Second Corinthians 5:9 teaches us to “make it our aim . . . to be well pleasing” to God. As we, by faith, believe in Him and give our lives in service to Him, He is pleased (Heb. 11:6). That’s our reward, because God’s approval is always sweeter than the applause of the crowd.
The deeds God finds pleasing are those done in service for Him.
This is from an email forward that someone shared with me a while back and I truly enjoyed it. There are so very many people who are out there in this country that are hurting from lost jobs, lost homes, health problems, broken families, or having lost a loved one or friend recently. This is for you......enjoy
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanks giving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without His love
Joy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee
Move out of "Camp Complaining"
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone
Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To "thank" is a command
Until we see Him coming
Victorious in the sky
We'll run the race with gratitude
X alting God most high
Y es, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...
Z ion waits in glory....where none are ever sad!
Luke 4:4 - But Jesus replied, "It is written in the Scriptures, 'Other things in life are much more important than bread."
Beware of enticements that seem to cost little for the present. Satan hopes to get you to do things his way, And he doesn't give up easily. Even after Jesus overcame a third temptation, Satan left only "until an opportune time" (Luke 4:13).
Whenever you are offered a shortcut to happiness, watch out to see who's behind the cashier's counter!
The best way to escape temptation is to turn to God.
We should not trust in ourselves but in God. —2 Corinthians 1:9
Job was enjoying life. He was unaware that only a hedge separated
him from disaster (Job 1:9-10). When God removed that hedge and allowed
Satan to test Job, his life exploded (vv.13-19).
Many believers live in circumstances where it seems as if God, for some reason, has removed His hedge of protection. Others, also for reasons unknown, live in relative calm, seemingly unaware of their fragile existence. Like Job’s friends, they assume that nothing bad will happen unless they do something to deserve it.
As we learn from Job, however, God sometimes allows bad things to happen to good people. Although disaster can strike at any moment, nothing has the power to destroy those who trust Christ (2 Cor. 4:9). No disaster can separate us from God's love. God's love still stands when all else has fallen.
I'm nearly finished with my first project using my 10" Authentic Knitting Board. (Yes, I bought the 10" as well as the 28".) I'm using Berroco Vintage Yarn, which is a wool/acrylic blend, and a simple ribbed wrapping. The one little complaint I have about the yarn is that it snags quite a bit. I keep having small strands stuck on the knitting board pegs and then I have to carefully figure out where they belong and do that peg over. Other than that, it's a very soft, slightly worn-out yarn that is really warm and cozy. I'll post pictures of it later, as it is a Christmas present.
I've spent the past two weeks thinking about rigid heddle looms after visiting Susan Johnson's Alavanche Looms workshop way out in the backwoods of Wisconsin. It's worth the drive. Not only is she an extremely talented weaver, the store is beautiful and chock full of cool goodies. Susan chatted with me about weaving and got me wondering if I should give a loom a try. But then that led to another week of thoughts about somehow obtaining a rectangle loom to do continuous weave scarves and shawls... And then that led to yet another fascination: Peg Looms.
I've never heard of peg loom or stick weaving until I happened across a Ravelry discussion, but it appears to be a very old form of weaving, mainly used for making rugs. Although there are some peg loom sellers in the UK, I haven't spotted a US seller as of yet. However, there are instructions out there, so perhaps, with a little bit of patience, I could piece one together.
Here are some peg loom links: How to make a peg loom; How to use a peg loom; Examples of peg loom weaving.
Hello Vox family & friends: I know I haven't been here lately. Too much has been going on to keep me busy, thus limiting my computer time. But, I have a little bit of free time today and wanted to share this with you all. I really love her (Jennifer Rothschild) and she has such a precious spirit about her........and, I do "wonder" at her abilities & all that she accomplishes since she is blind. She does "amaze" me. And, it makes me feel ashamed of myself, because I sometimes allow my health circumstances limit what I do or accomplish for a day. Hmmm-mmmm, guess I need to
re-evaluate myself and what can I accomplish..........do enjoy what follows:
What God Has Been Teaching Me Lately
Wondering About
Wonder
Geoffrey Fisher once
said, "Until you know that life is interesting--and find it so--you haven't
found your soul. " So, here's my
question to you...have you "found your soul?"
Do you know life is
interesting? This is a fresh grounded thought that must be considered,
for how sad it would be to find ourselves near our final days and realize we
have missed out on the wonder of life.
Curiosity is a
satisfying hunger that when fed, will continue to grow. Because the nuances of
life are familiar, we risk missing the
fantastic hidden daily before us. Only if we are curious and want
to see life as interesting, do we actually discover wonder.
Wonder has been
described as the feeling of surprise, admiration and awe aroused by something;
a state in which you want to learn more about something; to think or speculate
curiously or to be filled with admiration, amazement, or awe.
I wonder when the
last time I really wondered was? Children are given to wonder naturally, for
they are learning and curious. But our curiosity and wonder doesn't need
to reduce as we mature and gain knowledge; rather, it should increase as we are
exposed to the mysteries of life, people, nature and God. C.S. Lewis once
mused, "Some day you will be old enough for fairy tales again."
Life is one big
story, and we have the privilege of entering into it and observing it all at
once. How sad to not see the wonder of each moment when they're obscured
by laundry and carpools, accented by autumn leaves, smudged by finger-paint or
veiled by a frown. Life is interesting. Your life is interesting
even in its most mundane moments. Approach it with curiosity--looking for
the wonder--not just assuming the surface of things is the story.
When was the
last time you studied someone's countenance? When was the last time you
watched sunlight drape itself across your lawn leaving a golden trail? When
was the last time you listened to the rain and heard a symphony? When was
the last time you read words from the pen of a master and wanted to cry for the
sheer beauty of each syllable fitly placed? When was the last time you
wept during Mozart, sighed at a Rembrandt, or looked into the face of a child
and wondered "what would DaVinci do with her eyes?"
My friend, we are
finally old enough for fairy tales! I want to enjoy wonder today and I
want you to do the same. Life was given to us by Christ to be "abundant"
(John 10:10), not dull and uninteresting. May we find curiosity
satisfying, life interesting and be amazed as we get reacquainted with our own
souls.
Well, that's what's been percolating in me lately!
Romans 12:10 "Love each other with brotherly affection and take delight in honoring each other."
We serve others "with the ability which God supplies that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 4:11).
When we show love and compassion in simple, practical ways, we are a part of God's ministry to His people. We show our love for God when we love His family.
1 Peter 4:16 "However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name."
One October morning in 2006, a woman and her six children were forced to witness an attack on their husband and father. His assailants tried to force him to deny Jesus but he refused. He continued to proclaim Christ as Lord and died praying for his family. The family is determined to follow Christ, even in their grief.
Another man was sentenced to 3 years in prison for allegedly insulting another religion. He’s an outspoken Christian with a passion for Christ. He and his wife and children continue to be faithful and refuse to deny Him.
Persecution for the Christian faith is as real in our world as it was for the Jewish believers in the early church to whom Peter wrote. He prayed, “May the God of all grace, . . . after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you” (1 Peter 5:10).
Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. These prayer points from Open Doors USA, a ministry that’s committed to encouraging persecuted Christians, can help guide us as we pray:
• Pray for the safety and faith of the secret believers in countries where it is illegal to share about Christ.
• Pray for the health, perseverance, and encouragement of believers who are imprisoned for the gospel.
• Pray that those whose loved ones have died due to martyrdom will rely on God for their strength.
Together, let’s bring our fellow believers before the Lord in prayer.Ephesians 5:2 "Be full of love for others, following the example of Christ who loved you and gave Himself to God as a sacrifice to take away your sins. And God was pleased, for Christ's love for you was like sweet perfume to Him."
Paul said, "The Lord is grieved when we ignore His teaching and live our own way" (Ephesians 4:30-5:2).
DISCERNER OF THE HEART
Read Hebrews 3 - 4
...exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 3:13 NKJV
* * *
Writing to his audience of Jewish Christians, the author of Hebrews reminds them of the penalty of unbelief. The children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years because they did not believe God. “For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest.
(4:2-3a)
The rest that comes to the children of God in our day is through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In our struggle against sin, He is the one who gives us rest. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16
* * *
Lord, I come to you today bowing before your throne to find grace to help in my time of need.
* * *
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a Discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 NKJV