This Week's WORD *Re-post*

Several years ago I used to do a Friday post which I called, This Week's WORD.
Typically, I shared a verse which I'd encountered that week in my Bible reading and my corresponding thoughts.
Since I recently read the following verses again, I decided to re-post this entry from November 20, 2009.

This Week's WORD

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.
2 Chronicles 32:7-8

Are you facing a king and his vast army today? Fear not, my friend. For the King is on your side, and His power is greater!

May you rest in the assurance that the King will fight your battles.
********************************************************************************
If God says the same, Brian and I will be finishing our cruise and returning home tomorrow.
I'll tell you all about it next week!

This Week's WORD

"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everthing new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

Revelation 21:3-5

I finished my read-thru-the-Bible-in-one-year program this week. And guess what?
Jesus wins!
WE win!!!

Looking forward to Eternity,

This Week's WORD

May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:20-21

Yes. May it be so!
Have a wonderful weekend. I'll see you back here Monday!

This Week's WORD

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

These words - and the hope within them - were a balm to my soul. I pray they will be for you, too.

Have a wonderful weekend. And please join me on Monday as we begin a week-long Journey with Jesus. I'm looking forward to it!

Love to you,

This Weeks' WORD

So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.

1 Corinthians 14:9

Does anyone else have a pre-teen son who needs to memorize and put this verse into practice???
I know, I know, Paul wasn't talking about mumbling children here. But this verse brought a smile to my face as I thought about how many times I have said, "Joshua, if you don't speak clearly and loudly I cannot understand you!"

Thanks, Paul! Next time I'll try using these words.

BTW, Pam is giving away a copy of Confessions of an Irritable Mother. Click here to enter!

May the LORD bless you and keep you over the weekend. I'll see you back here Monday.

Love to you,

This Week's WORD

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:10

Not much more to say, is there?

As I go into this weekend, so looking forward to reaching out to moms with the hope of Jesus Christ, I do it not wanting to please them. Rather to please God.
Pray for me, that I may seek to glorify HIM, and not me. Thank you!

If all goes well, I'll have my interview with Amanda ready to post here for you Monday. Have a great weekend!

Love to you,

This Week's WORD

"Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."
But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."

Acts 9:13-16

When I first read these verses this week, my initial reaction was to wonder why we ever question God. Clearly, He has a plan and He knows what He's doing, right? So why do we feel the need to argue with Him???
OK. That's something to think about.

But God led me to think of something more as I reflected on these verses.

Do you know who they're talking about when they say, "this man"?
Do you know who "this man" is? Whom Ananias and many others feared, but whom God had chosen as His instrument?
It is Saul - the Christian hater, who became Paul - the totally sold-out Jesus follower.
And that transformation in Paul made me delight in God's ability to re-make a person.

Do you know someone today who is far from God? Have you stopped praying for them, because you thought they were beyond hope?
May I suggest to you that NO ONE is so far from God that He cannot reach them? Please persist in prayer for that person. And trust that God has a perfect plan!

AND, I am the featured mommy blogger today the The Busy Woman's Guide to Surviving Motherhood. Feel free to stop by to see my interview!

Have a wonderful weekend. I'll see you back here Monday!

This Week's WORD

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

John 14:1

I sat down to read my Bible, but first I prayed. I laid out some heavy concerns that were on my heart. Told God I knew He could handle them, but was honest with Him about my fears.
Then I looked at what was on my schedule to read for the day, opened my Bible, and discovered God was waiting in John 14:1 with encouragement for me.

Are you troubled about something today? Take it to the LORD in prayer. He can handle it!

See you back here Monday.

This Week's WORD

Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.

Psalm 139:4

Continuing with Leah and Challenge 2010: A Scripture Memorization Challenge, I added Psalm 139:4 to my heart and mind this week. Been repeating it over and over again to commit it to memory.
I am not sure I have ever been so mindful of the words that come out of my mouth, as I have been this week. One day (At the end of the five-day weekend, no doubt!) when I let an unkind word come out of my mouth, I was so sad. I knew God knew that word before it was even on my tongue. And I knew it made Him sad.
So I was sad.
I know May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. comes from a different Psalm (19:14, to be exact) but that has become my prayer as I am meditating on 139:4, as well.
HE knows my words, HE knows my heart, and I want them to be pleasing.

Keep your eyes fixed upon your Savior this weekend.
I'll see you back here Monday!

This Week's WORD

After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up."

