Archive for the ‘Christian’ Category

The Gift of Hope

Posted in Agoraphobia, Anxiety & Stress, Bible Study, Christian, devotional, Faith, inspirational, Panic Attacks, Panic Disorder Support, Praise, Scripture on July 18, 2007| Leave a Comment »

Blue Bird
An Eastern Bluebird Visits Me – Thank You Lord!

 

Are you tired of the way things are going in your life? Do you have problems in your relationships? Do you feel like you are under the heap instead of on top of it?

I’ve been corresponding with people on the internet for several years now, and if there is one thing I try to leave my readers with it is HOPE. When things get really bad and everything seems out of control sometimes a little thread of hope is all we have to hang onto. But, it is this thread of hope that keeps us going.

So, what is hope anyway? The dictionary says hope is: “belief that something good may happen.“ Yes, we need to have hope, but it needs to be more sure than just a belief. It needs to be something that we can depend on. That’s the kind of hope I want.

I’ve discovered there are two kinds of hope. There is the kind we find in our natural world, which is false hope, and the kind that God gives us which is true hope.

Here are some examples of the worldly kind of hope:

“I guess I’ll buy a lottery ticket and maybe I’ll win and become a millionaire. Then all my troubles will be over.” Lots of people buy into this false hope. Yes, it is possible to win, but not probable. The odds are against us.

“I hope to get that great job.” “I hope to make lots of money and retire early.” “I sure hope the weather is good tomorrow.” “I hope my husband gets that raise.” “I wish things would get better around here.” “I wish I could be a model.” “I hope Danny Boy wins in the 7th race, I’ve put my savings on him.” “I hope I can quit smoking.” None of these hopes or wishes have any guarantees with them. They may or may not come true. They are like a shot in the dark.

Have you ever had someone break a promise to you? We all have and it’s no fun. This happens to children a lot. Maybe a child has been promised a trip to the zoo next weekend, but dad unexpectedly has to work and the family can’t go. That child is heartbroken and feels like a his folks have broken their word to him. It wasn’t intentional on their part, but to the child it seemed like it was. Other times the adults in a family are so self-centered that they really don’t care if they make and break promises to anyone. What about all the broken promises given in wedding vows?

When I was growing up I was disappointed by adults many times. They didn’t live up to my expectations. Every time it hurt me and I evidentially got so I didn’t trust anyone. Has that happened to you?

Later in life I found out there was someone I could trust and that was God. He has given me another kind of hope for today and also or the future. I know he does not lie and He does not break His Word. That gives me a lot of confidence.

My definition of Christian hope: “Hope is the essence of God’s promises.” God has given us many precious promises in His Word. These promises are to help us live our lives full of hope. He never breaks His Word, as He cannot lie. So, if you want hope that is guaranteed then go to the Bible and you will find hundreds of promises just waiting for you to mine them.

(2 Peter 1:4 NASB) For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

God wants us to look to Him for hope.

(Jeremiah 29:11 NIV) “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.”

(Psalms 71:5 KJV) For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.No matter how we feel, we can and must still praise God for He is our help and hope.

(Psalms 42:11 NASB) Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

God promises that He will never leave us or forsake us. Can we say that about people we know?(Hebrews 13:5 NIV) “…Never will I leave you; Never will I forsake you.”

There are so many wonderful promises in scripture I could fill a book with them. God promises us eternal life, peace, love, grace, wisdom, joy, victory, strength, guidance, that he will meet all our needs, power, knowledge, wisdom, mercy, truth, forgiveness, a personal relationship with God, discernment, counsel from the Word and much, much more.

As you read your Bible you might want to highlight the precious promises that you discover. They are like gold nuggets to be treasured and stored in your heart.

God’s promises restored me as I struggled with fear and anxiety for many years. I learned to claim His promises and that He is dependable and can be trusted to keep His Word.

God has also promised us hope for the future. We have Heaven to look forward to. And, in the meantime, we have the blessed hope, the waiting for his arrival.

(Titus 2:13 NASB) “looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,”

Thank you God for the wonderful gift of HOPE!

“Hope…like the gleaming taper’s light,

Adorns and cheers our way;

And still, as darker grows the night,

Emits a brighter ray.” Oliver Goldsmith

Read Full Post »

Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling

Posted in Christian, devotional, Faith, Hymns, inspirational, Praise, Worship on June 21, 2007| 3 Comments »

Will L. Thomp­son, in Spark­ling Gems, Nos. 1 and 2, by bio J. Cal­vin Bush­ey (Chi­ca­go, Ill­i­nois: Will L. Thomp­son & Com­pa­ny, 1880)  (MI­DI, score).

