Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Out of Hiding....SteffanyGretzinger (Bethel)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFkDqQtfs0w

Wow, perfect song for the experience I had....

I knew a blog was going to come out of our HORRIBLE experience of being out to dinner with the family. What bothered me so much on top of the experience, was that I suggested the place. My nephew Bobby renamed the place, "Train Wreck."

Long story short.... Service was the worst I ever experienced, and it didn't even seem like management cared so I walked out on the check. Yes, I walked out on the check. Now don't cast any stones. We all fall short!
 I went across the street of the restaurant and waited for the rest of my family. It was as if I was in the dark of what I did, but didn't face it at the time. When I couldn't say goodbye to some of my family because they were in front of the restaurant, in the light of paying their bill, I started to realize it then. I was actually in a sense, hiding. I woke up the next morning VERY convicted. I went later that day and paid my bill, told the owner I was sorry, plus gave the girl her tip.  

Some lyrics to the song....."Come out of hiding. You have your reasons for doing what you did, but I hold your peace." "You will be on lock down, and I hold the key." .....Man, is that the truth.

1 John 1: 5-10, "God is light, in Him there is no darkness at all." You can't have that sweet fellowship time with God, or feel at home with Him, if you know you are in a hiding place.  Something you did wrong and making every excuse why you think it's right. If it's out of God's character, it should be out of yours.

I couldn't approach the light of my quiet time with God like I usually do this particular morning. I needed to come "Out of Hiding." I was in a lie within myself. I was making it out to be o.k. but God was clearly letting me know it wasn't.
If you are troubled inside, or even have to talk yourself into what you did was right, it more than likely is wrong, and out of God's character. You can't call it anything else than what God calls it, sin. You could try making every excuse in the world, you still will feel troubled inside.

1 John 1: 9, tells us to confess our sin. Well I did, and what sweet release came in my heart. Confession is to say the same thing as God. Agree with Him that whatever you did is apart from His character.

We were created for an intimate relationship with God. He is so gentle into building us up into His image. It's our choice to listen and not hinder this love relationship. We can never hide. He will illuminate everything. Ephesians 5: 8, scripture tells us to live as children of light.

…..mvdevotional.blogspot.com
Kim

Thursday, March 24, 2016

We Dance...... Steffany Gretinger (Bethel)


Beautiful song... Please click on and listen...
I usually don't send 2 blogs out a week, but I felt lead, because it will be Easter this Sunday. Our Risen Lord, with all our loved ones who have gone before us.

I would listen to this song, and just cry from the beauty of the lyrics and melody after my husbands death. Little did I know, God was preparing me to write a blog on how this song plays out a part of my husbands final moments. Now it even has more beauty to me!!!

God was truly preparing my husband, and us, for his eternal journey home. You never want to face that. But when the person fighting the battle of sickness is ready and peaceful, God has already started preparing them.  

To me, the lyrics of this song is like my husband singing them....  "You steady me slow and sweet. Take the lead and I will follow. Finally ready now, to close my eyes and believe that You won't lead me where You don't go. When my faith gets tired and my hope seems lost. You spin me round and round and remind me of that song. The one You wrote for me."

Well for my husband it was "Oceans" He would always call me, or text me when it was on the radio. Here are some of it's lyrics.... "You call me out upon the waters. The great unknown where feet may fail, and there I find You in the mystery. In oceans deep my faith will stand."..... Yes it did!!! Praise God, my husbands faith NEVER failed at his time of fighting that horrible cancer. Hardship will come to people of faith, just like anyone else. It's meant to deepen and strengthen our relationship with God. God won, cancer lost!!!

More lyrics of We Dance.... "Love had won for me. Here in Your arms, You still my heart again, and I BREATH YOU IN LIKE I'VE NEVER BREATHED TILL NOW! And I will lock eyes with the One Who's ransomed me. The One Who's chosen me. The One who set my feet to dancing. I found my home here in Your arms!"

Praise you sweet Jesus. Our risen Lord, and we will rise too!!!

…..mvdevotional.blogspot.com
Kim

Monday, March 21, 2016

Cast my Cares..... Finding Favor

 
It is so hard to stay Spiritually consistent. I have a choice to “Cast my Cares” on Jesus, or I can try and control  them myself. When I do as Jesus tells me, keeping my eyes and mind focused on Him,  He always shows me that He is  in control.
 
