March 11, 2026

God’s Declarations and Thoughts

June 17, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo
I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,
plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11

The Jeremiah 29:11 declaration which God made is so powerful.  This shows that declarations are a way of establishing things in our lives.  His declaration shows how He thinks of us, along with His will and His purpose for our lives.

Thou shall declare a thing and it shall be established.
Job 22:28

What is it you declare and think about your life…family…job…school, etc?
Be positive: declare and think that which will make your future bright.  God’s thoughts over us are of good…not of evil; and He declares the same.  As we think of ourselves, we, too, should not think that which is evil but only that which is good and declare it.  “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:45).  If we are filled with wrong thoughts then the declarations we speak will be of evil and destruction.

Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders You have done.
The things You planned for us no one can recount to You,
Were I to speak and tell of them, they will be too many to declare.
Psalm 40:5

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God.
How vast is the sum of them.
Psalm 139:17

David came to a point of realizing that in anything and in all things about his life was centered on God and that all things were being managed by God.  Let us also align our thoughts with the thoughts God has for us so that we may accomplish His will in our lives.

As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are My ways higher than your ways
and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55: 9

Blessed be the Lord who has good thoughts for us and declares them.  May we  have good thoughts for ourselves, our family and friends and declare good over everything.  May we remember this lesson that we need to be thinking and declaring good things.

  *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Dear Lord, we thank You for the word that has come at the right time when we needed it most.  Your Word gives us life and teaches us new precepts every day.   Thank You for showing us how deep Your love is to a point of thinking and declaring good things (and not evil) over our lives.  King of glory, we worship You.  May we walk in that grace of thinking and declare good for ourselves, our families, friends and all that concerns us. For with our mouths we shall declare a thing and it shall be established to the glory of Your holy name.  Be exalted always, Jehovah.  In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Your Love Is Amazing (HalleluJAH)

June 17, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Your love is amazing
Steady and unchanging
Your love is a mountain
Firm beneath my feet

Your love is a mystery
How You gently lift me
When I am surrounded
Your love carries me

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Your love makes me sing
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Your love makes me sing

Your love is surprising
I can feel it rising
All the joy that’s growing
Deep inside of me

And every time I see You
All Your goodness shines through
And I can feel this God-song
Rising up in me

Maranatha Singers
Songwriters: Brenton Brown and Brian Doerksen

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~   ♥   ~   *

Don’t you think this song is actually a prayer—a happy, joyous proclamation of God’s love?   How much our God must thoroughly enjoy hearing His precious possession—us!—sing out,   ♬ ♪ ♬ HalleluJAH!  Your love makes me sing!  ♬ ♪ ♬

And what incredible, awesome company we are in when we do sing out our ‘halleluJAH!’  In chapter 19 of the Book of Revelations, four separate times praises to God using the phrase ‘halleluJAH!’ is recorded.  Three times by ‘a great multitude’, and once by the ‘twenty-four elders and the four living creatures’ (who surround the Throne).  WOW!  This is company I want to be in; you, too?!!!

  • verse 1
    After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God;
  • verse 3
    And a second time they said, “Hallelujah! Her smoke rises up forever and ever.”
  • verse 4
    And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!”
  • verse 6
    Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.”

This record in the Book of Revelations and a few in the Psalms are the only records that tell us of praise being given using the phrase ‘HalleluJAH!’  In doing a study on it, I found that it is used approximately  22 times in the Psalms.  Here are a few examples….

For great is His gracious love toward us and the LORD’s faithfulness is eternal.
Hallelujah!
117:2

Hallelujah! Give thanks to the LORD because He is good,
because His mercy endures forever.
106:1

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Hallelujah!
150:6

Hallelujah!
How good it is to sing to our God for praise is pleasant and lovely.
147:1

There are so very many things we have been blessed with for which we should give praise to our great God!

