Category Archives: Fear

Jan11

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on January 11, 2015 by lsgrlr

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

1 Kings 9.”But if you or your sons at all turn from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them; and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight. Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples. And as for this house, which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and will hiss, and say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ Then they will answer, ‘Because they forsook the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore the Lord has brought all this calamity on them'” (Verses 6-9). Have you ever signed a contract only to be later blind sided by the small print. You know, the “but” portion of the contract? Here is God’s “but” portion. However, He does not hide it in small print, tricking us into to signing, no He declares it up front boldly and openly giving us no excuses not to follow His good and perfect will. The command FOLLOW, the “But”, if you don’t follow, I will remove My presence. We blame God for so many things, when the truth is from the beginning He has told us the criteria, nothing has been hidden. We have ALWAYS known there was a consequence for sin and disobedience from the time of the garden till now, God has been one hundred percent honest about His will. So put the blame where it belongs, with us… and as my friend Jason would say, “Do better.”

Jan8

DAY 8 (2015)

Posted on January 8, 2015 by lsgrlr

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Just like unexpected snow in Spring. Life can throw us curve balls. When that happens we either take a swing or get hit.
(Picture by Lisa R.)

Today we had a blizzard, in Buffalo and I was not expecting it. Why? Because this morning when I drove to work it was bright and sunny, cold but not a cloud in sight. Now I am going to tell you a story about a God who sees and knows and who puts His plans in action in a such a way that blows our minds. I was hired for my job two months before I actually started working, I didn’t start working till November. In August I tired making an appointment for my mom to see a doctor before work started, however, I was unsuccessful. The earliest appointment I could get was for January (yeah, crazy I know). So in August I made an appointment for January 8th, for my mom to see her doctors. On Monday I requested to leave early to take her to her appointment. Today when I walked out to my car and saw that the snow, I was freaked out (can’t lie). But as I was driving home I realized that God knew that it was going to snow today. He also knew that it was it would be easier and safer for me to drive when the sun was out than it would be to maneuver the slick roads in the dark. He planned my safe journey home almost five months prior. I am blown away, that He cares about me that much. The irony I was so irritated at how far out the appointment I was, that I had actually thought of cancelling it, but I didn’t and today I understood why. Here’s the truth even when we don’t realize it God’s at work, and He uses even the most normal of circumstances to bring about His miracles.

“The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 3:18).

So what am I thankful for today? A God who plans ahead. 😀

Jan8

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on January 8, 2015 by lsgrlr

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

I Kings 7. “Thus Solomon had all the furnishings made for the house of the Lord: the altar of gold, and the table of gold on which was the show bread; the lamp stands of pure gold, five on the right side and five on the left in front of the inner sanctuary, with the flowers and the lamps and the wick-trimmers of gold; the basins, the trimmers, the bowls, the ladles, and the censers of pure gold; and the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner room (the Most Holy Place) and for the doors of the main hall of the temple” (Verses 48-50). Solomon gave God the best of all he had. This chapter talks about Solomon furnishing the house he built for God. Everything was the finest of the finest. It reminded me that we are to give God our best. The best parts of ourselves, and we are to give it willingly. Serving God should not be a chore that we feel forced to do, it should be an act of worship that stems from a desire to want to serve the one who gave His only Son, so we could have life. Today serve willingly and give God your best. He deserves it.

Jan5

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on January 5, 2015 by lsgrlr

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

1 Kings 4. “And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore. Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt.For he was wiser than all men—than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was in all the surrounding nations.He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five. Also he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree of Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish. And men of all nations, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom, came to hear the wisdom of Solomon” (Verses 29-34). Yesterday we looked at Solomon’s choice… He choose wisdom, when God gave him the choice of “anything”. But God took the blessing further, because Solomon’s heart was so for God, God then gave Solomon all the things he didn’t ask for. It is in verse 29 that I find the biggest blessing… God gave Solomon, largeness of heart. Solomon was not only wise, he was kind. I love that. When God says He is going to bless, He really blesses and He doesn’t do it half way. When Solomon chose God’s way, God gave him everything else. He does the same today. Choose wisely.

