One Who Understands

David Roper shares with us that his friend's husband was in the last stages of dementia. 

"In his first introduction to the nurse who was assigned to care for him, he reached out for her arm and stopped her to introduce her to his best friend—one who loved him deeply.

Since no one else was in the hall, the nurse thought he was delusional.

But as it turned out he was speaking of Jesus. She was deeply touched but had to hurry on to care for another patient.

When she returned, the darkness had closed in again and the man was no longer lucid.

Even though this man had descended into the darkness of dementia, he knew that the Lord was his best Friend.

God dwells in the fathomless depth that is our soul. He can pierce the darkest mind and assure us of His tender, loving care.

"Indeed, the darkness shall not hide us from Him" (Ps. 139:12a).

We do not know what the future holds for us or those we love. We too may descend into the darkness of mental illness, Alzheimer's, or dementia as we age.

But even there the Lord's had will lead us and His right hand will hold us tight (v.10).

We cannot get away from His love and personal care." —David Roper

God knows each winding way I take,
And every sorrow, pain, and ache;
And me He never will forsake—

He knows and loves His own. —Bosch

Jesus loves me. This I know.

Our Daily Bread

10/22/14

(Google image and emphasis added)

Pray with me:

   Father, thank You for the assurance that You'll be with me no matter what I go through in life.

   I'm glad that You can pierce the darkest mind and assure us of Your tender loving care.

   It's good to know that You'll be holding my hand, and that I'll never be away from Your love and personal care.

   I pray for Your peace to always be mine . In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

   

Today’s Bible verse: Ps. 16:5 "The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot."

Today’s quotes: Phyllis Freeman – “God can help us overcome the enemies—sin, fear, anger, and doubt. At the point of need we’re given enablement beyond the powers of our enemy as we trust in a faithful God.”

Gwen Smith – “So whatever you face today, friend, run. Run to win the prize. Run like the wind. And when you fall; don’t throw in the towel, don’t point fingers, don’t stew, and don’t quit. Get right back up and run again… in the mercy, strength and grace of God."
Speaker / Author / Worship Leader / Songwriter

Inspiring Women To Live Fully in Grace and Truth 

Co-founder of Girlfriends in God

Some thoughts today: Apart from Jesus Christ, we are all lost. 
People are in flagrant sin, but Jesus saves! 

- Jesus' death, resurrection, and rising from the grave provides a way to be rid of our sins. He took the punishment that we deserve...Do we understand how great a blessing Christ's sacrifice is on our behalf? Not really!

- As God the Father is holy, He cannot allow sin to come into His presence. We need to be cleansed, my friend. Whether we were guilty of great sin, or have lived a "good life", we are all in need of the salvation that Christ provides. 

12/2- Tuesday’s post:  #21 The Threefold Cord
C. Peter Wagner

4th- Thursday's post:  #22  The Living Parable
C. Peter Wagner

6th- Saturday's post:  I am Broken
Debbie McEwen

7th- Sunday evening's post: Only Him
James Cagle

A popular post: Some Interesting Quotes Devotions for MORNING and EVENING with OSWALD CHAMBERS 
Inspirational Press New York.

“Every element of self reliance must be slain by the power of God. 

Complete weakness and dependence will always be the occasion for the Spirit of God to manifest His power.” (pg 260)

jowildflowers@gmail.com

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Granny's Guide to Marriage in Verse Kindle $.99
A great gift for someone!

Bridal Shower Devotional

Bridal Wisdom for Women

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Granny's Guide to Marriage in Verse

Wisdom for Brides (Christian
Marriage, Counseling, & Help)

SOME INTERESTING QUOTES

           

These quotes are from Devotions for MORNING and EVENING with OSWALD CHAMBERS   
Inspirational Press New York.

“Every element of self reliance must be slain by the power of God. 

Complete weakness and dependence will always be the occasion for the Spirit of God to manifest His power.” (pg 260)

          “The affections after sanctification are not meant to purify us, but to make us broken bread in the hands of our Lord to nourish others.

          The reason we are going through the things we are is that God wants to know whether He can make us good bread with which to feed others.

          If we are not thoroughly baked, we will produce indigestion because we are dough instead of bread.” (pg 268)

          “Am I prepared to be so identified with the Lord Jesus that His life and His sweetness are being poured out all the time? Neither natural love nor Divine love will remain unless it is cultivated. Love is spontaneous, but it has to be maintained by discipline.”  (pg 272)

          “It is not a question of being saved from hell, but of being saved in order to manifest the life of the Son of God in our mortal flesh, and it is the disagreeable things which make us exhibit whether or not we are manifesting His life.