John 11:11

On Wednesday I had some heavy things on my mind when I sat down to do my daily Bible reading. As I checked my reading schedule and discovered that I was in John 11 that day, I wondered what verse 11 might have to say. (For those of you who don't know, God and I have a 'thing' with 1111.)
And, sure enough, as I read verse 11, it was as if God was saying to me, See, Karen. I already know what's going on in your life. And I know what I'm going to do about it.

Thank You, God!

May the peace of knowing God's sovereignty carry you through this weekend.
I'll see you back here Monday!

And if you haven't sent a question to Amanda yet, I hope you will!

This Week's WORD

Therefore Jesus told them, "The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right...You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come."

John 7:6&8

References to God's perfect timing always stand out to me.
Maybe because I am so prone to dislike waiting. Even when I know His timing is perfect.
And in God's perfect timing, He had me reading about His timing again this week. Funny how He works things out that way!

So, my question for you as we head into this weekend - Is there something for which you are waiting? Is the waiting difficult for you?
May you find peace in the knowledge that God knows what He's doing. He is not wasting your time. In fact, He's working all things together for good - as He knows they should be.
Rest in that hope today.

See you back here Monday. (Power cord arrived, and I trust there will be time this weekend to record a devotion for you. *grin*)

**************************************
Congratulations to Angie - winner of my Finding Joy giveaway!

This Week's WORD

O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

Psalm 139:1-2

I have joined Leah in a scripture memory challenge, and have been meditating on the above two verses for a few weeks now.
At first I was simply delighted to consider the fact that God knows me so well, and still loves me. But over the course of this past week, He has helped me to see myself - to perceive my own thoughts - a little more clearly. And honestly, I was rather disappointed with some of the things I came to know.

Oh, I want to be less like me. And more like Him!

But the LORD has searched me and He knows me. And still, He loves me. He knows exactly what is necessary in my life to make me into the woman He wants me to be. The woman who will delight His heart. And I am trusting Him to do it. Committing to be faithful to Him through the work He has begun, which He will be faithful to complete.

I am so thankful for the Word of God, and for the ways He speaks to me through it. Let me encourage you to join in the Memory Challenge. (It isn't too late.) We're memorizing Psalm 139 this year - one verse every two weeks. BUT, if you participate, you must be prepared for God to speak to your heart.
And though you may not like what He says at first, I know you can trust Him to do a good work in you.

May the peace of Christ reign in you this weekend. I'll see you back here Monday!

P.S. Just turned word verification back on. Sorry, but I was getting really tired of deleting spam comments.

This Week's WORD

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Luke 6:38

When I read these words yesterday morning, after I was very frustrated with both of my sons - for forgetting things, and dawdling, and expecting me to clean up the mess - I wondered, How can I measure out grace to them generously, without also enabling them to shirk off responsibility?
Received some great ideas from Facebook friends.
Had a good conversation with my mentor.

I have received so much grace from God, and I want to measure it out to my children generously. Praying He will lead me to train them with strength and grace.

And I pray this for you, too, my friend!

May the peace of Christ reign in you this weekend. See you back here Monday!

*****Update on Allie: The Blain's still need prayer. Please click here to visit Allie's Caring Bridge site to see their requests.

This Week's WORD

"When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?" says the LORD Almighty.

Malachi 1:8

I have come to the end of the Old Testament in my read-thru-the-Bible-in-a-year program. And even though I know what to expect in Malachi, every time I read it God fills me with a new desire to always and only give Him my best.
I don't want to give Him that which is blind or crippled or diseased.

So, even on the weekend, let's give Him our best.
And I'll meet you back here Monday for some encouraging words.

Love you!

This Week's WORD

On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king's hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
Esther 5: 1-2

Esther risked her life by approaching the king, uninvited. (Esther 4:11)
And as I sat thinking about how fearful she must have been - dressing in her finest robes, wondering, Will he extend the gold scepter to me? - I thought about the joy I have in knowing Jesus.
Because of the blood of Jesus which covers me, because He has given me a robe of righteousness to wear, because He has atoned for my sin through His death and resurrection, I am free to approach the KING. Anytime!

I have no royal robes.

I have nothing to offer God, no reason that He should accept my presence.

I deserve nothing but death.

But, because of JESUS.

Because of Jesus, I am accepted.
And if you have trusted Him for your salvation, YOU are accepted, too!

Let the wonder of God's love for you carry you through the weekend.
See you back here Monday!

This Week's WORD

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the
clans of Judah,
our of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.

