I bow my knee

 

I bow my knee before your throne,
I know my life is not my own,
I offer up a song of praise,
To bring You pleasure Lord.

I seek the giver not the gift,
My heart's desire is to lift you high,
Above all earthly kings,
To bring you pleasure Lord.

 

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Glory to the king!

Father, may I always

seek the Giver, not the gift

the Provider, not the provision
the Healer, not the healing

not healing, but the Healer
not provision, but the Provider
not the gift, but the Giver

since I don't always do. I want the healing, the provision, the gifts... Help me, Lord! For I know that YOU are the greatest gift I received and are greater than any other gift. You Yourself provide and take care of us as You do for the birds of the air, the lilies of the field. And You are our Healer, who heals all our diseases. (Psalm 103:3)
Thank You that all we need, we have in You.

"You make known to me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

~Psalm 16:11

Lord, I bow my knee before Your throne, I know my life is not my own, I offer up this song of praise, to bring You pleasure Lord. My heart's desire is to lift You high above all earthly kings, to bring you pleasure Lord.

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Spiritual blessings in Christ

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."
~Ephesians 1:3-14

I don't think I fully realize the magnitude of these words. It seems that every time I read it I think "Wow!", but feel like I am missing something. Can that really be? Lord, help me to comprehend that You chose me before the foundation of the world and blessed me in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, that I should be holy and blameless before You. You have predestined me for adoption as a daughter through Jesus Christ. In Whom I have been redeemed through His blood, forgiven of my trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon me, in all wisdom and insight making known to me the mystery of His will, according to His purpose. Help me to appreciate my obtained inheritance, hearing the word of truth, believing and being sealed with the Holy Spirit. Wow! May I live in this truth!

Thank You, Father, for every spiritual blessing that You have blessed us with in Christ Jesus.

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Be strong

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.

Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed,

for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

~Joshua 1:9

 

Be strong and courageous. Don't be frightened and dismayed. But how do you do that? I like how I get the answer in the same verse..."for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

 

I thought of David and how was it that he was not frightened to fight Goliath?

 

Courage as defined in dictionary.com is the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear. I can see how David realized that it was not him who was going to fight Goliath, but God with him and through him. Perhaps that's why.

 

Lord, may I get my mind to a state that enables me to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear, for You are with me wherever I go...

 

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What shall I say?

Receiving one's self in the fires of sorrow is a title of devotional I read today in "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers.

"And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’?

But for this purpose I have come to this hour.

Father, glorify your name."

~John 12:27-28a

 

Here is what it said, that I want to share as it relates to what I thought about just 

recently:

 

My attitude as a saint to sorrow and difficulty is not to ask that they may be prevented, but to ask that I may preserve the self God created me to be through every fire of sorrow. Our Lord received Himself in the fire of sorrow, He was saved not from the hour, but out of the hour.

 

We say that there ought to be no sorrow, but there is sorrow, and we have to receive ourselves in its fires. If we try and evade sorrow, refuse to lay our account with it, we are foolish. Sorrow is one of the biggest facts in life; it is no use saying sorrow ought not to be. Sin and sorrow and suffering are, and it is not for us to say that God has made a mistake in allowing them.

 

Sorrow burns up a great amount of shallowness, but it does not always make a man better. Suffering either gives me my self or it destroys my self. You cannot receive your self in success, you lose your head; you cannot receive your self in monotony, you grouse. The way to find your self is in the fires of sorrow. Why it should be so is another matter, but that it is so is true in Scriptures and in human experience. You always know the man who has been through the fires of sorrow and received himself, you are certain you can go to him in trouble and find that he has ample leisure for you. If a man has not been through the fires of sorrow, he is apt to be contemptuous, he has no time for you. If you receive yourself in the fires of sorrow, God will make you nourishment for other people.

 

Oh Father, may I not lose my head or grouse, but may I find and receive myself in the fires of sorrow, so I can be nourishment for others.

 

I ask that I may preserve the self You created me to be through every fire of sorrow.

 

What shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.

 

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TY

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

 for his steadfast love endures forever!"

