Praying God's blessings for her on her special day and that she would continue to put Christ first in her life!
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Happy Birthday to our Sweet Daughter
A very special Happy Birthday to our beautiful, sweet daughter Brittany! We are so blessed by this special young lady! She loves the Lord. She loves serving others. She loves her family and friends. Oh yes, she also loves her pups - Bo and Phoenix (to the point they are spoiled.) She has such a big, generous, and kind heart. I am totally amazed by who she as a person and all that God has done through her at this young age.
Praying God's blessings for her on her special day and that she would continue to put Christ first in her life!
Praying God's blessings for her on her special day and that she would continue to put Christ first in her life!
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Romans 12:17-18
17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
Romans 12:17-18
These verses encapsulate the way we are to live as Christians. We are to love others the way Christ loves us - so much so that we are willing to forgive - even our enemies in spite of any wrong doings. It does not mean we are to excuse their misdeeds - just that we are to offer grace to others as grace was so freely offered to us.
Since we have been saved by grace, though we did not deserve it, our desire should be to share this same grace to others:)
In His Love, Cathy
Romans 12:17-18
These verses encapsulate the way we are to live as Christians. We are to love others the way Christ loves us - so much so that we are willing to forgive - even our enemies in spite of any wrong doings. It does not mean we are to excuse their misdeeds - just that we are to offer grace to others as grace was so freely offered to us.
Since we have been saved by grace, though we did not deserve it, our desire should be to share this same grace to others:)
In His Love, Cathy
Proverbs 18:21
"The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences."
Proverbs 18:21
Encouragement for Today
Some of us do love to talk! In doing so, we can become careless with words. "Sharing" can slip into gossip. Anger can flare into harsh words. What if you considered every word you spoke as if it were a coin? Would you spend recklessly, never considering the consequences? Or would you invest each coin (word) wisely, making sure your words would bring healing and love? The choice is yours … and the consequences could ripple into eternity, for better or worse, life or death.
—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions
In His Love, Cathy
Friday, October 25, 2013
One of God's Wonderful Miracles
Here is my newest sweet little niece...Cathryn Michelle. She is a miracle. Her Mommy and Daddy lost a little boy right after Thanksgiving last year...he was born prematurely. This just months after loosing our Dad. Her Mother was told she could never have children again. But God blessed them with this sweet little girl less than a year later. I get to see her next weekend. I cannot wait to hold this precious little girl! Thank you Lord, for you are so very good!
In His Love, Cathy
In His Love, Cathy
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Thanksgiving
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever."
Psalm 118:1 (and 118:29)
Psalm 118:1 (and 118:29)
"Though your life may not yet be perfect, when you focus on God's grace in your life, it will color every other experience, past and present." —Diane Eble
In His Love, Cathy
Monday, October 21, 2013
Prayer Request
Please be in prayer for a family that has experienced a totally unexpected loss. I cannot fathom what they are experiencing but I know it must be very difficult for them (and will be difficult in the days and months ahead). My heart goes out to them.
In His Love, Cathy
In His Love, Cathy
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Psalm 84:11
For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.
He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing
from those who do what is right.
Psalm 84:11
So I am a little ADHD when it comes to reading through my Bible. I love to bounce back and forth between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
And as I am reading today - BAM! - Psalm 84:11!
For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. God lights our path, showing us the way that is good and righteous! But He is also our shield, providing eternal protection to those who are in Christ!
He gives us grace and glory. God is full of grace and glory! He loves us so much that He offered us grace in the form of His perfect One and Only Son, Jesus Christ - who died in our place to pay for our sins. Through Christ, we can experience God's Grace and His Glory!
The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.
I cannot offer any better commentary than what my Study Bible says: "God does not promise to give us everything we think is good, but he will not withhold what is permanently good. He will give us the means to walk along his paths, but we must do the walking. When we obey him, he will not hold anything back that will help us serve him."
God has never held back anything eternally good from us. In fact, He gave us His all. Jesus gave us His all. And for such a love as He has for us, our love for Him in return should motivate us to obediently walk in faith!
In His Love, Cathy
He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing
from those who do what is right.
Psalm 84:11
So I am a little ADHD when it comes to reading through my Bible. I love to bounce back and forth between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
And as I am reading today - BAM! - Psalm 84:11!
For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. God lights our path, showing us the way that is good and righteous! But He is also our shield, providing eternal protection to those who are in Christ!
