a Mighty Word ~ focus

"Let us fix our eyes on _______" Hebrews 12:2

money
power
problems 
friends
security
titles
suffering
fame
family
talents

"Jesus... the Author and Perfecter of our faith."

 "... let us THROW OFF everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us RUN with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1

have a power-filled day!
veneal

snuff balls

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

You can hardly ever go wrong with chocolate, but the snuff ball in my mouth made me wonder.  Actually, it was not real snuff.  The round chocolate was covered in powdered cocoa, and the instant i popped it in my mouth, the dry, bitter cocoa caused my mouth to shrivel.  Thankfully, i didn't spit it out, and waited long enough for the sweetness of the chocolate to melt the cocoa into a yummy delight.  

Father, just how many snuff balls have i had??  You've seen me bite into many things in my life. You've watched me fret, worry and be anxious over events and decisions around me.  Panicky and franticy behavior has never provided the best solution.  Instead, waiting and trusting in You, Father, allows the faithfulness of Your Love to overcome all "snuff" with Your grace and mercy.

Help me remember with each snuff ball, Your sweetness will overtake the bitterness in time, every time.

We need to Wait, Watch and Witness.

have a sweet-filled day!
veneal

a Mighty Word ~ secure

"The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." Psalm 121:8

Alone... we will never, never be.  Thank You, Father!

have a grate-filled day!
veneal

a dream weekend

"He will not let your foot slip, He who watches over you will not slumber..." Psalm 121:3

It was Friday morning, and all busy at work... and then the sleet started.  The only safe choice was an early home dismissal for all. 

time to get needed groceries...
ICE CONTINUED
power not lost...
events and activies canceled...
time for true rest...
ICE MELTED
much to be thankful for -- 
like a longer, slow paced weekend -- a true blessing.  Thank You, Father.

have a thank-filled day!
veneal

Are you HooKed?

"... Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out..." John 11:43
 

"Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”So they called to the blind man... “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.  The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Mark 10: 49. 51-52

"and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years... When He saw her, Jesus called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.”  Then He put His hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God." Luke 13:11-13

Have you ever felt taken?  Just the other day i excitedly shared with you the news of an awesome free app, Jesus Calling.  But i soon learned it was free for just a week.  Somehow i missed it was just  a trial... until the same day's devotion kept coming up day after day.  In my "taken" state of mind, i resented being fed enough to stir my appetite, and then asked for payment for the full version.

When my pouty smoke cleared, 2 facts surfaced...

1.  The misunderstanding occurred due to my excitement and lack of reading, not their lack of information.

2.  When hungry or thirsty, i don't hesitate to plop out several dollars for a one-time temporary feeding.  So, why am i hesitate to spend the same amount for an incredible permanent feeding of my soul?

Hmmmm...  Quick temper + quick judgement = bad call

Time after time His Word shows, when Jesus calls, miracles happen.  I don't want to miss Jesus Calling; i don't want to miss a day with Him. I am thankful to be hooked on Jesus Calling, everyday.

have a calling-filled day!
veneal


 

a Mighty Word ~ resT

"Jesus said, 'Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.'" Mark 6:31


Feel forgotten?  We need only to read and hear His Words to remember He cares for us and about us.  
Thank You, Father.

who's calling?

"He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time..." 2 Timothy 1:9

Jesus is Calling! Recently, Sis and i discovered a wonderful free gift.  Jesus Calling, the devotional book, by Sarah Young, available as a free app for cell phones. With hardships and trails continually before us, hope is at our finger tips.  At the push of a button, comforting Words of love and encouragement flow from Him. Getting a needed Word has never been more convenient.

But, what if we misplace our phone, the battery dies or we drop it off the roof?  Even though the app is free, there's no guarantee we can readily access it in need.  There are limitations.

There is one free gift we can always count on to be available and ready. Our greatest free gift of all, the gift of salvation, paid completely for us by Jesus. No installing, no battery, no drops... He has us covered from the moment He calls us -- and we answer "yes" to Him.

have a grace-filled day!
veneal

a Mighty Word ~ respect

"Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men." Titus 3:1-2


Tall orders from a Tall God... may we stand Tall for Him.

 

He protects __________ (period)

"God reached down from on high and took hold of ______; He drew ______ out of deep waters.
He rescued ________ from  his/her powerful enemy, from his/her foes, who were too strong for _______.
They confronted ______ in the day of his/her disaster, but the Lord was his/her support.
He brought ______ out into a spacious place;   He rescued ______ because He delighted in ______."  
Psalm 18:16-19

Is there someone, who's name you need to put in the above blank?

When physical, emotional or mental illness is present... there is suffering. Some situations develop due to decisions made, others just happen. 
As the week draws to a close, i am reminded how very little control we actually have over others.

TRUST the strength and support for those in need, as well as, the peace of those who love them, is in the Mighty Hands of our Father, the Great Physician.

Where we are incapable, our God IS capable.  
When we are ready to give up, our God IS going strong.