When the world-re­nowned lay preach­er, Dwight Ly­man Moody, lay on his death bed in his North­field, Mass­a­chu­setts, home, Will Thomp­son made a spe­cial vi­sit to in­quire as to his con­di­tion. The at­tend­ing phy­si­cian re­fused to ad­mit him to the sick­room, and Moody heard them talk­ing just out­side the bed­room door. Re­cog­niz­ing Thomp­son’s voice, he called for him to come to his bed­side. Tak­ing the Ohio po­et-com­pos­er by the hand, the dy­ing evan­gel­ist said, “Will, I would ra­ther have writ­ten “Soft­ly and Ten­der­ly Je­sus is Call­ing” than an­y­thing I have been able to do in my whole life.”

cite Emurian, p. 109

This hymn was sung in the 1985 Acad­e­my Award win­ning mo­vie, “Trip to Boun­ti­ful,” and at a me­mor­i­al ser­vice for Amer­i­can ci­vil rights lead­er Mar­tin Lu­ther King, at the Eb­e­ne­zer Bap­tist Church, At­lan­ta, Georg­ia, Ap­ril 8, 1968.

Dear Friend, 
Have you turned your back on Jesus? Were you close to Him at one time, but somehow slipped away? Do you know deep down in your heart that you need to return home? If so, listen closely, His still small voice is calling you right now.  He is patiently waiting for you to come back to Him so He can be merciful and bless you.  

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.

Refrain

Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?

Refrain

Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
Passing from you and from me;
Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
Coming for you and for me.

Refrain

O for the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.

Refrain

Read Full Post »

When the Roll is Called up Yonder

Posted in Christian, devotional, Hymns, inspirational, Worship on June 4, 2007| 3 Comments »

Words & Music: bio James M. Black, 1893 (MI­DI, score). Black, a Meth­od­ist Sun­day school teach­er in Wil­liams­port, Penn­syl­van­ia, was call­ing roll one day for a youth meet­ing. Young Bes­sie, daugh­ter of a drunk­ard, did not show up, and he was dis­ap­point­ed at her fail­ure to ap­pear. Black made a com­ment to the ef­fect, “Well, I trust when the roll is called up yon­der, she’ll be there.” He tried to re­spond with an ap­prop­ri­ate song, but could not find one in his song book:

This lack of a fit­ting song caused me both sor­row and dis­ap­point­ment. An in­ner voice seemed to say, “Why don’t you write one?” I put away the thought. As I opened the gate on my way home, the same thought came again so strong­ly that tears filled my eyes. I en­tered the house and sat down at the pi­a­no. The words came to me ef­fort­less­ly…The tune came the same way—I dared not change a sin­gle note or word.

This song was sung in the 1941 Aca­de­my award win­ning mo­vie “Ser­geant York.”

When the Roll is Called up Yonder 

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Refrain

When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.

On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Refrain

Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Refrain

Read Full Post »

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Posted in Christian, Hymns, inspirational, Worship on June 1, 2007| 14 Comments »

Words & Music: bio Hel­en H. Lem­mel, 1922  (MI­DI, score).

This hymn was first pub­lished in Glad Songs, by the Brit­ish Na­tion­al Sun­day School Un­ion. Its lyr­ics were in­spired by the Gos­pel tract Fo­cused, by Lil­i­as Trot­ter, which in­clud­ed these words:

So then, turn your eyes upon Him, look full in­to His face and you will find that the things of earth will ac­quire a strange new dim­ness.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

 O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s a light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Refrain

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!

Refrain

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

Refrain

Read Full Post »

Shamanism

Posted in Agoraphobia, American culture, Anxiety & Stress, Bible Study, Christian, devotional, inspirational, Panic Attacks, Panic Disorder Support, Praise, Scripture on May 14, 2007| 6 Comments »

Phylox
Creeping Phlox – Spring is here!

 Some people promote shamanism as a viable treatment for panic attacks and agoraphobia.  Because of this I feel I must post this warning. I had panic attacks and agoraphobia for twenty years.  I’ve been free from fear and panic for over 14 years now.  During my illness I discovered the Lord and turned my life over to him.  I studied the Bible and as I put the Word in practice in my life I became well again.  I owe everything to the Lord and his wonderful grace.

 Shamanism is an occult practice.  Let me quote from one who knows.

“Shaman…is a word from the…Tungus people of Siberia, and has been adopted widely by anthropologists to refer to persons…previously known by such terns as ‘witch,’ ‘witch doctor,’ medicine man,’ sorcerer,’ wizard….’  A shaman…enters an altered state of consiousness–at will…to aquire knowledge, power, and to help other persons.  The shaman has at least one, and usually more, ‘spirits’ in his personal service.  To perform his work, the shaman depends on special, personal power, which is usually supplied by his guardian and helping spirits.”  –Michael Harner, anthropologist and shaman.

