Don’t Mess with the Man!

© Jeanne E Webster. All rights reserved

 

“He is your praise and your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen.” Deut. 10:21

Moses spoke these words to Israel prior to their journey into the land of promise. He had placed the tables of stone into the ark as God had commanded, and now it was time for Israel to prove their mettle.

“Go in and possess the land which I have sworn unto your fathers.”

Moses exhorted Israel to:

Fear the Lord
Walk in all His ways
Love the Lord
Serve Him with all your heart and soul
Keep His laws
Circumcise the foreskin of your heart
Be flexible
Love the strangers among you
Trust the Lord

The exhortations above sound quite familiar, don’t they? As Christians, we hold to each of them in our daily walk with Christ. Moses was admonishing Israel to remember all that God had done for them and to cling to this great God who had brought them out of bondage. We too need this reminder.

It’s all too easy to interact with God as if He were a sugar daddy or an easy mark. NO! He is the awesome God of Israel, the great I AM! Don’t mess with the MAN! Fear Him, respect Him, stand before Him in awe, and esteem Him. He’s number ONE.

Walk in ways that reflect His love and mercy to others. Love Him with that bone-deep, heart-booming passion born from a worshipful spirit. Serve Him heartily, wholly, with all the gusto you can muster. Keep His commandments and you’ll reap many rewards. Discipline yourself, lean into the yoke and pull hard. Right next to you on the other side is Jesus. Just remember that.

Love the stranger among you, for you were once strangers also. Cling fast to the Lord and He will always be with you.

Make it a practice to praise the Lord–-with thanksgiving and a humble spirit. Think back to the wondrous moments He lightened your life. Ponder what He is doing for you right this moment. Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him . . . our wonderful Redeemer!

Amen

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

 

H A P P Y  T H A N K S G I V I N G !

Have a safe holiday and wonderful moments with your families and friends.  Your support has been greatly appreciated and immensely enjoyed.  I look forward to another year of sharing with you. 

MAY GOD BLESS YOU! 

Have I Told You Lately . . .?

© 2015 Jeanne E Webster. All rights reserved.

 

Thank you for:

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Family and friends with caring hearts

Home and pets that welcome me there

Life in America and precious freedom

Knowledge and common sense all around

Financial means and fuzzy hugs

Tender relationships and heart touches

Warm clothes and a healing body

All these I hold dear, Lord.

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Thank you…..but . . .

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Have I told you lately that I love you?

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Lord Jesus, my Savior and King,

I LOVE YOU!

 

Give Thanks

Copyright 2014 Jeanne E Webster.

  

Eccl. 3:1-8 “To everything, there is a season and a time for every purpose under the heavens.”

 

I am thankful for ALL God’s TIMES in my life:

 

A time to be born

…and a time to die.

A time to plant

…and a time to pluck up that which is planted.

A time to kill

…and a time to heal.

A time to breakdown

…and a time to build up.

A time to weep

…and a time to laugh.

A time to mourn

…and a time to dance.

A time to cast away stones

…and a time to gather stones together.

A time to embrace

…and a time to refrain from embracing.

A time to get

…and a time to lose.

A time to keep

…and a time to cast away.

A time to rend

…and a time to sew.

A time to keep silence

…and a time to speak.

A time to love

…and a time to hate.

A time of war

…and a time of peace.

 

Wishing us all insight into God’s purposes for our lives.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Christmas Wishes

 

 

Christmas Wishes

Copyright Jeanne E Webster.  All rights reserved and observed.

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No more:

Abortions

Debased TV shows

Obscene movies

Deviant lifestyles

Taking the easy way out

Killing of school children and innocents

Killing/harming others or yourself does not solve your problem.

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Try:

Caring for others

Loving others

Helping others

Giving to others

Take responsibility for your own actions; nobody made you do it!

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Quit:

Greediness

Selfishness

Worldliness

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Live to:

Feed your inner spirit

Embrace your God

Learn goodness

Absorb Holy Scripture

Accept Jesus Christ as your Redeemer

Praise God

Thank God

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May the peace of Christmas help you:

Forgive others

Forgive yourself

Forget the past

Live a better life today

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Today:

Draw a line in the sand

Cross that line if you’re on God’s side

Prepare to die in hell if you’re not!

National Day of Prayer

(Picture from http://cathedraloflife.org/prayer-praise)

Come let us join together in prayer and bend our hearts and minds to our Lord God, on this first day of May, 2014. J.E.W.