He gives us grace and glory. God is full of grace and glory! He loves us so much that He offered us grace in the form of His perfect One and Only Son, Jesus Christ - who died in our place to pay for our sins. Through Christ, we can experience God's Grace and His Glory!
The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.
I cannot offer any better commentary than what my Study Bible says: "God does not promise to give us everything we think is good, but he will not withhold what is permanently good. He will give us the means to walk along his paths, but we must do the walking. When we obey him, he will not hold anything back that will help us serve him."
God has never held back anything eternally good from us. In fact, He gave us His all. Jesus gave us His all. And for such a love as He has for us, our love for Him in return should motivate us to obediently walk in faith!
In His Love, Cathy
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Ephesians 4:7-10
However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. 8 That is why the Scriptures say,
In His Love, Cathy
“When he ascended to the heights,
he led a crowd of captives
and gave gifts to his people.”
he led a crowd of captives
and gave gifts to his people.”
9 Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. 10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.
Ephesians 4:7-10
Some people go through this life thinking they are without talent, that they have nothing special to offer to others.
However, this could be furthest from the truth! In Ephesians 4:7 Paul says that God has given each and every believer a special gift! And not only that, he GENEROUSLY gave us this gift. Each and every believer belonging to the Body of Christ has been blessed with God-given abilities!
But how is this? Because God sent His One and Only Son Jesus Christ to this world. Jesus took on the punishment for our sins, though he was without sin. And though falsely accused and crucified, Christ rose from the dead - conquering sin and death. When Jesus ascended to Heaven to sit at God's right hand, He sent the Holy Spirit to live in believers. Through the Holy Spirit Christ gave gifts to the church. And these gifts, no matter how big or small they may seem, are important in growing and strengthening the church!
Yield your heart to Christ. Let His Holy Spirit generously fill you. See what wonderful gifts come to fruition as you serve Christ!
In His Love, Cathy
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Ephesians 4:1-6
"Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all."
Ephesians 4:1-6
In reading Ephesians Chapter 4, I am struck not just with the theme of unity in the Body of Christ, but also how that unity is attained.
We so often hear how The Body of Christ, the Church, is supposed to be unified. In Ephesians 4, Paul shows us how true unity of believers can be obtained.
First and foremost, we should always remember what unites us as followers of Christ. "The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one spirit, and we all share the same spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:12-13) No matter our differences - race, culture, political views, social status, church association - we who are in Christ are ONE BODY...ONE SPIRIT...ALL sharing the same Spirit - HIS HOLY SPIRIT! God created a diverse world full of diverse peoples. Diversity also exists in His Body of Believers. My Bible commentary offers further insight into diversity within the body, "Learn to enjoy the way we members of Christ's body complement one another." God doesn't want cookie cutter Christians. He wants diversity! We all have different jobs to do and differing gifts to offer. If we were all the same I cannot help but to think not much Kingdom work would get done. God uses this diversity within His Church to further His Kingdom!
Secondly, with diversity can come disagreements. And, because we are human, each and every one of us are prone to mistakes and subject to sin. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4:2 that we in Christ need to be humble, gentle, and patient with each other. Therefore, when we see faults in others we are to first be humble - because we are not perfect either. We are to show patience and gentleness in dealing with them rather than focusing soley on their shortcomings. That is how God has dealt with us - allowing His Son, Jesus Christ, to take the punishment for our sins. God loves and offers us forgiveness so we are to do the same for others! Instead of responding to others in a critical spirit, our love response should be taking positive steps to help strengthen those who are weak or at fault. We have to be gentle because we are not privy to all of the facts - we do not know what kind of pain or troubles someone is struggling with. Furthermore, we are more effective in helping others overcome if we have established a genuine relationship with them. Instead of judging others because of their differences and faults, get to know the person. Pray for them. But do not just stop there. Spend quality time with them. Be a true friend. Help them out of genuine concern and offer correction (if necessary) out of love. Some of my closest friends over the years have been people who were not necessarily cut from the same cloth as me. But after spending time with them and getting to know them, these are friendships I value and cherish! It does not matter if we see eye to eye, we are friends. We understand each other. We value each other's opinions and we are patient with each other's faults. And we let each other know when we see things in them that causes concern - because of our love and genuine interest in each other's well being.
