He is in control....

Today as I did my devotions, I was overwhelmed by the need to keep my eyes on Jesus in these troubled times. Yesterday, I spent a great deal of time watching FX news with the predictions of the fall out with the market, the lending institutions that are in trouble, and the response of people every where. It can be very dismal when we look at the world around us. When we look at our portfolio or watch the news, we can't help but feel that we are destined for destruction. On one of the morning news programs they interviewed people who were being affected physically by what was going on in our world.

I can't help but think that maybe what needs to be done is focus less on what the news is saying and spend some time in the only place that we can find peace...God's Word. I am not going to say that if you spend time in God's Word that the crisis that is upon us will disappear but it is only through Him that we are able to find and know a peace in the midst of trials. In Matthew it says that we shouldn't worry, but to seek first God's kingdom. In Joel, our peace is only found in the Father. In Ephesians, Christ is called "our Peace." The Psalms are filled with situations that were horrible but the psalmists tried to remember where they should find the peace that they desired so greatly. If what we are seeking is a peace that passes human understanding then we can find that in no other place or person than Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 12 tells us to throw off everything that hinders us and run the race set out before us. There are times when we do not even realize that what we are wrapped in will trip us up. What seems harmless and fun has crippled us and kept us from running the race.

Today if you are focused on the TV and news programs, turn them off and "fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith." We need to be alert as to what we are listening to and remember who is greater.

I was reading a devotional by Cynthia Heald and she reminded me of the control and the power of God. She said, think of the nature and all of the power that we see in the hurricanes, the volcanoes, the storms, the tornado, and then remember, it is He who created them and He is more powerful then the most powerful storm or natural disaster than we can think of. He holds the universe in His hand and has control over the planets' rotations. He spoke and the very universe and all that we know of it came into being...He is the One who is in control.

So in these days of troubled times, when everything seems to be falling apart all around us, we need to remember that God, the creator and keeper of the universe, the Father who sent His Son for us, and the all-powerful, all-present God is in control.

His canvas is vast and His pictures are amazing!

We took a quick trip up the mountain yesterday. It was an amazing testimony of the powerand the creativity of God.

This is the reflection of the top of one of the mountains near Mt. Baker into one of the mountain lakes.

this is the WHOLE picture.























Nooksack Falls in the fall






































So this is by a mountain stream ... again...the water is down...

What I do love is that it was a day that was filled with God's paintings...Maybe I'll get the hang of this later....

Nooksack Falls...although it is amazing...the spring falls is overwhelming.

Really, I am trying to put pictures into the blog. I loved the rock formations we saw along the way.

God responds to our fears before we even ask...

I just finished my devotions and my children were on my heart. I wanted to share with you what God showed me today.

He showed me 5 truths:
1) Don't worry...pray; God desires to hear about your needs and wants us to thank him when he answers them. (Phil. 4:6)
2) He has a plan for us that is far greater then we could even imagine. (Jeremiah 29:11)
3) God is guarding you, He will keep you surrounded. Psalm 121:8
4) He cannot and will not forget us no matter what because our names are inscribed on the palms of His hand. (Isaiah 49:15-16)
5) The battle is not ours...we need to be still before Him and He will do our fighting for us. (Exodus 14:14)

After that I read Psalm 33 which is filled with promises and speaks of the amazing God we have. One who spoke and made the heavens. He commanded the starry host with his mouth and it came to be. If He can command the night sky in a breath, how much greater should our awe and fear be of him.

One of the things that I have done for years is to put dates and names next to verses that God gives me for particular situations. At times it is just a date, no details but other times I write just enough to remind me of the faithfulness of God.

Along side vv. 9-11 I had written that God would give you the desires of HIS heart and place it within you. Seek it and find it and set your sights on what he has chosen for you.

In March, 2004 I wrote "Give Betsy and Jon your peace today as they wait on children, your gifts." Since that time God has given them a wonderful son and a beautiful daughter. They are my grandchildren and I am reminded each time when I see or talk to them of the miracles of God's love.

Praying for me is something that, since I have become a Christ-follower, has been (many times) as normal as breathing. Both of my daughters and their families have undergone significant changes along with major moves for both of them. In my heart, I know that they are following God's leading and that His plan for them is perfect. I am not close enough to them to be there in a minute's notice. But I have a God who is watching out for them, keeping them, and caring for them.

My prayer is always that they would seek to follow His will for their lives.

New Blogger

I am an older than average blogger...I think. My daughter has a blog and I was a guest blogger on her site and wondered what it would be like to have my own.

I have always had the desire to point others toward the source of strength that I have found in Christ; to see His workings in my life through every day occurances. Sometimes, we are in situations that are so difficult that to see His hand moving in our lives seems impossible.

God is faithful in all situations. That will always be the intent for this blog.