Cutest pootie lip ever!

My grandbaby, Kyla Nichole.

Be Still

"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (Psalm 16:11)

After you read your Scripture for the day, take some time to sit quietly and just listen for God's voice... not an audible one... He speaks in your heart.

Psalm 46:10 tells us to "Be still and know that I am God."

Have you spent time being still lately? Take some time to bask in His presence... there is pure joy and such pleasure! Such that you can find nowhere else! Not even your husband can bring you such joy and pleasure as your Lord can! This is not to put down your man; it is to encourage him! He does not have to hold you up emotionally; it's not his job.

If you just spend time sitting in God's presence, the benefit will be yours--and the experiences are out of this world!

Rejoice, Daughter of the King!

"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." (Isaiah 61:10)

Think of how carefully a bride and her groom dress themselves on their wedding day! How excited they are! How much delight they take in making themselves ready for one another! This verse says that in this same way God HAS ALREADY clothed me with the garments of salvation and covered me with the robe of righteousness!

He did it carefully. "And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:" (Colossians 2:10).

He took delight in doing it! Psalm 18:19 says, "He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me."

He has done this for me so I can be viewed as righteous as Jesus! "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross... you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:" (Colossians 1:20-22).

It makes me rejoice! It thrills me and brings me such joy in Him! Why? "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (Psalm 16:11)

Rejoice, Daughter of the King! You have a reason!

Things I'm Learning

Here's the most beautiful baby in the world! Kyla Nichole Guenther was God's gift to us this past year though our daughter Chrystal. When you look at her picture, please pray that she will come to know Jesus at an early age.

Recently, I was able to go with my husband to the Antioch Baptist Jubilee in Bristol, Virginia. There were many messages that encouraged me, but one stands out. It was a message given by Evangelist Tom Hayes. It was entitled, "The Lord, Our Righteousness." Jehovah Tsidkenu is the name for God in Hebrew which is translated, "The Lord is my righteousness." What God suddenly revealed to me is a simple truth that He has been reinforcing to me over and over again the past 10+ years. I accepted HIS righteousness as mine in order to get saved, yet in my pride and flesh, I try to live for Him in my OWN righteousness! How silly when He IS STILL my righteousness! Philippians 3:9 "...not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith..."

The same way I accept His righteousness for salvation is the same way I must accept His righteousness to live through me every day of my life! What a simple but profound truth! I have no righteousness of my own! I only have any good through HIM! As I YIELD myself to Him and allow Him to live through me, I have HIS righteousness flowing out through me! I do not have to conjure up any goodness! Its already there through the Holy Spirit, freely given to me at salvation!

Here is a list of all the names of Jehovah. This was a blessing to me as well. Just think of all the things that God is to YOU personally through these names!

Jehovah's Name

Exalting the Name of Jesus Christ

Jehovah - The Lord - Exodus 6:2-3

Jehovah-Adon Kal Ha'arets- Lord of Earth - Josh 3:13

Jehovah-Bara - Lord Creator - Isaiah 40:28

Jehovah-Chatsahi - Lord my Strength - Psalm 27:1

Jehovah-Chereb - Lord the Sword - Deut. 33:29

Jehovah-Eli - Lord my God - Psalm 18:2

Jehovah-Elyon - Lord Most High - Psalm 38:2

Jehovah-Gador Milchamah - Mighty in Battle - Ps 24:8

Jehovah-Ganan - Lord Our Defense - Ps 89:18

Jehovah-Go'el - Lord My Redeemer - Is. 49:26, 60:16

Jehovah-Hamelech - Lord King - Psalm 98:6

Jehovah-Hashopet - Lord My Judge - Judges 6:27

Jehovah-Helech 'Olam - Lord King Forever Ps10:16

Jehovah-Hoshe'ah - Lord Saves - Psalm 20:9

Jehovah-Jireh - Provider - Gen. 22:14, I John 4:9, Philip 4:19

Jehovah-Kabodhi - Lord my Glory - Psalm 3:3

Jehovah-Kanna - Lord Jealous - Ex 34:14

Jehovah-Keren-Yish'i - Horn of Salvation - Ps 18:2

Jehovah-M'Kaddesh - Sanctifier - I Corinthians 1:30

Jehovah-Machsi - Lord my Refuge - Psalm 91:9

Jehovah-Magen - Lord my Shield - Deut. 33:29

Jehovah-Ma'oz - Lord my Fortress - Jer. 16:19

Jehovah-Mephalti - Lord my Deliverer - Psalm 18:2

Jehovah-Metshodhathi - Lord my Fortress - Psalm 18:2

Jehovah-Misqabbi - Lord my High Tower - Psalm 18:2

Jehovah-M'gaddishcem - Lord my Sanctifier - Ex 31:13

Jehovah-Naheh - Lord who Smites - Ezekiel 7:9

Jehovah-Nissi - Banner - I Chronicles 29:11-13

Jehovah-Rohi - Shepherd - Psalm 23

Jehovah-Rophe - Healer - Isaiah 53:4,5

Jehovah-Sabaoth - Lord of Hosts - I Sam 1:3

Jehovah-Sel'i - Lord my Rock - Psalm 18:2

Jehovah-Shalom - Peace - Isaiah 9:6, Rom 8:31-35

Jehovah-Shammah - Present - Hebrews 13:5

Jehovah-Tsidkenu - Righteousness - I Cor 1:30

Jehovah-Tsori - Lord my Strength - Psalm 19:14

Jehovah-Yasha - Lord my Savior - Isaiah 49:26

Jehovah-'Ez-Lami - Lord my Strength - Ps 28:7

Jehovah-'Immeku - Lord Is With You - Judges 6:12

Jehovah-'Izoa Hakaboth - Lord Strong -Mighty - Ps 24:8

Jehovah-'Ori - Lord my Light - Psalm 27:1

Jehovah-'Uzam - Lord Strength in Trouble - Is 49:26

Thoughts on Pride

Pride is a belief in one's own abilities; this belief at times overrides a person's view of God and his recognition of the need for the grace of God. Pride has been called the sin which spawns all other sins.

Why you give in to it: Many times it’s because the world, TV and other media, and many well-meaning people tell you to "believe in yourself."

P.R.I.D.E.

P-Presenting or portraying myself as someone I’m not, Rom. 12:3, Jas. 1:8, Gal. 1:10, Eph. 4:15

Portraying myself as better than I really am indicates that I want others to believe I’m better so they will like or accept me. Portraying myself as worse than I am is also pride, in that I desire someone to say, “No, no, you’re better than that”—I am still driven by the desire for someone to like or accept me.

R-Ruling or controlling others, Mt. 11:16-17, I Kings 21

I can try to control others in an obvious way, by telling them what to do or condemning them in a condescending way when I think they’re wrong. Or I can control others by manipulating them subtly, making statements that will make them feel guilty so they will do things my way. This is pride because I put myself on the throne. I want to be in control.

I-It’s all about ME, Eph. 4:32, Phil. 2:4

When my attitude is that everything has to be my way, or about me, or I want people to feel sorry for me, I am at the height of selfishness. I come across to everyone as “It’s all about me; you don’t matter.”

D-Down on myself for sins God has already forgiven, Gal. 5:1, Eph. 2:1-10, Heb. 8:12, 10:17, Jer. 31:34, Rom. 8:1

When I continue to beat myself up for sins that God has already forgiven, it’s as if I’m saying, “God, the death of your Son wasn’t enough for me; I can do penance or pay for my own sin by beating myself up.” It’s pride because I’m putting my own efforts to atone for myself before GOD’S free offer of forgiveness!

E-Envying someone for something they have for which I’m unwilling to work, Pr. 24:27, Gal. 6:4

Envying something someone else has, yet being unwilling to work for it—or desiring everything to be handed to me on a silver platter, as it were, is also pride. Why? Because I think I am better and that God should reward me for being so good.

My Kitties Make Me Happy

I have a calico cat named Espresso. She is pictured here with my 12-year-old son Anthony. I call her my Caramel Espresso because her markings look like someone dropped caramel onto her dark chocolate body! My daughter Chrystal and I love to watch the kitties' antics on the back deck. We spent a lot of time this summer watching and playing with them. Chrystal's cat is an orange cat she named Taffy.

They are outdoor cats, and it just pulls at my heart when I see both of their faces in the little square window next to my front door. They look in as if to say, "Pleeeeease, pretty pleeeeease, let us in!" Of course they have a kitty garage, with a little dog house inside which has lots of straw to keep them warm, and they are used to the outdoors and the cold, even in Canada.

I can't help but wonder if I feel a teeny bit of how God feels when I come to Him in prayer with a request. He just loves it that I come talk to Him--that I bring Him my requests. How do I know? Scripture tells me so. Philippians 4:5-6 says, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

God delights in the fact that I delight in Him! I get a little taste of the joy that I bring to Him, in the joy that I feel when my kitties seek my attention.

A Good Thought on Prayer

“The hunger of the Father’s heart is satisfied when He finds His offspring turning to Him and placing simple confidence in His unfailing promises… God’s great heart of love delights in giving… by this very giving He seeks to bring out the latent qualities of our hearts… Prayer… is no mere asking… granting, and receiving… It is love giving itself out… and receiving… worship and surrender. So love is at the root of prayer, and love gets its way. Not only does love wish to grant the gifts, but love wishes to hear the… loved one expressing the need.” –G. Granger Fleming