Lost & Found

Verses from my Devotional
(Jesus Calling by Sarah Young)

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

My Humble View~

For we are God's (the perfect and all-powerful spirit or being that is worshiped especially by Christians, Jews, and Muslims as the one who created and rules the universe) workmanship (the quality of the work that is done by someone), created in Christ Jesus (the man who Christians believe is the son of God and whose life, death, and resurrection as reported in the New Testament of the Bible are the basis of the Christian religion*) to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Hebrews 12:3

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 

My Humble View~

Consider (to think about (something or someone) carefully especially in order to make a choice or decision) him who endured (to continue to exist in the same state or condition ~ to deal with or accept (something unpleasant) ~ to experience (pain or suffering) for a long time) such opposition (action that is done to stop or defeat someone or something ~ a person or group that you are trying to defeat or succeed against) from sinful (very bad or wicked) men, so that you will not grow (become) weary (bored or annoyed by something because you have seen it, heard it, done it, etc., many times or for a long time) and lose heart.

 Me ~

We should begin our day with God. (and take him with us throughout the day and end the day with him too!) But starting the day with him is important. It gets you in the right frame of mind to greet the day and prepares you for your day. You will grow closer with him and reach for him and rejoice in him! Let God prepare you for your day ahead and you cannot go wrong!

Lost: Yesterday was the beginning of A Testimony of Thanksgiving with Holly at Epic Surrender. I looked for it but could not find it. I thought I was (goofy, lost, insane ~ your choice LOL!) I checked and rechecked throughout the day. (???)

Found: This morning I headed over there and discovered I had downloaded the wrong bookmark (she makes the coolest bookmarks for your Bible study). I had the old study. So! I have the correct one now and I will be doing yesterdays and today's because I do not want to miss any blessings. And so it goes...

If you would like to join us? It lasts for 4 weeks. Just click the link on the side of the page or the graphic above. :-) See you there!

Week 1 Monday ~ Magnify the Lord

We are to read Psalms 69:1-36 (click!)

And our verse is:

Psalms 69:30

I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. 

My Humble View~

I will praise (to express thanks to or love and respect for God) God's name in song and glorify (to honor or praise) him with thanksgiving (a prayer that expresses thanks to God).

Me ~

Holly talks of the first Thanksgiving in the US. 

It must have been a horrendous life! From 16 married woman... down to just 4 in the first winter.  Can you imagine losing 12 of your friends. Would you or could you still be thankful? They just were not prepared for the winter and it took it's toll.

The following Fall they did give thanks. God had watched over them and had sent the Indians to teach them how to survive the harsh winters. With God's grace they were ready and had a feast to give thanks and praise him! Without God I don't think they would have survived the second Winter. I honestly don't!

Week 1 Tuesday ~ Praising In the Pain

We are to read: Philippians 4:1-7

And our verse is:

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

My Humble View~

Do not be anxious (afraid or nervous especially about what may happen) about anything, but in every situation (an important or sudden problem), by prayer (words spoken to God especially in order to give thanks or to ask for something) and petition (a prayer or request to God), with thanksgiving (a prayer that expresses thanks to God), present your requests (an act of politely or formally asking for something) to God. 

Me ~

One of my favorite verses in the Bible as God has been showing it to me over and over. My name is Patty A Muich and I think the A is for anxious. God is teaching me that my being anxious is a waste of time and pretty hard on the body. I cannot do anything without him so I should just give it to God and relax.

Today Holly talked about a guy I had never heard of. George Mueller. I am glad that she told me about him because he had great faith. He was married twice. When he lost his  first wife he thanked God for taking her home.

You can read some of his story here. You will see that he believed in God, had no doubts whatsoever that God would provide. And you know... God did!

May God bless you and keep you, today, tomorrow and always!

Love,

Patty

PS I am in the Fall Book Club at bloom too... I think you can still join that. Link is up on the left ;-)

* Christ Jesus ~ also in the dictionary definition ~ also Christ, Jesus ◊Jesus Christ, Christ, and Jesus are commonly used as interjections to express surprise and anger. These uses are avoided in polite speech. I was always taught it was a sin. What do you think?

Exodus 20:7
7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. 

Oh Happy Day!

OH!! Good Morning!! God's word and teachings and knowledge is coming at me fast and furious today! And I am loving every second of it! I love it when I am able to be still... and listen to what He is telling me! So many times I have 4011 things swirling around in  my head. God cannot be heard over my chatter! I am so swollen with happiness I feel as if I could pop. I want so much to have you feel it too! I am happy for Stella... but Patty's got her groove on too! Let's praise God!!

