8 You keep track of all my sorrows.*
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
If you like this version you can access it for FREE
"You keep track of my sorrows."---
I don't know about you, but besides my mother (and she don't know it all) I'm not sure anyone has kept track of my sorrows--or even cares to! But my heavenly Father, my awesome God, has kept track of ALL my sorrows.
"You have collected all my tears in your bottle."
What, my pain, disappointments, sorrow, joy.....those tears of these feelings are so important to you, that you collect them in a bottle! I'd say, yes you care. You collect my tears!
That's what I call.....
Not one bit of selfishness or what about me...what are you going to do for me...are you always going to be there for me?
Do you think....
Well.................
I'm not sure this song 'fits' as well as others, but I haven't heard it for a long time and I love to listen to Steven Curtis Chapman. One of the first modern Christian singers I ever heard.
For the Sake of the Call
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Are we Bible readers snobs? Does anyone but Christians get this? And what should we do about it?
But the person who is not a Christian does not understand these words from the Holy Spirit. He thinks they are foolish. He cannot understand them because he does not have the Holy Spirit to help him understand. -1 Corinthians 2:14
So how do we get non-Christians to want to understand?
My suggestion is to live. Live the life of a Christian. We had the perfect example. We must be with non-Christians and let them see us handle things as Christians--and when we fall short--which we will--show that we are forgiven!
And I recently found another outspoken Christian on Ravelry--a knitting community on the internet--and she had this on her site:
Do you have to be a Christian to think this is funny?
Someone called me a gifted blogger......
would any of you take that as a compliment?
I took it as a
compliment!
So much so that I probably quoted it 20 times in one day to my hubby. His comment was, 'I'm going to clobber him!', refering to the person that sent the nice comment!
Hubby didn't get it. I finally broke it down to him. I obviously need to be complimented more, if I hold on to one so much. I think he understood what I said, but it's been about 6 hours and no compliment yet!
Everyone needs a......
Want to be a successful husband or a good boyfriend?
A few nice words go a long way! Us girls have a L O N G memory!
So did I get your attention! And do it often...several times a day! Don't lie, just say nice things about what you like!
Why am I talking to you guys? Because I really believe most gals do it automaticly! We're.......
cheerleaders!
So remember this...............
I must be honest.....one reason I took this as a great compliment is that it came from our pastor.
So from me,
Richard and from Terry.....well, I'm sure he'll be talking to you himself!
The Man and Woman Sin
1 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, "Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?"
2 "Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden," the woman replied.3 "It's only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, 'You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.'"
4 "You won't die!" the serpent replied to the woman.5 "God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil." ******************************************************
Well, most of us have heard this story, at least once, whether you really believe it or not.
Me, I'm a believer! I know Jesus, in the New Testament, used parrables to make His point, and sometimes only the believers could even come close to understanding. But back to the subject..........
Yeah, the obvious, they sinned and we are paying for it. Well, if the truth be known, we'd all do the same. They only had ONE thing they couldn't do! Now there's a list of TEN! (The Ten Commandments--and we all fall short of them!)
But still, this isn't my point today!
Did you notice that Eve was TALKING to a snake?!? I mean, I've probably used words when I've seen a mouse, or spider or something like that....
BUT THE SNAKE TALKED BACK!!!
I'm sorry, but if the mouse I was chasing with a broom, and talking to (like...get out of my kitchen you little pest)....suddenly turned and said, 'but Linda, I really don't eat that much, I'm little'......I'm not sure what my next words would be!
As I was watching a video of a Christian song, they had birds soaring, and whales jumping out of the water, and frogs.....I suddenly wondered.....when we get to Heaven, will we be able to talk to the animals?
I mean, Adam named them all and Eve didn't go screaming to Adam that the snake had just talked to her! She just mentioned 'matter of factly'
Here's how it goes:
6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man* and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees.9 Then the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"
10 He replied, "I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked."
11 "Who told you that you were naked?" the LORD God asked. "Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?"