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Prayer of Adoration: “Therefore You are great, O LORD GOD. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.” 2 Samuel 7:22

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Prayer for Forgiveness: “For a mere moment I have forsaken you. But with great mercies I will gather you. With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment. But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you.” Isaiah 54:7, 8

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Prayer for Renewal: “May I defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; free them from the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 82:3, 4

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Prayer for Personal Needs: “Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.” Psalm 4:1

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Prayer for Others: “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.” 1 Samuel 12:23

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Prayer of Affirmation: “You demonstrated Your own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

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Prayer of Thanksgiving: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

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Closing prayer: “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” 1 Timothy 1:17

(Excerpts from Drawing Near by Boa and Anders)

Heavenly Lullabies

 

 

Heavenly Lullabies

 

© 2013 Jeanne E Webster.  All rights reserved

 

“Happy New Year!” is on its way; it’s knocking at the door.  Are we ready with some tried-and-true resolutions to spruce up the old BODY?   Weight loss, new job, quit smoking, kick the drugs and booze habit, smile more at the world, spend more time with the family, lean harder on the budget, sock more money away each month . . .these objectives will certainly tidy up our persona for a better year ahead. 

What about our spiritual features?  Are they on extended vacation from the divine practices and nourishment our sacred nature requires?   Hopefully not. The world distracts our focus away from godly nutrition, pleading instead to the louder more sensual intonations of our carnal nature.  Instead of developing a deeper faith in our Creator, we find ourselves tossed about, clinging to life on a slippery slope and being slapped by one fear after another.

Everywhere we look there is turmoil, anxiety, fear, tension, and dread.  What are we to do? Is this what life is all about?  To put it succinctly, NO!

Life is relying on the Lord for strength and sustenance in the physical body AND in the spiritual body. 

Jesus warns us to quit worrying about things that hinder our walk in the spirit. As Christians, we have precious encouragement, “Don’t worry about what tomorrow will bring you, for it will take care of itself.” (Matt. 6:34)

What’s He saying here? Do not worry or become over-anxious.  Ok, but why does He say this when all about us are fearful distractions? Are we looking in all the wrong places for help?

He adds:  Matt. 6:33: Don’t worry about what you will eat, what you will drink, or if you will be clothed.  Non-believers worry about those things!   “Seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness…and all your needs will be provided to you.”

In summation, Jesus tells us that God is still in charge of our lives; He knows our every need. “For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of these things.” (Matt. 6:32b)

What assurance! What RE-assurance! Our heavenly Father knows. Think about it. God is the creator of all things, even us, and planned the world’s itinerary from its beginning onward. And here we are, worrying about what’s going to happen tomorrow. “O ye of little faith!” (Matt. 6:30)

Phil. 4:6-7 “May I be anxious for nothing, and in all things by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, may I make my needs known to You; and I know that Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, will guard my heart and mind through Jesus Christ.  Amen.”

 

May the melodious wisdom of our Father saturate and strengthen our hearts and minds as we feast on His bountiful promises.  Let us relearn the heart songs of His Word as heavenly lullabies that trickle into our inner realm, releasing our fears and weaknesses. 

Joy to the world; the Lord has come!  Be refreshed!  Be renewed!  . . . by His peace and joy. 

Alleluia and Amen!

 

Chicken Feed

© 2010 Jeanne E Webster.  All rights reserved

It had been an amusing couple of weeks, to say the least.  It all started when our neighbor’s chickens crossed the road and came to breakfast at our bird-feeder.  All 10 of them—eight hens and two roosters—cleaned up the stray bits of bread crumbs and seed set out for the sparrows, juncos, titmouse, woodpeckers, and such.  No, the blackbirds were not allowed…no way!  It is a posted area.  I’d show you the sign but can’t seem to find it anywhere.

The chickens quickly had their way with the morning offering and scurried back across the road, faithfully returning on a daily basis every morning for a month or so. Their owner lived alone at the residence and seemed far behind on “lunch-money,” as the entire flock would search the neighborhood frantically for grub.  We don’t know what the problem really was; there just wasn’t much activity over there…except for the chickens.

We eventually felt sorry for them and brought home a bag of chicken scratch.  My husband was in his glory as he would strew the feed out front, followed by the throng of hungry chickens.    My husband waved while getting our mail one day and told Charlie we’d been feeding his chickens.  He hollered a quick “Thanks,” saying he’d gather some eggs for us in return for the chicken scratch.

Time went by and suddenly it was Thanksgiving Day.  Busily fixing dinner and all the trimmings, I noticed an egg crate by the back door as I set out some trash.  There sat 18 large brown eggs, all wet and smudged with dirt but unbroken and rather handsome.  I brought them inside and showed them to my husband.  We were so delighted at our neighbor’s kept promise.

