12 Gifts From God Gift 12 Eternal Life

Gift Number 12: Eternal Life

The 12th and final gift from God is eternal life. God promises us eternal life if we accept His son Jesus as our Saviour. This gift is so important; it gives us security in what happens after we die. We are not condemned to hell to live in continual torture but we are given the gift of eternal life. We will live with God and there will be no more sickness, no more tears, no more sorrow, instead we can look forward to having eternal happiness. God gives us this gift of eternity because He loves us and wants us to be with Him for eternity so that is why Jesus was sent to earth to die for us so that we can go to heaven for all eternity. John 3:14-16) 14”And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (KJV) Thank you Lord for this love and gift that ensures our eternal life.

As we have looked at before, we have sinned and our penalty is death, but Jesus paid this penalty for us with His death and when we accept Him as our Saviour then we can have eternal life. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (KJV) It is so simple all we have to do is believe in Christ and ask for forgiveness and eternal life for us is guaranteed. 1 John 5:11-12 11 “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”(KJV) It is just that simple if we have Christ we have eternal life and will live forever in heaven with Him. What better gift can there be than the assurance of eternal live.

In John 14:1-3 it tells us that Christ has gone to heaven to make our room ready for when we join him. John 14:1-31 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”(KJV) God not only made a way for us to have eternal life through His son but Christ is preparing a place for us and is waiting for us to join Him so that we can be with him Hallelujah what a wonderful thing to look forward to. When I think of these verses I picture a parent and younger siblings who get the room ready for a returning child from college. They clean and arrange things just so and they are so excited on waiting for that child to get home. This is how God and Jesus are they are excited about us coming home to be with them in heaven and they are getting everything ready for us to come home. We can be assured of our place in heaven by asking Jesus into our hearts as our Lord and Saviour and asking God to forgive us. The minute we do this then we have our place in heaven ready and waiting for us to spend eternity there. Thank you Jesus.

These are the 12 gifts of God that we have looked at. So at Christmas this year I hope if you haven’t received these gifts that you will. I pray that if you have been born again that you will think about all these gifts and more that God has given us. Be thankful and tell God thank you for His gifts and especially the gift of His Son and the gift through His son of eternal life. Next time you hear the song “12 Days of Christmas” think about the 12 gifts of God. Merry Christmas and God Bless You.

12 Gifts From God Gift Number 11 Comfort/Comforter

Gift Number 11: Comfort/Comforter
by Deb Forbes

copyright 2008

What comes to your mind when you think of comfort and comforter? One of the first things I think of is when my kids and grand kids were little and one of them would bump their heads or trip and fall then I or my husband would go and make sure they were alright. We would hug them and tell them they were alright so we were comforting them and being their comforter. Or how about when someone is sad or grieving and you are there for them to talk to or be the shoulder for them to cry on then you are a comfort to them or their comforter. This is true about God too. God gives us the gift of comfort and is our comforter. When we seem to struggle and fall, when we are hurt, when we are lost, and when we are grieving God gives us comfort and is our comforter. It says in
2 Corinthians 4:8-10 8 “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” KJVThank you Lord. He comforts us as it says in these verses through anything that comes our way. He is there and wraps His loving arms around us.
God also gives us the gift of comfort when we are facing death. Even Christians can be afraid when it is their time to die but they have a strength and comfort that people who don’t believe in Christ don’t have. It says in Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” KJVPraise the Lord even in death he sends comfort and is with us. For Christians God waits with open arms to welcome us home to heaven. What a comfort that God and Jesus is our welcoming committee when we go home to heaven. God also comforts those we love who are left behind it says in Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”KJV This is a definite not a maybe thing He states those who mourn will be comforted all we need to do is turn to God and call on His name and He will comfort us and give us strength.
Last we have the comfort or promise of comfort that we never have to be without God’s comfort when Jesus tells his disciples before he ascends into heaven that he goes but God is sending another comforter to them John 14:16,18 16 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”KJV He promises not to leave us comfortless but that another comforter will come to be with us and the other comforter he is talking about is the Holy Spirit. What a wonderful promise that we will never be without a comforter or the comfort of God. This gift from God is so important and free. I know with all my illnesses that without God and his comfort I don’t know how we could make it. My husband and I say all the time that we don’t know how people without God in their lives make it through life. This gift and all the others from God are given to us out of God’s love for us and I thank him everyday for them. I pray that I can share his gifts with others and be a person God can use to show them His gift of comfort too. I thank Him for His loving arms that He  holds us in and His comfort throughout our lives. Thank you Lord.

12 Gifts From God Gift Number 10 Mercy

Gift Number 10: Mercy
By Deb Forbes

Copyright 2008

When I think of mercy I think of a criminal asking a judge for mercy not to give him the maximum penalty for a crime he has committed. We, like that criminal, have sinned against God and even though we don’t deserve it he has shown us mercy by giving his son to pay our penalty for our sins which is death. Rom. 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”.KJV If we got what we deserved then we would get death and hell, but God loved us and had mercy on us and that is why Christ suffered and was crucified for us. Oh what a gift this is from God to give mercy to the ones who have sinned against him. God didn’t have to do this he could of just given us what we deserved, but thanks be to God for having given us love and mercy so that we didn’t have to suffer the punishment for our sins, Christ did this for us and when we accept Christ as our Saviour then we receive the gift of mercy from God and our penalty is paid and we are free. As it says in 1 Chronicles 16:24 “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.”KJV we should continually give thanks to God for his gift of mercy to us.
When I think of mercy from God I also think of compassion. Because of the compassion of God we have his mercy. God shows compassion when he provides for us and keeps us in his loving arms and each time he forgives us he is showing mercy through his compassion for us. Daily we sin because we are human and not perfect. Christ is the only perfect man to ever have lived so daily we have to ask God to forgive us. God daily shows compassion and mercy because when we ask him to forgive us he does. Praise God. He also shows us mercy when he gives us strength to face trials and tribulations. God could surely turn his back on us, but instead his mercy is shown and he wraps his arms around us and gives us the strength and love and a way to make it through. Phil. 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”KJVSo God’s gift of mercy is given to us daily, it is a gift that we receive first when he sent Christ to die for us because he loved us and took compassion and mercy on us and second the gift of mercy is given everyday by forgiving us our sins daily and giving us strength. I don’t know how I could go through every day without this mercy and strength. So remember to thank God for his gift of mercy that is ours through Christ daily. Praise God for all he gives us and especially for his gift of mercy through Christ Jesus. Thank you Lord.