Micah 5:2

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:10-11

Last Sunday I heard a sermon in church which has stayed with me and given me hope all week long. The speaker took is through many, many Old Testament prophecies and showed us the New Testament fulfillment in Jesus. He (the speaker) reminded us that the Old Testament was written over a period of 1,500 years, by 25 different authors, yet every prophecy was fulfilled without contradiction and without error.
Only God could coordinate something like that!
And he reminded us - if God can manage the fulfillment of those prophecies over the course of 1,500 years and through 25 different authors, He can surely handle the details in our lives. Amen?
I pray today you find yourself trusting God more than you ever have before. He loves you so much. He sees what you cannot, and He will care for you in your circumstance.

I'll be taking a break from blogging until Monday, January 4, 2010.
Please enjoy celebrating Jesus with your family this Christmas.
Love them.
Love HIM.
Remember His amazing love for you!

May the peace of Christ rest upon you, and may you overflow with the joy of His Spirit. Today, and until we meet again.

This Week's WORD

And whether they listen or fail to listen - for they are a rebellious house - they will know that a prophet has been among them...
You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious...
Go now to your countrymen in exile and speak to them. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says,' whether they listen or fail to listen...
And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days - overwhelmed.

Ezekiel 2:5&7 and 3:11&15b

Can anyone else relate to Ezekiel the way I can this week???
I was reading these words, thinking of my rebellious pre-teen son. And the repeated message to Ezekiel - that he needed to speak, whether the Israelites listened or failed to listen - pierced my heart.
Do you know how many times I just want to give up?
Do you have any idea how often I wonder if the words I am saying to my son will make an iota of difference in his life?

Oh, how often I have sat where he lives - overwhelmed.

But I read these words from God - His clear instruction to Ezekiel to go and speak to these people - and I realized something. Even though the Israelites were a rebellious people; even though they didn't do what God commanded them; even though they turned away from Him and did exactly what He told them NOT to do - still, He loved them. Still, He wanted them to hear His Word - to have an opportunity to hear the Truth.
And with that realization, God spoke to my heart.
I may not think my son is listening to me - when I correct, instruct, or even when I profess my love for him - but whether he listens or fails to listen, I will speak. And I will pray that whether he is listening or failing to listen today, God will store my words in my son's heart, that one day he may understand.

Have a wonderful weekend. I'll see you back here Monday!

This Week's WORD

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born.

Luke 2:6

When God caused Mary to become pregnant with Jesus, do you think He was aware of the fact that when the time came for the baby to be born Mary would be far away from home?
Do you think He knew there would be no room in the inn?
Have you ever wondered if God should have timed things better for Jesus' birth?
Ever wondered if He had His wires crossed in the timing of your circumstance?

I am certain God knew exactly what He was doing when He planned the timing of Jesus' birth. He worked out the details perfectly. And He's working perfectly in your life, too.

I'll be presenting a message based upon this scripture at a women's advent program this coming Sunday night. Will be including the gospel and an invitation for women to give their lives to Jesus. Would appreciate your prayers!

Edie has announced the winner of yesterday's giveaway - and explained the "real" element for this layout. Check out the details here.

Have a great weekend. I'll see you back here Monday.

This Week's WORD

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.
2 Chronicles 32:7-8

Are you facing a king and his vast army today? Fear not, my friend. For the King is on your side, and His power is greater!

May you rest in the assurance that the King will fight your battles.
See you back here Monday.

This Week's WORD

I am the LORD;
in its time I will do this swiftly.
Isaiah 60:22b

I almost want to leave this statement alone and see if God speaks to you through it the same way He spoke to me.
But I just can't keep quiet!
After reading about Israel's perils, their stubbornness, and God's wrath; and then His promise of salvation, of restoration - and Zion's future glory, I'm thinking, Wow. The Israelites must have been going nuts wondering when His promise of deliverance was going to be fulfilled!

Because I know the waiting had to be hard.

It always is for me.

I think that's why God's statement grabbed me. I am the LORD, in its time I will do this swiftly.
It is as if He is saying, Do you know who I Am? I am the LORD. The Creator of heaven and earth. I set the stars in place. I gave you life. I know your comings and goings, your thoughts, your needs, your fears. I am the LORD!
And this thing you're waiting for? I know when the time will come for your situation to be resolved. (Remember, I am the LORD. I know everything.) I know you want the trial to end right now, but there is work that needs to be done in your life first. I have a purpose for this pain. But, darling, when this trial has accomplished the objective for which I allowed it into your life, rest assured - I will bring about its resolution promptly. I will not let you suffer needlessly.
I am the LORD, in its time I will do this swiftly.
You can trust Me.

May you find yourself trusting in His timing today.
Have a great weekend. See you back here Monday!