Meet Celina

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Hebrews 10:24-25

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Last night I had the privilege of welcoming Celina to my home. She is from France and has been studying with a Biblical studies Institute. We had never met but have mutual friends who are missionaries in France. She is a 30-year old young woman who has committed her life to the LORD as His servant and desires to be exposed to all aspects of ministry here in the US - where she will also be taking further seminary classes as well.

I am thrilled that she is here and we have just shared the LORD together for the last 24 hours and all that He is doing in our lives and it is amazing that He chose to have us walk this 'season' of our lives together at this time.

Please join me in welcoming Celina - and I will pass those messages on to her. It is a real JOY to walk alongside her - as we encourage each other in God's TRUTH!

Looking UPward and Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Time to FLY]

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FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY Drawing On Friday, March 13th

'Comment' HERE - and ENTER to win one of five copies of

In A Pit With a LION On A Snowy Day by Mark Batterson

Click here: TRUTHSHARER: FREE BOOK [5] GIVEAWAY

**********************************************************

EXPOSING the TRUTH

John 3:19-21

19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

1 Corinthians 4:4-6
4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

Ephesians 5:12-14
12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:

"Wake up, O sleeper,

rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you."

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Yesterday, I received an earnest prayer request from a woman. She calmly - yet sincerely asked for prayer, specifically that, "God would expose the truth" in her household. She followed with, "no matter how much it might hurt". I committed to praying that with her and felt the LORD impress upon me my journal [label] title right now [ARISE, SHINE, = For Your Light Has Come!] As I prepared to write today I simple typed in the words 'truth' and 'expose' and asked God to give me the verses that would shed His LIGHT on the truth of the matter.

This truth applies for my friend and for you and me today. Darkness hates the light - yet the light overpowers the darkness when just a crack of light is let inside. God does the exposing in His timing and for His purposes! Ponder that and pray through whatever God wants to expose in your life [for you or for another that you are praying for]. Let Him judge and bring the truth to light! Let's give it to Him to work out.

Looking UPward and Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Time to FLY]

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FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY Drawing On Friday, March 13th ENTER to win one of five copies of... In A Pit With a LION On A Snowy Day by Mark Batterson Click here: TRUTHSHARER: FREE BOOK [5] GIVEAWAY ****************************************************

GLEANING

Daniel 1:17
To these four young men [Daniel, Hanania, Mishael, and Azariah] God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
Daniel 6 (selected)
10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.
19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions' den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?"
21 Daniel answered, "O king, live forever! 22 My God sent His angel, and He shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in His sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king."
23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

Our Monday night Bible study group met last night for our wrap-up dinner. We SO love studying God's Word together. We had a feast together at the dining room table. These girls know how to prepare for a "Pot Luck'! It was a feast of fellowship and the amazing goodness of God in our lives. This was my rowdiest group of women yet - I have to lasso them in all the time in our study. We almost always spend at least 4 hours in study together in a single night - why? Because these girls can't get enough of our Messiah! They don't get off on tangents - they are learning and growing - and truly love letting each other glean from what God is teaching another 'Siesta' [sister] in the group. Beth Moore calls it "Profit Sharing". That's one of my favorite times - those 'gleaning' times that God gives us!
We discussed wanting to be a 'Daniel'. We gleaned from one another that Daniel had a way of life as his prayer life and worship and commitment to God - and that we want that for ourselves. We desire our own prayer lives to be so ingrained in our being - that IT IS WHO WE ARE! Let prayer be our nature!
They're already chomping at the bit for the next study! I love it - I love them - I love God and especially His Word! HE IS AMAZING!

Looking UPward and Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
[Time to FLY]
PS: Anybody notice that just after finishing DANIEL - God has us giving away 5 copies of a book about a LION?? Only God!!!
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FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY Drawing On Friday, March 13th
ENTER to win one of five copies of
In A Pit With a LION On A Snowy Day by Mark Batterson
Click here: TRUTHSHARER: FREE BOOK [5] GIVEAWAY

*********************************************

SHINING STARS

Lamentations 3:40-41
Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.

WORSHIP

Philippians 2 (selected)
Shining as Stars
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.
14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless [upright] and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

UNITY

Micah 6:8
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. [all Scripture emphasis added]

HUMBLE KINDNESS

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Just some really neat verses to ponder and muse over in our hearts today - as we lift our hands in Worship to our King!