(Some of the...) Verses I am studying today:

Psalm 139:23-24

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

My Humble View~

Search (to look through or explore by inspecting possible places of concealment or investigating suspicious circumstances) me, O God (the perfect and all-powerful spirit or being that is worshiped especially by Christians, Jews, and Muslims as the one who created and rules the universe), and know my heart; test (examination, observation, or evaluation) and know of my anxious (afraid or nervous especially about what may happen) thoughts (an idea, plan, opinion, picture, etc., that is formed in your mind). See if there is any offensive (causing someone to feel hurt, angry, or upset) way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (lasting or enduring through all time ~ eternal ~ having no beginning and no end in time : lasting forever).

1 Peter 5:6

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand.

My Humble View~

Humble (showing that you do not think of yourself as better than other people) yourselves, therefore (for that reason : because of that), under God's (the perfect and all-powerful spirit or being that is worshiped) mighty (having or showing great strength or power) hand.

Job 1:21

And he said: "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

My Humble View~

And he said: "The Lord (used as a name for God or Jesus) gave (allowed someone to have), and the Lord has taken (removed what was given) away; blessed (having a sacred nature ~ holy ~ morally good) be the name of the Lord.

Me: :-)

The Past: I am a stuffer. When something is wrong? I stuff it inside, I try to 'fix' it (isn't that laughable?) and I am ashamed of it, if the truth be known. If I was better it would not have happened. Right! I did not want God to see it even though, I knew in my heart, he knew.

The Last Few Decades: So.... I pray about it. Over and over and over. I bet that drove God nuts but thankfully he knows me and knows I was trying. 

The Recently: Then he taught me that asking for the same thing over and over was a sign of non belief. Uh-oh! Just the opposite of what I was trying to PROVE to God. That I was turning my troubles over to him. BUT God is not deaf. You do not have to repeat yourself. 

Now what do I do?? How do I break the habit of asking for help and for forgiveness for the same things day after day? I have issues controlling my thoughts. Bet you do too. My mind takes off, I stumble across something disagreeable.... and start to pray. Alarms go off! Warning Warning!! OH MAN!!

Today: God points my nose in this direction... He knows my nose is usually in my monitor so He just puts it in front of me there!

1. (in)courage email ~ about today's blog post:

On being impatient for healing by Arianne Segerman

and I hear God through her that it is okay to discuss it with him! Ask Him and then thank Him instead of asking him again! Isn't that what we are taught when we are little??

For instance if you ask some one for homemade cookies they just don't pop into their hands to give to you. They have to gather the ingredients,  measure out the right amount of everything, mix it all up and then you wait while they bake. God is making cookies in me and I am going to be patient and thankful. Oh so thankful!

2. Then I popped into my (in)courage Fall group and discovered that we are today's devotional from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.

That is what the Bible verses are above. Her message (to me) was about being with Jesus, have him in your life, be WITH him. Then when something comes up that you would normally stuff? Don't! Talk to him instead. Do not be rebellious, do not be resentful and do not be petty. Praise Him! Remember he gives us gifts and takes things away. When they go? Thank him for the time that you were allowed to have them and then go on (with Him by your side!)

3. I know as I go about my day He will show this message to me again. Because, unlike Him, I do need repetition!

 

I added a page this weekend. My Wanderings :-) I will note when it has been updated. It has been updated and noted :-)

I can then just pop my blog open and add it to the page and be quick as a wink about it. Because I love to share and  I love you!

Have a great Monday!!

Love,

Patty

PS! The bloom Book Club starts today! It is NOT too late :-)

Thanking God On Thursday

Verses I am studying today:

Luke 12:22-26

Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell  you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they  have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?"

My Humble View~

Then Jesus said to his disciples (group of 12 men who were sent out to spread the teachings of Jesus): "Therefore I tell  you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they  have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?"

Ephesians 3:20-21

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. 

My Humble View~

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably (incapable of being measured) more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

I need to stop worrying or being anxious about things. When I worry I am saying that I do not trust God. It does no good. I could worry 24/7 and the outcome would be  no different except I would feel bad from all the worry. God will take care of me. He will provide for me. If he does not provide it? I did not  need it.

When I start feeling anxious or start to worry, that is when I really need to pray. Acknowledge God and let him know that it is just a very bad habit that I am trying to break. Let him know that I fully believe and trust him. And thank him for taking such good care of me. Because he does. Many times he provides before I even know that I need it!

Tomorrow we are on our way! We get to meet Emily (online) that wrote the book that we will be studying in the Bloom Book Club. The actual book club starts on Monday! It is never to late to join us and you would be oh so welcomed!!

