God's grace always gives us hope "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." Romans 15:13
There are three very specific things I believe God wants me to focus on in this new year. I do not know how long the year will be, because I know Jesus is coming soon. I, and many, have said this for a long time, Scripture says this, Scripture is God’s word and it is truth.
One of the promises God has for me is to KNOW HIS LOVE.
Do not forget this. Love is not a feeling, but a conscious choice. This choice is based on the truth of the Word of God. God’s love is always there. ALWAYS!!! One of my favorite verses about God’s love is: Jeremiah 31:3 (KJV) The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
The second thing is He has a plan for my life. A good one and His thoughts are always on me and that plan. It is a plan that has been laid out with great thought and precision. It is a plan that has hope. Oh, hope. What a wonderful word. Just think what all that word may mean to you. My mind does not wrap around this hope to understand it in the way I’m sure God wants me to know all that He has intended this hope to be for me.
The third one is the greatest of all. He is coming back. There will be a rapture. But when? I don’t know. All I know is He is coming soon. Revelation 22:12–14;17-21 (KJV) 12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. 18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christbe with you all. Amen.
Luke 19:13 (KJV) And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
Matthew 25:13 (AMP) Watch therefore [give strict attention and be cautious and active], for you know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of Man will come.
Be ready and watchful. Revelation 16:15 (KJV) Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
With these three things in mind, on my heart and focused on daily, God will be able to do a work as no other can, life will change and change drastically. I need, want and desire change.
So what am I to do? 1) Believe God’s word. 2) Trust what God wants to do in my life no matter what “tools” He chooses to use. 3) Stop relying on feelings, they are what hinders and gets me (us) in trouble. 4) Let go and deny self so that Christ may have His way in me. God is in control not me. 5) Any time I THINK I sence trouble, I need to run and fall on my face before Jesus until I have His assurances and/or answers.
Well the New Year, as for the date, it is just about over. I trust you will be blessed in this coming year, in each day you are blessed with.
Once again may you experience the hope God has for you as you enter into His grace daily.
Love and prayers to you all. Until next time. Blessings.
Can’t sleep…tired of being sick…stuffy nose, headache….ugh…..going on 2 weeks or better with this stuff… and all the everyday stuff I’m now having to learn to live and deal with. (sigh ;p )
“Are you complaining?” “I’m sorry, but, yes I guess I am Lord.” “Why?” “I’m tired…” “Tired of what?” “Lord You know, just plain not feeling well, seemingly one thing or another. And now this cold that has hung on for so long. Just tired of feeing…You know what I’m talking about?”
“Of course I do. So what are doing about it?”
“What am I to do? I’ve done everything I know to do get rid of all this.” “Exactly!”
“HUH!”
“You are doing this all on your own. Where have I fit into how you feel? Don’t you think I know how you are feeling?”
“Lord we have been through this before. Now I feel like when You were asking Peter to feed Your sheep if he loved You.”(John 21:15-19)
“Ok, so what are you going to do.” “Just as Peter did, follow You.”
“Is that all you are going to do, is follow Me?”
“No Lord I want more than Peter did at this time.”
“So what is that?”
“I want and desire to lay down my life at all cost and follow You.” (Matthew 16:24-28)
“Are you?”
“Lord I so desire to embrace You and all You have for me.”
“Tell Me dear one, then who are you embracing at this moment?”
“Please don’t say it like that; it is my life I am embracing. I am holding on to me and how I am feeling and not what You want or desire to do with me for Your glory. I haven’t laid my life down yet, have I?”
He looks at me with a loving and gentle smile.
“Jesus, I know You are wanting and trying to teach me, direct me, show me so many things about myself and YOU, but I seem to continue to fall into the ‘Peter Syndrome’…that is always thinking how I feel and how things affect me.”
“The ‘Peter Syndrome’ seems to sum it all up. As I walked and talked with Peter that day, won’t you walk with Me. Come with Me.”(Matthew 11:28-30)
“Yes I will. But Lord what are WE going to do about my health?”
“What do you want done about it?”
“To be honest Lord, looking at it from a different perspective now, nothing.”
Jesus wants NOTHING to come between our relatioship with HIM.
“Why is that?”
“I’d rather have all I can get of You than to feel good for a time.”(2 Cor. 4:8-18; 1 Cor. 10:11-14)
“You are no different from anyone else My dear one. All have troubles and sufferings. All need to come to the same place as you do every time.”
“I am also tired of having to come to this place of like I have failed AGAIN.”
“Have you?”
“In some way yes.”
“Why do think that?” “Because, I get my eyes off You and onto ME and MY feelings and situations. I seem to find myself right back here.”
“Back to what or where?”
“To how desperate I am for You.”
“Aren’t you desperate for Me all the time, I am desperate to be with you all the time.” (Jer. 31:3)
“I can’t fix this and I am always trying to.”
“So you are trying to be self-sufficient?”
“You put it that way, yes.”
“Dear one you know you do not have the ability to do what is right for you, yet you strive to do so.” (2 Cor. 3:4-5)
“You’re right. Lord, my Savior, place forgive me again. I have sinned and fallen short of Your glory.” (1 Thes. 2:12; 1 Peter 4:13; 1 Peter 5:10)
“I love you dearest one, always have and always will. My love has never changed for you nor will it. You stand forgiven before Me.” (1 John 2:12)
“My Lord, please help me to keep in check. To keep You before me. I can not do this alone.” (2 Cor 5:7; Rom. 8:24-25)
“I never asked you to do this alone.” (Heb. 13:5; Psalm 37:23-34)
(Not only do we want the Lord to come and sit with us, but more importantly He wants us to come and sit a while with HIM.Revelation 3:20 (KJV) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.)