  • mercy
  • grace
  • salvation
  • eternal life
  • fellowship w/believers
  • sanctification
  • peace
  • His Word

But one of the greatest things that God does for us and gives us is His love.  As the songwriters expressed to Him,

“Your love is amazing…steady and unchanging;
Your love is a mountain firm beneath my feet;
Your love is a mystery—how You gently lift me when I am surrounded—
Your love carries me; Your love is surprising…”.

And truly, it is!!!  Below are some of the many verses in the Scriptures which tell us about our God’s love for us…for all mankind.

Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation?
Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword?
Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long;
We are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter.
Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors
and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.
For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels
nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers,
Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all Creation
will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35-39

But God demonstrates His own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16

This is how God showed His love among us:
He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.
This is love: not that we loved God,
but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
1 John 4:9 and 10

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.
Verse 16

Because Your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise You.
Psalm 63:3

His love is…

steadfast
immeasureable
unconditional
immoveable
unchanging
amazing

Doesn’t it make you want to sing?

  *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~   ♥   ~   *

Dear Father, we thank You for Your love for us and the incredible ways You show it!  It is—You are!—amazing! HalleluJAH! We thank You and praise You…in Jesus’ name. Amen. ♥  

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

Mediterranean Topping for Fish

June 16, 2015 by

Sometimes I think that I could be a pescatarian!  (A pescatarian is simply someone whose diet does not include meats or poultry but does include fish.)  Seafood and fish are just so much more to my liking lately than meat.  This eating lifestyle falls easily into our healthy but oh-so-yummy POV since it—for the most part—is high protein, low fat.  As with meat, it is important to purchase the highest quality fish that your budget can afford.

This recipe is really quick to put together!  And it is on the lighter side…making it a nice choice for the warmer summer months.  And, cooked on the stovetop…not the oven…will keep the kitchen (and the cook!) cooler.  We enjoyed this with tilapia fillets but it would be great with cod or flounder or sole…or even shrimp!  Enjoy!

Mediterranean Olive Topping for Fish

2015-06-02 18.21.38

ingredients

4 teaspoons olive oil, divided
1 small red onion, cut into half moons
8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, thickly sliced
2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
1 heaping tablespoon garlic, finely minced
1/2 cup pitted green olives with juice, halved
4 skinless tilapia filets (approximately 4 ounces each)
lemon pepper seasoning

directions

  • heat 2 teaspoons olive oil in large saute pan over medium-high heat
  • place onion pieces in pan and saute for 3 minutes or so, ‘til starting to soften
  • add mushrooms in a single layer and cook, without stirring, for about 5 minutes ‘til they begin to brown on one side
  • stir and make sure each is flipped over; cook about 5 minutes more ‘til other side is browned, too
  • add tomatoes (cut-side down) and heat for another 3-4 minutes
  • reduce heat and add garlic, stirring gently for just one minute
  • remove from heat; season w/lemon-pepper seasoning, and stir in green olives; remove to a separate bowl and keep warm
  • using the same pan, heat remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil over medium heat
  • season the fish with sea salt & lemon pepper seasoning on both sides and place in the pan
  • cook for 3-4 minutes ‘til nicely browned, gently turn and cook another 2-3 minutes’ don’t overcook!  fish is done when white throughout…no longer transparent
  • remove to a serving platter and top with the vegetable mixture

♥    ♥    ♥    ♥    ♥

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

♥  coleen

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

Hope for Good

June 16, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you a hope and future.”
Jeremiah 29:11

  *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Jeremiah 29:11 is one of the most popular Scriptures known to Christians…that and John 3:16.  Jeremiah 29:11 has been misquoted, misused, and misunderstood, as well.   Sometimes, we like to take Scripture and toss it around, in a well-meaning (but incorrect) fashion.  What I like most about Jeremiah 29:11, though, is that it reminds you that God cares for you and all that you do.

Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God is on our side.

  • He does not harm us
  • He does no ill to us
  • He does not give us cancer
  • He does not cause accidents
  • He does not burn down houses

He does not do any of those things!  There is no burning down your house to give you a better house.  God doesn’t do wrong, bad things, or cause harm.  God, however, can make good come out of bad.  But He does not make bad happen so that good can happen.