12 Gifts From God Gift Number 9

GIFT NUMBER 9: GRACE

by Deb Forbes

copyright 2008

Gift number 9 is grace that I want to look at. What is grace? To me grace is the undeserved, favor from God or gift from God of the goodness he has shown man even to saving him from his sins when he didn’t deserve it. In Romans 3:23-24 it says we have all sinned but God freely by grace redeems through his son Jesus so that we are able to be saved from our sins. Grace or favor is given to us by God even though we did nothing to deserve it. Rom. 3:23-24 23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” KJVGod gives this gift of grace to all who will accept Christ. We don’t receive God’s favor or grace by how good we are or how much work we do for others. You can’t receive it for just going to church or giving to the poor. Works are good and we should take care of those around us, but with out the grace of God through our receiving Christ in our lives the works are worth nothing.
Ephesians 2:8-9 8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.” KJVWe can’t do enough or be just good enough to get in to heaven, but the grace of God through acceptance of Christ will get us into heaven. Christ’s death on the cross took the blame and penalty for our sins and in doing so this was God’s grace being shown and given to us even though we were sinners and008 as it says in Titus 3:7 we then by grace are made heirs to the throne of God which makes heaven our home when we die. Thank you Lord
Titus 3:7 “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” KJVThe gift of grace as it says in Eph. 4:7 is given to everyone by the gift of Christ so this means no matter who we are or how bad we have been we are given the gift of grace by Christ’s death for us, all we have to do is ask for forgiveness and ask God into our hearts and it is all ours. Eph 4:7 “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.”KJV Next time you think or hear someone say surely he will get into heaven he is such a good person then remember the gift of grace is not given to you for just being good but it is given by accepting the gift of Christ as your Saviour. Neither can you think you or anyone else can not receive the gift of grace because you have done too many bad things or are a really bad person because when you accept Christ and ask for forgiveness then the gift of grace is freely given. That is the wonderful thing about the gift of grace from God he wants to give it to you so all you have to do is accept it just like the other gifts. You don’t have to get good enough first but you are washed clean by the blood of Christ when you ask for forgiveness by God’s grace. Hallelujah Thank you Lord. So remember that everyone has a soul and all of the gifts from God are for everyone of us so lets, while we are giving Christmas gifts out this year, remember to share the love of God and his gift of grace as well as all the other gifts of God.

12 Gifts From God Gift Number 8 Joy

GIFT NUMBER 8: JOY
by Deb Forbes copyright 2008

 

Joy is the 8th Gift from God I want to explore. Joy to me is great delight and happiness, but the joy of the Lord goes beyond just feelings. It is delight, happiness, strength, contentment, pure love: it is the feeling and knowledge of being whole and complete. It is being content and happy when you have trials and tribulations and not only joy, but as it says joy unspeakable. 1 Peter 1:7-97 “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.:”KJV It is knowing that your faith in Christ is precious and that at the end you will be with him in heaven, it’s a feeling of satisfaction. Have you ever been so happy that you can’t find the right words to say to express that happiness that’s what joy unspeakable is like and it’s all the time for all the children of God. Now that doesn’t mean that you will never be sad or grieved or angry, but it means deep inside yourself you still have the joy of the Lord. When you are grieved or sad or angry you can draw on the joy of the Lord and find strength to keep going like it says in
Neh. 8:10b “for the joy of the LORD is your strength”KJV When I got sick at first they couldn’t tell me what was wrong which is very frustrating and a little scary really008, but even though those feelings were there I also knew deep in my heart that God cared and was taking care of me and I still was joyful and I drew on that joy I find in God to have the strength to overcome those other feelings and to not give up. Even now as I keep adding other diseases to the list I have I continue to be able to be joyful and feel complete and satisfied because I know the joy from God which is always there and it really does give me strength. I always remember that even though it seems things are mounting up against me that like David says in
Psalm 30:5b “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” KJVwhat a wonderful promise that all we have to do is hold on because joy comes in the morning. People ask me all the time how can you be so upbeat and happy all the time with all that is wrong with you and my answer is I know that I am in God’s loving arms and I have joy in my heart from God because I know its all part of the job God has for me to do. It doesn’t matter if I am sick because I know that eventually I will get the ultimate healing when I go to be with God in heaven. So my faith and the Joy of the Lord sustain me for now in my walk with God and in my job I have to do. This gift of joy is for everyone, all you have to do is to accept Christ and the joy is given to you. Christ is our Joy and at this time of year when everyone is singing about Joy in the World remember the true Joy comes from God. Next time you are faced with troubles then remember the Joy of the Lord is there to sustain you and give you strength. I hope and pray that everyone will draw on this gift of Joy and find strength, delight, happiness, contentment, and completeness that this gift will provide. Thank you God for all you do and for this gift of joy you give to sustain us through this life.

