Learning to Lean

There is a song by the Blackwood Brothers, that I have always loved. I also like the fact that it's so easy to sing and to remember. (You may listen to it on My PLAY LIST on the side bar of this blog) OR click on this you tube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtLyam5Anjg


Learning to lean-
learning to lean,
I'm learning to lean on Jesus!
Finding more power than I ever dreamed-
I'm learning to lean on Jesus!


Sad, brokenhearted, at an alter I knelt-
I found peace that is so serene,
and all that He asks is a child-like faith,
and a heart that is learning to lean.


Learning to lean-
Learning to lean,
I'm learning to lean on Jesus!
Finding more power than I ever dreamed,
I'm learning to lean on Jesus!


Proverbs 3:5

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding."


Abba,
You will never fail me. I'm so thankful for Your grace and mercy! When I am frightened and alone, when I have unanswered questions, when I feel discouraged and even when I am confronted by fears and doubt- You whisper Your amazing love into my heart.

Praises You Inhabit, Oh, Lord God

"Give ear to my words, oh, Lord! Consider my meditations! Hearken unto the voice of my cry! Oh, Lord, in the morning will I direct my mind and unto Thee will I pray! Oh Lord, my God......when I in AWESOME wonder, how GREAT Thou Art! How GREAT THOU art! Thou art a living stream of crystal waters flowing over my soul, seeping your fragrant cool breath into my being, filling me to overflowing with love and compassion!

I am desperate for Your touch. I seek YOU alone! Your voice I long to hear in the morning hours. I listen through the night for Your trumpet to sound! I look far into the distant sky awaiting your arrival on the clouds of glory. I gaze into the starry night and look for your glorious appearing!

I bow my head in prayer and as I bow before your marvelous throne, my tears flow like soft warm rain. I am in awe of Your presence filling my soul with delight. I raise my arms toward heaven as if to reach out and touch You, oh, Lord. You are so near unto me. I can feel Your breath, as You whisper gentle words of love. I walk along the pathways and You reach out to hold me and whisper "I just Want you to know that I love You, my child!"

I want to skip and dance! I want to shout out praises to You! I could rise up as the eagle!! I could fly away! I truly could, Lord. I truly could!

You put songs in my heart and on my lips. You are like the safety of a harbor in a ferocious storm. You give me warmth and comfort while seas are violently thrashing. You shine light where darkness would have been!

You show me right paths and I follow You because I love You.

You provide the security of a snug little cabin in the snow-capped mountains! You hide me in Your Almighty arms and shelter me there with Your never-ending love!

I am Your created, devoted, indebted

Lily Sue

Re-Posted by Sue

Sunset in Daphne, Alabama

Olive Tree in Eretria, Greece (where we had AGM-2009)

 Sunset In Daphne, Alabama

My Favorite Old Tree: The Olive Tree in Eretria, Greece

Remember How Much God Loves You!

"I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and to never harm you, plans for  hope and a future!" Jeremiah 29:11

Isaiah 49:16
Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.

 ...and again Isaiah 49:16-

"See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. Always in my mind is a picture of Jerusalem's walls in ruinsI"
I wanted to use both versions of Isaiah because the usage of the translation 'written' reminds me of when young, many girls and boys wrote the name of their 'boyfriend or girlfriend' in the palm of their hands. However, the ink would soon wash away and it would be written again, and perhaps a new 'boyfriend or girlfriend's' name would replace it. I love the version I have ENGRAVED your name in the palm of My hands...it shows that God's love for us and His constant remembrance of us will never be washed away or wear off! He even engraved us in BOTH hands!
We are His and He loves us so much that He knit us together, He has plans for us, and He will never forget us! How Amazing is His love!
He is our Abba Father....our Daddy...our Papa...He wants a relationship with us and that is something to rejoice in!
Let us ENGRAVE HIM in our hearts and live for Him


created
I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14 NIV
chosen
The Lord has chosen you to be His treasured possession.
Deuteronomy 14:2 NIV
celebrated
He will take great delight in you…
He will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
cherished
I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.
Jeremiah 31:3 NIV
(A pendant with the above  4 C's can be purchased from Dayspring Jewelery Department @ www.dayspring.com)

Let Go and Let God Unfold Your Days!

Sometimes we want to read the last pages of a good book-but we all know that can spoil the surprise. Let us Run the Race God Has Set Before Us with Excitement, Endurance and Anticipation of What Tomorrow Holds! "I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD,. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for  Hope and a Future!" Jeremiah 29:11

Trust in Him! He Holds Your Future in His Most Capable Hands!

"It is only a tiny rosebud,

A flower of God's design;

But I cannot unfold the petals

With these clumsy hands of mine

"The secret of unfolding flowers

Is not known to such as I.

GOD opens this flower so easily,

But in my hands they die."