          It is one thing to choose the disagreeable, and another thing to go into the disagreeable by God’s engineering. If God puts you there, He is amply sufficient.”  (pg 278)

          “God is the Master Engineer. He allows the difficulties to come in order to see if you can vault over them properly—‘By my God have I leaped over a wall’

          We have to exercise ourselves in order that the Son of God may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

          When we realize this, He will make us broken bread and poured out wine to feed and nourish others.”  (pg 280)

          “His cross is the door by which every member of the human race can enter into the life of God; by His Resurrection He has the right to give eternal life to any man, and by His Ascension Our Lord enters heaven and keeps the door open for humanity.”  (pg 284)

          “Either Jesus Christ is a deceiver and Paul is deluded, or some extraordinary thing happens to a man who holds onto the love of God when the odds are all against God’s character.”  (pg 288)

          “We are all baptized with the Holy Ghost not for anything at all, but entirely , as our Lord puts it to be His witnesses, those with whom He can do exactly what He likes.

          The passion of Christianity is that I deliberately sign away my own rights and become a bondslave of Jesus Christ.”  (pg 299)

          “By the Resurrection and Ascension power of Jesus, by the sentdown Holy Ghost, we can be lifted into such a relationship with the Father that we are at one with the perfect sovereign will of God by our free choice as Jesus was.”  (pg 308)

          “-- we are to live and move and have our being in God, to look at everything in relation to God, because the abiding consciousness of God pushes itself to the front all the time.

          To be haunted by God is to have an effective barricade against all the onslaughts of the enemy.

          ‘God is our Refuge’- nothing can come through that shelter.”  (pg 318)

          “Whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do.” The disciple who abides In Jesus is the will of God, and his apparently free choices are God’s fore-ordained decrees.”  (pg 328)

          “If I will come to Jesus my actual life will be brought into accordance with my real desires; I will actually cease  from sin, and actually find the song of the Lord begin.”  (pg 336)

          “The mature saint is just like a little child, absolutely simple and joyful and gay. Go on living the life that God would have you live and you will grow younger instead of older. This is a marvelous rejuvenescence when once you let God have His way.”  (pg 337)

          “The disciple is one who has the new name within all over him; self-interest and pride and self-sufficiency have been completely erased.”  (pg338)

          “The one mark of a saint is the moral originality which springs from abandonment to Jesus Christ. In the life of a saint there is this amazing wellspring of original life all the time; the Spirit of God is a well of water springing up, perennially fresh.” (pg 340)

“Every time I’m in trouble I call on you, confident that You’ll answer. There’s no one quite like you among the gods, O Lord, and nothing to compare with your works. All the nations you made are on their way, ready to give honor to you, O Lord, ready to put your beauty on display, parading your greatness, and the great things you do—God, you’re the one, there’s no one but you!  Ps. 86:7-8, MSG

Tonight’s post:  I’M DESTINED FOR GLORY BECAUSE OF THE TREE

(As I'll be in Vermont visiting a childhood friend tonight, I have "Scheduled" tonight's post, so hope it will appear)

Tomorrow’s post:  DO YOUR FRIENDS KNOW ALL THEY NEED TO KNOW? 

A Happening by Chance: Prayer Note # 38

       

Dutch Sheets and his wife, Ceci, were on the last day of their three-day vacation in a tourist hot spot.

      He had been watching boats pull individuals from off the beach, up into the air and across the beautiful waters.

      These airborne sailors would soar effortlessly for 5 to 10 minutes, enjoying their freedom from the bonds of earth, and then be swung back unto the beach.

          For two days he watched this. He was curious, but not that curious. "We men have a constant need to impress the ladies in our lives, demonstrating our fearlessness and ability to rise to any challenge.

          ‘Wow, that looks pretty awesome,’ my wife said. ‘Aw, it doesn’t look that difficult,’ I replied in my best matter-of-fact ‘any guy could do it’ voice." When his wife suggested he go, he wasn’t too excited about it, but agreed to do it.

          “I was the first of the day to take off. It was fairly routine and within seconds I was 200 feet high, enjoying a bird’s eye view of the beach…Suddenly, I had the strange sensation the water was getting closer.

           A second later I knew it was getting closer. Another second and I lighted upon the water with a great splash. This is impossible, I thought. This is a dream. A BAD dream.

          Remembering that I had never tasted salt water in a dream, it didn’t take me long to realize that it wasn’t a dream at all and that it was very possible. I swam to the boat, which had experienced engine failure, and climbed aboard. Now I was totally cool—wet and cool!