12 Gifts From God Gift Number 7 Peace

 

 

 

 

 

 

GIFT NUMBER 7: PEACE
By Deb Forbes copyright 2008

Gift number 7 from God I want to look at is Peace. Peace to me is a calm assurance. When I was a kid I went sleigh riding down a hill that had just a very small path down the middle of nothing but trees. Well I started down, hit a rut, and went headlong into one of the trees. I was hurt and scared and they took me to the hospital but I didn’t calm down and feel better till my Dad got there and once he got there I knew he would make everything alright and I calmed down and was at peace because he was there. The Peace that God gives is a calm assurance that he loves us and has everything in control. This peace is brought to us by his Son Jesus who gave his life for us so that we can have the assurance of God’s love and our home in heaven. In Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”KJV this is the promise and gift from God that because we believe and accept Jesus as our Lord then we are guaranteed peace from God for our lives.

When in 2000, after being sick for awhile, I finally was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis I didn’t fall apart or get angry or upset. I prayed about it and then I had the peace from God that I was where he wanted me to be.  I felt thankful because he trusted me to use me in this way. Myasthenia Gravis is a neuromuscular disease where your body sees the receptors, that is how the nerves talk to the muscles, and blocks or destroys them because they are seen as being a foreign body and they need to be destroyed. It causes muscle weakness in the voluntary muscles like eyes, eyelids, face, swallowing, talking, chewing, breathing, limbs, neck and back muscles. You can get into a crisis and choke or not be able to breath so it can be very dangerous and life threatening in a crisis. I tell you this because I want you to understand I wasn’t afraid even though this is a serious disease and just one of many I have but because of my faith in God and having Jesus as my Saviour that I have the gift of peace even in my time of trouble. John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”KJV This verse tells us that peace is given to us and we don’t have to be afraid. That is why I can have peace even in sickness and not be afraid of what could happen.

Peace or calm assurance that we are loved by God and are in God’s master plan even as it says in John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”KJV though we have troubles and tribulation in the world we can be calm and at peace because Jesus has overcome the world and as a believer in him we can overcome too,therefore we have the gift of Peace. It is also a peace because we know our final outcome will be in heaven with God forevermore. So remember that even in this world when things are up or down we have the gift of peace from God to hold on too. Phil 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”KJV Pass this gift of peace on to others by sharing your faith and telling them how to receive the gift of peace from God. Thank you Lord for your peace and calm assurance that you have given to each of your children.

12 Gifts From God Gift Number 6 Hope

Gift Number 6: Hope
by Deb Forbes copyright 2008

The 6th Gift from God I want to look at is Hope. In Webster’s dictionary it says hope means “to expect with confidence”. Well the gift of hope from God is to know with confidence that 1. God is always with you; 2.God loves you, and 3. that there is something more when we die than just death. This hope then is knowing and having confidence in God and his promises. I had a very good friend that found out she had lung cancer and when they told her they said it was the worst kind and that there wasn’t any hope for her to beat the cancer. She was strong in her faith in God and she just laughed and told them I have trusted, obeyed and relied on God this far and I am not going to stop now. She was telling them that she had hope even if she had cancer because her hope was not in things here on earth but hope in God and the knowledge that even if she died she was assured a place in heaven. Jeremiah 17:7 “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is”.KJV The hope I am talking about isn’t in material things. We all have had hope that maybe we would get that job we wanted or maybe a good grade on a test but these things are just material and can’t give us anything that is forever, but the hope I am talking about is hope that leads us to living in heaven with God. When we accept Christ as our Saviour then we are assured of a place in heaven when we die. so then we have hope in things to come. Because of the gift of hope from God we have victory over death as it says in I Cor. 15:54-57 54“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”.KJV Praise God.
The gift of hope from God gives our lives meaning and the assurance that no matter what we are going through we have someone going through it with us in the Lord Jesus Christ. It doesn’t mean that nothing will ever go wrong but it means that we have the confidence or hope that God has a perfect plan and that we can get through anything because he loves us and is always with us. Phil. 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”.KJV No longer do we need to feel hopeless because our hope is in the Lord. Trials and Tribulations may come our way but our strength comes in the knowledge and assurance or hope that God has it all in control and while we live we are in Gods loving arms living for him and if we die then we gain living with him in heaven. Phil. 1:21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”KJV So our hope is in the Lord and we can live a full, happy, abundant life because of this hope. When you feel hopeless or know someone who is feeling hopeless remember that when you have Christ in your heart then you have hope as God has promised you. Thanks be to God


 

12 Gifts From God GIFT NUMBER 5: SALVATION

GIFT NUMBER 5: SALVATION
By Deb Forbes copyright 2008

Salvation is the 5th gift from God I want to look at. All the gifts we have looked at so far have been connected and Salvation fits right in with the rest of them. First God gives us life and love and forgiveness and sends his Son Jesus. He sent his son so that he could make a way for us to be with Him or to give us salvation from our sins. This is seen in 1 Thes. 5:9 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ”KJVSalvation is necessary because we have done things that keep us from God. It is like when we were kids our parents loved us and provided for us and set rules that were good for us to keep us safe, but as kids we always had to try things anyway and our parents had to step in and help us or save us from ourselves. It is the same with God, he gives us everything we need and loves us, but we still stray and sin as it says in Rom. 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” God loved us enough to save us though by sending his son. John 3: 16-1716 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.KJV”Praise the Lord for his gift of Salvation so that we are saved from our sins. All we have to do is accept this gift from God just like the other gifts. In Romans 10:9-10 it tells us how we can receive the gift of Salvation from God it says Rom. 10:9-10 9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”KJV It is just that simple we have to believe and confess our belief in Christ and ask to be forgiven and we shall have salvation. That’s all it takes for us to receive the gift of Salvation that God has for us. It's just as easy as receiving a Christmas gift from someone you just have to reach out and take it.
This gift of salvation from God is for everyone and at this Christmas time my prayer is that many will receive this gift from God. Once we have received the first 5 gifts I have been looking at from God, life, Jesus, love, forgiveness and salvation then the rest of the gifts I will be looking at come along with these 5 gifts. These gifts are a packaged deal that you don’t want to miss out on. Thank you Lord. God is so good and as David says in Ps 145:3 “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable”.KJV And this God is just waiting to hear from you to accept you into his family and to lovingly give you all the gifts he has for you.

