A few days ago I was inspired reading Roy Lessins "Meet Me In The Meadow"
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Father, through my face may your light shine;
Through my voice may your praise be heard;
Through my hands may your works be extended;
Through my life may your grace abound;
Through my heart may your love be known.
"Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." Hebrews 13:20-21 NLT
Blessings to all of God's peace, joy, and healing touch!
Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
Good morning God Thought Friends,
daisy,
Thanks for sharing that Prayer For The Day from Roy Lessins "Meet Me In The Meadow".
I just saved that site to my favorites so I can read it regularly.
I enjoyed reading your explanations to MDW about some scriptures at the end of last week's God Thought thread.
I learn alot from reading explanations like that, and you are good at it!
As for it being so hot in MD on Friday and Sat....it was unusual. On Sunday when we left, it was in the 60's and raining.
Today in PA it is raining cats and dogs. Fall is definitely here too. The leaves are turning to beautiful reds, orange, and yellow.
This weekend it is supposed to get down to 40 degrees at night and only the 50's to 60 max in the daytime.
Friends,
I wanted to share that there is a thread in Medical asking for prayers for a lymenet member...lightattheend....who was diagnosed with a brain tumor on Monday. She had surgery yesterday.
When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? Psalm 56:3-4 (NIV)
Wishing you all a day filled with God's love.
Posted by daisyrlb (Member # 15686) on :
Oh Dekrator,
Thanks for sharing about "lightattheend" and sharing the thread. My prayers being raised to God along with the others prayers. May God heal "lightattheend" and give a speedy recovery in the Almighty Name above every name, Jesus.
The scripture you share reminds me of the scripture that's been on my heart today, "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song" (Isaish 12:2).
God Thought Friends, It's a new day!!! Raise a shout, sing it out, Jesus loves, Jesus saves, Jesus heals, Jesus...meets you right where you are!!
Have a God-Blessed Day!!!!
Posted by MDW005 (Member # 22706) on :
Good morning,
I have not taken the time to read last weeks posts...maybe later.
I took a long; long walk this morning. This word "chore" kept coming to my mind and I could not block it out.
Serving God should not be like ironing. I should not have to be reminded to read the Bible; to pray, second guess going to church. My priorities are not in the correct line of living the Lords way. These things are work for me.
Until I can live His way faithfully I don't need to be here on God Thought.. I am not doing. I feel like they would just be words without heart. Diane
Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
Diane,
Please, please don't go away.
I need you....we need you.
You support me when I need it.
You ARE living God's way.
Every single human being on this earth is imperfect.
That includes me.
Often I think I should pray more, read the Bible, be more patient...I could go on and on.
The disappointments of life and family can get me down.
In times like that what does God want me to do?
He wants me to start over each day.
Does that mean that I get better and better everyday?
No.
I fail....often.
But everyday I am still reminded that I can start over because God loves me that much.
He loves you too, Diane.
God loves you even if you forget to pray or read the Bible.
God loves you...period.
I need you here.
Don't you see...you ARE doing by being here?
There are many ways to serve God.
Supporting friends here is one of them.
Please stay.
Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV)
12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
[ 10-01-2010, 03:12 PM: Message edited by: Dekrator48 ]
Posted by MDW005 (Member # 22706) on :
Dearest friend Dekrator,
What I am trying to say is Jesus died for us because He loved me/us so much...He didn't guestion His love for me.
Love has only one meaning...self giving sacrifice. This is how God looks at it. Love thy neighbor. I am not afraid to love others.
My fear is that I do not know the ability that God has given to me. Each one of His children was given an abilty...What is mine?
I am a perfectionist when I start something, it has to be my very best work or it is not good enough.
When learning about our God; This is an ability I fear I am not capable of achieving. I am forever guestioning. Run? maybe...don't think I am...He is not a spider.
My life is not easy. I have turmoil on a daily basis. We all have struggles of some kind. It helps mold me/us...teaches us to not be afraid. Suffering is horrible and not right. The cross...yes, an instrument of suffering. I get it.
Well, what I am saying is.... My fear.....I am not going to be good enough. Prayer does not come easy, scripture does not come easy. Remembering God everyday, I forget. He does not forget me...I forget Him. I should always desire Him without guestion.
So..yes I guess this is a way of running; Don't have to face the challenge. Not have to worry about if I am good enough for Him.
[ 10-01-2010, 04:18 PM: Message edited by: MDW005 ]
Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
Diane,
I can see what you are saying.
Believe it or not, I am also a perfectionist.
It's a hard thing to live up to all the time.
I think we all have doubts because we are human.
You ARE good enough.
The fact that you believe in God, and you know He loves you, and you have faith, means everything to God.
God knows that you have many burdens. He knows that you must deal with those burdens the best that you can on a daily basis.
He understands that you cannot spend all day reading the Bible and perfecting your knowledge of it.
I don't do that either and I am home alone all day.
God wants us to have faith and just do the best that we can.
He knows your needs.
I actually forget to pray too. I get so caught up in thinking about problems that I forget.
From what I know of you, one of your great abilities is taking on the responsibilities of raising your grandchildren.
I am in awe of that.
One of your other great abilities is empathizing with others (like me) and giving support and comfort.
God appears in us in many ways....not just when we pray or read the Bible.
He works through you when you are taking care of your grandchildren and supporting your friends here....or taking care of other people's pets, etc.
Try not to put so much pressure on yourself thinking that growing in your faith is too much of a challenge.
Do what you can do. You ARE good enough.
I know we will have alot to talk about some day in Heaven.
Posted by MDW005 (Member # 22706) on :
No Dekrator, No.
God gave some the ability to be ministers, others writing christian books and yet more to serve the poorest of the poor in other countries. Ability? How do I serve when I can't even remember Him daily and His love; Read the book for more klnowledge...most the time I close the book with frustration. If I am not able to remember these simple things, then I am not capable of something even bigger. Understand?
Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
Diane,
I don't really think in those terms, I guess.
Growing in our faith can be a lifelong process.
It doesn't happen overnight.
I cannot really sit down and just read the Bible and understand it either.
I need footnotes, explanations, etc.
I still think serving comes in many ways.
Like remember when your grandson was having a really bad day and you handled it really well?
I think daisy will be better at explaining this than I am.
Many good Christians have never read the Bible.
We are all at a different place in our lives.
You have alot on your plate and that makes it more difficult to remember to pray, etc.
I don't think this is unusual.
You will never convince me that you are not capable...this is God we are talking about...and we know that With God all things are possible.
Big Hugs, Diane.
Praying you have peace in your heart and confidence that God will reveal to you your strengths that others see.
Posted by daisyrlb (Member # 15686) on :
Dekrator, What beautiful scriptures and words of wisdom you have shared with Diane.
Diane, the really good thing, the thing that has helped this recovering perfectionist is recognizing that I am a human being, all human beings are not perfect. Hey, if we were perfect, then the Perfect One--Jesus--would not have needed to die for us. Yes, I understand.
Another thing that is so great...is God made us all in His image, all so precious, and all with unique gifts and talents. We only need to be who God made us. We do not have to be like Billy Graham...because we are not Billy Graham. God is very pleased with Billy Graham being Billy Graham, Diane being Diane, Dekrator being Dekrator, Rhonda being Rhonda, etc. He is quite pleased who He made each of us. So very special. Read Psalm 139. Also, as we continue to grow in our faith we blossom more and more into all we can be. I am not the same girl I was 30 years ago when I first became a believer and 30 years from now I will not be the same girl as I am today. WOW! Amazing! And neither will you.
And you know what, I really like who Dekrator is, and who Diane is, and who God made me. Accepting who we are...accepting that we are not someone else is a great big step in the right direction. No one can be you, Diane. There is only one of you. Halleloooooo! That's so awesome.
Diane, the Bible is full of people (hello--like all of them), examples, that forgot God and did life their own way at some time or other...situation came up...even people who had followed and served God for years. And look around today and it is still happening.
Anyway...
All we have is today, this minute to live. Thank God! I've found there is enough living in this minute, than trying to live the next minute, the next hour, or the next year right now. Not only that, but when we do, we actually miss out on this very second/minute...the future steals the present. Is that clear as mud?!
Diane, you are so special to me, to all of us on God Thought...and especially to God!!!
I do look forward to seeing you right here.
Blessings to all for a good night's rest and a great weekend. Posted by daisyrlb (Member # 15686) on :
Dekrator, I noticed after I posted that last post, that you too had posted too. Very good points you make. AMEN!!!
You have a good evening Dekrator.
Diane, we are praying for you our precious God Friend!!! May your spirit be lifted.
Posted by daisyrlb (Member # 15686) on :
God Thought Friends,
This song has been on my heart all day. Following are the words...then the link to listen to the song.
I Will Follow by Chris Tomlin
Where you go, I'll go Where you stay, I'll stay When you move, I'll move I will follow...
All your ways are good All your ways are sure I will trust in you alone Higher than my side High above my life I will trust in you alone
Where you go, I'll go Where you stay, I'll stay When you move, I'll move I will follow you Who you love, I'll love How you serve I'll serve If this life I lose, I will follow you I will follow you
Light unto the world Light unto my life I will live for you alone You're the one I seek Knowing I will find All I need in you alone, in you alone
In you there's life everlasting In you there's freedom for my soul In you there's joy, unending joy
My prayer for you is that you experience the freedom and joy that the One who loves you with an everlasting love gives...freely!!
Posted by MDW005 (Member # 22706) on :
Thanks for the pm Daisyrib.Made my day! Struggling with pain and fatigue. Had to work fri.
So hard I am an RN and am forgetting so much, don,t know how long I can do this, We should have the house paid of in one tr. Then my husband's pay check would be enough. We hope.
Already cut my hours to 2 days/wk.
Decided on llmd even though contraversal depending on who you listen to. close,I could drive if I had to and takes insurance. Also believes in chronic lyme. So just waiting for appt.
Isaiah 41:10 says,
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous hand."
I have to believe that God will guide this llmd and find the right protocol for me. I don't have many options right now, and get afraid that I will make the wrong decision.
All of you on this thread give me inspiration.
God Bless
Posted by daisyrlb (Member # 15686) on :
MDW, beautiful song. Surrender is wonderful...clean and filled with joy. May you sense His love and acceptance of you today...why? Because you ARE loved and accepted by Him.
sprite8, Sorry about the pain and fatique you're going through. May God give you strength and His grace be sufficient day by day.
Glad that you are taking steps on your healing path. Sounds great. I believe God will guide you for sure. NO FEAR is always good...make that great!
God Thought Friends, May you experience God's healing touch today. Jesus IS the same yesterday, today, and forever...yup He still does heal.
"Beloved, I pray above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers" (3 John 1:2).
Have a great day living it minute by minute!!!
Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
Good morning friends,
daisy,
I knew you would do an awesome job of explaining things for Diane...and you did!!
I usually think....why didn't I think of that???
You have a fantastic way of communicating God's love in real life terms, which I really appreciate.
I enjoyed the song you posted...I Will Follow. Thanks for posting the lyrics too....very inspiring.
Diane,
Great song you posted...Pleasing to You!
How true those words are! They sure apply to me.
Thanks for sharing it.
I am thinking of you today and praying for you.
Lord, please lift Diane up and give her peace.
Let her feel how deeply she is loved and appreciated.
Lord, allow Diane to feel how special she is.
Please ease her burdens and give her hope.
I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Psalm 25:5 (NIV)
5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
sprite,
I am praying for you.
I can understand how hard your job is when you are struggling with pain and fatigue.
Thanks for posting Isaiah 41:10.
I also pray that your LLMD will guide you on the path to healing.
Come back often, we will support you. Posted by 17hens (Member # 23747) on :
MDW, if you quit, I quit. I would miss you too much to continue on here. Really. That's the truth! I'm not threatening, I'm just sayin'.
And I hardly ever read the Bible these days. And I go for months without praying. And I haven't been to church in well over a year since I can't handle the lights, noise and commotion.
I'm not the perfect person or even sorta good at being the Christian God wants me to be.
One thing I know though, He loves me in spite of all my failures. And because He'll never give up on me, I'll never give up on Him.
One thing that really helps me understand the way God works is to remember that He's my father, like my dad is my father, that same sort of relationship, the same as my husband has with our kids.
No matter what crumby thing I ever did or how much I've pulled away from my dad throughout the years, there's never been a day when he would have said, "that's it, last straw, hasta lavista."
Nope, my dad is always there for me, patiently waiting for me to have enough time to call him up and share my day with him. All he wants is a relationship with me.
