November 19, 2024

Make My Life a Prayer To You

January 6, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

 Make my life a prayer to You I want to do what You want me to
No empty words and no white lies, no token prayers, no compromise

I want to shine the light You gave through Your son You sent to save us
From ourselves and our despair, it comforts me to know You’re really there

Well I want to thank You now for being patient with me
Oh it’s so hard to see when my eyes are on me
I guess I’ll have to trust and just believe what You say
Oh you’re coming again…coming to take me away

I want to die and let You give Your life to me so I might live
And share the hope You gave to me, the love that set me free

I want to tell the world out there You’re not some fable or fairy tale
That I’ve made up inside my head You’re God the Son and You’ve risen from the dead

~  written by Keith and Melody Green; performed by Keith Green ~

♥  _________________________________ ♥

This week, over on our Seeking Him Daily Devotional blog, the writers are sharing with us thoughts focusing on Jeremiah 29:13.

You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart.

This verse always reminds me of seeking my God during my ‘quiet time.’

David wrote about his ‘quiet time’ in the following verse.  Does the Lord hear you expressing your heart to Him in the same way?  I believe that as we are intentional and seek Him that, yes, this is how God sees us.

In the morning You hear my voice, O Lord;
In the morning I prepare [a prayer, a sacrifice] for You
And watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart].
Psalms 5:3

Here  is a great example of God’s design for our prayer life:

Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life],
Being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving.
Colossians 4:2

Those are some very intentional words <earnest, unwearied, steadfast> used at the beginning of that verse, yes?  Other versions use similar words: devote, persevere, continue….  This reminds me so much of David’s heart—he was earnest, devoted, steadfast  in his pursuit of being in God’s presence.

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything,
but in every circumstance and in everything,
by prayer and petition (definite requests),
with thanksgiving,
continue to make your wants known to God.
And God’s peace [shall be yours, that peace]
which transcends all understanding
shall garrison and mount guard
over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6 and 7

Now, of course, that time you spend alone with Your Lord—your quiet, devotional time—is certainly not the only time to pray!  Actually, I think, being intentional—seeking Him first and foremost in our quiet, devotional time—prepares our hearts for the rest of our day to be filled with continual little prayers and petitions directed to our God.  Our life becomes a {continual} prayer.

How often do we go along through our day, accomplishing the normal even mundane tasks, fellowshipping and talking with our Heavenly Father?  Or driving (yet again) to school to pickup your children; isn’t that a great time to pray?  Or waiting for them at dance/soccer/baseball practice or music lessons/cub scout meeting/awana time/_______ (you fill in the blank); yet another small amount of time that can be eked out of our day to pray and seek Him.  Paul wrote a number of times in his letters to the Christian believers about the importance of praying.  He used terms such as, “pray at all times,” “keep alert and watch,” “pray with ceasing.”  Listen to this encouragement to make our lives a life of prayer:

Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit,
with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty.
To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance,
interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).
Ephesians 6:18

Pray without ceasing;  in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 and 18

So I think that we see by seeking God first and foremost, by being intentional in our quiet time in our  prayers and petitions, we will be better prepared to “pray at all times, and, keep alert and watch, and, pray without ceasing.”  We will have a ‘life’ of prayerfulness.  We will be continually seeking Him throughout each day thus carrying out His will (1 Thessalonians 5:18)!

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   

Interested in joining us for our next Online Bible Study that starts on January 13, 2014?   Click HERE for more details!

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As Long as I’m Alive I’ll Glorify His holy Name

January 5, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Ain’t no rock gonna cry in my place…as long as I’m alive I’ll glorify His holy Name

Praise His holy Name!  As long as I’m alive I’ll glorify His holy Name

Ain’t no bird gonna flap it’s feathers…as long as I’m alive I’ll glorify His holy Name

Ain’t no tree gonna wave its branches…as long as I’m alive I’ll glorify His holy Name

Ain’t no rock gonna cry in my place…as long as I’m alive, I’ll glorify His holy Name

~  performed by Hillsong Kids; written by LaMarquis Jefferson~

Is this your declaration too?  Do you make sure that you are the one praising God and thanking Him for the grace and mercy He showers upon your life?