Looking UPward and Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Time to FLY]

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FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY
Drawing On Friday, March 13th
'Comment' HERE - and ENTER to win one of five copies of
In A Pit With a LION On A Snowy Day by Mark Batterson
Click here: TRUTHSHARER: FREE BOOK [5] GIVEAWAY
************************************************

Anybody Suffering?

Philippians 1 (selected)

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Count it all JOY!!! We suffer together on behalf of Christ's gospel. This week so many sweet Siestas [sisters] have encouraged my faith as we walk alongside each other and share in the joy of His sufferings. We laugh together - struggle together - search and seek His Word together - we pray together - and 'profit share' together! He is amazing. This week I am thankful to walk with all of you in the faith on behalf of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Looking UPward and Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Time to FLY]

FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY

Drawing On Friday, March 13th

'Comment' HERE - and ENTER to win one of five copies of

In A Pit With a LION On A Snowy Day by Mark Batterson

Click here: TRUTHSHARER: FREE BOOK [5] GIVEAWAY

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FREE BOOK [5] GIVEAWAY

Hello Fellow Devotional Bloggers:
I've never done this before and I have no idea how it will work out - but I have a BIG GOD who can handle even the simplest details - even when I can't!! LOL!

Anyway - let's get to it!
Last night, after the conclusion of teaching the book of Revelation, the class gave me a 'gift' and I would like to turn it around and give a portion of it back to the LORD by giving away some books to you!
I am going to give away 5 copies [random drawing] to those of you who desire to try for a shot at the book called:

In A Pit with a LION on a Snowy Day

How to Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars

based on: 2 Samuel 23:20-23

by author Mark Batterson

Here's the question on the back of the book if you have no idea what this is about. He asks:

WHAT IF THE LIFE YOU REALLY WANT, AND THE FUTURE GOD WANTS FOR YOU, IS HIDING RIGHT NOW IN YOUR BIGGEST PROBLEM, YOUR WORST FAILURE... YOUR GREATEST FEAR?

************

I just ordered 10 copies today - some will be given out to people in my Bible studies here - but I thought it might be fun to give them [randomly] to those of you on our Devotional Blog connections. You may already have a copy - so put your name in anyway so you can give one away if you win.
OK - here's the deal and how it will work. If you post a comment on this post title : FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY - submit your first name [for now] - your State - and briefly complete the following statement:
First Name: _____________
State:___________ [USA - addresses only please]
"I want to be a 'LION chaser' who goes after the promises of God - rather than a 'scaredy-cat' who runs away and hides in fear because..."

Bear with me on getting through the 'kinks' because I am NOT computer savvy [my son-in-law must be laughing right now and shaking his head in agreement - all the way in FL] BUT GOD... will make this happen because I know HE is leading this desire to give away these books. Besides - when all else fails - we'll do it the old fashioned way - names in the hat works for me! ;-)

Trust me on this - as I trust God - and together He'll [we'll] make it Fair and Fun!
I will do this random drawing with the help of my Bible study group once I have at least 25 names in the bin or by Friday - March 13th! Not even the 'odd's of that doomsday date [Friday the 13th] can stop a good thing when God has His Hand in it!
Tell your friends to post so many people will have a chance at these 5 copies.
OK - there's one more thing for those of you who read all the way to the end of this post. If you post your comment above as instructed - AND - you add your name to follow TRUTHSHARER down the left side of this Blog Those Who Follow Christ [with me] - then YOUR NAME will automatically be entered X2 - giving you more 'odds' to win!!
PS: I will remind you - and others - in each future Blog how to post back to this day for the giveaway. I will keep track. Once the winners are chosen - then I will need your complete mailing addresses so they can be sent to you directly. And yes, I will even pay the postage [USA only]!

Looking UPward and Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
[Time to FLY]

VICTORY Anyone?

Anyone need strength for today? Anyone need a Warrior God to fight an ongoing battle for them? Anyone need to 'scale a wall' that seems much to high?

Exodus 15

2 The LORD is my strength and my song;

He has become my salvation.

He is my God, and I will praise Him,

my father's God, and I will exalt Him.
3 The LORD is a warrior;

the LORD is His Name.

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Psalm 18 (selected verses)
For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:

1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.

He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,

and I am saved from my enemies.
4 The cords of death entangled me;

the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.

5 The cords of the grave coiled around me;

the snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called to the LORD;

I cried to my God for help.

From His temple He heard my voice;

my cry came before Him, into His ears.

9 He parted the heavens and came down;

dark clouds were under His feet.
10 He mounted the cherubim and flew;

He soared on the wings of the wind.