 Now lets see what the Bible has this to say about such practices:

(Deuteronomy 18:10 KJV) There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,

(Deuteronomy 18:11 KJV) Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

(Deuteronomy 18:12 KJV) For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

God hates these kind of practices and we need to be careful that we do not get involved in them.  Why?  Because God wants us to come to him with our problems and he will show us the answers.  He wants us to depend totally on him and not on ourselves or other people.  He loves us and wants to care for us.

To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

Read Full Post »

God or Mother Nature?

Posted in American culture, Anxiety & Stress, Bible Study, Christian, devotional, Faith, inspirational, Praise, Scripture, T.V. Programs, Worship on March 30, 2007| 168 Comments »

Tree Clouds

Does the phrase, “Mother Nature,” bug you as much as it does me? Who is in control anyway?  God or Mother Nature? 

I can’t believe I heard it again today on the news, “Mother Nature unleased her wrath again today!”  They were talking about the awful tornados that tore their way across the country. Every time there is some unusual weather event someone called, “Mother Nature,” gets the blame or credit.   Who is this Mother Nature anyway? 

The dictionary says:  Mother Nature, noun

“The personification of nature as a powerful and nurturing woman.”

Nature is everything that is not man-made according to the dictionary.  Therefore, nature is God made. 

Wikipedia says: 

“Mother Nature is a personification of nature.”

Every time we get tornados, hurricaines, blizzards, floods, and other weather woes the news and weather media blame it all on Mother Nature.  Not only that, but when we have wonderful weather and a beautiful day they say something like, “Mother Nature smiled on us today with this warm weather.”   She gets the credit and the glory.   So, what is the real story? 

God says in Exodus 20:3, NASB “You shall have no other gods before Me.”  This is one of the ten commandments, and is serious business.
 
God is to be praised and worshipped.  Not other gods.  We in our nation are getting very careless in this area.  When we hear the phrase, “Mother Nature”,  used over and over it becomes common.  We use it without thinking of the true meaning behind it.  Most of us wouldn’t intentionally praise another god.

Did you know that God is in control of the weather not Mother Nature?  

The Bible has a lot to say about God and how He controls the weather.

(Psalms 78:26 NASB) He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens And by His power He directed the south wind.

(Psalms 107:25 NASB) For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind, Which lifted up the waves of the sea.

(Psalms 135:7 NASB) He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; Who makes lightnings for the rain, Who brings forth the wind from His treasuries.

(Psalms 148:8 NASB) Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;

(Proverbs 30:4 NASB) Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son’s name? Surely you know!

(Mark 4:39 NASB) And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.

God created the Heavens and the Earth and He controls the weather. So, you may ask, “Why does God allow this terrible weather to cause us all kinds of problems?”  The answer is that God is Sovereign.  He can do whatever He wants.  He is in control and nothing gets by Him. 

Have you ever stopped to think that God allows bad things to happen to our nation to get our attention?  We have lost our moral footing.  In our society today anything goes.  The news certainly validates this.  There used to be sin and shame, but it has been replaced with nothing is right or wrong. 

But, God says:

(Colossians 3:5 NASB) Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

(Colossians 3:6 NASB) For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,

“The sovereignty of God is that golden sceptre in his hand by which he will make all bow, either by his word or by his works, by his mercies or by his judgements.”     Thomas Brooks

The world says, “You can’t fool Mother Nature.”  I say, “You can’t fool God.”  He is still there, He is in control, and He holds us in the palm of His hand.  We need to cry out for mercy!

Read Full Post »

God Is Sovereign!

Posted in American culture, Anxiety & Stress, Bible Study, Christian, devotional, Faith, inspirational, Praise, Scripture, Worship on March 8, 2007| 3 Comments »

 

onecardinal

 Here is one of God’s beautiful creations, a cardinal, who visits my feeder daily.

God is Sovereign. We hear that statement often, but have you ever stepped back to take a look at what that means? Sovereign means King, Lord, Master over everything, in control, independent; or to boil it all down it means Supreme Authority.

God then is the Supreme Authority. He is the One and Only God who created the heavens and the earth. He created all that was created and owns it all. He is free to choose to do as he pleases with His creation.

(Psalms 103:19 NASB) The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all.

(Psalms 115:3 NASB) But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.

(Psalms 135:6 NASB) Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.

(1 Timothy 6:15 NASB) which He will bring about at the proper time–He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

According the Bible, God is in control of everything, but how does that relate to us in our everyday lives?