When I meditate on these two verses—John 14: 27, and Colossians 2: 6-7, I am learning more and more how to stay Spiritually consistent in the peace Jesus offers me. If I allow my heart to be troubled and afraid, how can I have the peace He promises me? Jesus says: “DO NOT let your heart be troubled or afraid” So I am responsible for where I allow my mind to go in the troubles that will happen in this world. I want His peace deep in  my soul.
 
His word tells me in Colossians 2: 6-7 “Just as you received Christ as Lord, CONTINUE to live in Him, ROOTED and BUILT up in Him.” I know I am rooted in Him, but He is working on the building up part of me in Him. Even when I can’t see the working of His hands, I know that He is holding it all.
 
Life happens, and all the pains that come along with it. But Jesus is there, promising peace, if we keep our eyes and faith on what we know and believe. Everything that we go through has eternal purposes.
 
So when fears feel bigger than my faith, and struggles steal my breath away, I know Jesus is strong enough to hold it all. He is the only One in control.
 
So I will cast my cares on Him. He, Who is the Anchor of my soul.
 
…..mvdevotional.blogspot.com
Kim
 

Monday, March 14, 2016

Come to me... (Bethel) Jen Johnson

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY0Vz8fvIhE

The lyrics of this song, and the worship is so beautiful !!

He is the Lord my God. He goes before me. He stands beside me. He's all around me. He is closer than my breath. Can you get any more comfort than that? I can't, and I believe it. I've seen it, and experienced Him many times in my life. That is why He is my peace! I love being in His presence. He's my everything!

So many people have had breakthroughs in life and forget what has been done for them. Many go back to their old ways. Forgiven, but not free.

Allow the events of life to remind you of all God has brought you through, good and bad. Give Him your full attention. He is waiting for you. He says, "Come to me" I'm all you need.

The story of Joshua is one of the books of the bible that I love so much, because it is one where God tells Joshua to lay down stones of remembrance.

In Joshua chapter 1, God tells him 3 times to be strong and of good courage. Verse 7, "do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go." It's easy to focus on our problems and heart aches which we see and feel, and not on God, whom we can't. Joshua discovered, as we discover in life circumstances, God is with us no matter where we are, or how big our problems and heart aches can be.

In chapter 3, verse 7,  God was getting ready to do a mighty thing to exalt him in the sight of all Israel. By this they would know that He was with them. In verse 9, Joshua said to the children, "Come here and hear the words of the Lord your God..... "By this you shall know that the living God is among you"..... The waters were going to be cut off so ALL THE PEOPLE could cross the Jordan.

Chapter 4 is my favorite, because leaving a legacy of all God has done in my life means everything to me. The stones, verse 6, "that this may be a sign among you when your CHILDREN, (and grandchildren) ask in time to come... "What do these stones mean to you?" The stones of our life are a memorial of God's faithfulness and love to pass on. My kids will find 2 large folders of blogs I've written. Many of my life stories. If we could have medals and trophy's out to remind us of the accomplishments we've done, why not brag about God! Put Him on the highest pedestal.


…..mvdevotional.blogspot.com
Kim

Monday, March 7, 2016

You don't miss a thing..... Amanda Cook


Beautiful song.....
 
Hard to comprehend that I am loved by the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. No matter what He sees in me, He sees it all through His eyes of unconditional love for me.
 
Psalm 139: 7-12…. Where can we ever go that God doesn’t see us? We can’t, His presence is all around us. Even the darkness hides nothing from Him. He sees it all. He’s in everything!
 
Matthew 6: 25-30, I guess this is why Jesus speaks so much about “do not worry”, because are we not “much more valuable” to Him than anything?
 
I should trust the “much more” in my life if I am walking in continued fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Allowing Him to guide my steps every day, and not just my steps, but my thoughts!  Matthew 13: 22, I admit that I can get caught up in “the worries of this world” which can take me far off where God wants to keep me. It then affects the peace and joy of our every moment, or however long we allow those thoughts to tear at our very being.
 
“See how the flowers of the field grow.” So where ever God decides to plant me, whatever is allowed to enter my life, I must allow Him to grow me deeper in Him. This is not a onetime process in life. It is ongoing.
 
But like the comfort of the words from this song, we should always remember…….. “All He has to do is whisper and all our enemies are scattered. He surrounds us with angels on assignment. No place can we go His love won’t find us. No place can we hide that His love doesn’t see. No place can we fall that His love won’t catch us. He doesn’t miss a thing. He’s in everything!”
 
It just amazes me, that with all the people in this world, He still sees me. He knows, and cares about every detail of my life.
 
…..mvdevotional.blogspot.com
Kim