Wrinkle-free Eyeballs..

Oooookaaaay.... What's that title about? Well...today, as I am being hassled by my husband's new shirt which is definitely NOT 'permanent press,' I am reminded of how my face is also now NOT 'wrinkle free!' Recently, while lamenting this fact of my 60 plus age, my husband and I laughed aloud when I said, "At least my eyeballs can't wrinkle!!" Quite the contrary seems to be 'true..' For, the longer I am in love with the LORD, the shinier my eyeballs 'feel' to me! I'm just having a little fun with this as I go on to say I don't think I'd WANT to see shiny, wrinkled eyeballs!! My 'bottom line' on this post is, THE OLDER I GET ON THE OUTSIDE, THE YOUNGER AND FRESHER I BECOME ON THE INSIDE!! My soul (mind, emotions, and will) rejoices as the Spirit of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ dwells patiently and compassionately within!! In fact, years ago, I became fond of saying, "I love to GO, GROW, and GLOW!" (Wrinkle free!) All those who love the LORD can do so also! 

COUNTING COUNTERACTS!

Hello dear reading ones,  This is a truth I love to convey which is so well confirmed in PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7, and in the lovable hymn, 'COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS.'  Simply stated, GRATEFULLY COUNTING our blessings is a great way to COUNTERACT despair, discouragement, fear, anxiety, and any other 'goods' the enemy might aim your direction!! (Have you heard that at his 'yardsale,' the devil had priced all his 'goods' like envy, hate, pride, lust, etc. at the same price, .. but, DISCOURAGEMENT was priced higher because he said that was his most valuable 'tool' since most don't recognize it as 'his!') Anyhow, we can rejoice in our LORD'S matchless provisions of peace, hope, joy, mercy, grace, purpose, and of course, irresistible pure love if we simply take time to recognize these and say a heartfelt 'THANK YOU!'  JESUS died so we don't have to accept the devil's 'goods!' (or 'pay the price' of 'buying' them!!)  I just thought of a great 'closing line' for this 'article..'.. IN LIFE, WE CAN BE PRO-ACTIVE, RE-ACTIVE, OR... COUNTER-ACTIVE!!! (How high CAN you count?.. PSALM 40 indicates it's impossible to give account of all He does for us and the hymn, THE LOVE OF GOD, helps us to realize there aren't enough resources to record the vastness of his great love!)   Blessings to all! Sheila   PS- An FYI.. PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7 lets us know to "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let our requests be known to God..for then the peace of God with surpasses all comprehension WILL guard our hearts and minds in CHRIST JESUS!"

SHEPHERD, OR LAMB?

Recently, I have been appreciating how our LORD JESUS CHRIST is truly the PERFECT SHEPHERD, yet was also the final sacrificial LAMB... As I lead HYMNSPIRATIONS frequently, I never cease to be amazed at how often THE LAMB OF GOD or the use of 'LAMB' is in the lyrics of a song. Yet, we all know well, the wonderful 23rd Psalm and John, chapter 10, which assure us of His wondrous ways as our shepherd! I won't elaborate at this point but just consider how it must have felt for our merciful, gracious, compassionate, faithful shepherd to face his coming crucifixion? Hebrews 12:1-2  records how 'for the joy set before Him, He endured the shame of the cross.' From perfect shepherd to perfect lamb.. without blemish, so, fully qualified as an atoning sacrifice for our sins... 

Along the line of thought regarding Jesus as our Shepherd, I was blessed recently when a speaker was answering the question of whether or not Jesus claimed to be God.. Think about this simple indicator of the fact that HE DID! Since Psalm 23 says 'THE LORD' is my shepherd and in John 10, JESUS says He is the good shepherd, how could He NOT BE CLAIMING TO BE GOD???

YAHWEH, OR MY WAY?

