Time with My Lord

Well, I sat down to do a study on Psalm 73 but God had other intentions for me (later on this). I sat to read what Pastor Dan gave as an overview of Psalm 73:

• Be alert to early signs of drift
• Be aware and honest of personal weakness
  
• Be persuaded that full/forever is better than partial/passing
• Be certain that sanity come in community
• Be confident that God's Grace keeps/perseveres His people

Idolatry is never removed---Just replaced!!

Well, I transferred my notes to a "new" journal. Why "new" in quotations? Because I love journals and have plenty of them!!! I went to our book shelves and picked out two commentaries to help me in my study: Wiersbe and McGee. And noticed a journal long forgotten. Before I wrote my notes from last Sunday evening I started with Joshua 1.7a "Be strong and courageous". These words helped me get through my difficult storm of losing Noah, my firstborn. That's weird to write "losing", no I did not misplace him. He was a stillbirth at 37 weeks. He had the nuchal cord around his neck twice and body once. Well back to my journal long forgotten. I started reading it and the 2nd entry was that I was going to find out what I was having a boy or girl at my next appointment (that was in Nov. of 2005). The next entry was in Jan. of 2007 where I was going to meet Rose, a counselor at Apex, for the 1st time. I told her my story about little Noah. She reminded me and pointed it out in Scripture to fix my eyes on Jesus. *Hebrews 12.2* So I read through the 12 entries that I had in this journal. Journals are great to do. It lets you know how far you have come and grown. My last entry I wrote about was thanking the Lord for the morning light and that it was peaceful. Even though I was not feeling good. That month I found out that I was pregnant and she is our 3rd child Little Seanna! Thank you Lord for my two precious gifts: Selah (2007) was born near Mother's day (her b-day actually lands on Mother's day in 2010) and Seanna (2008) was my b-day gift. Yes we both share the same day! See two gifts from the Lord.

See I have gotten away from my study of Psalm 73, but after reading my entries I just cried and cried. I know that I will see Jesus and little Noah. 

 

But for me it is good to be near God;

I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, 

that I may tell of all your works.

Psalm 73.28

Psalm 73.28

Tonight at church one of our pastor spoke on Psalm 73 and told us that we will be looking into Psalm 73 over the next few weeks. One verse stood out to me and it was verse 28 and it said,

But for me it is good to be near God;

I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,

that I may tell of all your works.

It is soooo GOOD to be NEAR GOD!!! The Creator of heaven and earth!!! He is MY refuge!! How comforting is that. It became so real when Noah went to be with the Lord while in the womb. The Lord helped me get through that difficult storm in my life. When life's storms seem to overshadow the Lord. I go back to the book of Joshua and read, (starting from verse 5)

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you (Joshua). I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous...

Just in Chapter 1 the LORD tells Joshua to "Be strong and courageous" four times!! How wonderful is that! To be strong and courageous IN THE LORD!! That's the ONLY way!!!

What God did this week!!

Wow it's already Friday!! God did put me back on track with discipling my daughter. It's hard but the rod will soften her heart (not now but later). I felt like a Jonah running away from my parent duty to her. 

Then my friend received tragic news that her niece has cancer and is 39 years old and NOT a believer!! I talked with my friend yesterday and her niece became a BELIEVER!! Praise God through whom all things flow!!

Funny thing yesterday was!! I was suppose to fill my day with seeing two friends. Oh well! God knew that I had to get my orders done and I did just that! Got them done then my friend called and I went to see her and drop off my bags in her store. Then my other friend called and I couldn't go to see her. Bummer!! Then last night I receive an email about one of my Breast Cancer rag bags. The call ended up with 2 orders! Awesome! Thanks Lord! All good and bad things are from YOU! But You get me through them all!! You are in total control!

Revelations 13.8

I'm going through the Tulip series with Jay. We watched the first part a couple of days ago. And I wanted to share this with you! I've been going over this in my head for days now. There is a question that John Piper asks "sin was planned by God". Do you agree or disagree?

I agree!! Check out Revelations 13.8 it says "and all who dwell on earth will worship it (beast), everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain." (ESV) Sure I've heard of the book of life, who really hasn't?!?! But take a closer look "the book of life of the Lamb who was slain." I've read the passage a lot of times, but NEVER realized it said "of the Lamb who was slain!!" That changes everything!! God had a plan before He created anything (world, animals, YOU and ME!!!). He predestined, He foreknew, and He planned!!! God already had a plan!!! This next thought is going to blow your mind away. It did for me. ***Sin was required for HIS GRACE!!!*** I'll let you chew on that. Thanks for reading.


Joey