Jesus made it clear and simple. Luke chapter 19 contains this record of Jesus’ ascent and entry into Jerusalem. This occurs during the week prior to His betrayal, arrest, trial, torture, crucifixion, and ultimately, His death. During this time, His disciples were openly recognizing Him as King and praising God for the miracles which Jesus had done.

As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives,
the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices
for all the miracles they had seen:
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Luke 19:36-40

As Jesus traveled along, making His way into Jerusalem, this continued…praising and shouting out…to the point that the Jewish leaders told Him to hush His disciples. But Jesus, knowing that no matter what, God was going to be praised, responded that even if His disciples were to be quiet, “…the stones will cry out!” God will be praised!

Throughout the Book of Psalms, the writers of the psalms spoke the same truth. They knew that praise was intrinsically built in to all nature.

The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows and proclaims His handiwork.
Day after day pours forth speech, and night after night shows forth knowledge.
There is no speech nor spoken word [from the stars]; their voice is not heard.
Yet their voice goes out through all the earth, their sayings to the end of the world.
Psalms 19:1-4

Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the heights above.
Praise Him, all his angels, praise Him, all His heavenly hosts.
Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him, all you shining stars.
Praise Him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.
Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created.
He set them in place for ever and ever; He gave a decree that will never pass away.”
Psalms 148:1-6

Job knew, too. He spoke these words.

“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;
or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?
In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.”
Job 12:7-10

He clearly let it be known that the animals, the birds, the fish along with the plants and trees know about their Creator…AND…declare it, too! So, we have no excuse! Let your praise be loud…and let it be long! Don’t hide it…don’t avoid the many, many, many opportunities that you have to teach and tell about all God has done! And, for God’s glory, don’t let the rocks and the birds, and the trees speak for you!  As long as you are alive…glorify His holy Name!

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I Am New (I Am NOT Who I Was)

January 3, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

 

Now I won’t deny the worst you could say about me
But I’m not defined by mistakes that I’ve made because God says of me

I am not who I was, I’m being remade…I am new
I am chosen and holy and I’m dearly loved…I am new

Who I thought I was and who I thought I had to be
I had to give them both up ‘cause neither were willing to ever believe

I am not who I was, I’m being remade…I am new
I am chosen and holy and I’m dearly loved…I am new, I am new

Too long have I lived in the shadows of shame believing that there was no way I could change
But the One who is making everything new doesn’t see me the way that I do
He doesn’t see me the way that I do

I am not who I was, I’m being remade…I am new
I am chosen and holy and I’m dearly loved…I am new, I am new

I am not who I was, I’m being remade…I am new
Dead to the old man, I’m coming alive…I am new, I am new, I am new

Forgiven, beloved, hidden in Christ, made in the image of the Giver of Life
Righteous and holy, reborn and remade, accepted and worthy,
This is our new name…this is who we are now

~ Jason Gray, Joel Hanson ~

 

I dedicate this song to you, my sister…yes, y.o.u.! (You know who you are!)  You who doubt that you have value and worth to anyone.  You who worry that anyone will ever REALLY love you for you.  You who doubt that you can ever truly, finally change.  You.  ‘Cause here’s the truth—YOU ARE NEW! And all by God’s grace, and because of Jesus’ sacrifice, and just simply because you are loved!

[O] brethren beloved by God, we recognize and know that He has selected (chosen) you;
1 Thessalonians 1:4

Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand,
and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:2

You are NOT the girl who was shame-filled, doubt-filled, worry-filled, fear-filled. No, ma’am! You, YOU ARE NEW!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.
The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself….
2 Corinthians 5:17 and 18

So please don’t sit there splashing tears on your keyboard…get up…waltz around the room…lift your hands in surrender and in praise to the One Who chose you and says you are beloved.

Sing this song with me; will you? And let it settle deep down into that beautiful, changed heart of yours. And remember—this IS who YOU ARE! (Y’know how I know? God said so.)