13 The LORD thundered from heaven;

the voice of the Most High resounded.
14 He shot His arrows and scattered the enemies ,

great bolts of lightning and routed them.

16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;

He drew me out of deep waters.
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,

from my foes, who were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,

but the LORD was my support.
19 He brought me out into a spacious place;

He rescued me because He delighted in me.

28 You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning;

my God turns my darkness into light.
29 With your help I can advance against a troop;

with my God I can scale a wall.
30 As for God, His way is perfect;

the Word of the LORD is flawless.

He is a shield [1-2-3-4-5]

for all who take refuge in Him.
31 For who is God besides the LORD ?

And who is the Rock except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength

and makes my way perfect.

46 The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!

Exalted be God my Savior!
47 He is the God who avenges me,

who subdues nations under me,
48 who saves me from my enemies.

You exalted me above my foes;

from violent men You rescued me.
49 Therefore I will praise You among the nations, O LORD;

I will sing praises to Your name.
50 He gives His king great victories;

He shows unfailing kindness to His anointed,

to David and his descendants [that's you and me] forever. [emphasis added]

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Word for the day:

VICTORY

conquest; win; success; triumph.

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Let the LORD be your Warrior God and claim the Victory that awaits!

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Looking UPward and Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Time to FLY]

Who Do You Think You Are?

1 Corinthians 1 (selected)

Christ the Wisdom and Power of God

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:

"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;

the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before Him. 30 It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." [emphasis added]

• Human wisdom empties the CROSS of its power!
• God will always - in time - bring the TRUTH to light!

Word for the day: Ruminate = to ponder; to chew on; to meditate upon; to cogitate; to think over; to reflect upon; to consider; to muse; to mull over in one's mind.

Looking UPward and Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Time to FLY]

MAKING GOOD

Jonah 2

Jonah's Prayer
1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. 2 He said:

"In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me.

From the depths of the grave I called for help, and You listened to my cry.
3 You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas,

and the currents swirled about me; all Your waves and breakers swept over me.
4 I said, 'I have been banished from Your sight; yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.'
5 The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head.
6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever.

But You brought my life up from the pit, O LORD my God.
7 "When my life was ebbing away, I remembered You, LORD, and my prayer rose to You, to Your holy temple.
8 "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.
9 But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You.

What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD."
10 And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

How many times have you and I found ourselves in the belly of whale? PRAYER is the only way out. There is nobody else to turn to - but to the LIVING GOD who created you.

As my Monday night Bible study has been studying the book of Daniel on a personal level we have been challenged week after week to 'step up' - 'to commit to the LORD' - and to 'choose a life of holiness before our God'. One of the girls sent me this quote on holiness this week [I don't know who wrote it] but it was worth examining and responding to. It included just verse 9 from Jonah 2 - which made me go back and read the entire chapter.

Holiness is the foundation of honor.

Holiness is not perfection,

but set apart for a higher purpose

- no longer common or everyday,

but special and unique.

We have a special place that no one can rival

in the heart of God.

Sacred, honored, praised and defended.

Jonah 2:9 " But I, with a song of thanksgiving,

will sacrifice to you.

What I have vowed I will make good.

Salvation comes from the LORD."

I was amazed at how Jonah's PRAYER is what began the course to healing and personal holiness for Jonah who really did not want to obey what God was asking. Examining verse 9 - what was Jonah's sacrifice? He says, "What I have vowed I will make good." That's a hard one to swallow for us if we truly ask ourselves that same question. What is our thankful sacrifice? Are we truly 'making good' on what we have vowed [in personal holiness] before the LORD - to respond in thankful obedience to whatever He asks of us? As I ask you these questions I am truly pondering them for myself. I want my commitment to the LORD to be real - not just empty hot-air-filled words - but committed words of love and devotion. How about you?

We must conclude with verse 10 as our HOPE of God's action that follows - don't miss it.

vs 10: And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

PRAYER.... activates what God has

already purposed in your life!

~s.k.brower

Looking UPward and Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Time to Fly]

The JOY Letter

Philippians 1

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. [all emphasis added]

As Paul wrote this letter [of JOY] to the Philippian church I love how it applies to you and me [still] today. God's Word is TIMELESS!

When I first came to Christ 39 years ago - I was given my first Bible - a KJV Bible with no footnotes to cheat with [I'm laughing here]. I poured myself into the Epistles - all of them - the letters of love to the newly established churches - many of which Paul wrote. I was sharing with someone just the other day why I believe the LORD took me to these letters first. They are the very place for us to build up our faith and begin to learn to crawl - then walk - to drink [the milk] - then devour [the solid meat] the Word.