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good?
No one is good except God alone.
Mark 10:18

The LORD is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does.
Psalm 145:13b

Knowing these proven truths, no matter what our circumstances look like or what our eyes can see or what our minds tells us, we can rest assured that God is for us and will never let us down.  Yes, the way things work out don’t often make sense to us, but God can see the big picture.  Hoping in the Lord Almighty is the best decision that can be made for one’s family and future.

We may “lose” things.  Things may not go our way, but this does not mean that God does not have a plan.  No, it simply means that our plan does not look like God’s plan.  It’s okay to let go of the steering wheel and take the passenger seat. You’d be amazed at the places you will go.  Following God is made a bit easier when your hope is in Him.

  *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Lord, help us to keep our hope in You.  Help us to see the hopeful future and plans You have for us.  Amen.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Keep Making Me

June 16, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Make me broken
So I can be healed
‘Cause I’m so calloused
And now I can’t feel
I want to run to You
With heart wide open
Make me broken

Make me empty
So I can be filled
‘Cause I’m still holding
Onto my will
And I’m completed
When You are with me
Make me empty

‘Til You are my one desire
‘Til You are my one true love
‘Til You are my breath, my everything
Lord, please keep making me

Make me lonely
So I can be Yours
‘Til I want no one
More than You, Lord
‘Cause in the darkness
I know You will hold me
Make me lonely

Sidewalk Prophets
Writer(s): David Frey, Ben McDonald

   *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Watching the video, and listening to the song, I am struck with how real this is for me.  I have become calloused in some areas of my life as a way of protecting myself.  I want to feel God’s Presence in all areas of my life, but sometimes it gets busy, messy…and just hard.

God wants us to go to Him before we call a girlfriend or to someone else that we trust.  We can ask God to help us with anything that we are struggling with and He is faithful to answer when we ask.  He knows better what our request and underlying motives are, so He is much better to give an answer.

   *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Today, let this be our prayer to our God and Father in heaven.

Psalm 150

Praise the Lord.
Praise God in His Sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens.
Praise Him for His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness.
Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise Him with the harp and lyre,
Praise Him with timbrel and dancing, praise Him with the strings and pipe,
Praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

In Jesus’ name, Amen!

 

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

Hope In The Lord

June 15, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

For this is what the Lord has said: When seventy years are ended for Babylon,
I will have pity on you and give effect to My good purpose for you,
causing you to come back to this place.
For I am conscious of My thoughts about you, says the Lord,
thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you hope at the end.
Jeremiah 29:10-11 BBE

Hope (here in this passage) refers to something to look forward to, or to anticipate, usually with pleasure.  God was telling His people of when they would go into exile; they would have a hope of coming home.

God did not want to send His people into exile.  He wanted them to listen to the warnings of Jeremiah before He punished His people.  The people just scoffed at Jeremiah, choosing to ignore God’s warnings.  Thinking, “Here is Jeremiah again; saying bad things are going to happen to us!”  Scripture tells us of Jeremiah’s frustration at being treated lightly by those listening.

Daniel, who was one of those who were taken into exile in Babylon.

In the first year of his rule, I, Daniel, saw clearly from the books the number of years
given by the word of the Lord to the prophet Jeremiah,
in which the making waste of Jerusalem was to be complete, that is, seventy years.
Daniel 9:2 BBE

Daniel was a man after God’s own heart.  He immediately began praying, asking forgiveness of sins for himself and for those of God’s people.  Daniel was in reverent awe of God’s mercy, grace, and righteousness toward them.  Daniel’s prayer is an example of intercessory prayer.  We should all strive to do this, and most of us moms do pray and intercede regularly for our children and our family.  Our hope is in God’s mercy and forgiveness.  We have to be willing for God to use us where needed.  He will use our willingness to serve to give hope to those who have no hope.