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REjoice In The Lord

January 2, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

So, I’ll just say it now…rejoicing is all about being joyful in the midst of trying circumstances and troubles. It’s about bringing it back to joy. It’s about not losing our joy. It’s about joy—no matter what.  (Otherwise, it wouldn’t be called rejoicing!)

Joy is a beautiful, righteous, God-given thing! Little children sing, “I have the joy…joy…joy…joy down in my heart! Where? Down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart to stay!”  And that is the TRUTH!  Joy needs to remain down in our heart!  However, we live in a broken, confused, evil-influenced world.  And much determines to take our joy away.

In the Book of James, we read in chapter 1 verse 2:
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

Other versions interpret the word ‘endurance’ as steadfastness, patience, or perseverance.  And this—the patience, the persevering, the remaining steadfast, the enduring—this is what we can do to  keep our joy when trials come along.

When times are hard and tough…when we seem to be continually struggling….when the light at the end of the tunnel seems SO far away—that is when we are to ‘consider it all joy!’ Please know (be assured!) that you are not the only one to say, “What?!? Not possible!”

If someone suggested it as a ‘positive confession’ or if I read it in a self-help book…then I would be able to totally disregard it.  Agreed?  BUT, this is not just a mantra to help me train my mind. Nor is it a positive little ditty to sing to myself.  N.O….this is TRUTH from the Bible.  And so—no matter what—I need to find a way no matter what to rejoice.

And did you notice that little word attached to joy in verse 2 (‘all’)? It  means great joy, full joy, pure joy, wholly joyful. Again, if I read this anywhere else, I would wholeheartedly refute the possibility!  However, I read it in God’s Holy Word, the Bible. So it must be possible! It must be available with the help of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to hold onto joy.

I do believe that one very important way to ‘consider it all (pure, full, great) joy’ is through the encouragement of singing!  Remember the Scripture which has inspired this blog?

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you,
with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another
with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16

Listen to this incredible song, would you? This song is part of the bedrock of my soul…it encourages me so greatly! I learned this song from a group of Mennonite teenagers over 18 years ago…. And I have never forgotten it!  It was written by a man, Ron Hamilton, who had struggled with cancer…in fact, he lost his eye to this disease…for a number of years. But he and his wife placed their trust in the faithfulness of God Almighty. And they considered these trials and struggles to be ‘all joy!’  I pray that the words of this song will truly teach and admonish your heart…encouraging you to always find your way back to joy—no matter what!  If I can pray with you, please contact me; I would consider it my  joy and privilege!

 

Oh, Rejoice in the Lord

God never moves without purpose or plan, When trying His servant and molding a man. Give thanks to the LORD though your testing seems long; In darkness He giveth a song. 

I could not see through the shadows ahead; So I looked at the Cross of my Savior instead. I bowed to the will of the Master that day; Then peace came and tears fled away.

Now I can see testing comes from above; God strengthens His children and purges in love. My Father knows best, and I trust in His care; Through purging more fruit I will bear.

O Rejoice in the LORD, He makes no mistake, He knoweth the end of each path that I take, For when I am tried And purified, I shall come forth as gold.

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God’s Promises

January 1, 2014 by

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”
For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. You will not be afraid of the terror by night,
Or of the arrow that flies by day; Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.
A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand,
But it shall not approach you. You will only look on with your eyes
And see the recompense of the wicked.
For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place.
No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent.
For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.
They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down.
Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him
And let him see My salvation.
Psalm 91

What a beautiful communication of Almighty God’s love for us! Full of promises telling us of just how God desires to care for us, and declarations of all He will do for us! If I have counted correctly, God makes thirty promises to us just in this one psalm.

God is faithful to each and every promise He has made…we stake all of our beliefs and our trust in Him on this absolute fact, true? But we must remember that sometimes He has attached a condition to be met (by you and me) to receive the fulfillment of a promise. Such as here, in verse 1…the writer of this psalm declares God to be El Shaddai which is interpreted as God Almighty or All-sufficient. If you and I ‘dwell in the shelter of the Most High’ then these promises are covering us. His shelter and His shadow provide refuge for those who dwell and abide.