He doesn't expect me to be perfect and he doesn't expect the relationship to always be "good." He knows enough about life and relationships to know that even the good ones have their ups and downs.
Isnt' it like that with your kids? It is with mine. Sometimes they are close to me and sometimes they're distant. But it doesn't mean I don't love them and it doesn't mean I'd ever give up on them.
Try not be so hard on yourself, MDW. Try seeing yourself as your patient Father God sees you. You're beautiful beyond compare to Him, no matter what you do or don't do.
When I feel far away from God or struggling with a certain issue (like not praying), I just say a quick prayer in my head. I say something like, "God I want to pray. Help me pray." And within a few weeks or whatever, I find I'm praying again.
What's the scripture? Something about Whatever we ask for in Jesus name, He will give us, as long as it is what God would want. And God certainly wants us to pray, to have a relationship with him.
I've done that with many things, like "help me to forgive, help me to have faith, help me to not worry. And He always comes thru! It's very reassuring. Let's me know He's there and that He cares for me.
If something's bothering you, if you wish you were doing something differently, something more pleasing to God, you could try it.
Hugs.
Posted by MDW005 (Member # 22706) on :
Daisy, Dekrator may I add to what you wrote? Ok, Thank you.
Robin Worthington wrote; "Whatever name you give perfectionism...robs us of our energy."
I will add to this: Because we fear we're inadequate, and because our expectations of ourselves are inflated and our assumptions of what others expectations are of us, we live in the realm of pretense. The truth of existence is that we are exactly who we need to be. None of us are inadequate. We all fall short of being perfect. Our journey's are designed to introduce us to new information, new possibilities for growth and development.
We must trust that we are at the right place and time with all the preperation we need to succeed, here and now.
Fretting takes our focus away from the moment and the rich invitation for personal involvement that it's extending. It's through the full interaction with the present that we are nurtured emotionally and spiritually and encouraged to attain our full potential. Today I will remember that I am all I need to be.
Understand? Deep thinking today. Brain exercise. Posted by MDW005 (Member # 22706) on :
Okay Friends.... I feel the love....stop now. Thank you 17hens. I am not a quitter. The thought of quiting only challenges me more. I am not leaviing. Never run from God Friends and God. If I run; then shame on me.
Posted by VicMic (Member # 28414) on :
Thankyou for providing this section of the forum!
I am a Christian with Lyme and always looking for other God loving people to help in support!
God bless you all. I am new to this forum!
Posted by daisyrlb (Member # 15686) on :
17hens,
So glad you're here. WOW, very well said. Our Father IS so for us and you communicated that so well!
I remember times when I was so sick that I couldn't read my Bible and my prayers were one word prayers, "Jesus". He loves us with an everlasting love...no matter what!!!
MDW,
Oh, you are deep thinking today. Good stuff.
I noticed when I've run from God...when I get there, guess who's waiting for me? Yeah, God! Thank God!!! He is so very good to me. He even saves me from myself.
VicMic,
Welcome to the Forum and specially to "God Thought"...not glad you got Lyme, but glad you're here. God bless you, too! We're blessed to be a blessing and an encouragement to one another...and we are!!
Hope you're all enjoying your Saturday. Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
17hens,
You are a great encourager!!!
I'm glad you are here!!
What you said made a lot of sense.
Thanks for lifting MDW up.
MDW,
WOW!!! Your brain is not lacking any functions if you can think like that!!!!
I enjoyed reading your insights on perfectionism.
Very well done!
I am soooo glad you are feeling the love again.
VicMic,
Welcome to lymenet and God Thought!
There are tons of helpful people on lymenet so check out all the boards....Medical Questions, etc.
Glad you came to General Support and found us here on God Thought.
We really need the hope that we feel here.
Come back often!
daisy,
I got a chuckle out of what you said:
"I noticed when I've run from God...when I get there, guess who's waiting for me? Yeah, God!"
You always have a great perspective to share!!
Well, supper is done, so it's back outside with our grandsons to play some more before we have to take them home.
Keep the faith friends!
Posted by TS96 (Member # 14048) on :
Diane, I totally understand what your original thought is. I am in in awe of you but more so in our Savior who is doing a mighty work in your life.