12 Gifts From God GIFT NUMBER 4: FORGIVENESS

 
 
 

GIFT NUMBER 4: FORGIVENESS
By Deb Forbes
copyright 2008

Forgiveness is something we all seek at one time or another. Have you ever said or done something that has upset or hurt someone else and then have to ask them to forgive you? When my kids were little one would hit the other or call them a name or yell at them and I would finally have enough of the bickering and fighting and name calling so I would tell them to stop and say I’m sorry. Of course the I’m sorry yelled at each other wasn’t what I was looking for so then I would tell them to hold hands, smile, and say I am sorry like they meant it. This got a quick response because they didn’t want to do that so they would hurry and say it the way I wanted so they would be able to stop holding hands. They may not have meant it then any more than the first time they said it but at least they were talking nice and acting nice for the moment and I think they probably didn’t think anymore about it till the next time they were fighting. The lesson I was trying to teach them was that we shouldn’t do things to hurt each other, but if we do we should say I am sorry and seek their forgiveness. The same is true with God. We do things we shouldn’t and things that grieve God and if we ask him he will forgive us. So the 4th Gift from God I think is Forgiveness. In 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” and in 1 John 2:1-2 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world”. KJV God doesn’t want us to sin but knows we will sin because we are human, so the key is if we ask to be forgiven he will forgive us. He provided this forgiveness through the sacrifice of His son Jesus Christ for us. All children do things that are wrong even though we, as parents, would like for them not to. We don’t stop loving them because of it but we forgive them because we love them. That is the same with God, it grieves him for us to sin and do wrong but, just like a parent, He still loves us and wants us to have forgiveness all we need to do is like I made my kids do say we are sorry and mean it and ask him to forgive us and he will, done deal, He will forgive us and continue to love us. So the 4th gift is Forgiveness given to us from God for our wrong doing because he loves us. Thanks be to God for being a loving forgiving God. This is a wonderful gift that we get daily if we ask for it. Remember to pass this gift on to others also so that they know they are forgiven too.

12 Gifts From God GIFT NUMBER 3: LOVE

GIFT NUMBER 3: LOVE
By Deb Forbes copyright 2008

The third gift from God I want to talk about is the gift of Love. God loves and wants what is best for us. An example of God’s love is in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”.KJV God loved us so much that He wanted to make a way for us to have abundant life here and life with him in heaven and to do that He sent his Son to save us. He sent Jesus even though we didn’t deserve this love as shown in Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”.KJV We hadn’t done anything to make God love us, but just the opposite. God loved us so much though that He loved us in spite of ourselves. What do I mean just this, we turn away from God and do things that are wrong and hurtful to God. We don’t live with God as the center of our lives, but even when we are sinful God still loves us and has given us away to be forgiven and to live with him. He didn’t have to do this, but it was his love for us that brought about his gift of Jesus dying for our sins. What a great love that is. It’s an unconditional love one we didn’t deserve but was freely given to us anyway. God loves us period, we don't have to be good enough, or do anything to get this love it is freely given and is and will be there always. He loves us because we are his and nothing changes that. What a comfort, to know we have God's love no matter what!
God’s gift of love to us is an enduring, and unwavering love that we can have confidence in being there always. Rom 8:35-39 35“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”KJV Praise the Lord He tells us right here when we become one of his children by accepting Jesus as our Savior that his love is there for always, what a wonderful gift. So next time you are feeling all alone and maybe unloved remember God loves us always and we never have to be alone or feel unloved. Thank you Jesus. This gift alone is life changing when you think about it. If all those who think they need love and look in wrong places for love and acceptance could know God and understand about his love look at how much the world could be changed. This gift of God’s love is so important for all. We should all try to share this knowledge of God’s love with everyone we meet.      

12 Gifts from God GIFT NUMBER 2: JESUS

GIFT NUMBER 2: JESUS
By Deb Forbes copyright 2008

The second gift from God is his son Jesus. Luke 2:11 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord”. KJV He sent Jesus here to earth as a baby, made him human to live here on earth and he was born specifically to die for us. He was made human to know the pains and hurts suffered by humans and then he went to the cross to die for us. This is such an important gift from God to all of us. Jesus was sent here to save us and to be our Savior. John 3:17 “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved”.KJV

Jesus lived among the people and knew what it was to be hurt, loved, hungry, thirsty, to lose someone and to be tempted by the devil. Jesus and God know exactly how we feel when we have these things happen to us too and that can be such a comfort. It should make us feel better when we are going through a loss or sickness or a time of trouble and tribulation or the next time we are tempted by the devil, to know that God has felt these things by sending Jesus to earth. So not only did God send his Son to be our Savior but He insured by this act that we can have confidence that God knows our feelings because He has felt them also. This is another way that Jesus was a gift from God to us.
In sending his Son Jesus it makes all the other gifts we are going to look at possible too. Jesus is the key to all in our lives here on earth and Eternal life. So Jesus is the most important gift from God first because He is our Savior and second because He came to as it says in John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” KJV to give us abundant life. This makes the gift of Jesus the most important part of our lives and all we have to do is except the gift of Jesus from God to have abundant life and all the other gifts too. We should continue to thank God daily for this gift of his Son and most importantly to accept this gift. So with the gift of Jesus we also get within this gift 1. A Savior 2. Abundant life and 3. Understanding. So thank you Lord for your wonderful gift of Jesus.

Written by Deb Forbes
2008 Copyright

Christmas Thoughts 12 Gifts From God

Thought I would start a few days early but wanted to share once again my 12 Gifts From God devotion or thoughts.

I wrote this devotion back in 2008 and thought I would re post it now. God has given each of us so many things but I have chosen these 12 for this devotion.




