The Call

The Gift

God Calling

God places inside everyone

a gift

a talent

a calling.

Your's my child was placed

inside your

heart when you

were formed

by God.

You did not know why

you reached up

in your dramatic

style when you were

young.

God knew.

He has a plan

for your life.

Your calling.

He knew when the time

was right he would speak.

He called your gift

to life and placed it in

your dreams.

You

heard him and sought

out the meaning

of this dream

and you obeyed him.

You went forward that day

to the altar of God,

at the perfect time in your

life, to reach up again

and know that it

was

God Calling.

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

before you were born I set you apart." ~ Jeremiah 1: 5

A Poem

A Joyful Heart

Thank the Lord for little things

For they can surely grow

Into the greatest treasures

That you may ever know.

Don't covet worldly riches

That may not be for you,

Nor overlook the special gifts

That God has given you.

Let "giving" outweigh "getting"

On your scale of happiness,

And your joyful heart will bask

In the glow of Godliness.

Catherine Janssen Irwin

Dreams Are Whispers From The Soul

Dreams

To all who dream and dream you will

of love and laughter

what ignites you still.

Look deep inside your heart's strong beat

and find the rhythm

what makes you unique.

Within that longing to believe

that what you seek

divinely inspired.

Go now and dream as you know you will

click here for a beautiful video:

Dreams Are Whispers From The Soul

God Moments

Remembering Mom

I found a side note in my God Calling devotion book today, one I had written in ink over a year ago, next to that day's devotion.. I often write a note of gratitude back to God after reading a message that strikes a chord within my spirit, one that resonates deep in my soul, or to record what I call a "God Moment."  These God moments I define as a -divine space in time- in which I know God is talking to me, sharing a truth, a blessing, a revelation, or a response to a prayer request. This particular side note was thanking Him for just one of those "God Moments".

It was last Sept. 6, a day I began like many days with a walk around my little town..up the hill from my house I walk, down along the Dogwood lined streets dotted with old homes and churches. past the historic town square, and coffee shops, until I arrive at my favorite stop..the old cemetery perched on a hill with a view of the mountains of North Georgia in the distance.

Here is where I come -my halfway point- here is where I take time to slow down and enjoy the peace and quiet. The tombstones, and the lives of souls buried here give me a deeper appreciation for life and death as I read the inscriptions on the markers. There are some beautiful verses etched in marble and stone. So many saints that have passed on to glory. Here I pray, and reflect on the meaning of my own life, now passing by so quickly- it seems- as I travel back and forth in my memories.

That day I was thinking of my Mom who has also passed on and is now with the Lord. I sat down on a stone wall and  I did something I rarely do- I asked her to send me a little sign- one that would let me know she sees me from her heavenly realm, and is watching over me. I don't do this very often; I know my faith is not based on signs and wonders- even though I have had plenty- my faith is grounded in Christ Jesus and the word of God. It was just a moment of missing her I suppose.

Later that evening before sleep, lying in bed in prayer, I remembered feeling a little disappointed that I didn't receive my sign, but as I drifted off to sleep there was a feeling of peace that erased this instantly. The next morning I opened my God Calling book to read the daily devotion and instantly I remembered  that I had forgotten to read the devotion from the previous day. I turned back to it first, and there it was, My Sign, My God Moment! When I read the title of the devotion there was no mistake in God's intent to show me he hears me, and I know the Holy Spirit prompted me to look back, or else I would have missed this moment.

Here is what I read, here is what God said-

*********************************************************************************

September 6

Your Loved Ones

Your loved ones are very safe in My keeping. Learning and loving and working, theirs is a life of happiness and progress. They live to serve and, and serve they truly do. They serve Me and those they love. Ceaselessly they serve.

But their ministrations, so many, so diverse, you see no more than those in My time on earth in human form could have seen the angels who ministered unto Me in the wilderness.

How often mortals rush to earthly friends who serve them in so limited a way, when the friends who are freed from the limitations of humanity can serve then so much better, understand better, protect better, plan better, and even plead better their cause with me.

You do well to remember your friends in the Unseen. Companying with them the more you live in this Unseen World the gentler will be your passing when it comes. Earth's troubles and difficulties will seem, even now, less overwhelming as you look, not at the things that are seen but at the real, the Eternal Life.

"And this is Life Eternal that we may know Thee, the Only True God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent."

Learning to know Me draws that Kingdom very near, and in Me, and through knowledge of Me, the dear ones there become very near and dear.

(excerpt taken from September 6 devotion in "God Calling")

*********************************************************************************

Beyond the beauty of the devotion I saw another layer of how God works in his perfect timing,You see, God already knew I was going to miss my daily reading, and that on my walk I would ask for this reassurance of Mom's divine existence. How that devotion happened to be on the same day I would ask for a sign of Mom's heavenly existence is beyond my realm of earthly reasoning. All I know is that if I had read the devotion and then later asked for the same sign in the cemetery- the God moment would have been missed-. all things had to play out the way they did. Do you see this believers? This is how it works in the unseen world of the spirit.

Praise God for revelation, and giving me sight to see. He always delivers more than what I ask for. Always.
God sees, hears and knows, just what we need before we ask.

I loved how He said that our loved ones plead for us and that we are wise to keep company with them. This brought happy tears, and and reassurance that my Mom,  is very busy doing wonderful things in Heaven. I am so thrilled as well, to know God desires for me to spend more time in prayer, remembering Mom.

for Mom-

I Love You. I miss you.

Your middle daughter, your sometimes aloof child, drawing near to God and to you.

Lynn Anne

09/17/2010

Know God's Word

BEAUTIFUL

Today I meditated on Chapter 8 in Romans.

This chapter is so rich in God's character, his love, his redemption story, his plans and purpose for his children. I feel the testimony of Paul is powerful enough to bring the lost to belief and repentance, and to give them a hope and a future filled with joy.

Paul the writer, inspired by God through his own experiences and by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit so beautifully explains the relationship of God towards his people and creation. I will highlight some favorite verses and encourage you to read the whole chapter in it's entirety soon for your own enlightenment.

The book begins with a powerful statement written by Paul, the apostle. He says:

1Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

2 because the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man,

4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

Here God promises all believer's that we do not have to live defeated in our natural, sinful state, instead we can find hope in knowing he will not condemn us. Jesus took our sins as the sin offering, to set us free.

but..

We must live according to the spirit.(v4) One way to do this is to know the scripture and use it in your daily life. I find this verse 1 very powerful to memorize and use against the enemy when he whispers those lies of past mistakes, and sin, and self defeat in my mind.

Instead of listening, I start proclaiming verse 1-out loud..

..For there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus

and he will have to flee immediately. I will have the victory.

I will not be tricked by the devil's lies.

God desires for me to live free from shame, guilt, sorrow and depression.

I can know the liar is at work in my mind whenever thoughts are contrary to God's word.

How do I know that..

know God's word.

The scriptures speak only truth and life.

The mind of Christ, available as a benefit to all believers,

will set you free from these negative mind games.

however..

You must study and know God's promises. You must equip yourself with the sword of the spirit, the word of God (Ephesians 6:17) Another good book to meditate and memorize verses.

So, remember..

The scripture will strike down the wiles of the devil.

The word of God must be read and spoken.

Study and meditate, to bond yourself to the truth.

There are many other benefits to study and meditation.

I plan to share more in a future post.

God bless and be encouraged knowing..

..the battle is already won. You just have to claim it.

and that's a promise..

..from God.