MANNA in Your Tent

There was a dense fog hovering over the house this morning. The photos that you are viewing were taken just after dawn. These little tents of webs, soft and white, just appeared everywhere around my pond today. They reminded me of how God covers us with His TENT. They also looked like manna - or what you imagine it to look like... almost like spun sugar - pure white. God's Hand appears everywhere when we take notice!

WE CRY HOLY, HOLY, HOLY!
Psalm 30
A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple. Of David.
1 I will exalt you, O LORD, for You lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
2 O LORD my God, I called to You for help and You healed me.
3 O LORD, You brought me up from the grave; You spared me from going down into the pit.
4 Sing to the LORD, you saints of His; praise His holy Name.
5 For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
11 You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 that my heart may sing to You and not be silent.
LORD my God, I will give You thanks forever.

Exodus 16:15-17
15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat. 16 This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Each one is to gather as much as he needs. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.' "
17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. [emphasis mine]

Got Enough Manna?? Enough GRACE for today??

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie
[Trusting God's Heart]

Back to Basics

A few Sunday's ago, I wrote about the American flags that I counted on my ride to the church where I am teaching - how they reminded me of the 23rd Psalm. You may be asking how they are related? They are both basics of our faith in God and country. Every time I see an American flag now - I recite it or ponder the verses of that Psalm and all they mean.

Today my phone has rung off the hook since I got home from church. Some calls were precious and special - but many were about the needs of hurting people. As I came upstairs to write today's post I asked the LORD what HE wanted me to share. And (again) He brought me back to the basics. Here's the version [KJV] that most of us know from memory - BUT - let's look at it - in just a little more light! This is what He gave me - and somebody out there needs this TODAY!

The 23rd Psalm

1The LORD is my Shepherd;

[I have a Leader who loves & cares about me]

I shall not want.
[There is nothing He won't supply for me.]

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

He allows me to rest in pleasant places when I need to]

He leadeth me beside the still waters.
[He takes me to a quiet place to replenish me]

3 He restoreth my soul:

[In His arms my soul is revived and restored]

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness

[He guides me gently into His right paths]

for His name's sake.

[He does all this to bring glory to His Name]

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

[Even when my circumstance seem unbearable...]

I will fear no evil:

[They won't overtake me:]

for Thou art with me;

[When I allow Him to remain with me;]

Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

[His shepherding "tools" of love - through His Word - will comfort my heart]

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:

[He bids me 'come and dine' with Him - in the midst of my turmoil]

Thou anointest my head with oil;

[He pours Himself over me and fills me up]

my cup runneth over.

[His goodness to me overflows - onto others]

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:

For certain - His goodness and compassion pursue me every day]

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

[and I have the JOY and PRIVILEGE of ETERNAL LIFE - FOREVER - IN HIS PRESENCE]

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Trusting God's Heart]

SET APART - I AM YOURS

Leviticus 20:25-26 [selected]
" 'You must therefore make a distinction... Do not defile yourselves ... You are to be holy to Me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be My own. [emphasis mine]

Psalm 4:3

Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself; the LORD will hear when I call to Him. [emphasis mine]

Isaiah 23:18

Yet her profit and her earnings will be set apart for the LORD; they will not be stored up or hoarded. Her profits will go to those who live before the LORD, for abundant food and fine clothes. [emphasis mine]

Galatians 1: 13-24

Paul's Testimony of God's Grace and Glory

I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord's brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." And they praised God because of me. [emphasis mine]

1 Peter 3:14-16

But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

As Christ has set us [those who know Him and have received Him personally] apart for Himself - may we choose in our hearts to set apart Christ as Lord and Master in our lives daily.

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Trusting God's Heart]

Let Us PRAY

1 Samuel 12: 22-24

22 For the sake of His great name the LORD will not reject His people, because the LORD was pleased to make you His own. 23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. 24 But be sure to fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you. [emphasis mine]

Romans 8: 26-27

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

2 Thessalonians 1:11

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.

THEN, LET US PRAY

The day was long, the burden I had borne

Seemed heavier that I could no longer bear;

And then it lifted-- but I did not know

Someone had knelt in prayer.

Had taken me to God that very hour,

And asked the easing of the load, and He

In infinite compassion, had stooped down

And lifted the burden from me.

We cannot tell how often as we pray

For some bewildered one, hurt and distressed,

The answer comes, but many times these hearts

Find sudden peace and rest.

Someone had prayed, and faith, a lifted hand

Reached up to God, and He reached down that day.

So many, many hearts have need of prayer-

Then, let us, let us pray. ~Author Unknown

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Trusting God's Heart]

Future Generations

As I awaited the anticipated phone call this morning for my 6th grandchild to arrive, I pondered what the future would hold for this child 'yet unborn'. For 9 months I was convinced that this 'surprise' child was a girl - until 5AM this morning whenI read Psalm 21. The LORD revealed the gender and more about the child's destiny.

Psalm 21

3 You welcomed him with rich blessings

and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.
4 He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—

length of days, for ever and ever.
5 Through the victories you gave, his glory is great;

You have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.

13 Be exalted, O LORD, in Your strength;

we will sing and praise Your might. [emphasis mine]

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BRADEN MONTGOMERY THOMPSON

was born at 8:15AM today -

weighing a hefty 9 lbs. 15 oz. -

21 inches long.

Braden means: Descendant, wise one...

His middle name is in honor of his grandfather, and also his great-grandfather [whose middle names were also Montgomery] and who are both now in the Presence of Almighty God. Braden's grandfather [Bob] prayed that all of his grandchildren would be "Mighty Warriors in the Kingdom of God" ... even the ones yet unborn.

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Psalm 22

27 All the ends of the earth

will remember and turn to the LORD,

and all the families of the nations

will bow down before Him,
28 for dominion belongs to the LORD

and He rules over the nations.
29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;

all who go down to the dust will kneel before Him—

those who cannot keep themselves alive.
30 Posterity will serve Him;

future generations will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim His righteousness

to a people yet unborn—

for he has done it. [emphasis mine]

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It will be our honor to pass onto Braden the heritage of our faith in Christ - and share with him all that God the Father has done in his family. May his life be one of great victory as he "goes against the flow", upstream - when everyone else is flowing downstream. May he be ever wise in his choices and expectations. May he trust in the One True God - the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - the God of the Living. [Mark12:24-27] May he be blessed - and be a blessing to all.

To see pictures of Braden - click on Click here: Rob and Becky's Web and go to Family - then pictures or VIDEO - Braden's Birth [for the latest music video of his birth].

Choosing JOY ... as the 'yet unborn' has be born,

Stephanie

[Trusting God's Heart]

At the CROSS

Matthew 27:22-24

22 "What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked.

They all answered, "Crucify Him!"
23 "Why? What crime has He committed?" asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify Him!"
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!" [emphasis mine]

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AT THE CROSS God proved…

His LOVE for me
His GOODNESS to me
His FORGIVENESS of me
His STRENGTH within me

His COMPASSION for me
His GRACE abounding in me
His MERCY on me

His FAITHFULNESS over me

Galatians 6:14

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. [emphasis mine]

Choosing JOY at the foot of the CROSS,

Stephanie [TRUSTING GOD'S HEART]

When Out On a Limb

Psalm 46
For the director of music.

Of the Sons of Korah. A song.

1 God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam

and the mountains quake with their surging.

Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;

God will help her at break of day.

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Trusting God's Heart]