          I can hear the wheels of your mind turning. You are wondering what part of this story could possibly have anything to do with intercession, except for a couple of fleeting seconds when I was in SERIOUS prayer.

         Actually, another of our definitions of paga is used, which is ‘to light upon.’ The concept, of course, is landing on or coming to a certain place, and the inference is that it is happening by chance.

         We might, therefore, use the phrase ‘chance upon’ or ‘happen upon.”

Prayer Note # 38 A Happening by Chance - Taken from Dutch Sheets’ book, Intercessory Prayer  (pgs. 93-95) 

          “Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, and before honor is humility.”  Prov. 18:12, (NKJV)

Next Prayer Note: May 15^th OUR HELPER

Tonight's post: "DO YOU BELIEVE GOD SEES YOUR NEED?" 

Tomorrow’s post: SOME INTERESTING QUOTES

DO YOU BELIEVE GOD SEES YOUR NEED? *

     "I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free.” Acts 7:34a

The Pocket Testament League   Daily Impact   (11/ 28/11)

“Thoughts for Today:

      "I read a story recently about a man who awoke in the middle of the night to smoke so thick in his home he could hardly breathe. It was the night following the Christmas program at his church -- his parents had attended so they spent the night -- and fire had erupted as a result of candles that were accidentally left burning. As he made his way, stumbling and coughing down the hall to his three children's room, He prayed ‘Lord, if it be your will, let us survive the night.’ Just before he was overcome by the smoke and heat, a man grabbed his arm -- who he thought was his father -- and guided him to each of the three children's room.

      All escaped with their lives including his parents. As the story was recounted to the firefighters (who were amazed that anyone had survived considering the intensity of the blaze), his father denied helping him save the children. His parents explained they had been staying in the guest room on the first floor and had been unable to make it up the stairs due to the flames. The firefighters thought it must have been an 'unsung hero,' perhaps a neighbor, who upon seeing the smoke had entered the house. The man was convinced it was an angel.

      What do you think? Do you think God sees your need (the fire); hears your groaning (save my family); then comes down to set you free (grabs you by the arm and guides you to safety)? The answers to those questions will tell you a lot about what you believe and expect of God.

Questions to Ponder: ‘

      How ‘real’ is God to you? Do you think God cares about you and your life in a tangible way? Most of us would like to think that God would 'come down' or send an angel to help us if our lives were on the line, but what about regular stuff? I know a woman who has health problems yet refuses to get a handicap sticker (she thinks others have greater needs than hers). Instead when she goes to the store, she always prays for a parking spot close to the front -- I have never been with her when the Lord has failed to answer her prayer. Maybe the reason God isn't answering your prayers is because you aren't praying. That's what ‘groaning’ is (from verse 34) -- praying. How can you begin to see God as real and present each and every day of your life?

Keep up to date with what's new at The Pocket Testament League by checking regularly on the League's website at Latest News in the ‘About the League’ section.”

www.ptl.org

The following is from Our Daily Bread for

“     We may not always feel that God is listening, but His is. He cares, and He will respond. The Bible reminds us that we can take comfort in the fact that out God is deeply concerned with what concerns our hearts: "The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth’"(Ps. 145:18). When we call out to Him, we will never get a disinterested response.

      Rather than distancing Himself from us when we cry to Him, our heavenly Father draws close to us in our time of need. He is never to busy for His child’s prayers –He hears us when we call.—Bill Crowder

For answered prayer we thank You, Lord,

We know You’re always there

To hear us when we call on You;

We’re grateful for Your care. –Branon

You’ll never get a busy signal

on the prayer line to heaven.”

December 2/11 

Psalm 33: 18-22 (Message Bible)

“Watch this: God’s eye is on those who respect him,

the ones who are looking for his love.

He’s ready to come to their rescue in bad times;

in lean times he keeps body and soul together.

We’re depending on God;

he’s everything we need.

What’s more, our hearts brim with joy

since we’ve taken for our own his holy name.

Love us, God, with all you’ve got—

that’s what we’re depending on.”

jowildflowers@gmail.com   http://www.jean-oathout.blogspot.com/ 

Tomorrow's post:  SOME INTERESTING QUOTES

One Invitation at a Time

Debbie McEwen: How did I come to know Christ? How did I start on my walk with Him?

I was asked the other day how I got to the point that I know him so well that whether I live or die, it is for Him.

If I live I get to do His work. If I die, I spend eternity with Him in heaven. I win either way. (Google image, Jesus, by permission by Nancy Lee Moran, nancylee@nancyleemoran.com).

