The bird bath in our backyard attracts a lot of wildlife.  Sitting outside one warm day, I watched in fascination as a wasp gently landed on the edge of the birdbath and began drinking the water; I’d never seen this before.  Then another wasp joined it, and another, and ‘Oh, my goodness’ pretty soon there were many, many more!  My fascination turned to mild alarm at so many of these ‘ornery’ insects so close to me.  There had to be a nest close by and they had found a refreshing ‘spring’ in our garden.

Sin or wrongs, can be a little like that. One by one, they enter our lives, initially not attracting our attention: turning a blind eye here, having a lax attitude there, letting one rule after another be bent, and changing a few morals from good to bad. But a day comes when we are suddenly aware of how many we have allowed into our lives.  We’ve allowed sins to multiply one by one, until we’re a welcome watering hole for them.

Jeremiah 29:11-12 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  (NKJV)

Only God can guide us and hopefully, the day will come when we realize that we have nowhere else to go but to God!  Nobody else can help or is willing to listen.  We are left trying to decide how we can ‘go ! What do we do next?  It is a place of despair, but we can be assured that if we will only ask God for His help and ask Him to guide all that we think, say or do, we will experience a refreshing in our hearts and spirits, that only He can give.  He will bring us to His ‘watering hole’ of truth and right-living.  He will let us know where we have gone wrong, and what we need to do about it.  This advice can be found only in the bible, it is God’s watering hole, and if we will only trust the words it holds for us, it becomes a refreshing place, where we will find comfort and sustenance for our dried-up spirits.

Prayer:  Father God, let us come to You and only You for our refreshing:  let us be wise in where and how we meet our internal needs because to choose unwisely will lead us to external disquiet and trouble.

See more at:  http://pepeprays.wordpress.com

No related posts.

Praying God’s blessings and Peace and Safety to you, as you celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ!  May you have the joy of family and good friends, around you this Christmas, and may there be many happy moments.

http://pepeprays.wordpress.com

No related posts.

What can I give my spouse?

What to give the children!

What to give friends and family!

Will it be a new guitar?  The latest electronic gadget on which to view, text and listen? Perhaps the latest video game?

It is so easy get ‘caught up’ in the buying frenzy expected of us by retailers.

The very best gift you can give is the story of Jesus!  Christmas after all, is the celebration of His birth.  He was born to bring us the gifts of peace, contentment and joy!  He wanted and still wants us, to share his unconditional love with others.  What greater gift is there?

Gift-giving is a beautiful way of sharing and showing our love with those nearest and dearest to us, but let’s not forget the true meaning of Christmas.  Let us remember to say, “Happy Birthday, Jesus”!

Let us invite and welcome Him into our hearts, minds and spirits.  Let us remember to thank His Father, God for all that He provides for us day by day. Let us keep Jesus in our hearts all year long, and each successive year of our lives.

Isaiah 9:6  For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders.  And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  (NIV)

Prayer:  Father, when the worldly interpretation of Christmas overwhelms us, help us to not forget You, and Your gift of Jesus to us.  May we focus on what is important and beneficial to us and may we grow in faith and love.  Amen

http://pepeprays.wordpress.com

Related posts:

1. God’s Gifts Are Sometimes Wrapped in Unattractive Paper
2. Christmas Bell Ringing in Boca Raton
3. My Soul Waits For The Lord
4. The Long Wait for Jesus
5. Awaiting God’s Arrangements for Us
6. Four Pounds of Ooey Gooey Goodness
7. The Kingdom of God Is At Hand

Psalm 118:24 – This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (NIV)

Woke up this morning — the sun is shining … the sky is blue with puffy white clouds … nice temperature, despite it being December! Rejoice!

Woke up this morning — the sun is shining … the sky is blue … the grass is dormant … the flowers are asleep. I won’t have to mow this week, nor water the flowers. Rejoice!

Woke up this morning — the sun is shining … the sky is blue … it’s cold and crisp.  But this, too, is a day the Lord has made, and I will rejoice!

Woke up this morning — it’s not raining. Rejoice! Praise the Lord!

Woke up this morning — the sun is shining … the sky is blue … the air is crisp and it bites the end of your nose;  winter is definitely here.. Rejoice!

Woke up this morning — it’s sunny, cold, and windy; it snowed overnight, and the driveway will have to be cleaned.  But I’ve got a warm home, warm clothes, food to eat, books to read, family and friends. And a snowblower. Rejoice!