This week in the Seeking Him daily devotional blog, our sisters are writing on Psalm 46. There, too, the psalmist confesses the Truth of just Who God Almighty is—our Refuge and our Strength.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way….
Verses 1 and 2

As we go forward from today, the first day of 2014, may we yearn to know God’s promises, do our part (where necessary), and be oh-so-very-thankful for all that we receive from our Faithful Father God!

Can I encourage you to try a little exercise?  Pick up your Bible, turn to the page where Psalm 91 is printed, and read ALOUD all the promises (30 of them remember!) included in just this one short psalm.  Every place there is a pronoun relating to us (he, him, you, your) replace it with your own name.  For example, speak your name where the   ♥   is.

Because {   ♥   } has loved Me, therefore I will deliver {   ♥   };
I will set {   ♥   } securely on high, because {   ♥   } has known My name. {   ♥   } will call upon Me, and I will answer {   ♥   };
I will be with {   ♥   } in trouble; I will rescue {   ♥   } and honor {   ♥   }.
With a long life I will satisfy {   ♥   } and let {   ♥   } see My salvation.

* * * * *

Almighty God, we praise You and thank You for Your awesome promises! How blessed we are by all Your promises! You have promised to provide for, and guide, and protect, and rescue, and deliver, and hear, and answer us. May we hold Your word(s) in our heart so that we do not sin against You. We surely need Your help to faithfully do so! We love You so very much, Lord! We pray and ask these things in Jesus’ name.    ♥  Amen.

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My One Word ~ Joyful

December 31, 2013 by

I just love this concept of having ‘a word’ as a spiritual discipline. (I’m sure you have stumbled across this idea…recently the blogging world has been crazy busy writing about it!) Somehow…ok, God’s grace, of course…I was introduced to this idea three years ago. A bit ahead of the crowd which is sort of typical for me. You see, I don’t do trendy things, I surely dance to the beat of a different drum. But I am perfectly settled with that…it is who I am and who I imagine I will always be.

Here’s how it works:  the plan is to pray and, following God’s lead, choose ‘one word’ that will be your focus for the next year. In working through this concept it seems to be so simple and, yet, so vast in its application. I have found that my eyes and ears (and spirit!) are aware and attentive to ‘hearing’ my word whether in the Scriptures, or in study of other books, or in listening to a sermon or teaching, etc. But isn’t that just the way that the Holy Spirit leads, and guides, and teaches us? It is the still, small voice that we hear. It is His gentle leading that always bring us to ‘see’ a revelation. Haven’t you found this true?

Each of my words has always been in relation to Almighty God. My ‘one word’ in 2013 has been TRUST, in 2012 it was PEACE, and in 2011 my word was REFUGE. And these are the verses that I began with and stood upon:

TRUST
When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.
In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust;
I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?
Psalms 56:3 and 4

PEACE
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything,
but in every circumstance and in everything,
by prayer and petition (definite requests),
with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul
assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God
and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace]
which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard
over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6 and 7

REFUGE
But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever sing for joy,
and spread Your protection over them, and that those who love Your Name may exult in you.
Psalm 5:11

I can honestly tell you that drawing closer in my relationship with God in light of each of those words has changed my heart. No doubt about it; absolutely! And so I joyfully anticipate ALL that God is going to do in me in 2014 as I focus on one word—JOYFUL.

You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
Psalm 16:11

So, what do you think…is this something you might consider doing? If you have already been praying and asking God to lead you in selecting your ‘one word,’ I would love to hear about it! And, if not, pray! Seek God’s guidance and direction! He surely knows what your heart needs. He absolutely knows what will come along your path in the next year. And, most importantly, He loves you so very much and wants to guide you along the right path for you!

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.
Lamentations 3:25

I am praying for you, too! If you would like, I would love to pray with you…send me a FaceBook message!