12 GIFTS FROM GOD
written by Deb Forbes
Copyright 2008

At this time of year we all think about what we can get to give to others or what we would like to get for Christmas. The Christmas music is playing and decorations are everywhere. The other day I was thinking about the Christmas song the “12 Days of Christmas” and how on each day they get some different item or gift and that made me think that God has given us gifts and why not go through at least twelve of them each day till Christmas so these are the 12 gifts of God that I have decided to look at. The thing about these gifts is that they are life changing and they are for ever and not something you will only have for a short time or till the next Christmas.

1. Life
2. Jesus
3. Love
4. Forgiveness
5. Salvation
6. Hope
7. Peace
8. Joy
9. Grace
10. Mercy
11. Comfort and the Comforter
12. Eternal Life
GIFT NUMBER 1: LIFE

The first Gift of God is the ultimate gift and that is the gift of Life. Now you might think why would I choose this as a gift but it definitely is because if God hadn’t spoke us and everything else into existence we wouldn’t be here now. In Gen. 1 it tells us how God created the heavens and the earth, sun and moon, water, animals, vegetation, and man and woman. Gen 1: 27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them”. So the first gift has to be the gift of life to all things including us humans. Then he also gave us our lives. You might ask what do I mean by this that God gave us our lives. The answer would be that I believe that God made each one of us unique and for a special purpose. It says that God knows each hair on our heads Matt. 10:30 “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered” and if He knows us intimately enough to count the hairs on our head then He took great care and time in making each and everyone of us. Therefore if He would take that much time when He was making each of us wouldn’t He then, don’t you think, have a specific purpose and plan for us and make us just right to fit into that plan? So literally God gave each of us our lives and not only our lives but a life with a purpose Praise God. Next time you think your life is going no where then remember that you have a gift given to you by God and that gift is Life and not only life but a life with a purpose straight from God himself. So Life is the first gift of God and we should remember to thank him for this wonderful gift each and everyday and strive to live fulfilling the purpose God has for us.

#TBT To Love And Help Others

 

 

With Christmas just around the corner I thought that this would be a good post to share again for throwback Thursday. We all need to all year long find ways to show Christ' s love.

 

 

 

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

To Love And Help Others

A HELPING HAND

What would you do what would you say?
If you were the one going hungry today.
There are children all over the world who have little to eat.
Their poor little bodies are ravaged by hunger and disease.

What would you do what would you say?
If you were homeless with no where to stay.
People and families all over have no where to turn.
For a place to stay, for a home they do yearn.

What would you do what would you say?
Would you do what you could to help or just turn away?
Children, families, and people all over the world need hope.
They need to be helped and loved so they can cope.

Will you lend them a helping hand,
Giving them love and doing all that you can
Or will you just turn away, thinking what really can I do
I have nothing to offer and no way to give help to you.

God’s people should reach out to love and help them
God’s people should never turn away or condemn
Will you follow Jesus’ heart and heed the call
Will you give of yourself, giving help and love to them all?

Will you let the love of Jesus be seen in and through you?
Will you help and do all that God asks you to do
Please show them love and do all you can
Give to each one a helping hand

What can you do just ask God to show you
Let God show you how you can help and what you can do.
So what will you do? Will you please answer the call?
Will you please help and show love and compassion to one and all!

By Deb Forbes July 2009©

I wrote this because all of us can find some way to help others. We should love and want to help all that is part of Serving Jesus


Love is an important part of being a Christ follower. It's not just love for God and Christ but love for others and by loving others showing them Jesus and God's love through the way we love and care for them. I John 3:16-18 "16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."(NIV) Like the poem I wrote says we all should love and help and not condemn. We all can find some way to help others and show them God's love. We should all strive to be more Christ like in our love for others. It is also not just saying we love our brothers but by showing it through what we do. Words alone won't work we have to do. I John 4:21 21 "And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."(NIV) God says if we love him we must not should but must love our brother.

We all can serve God and help others. No matter your situation you can do something. Ask God and he will show you ways to serve and help and then follow through and do what he shows you to do. I hope we all find ways to serve and help others

Keeping inTouch

 

 

As you might have noticed I have been quiet lately. There is a good reason for this and that is we do not have regular Internet right now we opted to drop the service we have and plan to get something else when we find something that works for us. I hope it will not be too long but until then I will try to post something once a week. I hope you will all stick with me and watch for future posts. I am hoping to grow my blogs and to get more followers. Stay tuned we will be back shortly.

 

This week’s post I thought I might share with you what I have been doing and reading. I have a couple of suggestions of books for Christmas gifts this year too. So let’s get started.

 

On Labor Day my husband had a 3 day weekend. We didn’t have anything really planned but relaxing and when I say relaxing I mean going to a museum and parade. We started out by going to the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm in Olathe Ks. We enjoyed looking at all the buildings and interacting with the living history people at the farm. The one thing I didn’t do was take the few minute Stagecoach Ride but if I had taken the grandkids with me I probably would have. This is a nice little outing and really didn’t cost that much, $6 for adults which helps them keep the place going. They have a couple of special days coming up that we plan on going to, first is the Wild West Days and the other is Cemetery Tours. I will be posting later about them. On Monday we went and enjoyed the Louisburg KS Labor Day parade with our son, daughter in law and little grandson. He seemed to enjoy it more this year. Funniest thing he did was when they threw candy to the kids he picked it up and threw it back to them. That’s what we encourage him to do when we are playing catch so I guess that is what he thought he was supposed to do. He loved the band especially the drums, maybe he is a musician at heart. We had a good weekend and it was nice to not have to hurry around to get the hubby off to work and all the other things the normal week includes.