Often, when we feel we are not worthy, that is when God will use us.  When we are empty of ourselves is when God can fill us with His hope and joy until it overflows and effects others around us.  When we are free of ourselves is when He can work mightily through us.

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Father, thank You for telling us of how You loved Your people so much that You would send them to exile in a foreign nation…only to bring a remnant back to rebuild Your holy city.  You have shown the great hope you have for Your people and how You continue to give us opportunities to shine and be a light for You. Forgive us for being prideful and thinking we can do everything ourselves without Your help. You are our Strength, our Shield, and our Hope in this crazy, mixed-up world.  Thank You for Your love is all things.  In Jesus’ name, amen!

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Shoulders

June 15, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

When confusion’s my companion
And despair holds me for ransom
I will feel no fear
I know that You are near
When I’m caught deep in the valley
With chaos for my company
I’ll find my comfort here
‘Cause I know that You are near

My help comes from You
You’re right here, pulling me through
You carry my weakness, my sickness, my brokenness all on Your shoulders
Your shoulders
My help comes from You
You are my rest, my rescue
I don’t have to see to believe that You’re lifting me up on Your shoulders
Your shoulders

You mend what once was shattered
And You turn my tears to laughter
Your forgiveness is my fortress
Oh, Your mercy is relentless

My help is from You
Don’t have to see it to believe it
My help is from You
Don’t have to see it, ‘cause I know, ‘cause I know it’s true

for KING and COUNTRY
Writers: Luke Smallbone / Joel Smallbone / Ben Glover / Tedd Tjornhom

  *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

My help comes from the Lord,
The Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:2 HCSB

Right now my life feels very chaotic.  Like a roller coaster ride.  It is full of uncertainty and most of it is out of my control.  But, strangely enough, I’m not in a panic (which is unusual for me).  I heard this song and the last part just kept repeating over and over in my head.

My help is from You, don’t have to see it to believe it
My help is from you, don’t have to see it,
‘cause I know, ‘cause I know it’s true

It surprises me that I am not trying to take control of my circumstance and that I am not stressing out at this point.  Romans 8:6 NLT states that “…letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.”  Psalm 27:13 is one of my life verses.

I would have despaired unless I had believed
that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

These are the only things that could possibly explain why I am not in full-fledged panic mode.  I know where my help comes from:

We have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!
2 Chronicles 32:8

You are my Help and my Deliverer….O my God
Psalm 40:17, Psalm 70:5 AMP

Because I know Who is my Help I can “Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall praise Him, my Help and my God” (Psalm 42:5).  2 Corinthians 5:7 says we are to “…live by faith, not by sight.”  I don’t have to see God at work to know He is there.  I simply have faith He is working behind the scenes.  Hebrews 11:1 NASB, one of my favorite verses, explains it like this:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Jesus said “Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed” (John 20:29 NASB).

I am standing firmly on these verses, and I
Don’t have to see it, ‘cause I know, ‘cause I know it’s true

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

There Is A Hope (Jeremiah 29:11)

June 14, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Stuart Townend
written along with Mark Edwards

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

There is a hope that burns within my heart
That gives me strength for ev’ry passing day
a glimpse of glory now revealed in meager part
Yet drives all doubt away
I stand in Christ, with sins forgiv’n
and Christ in me, the hope of heav’n
My highest calling and my deepest joy
to make His will my home

There is a hope that lifts my weary head
A consolation strong against despair
That when the world has plunged me in its deepest pit
I find the Savior there
Through present sufferings, future’s fear
He whispers, “Courage!” in my ear
For I am safe in everlasting arms
And they will lead me home

There is a hope that stands the test of time
That lifts my eyes beyond the beckoning grave
To see the matchless beauty of a day divine
When I behold His face
When sufferings cease and sorrows die
and every longing satisfied
then joy unspeakable will flood my soul
For I am truly home

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Slumber

June 14, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Days they force you
Back under those covers
Lazy mornings they multiply
But glory’s waiting
Outside your window
So wake on up from your slumber
And open up your eyes

