GO LIGHT YOUR WORLD... PRAISING IN THE STORMS....

Our daughter, Jessica, has migraines 24/7. They are the worst when the barametric pressure is low. The barametric pressure in our town seems to be stuck on LOW. My prayer:

God, You are The Creator. God, You are in control. I am so thankful for rain and seasons of refreshment. Thank You, big time that our friends in the West and Midwest have seen rain. It seems that before a storm comes that the barametric pressure must go low. I don't understand it all, but I trust. I'm just asking You to take away this condition of Jessica's so that she can have relief, even when the low pressure has to come. God, I ask for relief for Jessica TODAY. I'm so grateful that I can come to You, because of Jesus. I beg for the LIGHT OF THE WORLD, to give LIGHT to Jessica at the end of her "tunnel". I praise You for what You have done, what You are doing, and what You are going to do!

~BLESSED~

GO LIGHT YOUR WORLD... GOD'S WAY....

MEDITATION MONDAY

Who does God love? I know so many people - women especially - who do not believe that God can possibly love them. Yesterday morning, Derrick was our speaker. His lesson was on the Bible story / character JONAH. Ninevah was an extremely wicked city AND GOD LOVED THE PEOPLE OF NINEVAH!!!!

If you read the little 4 chapter book of Jonah, in the Bible, you might not understand the extent of the evil in Ninevah. Jonah did not want to go preach to them, maybe because he knew a little bit kore about their character than we do. Go over to a nearby book, in the library of the Bible's 66 books, to the book of Nahum and you'll find more about Ninevah. The description of Ninevah's wickedness in the book of Nahum, includes:

~They plotted evil against the LORD.~

Nahum 1:11

~They showed cruelty and plundering in war.~

Nahum 2:12-13; 3:1-19

~They were known for their prostitution and witchcraft.~

Nahum 3:4

~They were known for commercial exploitation.~

Nahum 3:16

We could use multiple words to describe the above: evil, wicked, darkness, sin... This could also be said of many countries today. Yet, let's not look at a country or a city... let's look at it in terms of people who are doing these things. You may know people like this. Maybe you work with them or go to school with them or they are even your FB friends or family members.

How has God called you and me to make a difference with these people and their evil... wickedness... darkness... sin.... He often puts us in circumstances that no one else can make a difference like we can. Yesterday morning, the title of Derrick's lesson was "I DID IT MY... GOD'S WAY!" He had the word "MY" crossed out. There might we a way to make a little difference here and there by doing it "my" way, but if I want to make an eternal / everlasting change, I must do it God's way - with THE MIND OF CHRIST.

Our theme song reminds us to GO LIGHT YOUR WORLD. Our scripture memory for the month says the we are THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. How does that work? Where does that power come from?

It is from having the attitude of Christ... living THE BLESSED LIFE... as set forth in the previous verses of Matthew 5... POWERful!!!!

I'm waking up each morning praying the Be-attitudes.

Jesus,

I want to light my world God's way.

Today help me to have Your mind...

Your attitudes...

Your light...

~BLESSED~

GO LIGHT YOUR WORLD...

SUNDAY IN THE SON

There is a candle in every soul
Some brightly burning, some dark and cold
There is a Spirit who brings a fire
Ignites a candle and makes His home

So Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world

Frustrated brother, see how he's tried to
Light his own candle some other way
See now your sister, she's been robbed and lied to
Still holds a candle without a flame

So Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world

Cause we are a family whose hearts are blazing
So let's raise our candles and light up the sky
Praying to our Father, in the name of Jesus
Make us a beacon in darkest times

So Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, deceived and poor
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world

Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world

~BLESSED~

THE BLESSING... MOM'S TREASURES...

As I sit here in a room still full with many of Mom's things, I'm looking at a piece of paper that I was quickly drawn to when my sister and I went through some of Mom's Bible teaching materials. This paper was typed with a typewriter - not a computer. It, along with many other things in the case, were obviously a labor of love. I don't know who the original author was. I am very thankful that Mom chose to type these two things - one for wives and one for mothers:

TO KEEP YOUR MARRIAGE BRIMMING,

WITH LOVE IN THE LOVING CUP,

WHENEVER YOU'RE WRONG, ADMIT IT!

WHENEVER YOU'RE RIGHT, SHUT UP!

A MOTHER'S BEATITUDE

BLESSED is the mother who understands her child,

For she shall inherit a kingdom of memories.

BLESSED is the mother who knows how to comfort,

for she shall possess a child's devotion.

BLESSED is the mother who is never shocked,

for she shall receive confidences.

BLESSED is the mother who guides by the path of righteousness,

for she shall be proud of her offspring.

BLESSED is the mother who teaches respect,

for she shall be respected.

BLESSED is the mother who emphasizes the good and minimizes the bad,

for in like manner the child himself shall make evaluations.

BLESSED is the mother who treats her child as she would be treated,

for her home will be filled with happiness.

BLESSED is the mother who answers simply the startling questions,

for she shall always be trusted.

BLESSED is the mother who has character strong enough to stand the thoughtless remarks and resentments of a growing child,

for again in due time, she will be honored.

~BLESSED~

THE BLESSING... SALT AND LIGHT...

Now that we've spent months and months looking at the Beatitudes we come to Christ's next part of the Sermon on the Mount... or is it the next section? I believe it is the summary of the previous verses. IF we live the BLESSED LIFE of having the attitudes of Christ, THEN we will be salt and light to the world. Today, join me in reading through this passage and then begin memorizing verses 13 -16 of Matthew 5.

1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.

He said:
3 “Blessed are the

poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who

mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the

meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who

hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the

merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the

pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the

peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who

are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
1 “Blessed are you

when people insult you,

persecute you

and falsely say all kinds of evil

against you because of me.

12 Rejoice and be glad,

because great is your reward in heaven,

for in the same way they persecuted the prophets

who were before you.

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

~BLESSED~

THE BLESSING... GENERATIONS OF LIGHT AND SALT...

I am twice blessed! I have a rich heritage of parents and grandparents who loved, trusted, and obeyed the LORD. Today, I travel to Alabama to see my mother who has Alzheimer's and lives in a nursing home. My dad and grandparents have already gone on to be with the LORD.

This past week, my hubby got to be with our oldest son, his wife, and our two precious grand girls in Missouri. His parents came for a visit. My father-in-love and mother-in-love are the kind of people described in Matthew 5. After Jesus gives what we refer to as the Be-attitudes, He continues by saying that people who have these attitudes are "light" and "salt" for others. These are concepts we will be addressing on this blog in the month of August. So, quite appropriately, I will share about those in my life who have been "light" and "salt" for me. I am so grateful.

~BLESSED~

THE BLESSING... ACROSTIC...

MEDITATION MONDAY

I've been thinking a lot about the word BLESSING recently. You may think, "Duh, Patti! Don't you use the word, BLESSED, at the end of every post?"

Yes! I am BLESSED! You are BLESSED! What about BEING A BLESSING! As I was driving to the Philly airport this afternoon, to pick up my hubby, I began to brainstorm some acrostics for BLESSING. Here are a few that I came up with:

B- Be

L- Love!

E- Embrace

S- Serving

S- Situations,

I- Initiating

N- Nearness to

G- God

B- Bring

L- Love

E- Everyday,

S- Serving

S- Souls

I- Intimately

N- Needing

G- God

B- Beautiful

L- Lives

E- Embrace

S- Searching

S- Souls

I- In

N- Nurturing

G- Goodness

~BLESSED~