Early the next morning the chicken man appeared in his yard, gassing up his 4-wheeler and readying to go off deer hunting.  Bursting with a ton of holiday spirit, I hastily tore off a leg and most of a breast from our roasted turkey, threw in an enormous slice of apple pie, wrapped them in foil and sent my husband out to give our alms to the poor fellow for giving us all those good eggs.  The man was tickled pink and asked my husband if we liked venison, to which my husband replied, “Sure.”  The fellow said if he got a deer, he’d give us some.  I guess he didn’t have any luck, as we haven’t seen any deer meat at the back door.

 The chickens continue to run the roads of the neighborhood, always stopping off to chomp up whatever is left over from the little birdies.  Their number is down to nine now, as one of the brown hens didn’t make it across the road fast enough.  I don’t think it was Henny Penny, as she was the fastest in the bunch.  Yes, I had gotten to calling them names already.  Makes it sort of personal, I guess.  I’m sure those black old buzzards had a heaping big breakfast that morning, whoever it was that was too slow crossing the road.  Not much left now ‘cept for a few leg bones and a feather or two.  I’ve heard the age-old question, “Why did the chicken cross the road,” a hundred times but didn’t really know the answer.  Well, now I know…to fix breakfast for the buzzards!

It’s funny…the neighborhood sparrows have come to hang out in our boxwood shrubs out front.  They hide in them til the chickens are gone then the lookout peeks its tiny head out of the green branches, does an about-face and gives the all clear.  The air just hums as they all come swarming out of their hiding places and fly over to the feeder again.  I was telling my husband, I hope they haven’t come to take up residence.    I love birds, but enough is enough.

Well, I must get to checking the crock-pot for the country turkey stew I set out this morning.  It’s almost suppertime.  You all have a good day now…ya heer?!

Night and Day

© Jeanne E Webster.  All rights reserved

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“Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us,

But to Your name give glory.

Because of Your mercy,

Because of Your truth.”

Ps. 115:1

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Though I obey your commandments,

live a godly life and speak of You to others,

the glory belongs to You, O Lord.

Because of Your mercy and truth,

I am who I am.

Thank You for saving my soul.

Amen.

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“It is good to give thanks to the Lord.

And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;

To declare Your loving-kindness in the morning,

And Your faithfulness every night.”

Ps. 92:1, 2

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I will praise You in the morning for keeping me safe during the night;

I will praise You in the evening for another day of blessings.

Because of Your mercy, all things are possible.

Amen.

Fears are a Bear!

 

© Jeanne E Webster

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Is your spiritual life having a nap? Is it on an extended vacation from spiritual habits and nourishment? Yes, it happens to everyone. The world distracts our spiritual focus away from nurturing food and strengthening exercises, pleading instead to our physical nature with many urgent voices.  Fears are as abundant as television commercials during a two-hour movie.

“Help me!” demands a loved one coming down off a drug habit.

“You have 30 days to pay your rent or you’re out of here!” threatens an irate landlord.

A red-faced supervisor yells in your ear, “Close the deal by Friday or you’re fired!”

Everywhere we look there is turmoil, anxiety, fear, tension, and dread. What are we to do? Is this what life is all about? To put it succinctly, NO!

Jesus warns us to quit worrying about things that hinder our walk in the spirit. As Christians, we have precious encouragement, “Don’t worry about what tomorrow will bring you, for it will take care of itself.” (Matt. 6:34) What’s He saying here? Do not worry or become over-anxious.  Life is about living in the physical body while focusing on the spiritual body.

Ok, but why does He say this when all about us are fearful distractions? Could it be because we’re looking in all the wrong places for help?

He follows up with Matt. 6:33, “Don’t worry about what you will eat, what you will drink, or if you will be clothed.” Non-believers worry about those things! “Seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness…and all your needs will be provided to you.”

To sum it up, Jesus tells us that God is still in charge of our lives; He knows our every need. “For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of these things.” (Matt. 6:32b) What assurance! What Reassurance! Our heavenly Father knows. Think about it. God is the creator of all things, even us, and planned the world’s itinerary from the beginning to its end. And here we are, worrying about what’s going to happen tomorrow. “O ye of little faith!” (Matt. 6:30)

Phil. 4:6-7 May I be anxious for nothing, and in all things by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, may I make my needs known to You; and I know that Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, will guard my heart and mind through Jesus Christ. Amen