"If I cannot unfold a rosebud,

This flower of God's design,

Then how can I have the wisdom

To unfold this life of mine?"

"So I'll trust in God for leading

Each moment of my day.

I will look to God for guidance

In each step of the way."

"The path that lies before me,

Only my Lord knows.

I'll trust God to unfold the moments,

Just as He unfolds the rose."

(This poem sent to me by my friend, Linda)

Red Lentil Soup-Vegan

Sue's Daniel Fast Lentil Recipe:

1 finely chopped carrot (medium)
1 finely chopped large stalk celery
1 small finely chopped onion (any kind)
1 can diced tomatoes (I use the flavored spicy kind) Plus 1 Can Water

1-2 Small Potatoes-Diced

1-2 T. minced Garlic
Sea Salt and Pepper to taste.
Add about 2 T. Vegal Soup Seasoning.
May add Basil or other seasoning as desired ( I love Basil, so I add a little of that, too)

Sauté all ingredients in a large saucepan with about 2 T. Olive Oil
Add two handfuls TVP. (Granulated Total Vegetable Protein)
Sauté until TVP is moistened and well mixed with other ingredients.
Add 1 1/2 Cup Red Lentils (or your favorite color!)
Add about 1/2-3/4 Cup water (I like mine thick and soupy, but if you like more liquidy-add more water).

Set timer for about 5-7 minutes.
Cook for about five-seven minutes on Medium, then turn heat to low and cook for about 20-25 minutes more.
Lentils should be well done and nice and thick and delicious!!
Enjoy!!

I Created this recipe for My Daniel Fast (very high in Protein as well as other quality nutrients)
Heart Healthy and Makes One Sing For the Joy of the Lord Is Our Strength!

" A Cheerful Heart Is Good Like a Medicine"
King Solomon

My Light Bulb Finally Flashed!

Luke 16:8-9

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁸ So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light. 
⁹ “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail,^[a] they may receive you into an everlasting home.
While reading a book today, and being the INFORMATION JUNKIE that I am....I have to tell you I was puzzled by these verses. Now, truly, I've read the Bible more times than I can remember......honestly (and I still have an excellent memory, it's just that I quit counting many years ago!)

So, I read this in the book called "Crime Stories of the Bible"....just a small book to read while awaiting my new book from Amazon....just more information to store in my over-crowded brain.

I came across the verses and thought, "Hmmm, this can't be right. I need to look it up in KJV...and so I did.
Something didn't feel right about the explanation, so I read it in NIV (!!!!!!Yikes!)
Then in the Amplified version (again !!!!!!!!), still not satisfied.
I tried the Living Translation (foreign to me), and several others....still not satisfied, so I did what all "INFORMATION JUNKIES" do......I looked up 'mammon' in the online dictionary.....since I already knew the definition, that was no help either.
I read the King James Commentary that I keep handy. Their explanation sounded 'plausible' but I still wasn't quite satisfied that Jesus would not only 'commend' this steward, but even go on to say what he did: use unrighteous mammon to make friends for yourself...... what!?
Finally, a light bulb went off in my head! (prayer always seems to help the lights come on!)
He was saying that not only are the children of the world more astute than the children of the light in taking care of themselves when calamity comes, but He was more importantly saying, 'reconcile yourselves to the FACT that mammon will Fail and WHEN it does, realize that eternal life will NOT fail you. It's sort of like 'sowing wild oats' if you must make friends with mammon.....know that eternity will welcome you home as the father welcomed the prodigal son. Prepare for the Kingdom! The riches won't get you anywhere as to eternity but the friends can be a huge help during difficult times.
Wealth is not a sin, of course, but to use that wealth to further the Kingdom of God would be wise. Perhaps one day those you helped will be there to lean on when your money is gone!
Abba,
My riches lie in my faith, hope, trust, and obedience to You...silver and gold have I none!
Thank You for the cross and its richest gift of eternal life through Jesus' shed blood!

Patriotism and The Family

Proverbs 14:1
A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.
One commentary notes:

Every wise woman builds her house - By her prudent and industrious management she increases property in the family, furniture in the house, and food and raiment for her household. This is the true building of a house. The thriftless wife acts differently, and the opposite is the result. Household furniture, far from being increased, is dilapidated; and her household are ill-fed, ill-clothed, and worse educated.
The family has always been God's chosen way of example of not only how a home should be run, but how the church family should be run.
God First.
Spouse Second (love your spouse as Christ loves the church and gave Himself for it).
Children.
Work/Ministry
God is a God of order. He is NOT a God of confusion. He has made His Word oh, so clear!
IF we can't function orderly-there WILL be confusion.
The devil is the the father of lies and confusion. He is the author of chaos!
When a house is filled with chaos, confusion, disrespect, anger, rage, and there is no time for God as the center of the family, when He is no longer number ONE, when selfishness, narcissism and blame take over....the family will perish.
The father may be the traditional 'bread-winner' but he has many more responsibilities than that alone....man can NOT live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God!
The mother, although she may NOT work outside the home (or even if she does), has the huge task of seeing that order is kept within the home.
Tending the children, cooking, cleaning, running errands, paying bills, etc., are just a small part of her DUTIES as a wife and mother.( A respected mother/father will tend to the wife/ husband/children/ home before their own enjoyment and relaxation. They may need time away of course, but a parents duties to God and family will create a smoother home life that results in enjoying the home rather than wanting to escape it!)
She can absolutely not shirk these if she plans on ever having the love and respect of her husband, children, and the church community.
She is the proverbial "HUB" of the wheel and can only function properly when she devotes her time to prayer, worship, and training, and keeping an orderly home.
Discipline in love and loving admonition in the Lord falls to BOTH parents!
Spare the rod and spoil the child? What does this actually mean, Biblically speaking...how is it to be administered?
Thy ROD and Thy STAFF...they COMFORT me!
The rod of the shepherd (both parents), was used to gently 'prod' the sheep back onto the "right" path, when they wandered from the straight and narrow. This was to protect them from danger, injury or being lost!
The staff was to lean on when tired or weary, to clear the way for the sheep (the children), and to protect from danger.
Discipline should always be done in patient love......never in anger!
Why patriotism?
Patriotism involves LOYALTY!
Be LOYAL to GOD!
Be LOYAL to your family! Be LOYAL to your own children! Be LOYAL to your husband and/or wife!
How are we to be loyal? By always giving them the benefit of the doubt. By showing trust, respect, and honor!
Always remember: Obedience is what will keep you up close and personal... and the MOMENT you OBEY GOD-He WILL reveal the very next step to you....as soon as you STEP OUT of that BOAT in Obedience and Faith, HE reveals more of HIS love and character to you! We so way underrate obedience!!!
Children, HONOR your father and mother.....so that it may GO WELL WITH YOU!
Go well with who? YOU!
When we obey God's WORD, whether it is husband for wife, wife for husband, child for parent, parent for child, it is SO THAT it may GO WELL WITH YOU!
God knows what He is doing!
He knew from the beginning of time that we would need order, we would need a Savior, we would need HIM and one another to get along in this troubled, stress-filled life on earth.
He knew that we would allow the "cares of this life" to choke out His Word, if we didn't follow His ordained order of obedience, love, respect, forgiveness, and patience.....this is why He gave us His inspired Word; spoken, written, breathed by the Holy Spirit!
IF you have any unforgiveness in your heart, if you are filled with pain, hurt, anger, offense, toward a member of your own family.....IF you want order and respect, forgiveness, and health restored to your family life.......please hear this:
Place God in His proper order!
Place your spouse in his/her proper order!
Place your children in their proper order!
God has ordained marriage to BE an earthly likeness of the marriage of the Lamb, and the family/home the image of the bride of Christ...the family/church.....to BE the image of a loving FAMILY.
Your personal home/family and your church/family should REFLECT the love, respect, and honor you have for God, as the loving Father....if that love for God the Father isn't what it should be.....NEITHER will the home/family nor the church/family be what it SHOULD BE!

Abba Father, Loving Father,
Your Word is Truth and Your Word shows us how to love and forgive, to start each day ANEW in Your power and strength!
Not by might, not by power, but by MY Spirit.....this mountain shall be removed and become a flat plain!
Right now, things seem like mountains.....too great and too strong for me to overcome, yet I know that by Your Spirit, by Faith and obedience to YOUR WORD, mountains can become flat and smooth, give me strength one day at a time to walk in Your ways.
I can't see tomorrow and when I try, it seems too much for me to cope with, just for today, renew me and help me love, obey and forgive as my Lord Jesus showed me to do.
I can do ALL things through Christ, Who IS my strength!
Amen

ABBA FATHER!

KNOW Whose child you are.....IF you are a child of GOD, you have the right to go before HIS throne, commune with Him and follow His commands, pray intercessory prayers, ask for and receive His bountiful blessings, and bask in His magnificent love and forgiveness, become conformed in the image of His Son, Jesus the Messiah, be led, counseled, and comforted by His Holy Spirit, and have eternal life In Him!
As His child you may know that when trials, storms of life, and temptations plague you, HE will lift you up and shelter you in His almighty arms! He will make His face to shine upon you!
You may enjoy the mercy and grace that a loving Father shows toward His child! What a picture! Our Abba Father lifting us up in His arms looking at us with the grandest smile, showing us off as His beloved and precious little ones....His jewels......His treasures!
His Name is to be HALLOWED! His Name is most Holy! His name is wonderful!
Thank You, Abba Father!


http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Prayers/The_Lord_s_Prayer_1/the_lord_s_prayer_1.html