12 The man replied, "It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it."
13 Then the LORD God asked the woman, "What have you done?"
"The serpent deceived me," she replied. "That's why I ate it."
14 Then the LORD God said to the serpent,
"Because you have done this, you are cursed
more than all animals, domestic and wild.
You will crawl on your belly,
groveling in the dust as long as you live.
15 And I will cause hostility between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring.
He will strike* your head,
and you will strike his heel."
16 Then he said to the woman,
"I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy,
and in pain you will give birth.
And you will desire to control your husband,
but he will rule over you.*"
17 And to the man he said,
"Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree
whose fruit I commanded you not to eat,
the ground is cursed because of you.
All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.
18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you,
though you will eat of its grains.
19 By the sweat of your brow
will you have food to eat
until you return to the ground
from which you were made.
For you were made from dust,
and to dust you will return."
Now, if this interests you and you don't have a Bible, or don't know where it is, or maybe, like this translation better than the one you have, you can find it on-line.
Well, I hope this makes you think about the old days, and the present, where you are with God, and where will you be in the end....actually, I won't have an end....I have eternity....and so do you, it's just mine is called......
Paradise
What's your eternity called?
Like I once told a friend, who was going in the hospital for some test on his heart.
I said I would pray for him. He then told me he wasn't sure about the whole God thing!
God always shows up when I need Him!
(I know these are God's words...I'm not this smart!)
I said,
You know, if you're right, when we die, we are both in the same boat........
But if I'm right, not only are you not in my boat.....you're not in the same ocean I'm in!
That man had minor heart problems and now regularly attends church! Not my power, but Gods!
Title: Everlasting God Artist: Chris Tomlin Album: See the Morning
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord We will wait upon the Lord We will wait upon the Lord
Our God, You reign forever Our hope, our Strong Deliverer You are the everlasting God The everlasting God You do not faint You won't grow weary
Our God, You reign forever Our hope, our Strong Deliverer You are the everlasting God The everlasting God You do not faint You won't grow weary
You're the defender of the weak You comfort those in need You lift us up on wings like eagles
Last Sunday, a very dear church friend asked me to give a little short (2-3 minute) prayer for our music minister, who is going on sabbatical for the next 3 months.
As I pulled out of the parking lot at church, I thought, have I lost my mind? How could she possible think I'm qualified to give a prayer over this lady? She became a christian very early in life, and as her testimony goes, and I have no doubt that she is being modest about her dedication, she felt a huge pull to be in service to God in a big way! While she was planning her next step of faith and service, I was practicing my next 'two-step' and how to pay for the next big weekend of partying! How could I possible be qualified? I also have issues with my 'weight' and I can hardly stand on my knees which have to be replaced? What kind of 'spectacle' will that be, if I stumble and fall? How painful will it be to stand? Will I go mute and not be able to talk at all!
Plus I'm a big time procrastinator! I knew I would be worrying about it all week and Friday or even possible Saturday, be trying to over and over rewrite the prayer, practice saying it over and over and timining it some many times I loose count....had I lost my mind. There were so many other women who are so much more eloquint in speach, and much more able to quote verses, word for word. I so much want to be able to memorize my favorites, and pray for that ablility, but my mind will hold on to the concepts, but the words will not stay. Maybe too much drinking in my younger years (19 years of sobriety--praise God!)
So, I finally realize, I had said yes and would just do what I needed to do, to get this chore done and be done with it!
Mondays, my Bible study usually is going through the notes of the Sunday service and rereading the verses used and then reading preveious verses and the next ones (to see how the story ends) and sometimes reading chapters if not the whole book (I have the Bible on CD's and DVD's so alot of it is following along as someone else reads it--it's great!) So last Monday started off like all the other Mondays, praying to hear from God and to totally understand what He wanted ME to hear.
I was amazed when I felt He was telling me to close my Bible!?! God telling me to close my Bible. I must have my wires crossed! Why would God tell someone to CLOSE the Bible?