*  *  *  *  *  

{ For those of you who love to read, Pastor Mike Ashcraft wrote this marvelous book My One Word: Change Your Life with Just One Word sharing the journey that he took along with the congregation of the church he shepherds. It’s a great book and in it he shares much more of the heart behind the discipline of ‘one word.’ }

Filed Under: encouragement, Women's Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Shepherds Pie with Cauliflower Mash

December 30, 2013 by

Oh, so yummy!  My husband loves Shepherd’s Pie—and so I indulge him!   We’ve had Shepherd’s Pie with beef filling, chicken filling, turkey filling, vegetable filling.  We’ve had it topped with traditional mashed potatoes, with mashed sweet potatoes, with mashed turnips, and like this—our favorite way—with mashed cauliflower!  I always have my eye out for new variations!  This recipe fits into our healthy but oh-so-yummy category in a couple of ways:

  • it is low-carb (with the absence of potatoes)
  • it  is made with natural ingredients that you can pronounce (as the gravy is made from scratch), and not a can of cream of something or other
  • it is low in fat/high in protein (using boneless chicken breast as the protein and just 1/3 cup of shredded cheese and 1/3 cup Parmesan)

This recipe could easily be doubled and baked in an 11 x 13 baking dish.  Enjoy!

Shepherds Pie with Mashed Cauliflower Topping 

shepherdspie

Filling Ingredients:

1 sweet onion, chopped in pieces about 1/2 inch dice
4-6 ounces baby bella mushrooms, wiped clean and sliced chunky
2-3 tablespoons chopped garlic in oil (from a jar)
4+ teaspoons olive oil
1# boneless chicken breast, pounded flat, cut into 1″ cubes

1 tablespoon butter, or coconut oil
2 tablespoons brown rice flour (or all-purpose flour)
1/4 cup white wine (or broth)
1+1/4 cups chicken broth

1 bag frozen mixed vegetables (your choice), defrosted

Topping Ingredients:

1 medium-sized head of cauliflower, cored and chopped into small pieces
1/4 cup milk
1/3 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1/3 cup shredded cheese (sharp cheddar, smoked gouda) *use a flavorful cheese

Instructions:

  • Preheat oven to 375.
  • Bring a medium-sized pot of salted water to a boil. Add cauliflower and simmer ‘til  soft enough to mash easily (10-12 minutes).
  • Drain cauliflower very well; place back into pot and  “mash” the cauliflower along with the milk and Parmesan.
  • Season very well with salt and pepper to taste.
  • While the cauliflower cooks, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a large frying pan and saute the cut-up chicken.  Cook ’til just getting brown but don’t overcook.
  • Reduce heat to low, and add the chopped garlic for the last minute (don’t let the garlic burn).  Remove pan from stove; set aside cooked chicken.
  • Wipe pan with paper towels to remove bits.
  • Then add 2 additional teaspoons olive oil; and saute chopped onions for 3 minutes.  Add chopped mushrooms and saute for 4-5 minutes more to caramelize.
  • Reduce heat to low; add 1 tablespoon butter, and sprinkle flour over the mushroom-onion mixture, stirring with a whisk or wooden spoon.
  • ‘Cook’ this mixture for 3 minutes (to reduce the flour-y taste) occasionally scraping the pan.
  • Then gradually whisk in the wine ’til the mixture is smooth.
  • Slowly whisk in the  broth and your gravy will come together.  Gently simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Add back the cooked chicken and the defrosted veggies and heat together for 1-2 minutes.
  • Spread the chicken-vegetable-gravy mixture in the bottom of a 8 cup casserole dish.
  • Top with the cauliflower mixture, and spread across the pan almost to the edges.
  • Bake for 20 minutes, and then top with the shredded cheese.
  • Continuing baking another 10 minutes or so ’til bubbly.  (If top is not lightly browned, can be carefully placed under broiler for 2-3 minutes.)  Enjoy!

