He Holds

Lord, draw close to me.... Hold me, 
that I may not pull away.  

I am yours, Father.  No other place for me but in your arms.  Gazing heavenward.  

Seeking your Scriptures.  

Let there be nothing in me to hinder Your work.  Use me, mold me, guide me.  

Your love is amazing....

Holy, devoted, unrelenting pursuit.

My heart sings a new song!  

Speak truth into me. No lies from the devil.

                        Thank you for not forgetting...

Forgetting to Give Thanks

"Suppose for a moment," Reardon had said, "that God began taking from us the many things for which we have failed to give thanks.  Which of our limbs and faculties would be left?  Would I still have my hands and my mind?  And what about loved ones?  If God were to take from me all those persons and things for which I have not given thanks, who or what would be left of me?"
An excerpt from 'Out to Canaan' by Jan Karon

Remember to give thanks!  Do not take for granted the small, seemingly insignificant things that have a great deal to do with who we are, what we do, and how we live.  God is a giver of good things.

Point to Jesus

In Bible times the Lord often gave his disciples the ability to heal the sick, cast out demons, etc...  I can't imagine what that must have been like!  Luke 10:17-20 says, "The seventy-two returned with joy and said, 'Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.'  He replied, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven,  I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy, nothing will harm you.  However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.' "  Jesus is encouraging them to keep their focus where it should be.  So often our flesh get us into trouble.  Rather than giving all the glory to the Father and keeping a humble and grateful attitude, we get a big head.  With out God, we are nothing and we have nothing.  But without keeping a heavenly, God-centered mind set, we begin attributing the gifts, qualities and benefits to ourselves instead of pointing others to Jesus.  It's a very dangerous road to travel!  So slippery.  Satan knows how pride loves to rule in our hearts.  It's one of the quickest ways to put distance between you and Jesus.  The farther you move from Him, the closer you move to Satan.

Another thing I notice about this passage is this: "...I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven... rejoice that your names are written in heaven."  I have to wonder if Jesus was eluding to the fact that when Satan fell, it was a scary, horrifying thing.  The fact that they belong to God is something to never cease rejoicing about!  How awful and scary to belong to Satan!
Thank you Jesus for saving me and loving me when I am so undeserving!