Woke up this morning — the sun isn’t shining, but I look forward to the promise of spring. Rejoice!

Every day is a gift from God. Some days, it’s easier to rejoice than others, but God, who creates every day, also created us. He is our Father; we are His children and God has promised He is always with us. He loves us.  He knows our needs and He wants us to seek Him out. On those days when it’s hard to rejoice and God seems far away, who do you think has moved?

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

Prayer: Dear God, help us to rejoice in each day, drawing ever closer to You. Amen

http://pattersmatters.wordpress.com          http://pepeprays.wordpress.com

Related posts:

1. Change of Plans
2. God’s Cure for Worry
3. “Dorothy, I Have a Feeling We’re Not in Kentucky Anymore!”
4. The Will of God: Your Rejoicing
5. Filled with the Glory of God
6. The Gospel Sustains and Strengthens for Real Life
7. Hoping in the Return of Jesus Christ

There is a major house renovation going on close to where we live. Actually, it has been in progress for weeks and weeks – new roof, insulation, siding, windows, doors, sunroom and storage addition – a complete overhaul! I don’t know, because I have not seen inside, but I have to assume that there is a great deal of updating, repair and cleaning being addressed inside the home too: and I assume this due to the time it is taking to complete the work.

I recall when my husband and I, were looking for a home in this park, that we viewed one particular unit that was in a beautiful location, the price was amazing (it would have left a great deal of ‘spare’ cash for renovations) but the condition inside was nothing short of ‘disgusting’: how anyone could have lived in the home in the condition it was in, was beyond our comprehension.

We had agreed that we were willing to move into a house of our choice and do work while living there, but the filth and the updates needed in that particular house, were way too bad for us to even consider moving in and living there in – there was far too much to do to make it habitable.

When some people are challenged to give their lives to God and invite Jesus into their hearts, they recognize the truth that they have sinned before God. As a result, they want to clean up their lives before they issue an invitation to Jesus. They don’t yet understand that God comes into our lives to clean us up, precisely because we can’t do it for ourselves.

Isaiah 64:6a – But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags. (NKJV)

The good news is that God loves us just as we are. So when we become willing to accept God into our lives, thankfully, He does not shun our dirty lives like we rejected that dirty home. He welcomes us and cleanses us. He does not leave us as we are, with our disparaging thoughts, our criticism of others, our idolatry of all things material, and all our major and minor sinful ways. This process is called “sanctification”.

 Isaiah 1:16 – Wash yourselves clean! I am disgusted with your filthy deeds. Stop doing wrong. (CEV)

Just as the house we viewed had much to clean up before being habitable, so God needs to clean up our lives, thoughts, and actions, so that we become a true reflection of His Son, Jesus, in our hearts, minds, and spirits.

James 4:8 – Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Clean up your lives, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you people who can’t make up your mind. (CEV)

Prayer: Abba, make us aware of all that is in our lives, our thoughts, and our deeds, that is unworthy of Your presence within us. Wash us clean, and renew our spirits and hearts so that we are wholesome, presentable, and welcoming to all who look at us and the ways that we live. We want to be acceptable to You and winsome to them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

http://pepeprays.wordpress.com

Related posts:

1. Pruned to Beautify!
2. A Changed Life
3. The Trash Heap
4. Characteristics from Trials – Maturity
5. Whatever You are Doing…
6. In Charge
7. Gained a Few Pounds

From 1558 to 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly.  Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.  It has two levels of meaning:  the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church.  Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality, which the children could remember.

  -         The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

-         Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

-         Three French hens stood for Faith, Hope and Love.

-         The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

-         The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-         The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-         Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit:  Prophesy Serving,     Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership and Mercy.

-         The eight maids a-milking were the eight Beatitudes.

-         Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit:  Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control.

-         The ten Lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.

-         The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful Disciples.

-         The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.

 MERRY (Twelve Days of) CHRISTMAS!

And so, let us remember, that it is not OK to say “Happy Holiday” – when did that all come about? 

