Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Till the storm passes by....Joseph Larson

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

If a female could play the part of Peter in the storm with Jesus, I would have gotten the part by my actions in hurricane Irma. I am in no way proud of that either, but I am ready to keep growing in my faith and trust in Jesus, and that never comes easy. It's in the storms of life, that are going to come in many ways, that we need to keep our focus on Jesus. He is always near.

With all the Christian music I listen to, I never heard this one till after Irma passed through Florida. It's not the usual Christian type of music I listen to. It spoke to my heart, and penetrated right to my soul.

When hurricane Irma really started to rage around 2 am, I was filled with fear and anxiety. My focus on Jesus being with me went completely to the raging wind and rain ripping at my daughters and son in laws patio. All I could think of was, "how much worse can this get, are we going to be ok, my house must be falling apart with this strength of wind!" I live in a manufactured home. The thoughts were out of control and just made me sink even deeper.

Instead of trusting all I was praying for, I totally lost my focus staring at this evil storm. To be totally honest, my anxiety was through the roof! I couldn't even focus on prayer anymore. Never, ever, did I think, in all the love, trust, and faith I have in Jesus that I would sink like that. Just like Peter in Matthew 14: 28-31. The bible is so alive, and we all play the part to different stories in it.

The most beautiful part of what I learned, is feeling Jesus after the stillness of the storm tell me, "I will always love you. Your just going to grow more from this. Now pick yourself up and continue to grow by abiding in me." (John 15: 4) Remember what I told you, that in this world you WILL have trouble, but I have overcome the world. When it ends, however it ends, you will be with me."

It's these kind of learning lessons that make me so very humble, and so much more in love with Jesus.

…..mvdevotional.blogspot.com
Kim

Thursday, September 14, 2017

My Heart Your Home....Watermark




Matthew 7:21,"Not all who say to Me, "Lord, Lord" will enter the Kingdom of heaven;".....

"Come and make my heart Your home. Come and be everything I am and all I know. Search me through and through".... Powerful request to our Lord, but so pleasing to His heart.

Why do you think God is after our heart? Not half hearted. You wouldn't want to be loved that way would you? He wants a fully devoted heart. Look what Proverbs 4: 23 says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for EVERYTHING you do flows from it." So to say you love God, or you are a follower of Christ and live half hearted, your life is going to show the true fruit of it, and it will look rotten! It will show if He is truly "Lord of your life" over everything. God doesn't take second place easily. Nothing should come before Him. If you are sold out for all Christ is in you, then it will flow from you. You won't be able to hold it back. John 7: 38, "Whoever believes in Me, as scripture said, rivers of living water will flow from within them."

If you are still on the face of this earth, you are either still here because God is after your heart, or you are His and have a purpose yet to fulfill. God is very clear in His word to believers. Matthew 28: 19, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations"... Mark 16: 15, Go into the world and preach the Gospel." 

Matthew 25: 14-28 is a great parable. I love what it speaks to my heart, and it's not about money. It's about the abilities He has given me, and my hearts desire to serve Him for the sake of the Kingdom. "Again it will be like a man going on a journey, who has called his servant and entrusted his wealth to them....each according to his ability." I want to hear one day verse 21, "Well done, good and faithful servant!".... Not verse 26, "You wicked lazy servant!"...

So I ask you, I ask myself, what are we living for? What is this precious gift of life worth to you? How do you show it to the One Who poured out everything He had for you? Who of us will stop seeking our own satisfactions and start satisfying the heart of God?

…..mvdevotional.blogspot.com

Kim