Those crystal clear, beautiful, precious moments of God's GRACE!

[Miri]

Both wonderful comments.

I've been thinking a lot about King David.
He was worshipper at heart, but endured much hardship. Yet even in the
times of despair he found words to express praise and thanks.

This was my little devotional yesterday and it touched my heart.

Psalm 57:7-11 NKJV
[7] My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise.
[8] Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn.
[9] I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You
among the nations. [10] For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens,
And Your truth unto the clouds. [11] Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.


David prayed these words while fleeing for his life.
We would expect a man running for his life to be
focused on what his enemies were doing and
how he could elude their traps.

But David, after describing his predicament to the
Lord, focused on how powerful his Helper was.
His prayer for help quickly turned to praise: “My
heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.”
His praises were loud and heartfelt: “I will
awaken the dawn…. I will sing of you among the
peoples.”

Why was David moved to such gratitude when
facing danger? Because he knew God’s unfailing
love was greater than his difficulty. David’s prayer
put his earthly trials in eternal perspective.

How could God’s eternal perspective help you face
the difficulties in your life? In prayer, place your
confidence in your all-powerful God.

PrayerWake up my soul! Dear God, my heart is confident in you …

 

[PennEd]

So terribly sorry to hear about your pain. Love your Spirit and praise to the Lord. Praying that you will feel better Ellie.

 

[notmyown]

thank you so much!

it's all good. i'm (finally lol) learning to be content, and to trust in God's infinite wisdom and mercy and love and grace for His dear (and in my case) silly children.

 

[Miri]

thank you so much!

it's all good. i'm (finally lol) learning to be content, and to trust in God's infinite wisdom and mercy and love and grace for His dear (and in my case) silly children.

You are not silly and God loves you dearly.

 

[PennEd]

The Lord is amazing in so many ways. I tend to lose items, especially if I vary from doing the norm. I was at Walmart shopping, put my stuff in my trunk and drove home.

Two hours later, I was getting ready to go out for the evening and couldn't find my wallet. What an ugly feeling!! Worse, I had no recollection of what I did with it. My son and I tore the house and the car apart. The realization started to sink in that I had left or lost it at Walmart. I called customer service but no one had turned it in. I decided to drive there and check the parking lot and hope the cashier I went to was still there.

Drivers license... credit cards.... photos.... cash.... Anxiety level spiking! 3 hours have gone by. My son and I prayed in the car on the way there. We searched the lot and some of the shopping carts that I may have used. Nothing. The cashier I went to was still there but he didn't have it, so he walked me to customer service. Nothing!
He did contact security to see if their cameras could see anything for the time I was there. The security guard didn't think he could help if it was lost outside.

He went in to the security office to check the tape, and talked with the secret, tough guys that were in there. One of them came out and asked me my name. I knew right then he had my wallet!!!

Unbelievably someone turned it in from a shopping cart in the parking lot. EVERYTHING including the cash was still there! The person didn't even leave their name. I was exhausted by relief, and so grateful to the Lord, and His amazing Grace.

 

[PennEd]

My younger son has been (18) playing in a rec. basketball league since November. I haven't been able to watch any of his games, but today I was able to make the final quarter. He played well, but they lost.

His girlfriend and sister also came to watch, and afterward they were going to go to the movies. It snowed a little where we live and the roads were slightly slippery. I had never been to the school where the game was, and lingered to read a mosaic kids made a couple of years ago.

I saw my son walking back to the school from the parking lot and knew from his face that something was wrong.

For the second time in as many years, he had a girl break up with him. Even though they weren't going out that long, my son being a very black and white person, and giving his all, was still an emotional mess.

I believe the Lord's Grace enabled me to be there and comfort and counsel him. He initially was in no condition to drive, especially in the snow.

Some young lady is going to get a very big, loving, heart from him one day. Till then, he knows his family, and especially the Lord, always loves, and has his best interests at heart.

 

[notmyown]

poor boy! it can be so crushing, being rejected like that.

thank God you were there. thank God your son knows well he is loved.

thank God.

 

[Ariel82]

I know we're not to live by our feelings but by what we believe, but sometimes, INCREDIBLE times, those 2 things merge in a way that is so special, that all I want to do is stay exactly in that moment. Does anybody else think and feel this way? And if so can you give a story about those times? Thanks sisters and brothers for your daily encouragement!

In the middle of the Methodist Youth Appalachian trail hike on top of the ridge looking down at the tips of the trees as a thunderstorm rolled in and lightning flashed.

