Don’t be so bent on receiving that one thing,
that you miss out on all that God is trying to give you along the way.
-Stephanie Landa
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| [photo credit] |
Showing posts with label Blessings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blessings. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
Lyrical Friday - 10,000 Reasons
Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. Sing to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of a psalm, with trumpets and the sound of a horn; shout joyfully before the Lord, the King. Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell in it; let the rivers clap their hands. Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord. Psalm 98:1-8
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Happy Friday!
What is a blessing?
Here are a few words that describe a blessing: approval, adoption, acceptance, espousal, support, backing, patronage, championship, backup, admiration, appreciation, reward, reinforcement, boon, good fortune, mercy, thanksgiving, grace, orison, petition, prayer, benison. Are these not words that describe our relationship with the Lord? Has He not shown is approval of us? He has adopted us as sons and daughters. He has accepted us into His family, His works and Heaven. Espousal, reward, good fortune, mercy and grace are just at the surface of all the benefits He gives us. He is our patronage, backup, support, prayer and petition. We are made champions, victorious and more than conquers in Him. Are we not blessed? It is only right that we would bless Him and His holy name.
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At times, blessing His name comes easy and rolls off our lips. But there will be dark times, where we can not even mutter a word, much less bless the Lord. I know the feeling. I have experienced that it is only in blessing the Lord that our battle will be won. We may not see immediate deliverance to our present troubles nor may our gloom be lifted right away but hope, strength and joy will arise in the midst of craziness. So continue blessing the Lord. Bless the Lord in your home, in your car, with a friend, in your congregation and anywhere else you may be found. No matter how far off you may be from the Lord, praise Him there. If your heart has hardened and you can't find it in you to bless His name, reach out to someone to cry out to God for you and with you. The Lord has been good, it may be that a change of perspective is what you need. Bless the Lord as you count your blessings.
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10,000 Reasons, Matt Redman -
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The Lord lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47 It is God who avenges me, and subdues the peoples under me; He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me; You have delivered me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name. Psalm 18:46-49
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Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications! The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. Psalm 28:6-7
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Blessed be the Lord, for He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city! For I said in my haste, "I am cut off from before Your eyes”; nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications when I cried out to You. Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:21-24
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I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. Psalm 34:1-3
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By this I know that You are well pleased with me, because my enemy does not triumph over me. As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, and set me before Your face forever. blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen. Psalm 41:11-13
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Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! Bless God in the congregations, the Lord, from the fountain of Israel. Psalm 68:19, 26
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Blessed be the Lord forevermore! Amen and Amen. Psalm 89:52
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Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Honor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Psalm 96:1-6
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Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. Psalm 103:1-6
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Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word. Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure. Bless the Lord, all His works, in all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul! Psalm 103:20-22
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Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty, Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain. He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who walks on the wings of the wind, Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire. Psalm 104:1-4
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Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the Gentiles, to give thanks to Your holy name, to triumph in Your praise. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the Lord! Psalm 106:46-47
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The dead do not praise the Lord, nor any who go down into silence. But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the Lord! Psalm 115:16-17
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Blessed be the Lord, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowler; the snare is broken, and we have escaped. Psalm 124:6-7
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Behold, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who by night stand in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. Psalm 134:1-2
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Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle— My lovingkindness and my fortress, My high tower and my deliverer,
My shield and the One in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me. Psalm 144:1-2
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*Read and meditate on Psalm 104
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
the ultimate "Couponing" win!
Have I got a story to share with you!
The other day, my cousin and I talked about buying someone a gift. We decided on going to a certain store because we both had a coupon to shop there. The day of the purchase, we found ourselves coupon less. As she was driving I prayed out loud, "Lord, please provide us with a coupon. How? I don't know. Maybe have someone give us a coupon. In Jesus Name, Amen."
We are sitting on the floor at the store, deciding what to choose when a store employee casually walking by us. Of course, I had to stop him. We asked him if they had extra coupons. What a surprise when He said that they didn't have. As if he cared, I carried on to tell him how my dear Mother threw away my coupon. And BAM, with out any hesitation he offers to "hook" us up with a discount if we pay at his register. He walks away. Can you hear the angels sing, "Glooooooooooria! Glooooooooooria!" OK, maybe there weren't angels singing but we sure were grateful. God heard my prayer.
follow me in this story...