He cares, He can, He will... rest in Him.

have a peace-filled day!
veneal 

 

a Mighty Word ~ helper

"I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121: 1-2



always...

routine DaNgEr

"The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

"Danger! Danger!"... Do you remember this warning from the Robot in "Lost in Space"?  As a child, i watched this tv show and can still visualize Robot flinging his arms up and down when alerting others to danger.  The alert can ring in my ears now, when i am off my regular routine. Routines are comfortable and provide a sense of security.  Remove them, and doubts can seep under the skin like a bad drug  -- causing hallucinations, depression and fear.

Staying busy with what we know and do, can be dangerous; it can provide barriers in blocking uncertainties.  Routines can keep us from facing needed changes or avoiding issues that bother us.  They can be convenient in hiding pain or hurt. 

There is one sure way to keep all our ways of life healthy and secure... stay tuned into and be "Lost in God". Not only will He guide us in The Way to Abundant Living, but will protect, sing and teach us with His love in every episode of our life.  Our one true danger is living without Him.

have a good-filled day!
veneal

a Mighty Word ~ help

^"In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help.
From His temple He heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into His ears." Psalm 18:6


He who loves us best, hears our every cry... and cares.
Thank You, Father! 

back to normal...

"But encourage one another daily..." Hebrews 3:13

The tree is chucked, tinsel trashed and lights tossed in the attic.  All is back to normal.  Or is it?

The past few weeks i have come to the realization, normality does not exist, at least not like in the movies.  Truly, normality is about coping daily with difficult decisions, unwanted surprises and unplanned issues.  When a family member was diagnosed with depression recently, i wanted to learn more about it and my role as a support person.

In my normal routine of listening to Christian radio, reading His Word and praying, God provided insight and wisdom to wonderful sources.  And God, in His normal Amazement, revealed the information was not for me alone.  Within days, a devotional sister was asking for prayer in a God-incidental, identical situation. Because my personal situation was still so fresh, pride almost kept me quiet, as least for awhile. 

Thank You, Father, for reminding me we are here to serve others daily.  Help keep my self out of the away and not withhold encouragement to another for a single day when i have the ability to give it.  Let my true normal always start with You.

have a doing-filled day!
veneal 

stranded, but never abandoned

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8

603 miles away from home we took them; 603 miles away we left them. I'm not talking about magazines, clothes or sunglasses, but people.  Real people -- like our best buddy friends. Plans did not include any major shopping, but rainy days happen.  And at the twitch of a nose, my husband and i were departing, leaving our friends behind with a purchase we could not haul.  

Do unplanned events occur in your life?  No matter how well a schedule is prepared, things happen... good, bad and ugly.  For a while, we might even feel abandoned, neglected or forgotten, but we aren't.  During such times not only does God go before us, but God is with us holding and guiding us as we grow stronger in Him and His ways.

Our friends, did they forgive us for (temporarily) leaving them 603 miles away?  I think so. We stayed in contact and anxiously awaited their return home to help them with their new purchase. We will surely talk about it during our regular Friday night date nights... and probably the rest of our lives.  Oh, the joys of friendship -- on earth and above!  Thank You, Father!

have a friend-filled day!
veneal

a MightyWord ~ The Baby

"God made Him who had no sin TO BE sin FOR US so that IN HIM we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21


The birth of Christ, for us... we should celebrate CHRISTmas every day.
Glory to God in the Highest!

have a joy-filled day! 
veneal

ZERO carb bread!

"Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.... I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever."  John 6:35,51

It's a cautious buzz word... carbs. It's in big print on practically every can or box of food, and it's even on menus.  Just about everyone you see is counting carbs or, at least, thinking about them.  For those of us who are big bread lovers, getting our fill of delicious, mouth‑watering bread is a thing of the past.  Or, is it??

Alas, great ball of dough! There is a Perfect Bread available for us bread lovers, with zero carbs, 100% filling and totally satisfying.  Eat all your desire, stay healthy, and even be guaranteed to live forever!  Now, that's a Bread worth biting into over and over again without any guilt!  Go and share the Good News! There's enough Bread for all. Be filled with Jesus and live!

have a life‑filling day!

veneal

a Mighty Word - new

The Lord says...
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing!"  Isaiah 43:18-19

A New Year, a New Thing... God is good all the time.  All the time God is good.  Rejoice!

have a joy-filled day!
veneal

mine, mine, MINE

"But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine." Isaiah 43:1

That is MY game! Where is MY cookie? I want MY own phone!
Possessiveness -- normally viewed as a negative and selfish act.  We are taught to share and not hold on to anything too much.  But some things just can't be helped.

Working in an school for over tens years, i've witnessed much possessiveness, and i'm not denoting with only students. I can't ever recall hearing a teacher refer to the students in her room as "these" students.  It's always MY students, My class, My kids, My "Susie". The teacher claims them for her/his own. Fussing, loving, praising, challenging... they carefully tucks a piece of her/himself into each child, as she/he guides them in book and life lessons. Before the Sandy Hook tragedy, i hadn't thought of it much, but the teacher-student relationship closely mimics parent-child relationships, including the protection instinct.  

Father, thank You for allowing me to serve You in a school environment.  I am honored and touched to work side-by-side with some of your most precious children -- my peers and my little friends.  May Your love flow freely through me to them every day.

have a thank-filled day!
veneal