Tag Archives: God

Oh That You Would Bless Me Indeed!

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These words are from the book, “The Prayer of Jabez” by Bruce Wilkinson, taken from 1 Chronicles 4:10 (NKJV).

“Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.

Let me tell you what happened to me within a nine year period of repeating that prayer:

Two grandsons were added to my twelve grandchildren, seven girls and five boys, evening up the genders. Five of these granddaughters blessed me with nine great-grandchildren with a tenth due in November.

I became an Elder in my church and have fifteen families in my territory, and am available for prayer, information, or help in some way. As a member of our Pastoral Care team there are many opportunities to be of service to those who experience some of life’s difficulties as shut-ins, hospital patients and long-term care residents.

In between times I survived lung cancer, a heart attack, and the death of a spouse. Several other health issues have assailed me over the years and I’m still here.

As you can see, my territory has been enlarged, His hand has been with me, and I have been blessed indeed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quips and Quotes

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It makes me happy to find quips and quotes that pertain to life, common sense, and spirituality. Here are a few I came across recently:

Belief…its essence is invisible but it’s power is extraordinary.

Start every day off with a smile and get it over with. – W. C. Fields

Humility is the willingness to become teachable.

Faith is like WiFi, it’s invisible but it has the power to connect you to what you need. Internet

Worry wears a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. A proverb

I am not afraid of death, I just don’t want to be there when it happens – Woody Allen.

“I don’t know what day I will die but I am not worried about it. I enjoy celestial tranquility.” Fidel Castro

If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. Thumper

God wants full custody of his children, not just weekend visits. Internet

The moment we take our last breath on earth, we take our first in Heaven. Billy Graham

Take a moment to be in the moment. Unknown

Everything you can imagine is real – Picasso.

Live in harmony with the still, small voice within you. Stephen Covey

They who apologize are the bravest; they who forgive are the strongest; they who forget are the happiest. November 26/16 sermon

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel – Maya Angelou.

We are all serving a life sentence and our only hope for pardon is good behavior. Douglas Horton

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Own Your Power

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There is power and then there is power. The most powerful people are those who use their power for the good of all, not for their own self aggrandizement.

Most of us don’t feel that we have any power over anything until something catches our attention to prove otherwise. In my case it was the Bible’s many scriptures introducing me to my power. Please read on.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; Acts 1:8 NIV

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us..Ephesians 3:20 NIV

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

The wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength. Proverbs 24:5 NIV

…being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance …Colossians 1:11

And then there is my poem:

“All Things Are Possible”.

All things are possible

To those who believe

To those who have faith

As a small mustard seed

All goals can be reached

All dreams can come true

When you call on the Power

Inherent in you

All life can be lived

To the fullest extent

All wishes fulfilled

As you know that He meant

All things are possible

To those who believe

To those who have faith

As a small mustard seed.

©1984

And so, the moral of today’s post is to own your power.

 

 

How Much is Too Much?

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My attention has been drawn back to the year 2007 when I was in a hospital emergency room experiencing heart attack symptoms. While there I met an eighty-four old grandmother who confided in me that it didn’t matter if she lived or died at this point in her life. As she poured out her sorrows to me my heart broke even more.

This wonderful woman had lost two adult children…one to cancer and the other in a car accident. If that wasn’t bad enough one of her grandchildren, at eighteen months, had died of meningitis.

I believe we met at that particular time because I needed her strength and courage to lean on. I had had lung cancer surgery two years prior to this heart episode, and my husband, now in the final stages of Alzheimer’s disease, was dying.

How much is too much? Only God knows.

 

God Took Her Soul

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She was stunningly beautiful with a healthy body, luxurious hair, a quick smile, and gentle, friendly manner. She worked where I did in 2005 and was always a pleasure to be around.

Then, in 2008, cancer struck. As it so often does, it played havoc with her life. A bony body, hairless head, and quietude were the new norm. It was almost as hard on those of us who worked with her as it was on her family to see this dramatic change in such a short time.

And then she died…at the tender age of fifty years. This vibrant, vivacious young woman was no longer with us. Her bright smile and happy face were now only a memory…a haunting, lovely memory.

My only consolation was that though cancer took her beautiful hair and body, God took her soul.

 

Lost and Found

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Here’s a true story I heard on the news in 2008, and noted in one of my journals because I love coincidences.

A lady found an engraved school ring in her back yard. She had no idea how long it had been there but tried to find the person whose name was on the ring, with no luck. She put the ring away in a drawer but kept the name in mind.

One day at her job as a store cashier, she noticed the same name on a gentleman’s credit card as he paid for his  purchases. When she asked him if that was his name and did he lose a school ring, he was flabbergasted that she had found it. So much time had lapsed that the ring no longer fit his ring finger but his pinkie. The lady was so excited she said that God had sent this man to her cash register.

I remember thanking God for a “good news” story for a change.

When God Speaks

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Many years ago I had a very vivid dream. I was on the lookout deck of the Toronto Dominion Tower which at that time was the highest building in Toronto. It was at a very trying time in my life and in my dream I was walking alone around the observation deck feeling lost and afraid. Presently, a faceless male figure came alongside me and held my right hand. At his touch, my body tingled from head to toe and I felt it was Jesus by my side.

I awoke, still tingling, feeling less distressed and somewhat comforted. That dream with its surge of feeling has always stayed with me.

Recently I read in Isaiah 41:13 – For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, “Do not fear, I will help you.”

It brought back that dream one hundredfold.

Please forgive me if I have blogged something like this in the past but it just boggles my mind when and how God speaks. Happy Sunday.

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An Excellent Book to Read

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Sometimes we need to read something out of our comfort zone and when we do we may see ourselves and our lives in a whole new way. We may learn to think in a different way and open our minds to topics we would rather ignore. It is all a  part of growing.

This is what The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren offers. This is a book that must be read with a highlighter and a pen or pencil in hand because there is too much to absorb at one time.

Subconsciously this book spurred me on to write my own book. I realize this in hindsight, after recently reading it for the umpteenth time. Here are a few examples of the passages I had highlighted, and even made notes to write about them:

Page 247 – If you really desire to be used by God, you must understand a powerful truth. The very experiences that you resented or regretted most in life –the ones you’ve wanted to hide and forget–are the experiences God wants to use to help others…For God to use your experiences, you must be willing to share them. (I did this in my book, My Precious Life.) 

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Page 289 – God has given you a Life Message to share…You have a storehouse of experiences that God wants to use to bring others into his family…

Page 290 – He wants you to share your story with others…If you don’t share it, it will be lost forever…

Page 291 – Sadly, we never learn from a lot that happens to us.

Page 28 – We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners…Many people are driven by resentment and anger. They hold on to hurts and never get over them. Instead of releasing their pain through forgiveness, they rehearse it over and over in their minds…Resentment always hurts you more than it does the person you resent.

I can’t recommend this book highly enough, and remember to use a highlighter; it is absolutely necessary. I truly hope you will read and savor this excellent book.

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Some Wise Words

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I picked this post up from one of Matthew Ruttan’s daily devotionals…as much for the picture as for the words. Some things always give us something to think about and this is one of those things…definitely thought provoking don’t you think? I hope your Wednesday offers you some wise words.

A Few Days With Charlie Brown – Thursday

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Charlie BrownAt one time or another we have all been where Charlie is in this clip; feeling lost and alone and wondering what life is all about. But though we feel lost, we are never alone and whether we know it or not, there is a plan for our life.

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“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