As CHRISTmas approaches, let us remember that it is a Christian celebration of Christ’s birth!  In order to give Him the praise and the glory – let us remember to say loudly and clearly to those we meet; to those we send greeting cards to; to them all let us say:  HAPPY CHRISTMAS  one and all!

http://pepeprays.wordpress.com

Related posts:

1. God’s Gifts Are Sometimes Wrapped in Unattractive Paper
2. The Long Wait for Jesus
3. Christmas Bell Ringing in Boca Raton
4. Emmanuel – God Is With Us.
5. The Kingdom of God Is At Hand
6. Salvation Poem
7. My Soul Waits For The Lord

I have just finished reading passages from my Bible and am now sitting here in front of my computer, ready to begin my daily routine of checking emails, my devotional websites and then I hope, continue on with my writing (I entered the National Writing Contest and am committed to write a minimum of 50,000 words through November).

It suddenly occurred to me how many times, during all these activities,  I have the need to hit the ‘refresh’ button; or the ‘delete’ button – and I really am truly thankful for them; after all my work would be far more time-consuming without them.  I can easily adjust my work and be sure it complies with my initial idea.

Whenever my fingers hit a wrong key I can immediately delete the error to erase it.  Whenever I linger too long and need  to bring my computer back from ‘standby mode’ – all I have to do is press the refresh button and voila - I am able to continue my work.

Thinking that, I am so glad that the times I sin, God does not look at me and decide that he needs to hit His ‘delete’ button, thereby erasing all that I am and strive to become for Him. 

I love that in the times we err in our bad-decision making or our plainly wrong behaviours, we can  approach Him in prayer, and ask His forgiveness and He will immediately ‘hit’ refresh, and we are ready to start again, with His grace. 

Prayer:  Abba Father, we know that we make mistakes – even though we try so hard to do the right thing  for Your honor and glory.  We thank you that you are a loving God, who disciplines without harshness.  We are so thankful that you continue to refresh us and guide us, even in the times, when You must often want to do the opposite.  Thank you for loving us just as we are.  In Jesus Name, Amen. 

more:  http://pepeprays.wordpress.com

Related posts:

1. Live One Day at a Time
2. The Water of Life
3. Truly Blessed
4. My Times Are In Your Hands
5. Do you reflect the glory of the Lord?
6. Am I really growing in Christlikeness?
7. When God Seems Far Away

This morning, I was being thankful for the beautiful sunshiny morning; and all the while making comparisons with how I imagine heaven.  I thanked God for the beauty all around me and in the world He created,  while admitting too, that we are assured that it pales in comparison to heaven.

I was thankful that I received salvation all those years ago – and do not even want to imagine the emptiness of my life without His love and guidance in my life.

I was feeling very good about being so thankful – for so many things and then I read John 15:16-17 and my eyes teared and I was, momentarily, in awe that I was His choice – not He mine!

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.  These things I command you, that you  love one another”.  (NKJV)

I felt humbled and amazed that I was important enough to Him, that He chose me to be one of His loved ones.  Being a part of His ‘family’ really does give me a sense of strength and peace inside: the emptiness you feel inside – when it feels as if there is a hole inside you that yearns to be filled, and yet you do not know how to fulfill that need; I can tell you – the ony way you can satisfy that inner craving is to fill it with God!  Worldly purchases – pleasure seeking – is all futile and so we waste our lives away, buying more and more stuff, which – once purchased or acquired – soon loses its’ appeal, I am sure you have found that out, or you are finding out right now.  I can assure you that only God can fill that inner need – it took me many years to find that out and truthfully, I regret ‘putting Him on the back burner” for so long, while I did things my way.

Prayer:  Father God – help us to give in and let You come in to our lives, to guide us – to love us and to show us how much more there is in life, when You are the leader.  Amen

http://pepeprays.wordpress.com

No related posts.

 Psalm 51:1-2 – Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. (NKJV)

 When God sees the need for us to be cleaned, His light, the Holy Spirit, convicts us that unnecessary sediment is present in our spirits and hearts, the remainder of all the wrongs we have committed. He pursues us continually in many ways. He puts His people in our path to get our attention, to speak to us, and help us to recognize where improvement is needed. He reminds us continually through His Word — if in fact we are actually checking the interior of the Book. He will keep reappearing in many forms, reminding us that it is time for change.

Yet, how many times we try to mask Him so that we can go on doing what we are doing — things that we know He would not approve of. It’s as if we are picking up a big, black marker and trying to obliterate Him from the eyes of our hearts and spirits. We do that in vain because His light will not be blocked, however hard we try to make it happen. He will continue to pursue each one of us and make us aware of His disciplines and His Way. His light will be ever present until we take notice and attend to what needs correction.