It then hit me, that if I use dmy rewards card I would receive a 25% off coupon for my next purchase. I figured it all out in my head: I buy this other item, get the coupon and then use it for the gift we were buying. I told my cousin and we both agreed on the new plan. Now we didn't have to bother the store employee.
We are at the register and I hand over my rewards card... we have to make sure this is checked so that I can get my coupon. I told the guy to charge me for the first item and explained to him the whole process of getting the coupon for the next purchase... He literally yelled at me, yes, yelled, "Didn't I tell you that I was going to give you a discount?" At this point I'm speechless, the other cashier and customer look over and He is starring at me like I've committed some horrible crime. Awkward moment there. He repeats himself, "I told you I was going to hook you up." Alrighty then, no arguing there. He proceeds to give us the discount (25% off) and He also gives me the rewards coupon that I intended to use.
Though that guy was pretty nice, in an awkward kind of way, the one who is entirely good is none other that My God. He is good all the time. Not only did He answer my silly prayer, but He taught me a few lesson that I needed to be reminded of: He who promises is faithful.
Many times, more often than not, I rejoice over God's promises for my life but then my mind begins to wander and plot ways of making those promises happen. I lack trust in that God fulfills His promises. I too am marked as a control freak, much like Eve/Sarah/Rebekah/Tamar and other women in the Bible who in some way manipulated a situation in there life. I am impatient and rebellious, but the Lord is always faithful to meet me where I am.
1. Regardless of my "handy-work" God's hand at work is much sweeter, more satisfying and overflowing with goodness. [He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5]
2. I could have gone to the other cashier and used my coupon, which would have been OK but in order to receive the "hook" up and walk out with an extra coupon, well, I had to go to the one who promised it to me. Apart from God, we will never be blessed. [But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33]
3. The store employee could have hid and not taken care of us, or due to my lack of trust and not given me a discount. But his kindness, generosity and integrity to his word was not dependent on me but entirely on his desire to bless me, to bless us. So it is with the Lord, His goodness, His generosity and His Word don't waver nor do they come to a screeching halt because we are unfaithful and/or faithless. God desires to bless us with an abundant and overflowing life. [Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32]
Let's not be a people who are cheated or who cheat themselves from the blessings of God because we take matters into our own hands. Remember that the promises and blessings of God are as coupons than only He can redeem for us.
Let's choose to say:
Lord You said it.
I believe it.
You do it!
The other day, my cousin and I talked about buying someone a gift. We decided on going to a certain store because we both had a coupon to shop there. The day of the purchase, we found ourselves coupon less. As she was driving I prayed out loud, "Lord, please provide us with a coupon. How? I don't know. Maybe have someone give us a coupon. In Jesus Name, Amen."
Fast Forward 30 minutes later.
We are sitting on the floor at the store, deciding what to choose when a store employee casually walking by us. Of course, I had to stop him. We asked him if they had extra coupons. What a surprise when He said that they didn't have. As if he cared, I carried on to tell him how my dear Mother threw away my coupon. And BAM, with out any hesitation he offers to "hook" us up with a discount if we pay at his register. He walks away. Can you hear the angels sing, "Glooooooooooria! Glooooooooooria!" OK, maybe there weren't angels singing but we sure were grateful. God heard my prayer.
follow me in this story...
It then hit me, that if I use dmy rewards card I would receive a 25% off coupon for my next purchase. I figured it all out in my head: I buy this other item, get the coupon and then use it for the gift we were buying. I told my cousin and we both agreed on the new plan. Now we didn't have to bother the store employee.
Fast Forward and skip over the scene of me looking at books and home decor
that I didn't end up buying.
that I didn't end up buying.
We are at the register and I hand over my rewards card... we have to make sure this is checked so that I can get my coupon. I told the guy to charge me for the first item and explained to him the whole process of getting the coupon for the next purchase... He literally yelled at me, yes, yelled, "Didn't I tell you that I was going to give you a discount?" At this point I'm speechless, the other cashier and customer look over and He is starring at me like I've committed some horrible crime. Awkward moment there. He repeats himself, "I told you I was going to hook you up." Alrighty then, no arguing there. He proceeds to give us the discount (25% off) and He also gives me the rewards coupon that I intended to use.
