a glimpse of heaven's love

Psalm 23:5c “…my cup runneth over.” My, what a long time it’s been since I’ve written!   I am so sorry.   We all tend to get busy with the things of this life, and some things just get put on hold.   I will try to do better! Last time, I ended with the thought that our cup should be running over…rather a lead in to this next section!   Our cup should be running over; the blessings of God truly abound! I think for this section, I am just going to recount each promise phrase that is spoken of in this psalm: (1)       Promise of Shepherding: tending, feeding, and guarding His precious sheep (2)       Promise of Providing: providing for all our needs     If we will cast all our cares on Him, He will meet those needs     A God-centered life brings peace and contentment (3)        Promise of Rest   God knows just when we are in need of rest---and He provi...

  Psalm 23: 4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me;” That’s the blessing, dear Christian, of knowing Christ!   He gives us confidence in the very face of death!   That’s the first question, of course…are you truly a Christian??   I don’t plan on going into that subject on this post…but if there’s any question in your heart and mind that you’re truly saved, that you know Christ as your personal Saviour, please, please turn to the many reference labels I have concerning salvation.   That is a MUST!   …please make sure of your salvation today !     What I do wish to speak about in this post—although I’m sure I will be fairly short—is the wonderful fact that no matter what we’re facing—including death—is that we can have confidence and strength through God.   There is nothing we need to fear.   why? …because God says He is with us!   He promises over and ...

This is my attempt at starting up again with this blog. I know I have at least a couple people who check in from time to time, and that is encouraging.  There are countless others that just happen upon my blog, and hopefully this is used in their hearts and lives for a purpose.  What a blessing that would be! I would like to start this time with different studies from God's Word...and to begin, I would like to start with the very well-known Psalm, "The Shepherd Psalm."      Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my c...

Wow!  I can't believe how long it's been since I've written anything in my blog.  Not that a lot of people tune in to check out what I have to say...but it's the people that do tune in, and more importantly, those that need to hear some of the things I have to say, that make it all worthwhile! I have a question for you!  How have you been doing?  You --personally!  Are you doing good... or are you just pluggin' along?  Check your attitudes...check your emotions...they're a sure-fire way to see how you're really doing!  We tend to be a very emotional people.  If we're happy and excited...we show it.  If we're down and discouraged, we show that as well.  There's an old saying: we tend to "wear our heart on our sleeve."  (actually, it's from Shakespeare in Othello!)  It just means we tend to be very open with our emotions.  That's not always a good thing, particularly if you're down and discouraged.  Let m...

Satan loves to get us down and discouraged, or if nothing else, at least to distract us.  Satan is the Master Deceiver:  He is the Father of Lies.  Why?--because he knows the end of the story!  His end is in "the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." (Rev. 20:10) --And because he knows his end, he wants to take as many as he can with him!  But if we know Christ as our personal Saviour, the most he can do is get us down, or discouraged, or distract us.  And why does he want to do that?--so that we aren't of any use to Christ.  (not a good place to be in--don't go there!)  So today I want to talk about the five F's to avoid! Fear For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound   mind.  (2 Tim. 1:7)  Those are key components to the workings of Christ.  We need to stand upon them.  Don't a...

Psalm 27:14 "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." Isaiah 26:3 "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee."   Isaiah 30:15b "In quietness and confidence shall be your strength."        James 1:4-5 "But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.      If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." __________________________________ What do all of these verses have in common?   They all have an ingredient of waiting upon the Lord or patience .   And why are these such good qualities to have?   Many times in our fleshly natures, we tend to just do what we think is best, or worse, we tend to think we can just do it ourselves.   Those are both very poor responses....

"James 1:3-4  "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." I love the book of James.   He is so practical.  I may have used this verse before…you'll forgive me if I use it again.  It makes for a good stepping off point!  Many times God is at work in our lives…it may be to reprove us and call us back to Himself, or it may be He knows He can produce more fruit if He can just get our attention.  I don't know where this will find you in your spiritual walk today; but I do hope you will stay to listen. Trials…that is God's time to put your faith to the test!  Will you turn to God and trust , or will you high-tail it outta of there and run the other way?!  Know that when your faith is being tested--no matter the trial or temptation--it is the time to trust God; but you must allow the testing to bring about its intended purpose--tha...

A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass, jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet.  She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully.  Three times, even.  The total had to be exactly perfect.  No chance for mistakes. Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door. She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention, but he was too busy at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise.  Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster.. no good. Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it! "And what do you want?" the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice.  "I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages," he said without waiting for a reply...

 " For all this they sinned still and believed not"  Psalm 78 This is a scary but unfortunate story of God's wrath against the disbelieving and disobedient. What is really scary and unfortunate is the fact that so many Christians today act just like the Israelites spoken of in this psalm.  Many of us are like that.  The bottom line:  we want our own way; it's SELF that is on the throne, not God, like He so deserves. I.  The Ridiculousness of such a State              A.  God Delivered Them              B.  God Led Them                        i.  by a cloud by day                       ii.  by fire by night ...

I love flowers--all flowers--but these are petunias in particular.  I'm showing a photo of not only a seedling that has germinated and grown, but also the full-grown beautiful flowers.  They're planted that they might bloom, bringing forth its full fruit of a flower.  That is what we are meant to do as Christians!  We are saved that we might grow and bring forth fruit.  Jesus said in my first Bible reference, "Ye shall know them by their fruits."  Do people see Jesus Christ in you?  Do people see a difference in you?  Are you producing fruit for His kingdom?  Please read further!  Please be certain that you are Christ's and have a home in Heaven--not just following a crowd.  May Christianity be real in you! Matthew 7:16-27   Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.A good ...

Our relationship with Christ ought to be one of constant dependence and communion.   Prayer is a natural outflow of that dependence and communion. Prayer isn't the way to get God to do whatever we want.   Prayer is an expression of our trust in God's power, wisdom and grace.   The Holy Spirit, Our Prayer Partner 24/7 Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Prayers of the Saints are Precious Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. Prayer, Our Strengt...