And here is where verse 3 comes in. Not only must we be patient with one another's faults, we must do all that we can to live peaceably with one another. Without love and patience for one another, peace cannot exist. That is why remaining humble and dealing with fellow believers gently and patiently is so important. Infighting and arguments hinder unity within the Body. In order to attain that peace, we must willing to allow the Spirit of God to lead us instead of our human nature. Those who focus on God instead of themselves can achieve this spirit of peace both within and without. In response, our words and actions should bring this peace to the Body - building up all members and making us all fit for His Service.
For we who are in Christ belong to one body, united under one head - Jesus Christ! And this body serves a God who is active in our lives... He is OVER ALL, IN ALL, and LIVES THROUGH ALL!
Praying for the Holy Spirit to give me a heart that loves the members of the Body as God loves us...for a peaceful spirit that offers mercy and forgiveness - a spirit of humility, gentleness, and patience.
In His Love, Cathy
Ephesians 4:1-6
In reading Ephesians Chapter 4, I am struck not just with the theme of unity in the Body of Christ, but also how that unity is attained.
We so often hear how The Body of Christ, the Church, is supposed to be unified. In Ephesians 4, Paul shows us how true unity of believers can be obtained.
First and foremost, we should always remember what unites us as followers of Christ. "The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one spirit, and we all share the same spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:12-13) No matter our differences - race, culture, political views, social status, church association - we who are in Christ are ONE BODY...ONE SPIRIT...ALL sharing the same Spirit - HIS HOLY SPIRIT! God created a diverse world full of diverse peoples. Diversity also exists in His Body of Believers. My Bible commentary offers further insight into diversity within the body, "Learn to enjoy the way we members of Christ's body complement one another." God doesn't want cookie cutter Christians. He wants diversity! We all have different jobs to do and differing gifts to offer. If we were all the same I cannot help but to think not much Kingdom work would get done. God uses this diversity within His Church to further His Kingdom!
Secondly, with diversity can come disagreements. And, because we are human, each and every one of us are prone to mistakes and subject to sin. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4:2 that we in Christ need to be humble, gentle, and patient with each other. Therefore, when we see faults in others we are to first be humble - because we are not perfect either. We are to show patience and gentleness in dealing with them rather than focusing soley on their shortcomings. That is how God has dealt with us - allowing His Son, Jesus Christ, to take the punishment for our sins. God loves and offers us forgiveness so we are to do the same for others! Instead of responding to others in a critical spirit, our love response should be taking positive steps to help strengthen those who are weak or at fault. We have to be gentle because we are not privy to all of the facts - we do not know what kind of pain or troubles someone is struggling with. Furthermore, we are more effective in helping others overcome if we have established a genuine relationship with them. Instead of judging others because of their differences and faults, get to know the person. Pray for them. But do not just stop there. Spend quality time with them. Be a true friend. Help them out of genuine concern and offer correction (if necessary) out of love. Some of my closest friends over the years have been people who were not necessarily cut from the same cloth as me. But after spending time with them and getting to know them, these are friendships I value and cherish! It does not matter if we see eye to eye, we are friends. We understand each other. We value each other's opinions and we are patient with each other's faults. And we let each other know when we see things in them that causes concern - because of our love and genuine interest in each other's well being.
And here is where verse 3 comes in. Not only must we be patient with one another's faults, we must do all that we can to live peaceably with one another. Without love and patience for one another, peace cannot exist. That is why remaining humble and dealing with fellow believers gently and patiently is so important. Infighting and arguments hinder unity within the Body. In order to attain that peace, we must willing to allow the Spirit of God to lead us instead of our human nature. Those who focus on God instead of themselves can achieve this spirit of peace both within and without. In response, our words and actions should bring this peace to the Body - building up all members and making us all fit for His Service.
For we who are in Christ belong to one body, united under one head - Jesus Christ! And this body serves a God who is active in our lives... He is OVER ALL, IN ALL, and LIVES THROUGH ALL!
Praying for the Holy Spirit to give me a heart that loves the members of the Body as God loves us...for a peaceful spirit that offers mercy and forgiveness - a spirit of humility, gentleness, and patience.
In His Love, Cathy
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Psalm 23:2
From my e-devotion:
"He leads me beside peaceful streams."
Psalm 23:2
"Picture yourself sitting beside a peaceful stream. What do you see? The world around you is reflected in a way that looks different from your own view as you sit there. It's as if the water were a camera, capturing a view of the world around you. Allow Jesus to be your Good Shepherd. He will show you a picture of the world the way he wants you to see it."
—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions
In His Love, Cathy
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Refocus: Psalm 77
And I said, "This is my fate;
the Most High has turned his hand against me."