 

[Ariel82]

This morning walk with my daughter and dog, we saw this...

 

[PennEd]

In the middle of the Methodist Youth Appalachian trail hike on top of the ridge looking down at the tips of the trees as a thunderstorm rolled in and lightning flashed.

Thanks. Incredible when we actually stop to see the beauty of God's creation in nature.

I have been watching nature shows fr 50 yrs and almost weekly I see a new one of some creature I have never heard of, or location on Earth I've never seen!!!

 

[Depleted]

John and I have been disabled for a long time now. Because of that, we've missed more holiday family get-togethers than ones where we could go. And because of John's history with his family and Christmas (their parents' fault not the siblings), he gets in a funk and often just won't go. Long involved story how that also became the samething with my family, but I'll cut it down to some things that are hard to forgive had to be forgiven and not picked up again at the holidays.

Add to that, after John's last Christmas, I was happy that he'd be home this Christmas, so I wasn't really counting on him being up to go. It's at my brother's house which is just outside our how-far-we-can-drive range too. And I'm sad to say, something went seriously wrong in my family upbringing, because we're from South Jersey so we should all be Philadelphia Eagle fans, (Mom raised us right) but the two brothers who care about football are huge Dallas Cowboy fans. (It's so shameful. lol) And that team had a playoff game that day, so everything was set to be there for the 4:30 game.

John's just getting his driving skills back, but I have night blindness, so it all hinged on him going, or I couldn't get home. (And brother already took on two brothers and their families so not enough room for another to stay.)

Much to my surprise John did want to go. More surprising, he was fine with driving both there and back. (I thought I'd drive there and he could take back.)

It has been so long that John went my brother has an 11 year old and 13 year old that John's never met. He has a wife John's never met. And my younger brother has a wife and son John never met. We also had fun with my brother's older daughter's husband. "Matt, you remember Lynn and John, right?" I shook his hand and told him we met two years earlier. Then I grinned at John, and Matt is going, "Yeah? Did we met at..." before I stopped him and told him they never met. (Relief written on his face. lol)

It was like we were in our 20 all over again. We used to have some fun times together back then. They got to talking about the fights they had. (The time older brother finally whooped the oldest. And the time my younger brother and I had an even fight. (I was 21, he was ten. I learned I wasn't going to fight him ever again, but I was surprised he remembered the details. lol) And I asked them if they remembered the time I beat them. In unison they said NO! (Accurate. lol)

But we had a good time, and everything had to work out right, since our car needed work, and it did. So, thank you God!

 

[notmyown]

Mark has more work than he can keep up with!

 

[PennEd]

John and I have been disabled for a long time now. Because of that, we've missed more holiday family get-togethers than ones where we could go. And because of John's history with his family and Christmas (their parents' fault not the siblings), he gets in a funk and often just won't go. Long involved story how that also became the samething with my family, but I'll cut it down to some things that are hard to forgive had to be forgiven and not picked up again at the holidays.

Add to that, after John's last Christmas, I was happy that he'd be home this Christmas, so I wasn't really counting on him being up to go. It's at my brother's house which is just outside our how-far-we-can-drive range too. And I'm sad to say, something went seriously wrong in my family upbringing, because we're from South Jersey so we should all be Philadelphia Eagle fans, (Mom raised us right) but the two brothers who care about football are huge Dallas Cowboy fans. (It's so shameful. lol) And that team had a playoff game that day, so everything was set to be there for the 4:30 game.

John's just getting his driving skills back, but I have night blindness, so it all hinged on him going, or I couldn't get home. (And brother already took on two brothers and their families so not enough room for another to stay.)

Much to my surprise John did want to go. More surprising, he was fine with driving both there and back. (I thought I'd drive there and he could take back.)

It has been so long that John went my brother has an 11 year old and 13 year old that John's never met. He has a wife John's never met. And my younger brother has a wife and son John never met. We also had fun with my brother's older daughter's husband. "Matt, you remember Lynn and John, right?" I shook his hand and told him we met two years earlier. Then I grinned at John, and Matt is going, "Yeah? Did we met at..." before I stopped him and told him they never met. (Relief written on his face. lol)

It was like we were in our 20 all over again. We used to have some fun times together back then. They got to talking about the fights they had. (The time older brother finally whooped the oldest. And the time my younger brother and I had an even fight. (I was 21, he was ten. I learned I wasn't going to fight him ever again, but I was surprised he remembered the details. lol) And I asked them if they remembered the time I beat them. In unison they said NO! (Accurate. lol)

But we had a good time, and everything had to work out right, since our car needed work, and it did. So, thank you God!