 

One thing about not having Internet is that I am getting more reading done and crocheting which is not all bad. The two books I would recommend for ideas for Christmas are

The Quick-Start Guide to the Whole Bible by Dr. William H Marty and Dr. Boyd Seevers

it is an excellent resource for those who want to delve more into the Bible and their studies. Next is The Busy Mamas Bible Study 30 days in 1 Corinthians 13 by Pam Forster. It is a great Bible Study especially for those who seem to run out of time, they think, to read and study the Bible.

For those who like Christian Fiction I would suggest Annie's Stories An Ellis Island Novel by Cindy Thomson it is a wonderful book. For those who like real nonfiction and are football fans I recommend Sidelined by Chuck Pagano it is the story of his battle with Leukemia and his Faith to get through the struggle. These are just a few of the books I suggest and have read lately.

Last I have been trying to study my Bible more, with all that is going on in the world I believe now more than ever we need to be closer to God and to be studying, reading and memorizing His Word.  I am starting a new study of Daniel and also 1 Corinthians this week and hope you will join me. If you are leave a comment and we can share thoughts on what we are studying.

Verse for memorizing this week is

Psalms 119:105 Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path KJV

I am also already starting on Christmas gifts and ideas so that we get a head start this year. I believe that homemade gifts that are made with love are the best. I hope to incorporate homemade with little things I buy for those I have to buy for. Most of all I want to remember and share the real reason for Christmas and share God’s love with others, what better gift is there but to share Jesus with others?

That’s what has been happening and the plans for the week. Remember that on Oct 3 the Left behind movie will be in theatres so plan on going to see it.

If you want more info on The Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm check out their site at

www.mahaffie.org

Dates for Wild West Days are Sep 27-28 2014

Cemetery tours Oct 9,10,11 2014

 

Until Next Time

Strength, Courage and Faith Found in Sidelined by Chuck Pagano

 

 

Sidelined by Chuck Pagano is Coach Chuck Pagano’s story of his battle to beat leukemia. This book, like in life and football, is about digging deep and fighting with all the strength, courage, and perseverance you can muster then add in the most important ingredient Faith and you have Chuck Pagano’s fight to concur his battle with leukemia.  You do not have to be a football fan or even know anything about football to read this book. The lessons about believing and having faith in God’s plan for what is happening in your life is the most important thing to take away from this book and that is for everyone football fanatic or not.

Coach Pagano had everything going for him, a great family, a wonderful wife and the dream job he had always wanted when he was blindsided by this disease.  He didn’t give up and with the help of family, friends and his Faith in God he found strength to win his battle with leukemia. This book is an excellent encourager and really a guide to how to face adversity. It shows that if you believe God loves you and wants to use you in all situations than half the battle is won. I recommend this book not just for reading an amazing story about a famous football coach who overcame the odds but also to those who might be going through a struggle of some kind. Just remember to have Kleenex close by when reading this.

I know what it is like to be in a good place and then out of nowhere you are hit with a disease that changes everything. I always said and believed God was trusting me to use me through my illness to help others and that is what Chuck Pagano’s friend Kevin Elko tells him in one of my favorite lines from the book. Kevin Elko is telling Chuck that God is preparing to use him through this illness, “Chuck, you are going to come out of this battle—and you will come out of it victorious—and when you do, you will be closer to God. You will be drawn to helping people more than you have ever been . “ pg 100 “ Later he tells him “ The tree will be pruned, and when it is pruned, it will bear fruit. You were selected to be pruned. And you are going to be different than you ever were.” Pg 101

I hope you will read this book it will encourage you I am sure.

If you would like to learn more about this book go to

http://www.familychristian.com/catalog/product/view/id/269224/

 

I received this book from Family Christian to review and give my honest opinion.

God Has A Master Plan For Each Of Us TBT Post

Ulman Christian Church Ulman MO

I decided to repost this with my poem because I know so many people who are struggling right now. We just have to trust and believe and stay on the path that God has for us. This poem and devotion has a copyright so please do not use with out my permission.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Master Plan

MASTER PLAN

WHEN YOU LOOK ALL AROUND
AND YOUR TROUBLES SEEM TO ABOUND
DON’T WORRY OR DESPAIR
GOD REALLY DOES CARE.
SO REMEMBER NOT TO FRET
AND YOU CAN ALWAYS BET
YOU ARE SAFE IN GOD’S HAND
BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU AND HAS A MASTER PLAN.
SO DON’T LET FEAR AND DESPERATION CONTROL YOU
JUST GIVE IT TO GOD AND HE WILL HELP YOU THROUGH.
GOD LOVES YOU AND HE UNDERSTANDS.
THAT’S WHY HE HAS A MASTER PLAN.
SO REST ASSURE THE STORMS WILL BE OVER
AND WITH GOD’S LOVE WE WILL BE COVERED.
WHEN WE HAVE THE LORD IN OUR HEARTS
THEN GOD WILL NEVER LET US PART
WE WILL ALWAYS BE SAFE IN HIS MASTER PLAN!

BY DEB FORBES 2005
Copyright 2008

When I was a kid we went to South Dakota and one of the highlights of that trip was when we stood and watched an artist paint pictures. My parents and grandparents got one but I think the thing that most impressed me was that he used regular house painting brushes to do the paintings and they ended up beautiful. The ones we took home were of deer by a stream in the mountains and they were wonderful. To watch him do it you would think they wouldn't be anything at all beautiful but nothing but a mess, but as he continued on it all started to take shape and eventually turned into a beautiful painting in the end. The artist knew all along what it would look like and that it would turn out just right and beautiful but we by just looking at it at first couldn't see that it would turn into anything at all. We didn't know or see what the artist saw until when what the artist knew and saw in his mind started to reveal itself to us.