We live in a society where we are taught from an early age that we must have good self-esteem. We must think highly of ourselves, and do our own thing. We learn that we can do anything we put our minds too and become anything we want to be. We need to spend a great deal of time in looking within to “find ourselves.” They tell us to grab onto life as you only go around once and to go for the gusto. Live, drink, and be merry; that’s the motto of the day. Also, we hear, “if it feels good, then do it.” Or, “it doesn’t matter what you do as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone.” There are no absolutes. It’s all about me!  We need to be entertained. We depend on ourselves. These attitudes lead to self-reliance, and pride.

As Christians we need to remember that we are in this world but not of this world. This is Satan’s world. We need to be extra careful that we are not caught up in Satan’s traps to get us to be self-indulgent and selfish.  We need to control the desires for worldly pleasures.

We fool ourselves if we think we are in control, because God rules over everything, even our best laid plans.

When we realize that God is sovereign over everything we need to submit to God and surrender our lives totally to Him. When an enemy surrenders to his captors he totally gives up. He gives himself and all he has over to the captor to do with as he pleases. That is how we are to surrender to God. This is an amazing lesson to learn.

Here is the best part.  When we realize that God is in charge of everything we no longer have to worry and fret.  I once was the world’s worse worrier.  I often say if there were an olympic event for worry, I would have won the gold metal.  That was before I learned that God is sovereign.  My worries effected my health to such a degree that I developed panic disorder and agoraphobia.  I became homebound and a slave to worry and fear!  Life doesn’t have to be that way and it shouldn’t be that way.  I leaned to trust and depend on God because he is in charge anyway.   It is a wonderful freeing thing to learn God is sovereign.  Worry can’t change anything!

 Now, whenever I have challenges in my life, I remind myself to surrender.  Just give up, and allow God to work things out in his way.  It is so wonderful to have peace in the midst of a storm. 

God wants the very best for us and will give us blessings that we’ve never dreamed about, but before he can give them we must bow the knee in submission to him. 

I read a good Christian classic recently called Absolute Surrender, by Andrew Murray. If you’ve never read this book I’d highly recommend it. This book was first published in 1895, and it’s wisdom has stood the test of time.

Andrew Murray said, “If we totally surrender ourselves to God, we never need know anything but God’s good.”

That doesn’t mean everything will be rosy all the time, but it means that when we are sold out to God it doesn’t matter to us anymore what comes our way because we have God’s good intentions on our side. Even what we think are bad things work out for good with God. God is dependable and we can trust him.

(Proverbs 3:5 NASB) Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.

As the Word says, we need to put our trust in the Lord. He is the Almighty One who knows the beginning from the end. He knows all about us and what our lives hold for us. We cannot figure things out on our own. We are not smart enough for that. But, he wants us to surrender to Him, put our trust in Him, and realize He is in control! Not us!

Questions for Discussion:

1. Are you having a rough time in your life right now? If so, do you need to surrender to God? 

2. Do you realize that God is sovereign? What does this realization do for your life?

3. I’m writing from the USA. I realize this blog goes throughout the whole world. I’d like to hear if your society where you live today is like mine, in the sense that people are so concerned with “self,” and “pleasures,” instead of God’s will?

Click on the word “comment ” below if you would like to take part in this discussion. What you share will be of great help to others.

Blessings, Bonnie Lord

Read Full Post »

God Owns Everything!

Posted in Bible Study, Christian, devotional, Faith, inspirational, Praise, Scripture, Worship on March 2, 2007| 3 Comments »

TrmpetSwan 

 Psalm 24:1-2 (NASB)

 The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.
For He has founded it upon the seas. And established it up the rivers.

Have you ever stopped to think that God owns everything?  He created everything and it is His to do with as He pleases.  He laid the foundation of the earth.  He created mankind and owns us.  We are His possession.  He can do with us whatever He pleases.  God is sovereign.  He is universally supreme.

If He owns everything then He is in charge of everything.  When we allow God to be in charge of our lives He blesses us.  When we try to run our lives ourselves then we are actually going against God and are in rebellion.  We will not be blessed.

 When we become successful in the work place and make a good living it is only due to God allowing us to do so.  The money we make is actually His.  Do we spend it in a way that is pleasing to Him?  Whatever we have comes from His hand to ours.  Our homes, food, clothing, friends, family come from God.  We can’t think of anything that He isn’t ultimately responsible for giving us.

 I know everyone doesn’t think this way.  A lot of people think they are responsible for their own success.  They think they have worked hard and earned what they have.  It may be true that they worked hard, but God is the one who allowed it to happen. 

Psalms 50:10-11

For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine.

When we look at the beauty in this earth; the birds, flowers, sunsets, sun rises, oceans, lakes, stars on a dark night, we can see the results of God’s handiwork.  He made all that, and it is His.  He shares it with us to enjoy and we can be grateful and in awe at what He has done.  Man certainly could not have made these beautiful things.  God is possessive of His creation.

 

 

 

 

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »