BIBLE PICK 'EMS - Someone To Watch Over Me

If you recall, these were my original thoughts about "Pick 'ems":

I know it probably isn't "spiritually PC" to randomly open the Bible and expect to find a meaningful verse – it opens the door to the whole "out of context" dilemma. (And...you might just find yourself in Leviticus!!) But, I decided that I wanted to do this, along with my regular reading through the Bible. The way I figured it, I wasn't *testing* God – in other words, "prove something to me, Lord" – I was *trusting* God – "show something to me, Lord." After all, don't we know that His Word is living, breathing, and powerful?!

So, I'm pickin' every day – letting you know what was going on with me that day – and then I'm going to sum up the *theme of the week* that I think God was impressing on my heart.

Hope you're as blessed as I've been!!

MONDAY - (feeling strong after a great message on Sunday morning)  "Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, 'Praise God for the Son of David!  Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD!  Praise God in highest heaven!"  (Matthew 21:9)

TUESDAY - (a setback with the termite report)  "God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.  So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea."  (Psalm 46:1-2)

WEDNESDAY - (moving furniture into the new house)  "I will bring them home again to live safely...They will be my people, and I will be faithful and just toward them as their God.  This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies says: Be strong and finish the task!"  (Zechariah 8:8-9)

THURSDAY - (a debit card was *compromised*)  "David asked the LORD, 'Should I chase after this band of raiders?  Will I catch them?'  And the LORD told him, 'Yes, go after them.  You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!'"  (1 Samuel 30:8)

FRIDAY - (packing unending boxes - will it ever be over?)  "Those I choose will inherit it, and my servants will live there.  The plain of Sharon will again be filled with flocks for my people who have searched for me."  (Isaiah 65:9)

SATURDAY - (asking for traveling safety)  "'Yes, we're coming,' the people reply, 'for you are the LORD our God."  (Jeremiah 3:22)

(Song Lyrics)

Tell me, where is the shepherd for this lost lamb?

There's a somebody I'm longin' to see

I hope that he, turns out to be

Someone who'll watch over me

I'm a little lamb who's lost in the wood

I know I could, always be good

To one who'll watch over me

It's been another hectic week.  But oh, the message that I received from God!  He made it so abundantly clear that HE is watching over me (and "The Hub") as we continue on the path up the mountain.

Never alone - this lamb is loved by The Good Shepherd - and He watches over me.

What has God said to YOU this week?

"When in doubt, search God out!"

BIBLE PICK 'EMS - My Father's Eyes

My mom and dad have three children.

Me, my brother, and my sister.

My mother has beautiful blue eyes.  So do my brother and my sister.  My dad has pretty hazel eyes.

So do I.

My dad is 82, and as I was talking to him the other day, it struck me…

I am the only child with his hazel eyes.

Yes, biologically I can figure it all out.  I remember the little grid charts showing the alleles for eye color.  I remember putting in the big *B* for brown, and the little *b* for blue.  So I had a 50/50 chance of getting hazel eyes.  My dad has a recessive gene for blue eyes, so that’s how my siblings were able to have blue eyes.  (Impressed by my science knowledge??  I'm impressed that I remembered any of that…)

But it never really hit me until the other day.  In some odd way, when I look into my dad's eyes, I'm sorta looking into my own.

It makes me feel special.

Got me thinking – 

When people look into my eyes, can they see the eyes of my Heavenly Father?

Oh, how I want to see the world and other people like He does!

And in honor of our Abba in heaven, here's some great verses about HIM:

Romans 8:15 "So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, Abba, Father."

2 Corinthians 6:18 "And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

Psalm 89:26 "He shall cry to Me, 'You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation."

1 John 3:1 "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are." 

Matthew 6:26  "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

Matthew 18:12-14 "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?  And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.  In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost."

Luke 12:32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom."

John 14:1-2 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you."

John 16:27 "No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God."

  

Matthew 7:9-11  "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DAD!  

And best wishes to all those dads out there!  

How do you want to resemble your Heavenly Father?

"When in doubt, search God out!"

BIBLE PICK 'EMS - God...He Rules!

If you recall, these were my original thoughts about "Pick 'ems":

I know it probably isn't "spiritually PC" to randomly open the Bible and expect to find a meaningful verse – it opens the door to the whole "out of context" dilemma. (And...you might just find yourself in Leviticus!!) But, I decided that I wanted to do this, along with my regular reading through the Bible. The way I figured it, I wasn't *testing* God – in other words, "prove something to me, Lord" – I was *trusting* God – "show something to me, Lord." After all, don't we know that His Word is living, breathing, and powerful?!

So, I'm pickin' every day – letting you know what was going on with me that day – and then I'm going to sum up the *theme of the week* that I think God was impressing on my heart.

Hope you're as blessed as I've been!!

MONDAY - (renting the first U-haul truck for our big *move* up the hill - it's really gonna happen - scary!)  "I trust in the LORD for protection...the LORD is in his holy Temple; the LORD still rules from heaven."  (Psalm 11:1, 4)

TUESDAY - (trying to make tons of decisions)  "If my misery could be weighed and my troubles be put on the scales, they would outweigh all the sands of the sea...At least I can take comfort in this: Despite the pain, I have not denied the words of the Holy One."  (Job 6:2,10)

WEDNESDAY - (traveling a 4-hour round-trip up and back to the new house)  "But I am trusting you, O LORD, saying, "You are my God !"  My future is in your hands...Let your favor shine on your servant."  (Psalm 31:14-16)

THURSDAY - (struggling to find internet for the new house - will it work out?) "How long, O LORD, must I call for help?...The LORD replied, 'Look around...look and be amazed!  For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it." 

(Habakkuk 1:2, 5)

FRIDAY - (under a lot of pressure - money issues)  "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.  Today's trouble is enough for today."  (Matthew 34:6)

SATURDAY - (the old house is emptying out, feeling sad)  "...God will surely come to help you and lead you out of this land...He will bring you back to the land he solemnly promised to give..."  (Genesis 50:24)

Well, the moving *saga* continues.  I have been plagued by time and money pressures, and the increasing reality that I am actually leaving this old, familiar home and place.  I've been frustrated with setbacks, and scared about the upcoming future.

But, God spoke plainly this week.  His message?  HE is still in control - HE is still on His throne.  And He continues to accompany me every step of this new journey.

He is there - He is the same God that has reigned forever!

What has God said to YOU this week?

"When in doubt, search God out!"

BIBLE PICK 'EMS - The Strength of My Heart

If you recall, these were my original thoughts about "Pick 'ems":

I know it probably isn't "spiritually PC" to randomly open the Bible and expect to find a meaningful verse – it opens the door to the whole "out of context" dilemma. (And...you might just find yourself in Leviticus!!) But, I decided that I wanted to do this, along with my regular reading through the Bible. The way I figured it, I wasn't *testing* God – in other words, "prove something to me, Lord" – I was *trusting* God – "show something to me, Lord." After all, don't we know that His Word is living, breathing, and powerful?!

So, I'm pickin' every day – letting you know what was going on with me that day – and then I'm going to sum up the *theme of the week* that I think God was impressing on my heart.

Hope you're as blessed as I've been!!

MONDAY - (had a fight with a family member)  "David got back everything...Nothing was missing: small or great, son or daughter, nor anything else that had been taken.  David brought everything back."

(1 Samuel 30:18-19)

TUESDAY - (extremely tired)  "I replied, 'But my work seems so useless!  I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose.  Yet I leave it all in the LORD'S hand; I will trust God for my reward."  (Isaiah 49:4)

WEDNESDAY - (very sad today)  "When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 'Remember, O LORD, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.'  Then he broke down and cried bitterly...'This is what the LORD...says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears.'"

(Isaiah 38:2-3, 5)

THURSDAY - (feeling very lonely about moving away from my whole family and my friends)  "My wound is severe, and my grief is great...My home is gone, and no one is left...My children have been taken away, and I will never see them again."

"But the LORD is the only true God.  He is the living God and the everlasting King!"  (Jeremiah 10:19-20, 10)

FRIDAY - (crazy busy, hassles)  "Now go up into the hills...and rebuild my house.  Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the LORD...'I am with you, says the LORD!'"  (Haggai 1:8, 13)

SATURDAY - (packing, packing, packing)  "But now the LORD my God has given me peace on every side; I have no enemies, and all is well.  So I am planning to build...to honor the name of the LORD my God..."  (1 Kings 5:4-5)

Well, needless to say, this was a tough week.  The emotions connected to moving are beginning to really sink in - and they are affecting me more because I'm tired.  The message that God continued to give me this week is that HE will provide me with strength.

As always, my life is in His hands...

...and He continues to uphold me.

What has God said to YOU this week?

"When in doubt, search God out!"