At the End of Day Four of Lent

At the end of my day, of the Fourth Day of Lent, I have this prayer of praise to give:

"O, wonderful Lord of all creation, I thank you for another day!!! As I reflect on the past week, I am awed and humbled by your presence in my life!!! I do not understand why you would extend your grace and mercy to someone like me, but I am ever grateful for it!!! Help me to grow this year, O Lord, closer to you than ever before!!! Each day, each week, each month: closer still!!! I hope to be able to radiate you, Lord, in even the most mundane of activities!!! Amen."

"Momma Bear" Spirit

I think I have a "Momma Bear" spirit...I feel very protective of people who are the victims of injustice. I feel compelled to ACT when someone appears to be endangered.

I've never really thought of myself in such a way before today, never been referred to as that before, that I know of...and yet I think it is not an inaccurate description of me.

Interesting. I will ponder this.

The Family of God

This song has been on my heart heavily in recent days. Thought I'd share:

"I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God.

You will notice we say 'brother and sister' 'round here,
It's because we're a family and these are so near;
When one has a heartache, we all share the tears,
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.

I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God.

From the door of an orphanage to the house of the King,
No longer an outcast, a new song I sing;
From rags unto riches, from the weak to the strong,
I'm not worthy to be here, but praise God I belong!

I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God."

Praise Party in My Heart

My prayer of praise this afternoon, Day Three of Lent: "GOD!!! I am utterly amazed by YOU!!! I sing and shout my praises from the rooftops until I am hoarse from the effort!!! And then I get a banner and wave it unto you, Master of the Universe, until my arm seizes up from the effort!!! And then I just look up, and BLINK and BLINK and BLINK at You, because I know You know my heart, that it has not stopped praising You and waving a banner before You. You are my Cause for celebration!!! I will not stop the Praise Party in my heart!!!" Amen!!!

GOD IS ABLE

Sometimes, I feel so helpless. Tonight, I wrote "shot-in-the-dark" emails to the White House, begging them to help the imprisoned Iranian Pastor Youcef Nardarkhani and his family. Will anyone see it? (Or act on it?) ... I just cannot live with myself, or kiss my dear daughter goodnight and crawl into my own nice warm bed, without doing everything I can think of to help this man and his family. ... But I will keep praying. And praying. And praying. GOD IS ABLE!!!

"To God be the Glory"

"To God Be The Glory"

How can I say thanks
for the things you have done for me
Things so undeserved
Yet you give to prove your love for me
The voices of a million angels
Cannot express my gratitude
All that I am or ever hope to be
I owe it all to Thee

(Chorus)
To God be the glory
To God be the glory
To God be the glory
For the things He has done
With His blood, He has saved me
By His power, He has raised me.
To God be the glory
For the things he has done

(Bridge)
Just let me live my life
And let it be pleasing, Lord to Thee
And should I gain any praise,
Let it go to Calvary.

With His blood, He has saved me
By His power, He has raised me.
To God be the glory
For the things he has done.

--Andrae Crouch

This Spot in the Road

"I believe we often fail to make the connections between where we started on our journey and the place where we currently find ourselves. My prayer is that God will help you gain insight into what prevents you from being the most successful version of you possible!" --T.D. Jakes on Facebook


Where we started.

Where we are right now.

Connect the dots.

Extend them beyond you now.

Perspective.

"I Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now"

This song came to my mind this evening. It's one we used to hear sung often in church many years ago.


"I Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now":

I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now,
I've got to make it to Heaven somehow.
Though the devil tempts and tries to turn me around.
He's offered everything that's got a name
All the wealth I want and worldly fame,
But if I could, still I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now.

1. I started out traveling for the Lord many years ago,
I've had a lot of heartaches, had a lot of troubles and woes.
Oh, when I would stumble, then I would humble down.
I'd say, "Thank the Lord, I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now."

CHORUS:
I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now,
I've got to make it to Heaven somehow.
Though the devil tempts and tries to turn me around.
He's offered everything that's got a name
All the wealth I want and worldly fame,
But if I could, still I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now.


2. There's nothing in this world that can ever take the place of God's Love,
Silver and gold could never buy His love from above.
When my soul needs healing and I begin feeling His power,
I can say, "Thank the Lord, I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now."

Holding On

"Are you holding on to things today that are holding you back from experiencing all of the incredible blessings that God has for you?" --Joel Osteen on Facebook

What am I holding on to? Is there something in my life that I'm refusing to give up? Something that I still have a firm grip on and just cannot seem to let it go?

I think it's interesting that this quote mirrors what's been on my mind lately: doing a personal inventory of my life. Is there anything I'm holding back from God?