Elaine Miller's book: We All Married Idiots

Elaine W. Miller has some very interesting things to share with us about healthy marriages in her book: We All Married Idiots

Elaine and her husband share a wonderful life and ministry together. They developed and taught ten marriage retreats. Annually, they travel to Europe as Pastoral Care Couple to missionaries in Bosnia. 

Three adult children and an ever-growing number of grandchildren complete their joy.

We All Married Idiots: Three Things You Will Never Change ...

www.amazon.com › ... › Rating: 4.6 - ‎88 reviews
Christian Living › Marriage

Healthy Marriages Make Healthy Churches

"Dan and I desire to share our marriage story at your church or retreat center.

Dan's retirement as Pastor and District Superintendent with the Christian and Missionary Alliance provides us with time to pursue our passions. One close to our hearts is growing healthy marriages. You see, we almost threw away our marriage, and we want to prevent other couples from making the same mistake.

Let us laugh with you, teach you, help you experience marriage as God intended..."

{I hope you'll check out Elaine's blog for the rest of this very important announcement.}

Elaine W. Miller updated her status: "Amazon has We All Married Idiots pinned under their Pinterest Selling Books!" A member of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association More about Elaine W. Miller...This is why we write: Andrew Payack writes:  "I can't say enough about the content of this book and how it changes lives but most importantly, hearts. I was in the worst place in my life with my wife of 26+ years when she wanted a divorce, not to mention 6 beautiful children. My friend and pastor, lent me this book and it changed me, but most of all it was ALL the scripture I needed to overcome the sadness. Also, I got my christian wife to read it as well. She read it and I believe that she was convicted by the holy spirit, and our marriage was saved. Praise God! we are in love now more that at our wedding! Thanks for writing such a powerful book. I have to give the book back to my pastor, but I will definitely be buying one for myself and my wife. We plan to read it from time to time to keep our marriage strong and filled with Christ!"

From Elaine's daughter:

On Love and Thankfulness for the Weary Mom

Pray with me:

   Father, I know Elaine is sincere, and that
she has been able to share her testimony,
which has been a help to those of us who
have read her book. 

   What You have taught her has been
such a blessing to so very many.

   I pray that my readers will look into her helpful book soon, and discover that we've all acted like idiots from time to time in our marriages.

   Elaine's insight is refreshing and stimulating, as it challenges us to make some changes in our approach to our own marriage.

   May Your Spirit quicken us to consider this: Three Things You 

Will Never Change ... (and 10 things you can change).

   I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Today’s Bible verse: 2 Chron. 7:14 "If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face,
and turn from their wicked ways: then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

Today’s quotes: Nancy Leigh DeMoss -“The ultimate purpose of 
marriage is not to make us happy, but to glorify God.”

“The family is one of God’s greatest masterpieces.” ~Unknown 

Some thoughts today: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us! God already loved us! It wasn't as though we earned His love... You can be absolutely confident of His love for you, my friend!

- God wants us to simply come to Him, as He is Love, to ask for His help to love our mates. Wouldn't you think that would be His desire to help us to accomplish?

- Our job is to not worship a god that suits our own beliefs. The great and holy God is very aware of our needs, and He'll work on our behalf to handle things His way, if we ask Him.

Has the Spark Gone Out of Your Marriage?

Jill Savage shares with us, "What are some practical ways to turn your heart in the right direction when the spark seems to have gone out on your marriage?  1) Change your thoughts..."

14th- Sunday evening’s post:  Devoted to Prayer
Dr. Charles F. Stanley

16th- Tuesday's post:  #25 Territorial Spirits
C. Peter Wagner

18th- Thursday's post:  #26  Spiritual Power in Evangelism
C. Peter Wagner

20th- Saturday's post:  He Will Heal You
Max Lucado

A popular post: A God you can Count On Dr. Charles Stanley 

gives us five things we can count on: "On the basis of God's character, what assurances can we depend upon every single 
day? 1. God will extend His lovingkindness to us..."

Lets join them!..

jowildflowers@gmail.com

Samples of Jean's crafts
http://twitter.com/jeanoathout
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AuthorsDen.com
Where authors and readers come together!

Granny's Guide to Marriage in Verse
Kindle $.99

In my book, you'll find 31 devotions with a Scripture, a short prayer,
and a quote. The last chapter is my personal testimony of God's Goodness to me in learning these thoughts, that I've shared in the book.

Bridal Shower Devotional
Bridal Wisdom for Women

My book in paperback $7.95
Granny's Guide to Marriage in Verse

A great gift for someone!

