The Mission

Yes it's true!  I' m back! I had to take a hiatus for various and sundry reasons.  Life  happens and there are some things that take precedence over other things. Therefore, the time to write had to take a backseat, but not for long.
Each time I take the time to read God's word (The Holy Bible), my heart is refreshed, my mind is renewed,
my spirit is charged, and I am energized.  God continues to go to great lengths to fulfill his mission in us.
So thus, today my post is all about the mission.  I have come to realize that there is nothing that goes unnoticed by God.  Even when we think he is not looking or we can't sense his presence or seemingly find him.  He is always there.  One of his names is Jehovah Shamma (The God who is near).  I am astounded when I think of the God of this universe, who took the time to focus on my life some 32 years ago.  Wow! But what astounds me even more is that he continues to woo me, shelter, provide, and love on me in such a way that at times, it brings me to tears.  Only a God like that deserves all my praise, my hope, and my faith.

As I read Phillipians 3:1-16, my mission on this planet became crystal clear.  In fact, those passages of scripture read like a coperation's mission statement.  So, I take the liberty to format it as follows:

Mission Statement
To be conformed to the image of Christ Jesus and count all things loss for the gain of Christ ( God is given first place in every area and relation in life)

Goals and Objectives

To know the power of his resurrection-- 
Applying God's word daily as we face life's situations and circumstances  
                                                               
To know the fellowship of his sufferings--
Embrace adversity because it is a tool used to mold and shape us into who God wants us to be
  
To walk humbly before God --                   
Crucify the pride in our lives that hinders us from being free in Christ
                                                          
To renew the mind with God's word--     
Reading the word daily and meditating on it throughout the day

Our walk with the Lord is a process.  We don't arrive overnight and certainly there will be pitfalls and pot holes along rhe way. However, God comes alongside us to provide whatever we need for the journey just like a loving Father.  When I look over my life I am like a cracked vessel, there are times I leak (I falter, I fail, and I wimp out.  But with the power of God's word I overcome, I gain the victory, I walk by faith, I trust and I decide to continue to be a Christ follower.  King Solomon simply summed up our mission as Christ follower's; love God (obey him) and keep his commandments.  If we walk in those two things we will fulfill all of the Bible. Only God could simplify our goal in this life to it's most basic and common denominator.  So, I am encouraged that the mission is possible with God at the helm the ship will make it to shore.

Lovingly yours,
Marilyn G

Prayer Changes Things

Monday of this week, my dad who has several physical challenges, was nauseated and could not keep anything on his stomach the enire day.  Before he retired for the night my mom and I prayed over him and asked God to heal him of this physical attack that had the characteristics of  a virus.
I decided to spend the night at my parents home to be a support and relieve my mother.  During the night, I kept a watchful eye on my dad.  Once again, God proved himself faithful to his word.  Not only did my father sleep without incident, the next day he was able to eat and keep everything down.  What a mighty God we serve! Casting our cares on God results in peace and allows us to experience a positive outcome.  No matter what we are going through or the circumstances we face, God is  faithful to do that which he promised because he is a God that cannot lie.  He will take care of  those things that concern us.

The Cry of My Heart

For the past few days, there are song lyrics that have become my prayer song and the cry of my heart.  Singing out loud to the Lord has always been and remains a way I connect with God and sometimes as I sing it brings me to tears. That's when spending time with God is precious, moving, cleansing, and it feels like my heart is dancing with the King.  So as I write these words, I am encouraged that God is working a good work in me and I know in my heart that God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, more than I could ever
think or ask.  Let these words fill your heart and mind.

