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Psalm 78:16 (Amplified Bible)
"He brought streams out of the rock."
Even the smallest passage from the Bible can build remarkable faith. Take this one for example. If you only receive it, it gives you total assurance that nothing is too hard for God. No rock, no circumstance, absolutely nothing. When we change our thinking to be faith filled thinking, we can expect quick miracles. We expect miracles, we see miracles. It's all faith.
God hates unbelief! How do I know? In verse 21 and 22 of this Psalm we are told that God was full of wrath, because the Israelites believed not, relied not, trusted not!
God loves faith and without it, it is impossible to please him. Begin building faith today by reading, believing and applying the Word of God. Change your mind. It can be your enemy, if it is still "in the real world." Allow the mind of Christ to rule, and keep it up daily. You will see changes. As you do, record your personal miracles.
Today I found a lost new lip gloss that I loved in a file cabinet! I had just realized it was missing yesterday and prayed about it. (Now, Lord where is my favorite pen?)
Expect daily miracles with the God who loves you uncondtionally and is full of love, mercy and kindness!
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Psalm: 57 9 I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; 10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Have you realized how great God's love is for you? Have you experienced how immense His faithfulness? When I think about it, I am overwhelmed with praise and thankfulness, and, yes, hope. For knowing how good He is makes me realize he will never forsake me or leave me in the midst of trouble. He is my Deliverer, and when I get back in faith, I can expect quick help. "A very present help in time of need." http://www.easyhomsechooling.com |
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John Greenleaf Whittier: Part 2 After his first childhood attempts at poetry, Whittier began writing some ballads and verse on contemporary events and at seventeen his sister submitted one of his works to a publication. Imagine his delight when he opened the paper and saw his own first work in print! The editor of the Free Press was only three years older than Whittier but helped him get his start… urging Whittier’s father to provide him a better education. Two years later, at nineteen, he began attending a new academy, and paying his own way for two years. He then started reading more of the classic authors and wrote more for the local papers. By age twenty-one Whittier set out to make his living with his pen and for the next few years worked at various local publications, until his health caused him to return to his father’s home. At about this time he began to be passionate about relieving the burdens of the slaves, and began writing his anti-slavery works. He was so adamant about this cause that his office was burned and he himself was constantly in danger. As an abolitionist in those time, he showed great courage. In standing for right, he gave up a secure future in writing for publications because so much of public sentiment was still against this change.Whittier never regretted this choice, but felt true heart success in doing according to his ideals. To be continued.
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John Greenleaf Whittier is one of my favorite poets. I have liked everything I have read by him, and I have read a lot. His work is inspiring, uplifting and encouraging; a rally call to a righteous fight against injustice, which at his time was slavery. Whittier had Quaker roots and his poetry is wonderfully strong and moral. He believed in right and was not afraid to express his views. His childhood home was surrounded by natural beauty, and of course this also influenced Whittier. He learned to work as a child, and his companion was his sister, who was six years younger. He had little formal schooling but: The one book he could read and read again until he had it almost by heart was the Bible; and the Bible was always the book which exerted the strongest literary influence upon him. Brander Matthews, Introduction to American Literature, 1896 When Whittier was fourteen, a teacher lent him a book of travels which opened a new world to him, and a volume of Burns which influenced Whittier to begin writing verse himself. Burns’ poetry was Whittier’s early model, with it’s connection to nature and simple living. One of his earliest poems went thus: And must I always swing the flail, To be continued: |
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Isaiah 52:6 (amplified) Therefore My people shall know what My name is and what it means; therefore they shall know in that day that I am He who speaks; behold, I AM! AM - not past, not future but NOW God AM - nothing can destroy or diminish AM - total power AM - always there for us (AM - morning, new beginning) |
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I glanced toward the woods beyond the “Mother Tree” (see Fields with God) just as a squirrel jumped from one high branch upward to another tree. The lesson? Stop staying down. There are great things up there for you. Jump: a sudden movement. Take action. Stop inertia. Jump. Stop wasting time. Read. Research. Figure out what you need to do and do it. Make it happen. Project fit and energetic thoughts, take fit and energetic actions. Jump up! Up: Stop being satisfied down there. There is a better life upwards. Seek it. Another branch. A new tree. |
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Gratitude has it's own reward. When we start thinking of and/or listing our blessings, we realize how very blessed we are... always. I encourage you to do that right now, especially if you are feeling less than joyous for any reason. The first Thanksgiving after I was saved, I remember being in a special Hawaiian Thanksgiving service. The church was fully decorated with Hawaiian produce and flowers. I had things to be sad and worried about, but in singing "Thank you Lord for saving my soul," I knew that always and everywhere, if He was the only thing I had to thank God for it was enough. My joy bubbled up and overflowed with tears from this "thanks giving" source. Some thank the Lord for friends and home,
Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul, Thank you, Lord, for making me whole; Thank you, Lord, for giving to me Thy great salvation so rich and free. Some thank Him for the flow'rs that grow,
Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul, Thank you, Lord, for making me whole; Thank you, Lord, for giving to me Thy great salvation so rich and free. I trust in Him from day to day,
Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul, Thank you, Lord, for making me whole; Thank you, Lord, for giving to me Thy great salvation so rich and free.