~1 Chronicles 16:34

Lord, I want to Thank You that we have friends that helped us with our move, that helped us pack and haul things away. For family, that helped us pack up the rest and unload at our destination.

Thank You that it all fit. That the truck and car survived the trip. 

Thank You for the amazingly "laid back" attitude of my husband through it all and the line he used that got me through this. "No worries". (Thank you my love.)

Thank You that You are ordering our steps. For guiding us. For a new beginning.

Lord, You are good; You steadfast love endures forever! 

"And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name."

~2 Chronicles 29:13

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I will follow

I will follow You.

All Your ways are good
All Your ways are sure
I will trust in You alone
Higher than my sight
High above my life
I will trust in You alone 

Trust in You alone

Knowing I will find
All I need in You alone, in You alone

"But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.”"

~Psalm 31:14

Lord, I trust You. I don't know what You have for us in this new place, new stage, but I know that all Your ways are good and sure, higher than my sight. I will follow You. 

You are my God.

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Moving

"But if the cloud was not taken up,

then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up."

~Exodus 40:37

But our "cloud" is moving... Yes, we are moving. Leaving today.

"Then the angel of God who was going before

the host of Israel moved and went behind them,

and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them"

~Exodus 14:19

Our children do not worry about where we are going, about the details of it all. They just "go with it", go with us. That's what I am trying to do. Lord, I am Your child, we are Your children. You know and You are taking us with You. You have a plan. I don't have to "figure" it out. As our children trust us, may we trust You the same way. Without a question... or maybe just a couple. Are we there yet?

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Is it a sign?

We reserved our moving truck in a place closest to our house, only to be told that the truck was in a different location when we went to pick it up. It's location was on a street that has the same name as a place where we are going. And guess what the street number was? Out of all the numbers, it was 40. Is it a sign?

Lord, I believe so. You are so cute.

"But I will be with you,

and this shall be the sign for you,

that I have sent you"

~Exodus 3:12
 

"If now I have found favor in your eyes,

then show me a sign that it is you who speak with me."

~Judges 6:17

 

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Time to say goodbye

 

I like opera. This song makes the time more tolerable for me.

 

Yes, it was time to say goodbye. Sunday was perhaps our last time attending our church.

They prayed for us. They played "my" song. They made me cry.

Lord, how sweet the words, how sweet the friends, how sweet Your family. Thank You for all of those. How fortunate are we.

Father, bless this church and Your people. May Your love have it's way. May You be glorified.

"The Lord bless you from Zion!

May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life!"

~Psalm 128:5

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HFD

I don't have a recent picture of me and my dad, but I will see him soon, so maybe later?

But Vsechno Nejlepsi, Tatko! Miluji Te!

Happy Father's Day!

Lord, thank you for my dad and my father-in-law. Thank you for my husband and that you blessed him to be a father as well. 

Today, we honor and remember fathers. Most of all I want to thank You for being our Father. 

"and I will be a father to you,

and you shall be sons and daughters to me,

says the Lord Almighty.”

~2 Corinthians 6:18

"But now, O Lord, you are our Father;

we are the clay, and you are our potter;

we are all the work of your hand."

~Isaiah 64:8

 

Help us to be like You.

 

"You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

~Matthew 5:48

 

"Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."

~Luke 6:36

 

"Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord,

but only what he sees the Father doing.

For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise."

~John 5:19

May we learn of You, may we spend time with You, may we love You back. Help us!

"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father,
who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,
comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word."
~2 Thessalonians 5:16,17

 

Lord, thank You for fathers. Thank You for showing us what love is.

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I wonder

Lord, I wonder if Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego prayed the night before they were going to be thrown into the fiery furnace, for You to come and help them, if they prayed for You to "do something", if they sent out prayer requests in hope that You would not let that happen. I wonder if Daniel did the same before he was to be thrown into the lions den.

You did not save Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from going to the fiery furnace, and neither did You spare Daniel from being thrown into the lions den.

I have always admired their courage, conviction and faith. How bravely they spoke to the king after hearing their sentence.

 

"If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us

from the burning fiery furnace,

and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.

But if not, be it known to you, O king,

that we will not serve your gods

or worship the golden image that you have set up."

