Heart Choices: 2012-07-22 -->

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Five Minute Friday: Beyond


It's Five Minute Friday.  We get to write for five minutes flat on a word that is given to us by Lisa-Jo of Tales from a Gypsy Mama.  The word for today is ...beyond.

GO

It can be all too easy to get so caught up in the now of life. Circumstances that aren't perfect.  Ongoing struggles that never seem to end.  A feeling of overall fatigue.  Realizing that I need to get back into habits that help to move me forward towards my goals.  I want to get beyond the now and into the future that God has planned for me.

I read in my devotional "Streams in the Desert" this morning.

"The world says that 'seeing is believing', but God wants us to believe in order to see."

In order for me to see beyond my present circumstances, I need faith in God's plan.  Am I willing to grab hold of His hope for me?  Or will I stay stuck in the now?

STOP


I'm linking up with Gypsy Mama for Five Minute Friday.

Blessings and love,

QuickEdit

Word-filled Wednesday ~ Promises of God


The Word of God contains many promises for the child of God. During times of trial, it's good to read and embrace those promises. They help me endure in the midst of a trial.

Taking God at His Word and truly believing it provides me with the strength to continue on.  

Continue to do what is right ...even when you feel like you cannot.
Continue to do what is right ...when you can't see the end of the trial.
Continue to do what is right ...even when you don't understand.

Trust God in the midst of the trial.  He is faithful.


I'm linking up with Internet Cafe Devotions for Word-filled Wednesday.

Blessings and love,

QuickEdit

Where is Your Refuge?


Where is your refuge?  When life is uncertain, where do you turn?

It's In Other Words Tuesday.  Psalm 91:4 is our quote for this week.

Life can be hard.  Our world is changing.  With the internet and instant everything, I sometimes feel bombarded.  And so much of it is negative and scary.  My senses get overwhelmed with the tragedies and violence I see on TV and on my computer screen.

Sometimes I wish life were more simple.  I daydream.  I browse through Pinterest.  I find beautiful photos and ideas.  A refuge from reality.  


But it's only a temporary escape.

I've been reading "Psalm 91: He Who Dwells" by Lara Velez.  Btw, it's only $.99 on Amazon as an eBook.  She goes into depth on the original Hebrew text for each verse.

The NLT for verse 4 is:
He will cover you with His feathers.  He will shelter you with His wings.  His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

After the author defined words like cover and shield, she reworded the text as follows:
His truth and His faithfulness are a large spiked shield surrounding you.

I don't know about you but that gives me such an amazing picture in my head.  I want that kind of protection!

We don't always get to see the enemy of our souls.  He is a master of disguise.  The thoughts that invade our mind.  The images our eyes see.  We can shrug our shoulders and say 'that's life'.  Or we can choose wisely as we read and ...obey the Word of God.

I want to run for cover under the refuge of His wings.  It's a place of safety.  Yes, I live in this world.  I'm not escaping reality.  But I can still navigate this world and allow His love to permeate and spread to others as I dwell in His presence.  I want to be covered with His feathers; finding refuge under His wings.

How about you?  Where is your refuge?



I'm linking up with Sunflower Faith for In Other Words Tuesday.

Blessings and love,



Photo Credit: Welcoming Walls Etsy shop
QuickEdit

Tragedies and Violence


Photo Credit: whec.com
I was horrified by the news of the shooting in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado.  I cannot even imagine what was going through this young man's mind to commit such an act against innocent people who were looking forward to the midnight showing of the latest Batman movie.

Photo Credit: Ghana Nation
It is also one year ago that the massacre occurred on the island of Utoya and the Oslo bombings in Norway.  It's beyond me how people justify their actions.  A distant cousin of mine was on the island during the shooting and survived by hiding in a latrine.

I read a blog post written by a Christian woman who was in the theater in Aurora with her daughter.  They both survived and she wrote about her experience.  I would highly recommend reading this one.  It's so hard to make sense out of a tragedy like this.  She wrote the following words on A Miniature Clay Pot:


God is always good.
Man is not.
Don’t get the two confused.
We will continue to praise and worship our mighty God, anticipating that He will bring beauty from ashes, as only He can do.


This touched my heart.

I don't have all the answers.  I don't understand why people choose to commit such horrific acts.



QuickEdit
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