Awesome story of God's Grace Lynn!

 

[oldethennew]

wonderful Lynn, TY all...

this is one of those particular memories that will always be a part of the weave that has
special meaning in my life -

I was a young teenager and laying in a ditch and bleeding - when I could get-up and climb
through the briars and such, I started to walk a pretty long back-road that led to the
highway...when I got to the highway, a Mercedes-bens stopped right in front of me
and asked where I needed to go! He was a black-man, whom Jesus had sent to rescue me -
his driver drove me to my door...

 

[Tinuviel]

So like five years ago (more or less) my mom and dad's marriage wasn't going through a great time; long story short they had a huge quarrel in front of us kids...on Valentine's Day. It was one of the hardest days of my life. I got away from the "family time" as soon as I could because it was a big joke. I was completely disillusioned with love, I remember praying: "God, I don't want love; human love hurts people, and if you are in control of this YOUR love hurts people, and I don't know if I want it!" Of course that was an extremely immature thing to say, but I was frightened and confused. I didn't think a loving God would ever make me afraid like that.

I turned to his Word and was randomly flipping through the gospels when I found the story of Christ calming the sea. His disciples were terrified. And Jesus told the waves: "Peace! Be still." Those words seemed to be spoken directly to ME. To MY soul. I had been afraid just as the disciples, I had seen the tumult calmed, and I could only worship. It will go down in my memory as one of the best moments in my life :')

 

[PennEd]

Hi everybody!

My older son and I, and a team from our Church, are heading to Panama on Saturday on a missions trip. I would apprecite any prayers you can send our way. Thanks.

Also, it has occurred to me that this thread could be construed as "chasing the experience". No one has said that to me, but I just want to stress, it's purpose is solely to praise our Lord in sharing those times when His Presence has been so manifest, and unmistakable that it deserves special note.

 

[oldethennew]

hub and I are real 'out-doors', and just in these last few months, since it has been so mild down here
for this time of year, we have been doing a lot of gardening, and setting things in order
and doing all of the 'little-things' you need to do and select to buy; for good health and to take
survival to the max, at least for us...
well anyway, just this year, since is has been so very mild, we have been able to sit out-side
in our shorts and short sleeves and even get a tan:.. the 'moral of the story is', that because
of the 'change in weather, we are 'sitting outside' much more than usual, so, when we put-the new
(3)pronged sprinkler on our 'garden beds', the 'butterflies-bees', are making quite a display of their
'personalities' by flying/dashing in-and-out- of the sprinkler, drinking and washing the dust off of their wings -
it's quite an amusing and beautiful sight to behold....plus, since we feed the turkey,
we actually witnessed a 'wild-turkey-breeding' right in our back-yard...(3)Toms strutting and proposing at once =
there's nothing so profound as to behold nature at it's rawest...we know that it will soon be
a lost gift of nature'...
we will soon be leaving our Protected Land, for our future safety at 'The Ranch of The Branch'...
we are beyond ourselves, while we await to meet our brethren...

 

[notmyown]

Hi everybody!

My older son and I, and a team from our Church, are heading to Panama on Saturday on a missions trip. I would apprecite any prayers you can send our way. Thanks.

Also, it has occurred to me that this thread could be construed as "chasing the experience". No one has said that to me, but I just want to stress, it's purpose is solely to praise our Lord in sharing those times when His Presence has been so manifest, and unmistakable that it deserves special note.

it's a privilege to pray, Ed. thanks for letting us know.

 

[PennEd]

it's a privilege to pray, Ed. thanks for letting us know.

Thank you so much, and God bless!

See you in a week!

 

[PennEd]

Morning brothers and sisters! When we left the place we were staying in Panama, the sun was just rising, and the forecast was for 96 degrees. When we pulled into our Church parking lot at 6 P.M. the sun was just setting, and the temp. was 29 degrees!

What a wonderful trip. The Lord was ever Present with us. We made many new friends. Some, were with those that caame on the trip that we didn't know before. If you think the gap between rich and poor is bad in the U.S. then you would be evn more shocked in Panama. Although there is a decent middle class too.

I'll post a few pics and vids, and I want to thank you so much for your prayers. God Bless you!