It is the same way with God's master plan for our lives. We don't always know or understand what God is doing, but he does and he knows that it is right and perfect for us. We just have to trust that he loves us and has a perfect plan for us. It will start to reveal itself to us, just like that painting did, and in the end we will see the whole wonderful perfect plan God was working in us. Rom. 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."(KJV) This is a promise that all things will work to good when we love God and are walking in what he has for us. We don't have to worry because we are assured of God's love and since he loves us we know that he is caring for us and walking with us in all situations. We don't have to understand but we do have to trust. Prov. 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thy own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct thy paths."(KJV) It says to trust and he will not might but will direct your path. God is good and loves us and will walk with us through out. Just trust in God and his love and eventually his perfect wonderful plan will be revealed to you. PRAISE GOD

TBT What's Next

I posted this after having been in the hospital twice with heart problems but it was written in 2006. At the end of Sept 2009 God saw fit to have me walk again, but this devotion I think back on all the time because no matter what you are facing God goes ahead of you and with you. If you are struggling with something I hope this will lift you up. Let me know if I can pray for you.

Friday, September 18, 2009

What's Next

I have not written in my blog for awhile. I had been sick with problems with my heart but God has seen fit to heal my heart thank you Lord. I decided to share a devotion I gave 3 years ago about how I trust and set my mind on God even in trying times.


Romans 5: 1-8
1 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through whom we have gained access by faith in to this grace in which we now stand And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance: 4 Perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."(NIV)
These verses tell us that we can rejoice when things are wrong and that we have power to do so because of God’s love and that love is shown from Christ dying for us even when we didn’t deserve it. So when troubles come along this is how I look at things.

WHAT’S NEXT!
This statement can be meant in more than one way. It can mean, so what else can happen to me, OR, it can mean, alright I am done with this so what next needs to be done. It’s all in the way you choose to look at it. It’s all about choices we make. We can choose to have a good day or a bad day even in the midst of trying times. We can either look at things that happen as a challenge or a tribulation. It’s all in how you choose to go through it.

The easy way is to look at what you are going through as a tribulation and throw a big pity party, sitting around feeling sorry for yourself and complaining all the time. Or, you can put your faith to work and look at it as a challenge that you are going to meet head on with God’s help. You have to put you’re faith in action. Faith takes what is a big problem, and through our faith with God’s help, they are turned into smaller challenges, as long as we trust in God and let him lead us.

Which are you, an ostrich or and eagle? You can choose to be either an ostrich or an eagle. Do you stick your head in the sand, waiting and moaning and groaning about everything God is letting happen to you, or do you, like the Eagle overcome the difficulties with strength and cunning with God’s help?
I don’t mean that it isn’t difficult at times, but nothing is too difficult if we go through it with God. Phil. 4:13 says, "I can do all things (not some things) through Christ who strengthens me."(KJV) The key to any problem is not worry, anger, pity, or questioning, even though these are normal feelings. The Key is GOD and our trust in him.

It’s easy to say I trust God, but then when the sickness or troubles come along we crumble, we stumble, we complain, we think God’s forgotten about us or is mad at us, and we just know we aren’t strong enough. We think How could God let this happen to ME or Why ME! Or, when those troubles and illness come we say God is going to see me through, but, then we never talk to God or even if we talk to him we don’t listen to him because we are too busy worrying.
Is it a mountain or a hill?
Something Impossible to overcome or something we can overcome with God’s help.
Tribulation or challenge?
We have to set our minds on God and the mountains will be hills, the tribulations will be challenges and we will overcome and the peace and joy of the Lord will be ours.
In Nehemiah 8:10b it says, "The Joy of the Lord is our strength."(KJV) Is it easy to think this way? Not always, but it can be done. When I became sick I remembered how important prayer is and believing that God has a perfect plan and to draw on my faith. This helped me to never question, Why me? But I said, Why not me. I just say thank you Lord for trusting me enough to use me in this way and help me to be able to be a witness to others for you.

We can know that God loves us and like it says in the song I like so much “Sheltered in the Arms of God” “So let the storms rage high the dark clouds rise, they don’t worry me for I’m sheltered safe within the arms of God. He walks with me and naught on earth can harm me, for I’m sheltered in the arms of God.”
God shelters us from whatever we have to face. Being sheltered by God’s arms goes beyond God just putting his arms around us. It’s more than just a hug from God. It is protection, strength, and love. The best thing is it’s for each and every one of us. We are sheltered and God is our strength. We can make it through anything if we choose to face it with God’s help.

So I say
Hill not Mountain!!
Challenge not Tribulation!!
Winner not Loser!!

So in closing What’s Next? I say it should be us as Christians overcoming, with God’s help, in everything. So we can say this is finished what now do you have for me to do Lord! We need to be on fire for God in all aspects of our lives including the hard times. Remember there is nothing to big or too small for God to see us through. Let the world see that we are believing and living for God in all parts of our life’s, hard times or not. Let’s live by the faith we all have. Remember in Ps. 121:1 it says, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help, my help comes from the lord who made heaven and earth.”(KJV)

Written by Deb Forbes
Copyright 2008

Year Half Over And What Have I Really Accomplished

July is here and with it comes all the thoughts of the year being half over especially when you see ads and shows talking about Christmas in July. I am a person that loves Christmas but truthfully when Hallmark Movie Channel had Christmas themed movies on already it was a little much even for me. I know that will be a shock to my family, but I am not ready for them to start already. In November I will watch the Christmas shows till Christmas but not July. That being said it has made me look back at the year so far and see what I have or have not accomplished.


It seems like the older you get the faster the year goes by.  It also seems like all we do is Mike, my husband works, I cook, clean, and read. We have not been able to take a trip in a long time except the work one we went on a couple of weeks ago to Alliance NE. I was with him so it was a mini and I do mean mini vacation for me but still work for him. Not complaining because I am thankful that he has a job and that I can do the physical things like cooking and cleaning, but I think I should have been doing more crocheting and writing too. I am hoping to get started making toys and prayer shawls for those who are in need of a loving touch and prayer. I use to make lapghans for people on hospice but haven't done anything like that lately. I want to get back into using the talent God gave me to bless others.