To me, these Letters - called Epistles - are the place of our personal FAITH WALK with Jesus Christ - the very place we learn to live out the abundant, victorious life that was promised to us when we received the gift of Christ IN US. Yes, there will be suffering and pain along that path - but that is all part of God's 'character building' in us - it's His instruction method - which proves effective if we are to be cast into His image.

My prayer today is for you [who are abiding in Christ] who may be reading this -

vs 9-10: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Looking Upward and Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Time to FLY]

What's in Your TOOL BELT

What were the "tools of the trade" that Jesus had in His Carpenter's tool belt?

You might answer 'service' or 'love' or 'forgiveness'. And many answers would be correct. But when God asked me about two years ago what "tools" were in my tool belt that were most important, they were these. PRAISE - PRAYER - GOD'S WORD. He brings them back to me over and over and says that I need to use them together - one after the other - not independent of each other.

PRAISE **********************

Ruth 4:14

The women [Ruth] said to Naomi: "Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May He become famous throughout Israel!

I Samuel 25:32

David said to Abigail, "Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me.

Daniel 2:20

Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said:

"Praise be to the Name of God for ever and ever;

wisdom and power are His.

Ephesians 1:3

[Paul speaking] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

PRAYER **********************

PRAYER.... activates what God has already purposed in your life. ~s.k.brower

Psalm 57:2 I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills {His purpose} for me.

Psalm 139:4 Before a word is on my tongue You know it completely, O LORD.

GOD'S WORD **************************

Psalm 119:30 I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on Your laws.

Psalm 119:33 Teach me, O LORD, to follow Your decrees; then I will keep them to the end.

Psalm 119: 43-47 Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in Your laws. 44 I will always obey Your law, for ever and ever.
45 I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out Your precepts.
46 I will speak of Your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame,
47 for I delight in Your commands because I love them. [all Scripture emphasis added]

What other verses can you share that apply to these 'tool's?

Looking Upward and Choosing JOY,

Stephanie [Flying High in Prayer]

LOOK UPWARD

“ARISE … SHINE for your light has come!”
– the LORD woke me with these words this morning. They were so clear and plain that I asked Him again as I was making my bed, “Did you just say to me, 'Arise, Shine for your light has come'?” Then I laughed and said, "OK, what does that mean for today?"

A few mintues after coming downstairs I saw a huge full moon hanging in the night/morning sky over Shepherd’s Walk [the Prayer Walk here at Sweetbriar - in my back woods]. I ran out there to try to photograph it but it was still too dark to get a good picture. The moon got bigger and more golden until it eventually dipped down behind the trees and disappeared.

Later in the afternoon the LORD took me back to my old journal from 12-5-08 to read what I had written on that day:

Isaiah 60
The Glory of Zion
1 "Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the LORD rises upon you
and His glory appears over you.
3 Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
4 "Lift up your eyes and look about you:
All assemble and come to you;
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters are carried on the arm.
5 Then you will look and be radiant,
your heart will throb and swell with joy;
the wealth on the seas will be brought to you,
to you the riches of the nations will come. [emphasis added]

The next Scripture in my journal was this:
Acts 26:16 [Paul's testimony before King Agrippa]
[Jesus speaking to Paul]
'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of Me and what I will show you.'

The next entry in my journal was a heart with the words:
House of Prayer [the photo above!]

Then I looked up:

Isaiah 56 6 And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve Him, to love the Name of the LORD, and to worship Him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to My covenant-
7 these I will bring to My holy mountain and give them joy in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations."

God never calls His house [His church] a house of preaching or teaching - only a "house of prayer". Many thoughts to ponder today.

Looking Upward and Choosing JOY,

Stephanie [Flying High witht the Most High]

Oh, the Depth

Romans 11:25-34
All Israel Will Be Saved
25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
"The deliverer will come from Zion;
He will turn godlessness away from Jacob. 27 And this is My covenant with them
when I take away their sins."
28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God's gifts and His call are irrevocable. 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you. 32 For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that He may have mercy on them all.
Doxology
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable His judgments,
and His paths beyond tracing out!
34 "Who has known the mind of the Lord? [emphasis added]

Let God's Word speak to your heart today - from His Heart of mercy and the depth of His love!

Looking Upward and Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
[Flying High with the Most High]

FREEDOM IN CHRIST

Galatians 5:1
Freedom in Christ
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Romans 8:20-21
For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

TRAMPLED UNDER FOOT

The saying:

Forgiveness... is like the fragrance a flower gives off...

when it has been trampled under foot.

