Dear Sisters,
Merry Christmas! I wish I could give door-to-door hugs to each of you, meet your families, and visit the girls in your club. That day will come! If not now, it will certainly happen when Jesus comes again. I look forward with you to the day of His final return to earth! Come, Lord Jesus, come!
WIND & ROOTS
Blessed are those who trust in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8, TNIV
A friend of mine was given the assignment to purchase groceries for an extra-curricular school party. “Don’t lose the receipt,” the superintendent told her. “We’ll reimburse you.”
She purchased the needed supplies, rolled the cart to her van, opened the front door of her vehicle, and placed her purse on the seat. With the driver’s door still open, she turned to unload the bags from the cart to her trunk when a strong prairie wind snatched her receipt from the side purse pocket and tossed it across the parking lot. She ran and ran and ran. She needed that receipt!
Eventually, she nabbed it! Success! Except when she looked at the receipt she discovered it was months old. Breathless, she returned to the van and discovered that the prairie wind also blew the driver’s door shut, safely locking her purse, the correct receipt, and her keys inside the van. Ugh!
Have you ever tried to catch a receipt or another important piece of paper in the wind? It can be an exasperating experience. I wonder if that’s what a life of worry looks like to God. Worry tosses us back and forth in restless sleep, around and around with churning stomachs, and here and there in our thoughts. Anxiety leaves us breathless, robbing us of clearly seeing and resting in His promises and providence.
God says through Jeremiah that blessings come when we trust and put our confidence in God. Instead of being receipts blowing in the wind, our life will look like a tree that’s planted by water.
It sends out its roots by the stream. Be deep rooted in a relationship to Jesus who provides life-giving water that wells up to eternal life (John 4:13-14). He is the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star (Revelation 22:16).
It doesn’t fear heat or worry about drought. Don’t fear in times of trouble or worry when a crisis hits. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).
It never fails to bear fruit. When you remain in Jesus you will bear much fruit! Jesus said, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:8).
Prayer Step: If worries are tossing you around like the wind, look to the Root of David in prayer.
Just as the roots of a tree provide stability, nourishment, and a firm foundation for growth, our Messiah, the Root of David, provides all this and more in our lives.
Elizabeth L. Vander Meulen & Barbara D. Malda
Grace and peace,
Lenae
A connecting place for British Columbia GEMS counselors and club coordinators. . .
Monday, December 21, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
God Who Sees
Dear Sisters,
Good morning! How are you? I pray yours days are filled with reflection and expectation as we near the celebration of His birth and the anticipation of His second coming! Jan posted a wonderful blog about Advent on December 1.
Check it out here: http://www.gemsgc.org/blog/?p=309
Have a blessed week!
GOD WHO SEES
The eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love. Psalm 34:18
Growing up I spent countless hours with Pa, Ma, Mary, Laura, and Carrie Ingalls. I read all the Little House on the Prairie books, watched the TV series, and my folks even brought our family to Walnut Grove, Minnesota to touch and see the place that Laura used to call home.
It’s through the Little House TV series that I learned about peripheral vision. Laura, a teacher at the time, was writing on the chalkboard with her back toward the class. One of the boys did something wrong and if I remember correctly he blamed Willie for it. But Laura knew Willie didn’t do it because she saw the culprit through her peripheral vision.
Pe•riph•er•al: at or relating to the edge of something, as opposed to its center
Have you ever prayed about your marriage, your work, your church, or your health and wondered if you were in God’s peripheral vision or worse yet, out of His sight completely? Maybe you’ve prayed for the poverty in Kanyama, Zambia, the bloodshed in abortion clinics, or the abused children in suburbia and wondered if He is fully seeing the critical need for a Deliverer?
Hagar must’ve wondered the same thing. When God showed Himself to her she responded with gratitude and praise. She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me” (Genesis 16:13).
Our prayers must not be based on wondering if God sees our needs, or feeling like He’s somehow been blinded to our situation. Instead our prayers must be rooted in Truth. We pray to El Roi – the God Who Sees!
From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth – he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. The eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love (Psalm 33:13-15, 18).
He sees everything that is happening in our lives. Not from the peripheral, squinting to try and figure out our needs. No! He’s up close and personal. The Lord is near (Philippians 4:5). He is God with us – Immanuel (Matthew 1:23).
Prayer Step: Think about the hurt nearest your heart and pray this Scripture prayer. El Roi, You look down and see _______________________; from Your dwelling place You watch __________________. Your eyes are on me, on all those whose hope is in Your unfailing love. Thank You, El Roi. I love You! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
God sees hearts as we see faces. George Herbert
Grace and peace,
Lenae
Good morning! How are you? I pray yours days are filled with reflection and expectation as we near the celebration of His birth and the anticipation of His second coming! Jan posted a wonderful blog about Advent on December 1.
Check it out here: http://www.gemsgc.org/blog/?p=309
Have a blessed week!
GOD WHO SEES
The eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love. Psalm 34:18
Growing up I spent countless hours with Pa, Ma, Mary, Laura, and Carrie Ingalls. I read all the Little House on the Prairie books, watched the TV series, and my folks even brought our family to Walnut Grove, Minnesota to touch and see the place that Laura used to call home.