John12:46-48 – I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him — the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

Those who have received Christ need periodic cleanings, but others may need to confess their sins and receive Christ’s forgiveness for the very first time. Only when we choose to conform and repent and call upon God in the name of Jesus to help us and accept us and change us from the inside out, can we begin to understand what a difference His cleansing in our lives will make. It is a feeling beyond any other and cannot be adequately described by mere words — we’ve got to try it ourselves. Many years ago, He called me to change and to follow Him. Thankfully, He took over, and I had no control over the powerful spirit of love that wrapped itself around me. He walked me to the prayer rail of my (then) church, where I gave my life to Him. I have rejoiced in that action ever since. You can do it too!

 Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. I know that I have done wrong things in the past and I am sorry. I am willing, with Your help, to turn away from my sins and turn to You. I believe, Jesus, that You died for me and rose again for me. Please come into my life and change me and show me Your ways, right now. Amen.

 More at: http://pepeprays.wordpress.com

Related posts:

1. In a Cave
2. Since We Are No Longer Darkness
3. When the Ember Dies
4. Shine Your Light So I Can See You
5. Let Your Light Shine
6. The List Maker
7. The Value of the Lost One

Disobedient!  Resentful!  Angry!  There are many emotions that can assault our senses and leave us reeling: each one drains energy from us, and in a vulnerable, tired state we can so easily ‘crumble’! 

It is always important to remember that people (believers and non-believers) and worldly demands that are presented to us, in many forms throughout the day and night, can detach us from ‘right’ thinking and living.  God, however always remains faithful to us; He is available to us – night and day – and all we have to do is approach Him in thought and prayer and trust His leading.  It is vitally important, when we are being spiritually attacked, that we remember Him and be very aware that:  If we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.  2 Timothy 2:13

If we stay strong in our faith everything else will conform eventually; God will be our strength and resolution.

In Him I trust and I pray you will too!

http://pepeprays.wordpress.com

Related posts:

1. When God is hidden by a dark cloud
2. Are You A Reliable Messenger?
3. When Fear Comes Knocking, Have Faith in God
4. The Mighty Men
5. What to Do?
6. Cry Out to God
7. The Value of the Lost One

Matthew 6:5  When you pray, don’t be like those showoffs who love to stand up and pray in the meeting places and on the street corners.  They do this just to look good.  I promise you that they already have their reward.  When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door.  Pray to your Father in private.  He knows what is done in private, and He will reward you.  (CEV)

Therefore, pray:  Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Your kingdom come.  Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.  For Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever.  Amen!

http://pepeprays.wordpress.com

Related posts:

1. What do you do more than others
2. Even When We Struggle, Jesus Can Teach Us To Pray
3. What is Prayer Really About?
4. What to Do?
5. The Most Effective Witness
6. Are You Tempted to Seek Recognition?
7. Cyrus’s Prayer

Have you noticed, how easy it is to give advice to others, while overlooking what you yourself might need guidance on?

Recommending a change of direction or lifestyle is easy to voice, it often is not so easy to do;  for many reasons depending of who you are and what you are dealing with.

The world sadly, has many folk who make unrealistic and cruel demands on others; they are ensuring their own rewards and needs, while completely ignoring the difficulties and restrictions they impose upon others. 

A saving-grace in complex situations, (if you believe in God) is to remember that you have a ‘safe place to go’.  God lives in the hearts of all believers and no-one can take Him away from us.  Life can be full of regulations and controls that burden us, even cause us to consider ‘giving-up’, but at those times, God’s people can seek the quiet of a God-filled heart; can forgive cruelties placed upon them, can pray for and receive a strength that is beyond the understanding of non-believers (in fact they will often ridicule our dependence upon a God that cannot be seen); we however, trust in His provision of peace, strength and comfort and seek His wise and kind counsel, whenever we are perplexed or troubled by life and humankind.

Psalm 71:1 – I run to You, Lord, for protection.  Don’t disappoint me. (CEV)

Prayer:  Father God, let us always remember who is truly in charge of our lives.  We can become overwhelmed by the control that others have on our lives, so please help us to focus on You and trust in Your provision for our well-being, for our inner peace and our ever-growing faith.  Amen

http://pepeprays.wordpress.com

.

check out my blog: 

http://pepeprays.wordpress.com

Related posts:

1. Renewing, Reshaping, and Rebuilding
2. Under His Wings