Then I felt as if He wanted me to open up the WORD program and get started on the prayer. What, it's only Monday! I have days to dread that chore left!
Well, I opened the word program and was amazed as my poor arthritic fingers flew across my laptop! What even amazed me more, was the beautiful treasure that I read on my screen. What an amazing, awesome prayer! I was so afraid people would think it was my words, when I am only the vessal carrying the water!
My God is awesome! I read and timed the prayer only once...2.5 minutes....but I was speaking fast....so I could slow it down a bit. I read it a couple of times more and sent it to my friend who had requested me to do this. She answered back that it was beautiful and she wished she had thought of it! (Me too!) I shared it with my best friend, Shelly, and she liked it and so did my family. So that was it! It was done! I reread it Friday and once on Saturday night and once Sunday morning before service.
Here is a copy of God's prayer, for Jan, through me:
O, My Father, I come before You this morning, asking for my sister Jan’s peace in her upcoming time away from us.
I pray that she becomes like the tree that You have created and that I have come to love. The beautiful Willow Tree.
As You gave us the great Weeping Willow, You gave us women a great gift. The gift to openly weep, during fearful times, painful times and during great happiness. My prayer is that as Jan releases these feelings, she will feel You rejoicing with her, and You will release her pain and conquer her fears.
You have made this tree strong, and I pray, you will continue to stay close to Jan and make Your ways known to her so clearly, that she will be strong in her decisions as she continues so faithfully in Your service.
You made this tree grow beside streams and waterways, as it’s roots reach down into the earth and thirst for refreshing water. Please continue to let Jan feed from the living water our Savior provides in us and let her knowledge flow from the Spirit of our Lord. Continue the thirst for the relationship she desires with the Father that sent His precious Son, so that we would be able to come to You.
You made the branches so delicate that they blow in the wind. The slightest of breezes causes it to move. Let Jan be so in touch with You, that the slightest need for adjustment and change will be felt and she will bow to Your desire.
The amount of shade and rest area is great under this amazing tree. As Jan is able to travel this world You have made for us, let her feel and know that no matter how far she is from this church home, that she is still under Your care.
I know, dear Lord, this sister through Christ You have given me, is Your faithful servant, but has been so busy in Your service, she needs to rest. Please let her feel Your wonderful peace as she gets the rest her body and mind so need. Let her feel that the worries and busyness of her daily life will be covered by Your power, and she may enjoy the fruits of her labor in a blessed way.
And in Jesus our Saviors name, I ask that she goes in peace, knowing our love and prayers will follow her.
Amen
**********************************************
There was very little nerveousness. My daughter even asked me Sunday on the way to church if I was nerveous, and I said 'no, should I be!?!' It is amazing what happens when we move over and let God!
Many people, including, dear Jan, came up to me and commented on the beautiful prayer. I had to agree, but with humility and modesty....because all I supplied was an almost complete willing heart, fingers, a laptop and a word program....God supplied the rest!
It has been one of the greatest experiences in my life. Thank you Stacy for asking me to do this. Thank you Jan, for giving me such a wonderful example of a faithful woman for both me and my daughter to call friend, and thank you God, for showing up and doing it all!
I wish the lyrics were in English
I found the lyrics:
I will bless the Lord forever I will trust Him at all times He has delivered me from all fear He has set my feet upon a rock I will not be moved And I'll say of the Lord
You are my Shield, my Strength My Portion Deliverer My Shelter, Strong tower My very present help in time of need
Whom have I in heaven but You There's none I desire beside You You have made me glad And I'll say of the Lord
You are my Shield, my Strength My Portion Deliverer My Shelter, Strong tower My very present help in time of need
Title: Made Me Glad Artist: Hillsong Album: Blessed
Most of these thoughts and words are not mine. I have the Holy Spirit alive in me....and often have no idea what is going to be written until I read it as it is being typed. It's awesome!
I love my life...most of the time. Daddy always said, these are the cards you've been dealt, no re-dos, do the best with what you've got! I sure did love that man!