                                                                   ~ 

#96 Need Help from Others

C. Peter Wagner continues 
with telling us: "From time to 
time I have mentioned' the 
Aarons and Hurs (Aarons 
and Hurs), whom God sends 
to  support the intercessors 
in times of need.

Sometimes they receive spontaneous, one-time assignments. But some intercessors themselves have recruited ongoing teams of prayer partners.

Alice Smith, for example, has a very active prayer partners team, many of whom also have a gift of intercession. Thirteen of them have become I-3 intercessors for Doris and me. 

Then Alice went to Israel and subsequently through the 'dry time' described above, (previous post:  #95  Seasons of Dryness, she assigned her prayer partners to stand in the gap for me, which they did.

Since then, Alice has forwarded several notes they wrote to her expressing what they thought they were hearing about us.

A typical note reads, 

   'The Lord has continued this past week to speak to me 
    about Mr. Wagner. The following four words have come 
    to me for whatever confirmation or invitation they may 
    contain...'

Many intercessors do not intuitively realize they need permanent prayer partners just as much as other leaders do. 

Years ago when we were just beginning to learn about personal intercession and all that was involved in it, Christy Graham, who is normally a crisis intercessor, received a longer term assignment to be a personal intercessor for Cathy Schaller.

God told her that Cathy absorbs many of the attacks of the enemy that would otherwise get through to me and that she herself needed more protection.

When Christy told Cathy that she was to pray for her, Cathy's initial reaction was, 

   "Pray for me? Why do I need prayer? Is there something 
    wrong with me?'

So Christy responded, 'Well, what's wrong with Peter? Why does he need prayer?'

Cathy immediately saw the point and welcomed Christy as a prayer partner.

I was interested that God never did assign Christy as a prayer partner for me, but only for Cathy.

Evelyn Christenson, a premier intercessor, suggests that intercessors pair off for mutual prayer support. She says, 

   'Do you have someone who will pray for you and for whom 
    you will pray?...Find one person with whom you can share
    the secret problems and needs of your life. Someone who 
    cares and who will never, never divulge your secrets. Then
    fulfill the law of Christ by "bearing one another's burdens." 
    (see Gal. 6:2)

(Google image used, and emphasis added)

Let’s pray:

   Father, as I pray for my 
pastor and leaders, may I 
find a friend who will pray 
for me.

   As I want to be in the 
center of Your will for me, 
there may be times I'll 
need to have someone to cover me in prayer, too.

   I ask for Your help and guidance, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Let’s pray for our pastors:  “Father, keep my pastor from pride and self-pity. Allow _______ to glory only in the cross, and let it be his/her reason for ministry.” www.praymag.com

Today’s Bible verse: Ps. 73:24 "Thou shalt guide me with they counsel, and afterward receive me to glory."

Today’s quotes: David McCasland - "The canvas of our lives is in the skilled hands of our Lord who knows who and what He designed us to be. No matter how sin-damaged and dirty we may be, there is hope for renewal and restoration. The Master Artist is alive and at work within us."

Our Daily Bread: Jesus specializes in restoration.

Some thoughts today: Our frame of thinking is important. 
We need to have a clear purpose for our living, and the 
understanding of the authority we have, as well as others 
who are over us in some way. Our thoughts and actions are 
to be pure, and we're to have some accountability to trusted, 
godly friends. It would be best to give serious consideration 
to each of these in prayer.

28th- Saturday’s post:  Smile  Joe Stowell

29th- Sunday's post:  Pride (how to deal with it)  James Cagle

29th evening's post:  God's Under the Bed  GodVine

July 1st- Tuesday's post:  #97  The Rewards  C. Peter Wagner

A popular post:  Hang On!  Sharon Jaynes shares with us, "Have you ever felt that this thing called life is just too hard? I know I have. Sometimes life just does not turn out like I thought it would. That’s when I have to hang onto God and simply trust Him."

jowildflowers@gmail.com (for comments)

http://christianpoetsandwriters.blogspot.com/

I invite you to check out the above link, to see the many interesting topics of Christian Poets and Writers. The links to my posts on How CAN we hear from God? are there, too.

Granny's Guide to Marriage in Verse  

Kindle $2.99  Bridal Shower Devotional 

(Wisdom for Women planning to get married)

Granny's Guide to Marriage in Verse 

My book in paperback $7.95

Wisdom for brides (Christian Marriage,
Counseling, & Help) (Volume 1)

jowildflowers@gmail.com (for comments)

Samples of Jean's crafts
http://twitter.com/jeanoathout
http://facebook.com/jean.oathout

AuthorsDen.com
Where authors and readers come together!