Wow! It's been more than a month since I wrote did a post.. Some of  you received these thoughts via a direct email recently, but I am posting it now for those who might be reading it who aren't on my email list. I've just had this SUBJECT phrase resounding within me for 3-6 months now, so I finally decided to send it to you this way... Simply put, many times a day, I need to make that decision.. WILL I DO THINGS AS YAHWEH WOULD DESIRE, OR WILL I CHOOSE MY WAY? I don't know about you, but it really helps me to act wisely if/when I stop to think of how I could be hurting my precious LORD as I refuse HIS power to act in way pleasing, and glorifying to HIM.. How about you?? What will it be today?  YAHWEH, OR MY WAY??                                                                             I CORINTHIANS 10:13 reminds each of us how He provides a way of escape for us when we are tempted so we are able to hold up under it..After all, the ones we encounter are 'common to man,' so we need not feel alone in our need for his care for us at these times!!

MESSAGE RECEIVED!

Sometimes, a believer in, and receiver of, our LORD's wonderful, merciful, gracious love, is sent a resounding message from HIM! Today, I am joyfully proclaiming, "O.K. LORD, I 'get it!  Message received!"  A few months ago, I was musing on the term, 'beautiful' Savior.  (Somehow, it just didn't seem 'masculine enough' to consider HIM to be' beautiful!'.. although, I know He truly is, especially when I consider the completed 'work' He did and ALL THAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND MADE POSSIBLE AS A RESULT!) At any rate, YESTERDAY, our Lord Jesus began sending a confirmation of his beauty to me when one of the residents where I'd led a HYMNSPIRATION, told me I am beautiful.. I was blessed by this even as I deferred her indication directly to our Lord, by saying something like, "Well, thank you.. I trust you are seeing that JESUS in/through me.."   THEN, this morning, as I listened to the music on  MORNING DEVOTIONS on my radio station www.kcisradio.com , I was tickled to hear 2 consecutive songs declaring HIS BEAUTY! (and to think, 'BEAUTIFUL SAVIOR' wasn't even one of them!) I am no longer musing on using (Oh no!.. the dormant poet in me is emerging!) the term 'BEAUTIFUL' for my SAVIOR! Join me in considering all we know of his beauty, letting Him become more and more evident to, and through, you from this day forward to the Glory of God alone!                         Or, SOLI DEO GLORIA, as I love to say! 

FACE and FACTS

Recently, I spoke a new phrase I'd never said as such before.. Basically, I'd said to be certain to focus on facts, and, on the face of JESUS! The two words, FACTS and FACE had never been 'paired' by me as far as I know.. Anyway.. Here's what I am thinking... For over 42 years now, I've appreciated the 'FACTS, FAITH, FEELINGS train' diagram which pictures how we must NOT let our feelings be the engine which 'pulls or powers our train throughout life.' This is because they can really derail us if allowed to.. SO, a believer in Jesus can instead, focus on the FACTS of the gospel, as they fuel their life with faith in those facts and the SOURCE of them! This leads to a life that 'stays on track' since God's character can't change, thus, the FACTS DO NOT CHANGE, as feelings so often do! Take a moment to make a list in your mind of just some of the facts we know to be true! Look up JOHN 1:16, and PHILIPPIANS 4:19 for beginners! OH! How about LAMENTATIONS 3:23?!                                                                                                                                                            This need to focus also leads us to think of the apostle Peter when he stepped out of the boat onto the water.. As long as he focused on the face of JESUS as He bid him, "Come..," he was 'on top of the situation,' but as soon as he noticed the waves, etc., he began to drown!  HOW true for each of us!!  How often do you answer, "OK, under the circumstances.." to one who asks, "How are you doing?"  I am helped in trying situations, by remembering to sing aloud, or in my mind, "TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS... LOOK FULL IN HIS WONDERFUL FACE..and the things of Earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his GLORIOUS GRACE!"  (BTW.. His glorious graciousness is one of his attributes and it cannot change!) STAY FOCUSED!