Give me one pure and holy passion

Give me one magnificent obsession

Give me one glorious ambition for my life
To know and follow hard after you

To know and follow hard after you
To grow as your disciple in the truth

This world is empty, pale, and poor

Compared to knowing you my Lord

Lead me on and I will run after you

Written by Mark Altrogge 

EXPRESSIONS OF LOVE

All day yesterday I was pumped after Life Giver prayer.  I am thankful for the group of women I pray with on Saturday.  It is relationship building and a venue where there is accountability, acceptance, comradarie,  safety, and love. The scripture lesson was about love and the ways love is expressed.  Love is expressed with loyalty, kindness, protection, comittment, patience, and longsuffering. Periodically, I am drawn to the passages of scripture that depicts the relationship between David and Jonathan.  Not only did they both love each other as friends, Jonathan asked David to vow to show kindness and not destroy  his family after he became king.  David agreed and thus a covenant  agreement  was made.  Jonathan protected David from the wrath of his father Saul.  Some time after Jonathan's death, King David begin to inquire about Jonathan's relatives.  It was discovered that Jonathan had a grandson that was alive and who name was Mephibosheth who was lame in his legs.  David showed kindness to Mephibosheth by bringing him to his palace and allowed him to  regularly eat at his table.

CONTENTMENT

"Godliness with contentment is  great gain." (NIV)

It is much to be said about contentment. Webster's dictionay says that contentment is related to contented which means, feeling or manifesting satisfaction with one's possession, status, or situation.  I am content at this time and place in my life because I know who I am  to whom I belong. This is an ongoing  process for many reasons. The world tries to dictate what kind of
 job you should have, type of clothes you should wear, the type of man you should marry, how many children you should have, the type of house you should live in. I realize that this creates pressures from within and out.  When I remember my purpose and why I was created I can breathe a sigh of relief.  My life is in God's hands and the creator of the universe is quite capable of aiding, leading, and guiding me down the right path. Years ago,  I made a decision with the help of the Lord not to allow other people to create molds for me and that has freed me up to be the person I was created to be and thus, brings contentment in my life.  All my needs are met and on a daily basis I am privy to bread from heaven which is a daily diet of the word of God.  I can rest in knowing that I am cared for, nurtured, protected, forgiven, blessed, kept, and provided for.  This causes me to feel secure  no  matter what circumstance or situation comes my way.  I know that nothing can happen today that God and I can't handle.  Are there days I am shaken?  Are there times when I might lose my way?  Are there questions I have about why things may turn out a certain way?  The answer is a resounding yes!  However, on the other side of the equation I am assured that the Good Shepherd watches over me and will lead me to green pastures.  So, therefore I am content. 

CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE

I enjoyed chillin with the Lord today.  Not that I wasn't working, but just thinking about the Lord and all that he has given me causes me to love him more.  Throughout the day, there was a song in my heart. I sat down for some quiet moments at home and the lyrics to songs that I had not sung in years, began to emerge from inside of me.  More love drops

                                                               THANK YOU LORD

Thank you Lord for saving my soul

Thank  you Lord for making me whole

Thank you Lord for giving to me

Thy great salvation so rich and free

I KEEP FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU

I keep falling in love with you over and over and over and over again

I keep falling in love with you over and over and over and over again

You get sweeter as the days go by

 Oh what a love between my Lord and I

I keep falling in love with you over and over and over and over again

Jesus is the best thing that could have ever happened to me!

THE LOVER OF MY SOUL

I am thankful to Lord today because I believe from the depths of my being that daily his eternal kiss fills me with an unconditional, everlasting love. I can never go a day or leave home without it.  Just call it love drops from heaven.  God's love drops sown in my heart  inspires me.

The kind of love that God showers on me keeps
 my Sure from being in doubt
my Right Guard from going left
my Secret from getting out

The kind of love that God showers on me will always be my Guiding Light
prevents me from being Young and Restless
won't have me Searching for Tomorrow
is better than One Life To Live
will teach me how to love All My Children
will keep me Bold and Beautiful

Now for the Icing on the cake!

God is truly......

The Lover of My Soul

Each morning I am awakened

With his warm and sweet embrace

His presence is all around me

As I ponder his mercy and grace

What an awesome communion

For many delightful years

Through ups, downs, joys, pains

And all the doubts and fears

One thing I can be sure of

My lover knows my plight

He wraps his arms around me

In the stillness of the night

My heart, soul, and mind cries out

Oh, let the truth be told

There is no lover like my lover

He fills my hungry soul

To God Be The Glory!

By Marilyn M. Gordon
Copyrighted 2006