Though that guy was pretty nice, in an awkward kind of way, the one who is entirely good is none other that My God. He is good all the time. Not only did He answer my silly prayer, but He taught me a few lesson that I needed to be reminded of: He who promises is faithful.
Many times, more often than not, I rejoice over God's promises for my life but then my mind begins to wander and plot ways of making those promises happen. I lack trust in that God fulfills His promises. I too am marked as a control freak, much like Eve/Sarah/Rebekah/Tamar and other women in the Bible who in some way manipulated a situation in there life. I am impatient and rebellious, but the Lord is always faithful to meet me where I am.
1. Regardless of my "handy-work" God's hand at work is much sweeter, more satisfying and overflowing with goodness. [He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5]
2. I could have gone to the other cashier and used my coupon, which would have been OK but in order to receive the "hook" up and walk out with an extra coupon, well, I had to go to the one who promised it to me. Apart from God, we will never be blessed. [But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33]
3. The store employee could have hid and not taken care of us, or due to my lack of trust and not given me a discount. But his kindness, generosity and integrity to his word was not dependent on me but entirely on his desire to bless me, to bless us. So it is with the Lord, His goodness, His generosity and His Word don't waver nor do they come to a screeching halt because we are unfaithful and/or faithless. God desires to bless us with an abundant and overflowing life. [Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32]
Has God promised you something?
Has He said to you, "Look to me and I will "hook" you up!"
Let's not be a people who are cheated or who cheat themselves from the blessings of God because we take matters into our own hands. Remember that the promises and blessings of God are as coupons than only He can redeem for us.
Let's choose to say:
Lord You said it.
I believe it.
You do it!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
La Bella Vita
From my journal. November 3, 2006...
During Lunch today I went to a nearby park, Peacock Park at the Grove and sat there watching the water. The weather has been amazing and today was just spectacular. Something about cloudy days just does it for me. The sun was nowhere to be seen! The wind so gently danced and wrapped me in its arms. For sure God was there!
Yesterday I went to Nana's job, UCP. Though I was there for just a short time I saw God's workmanship in those kids. Especially in Jerald. In his eyes and in his smile you sense the love of God. Some people look down on them for having special needs, some complain to God and others consider them to be "God's little mistakes" but I praise God for blessing this world with such angels. They are beauty and light, they are music, they are roses among thorns.
Lately God has been blessing me with moments like these. Those God moments that without a doubt you know He is mighty and real. Great in all His ways yet so intimate and personal to know the little things that you enjoy in life and bless you with them. You gotta love a God that would create such beauty with such perfection. Its in the geniune smile, in the hug of a friend, the warmth of the sun to stillness of rain... His signiture is found on everything around you. He is in the little things- like encouragement that someone throws your way without even knowing what you are going through or even a phone call from someone you weren't expecting, yep, thats God.
Oh give thanks to the Lord of lords! For his mercy endures forever: to Him who alone does great wonders, for His mercy endures forever! Psalm 136:3-4
During Lunch today I went to a nearby park, Peacock Park at the Grove and sat there watching the water. The weather has been amazing and today was just spectacular. Something about cloudy days just does it for me. The sun was nowhere to be seen! The wind so gently danced and wrapped me in its arms. For sure God was there!
Yesterday I went to Nana's job, UCP. Though I was there for just a short time I saw God's workmanship in those kids. Especially in Jerald. In his eyes and in his smile you sense the love of God. Some people look down on them for having special needs, some complain to God and others consider them to be "God's little mistakes" but I praise God for blessing this world with such angels. They are beauty and light, they are music, they are roses among thorns.
Lately God has been blessing me with moments like these. Those God moments that without a doubt you know He is mighty and real. Great in all His ways yet so intimate and personal to know the little things that you enjoy in life and bless you with them. You gotta love a God that would create such beauty with such perfection. Its in the geniune smile, in the hug of a friend, the warmth of the sun to stillness of rain... His signiture is found on everything around you. He is in the little things- like encouragement that someone throws your way without even knowing what you are going through or even a phone call from someone you weren't expecting, yep, thats God.
Stop!
Look around you and praise God for all he has done for you.
God bless you
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