I thank you all for sitting a spell with me. I have been away for many reason. One day I will perhaps sit and chat with you about that. I thank you for your payers and love.
Lord bless you and His grace continue to lead you through the great hope we have in Christ Jesus our Lord, Savior and coming Bridegroom.
This has been a long few months for me. Not because of summer break, but what the Lord has done. I think He has been working overtime. Yet if I didn’t need it, He wold not be doing what has been necessary in my life. I am so grateful God des not leave us along.
My summer started off with Vacation Bible School two weeks after school let out. So, starting off in a dead run. We had such good year. This was one of or smallest number of children on the records. The
VBS photo by Preston Clonts
Spirit was so sweet. The children attentive and wanting to learn. Most of the kids came from other churches, but were so hungry. Our offering for missions with the kids went to an orphanage in Kenya Africa. Four of our college students went there a few years ago for a six-week mini mission trip and one of those returned later and spent several months there. She came back with a love for these kids the area there. So since the first trip, we have sent our VBS offerings to them.
Praying for one of our young men. Photo by Candy Clonts
Two weeks following VBS we had our Family Church Camp. I got sick, had to go home for three days. That was not my plan or how I wanted to spend my church camp time. I missed out on so many things…some very neat and special things God did. I don’t why He chose to allow this, but He did.
This time is so much fun and blessing upon blessings. There is great fellowship with one another and with the Lord. You don’t want to miss out on anything. You never
A few of the young people playing a game of “Pit.” Photo by Nellie Clonts
know what the Lord has around the next corner. There are Bible studies, games, cook-outs, studying together, hikes and walks and prayer time with Jesus, alone and with others. What a blessed time this is.
Some alone time. Photo by Candy Clonts
Tying up the tarp…rain is coming. Photo by Sarah Clonts
Here te rain is coming down. Photo by Candy Clonts
Enjoying a dinner together. Photo by Candy Clonts
Other family and friends playing board games together. Photo by Candy Clonts
I am still not sure why I was sick for all but two days of church camp. I don’t normally go to the doctor for colds…but this also turned into a double eye infecton…Why? My Savior and Lord has had His reason and purpose for everything that has touched my life this summer.
As for the rest of my summer I have spent seeking the Lord for His will and purpose for today. I am not searching for “why” or “what is the purpose of all this,” but “Lord what is it You want m to know of You today.”
Matthew 6:25-34 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life (stop worrying), what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow (stop worrying): for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
This is what the Lord has spoken to me this summer.
“Get over your worries and concerns. You have no control over them. If you want me to guide your life then turn loose of the helm and give me the controls. Stop wondering why or why not. Stop trying to second guess what I am wanting to do in your life. You will never know until you stop fighting with Me nor will there be peace or the joy you are seeking in the midst of ALL this. You have been asking fo Me to ‘purge,’ get rid of all that is not pleasing to Me; to give you ‘joy’ where there has been broken in pieces; to ’create’ in you a ‘clean heart;’ to ‘restore the joy of your salvation;’ that your life would be a pleasing ‘sacrifice’ to Me and not a ‘sacrifice’ out of duty or the flesh. So my dear One stop and give yourself to me without any reservation. Deny your rights and justifications. Rely, rest, and fully trust in Me, Me alone. You can not do this; anything without me. You are trying and where is it getting you. You are frustrated and discouraged because you are not doing wha you would like to be doing. Come to me empty-handed, without any expectation or any of your own ideas, because they won’t work.” This what the Lord spoke to my heart on day…what an eye opener.
Please pray for me,I know I am not there yet and it my be a real up-hill battle, but a battle I want to fight and win.
Matthew 11:28-30 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Humility…I need to become humble, and not proud.
Pride comes in so many forms and as the Lord reveals them to us we need to turn loose as fast a we can.
An acronym I made up to express PRIDE.
Personal Rebellion Indicates Defiant Endeavors
Pride is a personal choice. Pride is rebellion. Pride reveals and shows up many things in one’s life. Pride goes against the will and desires of the Lord. Pride gets us no where.
*If you need to look these words up, they may surprise you in some areas of the definitions, they did me.
Isaiah 55:6-13 6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
The Lord thinks differently than I do. That needs to be just fine with me. I need to trust n Him fully ad completely, in every aspect of my life. My life is nt my own, I belong to Jesus.
Romans 14:7-8 7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
Lord continue to teach me what You desire for my life. Do not stop because of my crying. Lord My heart’s desire is to know You, not myself or anyone else, but to know You and to learn to love You with all my heart soul and mind in all I do and say.
May you be blessed of the Lord as you give yourself to Him. There is nt one greater thrilling life than to know I can and am able to please god; to walk holy and complete before Him. Until next time. May His amazing grace so bless you as you walk in the hope He has given you ever so new everyday.
When I first heard this song I could not listen to it. I did think I could do it…let the Lord consume mr, have me…but this my hearts desire.
This song hs become my promise from God this summer. I am redeemed! He has set me free. :) Amen! The Lord has taken care of everything, I have won through the blood of Jesus. Satan is a defeated foe. The words to this song are almost word for word to what the Lord gave me earlier this summer. I thank Him for His confirmation.
Thank you for listening and hanging in there with me.