But then I recall all you have done, Oh Lord;
I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.
They are constantly in my thoughts.
I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.
Psalm 77:10-11
Have you ever been in such a hopeless situation that you felt that not even God could help? Have you ever cried out to God in desperation yet felt your pleas went unheard or doubted God's ability to answer them - or worse- that God did not care?
In Psalm 77, we see Asaph in extreme distress making his own desperate plea to God. And like us, at first he did not feel God's comforting presence. He could not be comforted because he doubted in God's care for him and ability to answer his requests. His focus was on himself and his troubles. He was in such strife that he could not see beyond his own pain.
But as Asaph continued to pray, we see a shift in focus. Asaph began to recall all of God's wonderful deeds from the past. And once he started, he could not stop! His confidence in God's love for him and God's ability to answer prayer were reaffirmed! All doubt was gone! His desperate pleas were turned into songs of praise!
Our own despair can only be relieved by refocusing on God's holiness and love for us. When we are distressed, we can respond by remembering all the wonderful deeds God has done, thanking Him for each and every one. And as we pray, God will heal our broken spirits and shift our focus to Him! He will turn our desperate pleas into songs of praise!
Thank God today for all that He has done for you! Be blessed my friends!
Cathy
the Most High has turned his hand against me."
But then I recall all you have done, Oh Lord;
I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.
They are constantly in my thoughts.
I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.
Psalm 77:10-11
Have you ever been in such a hopeless situation that you felt that not even God could help? Have you ever cried out to God in desperation yet felt your pleas went unheard or doubted God's ability to answer them - or worse- that God did not care?
In Psalm 77, we see Asaph in extreme distress making his own desperate plea to God. And like us, at first he did not feel God's comforting presence. He could not be comforted because he doubted in God's care for him and ability to answer his requests. His focus was on himself and his troubles. He was in such strife that he could not see beyond his own pain.
But as Asaph continued to pray, we see a shift in focus. Asaph began to recall all of God's wonderful deeds from the past. And once he started, he could not stop! His confidence in God's love for him and God's ability to answer prayer were reaffirmed! All doubt was gone! His desperate pleas were turned into songs of praise!
Our own despair can only be relieved by refocusing on God's holiness and love for us. When we are distressed, we can respond by remembering all the wonderful deeds God has done, thanking Him for each and every one. And as we pray, God will heal our broken spirits and shift our focus to Him! He will turn our desperate pleas into songs of praise!
Thank God today for all that He has done for you! Be blessed my friends!
Cathy
Saturday, October 5, 2013
A Verse to Pray: Psalm 51:10
"Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
Psalm 51:10 (NIV)
I pray this verse each morning. It has been a staple in my spiritual armor and a crucial verse in my daily walk.
Why is this verse so important to me? Because I'm human. Because left to my own devices, I do stupid stuff. I sin even though I try not to. I mess up. I let things get to me. I am selfish. I struggle. I can react out of my human nature instead of God's nature within me. I shove God to the side and I take control - at least I think I do. I let myself get burned out and burned up. I hurt others - whether intentionally or unintentionally. And when I live out of my own nature instead of the nature of the Holy Spirit, my heart becomes polluted and my spirit is compromised.
Each day, I come before God, seeking His forgiveness and mercy. No matter how hard I try or how good my intentions are, without God, I am unable to make internal, purifying changes. God is the only one who can change me from within - creating in me a clean and pure heart and a renewed spirit strong enough to live for Him. I pray Psalm 51:10 asking God to fill me with new thoughts and desires that align my heart to His. I recognize my own shortcomings and weaknesses - and my desperate need for Him. I pray this verse because what is within me will be evidenced by what comes out of me. "...For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgement day..." Matthew 12:34-35 (NLT)
Because Jesus Christ shed His Blood for our sins, we can turn to Him for forgiveness and mercy! We can ask Him to clean up our messy hearts, and renew our tired and weakened spirits! I pray that you would yield your heart to Him today!
Create in me a pure heart, O Lord, and renew a steadfast spirit within me!
In His Love, Cathy
and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
Psalm 51:10 (NIV)
I pray this verse each morning. It has been a staple in my spiritual armor and a crucial verse in my daily walk.