Hope you had a great 4 th of July. We spent ours with our kids and grandkids. I think the highlight was the water gun fight we had and our 2 1/2 yr old grandson seemed to have won. Just being out there playing, eating and being together was great. We went later to the city fireworks and that was good too.

Here is a picture of our grandson washing his truck after riding around in it. This is what started the water fight when he decided to squirt us too. We then proceeded to get little plastic water guns filled them up and it was on. Good fun and memories. I didn't get any pictures of the other grandkids and my daughter because with the wild water fight I didn't want to get my camera wet. Good times though

Grandson washing and detailing his truck

Grandson squirting me with water bottle 

This week's verses that I am trying to memorize is Eph. 3; 20-21 NIV
"20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

This says it all, God is able, we can't even imagine his power and we should give him all the glory.

Have a good week!

TBT In God's Plan Right Here, Right Now, Right Where I Am Suppose To Be re post

I wrote this in Feb of 2009 and in Sept 2009 God saw fit to use me in a different way and let me start to walk again. This still fits because I still am right here, right now, right where I am suppose to be living the life God has for me. Praise God.

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Right Here, Right Now, Right Where I Am Suppose To Be

I was thinking that this month, March 2009, I will have been diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis and in a wheelchair for 9 years now. That got me to thinking about how my Grandkids said they can't really remember me not ever being sick and in a chair and that they feel bad for me. I had to laugh when they said that and when I think about it now because that is not how I feel at all. Do I miss the days of being able to do what I want and get around on my own? Well of course, I wouldn't be human if I didn't, but I am not sad or depressed or upset in anyway because I know that I am right where God wants me to be.

In Ecclesiastes 3:1 "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:"(KJV) it talks about a season and time for everything and my season and time for being out of the wheelchair is done and I am now in the season of being where I am right now. I know that God is using me by my having Myasthenia Gravis and other chronic illnesses and being in the chair. I have grown so much in my faith in these last nine years. I have had more time to spend with God and to study and grow and to depend more on God. I have had more opportunities to witness than ever and I am able to understand and talk to others who are facing similar things like I am. I have been able to slow down and concentrate on the things and the work God has for me to do and I truly believe that I am in God's perfect plan for my life. God walks with me through this journey and season so I have peace and I am content knowing that I am doing God's work. God uses us in different ways and our jobs change from time to time but I know that God doesn't make mistakes and that what others see as weakness I see as God's using me to reach others. In a poem I wrote "Vessels" I wrote how others might see me and others like me as broken but we aren't we are just being remade into vessels capable of doing the job God has for us. I wrote this poem after I read Jer.18:4 "And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.(KJV)"
God is the potter and we are the vessel that he will make to be used. Never look at an illness, or handicap as being a broken person but a wonderful vessel that God has made to use for his wonderful work.
As Paul said in II Cor.12:9-11 9 "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.(KJV)" our strength is made perfect in weakness because of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is the power that I can draw on at this season of my life when I have illnesses and am in my wheelchair. I may not physically be able to do what I use to but I have the power of Christ and that makes me able to do so much for him. God's power surges through me and gives me that peace, joy, and contentment and understanding for where I am now. So yes right here, right now, I am RIGHT WHERE I AM SUPPOSE TO BE PRAISE GOD! I thought I would include my poem Vessels that I wrote. It is copyrighted but if you want permission to use it pls send me a note at lhxpmdj@aol.com.

VESSELS

I’m not a broken vessel, just a different one than you.
God made us both different, with different jobs to do!
God is the master craftsman and we are the clay in his hands,
He works us till he forms us into what is in his plans.
He lovingly creates us into vessels for the job he has for us to do.
The job he gives to me is not the same as the one he has for you.
Each job has its requirements to get the job done,
Each vessel is made a special way and matched with just the right one.
Sometimes our work it changes as life continues on,
So the vessel that we now are may need changes to get along.
The job that we are given is a very important one,
We have been specially chosen to make sure that it gets done.
So God never throws the vessel away, but changes he will make
A new vessel you will become, and remember God doesn’t make mistakes.
So I’m not a broken vessel just a different one than you,
God with his loving hands has made us just right for the work that we must do.

Deb Forbes January 2006
Copyright 2008

You KNOW Me OH Lord!

As I was reading my Bible today I was reading Psalm 139 and the first few verses really jumped out at me. Psalm 139:1-3 NIV 

1You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.

2You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

Wow, think about it. God knows us and knows our thoughts, He know what we are doing and is familiar with us. That is such a comforting and sometimes scary thought to know God knows us in every way. Comforting because God knows us and understands in everything, He has intimate knowledge of us, which to me is a way to show just how much He loves and cares about us. If God didn't love us or care why would He get to know us and watch over us like these verses say.  

Then at the end of Psalm 139 David says 

Psalm 139: 23-24 NIV 

23Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

He is asking God to look at his heart and test and know what is in his heart and if God finds anything that He doesn't like to show him how to change and to lead him in God's way, down the right path.  

I think this should be our prayer each and every day, when we wake up and when we go to bed at night. Ask God to search us and our hearts and thoughts and show us anything we need to change and be forgiven for and then ask God to show us the path He has for us to follow and to help us follow it. God wants us to know Him and He is there willing to help and show us the way if we ask and then allow Him to show the way. 

As I start back to studying and memorizing God's word this really was a good one to start with because I want be more like Jesus and to be what and who God wants me to be. I hope you will join me in this journey through the Bible and Memorizing. I am no scholar but  just a believer who is relying on God and the Holy Spirit to guide me.

I know it is a lot to memorize but I am going to write these verses on a note card and put it where I will see it through out the day to remind me how God knows me in all ways and how I want Him to lead me.

Verses to memorize this week

Psalm 139:1-3

Psalm 139: 23-24