Give Thanks Give thanks with a grateful heart, And now let the weak say "I am strong." Easy Homeschooling |
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The geese flew South over my home that day, as if on cue… according to our calendar or theirs.Two to three large groups paused awhile and circled very high in the pale blue yonder, regrouped and went on. I had just completed painting the house right before, having prayed to finish by winter and safely since it was such a tall house, and here I was at that exact miracle point. Life has unending seasonal cycles. God opens up his treasures, answers our prayers and always, always leads us into sunny climes. The best is yet to be! This is probably my favorite saying.
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I turned my face into the cold wind and went forth down the drive to get the mail. The sun rose higher and soon it became a more comfortable cool wind.Sometimes “life” gives us challenges. Sometimes decisions have to be made, whether we are ready for them or not. We cannot see beyond a decision sometime, but we walk forth “on the water.” For some the decision might mean leaving an abusive relationship. For others it might mean a move, perhaps even a huge move to another continent or culture. Each time you turn into the cold wind of change, making major decisions, the wind become more comfortable… finally becoming not cold, but cool and refreshing. |
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1.) Schedule your day: Decide what time you will work on a specific task. 2.) Resist avoidance because of perfectionism. 3.) Pick one area where procrastination is hurting you. A most important area. Resolve to attack it. 4.) Develop a complusion for completion. 5.) Never leave one project and go on to another until the first is completed. 6.) Work fast. Walk. Move. Act. See more tips in my books. |
Overcome Procrastination1.) Think on paper. (See step by step how to do this in Easy Homeschooling Techniques. Basically, you list goals, steps to reach them, and prioritize.) 2.) Gather all needed tools. 3.) Do a small thing to get started. 4.) Break job into slices. You can even chart it like a pie. 5.) Do one of the slices. Swiss cheese it if you have to. Do part of each slice. 6.) Do what works for you. Gung ho? Choose the biggest task first. Timid? Start with something small. Do most avoided first, first thing in your day. 7.) Consider the consequences if the job is not completed. Consider the joy if it is! To be continued. |
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11.) Develop a sense of urgency about your goals. 12.) Set worthwhile goals, a large number so you have no time to waste. 13.) Speak positive. !4.) Set clear deadline. Tell people. 15.) Use a reward systerm. This works to creat habits in training yourself or your children. Even tiny rewards for each small task accomplished. (A sip of coffee between each marketing call?) 16.) Look only to self to complete the job. |
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In Fields with God, I have a section called, “The Mother Tree,” about the mother-child relationships. I finally moved my bedroom around so I had a view of the mother tree again, from my QT seat on my bed. The Mother Tree blends into the woods.. the crown of newer growth is reaching straight for the heavens. I believe I see the road beyond the leafless branches of the woods. I can see my road to still new things in this life and beyond. I reach my arms in praise to the Wonderful Wonderful God, whose mercy and favor never leaves me. I thank God I can live until I die, by living His way, always in faith, always in joy and in all the other spiritual fruits. So blessed! So favored! Kris Kristofferson wrote: Why me Lord, what have I ever done This is my story. I deserve nothing, and yet have received so much. It’s pure MERCY-FAVOR. It’s all God. |
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1.) Each task must have a deadline and can have a reward.