Why is this verse so important to me? Because I'm human. Because left to my own devices, I do stupid stuff. I sin even though I try not to. I mess up. I let things get to me. I am selfish. I struggle. I can react out of my human nature instead of God's nature within me. I shove God to the side and I take control - at least I think I do. I let myself get burned out and burned up. I hurt others - whether intentionally or unintentionally. And when I live out of my own nature instead of the nature of the Holy Spirit, my heart becomes polluted and my spirit is compromised.
Each day, I come before God, seeking His forgiveness and mercy. No matter how hard I try or how good my intentions are, without God, I am unable to make internal, purifying changes. God is the only one who can change me from within - creating in me a clean and pure heart and a renewed spirit strong enough to live for Him. I pray Psalm 51:10 asking God to fill me with new thoughts and desires that align my heart to His. I recognize my own shortcomings and weaknesses - and my desperate need for Him. I pray this verse because what is within me will be evidenced by what comes out of me. "...For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgement day..." Matthew 12:34-35 (NLT)
Because Jesus Christ shed His Blood for our sins, we can turn to Him for forgiveness and mercy! We can ask Him to clean up our messy hearts, and renew our tired and weakened spirits! I pray that you would yield your heart to Him today!
Create in me a pure heart, O Lord, and renew a steadfast spirit within me!
In His Love, Cathy
Friday, October 4, 2013
Reflection on Today's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40:31
"But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not grow faint."
Isaiah 40:31
God loves us. God wants the best for us. It's kind of hard to believe this when it seems life keeps knocking you down. But God promises that those who trust in Him will find the strength to overcome life's difficulties.
I could not have survived through some really tough times - some deeply traumatizing and hopeless experiences - without God's sustaining strength. He has never once left my side. Even at times when I did not feel His presence, He was there right beside me. He opened doors that were boarded tightly shut. He gave me hope when there was none in sight. He gave me a strength that I never dreamed existed within me.
Trusting God in the midst of pain, suffering, hopelessness, and loss is extremely difficult for us to do. Naturally, our own pain and suffering can cloud our hearts. We can get lost in our own emotions. And though healthy emotional responses are a way to cope with difficulties, unchecked emotions can take us down a dark path. We must remember that we do not have to face difficulties alone. ...Those who trust in the Lord will find NEW STRENGTH!
And those things that were meant to cause harm and hurt, have actually brought about good. I now have a ever increasing joy that comes from a deepening trust in Christ. In Him I have the strength to do all things. So if you are facing difficulties, there is hope! Look to God. He will give you new strength!
Peace and blessings.
Cathy
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not grow faint."
Isaiah 40:31
God loves us. God wants the best for us. It's kind of hard to believe this when it seems life keeps knocking you down. But God promises that those who trust in Him will find the strength to overcome life's difficulties.
I could not have survived through some really tough times - some deeply traumatizing and hopeless experiences - without God's sustaining strength. He has never once left my side. Even at times when I did not feel His presence, He was there right beside me. He opened doors that were boarded tightly shut. He gave me hope when there was none in sight. He gave me a strength that I never dreamed existed within me.
Trusting God in the midst of pain, suffering, hopelessness, and loss is extremely difficult for us to do. Naturally, our own pain and suffering can cloud our hearts. We can get lost in our own emotions. And though healthy emotional responses are a way to cope with difficulties, unchecked emotions can take us down a dark path. We must remember that we do not have to face difficulties alone. ...Those who trust in the Lord will find NEW STRENGTH!
And those things that were meant to cause harm and hurt, have actually brought about good. I now have a ever increasing joy that comes from a deepening trust in Christ. In Him I have the strength to do all things. So if you are facing difficulties, there is hope! Look to God. He will give you new strength!
Peace and blessings.
Cathy
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
God's Perfect Timing
Read on a friend's facebook status today...
"The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent." (Exodus 14:14 NASB)
I needed to hear this so badly. God always places just the right encouragement exactly when we need it the most. Today has been one of those days. Grateful for a God who loves us so very much that He shows us that love in even the daily details of our lives. If only we could all offer that same love, grace, and concern to others. (And I am preaching to myself here, too!)
What a day! What a year!!!! But God is still good!
In His Love, Cathy
"The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent." (Exodus 14:14 NASB)
I needed to hear this so badly. God always places just the right encouragement exactly when we need it the most. Today has been one of those days. Grateful for a God who loves us so very much that He shows us that love in even the daily details of our lives. If only we could all offer that same love, grace, and concern to others. (And I am preaching to myself here, too!)
What a day! What a year!!!! But God is still good!
In His Love, Cathy
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