   ♥      ♥      ♥      ♥      ♥ 

God loves you!   ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen

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Take My Life and Let It Be

December 27, 2013 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.
  ~Frances Havergal-lyrics; Henri Malan-music; Kari Jobe-arrangement, vocals~

  • My life
  • My moments
  • My days
  • My hands
  • My feet
  • My voice
  • My lips
  • My silver and gold
  • My intellect
  • My will
  • My heart
  • My love
  • Myself

Quite the list, hmmm?  May I challenge you (oh, don’t worry—me, too!): don’t wait for the new year, 2014, to begin. Today, right now even, make a conscious choice to dedicate all that you are to Him. We have just come through the season of Advent along with the celebration of the birth of the Messiah.  During this season where we have considered God’s great love for mankind, we have been reminded of the vastness and enormity of God’s love for us!   God deserves our all, every bit of what makes you…you; and what makes me…me. Anything that is in us that is good and righteous and pure and holy He has given to us…none of it is of our own making.

Which verse is the one that resonates within your heart? Would you leave a comment below and share that with us…and why? I love ‘em all…but I think my favorite is “Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine. Take my heart; it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne, it shall be Thy royal throne.”

If I surrender my will to God’s will (and so no longer my own!) then all the rest—my life, my moments, my days, my hands, my feet, my voice, my lips, my silver and gold, my intellect, my love—will also be offered to Him for His will to be dominant.

Consider these passages from the Scriptures in light of the gist of this song. Perhaps one or more of them might be just the impetus you need to make the decision to ‘take your life and let it be….”

I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg you in view of [all] the mercies of God,
to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God,
which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
Romans 12:1 (Amplified)

I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.
Leviticus 11:44

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5 and 6

* * * * * 

Dear Lord, we do SO want to dedicate ourselves—every part of us—to You, our Maker!  Please help us to recognize areas in our hearts that get in the way of this…and please help us change our hearts, Lord!  May we choose to offer ourselves, all we are and all we have, to You!  You deserve the best, the most.  You deserve our ALL! We ask these things in Jesus Name.  Amen.

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

December 24, 2013 by

cyndaChristmasgreetingCynda Collinger

For me, Christmas is all about family.  Ever since I was little Christmas always meant big family get-togethers.  When we moved to Colorado big family get-togethers became few and far between. Two years ago was the first time in several years we actually got to spend Christmas Day with both of our girls together. That was the year the little love in this picture was born on Christmas Eve. This year we will spend Christmas Day with him. We will see all our family this year, just not all at the same time. I miss our big family get-togethers. But there is one thing that ties us all together, either way.  We all celebrate the birth of the Christ Child – God in human form. The perfect gift for all mankind!

May joy and blessings be yours as we celebrate the birth of the sweet little Holy Child!

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

Clella Fox

clellaChristmasgreetingclellaspicchristmasFrom our house to yours, Steve and I would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas! We pray that the Emmanuel of Christmas will be with you and yours throughout the year of 2014. Numbers 6:24-26.

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

Megan Smidt

smidtsgreetingFrom our home to yours…. May the magic  of Christmas fill your heart and soul for the best Christmas ever!  Enjoy your family and friends and always live each moment intentionally showing love.

Love, The Smidt Family

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

bolme

Teresa Bolme

In honor of the Child King born to save us all, our family wishes to serve and to love and spend time with Friends and Family this Holiday Season.

This is our “Christmas Offering” to each of you.

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

Laura Pattillo

laurachristmasgreetingFrom Micheal, Laura, Thomas, and Nattie Grace:

We wish you a blessed Merry Christmas and blessed New Year!

Happy Holidays from the Heart of Dixie.

 

 

 

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

Cheris Gaston

photoWe have so much to be thankful for this Christmas season and everyday! We thank God for sending His precious Son, Jesus, to be the Savior of the world! Let us always be in awe of His great love, and be so filled with it to the point it overflows from within us! Merry Christmas, friends!

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

Tonya Ellison

tonyachristmasgreeting

 

 

 

Merry Christmas from the Ellison Family! In between baking, wrapping, unwrapping, family, fun and food, remember that Christ’s love for you is the best gift you can ever receive, and that showing love to another is the best gift you can give.

Merry Christmas!

