Diamond in the rough

" A diamond is a piece of coal that stayed on the job'

Isa. 43:2-3a

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you,

And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you,

When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,

Nor shall the flame scorch you.

For I am the Lord you God.

The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;............

When we walk through the fire, that is a promise that at times it will uncomfortable, it says to me that 'He will never leave me or forsake me'...and that I will experience a fire in my life. A quote from Joyce many years ago, 'He will burn out that which is not of Him and put on fire that which remains'. what a powerful truth.

My prayer: Lord let me allow you to put me through whatever it takes to make me more in your image each day. Build your character in me so that my life shines forth in this dark world that others will see your imprint on me and will turn to You and glorify You. Let me stay on the job you have put before me knowing that 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me'.

Psalm 23

Psalm 23

The Lord is my Shepherd

I shall not want

He makes me to lie down in green pastures

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul;

He leads me in paths of righteousness for His Name sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and staff they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

David experienced the highs and lows in his walk with God. He writes out of experience in this Psalm. We read these scriptures by the bedside of those dying or at a funeral but it is so much more for us who experience life in Christ.

He is Jehovah-Rohi - the Lord my Shepherd - Psm 23:1

Jehovah-Jireh - My provider - Gen. 22:14

Jehovah Shalom - my peace - Judges 6:24

Jehovah Rophe - my healer - Exo. 15:26

Jehovah-Tsidkenu - our righteousness - Jer 23:6

Jehovah Shammah - He is there or present - Ezek 48:35

Jehovah-M'kaddesh - sanctifier - Ex. 31:13

Jehovah Nissi - My banner - Ex. 17:15

Take time to study these. Each of these principles are used in Psalm 23. HE IS MY shepherd, provider, peace, healer, righteousness, present, santifier and banner.

The Lord's coming

THE DAY AND HOUR UNKNOWN

Mark 13:32 No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven,

nor the Son, but only the Father."

33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.

34 It's like a man going away. He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge,

each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

35 Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the

house will come back-whether in the evening, or at midnight,

or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.

36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.

37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: Watch!

Mother's Day

To all Mother's. Everyone has a mother somewhere. Sometimes this is not an easy day for those who have bad memories. But the Lord says,

For You (Lord) formed my inward parts;

You covered me in my mother's womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psm. 139:13-14

One translation says, you were knit in your mother's womb. Another says, My frame(bones) were not hidden from You, When I was made(embroidered) in secret. Read all of Psalm 139 and see His thoughts toward you.

No matter the circumstances in your life in regard to your mother. You were designed with purpose and a destiny. So today celebrate your birth, and celebrate your Mom if she is with you. Or for those whose mom's are gone remember the good things.

My mother left the home when I was around 11 and she did her thing for many years. But at 65 she found the Lord and I rejoice because I know she is in heaven today. The Lord says, 'If we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, we will be saved and our household.' Acts. 16:31

A BLESSED MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL

Say to the Mountain!!

Based on Mark 11:11-25

I use NKJV but this past week read this in 'The Message' Bible and it is neat how it says it.

The Lesson of the withered fig tree

Jesus walking along the road..Peter questions why the fig tree was shriveled up. Jesus was matter-of-fact: "Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you. This mountain, for instance: Just say, 'Go jump in the lake'-no shuffling or shilly-shallying-and it's as good as done. That's why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you'll get God's everything. And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it's not all in the asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive -only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins."
What a powerful scripture...there are times when we are faced with insurmountable odds or something that is overwhelming. KJ says, 'Have faith in God' and then the Lord goes on to say if we say, mountain be removed ...do not doubt...and believes that what he says he will have. But a key is if you have any unforgiveness you need to deal with it and let the blood of Jesus cleanse you from all sin. If you do not forgive He will not forgive you. Faith can move a mountain!!! But one of the keys is to forgive those wrongs done to us.

With God all things are possible!!

Come Let us Sing

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;

let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before Him with thanksgiving

and extol him with music and song.

I love the Psalms....music is the center of my life and brings me great JOY. David is called a psalmist and I can picture him when he was in a hard place there was a song in his heart. It is in the hard places that a song will come. Sometimes it is in the morning when I awake or in the car riding somewhere that God will drop a tune in my heart and I will start to hum and then I know that God has me on His mind.

I purpose in my life to Sing, Shout, Live and Love with everything

within me until I meet Him face to face. Lord let me always hear the song in the night!