It’s through the Little House TV series that I learned about peripheral vision. Laura, a teacher at the time, was writing on the chalkboard with her back toward the class. One of the boys did something wrong and if I remember correctly he blamed Willie for it. But Laura knew Willie didn’t do it because she saw the culprit through her peripheral vision.
Pe•riph•er•al: at or relating to the edge of something, as opposed to its center
Have you ever prayed about your marriage, your work, your church, or your health and wondered if you were in God’s peripheral vision or worse yet, out of His sight completely? Maybe you’ve prayed for the poverty in Kanyama, Zambia, the bloodshed in abortion clinics, or the abused children in suburbia and wondered if He is fully seeing the critical need for a Deliverer?
Hagar must’ve wondered the same thing. When God showed Himself to her she responded with gratitude and praise. She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me” (Genesis 16:13).
Our prayers must not be based on wondering if God sees our needs, or feeling like He’s somehow been blinded to our situation. Instead our prayers must be rooted in Truth. We pray to El Roi – the God Who Sees!
From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth – he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. The eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love (Psalm 33:13-15, 18).
He sees everything that is happening in our lives. Not from the peripheral, squinting to try and figure out our needs. No! He’s up close and personal. The Lord is near (Philippians 4:5). He is God with us – Immanuel (Matthew 1:23).
Prayer Step: Think about the hurt nearest your heart and pray this Scripture prayer. El Roi, You look down and see _______________________; from Your dwelling place You watch __________________. Your eyes are on me, on all those whose hope is in Your unfailing love. Thank You, El Roi. I love You! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
God sees hearts as we see faces. George Herbert
Grace and peace,
Lenae
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Blanket Victory
Dear Sisters,
Hello! Recently our congregation sang the most beautiful prayer. You’ve probably sung it a time or two yourselves! Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay, close by me forever, and love me, I pray! Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care and take us to heaven, to live with Thee there. Amen? Amen!
Have a blessed week!
BLANKET VICTORY
But I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
Psalm 88:13
As young girls it was right about this time each year when the temperatures dip cold that my sister Lori and I started battling for larger sections of the puff quilt stuffed with mom’s discarded nylon stockings that topped our bed. Sometimes we made peace on our own. Sometimes one of us would holler from our upstairs bedroom, “Mom! She’s hogging the blankets!”
Dr. Alan Redpath, a Bible teacher from England, says that what American Christians need most is blanket victory. He’s not referring to the battle over warm quilts during frigid winters. It’s his battle cry for God’s children to win victory over the blankets in the morning so there’s more time to pray!
For more years than I’d like to confess, I fought the blankets and the blankets won. It was through His Spirit and the example of a godly woman in my life that I quit making the excuse that I’m not a morning person and made the commitment to set the alarm earlier than the rest of my family so I could meet with Him.
Talk to Him in the morning. In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation (Psalm 5:3).
Receive strength for the day ahead. I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble (Psalm 59:16). O LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress (Isaiah 33:2).
Obtain your day’s assignment from Him. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul (Psalm 143:8).
Follow Jesus’ example. Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed (Mark 15:1).
To get started may require a shrill alarm that scares you silly so you can’t possibly fall back to sleep, but given time an alarm won’t be necessary at all. You’ll wake on your own looking forward to the best time of the day – quiet, uninterrupted conversation with the Savior.
Prayer Step: If you’re not already in the habit, set your alarm at least 30 minutes before the rest of the family stirs so you can spend precious time talking and listening to God.
It’s better to be sleep deprived than God deprived. Jill Briscoe
Grace and peace,
Lenae
Hello! Recently our congregation sang the most beautiful prayer. You’ve probably sung it a time or two yourselves! Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay, close by me forever, and love me, I pray! Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care and take us to heaven, to live with Thee there. Amen? Amen!
Have a blessed week!
BLANKET VICTORY
But I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
Psalm 88:13
As young girls it was right about this time each year when the temperatures dip cold that my sister Lori and I started battling for larger sections of the puff quilt stuffed with mom’s discarded nylon stockings that topped our bed. Sometimes we made peace on our own. Sometimes one of us would holler from our upstairs bedroom, “Mom! She’s hogging the blankets!”
Dr. Alan Redpath, a Bible teacher from England, says that what American Christians need most is blanket victory. He’s not referring to the battle over warm quilts during frigid winters. It’s his battle cry for God’s children to win victory over the blankets in the morning so there’s more time to pray!
For more years than I’d like to confess, I fought the blankets and the blankets won. It was through His Spirit and the example of a godly woman in my life that I quit making the excuse that I’m not a morning person and made the commitment to set the alarm earlier than the rest of my family so I could meet with Him.
Talk to Him in the morning. In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation (Psalm 5:3).
Receive strength for the day ahead. I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble (Psalm 59:16). O LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress (Isaiah 33:2).
Obtain your day’s assignment from Him. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul (Psalm 143:8).
Follow Jesus’ example. Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed (Mark 15:1).
To get started may require a shrill alarm that scares you silly so you can’t possibly fall back to sleep, but given time an alarm won’t be necessary at all. You’ll wake on your own looking forward to the best time of the day – quiet, uninterrupted conversation with the Savior.
Prayer Step: If you’re not already in the habit, set your alarm at least 30 minutes before the rest of the family stirs so you can spend precious time talking and listening to God.
It’s better to be sleep deprived than God deprived. Jill Briscoe
Grace and peace,
Lenae
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