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Isaiah 53:4-5

Surely He [Christ prophesied] took up our infirmities

and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered Him stricken by God,

smitten by Him, and afflicted.
But He was pierced for our transgressions,

He was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him,

and by His wounds we are healed.

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God's love for us transcended through the forgiveness of our sins - by way of - Jesus Christ and the blood that He shed on the cross on our behalf.

Even God had to forgive in order to make His love known to us.

Love goes hand-in-hand with forgiveness.

They cannot be separated.

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Numbers 14 (selected)

18 'The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished; He punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.' 19 In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now."

2 Corinthians 2 (selected)

Paul's Letter to the Corinthians [Paul's example to us]

4 For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.
Forgiveness for the Sinner

5 If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent—not to put it too severely. 6 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9 The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10 If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,

Matthew 6: 14-15 [a stern warning]

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Luke 7:47-48

Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

Sometimes there is but one person in our lives that we just can't seem to forgive. In our own efforts we have tried over and over, to no avail. Today - picture that person's face in your mind. Look up and see that person in mid-air. Now picture Christ Jesus in your mind. Then - hold His face in mid-air - OVER top of that person that you cannot seem to forgive. You will never look at them again without seeing Christ first. He loves them. You can love them through Him. Practice that exercise for as long as it takes until the forgiveness is complete. It shouldn't take long for you to forgive them - and to begin to walk in the newness and freedom that forgiveness brings. Do it - today!

Looking Upward and Choosing JOY [and forgiveness],

Stephanie

[Flying High with the Most High]

As the Rain and the Snow...

************ Isaiah 55:8-12 *************

8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.
9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven, and do not return to it
without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is My word that goes out from My mouth:
It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. [emphasis added]

Here in New Jersey today, we have some snow again. In fact, every Tuesday for the last 3 weeks we have had snow. I am forever asking the LORD to bring the snow.
It reminds me of:

• His love as a blanket of warmth in the cold surroundings
• the purity found in His forgiveness of my sin
• our new life in Christ
• the new mercies He gives every morning
• the cleanness of my heart that was washed by the blood
• that God is making all things new,
• the wonder of how one tiny snowflake can contribute its part when it sticks together with another to form such a breathtaking landscape of purity
• that God's thoughts and ways are beyond my tracing out - yet they always have purpose

Looking Upward - walking in the purity of His love - and Choosing JOY,

Stephanie
[Flying High with the Most High]

And the Winner Is...

Just for fun our church sponsored its 2nd annual Chili Cook-Off Contest tonight for Super Bowl Sunday. My chili won 1st place! It has been cooking since Saturday afternoon. It was just fun to participate and each of the competition was of great variety of styles and flavors. I won by only 1 vote! Wow! Lots of fun! Thanks to those who participated and voted for my pot!
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I guess this qualifies me for the next Mexico Missions Team for sure! Huh?

Looking Upward and Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
aka [Estéfania]

This Watchful Heart

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I wrote this poem last summer based on: Psalms 120-135 - the songs of ascent / Exodus 13,14 &15 /and a song called: Behold the Throne of God Above. I'm standing on the Promises of God - waiting and watching with a believing heart - to see what God will go and do!

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THIS WATCHFUL HEART
by Stephanie K. Brower @2008

All around me things unfold
Details of His Hand, I’m told.

I search and dig and pull apart,
What He reveals to this watchful heart.

Clues are found in His Holy Book,
My readings daily, I’ve not forsook.

The Psalms begin my early climb,
To claim whatever my heart will find.

“Guard your heart”, or “ Trust My commands”,
Are the warning signs of His demands.

“Be careful, lest you stumble or fall,
And bid My help, and on Me call.”

Words of a song that sail on the wind,
Details given, to keep me from sin.

A pair of hummingbirds in mid-air dance,
May be my sign for taking a chance.

To take a risk when none would dare,
To trust God’s heart and find Him there!

His love abounds as the flowers bloom,
Turning night into day, and joy from gloom.

This watchful heart is ever waiting,
God’s Presence alone, my heart is baiting.

To draw Him close and ever so near,
Will rid my mind and thoughts of fear.

He leads the way, as my feet stand firm,
Upon this ROCK, with every turn.

He bids me “stop”, or “wait”, or “Come”,
Assuring my heart; I won’t be undone!

My life is hid’n with Him on high,
In every detail He draws me nigh.

One with Himself I cannot die,
My life is hid’n with Christ on High!

Written: July 26, 2008

Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
[Flying High]