of hope, fill me with all joy and peace in believing, so that I will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
(1 Peter 3:1-6 Amplified; Romans 15:13)

Mercies new every morning

Lamentations 3
This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord's mercies never cease, for His compassions never fail, they are new every morning, great is His faithfulness.  The Lord is my portion says my soul,  therefore I have hope in Him.  the Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him.  It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the Lord.  For the Lord will not reject forever for if He causes grief then He will have compassion according to His abundant lovingkindness.  Let us examine and probe our ways and let us return to the Lord, we lift up our hear and hands toward God in heaven.

I have often quoted the familiar verse of The Lord's mercies never fail, they are new every morning and great is Your faithfulness, O Lord.  I decided to go and read the whole chapter  where that verse is.  I was shocked at what I read.  So much affliction, pain and suffering.

~affliction- state of pain, distress or grief- the cause of continued pain of body, mind as sickness, losses, calamity, adversity, persecution- taken from the [1828 edition of Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language]   

Do you ever feel like everything around you is hard....everywhere you turn there is pain, grief distress?  Reading chapter 3 is full of it.  Jeremiah is talking about Israel's afflictions.  Some are from our own selves, from others, from the evil one.  We will have affliction in our lives.  I have great hope after reading this chapter.  Starting in verse 21, he recalls to mind and has hope.  No matter how hard life is right now, we can have hope too!

Ps. 34:19  Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

II Tim 3:11 persecutions and sufferings such as happened to me at Antioch, Iconium and Lystra what persectuions I endured and out of them all the Lord rescued me!

These are just a couple of scriptures that give us hope.  There are many more.  

I would love to hear from you,what  scripture verses  give you hope, so that we can encourage and build up one another.    

Two little boys

Right now in our lives, we have been given the privilege to take care of two little boys.  They were pulled from their home and they were scared, fearful and wanting control of something in their young lives.  Even, though we knew them well, before they came to us,  it was scary to them to be taken out of what was comfortable to them.  
At first, we had to reassure them that we were not going to leave them.  It was not easy for them to adjust to our life style.  And it was not easy for us as well,  we are almost empty nesters and nearing retirement age.  Where would we get the energy to keep up with these two active ones?  Where would we get the wisdom to raise them and meet their fears and teach them?  
We are learning much through these two little guys!  As we teach them about Jesus and His love for them, we are learning and leaning much on Jesus to guide and lead us.  
For me,  it has shown me how much He loves me and puts up with so much of my selfishness and rebellion.  He is so patient with me!  He is so faithful!  As I see how much He loves me, I in turn can love these little ones with a love that I do not possess on my own, but only through the love that Jesus has for me.  
We have a quiet time with them every morning and they look forward to it.  We pray with them.   We are encouraged to see God working in their young lives.  One has shed the security of his favorite pet pillow (that went everywhere with him)!....that brought great encouragement to me.  
I am not sure of how long they will be with us...but we are using every opportunity to teach them about Jesus.  
This is not what we would have chosen at this time in our lives, but God!  I just love but God, just when we  think we have it all figured out, He changes things and it is definately for our good.  Trust Him!  He is faithful!

Life's trials

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.  For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.  James 1:2-8

Right now I am in various trials.....a business taken away from us.....elderly aging parents.....taking care of 2 children ages 4 and 7 living with us, taken from a relative's home.....older siblings not getting along.

I truly did not expect to be taking care of small children at this stage of our lives. My children except for our 18 year old are all out of the home and on their own.  We have raised 6 sons and these two are boys.  At first it was not easy as they came to us, unruly, without discipline and used to doing what they want when they want.  The 4 year old throwing tantrums!  I had never dealt with that before.  Yikes!  I thought how can I possibly handle all that is going on.  We did not expect to lose our business and we did know that we would have to help my in-laws, but, they are stubborn and don't really want our help, but, on the other hand they do.

The Lord brought me to this passage and I have come to understand that there is joy in the trials because we do not have to do it on our own.  He gives us the wisdom to handle it.  We just have to ask Him in faith and believe!  I had not seen that before, I had always stopped at the trial part and not considered asking for wisdom through it.    I knew about asking for wisdom and believe me I have asked. Also, it was so clear to me, that the trials bring results that perfect us.   I was really struggling a week ago, thinking I was losing my faith.......I humbled myself and cried out to God.  He answered and showed me how I had a faint heart.  (faint-hearted,  cowardly, easily depressed, yielding to fear)
That was me for sure!

God gave me this verse for my faint heart.
From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength against the enemy  Psalm 61: 2-3

I was resentful about having two small children to raise, and not sure of how long they were going to be with us.  Well, I have fell in love with them.....they are so precious to me and I am thankful that God allowed them to come into our household.    

Are you going through a trial(s) .  Be encouraged girlfriend!  We have a God who hears and wants to help us through it.  He is FAITHFUL!