Bleeding Heart

God's design is intricate and interwoven,

beautiful and plain to see.

A friend has heard it said that nature is God's second book.

The pictured Bleeding Heart plant had been given to her a year ago...

and seeing it bloom nicely this year, moved,

she searched for a verse about the word heart.

Though other verses were found along with the one in the photo, 

she chose Psalm 33:20-21.

God is generous and gave her more than she sought.

And she shared with me...

"His word is living and active as it says in Hebrews 4:12-13."

In Him our hearts rejoice!

This is a simple thing to ponder,

but in simplicity God is seen most clearly...

"...the simplicity that is in Christ." -2 Corinthians 11:3

His heart bled.

And so must ours, in Him,

for beauty to bloom

plain to see.

Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley; Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Spring, a time for growing...

A heart for God begins with a hunger for God, and that, says Dr. Charles Stanley, must be cultivated. Got me thinking. Cultivation happens while reading God's Word, all the while listening in the heart, which settles in the rows the particular seeds chosen by God. The planted seeds must be watered, and that happens by sprinkling questions on them. And pondering is like hoeing. Pretty soon understanding pops out of the ground. The fruit of the Spirit begins to develop and distinguish itself as the plants are tended and nurtured...and in time, these fruits—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self control—are harvested with plenty to spare. A heart for God will hunger for God regularly, just as the stomach hungers for food.

Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

The Regions of God

The average man can understand reason

yet not get (compelled) beyond into expansion,

development, elaboration.

But with God

all things are possible.

Let’s be with God.

For Christ's love compels us.

God is love.

—

Mark 10:27 (NIV)

"Jesus looked at them and said,

'With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.' "

2 Corinthians 5:14 (NIV)

"For Christ’s love compels us,

because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died."

In ‘A Table in the Wilderness’, Watchman Nee says...

It is true that “God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith” (Romans 12:3), but alone in isolation man can never exercise it to the full, as the context of that verse makes clear. It needs a complete Body to attain to the stature of Christ and to display his glory. That is why fellowship in prayer is so important. Trusting the Lord by myself is good, but may not be enough. I must trust him also with others. I must learn to pray on the basis of oneness with my brethren in Christ, for only together shall we get through in prayer to God’s end. I need the help of the Body because I need the help of the Lord, and because his life is the life of the Body.

—

Yes, let's be with God.

For Christ's love compels us.

—

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases (click)

Lamentations 3:22-24 (click)

Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love

and good deeds,"

Please read 1 John 5:1-13 (click)

Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Legacy

Photo-art credit goes to a friend who sees natureas God's second book...all to His credit.

I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy. For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice and I am sure that it is in you as well. And for this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

-2 Timothy 3-7

Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Soupless Potluck!

Sunday evening at Loretta's

our Bible Study group gathered,

the last get-together until fall.

We ended the season of fellowshipping with a

POTLUCK(click potluck)
Click HERE to seethe first post about this group.


Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Messages for the Morning Watch

Click to read Messages for the Morning WatchWhen there, click on a page and it will turn.
This daily devotional teaches sound scriptural truths, such asthat there is only one kind of obedience: instant.
"In the selfsame day, as God had said unto him."-Genesis 17:23
That is the day to follow the example of Abraham,the selfsame day as God gives instruction.Procrastination robs God,and robs others and ourselves of God's blessing.
How do we receive God's instruction?
We cannot go through life strong and fresh on constant express trains with ten minutes for lunch: we must have quiet hours, secret places of the Most High, times of waiting upon the Lord, when we renew our strength and learn to mount up on wings as eagles, and then come back to run and not be weary, and to walk and not faint.
The best thing about this stillness is, that it gives God a chance to work. "He that is entered into His rest hath ceased from his own works, even as God did from His; and when we cease from our thoughts, God's thoughts come into us; when we get still from our restless activity, "God worketh in us, both to will and to do of His good pleasure," and we have but to work it out. -unknown author
And so, God's instruction is for you if you are willing to...
..."work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."-Philippians 2:12 KJV
..."being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."-Philippians 1:6
"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."-2 Corinthians 9:8
"And we know that God causes all thingsto work together for good to those who love God,to those who are called according to His purpose."-Romans 8:28
"All the works of God are redemptive."-Pastor Edward Wood
Click here to read Romans 8:26-39...words of encouragement to keep our confidence in Christ,the solid Rock on whom alone we stand.

Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Fellowship - Use Hospitality

That which we have seen and heard

declare we unto you,

that ye also may have fellowship with us:

and truly our fellowship is with the Father,

and with his Son Jesus Christ.

-1 John 1:3 KJV

For where two or three are gathered together in my name,

there am I in the midst of them.

-Matthew 18:20 KJV

Use hospitality one to another ...

-1 Peter 4:9 KJV

A dear widow in our church shares her log home

for a nourishing soup and Bible Study gathering

(here where her family was raised years ago)

... we gather every other Sunday evening.

And because of her generous hospitality

to this day, here, children still play ...

prayers are prayed in commonality ...

lives are strengthened to meet coming days.

What a tremendous blessing she does not hoard,

offering this gift ... a place of fellowshipping

wrapped in the robust beauty of the great outdoors

... in which God is, to this day, creating.

Of course, we probably all realize that the first picture above represents the time that Jesus had been invited to Martha's house for fellowship around mealtime, and she, busy with preparations, became annoyed and complained to Jesus that her sister Mary would not help her in the kitchen. Jesus lovingly encouraged Martha to see it His way, that Mary was right where He wanted her...sitting there at His feet and listening intently to His every word.
Perhaps Martha would prepare a simpler meal next time, and she may even ask her guests to bring part of the meal. What do you think?...the origins of potluck?
Our Sunday evening fellowship begins at 5:00 p.m., otherwise known as mealtime. For approximately an hour, we delve into a delicious meal of soup, bread and dessert, all brought by volunteers from the group who prepared the food in advance, at their convenience. The hostess provides spread for the bread, utensils, coffee and miscellaneous other niceties. The children are served by their Mom and/or Grandma or other handy person...then everyone else is served, usually by the person who brought the food, or in some cases we help ourselves. Then we all sit down with one another and enthusiastically engage in the agreeable tradition known as visiting and eating.
After the meal, the children jump into their own activities in another room, while the adults gather in the living room for Bible Study and prayer. Bible Study may be led by, again, a volunteer for the evening or for a series of evenings. It is all very amiable. The presence of Jesus is indeed in the midst, and no one is left out.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.

-1 John 1:7 KJV

Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers