The Journey Continues:The Splendor of our King

Wednesday Richard and I were heading to Oklahoma City for Richard's three appointments and I knew it was going to be a long day.  I wasn't really grumbling(well maybe in my head) but was tired from having to leave at such an early hour when I looked up and saw the Splendor of my King!  It was in the sunrise!  It was in the clouds!  It was in the grass and the trees.  It was in the air that I was breathing!  It was in the cross!!

God reminded me that He is in control.  He reminded me that He made the world and that He made me.  He reminded me that no matter what happens that He is in control.  He reminded me that in the scheme of things one day with many appointments could mean being a witness to someone about the splendor of my God!

Richard's appointments went well.  He has two more chemo treatments of this particular kind.  He will have a pet scan in nine weeks and at that point it will determined what the next step will be.  His counts were good  and he is now off of the steroids, except the bag he takes with each chemo.  He is actually down to one medicine that he takes by mouth.  Hopefully he will be able to be off of that one in the near future.

Thanks again to all the prayers warriors that are praying for us during this journey!!  Richard and I appreciate you so much!!!  :)

1 Chronicles 29:11

New International Version (NIV)

11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power
    and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
    for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
    you are exalted as head over all.

Another Get Rid of Your Junk Post

I was in church yesterday morning and I noticed something about my Bible.  I was turning to the scripture that our pastor was going to read from and I was having a hard time getting there because of all the junk crammed into my Bible.  I had old bulletins, some dating years back, old pictures of my children, drawings, several book marks, old notes, two pencils and a pen.  I have gotten so used to the junk in my Bible that I didn't even notice that it was there.  Until yesterday when it kept trying to spill out.

I know that the the pastor preached a wonderful sermon from James 4 but I don't remember what it was.  I was too busy looking at the junk in my Bible.  A thought came to me when I realized that I wasn't even listening.  My thought was that my Bible was like my life.  I have been working on removing the junk from my life but  many times I don't because I am so used to the junk. The junk seems normal.  Sometimes there is so much junk in my heart that I don't  hear God talking to me just like I wasn't listening to God's word yesterday because I was occupied with the junk in my Bible.

I need to clean out my Bible, just as I need to keep the junk out of my heart.  I want this new year to be the best junk free year ever! I need to be strong and leave the junk behind.  I need to leave it at the throne of my King!  What about you?  Is there junk in your life?

Happy New Year's to You!  Hoping that 2013 will be junk free!!

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

New International Version (NIV)

¹³ Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. ¹⁴ Do everything in love.

It's a Jungle Out There

Have you been to the store lately?  It is a maze of people pushing and shoving or stopping and talking.  I have noticed that many people have frowns and impatient looks on their face. I probably have had some of the same looks on my face.  Others are wandering aimlessly through the aisle with bewildered looks on their face!  Especially in that one store that starts with a W.   I decided last week that I would not go back there  until next year.

It seems like a jungle out there.  People are roaring, screaming and look like they will pounce if one makes a move in the wrong direction.  There is chaos, noise and unfriendliness.  It makes me wonder what season this is?  It seems like a season of me, me and more me.

I realized that I need to stop, pause and reflect on this season.  The Christmas season is a time to reflect and be thankful for a Savior that was born in a stable.  It is a time to be thankful for the King that was born and that what He brings to me and to you is PEACE!  He is the Prince of Peace!!

Next time that I am out in the Jungle I need to greet the maze with a smile and a Merry Christmas.  It might change a frown into a smile and a reminder of the King!

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday to my Savior!!

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”” Luke 2:11-14 NIV

Who is in your genealogy?

Who is in your genealogy?  I have thought about that question at different times in my life.  I have wondered about where my ancestors came from.  Some of them I do know and some of them I don't.  I have wondered what kind of people were in the line that I came through.  Do you ever think about your ancestors?

The other day I was reading in the first chapter of Matthew.  Most of the time I just skip right past the lineage part.  This time I slowed down and read the genealogy of Jesus.  I took my time and pondered over some of the verses.

There were names that I recognized immediately and other names that I don't ever remember seeing.  There was one verse where I lingered and read over again as thoughts raced through my head.  It was:

Matthew 1:6

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ and Jesse the father of King David.

David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,.

I mainly was focused on the second part of the verse. I recognized the name instantly.  The second part of the verse began with the name of a king.  He was a man after God' heart.  This man also was a murderer, committed adultery, than married that man's wife but God still used him and left him in the line that was headed up to Jesus.  This reminded me that it doesn't matter how many times that I mess up Jesus is still my King.  He is still the Lord of my Life.  The moment that I ask him into my heart, He was and is there to stay!!

What about you? There is a question that is more important than where did my ancestors from.  It  is do you have a King in your heart?

Revelation 17:14

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

John 14:5-7

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus the Way to the Father

⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you really know me, you will know^[a] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”