You have grown more in the Lord in the past month than many do in their whole lives.
I have known the Lord for 30 years since childhood and still inching along growing and stagnating a times.
You have challenged me to walk closer to my Lord and see that I am pleasing to Him. Thank you.
Welcome Sprite. I pop in once and awhile. I seem to be always busy with the kids. It's my season of life I'm in.
Welcome to VicMic as well. And anyone else I missed.
God bless everyone. Have a blessed Sunday.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Dekrator's quote of Daisy WAS a good one!!!
Welcome, VicMic!! This is a great bunch of Lymenetters here! I like to listen in and post my two cents worth once in awhile.
hugs and love.... Posted by 17hens (Member # 23747) on :
Diane, You ARE a very deep thinker! That's what I like about you. Always asking deep questions that make us (me) have to think deeply to find the answer.
You encourage me to think about my faith, really root around in it, and not just take it for granted, which is a very easy thing (taking for granted, I mean) to do for a person who grew up in a Christian home.
Thank you for that. And I'm glad you're not a quitter. See you back here tomorrow or someday soon!
Daisy said, "He even saves me from myself." Wow, that's the truth, isn't it! He saves me from myself. When He is for us, who can be against us? Not even myself. And not even this disease!
Daisy, MDW, Dekrator, Tutu, TS, Vic (welcome!), Amelia, sjo, fflutterby, nellers, sprite and all my God Thought Friends (I'm sure I'm forgetting some)... lots of love and blessings to you and prayers for a healthy Sunday, wherever you are.
Posted by VicMic (Member # 28414) on :
Thanks so much everyone for the greetings! You all are a long awaited for blessing for me!!
Jesus truly does understand what we deal with in our disease.
Blessings to all!
Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
Good Afternoon God Friends,
The sun is shining and this is the day the Lord has made...let us rejoice and be glad in it.
On a sad note, I am asking for prayers for the family of a soldier who died in Iraq recently.
The soldier's name who died is John. He was only 32 years old with a wife and 2 children.
John is the brother of a soldier who is also deployed to Iraq with my son.
Of course this is very devastating to John's family. My heart aches for them.
2 Thessalonians 3:5 (NIV) 5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance
Hope everyone has a great Lord's Day!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Prayers going UP for John and his family. How sad. It's just so devastating to lose a husband or a father, or a son....etc.
Overwhelming.
A 24yr old "child of our congregation" was killed by a drunk driver this week. So prayers for Jessica and her family please.
Posted by sprite8 (Member # 28259) on :
prayers for John and his family, also for jessica and her family. 2 tragic losses.
I count my blessings every day no matter how small they may seem at the moment or how bad I am feeling. When we take the time to look there are blessings all around us.
This site is a blessing. I'm sure these two young people were great blessings to many.
May God of all mercy and grace comfort all those who loved them and may they find the peace in Christ that passes all understanding.
Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
Lymetoo,
I'm so sorry to hear of Jessica's loss. Praying for Jessica and her family....another tragic, senseless loss of a beautiful life.
Lymetoo and sprite,
Thank you very much for prayers for John and his family.
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26 (NIV)
Posted by daisyrlb (Member # 15686) on :
Dekrator and Lymetoo,
Thank you for sharing with us about John and Jessica.� I just can't even imagine what their families are going through
My prayers are with them. Oh Lord God may these families sense your supernatural love.
You are a faithful God, the only wise God, the God of peace beyond understanding, the God of all comfort, and You promise to be close to the broken hearted...be especially close to these families so close that they actually sense Your supernatural presence is their time of grief.
Draw them close to You and keep them in the palm of Your hand.
Help them to live minute by minute and second by second experiencing Your grace that is sufficient.
Heal their broken hearts and give them renewed hope in the Name of Jesus. May their friends be especially sensitive and be Your heart, Your arms, and Your love to these families. Amen.
Dekrator I am so glad you shared John 11:25-26 (NIV),
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
I do believe! Thank You Father God.
On to starting this weeks God Thought.
Blessings of God's peace and the blessed hope we all have of eternal life!
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is recognizing that I am a human being, all human beings are not perfect. Hey, if we were perfect, then the Perfect One--Jesus--would not have needed to die for us. Yes, I understand.![[woohoo]](graemlins/woohoo.gif)
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