~Daniel 3:17

 

But more than that I was always astounded at the miracle in that story. They were unbound! They did not burn! They did not even smell like fire! You were with them!

 

I have always admired Daniel as well and his steadfastness and faithfulness. And how You save him.

 

"So Daniel was taken up out of the den,

and no kind of harm was found on him,

because he had trusted in his God."

~Daniel 6:23b

 

Lord, You did not spare them from facing harm, but You were with them and protected them.

 

Jesus, it makes me wonder if we just want it easy. We want things to happen perfectly and we want the least amount of pain possible. But that's not how it works, does it?

 

It's not about if we have to go through or be saved from the fiery furnace, the lions den, it's about Jesus being with us, going with us.

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They might be giants

There is a group called They Might Be Giants whose name I didn't know, but after finding it out when I heard one of their songs I was instantly reminded of the story of Caleb and Joshua and the people of Israel in Numbers.

As they went to "spy" out the new land only two "saw" what's possible with God. They compared the "giants" to God.

"But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit

and has followed me fully,

I will bring into the land into which he went,

and his descendants shall possess it."

~Numbers 14:24

 

What happened to the people who looked at the "giants"? They did not get to go to the promised land.

No matter where we will go, Father, may we not look at the "giants", so we can enter the promise land...

Lord, may we follow You fully, may we say as Caleb "we are well able to overcome it"
(Numbers 13:30)

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Going home

Bought airline tickets today. Yes, I will be going home. Thank you for your prayers.

I am excited for my parents to see us, especially the children.

It is still my home too, even though I live here now. I always liked the verse in Hebrews...

 

"If they had been thinking with [homesick] remembrance

of that country from which they were emigrants,

they would have found constant opportunity to return to it."

~Hebrews 11:15 AMP

Lord, I don't want to be "dependant" on any place. My place, my home is with You. And even now as we are moving and not knowing where to go, we have the assurance of a home, eternal in the heavens, which You will be taking us to soon...

"For we know that if the tent

that is our earthly home is destroyed,

we have a building from God,

a house not made with hands,

eternal in the heavens."

~1 Corinthians 5:1

Thank You, Father!

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Dance with me

Behold You have come

over the hills upon the mountain

To me, You will run

My Beloved, You've captured my heart

 

Won't You dance with me,

Oh Lover of my soul,

to the song of all songs?

 

With You I will go. You are my love, You are my fair one!

 

Lord, over the hills upon the mountains, I am transported to the "High Places" where I am renewed from within - knowing who I am "in You", knowing the truth about who You are, and no longer believing the enemy's lies that defeat and discourage me. Where I learn who You are, how much You love me, where I find rest, stability, strength and peace.

With You I will go. You are my love. Dance with me...

"Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,

and the young men and the old shall be merry.

I will turn their mourning into joy;

I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow."

~Jeremiah 31:13

Let our mourning turn into joy. May we be comforted and may we get gladness for sorrow.

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It's a boy!

It was so exciting. It was so precious. It was so handsomely sweet.

Yesterday I had the privilege of sharing a special moment with friends and a dear family of my faithful friend. They are expecting their third child. We gathered to find out what they are having. It was revealed to us in a cute way; a beautiful cake was cut that uncovered blue icing inside. After having two girls the joy seem to be even greater. It's a boy!

Thank You, Jesus! Lord, thank You for blessing, rewarding this family.

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

the fruit of the womb a reward."

~Psalm 127:3

 

How wonderful You are! Lord, You would have that none shall miscarry or be barren (Exodus 23:26). On one side I am overjoyed and on the other I am sad. I am thinking of my long time friend who hasn't been able to have children yet.

 

I am claiming this promise You gave me...

"He gives the barren woman a home,

making her the joyous mother of children.

Praise the Lord!"

~Psalm 113:9

 

Lord, You did it for me and I know You can do it for her. Will You?

 

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Make a way

Lord, I know that You hear and answer our prayers. I look to You for answers, for direction. I know that there is nothing impossible with You, that things can change "suddenly" and that You can make a way where there seems to be no way.

 

Just as I was reminded of that as I looked at our bushes that "died" and somethings else caught my eye.