Amazon*

DaySpring*

To see all the information? Click here! This page tells you about it and  is linked to our schedule!

I am having a very thankful Thursday as my energy is starting to bubble back up and I can get on with all of my projects. With God's help and His strength anything is possible :-)

I think I am  going to have a wandering day soon! I have meandered around the Internet and found some more cool places. We are almost to Friday! Hang in there and love one another....

Love,
Patty

* I am affiliated with both Amazon and DaySpring. If you order through my link I get pennies on the dollar for treats :-) If you do not want to shop from my link just visit the sites... Google?

Suffering

Verses I am studying today:

James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything.

My Humble View~

Consider (to think about carefully) it pure (not mixed with anything else) joy (a feeling of great happiness) my brothers (one related to another by common ties or interests), whenever you face trials (the action or process of trying or putting to the proof, test) of many kinds, because you know that the testing (a critical examination, observation, or evaluation) of your faith (belief in the existence of God : strong religious feelings or beliefs) develops (to grow or become bigger or more advanced) perseverance (the quality that allows someone to continue trying to do something even though it is difficult, steadfastness). Perseverance must finish (complete) its work so that you  may be mature (having reached a final or desired state) and complete (finished), not lacking (to not have enough) in anything.

God is talking to me again...

 39 years ago today my oldest son was born. I love him with all of my heart (there is always a but isn't there?) but he has basically meant pain to me every one of those 39 years. Some was caused by others over him and some by him. I hurt from him and I hurt for him. It has been almost 3 full years since I saw him and he has no intentions of seeing me again in this life time.

I have known, for a long time, that God was using him to teach me things. I never realized that it was also to test my faith. Or to teach me to be mature and  complete. Please pray for my son Randy. He does not know God, love or anything good. He lives filled with hate and the love of money. For a long time I feared him waking up with regrets. Now I fear that he will not wake up and regret anything. I think that is even scarier!  I could use your prayers too. This time of year is always hard.

Psalm 107:21-22

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.

My Humble View~

Let them give thanks (something done or said to express thanks) to the Lord (God, Jesus) for his unfailing (never changing or becoming weaker even in difficult times, always providing enough of what is needed, everlasting) and his wonderful (awesome!) deeds (something that is done : an act or action) for men. Let them sacrifice (offering) thank offerings (something that is given to God as a part of religious worship) and tell of his works (to devote serious and sustained effort) with songs of joy (a feeling or state of well-being and contentment).

This is my daily devotional from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.  

Please be sure to click on my Study Page for Prayer. I discovered a wonderful woman online with the most awesome idea for a Prayer Journal! It Rocks! I have a couple of pictures that are linked to her page and you can visit her too!

 And!

This morning I found news about the Fall Book Club at Bloom! They are having a Giveaway!! Some very nice gifts! 

If you don’t have a copy of the book yet, you can order one today* from the DaySpring store and it should arrive just in time to start with us.  Bonus:  DaySpring’s price is almost 30% off retail, only $9.99!!  And remember, buy two books – one to keep and one to gift away – use the code Bloombook, and you’ll receive free shipping.

* Please Note: I am  an affiliate with DaySprings so I will make money if you shop through my link. Pennies on the dollar but pennies add up and buys treats for I and Peanut! :-) I don't want you to think I am trying to trick you and get rich. LOL!

I hope you are having a wonderful Monday! Wasn't the weekend awesome?

Love,

Patty  

Shhhh.... Be Still....

Verses I am studying today:

Psalm 46:10

"Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

My Humble View~

"Be still (uttering no sound : quiet, subdued, muted, calm, tranquil) and know (to understand something  to have a clear and complete idea of something) that I am God; (the perfect and all-powerful spirit or being that is worshiped especially by Christians, Jews, and Muslims as the one who created and rules the universe, a spirit or being that has great power, strength, knowledge, etc., and that can affect nature and the lives of people) I will be exalted (to raise to a higher level, to praise, glorify, elate, elevate) among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

Numbers 6:25-26

25) The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; 

26) the Lord turns his face towards you and give you peace.

My Humble View~

25) The Lord (God, Jesus) make his face shine (to emit rays of light, to have a bright glowing appearance) upon you and be gracious (characterized by charm, good taste, generosity of spirit) to you;
26) the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (a state of tranquility or quiet, a state of security, harmony).

This is my daily devotional from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.  