Jan4

DAY 4 (2015)

Posted on January 4, 2015 by lsgrlr

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By faith the seed dies, so the flower can bloom. Each new bud is the realization of the seed of faith.
(Picture by Lisa R.)

Although Buffalo is beautiful, and even though I know 100% it is God’s will for me to be here. Today, I missed my home church, so I grabbed my laptop and joined them online, and I was super happy I did. I knew it was the right choice when Pastor Doug said this, “God can take our brokenness and make it something beautiful”. I needed to be reminded of that. 2014 was hard in many ways, but many times God took those hard and dented times and made them beautiful. Life is never predictable and the roads we travel is filled with twists and turns, road blocks and potholes. But God is the ultimate civil engineer creating pathways for us to travel that are filled with beauty and lessons to learn, but in order for us to get to the smooth roads, we first have to be willing trudge through the bad ones. Today just a reminder that God will take our brokenness and make it something beautiful.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).

So what am I thankful for today? Beauty from brokenness.

Jan4

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on January 4, 2015 by lsgrlr

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

1 King 3. “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days” (Verses 11-14). I have often thought about what my answer to God would have been if, He posed the same question to me. Would I have asked for something that would benefits others (like Solomon did), or would I have chosen something of benefit only to me. I would hope it was the first, but my very human nature tells me it would more than likely be the latter. I want a heart like Solomon’s, a heart that wants to take God’s grace, love, and wisdom and share it with the world. I want to know that if God does ask me that question later on in life, that my response would be as pleasing to Him, as Solomon’s was. So today let’s align our goals, with God’s goals. Let’s bless others and not seek to only bless ourselves.

Jan3

DAY 3 (2015)

Posted on January 3, 2015 by lsgrlr

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God the ultimate artist

So today I discovered a new thing… something that I am sure other people who live in cold weather knew existed. But I have recently discovered is real, today it rained… ice. Yup, ice. I couldn’t help but laugh at the sight, because living in Florida I had never been privy to this great mystery. Freezing rain is actually really pretty, as it coats all that comes in contact with it in a layer of ice. I couldn’t help but thank God for His awesome creativity, who but God could make it rain ice, heck who but God could make it rain at all. I love that God is so infinite that we even now we are still discovering new parts of His character, new beauty in the world He has created for us. I am thankful for freezing rain, for days when the trees are coated with white snow. I am thankful for sunshine and slow breezy days. Because everyday is a picture of God’s love for us. Everyday is a chance to be grateful for what we do have and not focus on what we don’t.

“For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm” (Palm 33:9).

So what am I thankful for today? Ice rain and a creative God.

Jan3

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on January 3, 2015 by lsgrlr

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

1 Kings 2. “Now the days of David drew near that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying: “I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. And keep the charge of the Lord your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; that the Lord may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,’ He said, ‘you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel'” (Verses 1-4). David is dying and he charges Solomon with the goal of obedience. Obedience to God, and His words. Note the blessing: Solomon’s descendants will forever rule, a promise God kept since Christ is a descendant of David and his throne is forever. You know who else He has made a promise too? Us. He promises that if we believe, if we trust and obey, we will be with Him forever. Looking back I see that God has been faithful to keep every promise ever made, so I am gonna trust Him in this one too. I hope you all do the same.

Dec29

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on December 29, 2014 by lsgrlr

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

2 Samuel 23. “The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: ‘He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, like the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear shining after rain'” (Verses 3-4). To rule, to serve, to do what God calls us to do (no matter what that is). We must first be just, showing no partiality. Our yes, must be yes. Our no, must be no. Secondly we must do all in the fear, and name of God. Being a “right” representative of His will and purpose. Lastly we must shine clearly and brightly so others can see and follow. Above we must all walk in the humility of God’s love.

Dec26

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on December 26, 2014 by lsgrlr

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

2 Samuel 21. “Yet again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; and he also was born to the giant. So when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him. These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants” (Verses 20-22). Life is sometimes filled with giants. Things that seem too big or too tall for us to overcome. Read this chapter. This story contains giants. Why is that important? They were all subdued. They all fell, not one of them overpowered or overcame God’s children. With God we can overcome our giants.