 

 

"Behold, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it

and will you not give heed to it?

I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

~Isaiah 43:19 AMP

 

Lord, You can even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. You are able to do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]—(Ephesians 3:20). Lord, I know that, but please let me be "okay" even if "nothing" happens. As I know that the words of Oswald Chambers I read yesterday hold true as well...We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing, that He is preparing and fitting us for some extraordinary thing by and by, but as we go on in grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, in the present minute. If we have God's say-so behind us, the most amazing strength comes, and we learn to sing in the ordinary days and ways.

 

Lord, make a way for us.

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Changes

Changes are coming for our family. I don't know what will happen (who does), I mean I have a "plan" sort of, but I really don't want to come up with anything myself.
Lord, please help us, order our steps.

"[Urged on] by faith Abraham, when he was called,

obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined

to receive as an inheritance; and he went,

although he did not know or trouble his mind

about where he was to go."

~Hebrews 11:8 AMP

Lord, help me to be like Abraham, to have faith, to obey You, although I do not know what's in store for us. Help me not to trouble my mind about where we are to go.

I feel like You are bringing changes to us and calling us to live out this verse:

"Arise [from the depression and prostration

 in which circumstances have kept you—rise to a new life]!

Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord),

for your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!"

~Isaiah 60:1 AMP

 

Jesus, may we arise and shine!

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One thing remains

One thing remains.

Your love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me.

"Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love

shall follow me all the days of my life,

and through the length of my days

the house of the Lord [and His presence]

shall be my dwelling place."

~Psalm 23:6 AMP

 

"Because he has set his love upon Me,

therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high,

because he knows and understands My name

[has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness—

trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never]."

~Psalm 91:14 AMP

 

"But the mercy and loving-kindness of the Lord

are from everlasting to everlasting

upon those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him,

and His righteousness is to children’s children—"

~Psalm 103:17 AMP

 

"Love never fails [never fades out or

becomes obsolete or comes to an end].

As for prophecy (the gift of interpreting the divine will

and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away;

as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease;

as for knowledge, it will pass away

[it will lose its value and be superseded by truth]."

~1 Corinthians 13:8 AMP

 

Lord, thank You for Your unfailing love. That I never have to be afraid. That goodness and mercy shall follow me. That You will never forsake me, no never! That Your loving-kindness is from everlasting to everlasting. That love never fails, never comes to an end.
It overwhelms and satisfies my soul.

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That's a first

I was with the children at a park, swinging on a swing. Next to me was a little girl in a baby swing being pushed by her dad. She kept looking at me and then said: "Princess?" Her dad said: "Oh, you think that is a princess."
"Wow! That's a first for me. Thank you," I said.

I still can't stop smiling on the inside. It warms my heart. I am not sure what made her think that I was a princess. I had a skirt on? But she was right nonetheless. I am a daughter of a King and that makes me a princess. Even though it's not always easy to see that and believe that about myself, Lord help me to think of myself in that way.

"I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King."

~Isaiah 43:15
 

"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit

that we are children of God."

~Romans 8:16

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood,

a holy nation, a people for his own possession,

that you may proclaim the excellencies of him

who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

~1 Peter 2:9

Lord, thank You for adopting us, for making us Your children, royalty. May we proclaim Your excellencies. You are the King of Kings.

That's my KING!

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Two months

It's been two months since I began my P40.

The Lord is really setting me free. He is "making" me know to put Him first. To never trust anything but the grace of God in myself or in anyone else. I am allowing my life to be slowly transfigured by the indwelling life of Jesus.

Lord, may You be manifested in my flesh.

"...but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]:

 forgetting what lies behind

and straining forward to what lies ahead,

I press on toward the goal

 to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize

to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward."

~Philippians 3:13b-14 AMP

Lord Jesus, help me forget the things that keep me from pressing forward. May I allow the increase of Your presence to be so absorbed into my spirit that I not only believe in You, but believe like You. Let Your love, thoughts and desires flow out from within me as naturally as fruit from a vine. May I abide in You and become more intimate with You as I am learning who You really are.

 

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