Tongues are violent
Personal and focused
Tough to beat with
Your steady mind
But hearts are stronger after broken
So wake on up from your slumber
And open up your eyes

All these victims
Stand in line for
The crumbs that fall from the table.
Just enough to get by
All the while you’re
Invitation
Wake on up from your slumber
Come on; open up your eyes 

Take from vandals
All you want now
But please don’t trade it in for life
Replace the feeble
With the fable
Wake on up from your slumber,
And open up your eyes

Sing like we used to
Dance when you want to
Taste of the breakthrough
And open wide

Sing like we used to
And dance like you want to
Open up your eyes

 NeedToBreathe
Bo Rinehart and Bear Rinehart

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Jesus came so that we might have life…not just mediocre life, but abundant life!  A life full of joy and laughter and peace in the midst of hard.  He didn’t come so that we can just have the “crumbs” that fall off the table, but for us to have the full loaf and so much more!   He doesn’t want us just trudging to make it to the next bank deposit, or the next new car, or the next new outfit.  No, Jesus wants us to skip along and smile and laugh in spite of those hard things.

She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
Proverbs 31:25 NLT

I know there are days that we see the sun and instead of seeing it’s beauty, we really want to climb back into bed.  We are raining on the inside.  But God has an invitation for us to wake up and see the world that He created for us.  He wants us to feel the love that He feels for us and to embrace the grace that He so freely gives us when we trip and stumble and fall.  And when you sing and dance just because, He smiles on you and dances over you from heaven.

The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in His love He will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

What does your life look like today?  Are you truly living the life that Jesus died for you to have?  Or are you just walking through life with your eyes half open, just barely making it.  If that is you, I pray that Jesus will send you so much joy and sunshine that you can’t miss it…and you will want to open your eyes and just breathe it all in.

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Let us pray: Dear God, You are so amazing and loving and want so much for each of us.  Thank You for the sunshine and for the abundant life that You sent Your only Son to die for.  Oh Lord, forgive us when we take our life for granted and all the blessings that are staring us in the face for there is always something to praise You for!  We love You and we praise You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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

Protein Powder Cookie Bars

June 12, 2015 by

Protein Powder Cookie Bars

Have you ever used protein powder?  My husband loves the stuff, so we always have a few mongo-sized tubs of it in the pantry.  There are  dozens of varieties – whey, casein, hemp, or pea, to name and few – and as many different flavors, though for most recipes, I would suggest you stick with vanilla.  When you need a sweet treat (and come on, we ALL do sometimes) but don’t want to feel overly guilty, whip up a batch of these Protein Powder Cookie Bars.

Sometimes you know you need protein and you just don’t want to fry some eggs or eat that leftover chicken breast.  Protein powder to the rescue!  I’m normally a champion of whole foods, but sometimes there really is better living through chemistry.  This recipe comes together completely in the food processor and takes just a few minutes to make.  Hold out for the bars to firm up in the fridge or freezer, and you have a candy bar that doesn’t break the calorie bank.  This is totally customizable and deserves a go.  Ready?

Protein Powder Cookie Bars

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup roasted, salted almonds (leave skins on for extra fiber)
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 2 cups oats
  • 1 cup protein powder (vanilla casein or whey both work here)
  • 1/2 cup shredded coconut
  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions:

  1. In the food processor, add the coconut oil to the almonds and make almond butter.  Then add the ingredients, one by one, and mix after each addition.
  2. When you have a mixture that feels like heavy, wet sand, pour it out into a metal loaf pan.  Flatten it out with your hands or a spatula and freeze or refrigerate until very firm.  Cut into 4″ x 1″ bars.  (You could go crazy and drizzle these bars with melted chocolate!)  Store in the fridge or freezer until ready to eat.

Explore, experiment, enjoy! — Dana

To view even more of Dana’s unique recipe, you can visit her at Frugal Girlmet!

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