 

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

Laurie Ellis 

lauriegreeting (2)Merry Christmas from the Ellis’.  We pray you have a very Merry Christmas as you celebrate the joy of our Lord’s amazing birth. May His grace and peace be with you and your family in the new year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

Christi Wilson

christi wilsonMerry Christmas from the Wilson’s. May God bless you and your loved ones as we celebrate the birth of our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

 

 

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

Coleen Hayden

2013-09-17 17.08.38If we were face to face right now, exchanging hugs and Christmas greetings, I imagine these would be some of the words that we would share with one another: God’s gift, little Child, humble birth, glory to God, angels singing, peace–love–joy, Savior, Redeemer…but the words that I would leave you with…in the end…would be ‘God loves you! and I do, too!’  Merry and blessed Christmas, friend!  May God bless you this Christmas and every day with His Love!  xo ♥

 

 

 

 

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

Kim Golds

kimgreetingsMay you Be Blessed this Christmas season remembering the Truth ♥   A Savior who loved you and I so much that He was born in the humblest of circumstances only to then endure the cross, to save you and me… “For The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.. For those who live in a land of deep darkness a light will shine…. For a child is born to us, a son given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders… And he will be called Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace… His government and it’s peace will never end…”

Merry Christmas, sweet ladies, from my family to yours… Love and Blessings!!!  Kim

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

Tina Marin

tinaspicgreetings2Merry Christmas from the Marin Family!  We pray that you all enjoy each other and remember the reason we celebrate this season—the Birth of Our Lord and Savior!  We are blessed with many friends and pray that you will be as well!

 

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

Beverly McCormick

bevsfamilypicgreetingsMerry Christmas, everyone. From our family to yours. In each day of new beginnings with God, all things are possible. We are restored and renewed in a joyous awakening to the wonder that our lives are and, yet, can be. Love to you all as we begin and grow in an upcoming year!

 

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

Filed Under: Women's Ministry Tagged With: , , , , ,

Gluten Free Oatmeal Peanut Butter Drop Cookies

December 23, 2013 by

How many varieties of cookies have you baked in preparation for filling up cookie platters…and hungry mouths?!!?  So far, I have done four different types, and have two more in mind: Gluten Free Spritz cookies and Thumbprint Cookies. Can’t get much more traditional than those!

2013-07-05 10.39.13

Here on our At Home with GCH blog, Monday’s are usually focused on healthy but oh-so-yummy! recipes. This week we are making Oatmeal Peanut Butter Drop Cookies. These yummy and easy cookies are gluten free, grain free, refined sugar free. They have the addition of some fruit as well as the great healthy benefits of walnuts and oats. You can include the add-ins that your loved ones enjoy such as chocolate chips, craisins, chopped walnuts, etc. (I would love to know what add-ins were chosen at your house!  Please let me know in the comments below!  Thanks!!!!)

Ingredients:2013-07-05 09.16.32
1/2 cup dried cranberries
2 teaspoons baking soda
4+1/2 cups rolled oats
1+1/2 cups crunchy peanut butter
1/2 cup coconut oil, or butter
3/4 cups packed brown sugar
3/4 cup coconut sugar, or granulated sugar
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts optional (suggested!)

Directions:

  • In a medium sized bowl, mix together the oats, baking soda, and dried cranberries; set aside.
  • Using a stand mixer, cream the peanut butter, other ‘butter,’ and sugars together ‘til light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, and also the vanilla. Mix to blend well.
  • Slowly pour in the dry ingredients, mixing just until everything is combined. By hand, stir in the chocolate chips, and walnuts (if including), too.
  • Place in refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to firm up. Preheat the oven to 350.
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a small cookie scoop or a tablespoon, scoop the cookie batter and drop it onto lined cookie sheet, 2 inches apart.
  • Bake for 9 to 12 minutes until light golden brown and just getting firm. (If you enjoy your cookies a little on the softer side, underbake by one minute.)
  • Makes approximately 4 dozen cookies.

Note: this dough is sticky because of the peanut butter, so I strongly suggest using your hands as little as possible. Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon and simply dropping the dough is best!

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

God loves you!  ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen

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Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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