2.) Forget past, focus on future. 3.) Work at your most productive tasks. 4.) Expect to accomplish a lot. 5.) Set clear goals. Focus on most important goals. 6.) Plan your work in detail. 7.) Work at the most important task first. 8.) Write a schedule and keep it. 9.) Do it now! 10.) Make decisions instead of delaying them. |
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This morning, I was looking for something and found a big stack of journals/diaries from long ago. I read some of my history (poetry from eons ago) and I found out… Some things never change. Like love for instance. We are created for love. We are created in love. God is love. We are always seeking love, sorrowing over love lost, or living in the joyous experience of love. We love our parents, we love our children, we love other people in our life. We go through life with love as the cornerstone. It is the most important thing in this life. First of all, God is love. Throughout our lives, his love is constantly surrounding us, keeping us and helping us into the best path. When we are born again, his love is within us, in a fuller and much more wonderful measure. The thread of love runs from the day we are born until the day we die. Some things never change. |
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I was thinking this morning what I would take, if I make a serious change in my location. Not much. I would take only the most important small things, the things I use everyday, my favorite skin care and make up and a few clothes (only those appropriate for new climate and lifestyle of course). I would take my Napoletana (Italian coffee maker) because I think it might be hard to find one and I love my coffee. I might take some selected vintage books, the ones I need to research my next book. I would store my small heirloom antiques, such as Christian wall pictures, and a few china objects plus the rest of my books, and would sell or discard the big things.. furniture, appliances, car, and so on. 8Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? 9Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 10Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 11How is it that ye do not understand…? Do you not understand that God is enough? That no matter what the need, He can and will supply it? Honestly, we can travel very light when God is our source. When He supplies our every need, we can trust that divine supply wherever we go! |
John 615When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. 16And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea, 17And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. 18And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. 19So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. 20But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. 21Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went. I just pulled into the parking place on the side of the small-town courthouse. I had not had enough sleep last night. That, combined with my history of great aversion to anything related to the legal field, definitely created some tension. This case had been going on for over two years, and after getting help from no one, including the attorney that was supposed to be taking care of the issue, I decided to act as my own attorney, which of course added to the stress. I prayed and meditated on the long drive from Faith Acres. “Look for a sign,” was my word. As soon as I parked, my eyes rested on a steeple and its cross. I had read the above scripture during my quiet time, and entered the court room remembering that Jesus was with me, “walking on the water” of this challenge. After a long time waiting, breathing deeply and watching the other cases, Judge Karen called us forward. I had planned to ask for one thing, say one sentence, but was asked if I wanted to testify and took the oath. I had no idea what I would say, but soon found myself relaying the entire case, and being cross examined. Jesus was there, as he always is. We don’t have to see Him to know that He is with us everywhere, and in every situation we have in this life. See Fields with God for more devotionals by Lorraine Curry. |
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Proverbs 3:5,6 (King James Version) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. It's the big decisions that worry us, because we ask ourselves, "What if it is the wrong decision?" I have been thinking of making some huge changes in my life recently and could not sleep last night, then the Lord gave me the above scripture. First of all, we really can always trust God. Not in just one area of our lives, but in every area. The Right Way, the right decision, is always the way of faith. The Right Way gives us the Right of Way to our best life. "Lean not unto thine own understanding..." When we worry, we are doing just that. We are trying to figure it all out. In actuality, when you are in the boat with Jesus, the safest place is in the middle of the ocean, not near the shore where the waves can crash on you and push the breath out of you. (I know this because I bodysurfed big storm waves.) "In all thy ways, acknowledge Him..." Recognize God as the Director of your life. Allow Him to direct it! Expect him to! "He shall direct thy paths." No, you definitely will not know exactly what is in your future at any given point in time. But when you 1) trust God, 2) stop "thinking," and 3) listen, he will direct you one easy step at a time! I randomly read the Bible this morning and this is what God gave me! Much of this is in Jeremiah.
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Excerpt from Easy Homeschooling Companion. 1) Read aloud to your young child (and all your children). 2) Listen to, and write down, the stories he tells. If you begin with these two steps, your child will have no lack of creativity in his writing. Even after he is able to write, you child will compose more detailed works if you do the actual writing, at least part of the time. When you child begins writing, be sure all work is completed, and completed neatly. If you accept less, your children will continue to do less than they are capable of, and may fail to learn important habits, which carry over into other areas, such as dress and cleanliness. Once your child is writing profusely, the next step is cutting. This step should be saved for later, at about eleven years old or older (depending of course on the individual child and his writing experience). |
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Psalm 91 talks about a Secret Place. It is called a Secret Place, because so few discover it. You may say I’m reading into the Scripture using my own interpretation, but just as I know that I know that I know that I am saved, I know what this Secret Place is because I’ve lived there for years.The Secret Place is the place of Faith. There is probably nothing that pleases God more than Faith. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him. For he that cometh to God, must believe He IS and that He is a rewarder of them that seek Him.” Favor is not fair (meaning equal to all), but the reward of Faith. It’s all about faith more than works, right? God rewards faith more than works. I think this system all revolves around the foundation of free will for mankind. We are always able to choose. What a great gift from God! We are free to choose… in every area of our lives. As Christians we are free to believe God, to live above the world and to be blessed. Favor is not fair. But then, yes it is, because it is the result of choice. Faith = Favor. Favor = Mercy and they are available to all! |