I loved today's devotional as I have been repeating this verse over and over in my head this past month. Be still and  know that I am God. I need to be still so that I can listen to him. I have a very active mind that always has 4011 things going on. How can I expect to hear God's voice with that going on? :-)

God knows me. He knows my heart... but he also knows my mind and it's activity. So many times, infinite (extremely large or great) times (I am starting to think like this! Help!) he talks to me through the written word as he knows I am a reader. I love to read and I read anything (well almost anything... I draw the line at porn!) that is put in front of me. So he puts words in front of me!

Here is what happened this morning: copied and pasted from group as I am lazy and hate typing the same thing over and over unless it is Bible verses :-) (But that is so I can get them into and keep them in  my noggin!)

I just turned on my computer with the intention of heading to my (in)courage group (in)life after 50. I was going to ask for prayers. It is still my intention, after this.

When I turn on my computer it goes straight to my (in)box (LOL). Today? My (in)courage email, first one, right on top, saying: How can we pray for you? Isn’t that a blessing? God gives me such good care.

God knew I was going to ask for prayers. He knew my intention was to ask the group (again ~ we pray for each other all the time and it is awesome!) He first sent me to (in) courage so even more people would pray for me!

The first time I noticed this? My daughter was newly married and had a small concern. (It was so small I cannot even remember it now and when it comes to my kids I can remember a LOT). My issue was should I say something or should I keep my mouth shut.  From the time they were small children I had prayed not to be a meddling mother in law. I asked God. I prayed for him to talk to me and tell me what I needed to do.

He talked to me from a magazine cover. I was walking by and the words just jumped out at me. The message was to 'be still' and let them do it. God Rocks My World! Shortly thereafter? It was all taken care of and I told my daughter what had happened. She was happy that I had kept my thoughts to myself but I think she also was worried that God was talking to me from a magazine cover. LOL! That is ok.... this too shall pass. I remember thinking my mom was nuts :-)

I seemed to have wandered off the subject but that is okay. It is my blog and I guess that is what it is for!

I love you all, I hope God speaks to you today. My mom would say, "Sit still and pay attention but God is more gracious than that!!

Love to you and yours,
Patty

God's Words to Me...

Verses I am studying today:

Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. 

My Humble View~

 

And without faith (belief in the existence of God : strong religious feelings or beliefs) it is impossible (unable to be done or to happen : not possible) to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe (to accept or regard {something} as true) that he exists (to have real being whether material or spiritual) and that he rewards (to give money or another kind of payment to someone for something good that has been done) those who earnestly (a considerable or impressive degree or amount) seek (to search for, to try to find, to ask for, to try to get or achieve) him.

John 4:23-24

23) "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 

24) God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.

My Humble View~

23) "Yet a time (a particular minute or hour shown by a clock) is coming (the time when something begins) and has now come when the true (real or genuine) worshipers (the act of showing respect and love for God especially by praying with other people who believe in God) the Father ( capitalized  the first person of the Trinity {Father, Son and Holy Spirit}) in spirit (the inner quality or nature of a person) and truth (the real facts about something), for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks (to search for, to try to find, to ask for, to try to get or achieve). 

24) God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.

This is my daily devotional from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. This book so enriches my life. I wish everyone could have a copy. She takes the message and puts it in a woman's point of view so that I can easily understand it. I grew up with the King James Version of the Bible and when you are little it is a bit hard to understand. 

HOMEWORK: Go here. Click to look inside the book ~ When it opens? Scroll till you come to the dates. Click on your birthday and see the message for that day. That is the easiest way for me to show you how wonderful this book is!!

This is how my mom studied the Bible (with word definitions included so she could understand ~ for sure ~ what she was reading). I never DREAMED I would turn to Mom's Way of anything... let alone Bible Study. I know, with all my heart that she is smiling down on me.

That is my one regret of my mother's life. She would have enjoyed the Internet! She was a student of God all the days of her life. Remind me to tell  you some delightful Mom Stories sometime! :-)

I have been going through some mental and emotional roller coaster rides so I have not been blogging. I keep slipping back into the 'old way' of paying attention to my thoughts instead of God's voice. You know the one... no one loves me, everybody hates me, I think I'll go eat worms. I had my group pray for me the other day and they really blessed me. It feels so good to have people care about you.

Going to keep it short today... skipping the Obedience post (but striving to stay obedient) and the Days of Joy post (but finding Joy in God every day, one way or another, even in the bad ones!)

May God bless you all and I hope to see you again, soon!

Love to you and yours,
Patty

OH My Goodness!! I forgot! My book arrived yesterday!! The one for the Bloom Fall Book Club! WOOT! I cannot wait to dive right in! "a million little ways" sounds so delicious!